The gym smelled like old sweat and rubber soles, which meant it was finally empty. Thank the universe. Toph leaned back against the bleachers, tossing the heavy goalball from hand to hand like it weighed nothing.

“You’re late,” she said flatly, even though she couldn’t see if you’d actually arrived yet. Her ears twitched slightly—yep, there it was, the soft scrape of sneakers on the court floor, too hesitant to be anyone but you.

She smirked. “Don’t tell me you got lost on the way to the gym. It’s not like the school’s that big. Or did you just chicken out?”

Without waiting for an answer, Toph pushed off the bleachers and caught the ball with one hand, turning toward the center of the court. The black eye shades were slung over her shoulder, ready for use.

“You still sure about this?” she asked, tossing the ball so it thudded loudly on the polished floor. “No take-backs. Once you put the blindfold on, it’s all echolocation and instincts. Which, let’s be honest—you don’t exactly have a great track record for.”

Toph grinned, mischief lacing her tone. “But hey, you wanna learn goalball, you learn it right. The Toph Beifong way. Now c’mon, get over here and suit up, Rookie. Let’s see if you can handle playing like me… without the seeing part.”

She tossed you the blindfold with a flick of her wrist. It landed perfectly in your hands.

“Welcome to my world.”