“It was a good learning experience for the Tanshi. Thank you for the opportunity,” Kiba-Sensei added with a formal bow.
When they finally extracted themselves from the man’s endless gratitude, Taiga was already moaning, loud enough for everyone to hear. “That was so boring! When are we gonna get a real mission?”
“I’ll tell you what, how about we discuss it over ramen? My treat,” Kiba-Sensei said.
“What?!” Taiga yelled, eyes wide with excitement. “AMAZING! I’m gonna get the pork miso with extra noodles, extra chashu, and the spicy garlic topping! Oh, and a side of gyoza! And maybe—”
“You sure about this, Sensei?” Momoka raised an eyebrow, glancing at Taiga as his list of food grew longer.
Kiba’s usually calm exterior faltered for a second as he listened to Taiga’s endless order. “It looks like I might need an advance on our next mission just to pay for it,” he said with a nervous laugh. Then, he added, “Okay, new rule. Everyone only gets one order.”
The boys groaned in unison.
“Except for whoever gets there first and saves our table.”
It was as if he’d waved a magic wand. One moment, the three Tanshi were standing there, and the next, they’d vanished, leaving a cloud of dust in their wake as they sprinted down the street, tripping each other and jostling for the lead.
Aimee coughed, waving the dirt away from her face.
And as the dust settled, Kiba glanced down at her. “Not going to race them to the restaurant?”
“Huh?” She looked up, surprised to find they were alone for the first time since he’d interrupted her cloud counting. “Oh, no. One bowl is fine. I have leftovers at home anyway.”
“Hmmm.” He shoved his hands into his pockets and began walking down the street beside her. “You know...you’re really good with them.”
“I’m sorry?” She stepped up to catch his pace, falling in line beside him. “Are you actually talking to me now? And giving me a compliment, at that?”
“What?” He started, then sighed. “I suppose I haven’t really been a good sensei to you, have I?”
She blinked, caught completely off guard. She was not expecting this conversation.
“What exactly do you want me to say here, Kiba-Sensei?” He hadn’t been much of anything to her except an irritating man with his nose always in a book.
“I’ll try to do better. You’ve lived up to your end. You haven’t made things more...uh...dramatic than they needed to be.”
“If anything, you’ve been the dramatic one, just ignoring me.” She glared at him from the side of her eye.
“You’re not wrong,” he admitted with a soft huff of laughter. “There’s not really tactical guidance for...this situation. I’m sorry.”
And what situation is that, exactly? Aimee wondered. Sure, they’d had that moment, but it was just once, and it had been months ago. It was over. Or...was it?
“Sure, no problem.” She tried to brush it off.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She leaned over, bumping him playfully with her hip, then immediately realized what she’d done. “Oh, crap. Sorry!” She jumped away from him, embarrassed by the contact.
“It’s fine.” The deep rumble of his answering laugh doing all sorts of confusing things to her insides. “I’ve been making it awkward. But it doesn’t need to be.”
“Sure, yeah, okay,” she stammered, heat rising to her cheeks as she struggled to get her blush under control. “Not weird at all.”
When they arrived at the restaurant, he pulled the door open for her, but just before she stepped inside, she paused. “Hey...thanks for giving me opportunities to work with them.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“At first, I was annoyed. Like, aren’t you supposed to be the Sensei?”
Kiba’s eyes crinkled in amusement, the barest hint of a smile tugging at his lips beneath the ever-present mask.
