Tessa Keene was a sweetheart through and through- pure-hearted, kind, and incapable of cruelty. She didn't have much, but she had Robby, and that was all she needed. He was her rock, her safe place, the one person she could always count on. But when...
Tessa's fingers clenched into fists at her sides, but she couldn't escape the tension building in her chest. Her eyes darted toward the others, hoping for some sign of reassurance, but everyone was focused on Daniel. Was this really what she had signed up for? A dojo that wasn't just about avoiding fights, but preparing for them?
"Come on, come on," Daniel called, motioning for the students to follow as he led them toward the dirt driveway.
"The goal of this exercise is to rely on your instincts to defend yourselves," Daniel explained, his voice calm but firm. He glanced at each student, numbering them off as he went. "Circle up, everyone. Robby, you're in the middle."
The group formed a tight circle around Robby, their eyes locked on him as they waited for the next step. Daniel's gaze swept over the group, making sure everyone was in position. "When I call your number," he continued, "your goal is to strike Robby and earn a point. Simple as that."
A murmur of anticipation went through the group as they prepared for the drill, eyes flicking nervously toward Robby, who stood in the center, in fighting stance.
"Two!" Daniel called, and a boy behind Robby charged forward. But Robby was quick, spinning around and knocking him to the ground in one swift move.
Robby took his fighting stance again, unshaken. "Five!" Daniel called next, and Samantha stepped forward, her foot landing a solid kick to Robby's stomach.
"Alright!" Daniel clapped his hands, looking pleased. "Demetri's turn. Let's go, Demetri, get in there!"
Demetri hesitated for a moment, slowly walking into the center, looking a little unsure.
"Set, three!" Daniel called, and Mitch immediately took the opportunity to strike, landing a quick blow to Demetri's chest.
"Sorry, Met, but you've gotta block that," Mitch said with a shrug.
"Four!" Daniel called again, and Tessa quickly darted from behind Demetri, sweeping his legs out from under him. He hit the ground with a loud thud.
"I hate this," Demetri muttered from the floor, clearly frustrated.
"Sorry," Tessa said softly, glancing down at him. She nervously looked at Robby, who offered her a reassuring nod.
"Alright, come on, get up," Daniel instructed, watching as Demetri slowly pushed himself back to his feet.
"Can we please take a break?" Sam called from the sidelines, wiping sweat from her forehead. "This heat is brutal."
Daniel scanned the group, taking in their exhausted and sweaty faces. "You guys wanna cool off?" he asked, a playful glint in his eye. The students nodded eagerly. "Alright," Daniel said with a grin, the wheels turning in his mind. "I think I can accommodate that."
Tessa had been expecting a pool day or at least a run through the dojo's sprinkler system, but instead, Daniel had them all standing around a meat freezer, shivering uncontrollably.
"So, you couldn't handle the heat of Shochu-Geiko, maybe Kangeiko will suit you better," Daniel explained, his eyes scanning the group as they hugged themselves for warmth.
"Are there no geikos that take place in a spa?" Sam asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"It's not about the heat or the cold," Daniel replied, shaking his head. "It's about adapting to your environment and using it to your advantage."
Tessa rolled her eyes, taking a small step closer to Robby, hoping to steal a little of his warmth.
"Look around, what do you see?" Daniel asked, his tone serious.
"Frozen London Broil," Mitch said, gesturing to the frozen boxed of meat in the freezer.
"No, not the meat," Daniel said, his voice firm. "Look past that." He continued, pointing to Tessa's small breath cloud in the cold air. "I see the exhalation of breath." Then he motioned toward Robby, who was subtly adjusting his stance to stay warm. "The twitch of a muscle." Finally, he pointed to Demetri, who was shifting from side to side, trying to warm himself. "The shift of a stance."
"If you lean into the cold, it'll sharpen your senses," Daniel explained, his gaze steady. "You'll anticipate the moment before your opponent strikes. You'll always be ready."
Just then, Daniel's phone rang, but he quickly silenced it without breaking his focus. "Alright, circle up!" he instructed, typing out a quick text before turning his attention back to the lesson.
"Tessa, start us off," Daniel said with a smile, nodding toward her. Tessa quickly moved into the circle and raised her arms, ready.
"Ready?" Daniel asked, his eyes watching her closely. She nodded firmly. "One!" Daniel called, and a boy rushed forward, throwing a punch.
Tessa blocked it with quick reflexes, then swiftly attempted a kick. The boy managed to block it but responded with a light strike to her side—not hard, but enough to make her feel the impact.
Tessa immediately felt a wave of weakness wash over her, her anxiety intensifying. Her breathing became heavier, each inhale and exhale heavier than the last, forming visible clouds in the cold air around her.
As her heart raced, her mind wandered back to Kreese's threat. The fear of being unable to defend herself gripped her, and she felt an overwhelming sense of vulnerability. Every breath she took seemed to echo in her ears, her body frozen in place as the memory of that vulnerability played over and over in her mind.
"Alright, good effort, Tess," Daniel said with a clap, snapping her back to reality and breaking her from the whirlwind of thoughts.
She struggled to stay present, but her mind drifted. The lesson continued around her, but she felt distant, lost in her own world.
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