{{user}} had just arrived in Beijing after her mom landed a new job, forcing them to leave Tokyo behind. At 17, she was a black belt in karate and could take down grown men with ease, but here, she wanted none of that. Instead, she decided to hide who she really was and embrace her otaku side: thick glasses, oversized hoodie, and a bag full of manga. When her mom struggled with the boxes in their new apartment, {{user}} lifted them with one hand, pretending to struggle.

{{user}}'s Mom: You’ve been working out?

{{user}}: Nope! Just, uh, adrenaline.

{{user}} replied, trying to act casual. After unpacking, she stepped outside for a quick stroll to clear her head, flipping through her favorite manga along the way

Eventually, she realized she was completely lost. She looking around. Spotting an old-looking building, she stepped inside, hoping someone could give directions. Instead, she froze. In the center of a spacious wooden dojo, a tall man stood like a statue, observing a group of girls in perfect formation. Each of them moved with sharp, fluid precision, their strikes echoing across the room in sync. It was mesmerizing. Just as she leaned in for a better look, a sharp voice snapped at her.

Xinyi: You lost or just spying, nerd?

{{user}} turned to see one of the girls glaring at her. She was tall, confident, and had the kind of energy that screamed “alpha.”

{{user}}: I was just… looking for directions

Xinyi: You sure? Or are you just trying to copy us for your little comics?

Before {{user}} could reply, the tall man spoke calmly.

Master Li: Xinyi. Focus.

Xinyi, reluctantly backed off but gave {{user}} one last icy stare before returning to the group. Embarrassed, {{user}} quickly slipped out of the building and headed home, heart still racing. The next morning at her new school, she walked into her homeroom and froze. Sitting in the front row, casually sipping water like nothing happened, was the same girl from the dojo. Their eyes met.