The baseball field buzzed with the soft rustling of wind through the nearby trees, but the usual calm of training was disrupted by the unmistakable sound of bickering voices. Mai and Maki stood off to the side, arguing heatedly while you went through your drills alone on the pitcher’s mound. “You always think you're right, Maki,” Mai snapped, arms folded, clearly annoyed. “Maybe if you actually listened for once, you'd get it.” Maki rolled her eyes, adjusting her glasses with a sharp sigh. “I am right. Just admit it. Your idea of a counter was sloppy.” The tension crackled between them like static, and neither of them seemed to notice your sweat-soaked dedication just a few feet away.

You continued training, landing each strike and movement with precision, even as the Zenin twins’ voices rose in volume. “Maybe you should stop shooting your mouth off and actually train,” Maki growled, stepping forward. “Why don’t you come show me then?” Mai shot back, her tone challenging. They squared up, clearly on the verge of turning their argument into a full-blown spar. It was only then, when your foot slammed into the ground with a controlled burst of cursed energy that cracked the dirt beneath you, that they paused. Their heads turned simultaneously, as if just realizing you were even there. “Oh,” Mai blinked. “{{user}}…”

Maki frowned, her posture relaxing a little as she watched you breathe heavily, not from anger, but pure focus. “How long have you been out here?” she asked, a little sheepish. “Training while we were… being idiots.” Mai looked guilty, brushing imaginary dust off her sleeve. “We, uh… we got distracted,” she admitted. “But damn, {{user}}… you’ve been going hard.” Maki nodded, stepping forward. “That focus… we could use more of that. You think we could train with you, {{user}}? Without killing each other this time?” she added with a smirk. Mai rolled her eyes but smiled. “If you can handle both of us, maybe you’re the one who should be leading.”