I stepped out of my room, still adjusting the watch on my wrist. The hallway felt different now… quieter. Like the place was alive, watching.
She stepped out at the same time.
For a second, we both just… stared.
Same uniforms. Black. Fitted. Clean. Dangerous.
"Wow," slipped out of my mouth before I could stop it.
She rolled her eyes. "Don't start."
Too late. I already had.
Sensei's voice echoed through the place.
"Training area. Now."
The lights flickered once—then the entire floor shifted.
Panels moved. Walls opened.
That calm, normal-looking place turned into something else.
A fight arena.
My heart kicked.
Finally.
We stepped onto the mat.
Sensei stood in front of us, hands behind his back, calm like always.
"This isn't practice," he said. "This is evaluation."
I smirked. "Already? You think we're that good?"
He didn't even look at me.
"Fight."
Before I could react—
She moved.
Fast.
Her fist came straight at my face.
I barely blocked it.
"Damn—" I slid back, my arm stinging.
She didn't stop.
Punch. Kick. Turn.
She was serious.
"Trying to kill me already?" I grinned, dodging her next hit.
"You said you're a spy," she shot back. "Keep up."
Oh yeah… I like this.
I stepped in this time.
Grabbed her wrist—twisted—
She flipped out of it.
Clean.
We both paused for half a second.
Then smiled.
Same thought.
Finally someone worth it.
We went all in.
I aimed low—she jumped.
She spun mid-air—
Her leg hit my shoulder and I dropped to one knee.
"Okay—" I let out a breath. "You're strong."
"No," she said, stepping closer. "You're just slow."
I laughed.
Bad move.
She came in again—
But this time I was ready.
I caught her kick.
Pulled.
She lost balance for just a second—
Enough.
I pinned her wrist behind her back.
Close.
Too close.
Her breathing hitched.
Mine too.
"Got you," I whispered.
For a second… she didn't move.
Then—
She headbutted me.
"OW—"
She slipped out instantly and stepped back.
"Never let your guard down," she said.
I touched my forehead, laughing. "You play dirty."
She smirked. "You're still smiling."
…yeah.
I was.
"Enough."
Sensei's voice cut through us.
We both stopped immediately.
Breathing heavy.
Sweaty.
Alive.
He looked between us.
"Not bad."
That's it?
Not bad??
I frowned. "That's all we get?"
He pressed something on his watch.
Suddenly—
The walls opened again.
And figures walked in.
Five.
All masked.
All armed.
My smile slowly came back.
"Oh… now we're talking."
Sensei looked at us.
"Real test."
The masked fighters rushed us.
"Left!" I shouted.
She moved without hesitation.
We split.
First guy came at me—knife.
I blocked his wrist and slammed my elbow into his chest.
He stumbled.
Second one came from behind—
I ducked—
He missed and hit his own teammate.
"Careful!" I laughed.
Then I got hit.
Hard.
One of them kicked my ribs and I slid across the mat.
"Kai!" she shouted—
She took two down in seconds.
Fast.
Precise.
Beautiful.
But one grabbed her from behind.
I pushed myself up.
"Nope."
I ran in—
Grabbed the guy—
Pulled him off her and punched straight into his mask.
He dropped.
We stood back to back now.
Breathing heavy.
Five turned into one.
Last guy.
He hesitated.
Smart.
"Together?" I asked.
She nodded. "Together."
We moved at the same time.
She went high.
I went low.
He couldn't block both.
He went down.
Silence.
Everything stopped.
The masks dropped.
They weren't random.
Trained.
Really trained.
I looked at her.
She looked at me.
Same thought again.
This is just the beginning.
Sensei clapped once.
"You pass."
I exhaled. "Finally."
He smirked slightly.
"Now the real training begins."
I looked at her.
She was already looking at me.
A small smile.
Dangerous.
Yeah…
This is going to be fun.