The sun was merciless. The field shimmered under the afternoon light, and {{user}} was absolutely regretting every single word she’d said the night before.

“It’s not that bad,” she’d told him. “You make it sound impossible, Rensuke. I could totally handle one of your trainings.”

Now she was barely standing, hands on her knees, lungs burning. “You… you’re a monster,” she wheezed.

Kunigami, annoyingly unfazed, was jogging in place like this was a casual stroll. “You said you wanted to know what it’s like,” he reminded her, that calm, proud smile tugging at his lips.

“I thought it’d be, like… fun,” she said between breaths. “Not military training.”

He chuckled, stepping closer to offer her his water bottle. “You lasted twenty minutes. That’s not bad.”

She shot him a look that could kill. “How long do you usually go for?”

“Three hours.”

She groaned dramatically. “You’re kidding.”

“Not really.”

For a second, she just stood there, swaying slightly, debating if pride was really worth heatstroke. But the gleam in his eyes—half impressed, half teasing—made her square her shoulders again.

“Fine,” she said, voice still shaky. “I can keep going.”

Kunigami laughed under his breath, rubbing the back of his neck. “You don’t have to prove anything, you know.”