Yakusoku (Avara Stadium Book 1)

I Keep My Promises

The qualifiers were a train wreck. Akiko stood at her station feeling like she was somewhere else, like this was all a bad dream. Himawari gave her a look like she was a ghost.

"What happened to you?"

"Shut up." She swallowed. "I'm sorry. I... should not be taking my anger out on you, Hinata Himawari, because you had nothing to do with it."

His eyes went wide and his pupils shrank down to practically nothing. "Okay, if you're talking like that, something is seriously messed."

"Yeah," she muttered. "Seriously messed."

"I won't make you, but you should really tell me, you know."

Akiko covered her face. She was burning up. She looked away and muttered, "Watanabe walked in on me and Tess."

Himawari sputtered. "Walked in on you? Were you... in the workroom, just—"

"It—it was just a kiss, before you say anything stupid," Akiko seethed, although it was definitely a little more than just a kiss. "But..."

"Damn." He sounded impressed more than anything else. "Sneaking to the workroom to make out with the agent? You have got moves, girl."

"I am going to break your neck like a toothpick," Akiko said, flushing down to her neck.

"So little old Watanabe's got dirt on you," Himawari said, returning to the controls. It wasn't Stabilizer's turn yet—right now it was a scrap between two robots that were in pieces already and slugging it out with all they had left—but she figured looking at the controller gave him something to do other than face Akiko while he talked about her steamy workroom rendezvous.

"And he probably doesn't like me," Akiko said. "So even if Tess and I call it off so she can sign me—"

He narrowed his eyes at her. "You'd do that? What kind of relationship are we talking, here? There is no way the way you're staring at her is a casual relationship."

She pursed her lips. "I've known her for less than a week and I've never felt so powerfully about anyone in my life. Not even the girl I loved before." She stopped. Why was she bringing that up like an idiot? "And it's just very... confusing."

"And she feels the same way about you."

"She... seems to feel very strongly about me, for some reason," Akiko muttered.

Himawari still didn't look at her. He had a far-off expression on his face. "That sounds like a lovely relationship. I don't know why you'd want to jeopardize it with an attempt to sign. You should stay with her and find a different agent to sign you."

"I promised."

He sighed. "What's the point of keeping a promise if it makes everyone worse off? You promised to me, and I officially release you from it."

"I promised. I keep my promises."

He glared at her. "Even when no one wants you to?"

"It's all I have." Akiko's voice broke. The tremble in her words didn't shake Himawari's harsh look.

"I told you, I release you from the promise."

Akiko shook her head. "I have to do this. Otherwise I'm... it's like I'm nothing... and besides, there's no way the relationship can last. I pissed her off just now. And she has no reason to stay with me. I'm—"

"She's going to stay with you, okay?" Himawari folded his arms and leaned onto the controller. "She's really into you. Trust me. I can tell."

"Huh?" She blinked. "What are you talking about?"