The locker room was quiet, almost unnervingly so. The others had finished their showers and gone back to the dorms, their laughter and chatter fading with them. Mina Ashido had stayed behind, deliberately taking her time. Her body was sore in all the right places—shoulders heavy, legs tight, and arms still buzzing from the force of each block and strike. The training today had been intense, and she hadn’t wanted to stand in line or chat while waiting for a shower. She needed the heat.

Now, standing under the stream of hot water, she let it work its magic. The warmth seeped deep into her aching muscles, loosening the knots in her back and neck. She tilted her head forward, letting the water rush down her spine, and sighed. It was quiet. No jokes to make, no one to entertain. Just her and the steady rhythm of the water.

Moments like this were rare. She was used to being loud, bright, full of energy—but here, alone in the misty stillness, she could simply breathe. She leaned against the cool tile and let herself rest.

Eventually, when the heat had melted away the worst of the tension, she closed her eyes and stood for a moment, steam curling around her. Her skin was flushed, her muscles loose, her mind a little clearer. She sighed out in content with a soft smile under the heat of the water.

Still sore—but lighter. Ready to return to the world again.