CHAPTER 195: SATURDAY DECISION

The emergency board meeting was in the administration building’s formal conference room. Kofi arrived at one-thirty with Nina, both dressed more formally than usual.

"You clean up nice," Nina said, adjusting his tie.

"Feel like I’m going to a funeral."

"Don’t be morbid."

The hallway outside the conference room was crowded. Other martial arts program leaders, Tanaka-sensei and visiting senseis, even some competitors from yesterday’s tournament.

"Word spread," Alex explained. "People wanted to be here."

Dean Morrison appeared. "The board is deliberating. They’ll call you in when ready."

"Any hints about which way they’re leaning?"

"Several members were impressed by yesterday’s tournament. Others remain focused on financial benefits of Brennan’s proposal."

"So it could go either way."

"It could."

They waited. One forty-five. One fifty. One fifty-five.

At exactly two PM, the conference room door opened.

"Mr. Dameire, please come in. You may bring two others."

Kofi looked at Nina and Tanaka-sensei. They followed him in.

The conference room was imposing. A long table with board members on one side, three chairs on the other. Brennan sat in the corner, looking confident.

"Be seated," the board chair said. An older woman with sharp eyes.

Kofi sat in the middle chair, Nina and Tanaka-sensei flanking him.

"We’ve called this emergency session to address the situation regarding the kendo dojo building," the chair began. "Yesterday’s tournament was... enlightening. As was certain information that’s come to our attention."

She looked directly at Brennan. "Mr. Brennan, would you care to explain your private meeting with board members?"

Brennan’s confidence cracked. "I don’t know what you mean."

"We have video evidence of you meeting with three board members to discuss predetermined outcomes. Those members have recused themselves from this decision."

Kofi glanced at Nina. She looked carefully neutral.

"Furthermore," the chair continued, "we’ve discovered concerning connections between your company and criminal elements previously associated with this university."

"That’s slander," Brennan said.

"It’s documented fact. We’ve been in contact with federal investigators who are very interested in your financial structures."

Brennan stood. "This is ridiculous. I’m offering five million dollars for improvement."

"You’re offering a bribe disguised as development," another board member said. "We’ve seen your real plans. No athletic complex. Just commercial development that benefits your investors."

"You can’t prove that."

"We don’t need to. We’re declining your offer."

Brennan’s face went red. "You’ll regret this."

"Is that a threat?" the chair asked mildly.

Brennan grabbed his briefcase and stormed out.

The room was quiet for a moment.

"Now," the chair said, "regarding the dojo’s future."

Kofi held his breath.

"The building will receive historical designation. Furthermore, we’re allocating additional funds for necessary maintenance and improvements."

Relief flooded through Kofi so hard he almost collapsed.

"However," the chair continued, "there are conditions."

’Here it comes.’

"The building must serve the entire community, not just martial arts programs. We want expanded offerings - self-defense classes for the public, youth programs, cultural events."

"We can do that," Kofi said immediately.

"Additionally, we want student leadership to formalize. Create an official board to oversee the facility’s use."

"That’s reasonable."

"Good. Then we’re agreed. The dojo is preserved."

Kofi felt Nina’s hand squeeze his under the table.

"Thank you," he managed to say.

"Don’t thank us. Thank the community that showed up yesterday. That demonstration of support was impossible to ignore."

They were dismissed. Kofi walked out in a daze.

The hallway erupted when they emerged. Word spread instantly - they’d won.

"We did it!" Ruby was crying and laughing simultaneously.

Jake was running calculations. "With additional funding, we can upgrade equipment, expand programs..."

Yuna stood apart from the celebration, a small smile on her face.

"You okay?" Kofi asked her.

"I’m glad. This is the right outcome."

"But?"

"But now I really am leaving. This was my last fight here."

"There’ll be others."

"Not like this. Not with these people."

The celebration moved to the dojo. Someone had brought speakers, and music filled the space. It was chaotic and joyful and slightly surreal.

"I can’t believe we won," Nina said, pulling Kofi aside.

"We didn’t just win. We destroyed Brennan. How did the board know about his connections?"

Nina smiled. "Remember that video Kevin leaked? He might have also sent some research to federal investigators."

"That’s dangerous."

"That’s journalism."

Dean Morrison appeared in the doorway. She watched the celebration with a satisfied expression.

"My father would be happy," she told Kofi. "He built this place to last. Now it will."

"Thank you for your support."

"Thank yourselves. You did the work."

As evening approached, the crowd gradually dispersed. Only the core team remained.

"So what now?" Ruby asked.

"Now we build what we promised," Kofi said. "Community programs, expanded access, formal leadership structure."

"Sounds like a lot of work," Jake said.

"When has that ever stopped us?"

They spent the next hour planning, even though they were exhausted. Ideas for programs, organizational structure, funding sources.

"I can help with setup before I leave," Yuna offered.

"When’s your flight?"

"Thursday."

Five days. Another goodbye approaching.

"We should have a proper sendoff," Nina said.

"No parties. I hate parties."

"Not a party. A gathering. Small."

"We’ll see."

They cleaned up the dojo together one last time as just their small group. Monday would bring new responsibilities, new challenges.

"I’m proud of us," Ruby said suddenly.

Everyone looked at her.

"We keep doing impossible things. Saving programs, fighting corruption, building community. We’re just college students, but we keep winning fights we shouldn’t be able to win."

"We’re too stubborn to lose," Nina said.

"Or too stupid to know when we’re beaten," Jake added.

"Same thing," Kofi said.

They locked up the dojo and walked home together. The campus was quiet, most students out celebrating the end of another week.

"You know Brennan won’t give up," Yuna said. "People like him don’t accept defeat."

"Then we’ll be ready for round two," Kofi replied.

"We?"

"The royal we. Whoever’s still here to fight."

At the apartment, Kofi and Nina collapsed on the couch.

"We should celebrate," Nina said without moving.

"This is celebrating."

"Sitting exhausted on a couch?"

"Sitting exhausted and victorious on a couch."

Nina’s phone buzzed. She looked at it and frowned.

"What’s wrong?"

"Email from the fellowship program. They want to know my final decision."

"Oh." Kofi had almost forgotten about that in the chaos of the week. "When do you have to tell them?"

"Monday."

"Have you decided?"

Nina was quiet for a long moment. "Yeah. I have."

She didn’t elaborate, and Kofi didn’t push. Whatever she’d decided, they’d deal with it together.

"For tonight, can we just be happy we won?" she asked.

"Yeah. We can do that."

They sat together in comfortable silence, the dojo saved, the immediate crisis past. Outside, normal college life continued - parties, study groups, the usual rhythm of campus.

But in their small apartment, two unlikely heroes were finally allowing themselves a moment of peace.

Tomorrow would bring new challenges. It always did. But tonight, they’d won.

And that was enough.