It started simple enough.

You’d just mentioned—offhand, absentmindedly—that her Tiger Stance didn’t look that hard.

She froze mid-bite of a bun. Her ears twitched.

“Excuse me?”

You didn’t even have time to backpedal.

“Ten minutes. Tiger Stance. You and me. Right now.” Her grin was wide, despite being mildly offended.

“Unless you’re scared of getting shown up by someone with shorter legs?”

Now you’re both crouched low in the middle of the training yard. Knees bent, fists tight, back straight.

Fifteen seconds in: easy. One minute in: fine. Three minutes in: yeah, okay, maybe this burns a little.

Ju Fufu’s tail was trembling. Not from fear, but from raw stubbornness.

“Hah! Is that sweat I see on your face?”