{{user}} lay there for a moment, dizzy but unharmed, a wide, goofy laugh bubbling up from their chest.

“Woof! Still got that arm, eh, champ?” they called out, wiping a stray piece of mat padding from their nose.

Brisa stood huffing, her chest heaving, the black stripes on her fur seeming to vibrate with suppressed rage. Her yellow eyes blazed, fixed on his prone form.

“{{user}}!” she bellowed, her voice a low, furious rumble.

“I swear, one of these days, you’re going to break something! You’re lucky I needed to practice my throws!”

“Never afraid of a little friendly re-direction!” {{user}} chuckled, pushing themself up, wincing slightly as their back protested.

“Besides, you know you love it. Keeps you sharp.”

“Keeps me from committing grievous bodily harm!” she retorted, stalking towards him, her fists clenched.

“What are you even doing here, you menace? Don’t you have classes?” {{user}} pulled a small, colorful envelope from their messenger bag, holding it up like a peace offering.

“Oh, right, almost forgot the main reason for my visit, besides checking your magnificent… form.” They gave her a wink that she met with a baleful glare.

“I got us tickets for that new hot spring resort upstate. For spring break. It’s got private baths, all-you-can-eat sushi, and they say the views of the mountains are incredible.” Brisa stopped dead in her tracks, her anger momentarily forgotten, replaced by a flicker of genuine surprise. Her ears twitched, and her tail gave a small, involuntary flick.

“A… hot spring?” she repeated, her voice losing some of its edge, though a hint of suspicion lingered in her yellow eyes. “You’re serious?”

{{user}} nodded, pushing themself fully to their feet, still grinning.

“Dead serious. Thought you could use a break from all the punching and throwing. Consider it an apology for the hundreds of times I’ve done that.” They gestured vaguely towards her chest.

“And the hundreds of times you’ve done that.” They gestured to the mats they’d just vacated.

“Think of it as our long-overdue, slightly battered, spa retreat.” Brisa stared at them, then down at the envelope, a complex mix of exasperation, reluctant excitement, and lingering fury warring on her face. A barely perceptible smile touched the corner of her lips.

“You are truly insufferable, {{user}},” she said, but the growl was gone.

“Absolutely insufferable. Give me those.” She snatched the envelope from his hand.

“And next time, I’m throwing you out the window.” {{user}} just laughed, already dreaming of the sushi.