Fight Me Properly
1013 Words
At exactly 5:47 a.m., Viola questioned every decision she had ever made.
Especially joining Martial Arts Club.
The sports arena looked terrifyingly peaceful in the early morning darkness.
Cold air. Empty corridors. Sleep-deprived students.
And one emotionally broken Viola standing near the entrance holding coffee like life support.
"I hate mornings," she whispered.
A pigeon sitting above the gate nodded sympathetically.
"Mornings hate everyone."
"True."
The pigeon tilted its head.
"You look like expired bread."
"Thank you."
Viola yawned dramatically and entered the training hall.
The huge arena was quieter than usual.
Only a few club members had arrived.
Some stretched silently. Some practiced kicks. Some looked way too energetic for six in the morning.
Psychopaths.
Then—
the atmosphere shifted slightly.
Viola noticed club members immediately straighten.
A few students moved aside automatically.
She didn't even need to turn around.
Ash had arrived.
Black sleeveless training shirt. Grey joggers. Messy damp hair.
And somehow he still looked annoyingly perfect at this ungodly hour.
Viola narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"Does this man even have flaws?"
A nearby sparrow answered instantly:
"He barely sleeps."
"That explains the serial killer energy."
Ash walked toward the center of the hall calmly while students greeted him carefully.
"Morning bhai."
"Hm."
"Morning Ash."
A nod.
That was it.
Minimal human interaction.
Viola watched curiously.
Even as club president—
he stayed distant from everyone.
No unnecessary talking. No fake friendliness.
Yet people listened immediately.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Ash suddenly looked toward her.
Direct eye contact.
Again.
Viola immediately pretended to stretch professionally.
Unfortunately—
she lost balance slightly.
Ash caught that instantly.
One eyebrow lifted.
Viola sighed.
"Wonderful."
A tiny smirk appeared on his face before disappearing again.
That stupid almost-smile was becoming dangerous.
The trainer clapped loudly.
"Pair practice!"
Students quickly moved around choosing partners.
Viola immediately looked for Naina.
No Naina.
Traitor.
Snowy suddenly appeared near the door wagging his tail.
"GOOD LUCK SURVIVING."
"You came here to emotionally support me?"
"No. Entertainment."
Before Viola could insult him—
the trainer spoke again.
"Viola."
She turned.
And froze.
"You'll train with Ash today."
Entire hall went silent.
Someone literally whispered: "She's dead."
Viola looked at the trainer in disbelief.
"…Excuse me?"
Ash looked equally unimpressed.
"He's senior level," one student muttered nervously.
"Freshers don't usually spar with him."
The trainer shrugged casually.
"She learns fast."
Viola wanted to cry.
Ash walked toward her calmly.
"Relax," he said quietly. "I'm not going to break your bones."
"That's somehow not comforting."
A few students laughed nervously.
Training began.
Ash stood opposite her on the practice mat while Viola awkwardly copied fighting stance.
"This feels illegal," she muttered.
Ash crossed his arms slightly.
"Your stance is wrong."
"Obviously. I fight emotionally, not physically."
Another tiny smirk.
There it was again.
Small. Rare.
But real.
Ash stepped closer.
"Feet apart slightly."
Viola adjusted awkwardly.
"No, like this."
Before she could react—
Ash moved behind her carefully and adjusted her posture himself.
One hand lightly holding her wrist. The other correcting her shoulder position.
Viola's brain stopped functioning instantly.
Oh.
Oh this was dangerous.
Very dangerous.
His voice stayed calm near her ear.
"Balance matters first."
Meanwhile her heartbeat: absolute chaos.
Nearby club members stared openly.
One guy whispered, "I've never seen Ash help someone personally."
Another replied, "I've never seen Ash TOUCH someone voluntarily."
Viola internally combusted.
Ash stepped back after adjusting her stance.
"Better."
Viola cleared her throat awkwardly.
"Cool. Nice. Very educational."
Ash looked suspiciously amused.
Training continued.
Or more accurately—
Ash spent twenty minutes trying not to laugh while Viola failed spectacularly.
She missed punches. Lost balance twice. Almost kicked herself once.
"This is bullying," she complained.
"You're improving."
"I almost died."
"You're dramatic."
"Says the human thunderstorm."
For the first time—
Ash actually laughed softly.
A real laugh.
Low. Quiet. Unexpectedly warm.
The entire hall froze.
Even the trainer blinked.
Viola stared.
"…Wait you can do that?"
Ash's expression immediately returned calm again.
Too late.
She saw it.
And somehow…
that tiny moment changed something between them.
Training resumed again.
This time Ash demonstrated defensive moves slowly for her.
"Focus on movement," he said.
Viola copied carefully.
Ash attacked lightly. Viola blocked.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Until finally—
she successfully pushed his arm away and countered correctly.
The trainer clapped instantly.
"Good!"
Viola gasped dramatically.
"I DID IT."
Ash nodded once.
"Not bad."
"Was that… praise?"
"Don't get emotional."
"Too late."
Snowy barked proudly from the entrance.
"Alpha female development!"
The club members stared as Viola grinned proudly at a random dog.
Definitely weird.
Ash noticed it too.
But instead of looking confused—
his eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
Like he was observing something carefully again.
That same strange curiosity.
After training ended, students slowly started leaving.
Viola sat near the corner fixing her shoelaces tiredly.
"My body officially hates me."
A voice answered beside her.
"You'll adjust."
Ash sat near her casually, drinking water.
Viola looked genuinely surprised.
The great mysterious Ash voluntarily sitting beside someone?
Historic event.
"You train every morning?" she asked.
"Hm."
"That sounds depressing."
"It helps clear my head."
Viola studied him quietly for a second.
Without the cold crowd around him…
Ash looked different.
Still dangerous. Still unreadable.
But calmer somehow.
Human.
Which honestly felt stranger than the scary version.
A tiny injured sparrow suddenly landed near Viola's shoe.
Its wing trembled slightly.
"Oh no…"
Viola immediately picked it up carefully.
Ash watched silently.
Her entire expression softened instantly.
"It's okay," she whispered gently to the bird. "You're safe."
The sparrow relaxed slowly in her hands.
Ash noticed everything.
The way animals trusted her instantly. The way she spoke softly to them naturally.
Not fake. Not forced.
Real.
His gaze darkened slightly with thought.
Viola looked up suddenly.
"What?"
Ash stayed silent for a second.
Then quietly asked—
"Why do animals like you so much?"
Viola's heart skipped.
Danger.
Huge danger.
But before she could answer—
Snowy barked loudly from outside.
"BECAUSE SHE TALKS TO THEM, OBVIOUSLY."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Viola closed her eyes slowly.
"Wonderful."
- Writer
