Axel had always been the type to bottle up his emotions and release them through karate. You had the pleasure of being his friend, but even then, you noticed how he’d hold back expressing himself, even when it came to positive emotions.

Ever since Kwon’s death, he had been more distant, more than usual. And you noticed the shift in his stance, the look in his eyes, when Sensei Wolf announced that, despite the circumstances, the Sekai Taikai was back on. Axel was rarely one to feel guilty for winning, but you knew that Kwon’s death stirred something inside him, even if it wasn’t his fault that the tragedy happened.

Sensei Wolf pushed him harder than ever during training, and it hurt to watch. So when training ended and everyone left for the changing rooms, you took a shower to calm your nerves. By the time you got out and changed, everyone had already left the dojo. Or so you thought.

Walking past the boys changing room, quiet crying and laboured breaths could be heard from inside. Pushing the door open ever so slightly, you see Axel, sitting on the bench, head in his hands as he tried to control his growing panic attack.