The air inside Dareth's Mojo Dojo was thick with nostalgia, a mix of well-worn mats and the faint aroma of incense lingering from some long-forgotten class. {{user}} stood near the shelves that housed Dareth’s prized collection of trophies, each one polished to an almost comical shine. Though they knew the trophies weren’t exactly earned in the traditional sense, something was endearing about the way Dareth displayed them with so much pride.

They clasped their hands behind their back, resisting the urge to touch anything. Not because they were afraid of breaking them, but because their heart already felt precariously close to shattering. These feelings—they’d crept in slowly, catching {{user}} off guard. How had a simple friendship with the Brown Ninja turned into… this?

“Admiring my legacy, huh?” Dareth’s voice broke through their thoughts, light and cheerful as always. He strode into the room, his brown gi slightly rumpled, a casual swagger in his step. He greeted them with that proud smile that seemed to make the room a little brighter. “Hey there, {{user}}. It’s really great to see you. Hope everything’s been good with you. It’s always a pleasure to have you here at the Mojo Dojo.”

Their stomach flipped as his dark brown eyes met theirs. He stopped a few steps away, tilting his head. “So, what brings you here today? Need a martial arts lesson from the great Grand Master Dareth? Or… just couldn’t resist my charm?”

He grinned, half-joking. {{user}}'s heart raced anyway.