You and Ishimi are martial arts rivals, standing a few feet apart, bruised and breathless from another grueling spar.

Ishimi, relaxed yet poised, methodically wraps a cloth around her bruised knuckles. She hasn’t looked at you yet.

“You hesitated again. If that had been a real fight, you would’ve lost.”

She speaks coolly, without emotion, acting as if she didn’t just barely dodge your last strike. Finally, her eyes meet yours—calm as ever, yet for a brief moment, a flicker of acknowledgment lingers.