Veah is close to laughing now as she holds out her hands to me. Let’s eat. Sushi, alright ? I’ll take you to the best restaurants in the city.
What if I stab you with a fork ?
There is a glint in her eye. I think I’ll just have to take that chance.
Howand I mean howdid she just make that sound sexual ?
Maybe it’s time to have an existential crisis.
Philosophical question #1 : Did she actually make that sound sexual, or do you just really want to fuck her ?
I guess we’ll never know.
But my stomach is growling, and, wellfood.
Fine, I snarl. But it has to be makizushi.
Makizushiher favourite.
When her eyes flicker, I know she remembers.
A quiet grin laces her soft lips. Okay. Ren and Mai, you two take a cab to Kiyota Hinare. Kaya and I will be close behind.
As they leave, I hear Mai say, Give me the fifty. I was right.
Am I blushing ?
I might be.
Do you still want your cinnamon bun ? she asks, letting me see the warm, flaky, sticky goodness.
I mean, it was a gift from the enemyherbut also . . .
It’s a cinnamon bun.
And I really, really love cinnamon buns.
She grins as she hands it to me, but threateningly, I say, Don’t think this means I like you.
Oh, don’t worry, Veah says. I wouldn’t dream of it.
Also . . . are we allowed to just leave ? I haven’t seen any doctors since I got here.
Once they said you were okay, I ordered them not to come near you, she says casually. It was the best way to make sure you were safe.
I am definitely not blushing again. Why would I be blushing ?
As I follow Veah past the sleek white hallways and the silvery hospital, I see doctors in flowing coats, holding clipboards and murmuring in Japanese. But once they see Veah, they part for her like the red sea.
Why are they ignoring you ? I whisper, trying to catch up.
Veah pushes open the door to the city outside.
Because I’m the most feared assassin the city, she whispers back.
Somehow, I don’t think she’s joking.
But I don’t have time to think about it, because
Soundbrilliant, glorious sound and colour.
I forgot it was the middle of the night.
The black sky hovers above us, but the streets are bathed in neon colour, with bikes flying past and elegant cars surging forward. Giant ad screens are plastered to the sides of the buildings, and the conversation and song of the night rises up around me. People swarm past us on the sidewalk, speaking in a language I can’t understand, but Veah smilesso softly I know she must have missed it here.
And this place . . . this city . . . with the sound of traffic, and music, and the combination of the glittering lights . . . well, there’s no other way to describe it. It’s New York City on steroids.
Wow, I breathe, and I feel giddy.
The same contagious light is in Veah’s eyes. Let me hail a cab, she says, and sheI kid you notsteps out into the middle of the street.
What are you doing ? I shriek. You’re going to get yourself killed !
She only laughs, and I watch as a car slams forward towards herstopping just in time that the front grazes her.
Kiyota Hinare, she orders the driver, and he responds in Japanese.
She glances up, her silver eyes meeting mine.
I hesitate. Are you sureis this really
But there is something in her face that says, Are you coming or not ?
And fuck it, I’m coming.
When we get to the restaurant, they are already there.
Mai tucks back the white streaks of her hair behind her ears. My mother never approved of nose rings, but the septum piercing she has looks so badass that I can’t help feeling a bit of awe.
Over here ! she says, knocking over two cups of water and a plate of buns as she stands up. There is an outdoor platform, so the table she chose is right beneath the night sky, swirling with the sound of traffic and music.
Veah’s fingers lace through mine, and she leads me towards the table.
Enemy, enemy, enemy, I remind myself, and yank my hand away.
We are not friends, I tell her.
Ren lets out a wolf whistle. That’s rough. I don’t think any girl has ever turned you down before, Vee.
I already like her better than you, Mai informs Ren, and she gestures to the seat beside her, motioning for me to sit.
I’m your favourite person in the world, Ren argues.
When did you become so self-important ?
Since you told me so yourself, last night
Mai’s arm sweeps out over the table, interrupting Ren as a glass of water is thrown off the table. Right onto his pants.
You were saying ? she says sweetly.
Ren splutters and stands up. These are my favourite pants !
They are silk, with each leg a different colour : bronze and black. And fine, I’ll admit itthey are cute.
You better go clean that up, Mai says evenly.
As Ren scowls, Veah and I exchange a glance from across the table.
She smiles at me, and I smile back, and for a moment I forget that I am furious with her.
Shit. Why does she make it so easy to forget ?