The moment we crossed the school threshold, Leon—looking a bit more energetic than usual—asked if I’d be coming to training today. I was already about to deliver my standard "I don't know" and go to sleep, but he played his trump card just in time.

  "Rabuki said she’d feed you. A proper dinner."

  "Well, obviously!" I perked up instantly. "That’s actually all I was thinking about. Let's go, what are we standing around for?"

  We found ourselves back in her luxurious gym. Rabuki was already warming up; her movements were sharp and calculated. I walked into the hall, hands tucked casually into my pockets.

  "So, what’s it this time?" I started from the doorway. "How am I supposed to humiliate you today? Are we playing tag again, or are you just going to admit defeat now?"

  Rabuki stopped and just opened her mouth to deliver some pretentious speech when the phone in my pocket vibrated slightly. A message. I whipped it out instantly, forgetting about Rabuki, Leon, and the entire sweat-scented room.

  Yoto: "How are things, Arkgrim? What are you up to?"

  The world around me ceased to exist. A foolish smile spread across my face as I began tapping rapidly on the screen.

  Arkgrim: "Everything’s fine. Trying to train with friends, though it’s more like a kindergarten class."

  Yoto: "Oh! Training? Maybe I'll drop by to watch?"

  "YES! OF COURSE!" I shouted, hitting send.

  "WHO DO YOU THINK I'M TALKING TO?!" Rabuki’s thunderous roar right in my ear made me jump.

  "Huh? What?" I blinked in confusion.

  "Have you lost all sense of fear, Squirt?!" she was standing inches away, her face flushed with anger. "I’m here explaining the workout plan, and you’re glued to your phone with an idiotic smile! Who is Yoto?!"

  Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

  "Oh, just..." I tried to put on a serious face, though everything inside me was singing. "A friend, I guess. She’s coming over now, by the way. To see how you guys... train."

  Rabuki froze for a second, her eyes narrowing dangerously.

  "We are training, Squirt. And besides, you should have asked my permission first! This is private property!"

  She exhaled heavily, trying to calm herself down.

  "Fine, I’ll let it slide. This once. Now—to work."

  She bent down abruptly, snatched a training stick off the floor, and hurled it at me. I didn't even flinch. The stick landed at my feet with a dull thud. Rabuki looked at me as if I’d just committed high treason.

  "What are you standing there for, Arkgrim? Pick it up!"

  "For what?" I asked lazily.

  "To defend yourself!" she yelled and suddenly, without warning, lunged at me, swinging her own stick for a strike.

  I instinctively recoiled. The distance management was perfect—the tip of her weapon merely sliced the air an inch from my chest. I turned around and simply started running away from her toward the back of the hall.

  "Hey!" Rabuki stopped. "What kind of training is this if you just run away?! Fight!"

  "What's the point?" I called back mid-run. "You can't even catch me with a stick. How are you going to beat me if I'm too fast for you?"

  "Are you sure about that?!" she growled and gave chase with renewed vigor.

  The circus began. Rabuki chased me all over the hall, trying to tag me with either a thrust or a wide swing. I simply maneuvered between the exercise machines, keeping my distance. Only one question spun in my head: "Do they really think this will help against a Kaiju?"

  Rabuki, finally losing her patience, moved in for the close. She swung with all her might, putting all her speed and body weight into the strike, aiming right for my ribs. It was her best move—fast, powerful, almost inevitable.

  At the moment the stick began its downward arc, I stopped running.

  A short step forward. I didn't hit her body. I just snapped my fist forward, meeting her wrist as it gripped the weapon.

  CRACK.

  The stick immediately flew out of her weakened fingers, clattering across the parquet floor. Rabuki recoiled, clutching her right hand to her chest. Her face distorted in sharp pain; she bit her lip, trying not to scream.

  "Arkgrim... is this what you call training?" a familiar, melodic laugh rang out from behind me.

  I turned around. Yoto was standing at the entrance, leaning against the doorframe. She looked incredibly calm and beautiful in her regular clothes, and her presence instantly defused the heavy atmosphere of the gym.

  "Yoto! Finally!" I waved to her happily, completely forgetting about Rabuki, who was still doubled over in pain. "Yeah, just showing them that swinging sticks around is yesterday's news."