Dōjō by Night
Where Elyna expected two tired kendōka, she found five figures moving in perfect synchronisation. Sano stood at the centre, fluid as water, leading Katayū, Fujimoto, Haruki, and a familiar red-headed woman in what looked like a slow, meditative dance.
Elyna recognised the Chinese routine—a stress-reliever sequence to help students improve their stamina before mid-term exams. The rhythm felt like a breath; tension and release, deliberate waves to refill one’s body with purpose, to inhabit it fully, leaving no place for the ego.
Like iron to a magnet, her eyes flew to Sano, observing a strand of dark hair brush his sharp jawline. His flowing T-shirt hung loose, barely revealing the shape of hard muscles as he moved through the forms. But Elyna knew, exactly, the strength that lived beneath his deceptive grace.
The others followed with various levels of fluidity, the kendōka more rigid. Except for Fujimoto, whose sturdy frame went through the sequence with poise. An interesting contrast.
Elyna felt the air shift when Shūji and Satsuki joined her, but she was loath to break the peace. The Qi Gong routine worked its magic in the dōjō; the team’s synchronised breaths like the whisper of distant waves. Yet, all she could see was him; Sano was poetry made flesh.
The spell shattered at the very moment Katayū spotted them. The Vice Principal broke out of the group like a rogue wave, expression thunderous. “Shūji!” he bellowed with barely controlled fury. “What the hell do you think—”
“Hey!” the boy interrupted cheerfully, impervious to the storm. “I was with the birthday girl!” he announced with a flourish, pointing to Elyna. “And we brought cake!”
Satsuki held on to the box, as if it could shield her from Katayū’s wrath.
“DO NOT use me as an excuse!” Elyna snapped to the boy.
Katayū’s expression shifted through several shades, cataclysmic rage to stormy seas, only to fall back on resignation. It was Sarah’s hand on his arm that eventually seemed to unlock his vocal cords. “You’re getting extra training this evening”, he commanded. “Double sessions until nationals.”
“Hai, sensei!”
Shūji had no right sounding so cheerful when he’d almost caused an earthquake, and interrupted such a mesmerising dance. But the boy was already sweeping the cake off Satsuki’s hands to settle it on a nearby table.
From across the room, Sano sighed as the careful peace he’d struggled to build crumbled like a sand castle. As for Fujimoto, he didn’t even try to hide his amusement. “All that effort to lower Katayū-kun’s blood pressure, and you spike it in seconds!” he scolded Shūji.
There was no real heat behind the physics teacher’s words. The formal atmosphere melted into something almost familial in a matter of seconds as they grabbed bottles of water and towels.
Fujimoto returned with a batch of those typical iced tea bottles, so fresh that Elyna shivered. Haruki downed his in one go, visibly drained from his earlier session.
“How did it go?” she asked, genuinely curious.
“Good,” was his only response as he reached for a bottle of water.
Judging by his expression, Haruki was satisfied enough. As everyone’s attention was diverted by the cake, Elyna grabbed another can of iced tea and crouched by her bag. Just as she slipped a piece of dried squid into the drink, a set of bare feet appeared beside her.
Elyna’s eyes travelled up long legs, finding a loose shirt that suggested a chiselled chest.
“Sano-sensei!” she squeaked, reddening from the little prank she’d been preparing.
Brown eyes twinkled as his lips curved into a knowing smile. “Elyna-san.” He nodded before joining the others.
Perhaps he didn’t see…
Heart hammering, Elyna shoved the iced tea onto the table, right in her line of sight.
“Wait—it’s your birthday today?” Sarah asked, resting against Katayū’s side. To Elyna’s surprise, the man didn’t move away, seeming to cave around her like water yields to a rock.
“Ah, it was yesterday actually.”
Katayū’s expression shifted to mild approval. “Good timing—we never had a chance to celebrate Sano's birthday properly. I’m claiming half of the cake for his sake.”
Satsuki’s shy approval got drowned as Elyna’s head snapped towards Sano. “October too?” she asked, noticing how uncomfortable he seemed to be put on the spot.
“Yes.” His voice was quiet, almost resigned. “It was during the culture week setup, so—”
Disappointment rose in her chest. Oh dang, I missed his birthday. Not that she could have done anything to mark the date, really. She was dying to know how old he was.
“Well, then,” Katayū declared, attacking the whipped cream with gusto, “a happy birthday to you both.”
“How did you celebrate?” Sarah asked.
“Karaoke,” Satsuki piped in, more subdued than usual. The earlier confrontation had dimmed her smile.
Fujimoto’s eyes lit up. “Been singing some metal, Elyna-san?”
“Unfortunately, no,” the young woman sighed dramatically, passing the green tea can along so that it faced Shūji. “Hard rock was the very worst of it since they had nothing better on the list.”
“Better or worse?” Katayū grumbled.
Elyna watched with horror as Fujimoto almost swept up the loaded can of iced tea from the table, only for Sano to hand him another one. She gaped.
Is he helping me?
Their eyes met for barely a second, but long enough to share an understanding. Elyna’s head ducked to hide a smile. Who knew the esteemed sensei would be a prankster too?
“Do all British women love metal?” Katayū’s brows drew together. Sarah’s smile morphed into something absolutely wicked, her voice dropping to a seductive purr. “Only those who love testosterone, love.”
The Vice Principal’s face flushed scarlet, causing a serious round of chuckles around the table.
That woman is evil.
“Quite right,” she added, allowing her gaze to drift to Sano’s features. Her lips curved into the faintest of smiles when his eyes widened. The aluminium of his iced tea can suddenly crumpled in his fist, the soft metallic sound audible in the momentary quiet.
So he’s not totally immune. Good.
Her gloating was interrupted by Katayū’s gruff congratulations; he slapped her shoulder like he would one of his kendōka. Elyna kept her wince internal, finding his paternal side endearing.
Even more surprising, Fujimoto set his hand upon her head in that distinctly Japanese gesture that was both condescending and affectionate; it felt like being patted by a well-meaning uncle. Except that she was an adult now, not five.
Sarah seemed to have decided a hug was long overdue as she approached Elyna, arms wide open, when Shūji’s sudden exclamation made them both jump.
“Yuck! What’s that?” he sputtered, spitting out his iced tea to hold the can at arm’s length. Revulsion danced on his features.
“Nothing’s wrong with mine,” Satsuki blinked.
As usual, it was Haruki who dared approach the national prankster, taking a whiff of his drink. Then a sip. The grimace that spread across his face was so priceless that Elyna had trouble holding in her laughter.
Though a certain set of golden eyes twinkled with merriment, Sano said nothing and allowed Haruki to deadpan: “This tastes like dried squid.”
Elyna dissolved into helpless laughter.
“Elyna-chan!” the boy growled, sticking his tongue out like a cat to try and get rid of the taste.
There! Revenge complete!
“You asked for it, sushi!” she stuttered between peals of hearty giggles.
Fujimoto chuckled, shaking his head. “She’s got you there.”
“The prankster pranked,” Sarah laughed, finally reaching Elyna for that delayed hug. “Oh, I do like you more and more.”
Even Katayū couldn’t keep a straight face. “Serves you right!” he snorted, taking a long draught of squid-free liquid.
Behind her, Sano’s quiet chuckles were the most rewarding sound of all; his genuine amusement was so endearing that she grew dizzy with pride.
Shūji set the can in the bin with a sniff, his eyes narrowing in a dangerous expression Elyna had learnt to fear. Shit. Merda. Kuso.
“Ne, Elyna-chan,” he sing-songed, “what should I do with the condoms your mother so nicely gave me?”
The room exploded as if a bomb had gone off.
Iced tea sprayed across the table as Satsuki dissolved into a coughing fit.
Haruki was by her side at once, glowering at Shūji.
While Fujimoto facepalmed, Katayū’s eyebrows shot so high they nearly disappeared into his hairline.
By her side, Elyna watched Sarah’s features morph into an intrigued, but amused expression.
Uh-oh. DEFCON 1. I need to regain control before they start asking questions.
“Shove your squid in for all I care,” she shot back.
Across the table, Sano’s composure cracked completely; a present she would always remember. His hand banged on the wooden surface as his shoulders shook with laughter.
Her attention was monopolised by a warm body draping over hers; Sarah had dissolved into hysterical hiccups and was holding on to her for dear life. “Oh my… God,” she wheezed, “You’re a menace!”
Elyna’s gaze found Satsuki’s wide eyes; the girl’s skin had turned such an alarming shade of crimson that she looked like she might spontaneously combust. “I can’t believe you put dried squid in my drink,” Shūji eventually whined.
“Be thankful she didn’t shove it elsewhere,” Sarah added with a wicked grin, her weight still pressed against Elyna’s shoulder. The teaching assistant almost choked with laughter.
That woman is way worse than I am.
“You…!” Shūji flushed, pointing a very rude finger at Sarah, only for Katayū to cuff the back of his head, hard.
“Enough!” the Vice Principal’s voice thundered, sending a pointed look to Sarah who detached herself from Elyna to gravitate towards the man like a butterfly fluttering home. He unconsciously reached for her, his hand settling at the small of her back.
“I bet surume is tough for foreigners, a bit like natto, ne kid?” Fujimoto smiled.