Kiriai knocked.

After being passed through by the guard at his post, Kiriai stood outside Akuto’s office, full of reluctance. But she couldn’t stand here forever.

“Enter,” came the muffled response from inside.

Kiriai slid the door open and stepped inside. Boss Akuto’s office was much less opulent than one would expect from the man who ruled their hood with unchallenged authority. He looked up from behind his desk. When his eyes widened slightly, Kiriai wished she’d had time to change first.

To her surprise, he stood and stepped out from behind his desk with a predatory grace that reminded Kiriai that he’d once been a fighter himself.

“Let’s sit over here,” he said as he led the way to the seating area on the other side of his office suite. Four chairs were arranged on a colorful rug and the afternoon sun streamed in through the large picture window, giving the area a warm, toasty feeling. Kiriai waited until Boss Akuto had chosen a seat, before picking the one directly opposite and farthest from him.

She tried to quiet the unease she felt in the presence of the boss, especially wearing Shisen’s dress. In the past, they’d always conducted their business across his desk, their roles clearly delineated. Friendliness from a boss didn’t always bode well.

Kiriai almost reached up to feel for Boss Akuto’s personal token hanging from a chain under the front of her dress. Just the comforting weight of it helped remind her that Boss Akuto trusted her. Maybe the informal seating arrangement was his way of showing it.

“Relax, young scrapper,” said the boss in an even tone, his expression, as usual, giving nothing away. “While your rapid rise in the ranks has gathered attention, good and bad, you’ve proven your loyalty to me enough times to have my support and protection.”

Kiriai let out a slow breath and forced herself to lean back into the warm cushions of the comfortable armchair. Remembering Sento’s advice, she reminded herself to maintain control and keep her thoughts from showing on her face. Encounters with the boss could often be like verbal arena battles, with stakes just as high.

“First, I’d like to assure you I know exactly how much you have worked and sacrificed for our hood. If anyone deserves some time off, it would be you. However, as I’m sure you know, Raibaru outnumbers us in this war and we need every fighter we have.” He paused and looked out the window for a minute without speaking.

Foreboding filled Kiriai.

Boss Akuto turned his penetrating dark eyes back to her. “Because of your loyalty and service, I am presenting a choice to you instead of ordering you to comply. Understand?”

Kiriai swallowed and gave him the nod he seemed to expect. Despite his words, Kiriai knew refusing a request from the boss was never a good idea.

“I’d like you to be one of the sixteen tributes we send to the brawler tournament this year.”

Shock slammed into Kiriai and her jaw dropped. So much for remaining inscrutable. The boss seemed to expect this response, because he explained further.

“Chief Kosui requires we send scrappers as tribute to the brawler tournament next week. At the end of the tournament, he will choose eight of the top scrappers and promote them to brawler. Any Jitaku fighters in that number will move to the burb capital, and there’s nothing I can do about it.” He paused and seemed to expect a response from her. She gave him a nod even though everything he said was common knowledge.

“You may not know the politics involved in choosing which scrapper we send. We don’t want to lose any of our fighters during a war, especially our best ones. Instead, we play this game every year, trying to send tribute fighters with enough skill to be acceptable to the chief while keeping a few of our best here to help the hood. I know it’s not fair to the ambitions of the individual fighter, but our scrappers have always been willing to make sacrifices for our home. And I am known for rewarding loyalty.”

This time Kiriai did a better job of keeping her face straight. The more she learned about maneuvers outside the ring, the more she longed for the simplicity of just fighting. She knew what Sento would say. He loved to say scrappers did more fighting outside the ring than inside.

“This is important for our hood this year. We cannot afford to lose any fighters, much less any of our best. That’s why I am asking, not ordering, you to be part of the tribute this year.”

It felt like a slap in the face. He wanted her to go as tribute so he could keep the fighters he truly valued? Her control, never that great in the first place, slipped again, and she scoffed in disgust. Kiriai immediately wished to take it back.

But instead of reacting in anger to her disrespect, Boss Akuto tipped his head back and laughed. Kiriai risked a half smile in response.

“Never change around me, Scrapper Kiriai,” said Akuto when he stopped laughing. “While I value your loyalty most of all, you’re one of the few people brave enough to let me know how you truly feel. I find it refreshing.”

Deciding there wasn’t much use in hiding her feelings now, Kiriai spoke her mind. “You want me to go to the brawler tournament to keep your better fighters safe at home?” Kiriai couldn’t help the note of hurt in her voice. It was never pleasant to find out your leader considered you expendable. Sento had been right to warn her.

“Not exactly. You are one of my best fighters, and normally, I would ask you to throw a few fights to drop your ranking so I could hide you here at home. However, you have a unique characteristic that makes you the perfect choice as a tribute.”

Kiriai knew she must look confused. She kept quiet until the boss finished explaining.

“Burb Chief Kosui hates you with a passion after you personally challenged him last year. That makes you special. He can’t deny you a spot in the tournament, but he can refuse to choose you as one of his newest brawlers. That means if you can fight your way to the final selection circle, you can take the place of one of our top fighters and keep them out of the chief’s clutches without getting chosen yourself.”

The boss stopped talking and leaned back in his chair, waiting. Kiriai appreciated the chance to digest the information.

“You want me to fight to the top of the brawler tournament? That’s almost impossible. Even if I can manage that, you’re asking me to stand face-to-face with Chief Kosui in the selection circle?” Kiriai’s voice rose in disbelief.

“I know it’s a risk to bring yourself to his attention again.”

“Not just to me, but Ojisan and everyone close to me. I’m sure you heard Chief Kosui sent Scrapper Sagi and his whole family to the farms after he lost the challenge to me last fall. His only crime was angering the chief, something I really don’t want to do again.” Kiriai couldn’t keep herself from shaking her head, trying not to feel hurt that Boss Akuto would be so willing to put her in danger again. “This sounds more like one of Jaaku’s plans, not yours.”

A muscle twitched in Akuto’s face and suspicion bloomed inside Kiriai.

“This was Jaaku’s idea?” Outrage filled her voice, and she barely managed to stay seated. “That man is on a single-minded mission to hurt me and my family. I can’t believe you still trust him as your second. How can you let him suck you into his schemes against me again? After everything my grandfather and I have done for you?”

Kiriai knew immediately that she’d gone too far, even if she’d spoken the truth. A hard light filled Akuto’s eyes and his expression was calm, always a dangerous sign.

To her surprise, though, her boss didn’t speak and as the silence stretched, Kiriai saw the tight anger in his eyes fade.

“I’m sorry,” she said, dropping her gaze. “I spoke out of turn. I should be able to speak the truth without being disrespectful.”

“And I should be able to control my underlings and fulfill my promise of protection to you.”

Surprised, Kiriai looked up.

Akuto remained just as controlled, relaxed in his chair while Kiriai practically bounced out of hers in agitation.

“While Jaaku made suggestions in this matter, giving you the choice is my idea. I will always reward loyalty.” He gave a slight shrug of one shoulder. “Jaaku has been loyal to me for decades and has earned an extra chance. What he did to your grandfather last fall used that chance.”

A thrill rushed through Kiriai. It was the first time she’d heard Akuto acknowledge Jaaku’s deception. Her greatest hope in that moment was that Jaaku would mess up one more time, just one more. Then she cringed inwardly and amended her wish: a mistake that didn’t involve her or her family this time.

“Back to the matter at hand,” said Akuto, finished with the previous topic. “We have all sacrificed for our hood, you more than many. Because of this, I began by informing you of your choice. I am requesting this of you, not ordering it. Your choice.”

Kiriai stilled and looked at the stoic expression of her leader. The lines of age didn’t diminish the power he projected at all. She met his gaze, trying to decipher whether he truly meant to give her a choice or if it was just for form’s sake. One of his eyebrows lifted, but he continued to wait patiently for her response.

Kiriai forced her emotions aside and tried to analyze the situation logically. Could she really go back to Southern Core and put herself within Chief Kosui’s reach again? Just to save one more fighter for her hood? She tried to think of all the pros and cons of her decision. Something tugged at her and she followed the thread of thought, her gaze falling on her dress.

Sento! Chagrin filled her. She’d been about to make the same mistake she’d judged him for, making an important career decision without considering how it would affect him.

“Can I ask a question, Boss?”

He nodded.

Kiriai couldn’t think of a subtle way to get the information she needed, so she just blurted out the question. “Will you choose Scrapper Sento for the tribute also? I couldn’t accept if I’d be taking his spot.”

Akuto’s brows rose and Kiriai hurried to explain. “We’re in a relationship and being a brawler is a dream of his. I don’t know how”—she stuttered, trying to find the right words to explain herself—“what he would do if I’m chosen and he—”

The boss raised a hand and Kiriai gratefully stopped speaking.

“The decision I am asking you to make has to be yours, and yours alone. I understand you care for this boy, but the needs of our hood have to outweigh the needs of an individual.”

That didn’t help Kiriai at all. Another moment passed as her thoughts bounced from one implication and consequence to another.

“If it will ease your mind, I will take your boyfriend into consideration. However, I haven’t finalized the choices and can’t guarantee anything.” Akuto cleared his throat and leaned forward. “I know this is a big decision for you, so I will give you the evening to make it. Go home. Speak to your grandfather. I will send a messenger for your decision after the evening meal.”

Without another word, Boss Akuto stood, tipped his head to her in dismissal and turned to move back toward his desk. Mind whirling, Kiriai backed toward the door and gave a short bow in the boss’s direction before leaving.

She only had a few hours to decide and had no idea how to do it.