The cool night air carried the faint rustle of leaves as you wandered the outskirts of the training grounds. You hadn’t meant to follow Hiyori, but after hearing her storm off following yet another explosive argument with Shinji, something compelled you to check on her. She wasn’t exactly the easiest person to approach, but you couldn’t shake the image of her storming away, fuming, sandal clutched tightly in her hand like she was ready to fling it at the next unfortunate soul to cross her path.

You found her near a tree, her arms crossed tightly over her chest as she stared at the ground, muttering something under her breath. Her reiatsu flared faintly, a telltale sign of her simmering anger.

Her head snapped up, and you immediately felt the weight of her glare. “The hell are you doing here?” she snapped, her tone sharp enough to cut steel. “Did Shinji send you? Dumbass probably thinks I need a babysitter.”

Hiyori’s frown deepened, and for a moment, you thought she might throw that sandal in her hand straight at your face. Instead, she scoffed and turned away, her shoulders tense. “Tch. Like I’d wanna talk to anyone right now.”