Chapter 5 — The Secret Training
457 Words
Mia
I hated secrets.
I hated the way they made you question every memory.
Every conversation.
Every person.
Was Ren kind because he cared?
Or because he felt guilty?
Was Kai helping me because he cared?
Or because he knew something about my father?
I didn’t know anymore.
So I did the only thing I could.
I trained.
Harder.
Longer.
Until my body stopped thinking.
───
Unfortunately, my body didn’t agree.
By the third hour, my legs were shaking.
My grip weakened.
The shinai slipped.
I caught it before it hit the floor.
“Impressive.”
I turned.
Kai stood near the entrance.
I sighed.
“Do you always appear when I’m miserable?”
“Yes.”
I blinked.
At least he was honest.
“You’re impossible.”
“I’ve heard that.”
───
He walked closer.
“You’re training wrong.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Of course I am.”
“You’re angry.”
“So?”
“So anger makes you predictable.”
I looked at him.
“You think you know everything.”
“No.”
His voice lowered.
“I know what it looks like when someone is trying to punish themselves.”
That silenced me.
Because once again…
he understood.
───
“Why do you care?”
The question came out softer than I intended.
Kai looked away.
“I don’t know.”
That surprised me.
“You don’t know?”
He shook his head.
“No.”
For the first time, he looked uncertain.
“I just know that when you hurt yourself trying to prove something…”
He paused.
“It bothers me.”
My heart beat faster.
───
Before I could answer, the dojo door opened.
Ren.
His eyes immediately found Kai.
Then me.
The atmosphere changed.
“You’re training with him?”
I frowned.
“It’s not what you think.”
Ren laughed quietly.
“That’s exactly what people say when it is.”
My eyes widened.
“Ren.”
His expression softened.
But only slightly.
“I’m sorry.”
Then he looked at Kai.
“I just didn’t think you would use her.”
Kai’s face changed.
A coldness I hadn’t seen before appeared.
“You don’t know me.”
Ren stepped closer.
“I know enough.”
The tension exploded.
Two strongest fighters.
Standing across from each other.
And me in the middle.
───
Then Kai said something that shocked both of us.
“She isn’t yours.”
Silence.
Ren froze.
So did I.
Kai looked at me.
Not him.
Her.
Like my choice mattered.
And that was when I realised…
Kai Nakamura was dangerous.
Not because he was cruel.
Because he made me feel like I had a choice.
End of Chapter 5
───
- Writer
