Lena's heart slammed against her ribs
Oh shit.
There he was—Kaito Suzuki—in the flesh, standing at the end of the chilled aisle with that same easy-going posture from the sparring mat.
The faint bruise on his cheek stood out under the store's bright lights, a yellowish-purple reminder of her fist.
Without thinking, she snatched the first thing her hand landed on: a vacuum-sealed package of thinly sliced Japanese beef from the refrigerated shelf.
The cool plastic pressed against her flushed face as she pretended to examine the label with intense fascination, using the meat as a shield.
Her mother paused mid-sentence about grip strength drills.
"Lena? What on earth are you doing? Are you… smelling the beef?"
"Nothing! Nothing at all," Lena hissed, voice muffled behind the package.
She grabbed her mother's arm with her free hand, the one not currently hiding behind premium wagyu-style slices.
"This aisle is too crowded. Let's check the other one. They have those matcha snacks you wanted."
Before her mother could protest, Lena steered her around the corner into the next aisle, filled with instant ramen cups and neatly stacked rice balls.
The konbini's air conditioning washed over them, carrying the mixed scents of soy sauce, seaweed, and sweet red bean pastries.
She finally lowered the meat package, placing it on a shelf between cups of instant udon.
Her cheeks burned.
Smooth, Lena. Real fucking smooth.
She exhaled slowly, forcing her shoulders to relax.
The black tank top she wore suddenly felt too tight, clinging to her athletic frame from the nervous sweat.
"Phew…" she muttered under her breath, a small, relieved smirk tugging at her lips.
Crisis averted.
She turned the corner at the end of the aisle with renewed confidence and walked straight into a wall of warm, solid muscle.
Her nose nearly brushed against the dark gray fabric of his t-shirt. The faint scent of clean soap, citrus, and something distinctly masculine filled her senses.
Inches.
They were barely inches apart.
Lena's blue eyes widened as she tilted her head up sharply.
Kaito looked down at her, equally startled for a split second. Then his lips curved into that familiar, confident smile.
The bruise on his cheek was more noticeable up close, slightly swollen but already healing.
"Hi," he said, voice low and warm with amusement. "Fancy running into you here, Lena."
She forced a smile, though it felt more like a grimace. "Hi."
Her gaze flicked involuntarily to the mark on his face. A thin thread of guilt twisted in her stomach. She hadn't held back at all when she punched him.
"Uh… sorry about… you know. The cheek."
While she spoke, her right hand betrayed her. She reached up and tugged gently at her earlobe—a nervous tic she'd had since childhood, one she hated because it revealed weakness.
Her fingers twisted the soft cartilage, then released it.
Kaito's dark eyes sharpened with playful glint.
He noticed.
Of course he noticed.
"No hard feelings," he replied, the smirk deepening. "I've taken worse. Though most people buy me dinner before they hit me that hard." He glanced at the package of beef still sitting crookedly on the nearby shelf.
"But don't worry, I would never let a woman pay for our meal. My mom raised me better than that."
Lena's face heated further. She crossed her arms, trying to regain her usual composure.
"I wasn't hiding," she lied. "Just… shopping."
"Mm-hmm." His tone was teasing but not cruel.
He shifted his shopping basket to the other arm.
"So, how do you like the store? First time in a proper Japanese konbini? They've got some good onigiri if you haven't tried the tuna mayo yet. And listen… if you're free later, maybe we could grab something proper to eat? Or spar again. Your choice. I promise not to call you a robot this time."
The invitation hung in the air between them.
Lena opened her mouth, the words "I don't know" already forming on her tongue—
"Lena? There you are!" Her mother's voice rang out as she rounded the corner, carrying a small basket filled with green tea bottles and sakura-flavored chocolates.
Her mom's eyes lit up with instant recognition when they landed on Kaito.
"Oh my goodness! You're Kaito Suzuki, aren't you?" Her mother stepped forward enthusiastically, extending her hand. "I've seen your matches online. Very impressive! That wrestling final last year was incredible."
Kaito's demeanor shifted instantly into perfect politeness. The cocky fighter melted away, replaced by a well-mannered young man who clearly respected his elders.
He bowed his head slightly before shaking her mother's hand with a firm but gentle grip.
"Thank you, ma'am. It's nice to meet you. Kaito Suzuki."
Lena stood frozen beside them, wishing the neatly tiled floor would swallow her whole.
Her mother was positively glowing. "I'm Elena, Lena's mother. We're here for two months while she prepares for the World Championships. She's a black belt in judo, you know. Very talented."
"Mom," Lena warned under her breath, voice tight. "You can't just tell a stranger everything about me!?"
Her mother waved her off with the casual grace of someone who had raised a stubborn athlete.
"What? It's true. And you two already know each other from the gym since you wouldn't shut up about him… Kaito, would you be willing to help train my daughter? She's incredibly strong, but she could use someone with your wrestling and boxing background to round out her game. It would be wonderful for her preparation."
"Mom!" Lena hissed, mortified. Her hand went back to her earlobe, tugging harder this time.
The fluorescent lights suddenly felt blindingly bright. The cheerful store music mocked her.
Elena turned to her daughter with a meaningful look. "Lena, sweetheart, don't be rude. This is a good opportunity. You're always saying you need better training partners. Don't let pride get in the way. The Worlds are next month. You trained your whole life for this—don't waste any advantage."
Kaito watched the exchange with barely concealed amusement dancing in his eyes.
He looked back at Lena, his expression softening into something warmer, almost challenging.
"I'd be glad to help," he said smoothly. "Really. The gym has good hours, and I'd enjoy working with you."
Lena's jaw tightened. She glared at her mother, then at Kaito.
The summer heat outside seemed to seep into her skin, while inside she felt trapped between two stubborn forces: her well-meaning but pushy mother and the fluid, smirking boxer-wrestler who had already gotten under her skin.
"Great," she muttered through gritted teeth, forcing another tight smile. "Just… great."
Inside her head, the same word echoed on loop.
Goddammit.
This training arrangement was going to be a problem.