𝕯𝖆𝖙𝖊 𝖓𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙𝖘 𝖔𝖓 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖗𝖔𝖔𝖋 𝖙𝖔𝖕

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝖘𝖎𝖝: 𝕾𝖍𝖊'𝖘 𝕷𝖊𝖆𝖗𝖓𝖎𝖓𝖌

Kanae strolled through the bustling streets of the shopping district, her friend Tsubaki skipping along beside her. Tsubaki was a beacon of confidence and self-expression, an inspiration to Kanae, they were good friends and often had girls' days out. Together, they made an unlikely pair, but their bond was unbreakable.

"So, what's on the agenda for today?" Tsubaki asked, adjusting the strap of their handbag with a flick of their wrist.

Kanae smiled, excitement bubbling in her chest. "I thought we could go shopping for some new sports clothes. I've been getting into fitness lately, and I need something comfortable to work out in."

Tsubaki's eyes lit up with enthusiasm. "That sounds like a blast! Lead the way, my dear fitness guru."

They made their way to a nearby sports store, browsing through racks of colourful leggings and breathable tank tops. As Kanae tried on a pair of sleek black leggings, Tsubaki perched on a nearby bench, offering their expert opinion on each outfit.

"You look ho, darling," Tsubaki exclaimed as Kanae emerged from the fitting room, striking a pose and giggling “I must say, your ass does look good in those”

Kanae grinned, feeling a surge of confidence at their friend's praise. "Thanks, Tsubaki. You’re always honest and I love the clothes you make me buy"

“I’m just well educated in fashion. Anyway, how come you’re getting all sporty now?” They asked, leaning back on the bench as Kanae went back into the changing rooms with a pair of gym shorts and a sports bra. 

"You know after what happened the other week," Kanae said thoughtfully, "I've been thinking a lot about self-defence lately. It’s important to be able to protect myself and I know you guys look after the town and whatnot. But in the five minutes, it takes for you to get to me a lot could happen"

Tsubaki nodded in agreement, their expression growing serious. "Absolutely. It's unfortunate that you have to constantly worry about your safety, but I’m glad you're getting stronger, if only for peace of mind."

A determined gleam sparked in Kanae's eyes as she jumped back out of the curtain. "That's why I've decided to start training in self-defence with Umemiya. I want to feel confident and capable of protecting myself, no matter what."

Tsubaki smiled, a sense of pride evident in their gaze. "I think that's fantastic, Kanae. And you know what? I'll teach you a few things, Umemiya is great but he’s a man and you can definitely tell by how he fights. You used to do dance didn’t you?”

“Yeah?”

“I’ll teach you a different style, it’s easier for those of us that aren’t blessed with brute strength” 

Kanae's heart swelled with gratitude for her friend's unwavering support. "Thank you, Tsubaki. That means the world to me."

With their plans set, they made arrangements to meet at the Furin school gym later that week to begin their training together. As they parted ways, Kanae couldn't help but feel a sense of determination. 

~~~

As the final bell rang, signalling the end of another school day, Kanae hurriedly made her way to the Furin gym. Today marked the beginning of her self-defence training with Tsubaki, and she couldn't wait to see what they had in store.

Arriving at the gym, Kanae found Tsubaki already waiting for her, a bright smile lighting up their face. "Hey, Kanae! Ready to kick some butt?"

Kanae grinned, feeling a surge of excitement at the prospect. "Absolutely! I'm eager to learn whatever you have to teach me."

Tsubaki led Kanae to a cleared-out section of the gym floor, where they began to warm up with a series of stretches and light exercises. As they moved through the motions, Tsubaki explained the basic principles of their unique fighting style—a blend of femininity, dance, and self-defence techniques designed to empower women of all shapes and sizes.

"Our fighting style is all about using grace and agility to our advantage," Tsubaki explained, demonstrating a fluid series of movements that seemed more like a dance than a martial art. "We don't rely on brute strength to overpower our opponents. Instead, we use our bodies' natural flexibility and speed to outmanoeuvre them."

Kanae watched in awe as Tsubaki moved with effortless grace, their movements flowing seamlessly from one to the next. It was like nothing she had ever seen before, a mesmerizing fusion of strength and beauty that left her spellbound.

"Now, let's start with some basic defence techniques," Tsubaki said, gesturing for Kanae to mirror their movements.

With Tsubaki's patient guidance, Kanae began to learn the intricacies of the fighting style, each movement feeling more natural and fluid than the last. She discovered that she didn't need to rely on strength to defend herself—instead, she could use her agility and quick reflexes to evade attacks and counter with precision strikes.

As they practised together, Kanae felt a newfound sense of confidence. With each graceful movement, she felt more empowered, more in control. 

~~~

Another day, another training session with Tsubaki.

As the afternoon sun streamed through the windows of the Furin gym, casting long shadows across the polished wooden floor, Kanae eagerly awaited Tsubaki's arrival. 

Moments later, Tsubaki breezed into the gym, their usual exuberance lighting up the space. "Hey, Kanae! Ready to dive back in?” 

Kanae nodded enthusiastically, a determined glint in her eyes. "Tsubaki! I bought you a drink,"

“Aww, thanks, hun!” They said with a grin, leading Kanae to their designated training area, where they began their warm-up routine with a series of stretches and callisthenics. 

"We're going to focus on finding your flow today," Tsubaki explained, their voice soft but firm. "It's all about moving with intention and grace, using your body's natural rhythm to your advantage."

With that, Tsubaki launched into a demonstration, their movements fluid and effortless as they flowed from one technique to the next. Kanae watched in awe, captivated by Tsubaki's grace and poise.

"Now, I want you to try it," Tsubaki said, gesturing for Kanae to join them on the floor.

Taking a deep breath, Kanae mirrored Tsubaki's movements, her muscles remembering the steps with surprising ease. It was as if something had clicked inside her.

As they moved through the training session, Kanae found herself slipping into a state of focused concentration, her mind clearing as she surrendered to the rhythm of the movements. With each step, each strike, she felt more connected to her body, more attuned to its capabilities. Without realising, she had made the defence her own using what Tsubaki had shown her and adding her own flourish.

Before she knew it, the training session had come to an end, leaving Kanae feeling exhilarated and invigorated. As she caught her breath, she glanced over at Tsubaki, gratitude shining in her eyes.

"Thank you, Tsubaki," she said, her voice filled with sincerity. "I feel like I've learned so much today. I don’t know how but I just get it now!"

Tsubaki smiled warmly, their eyes sparkling with pride. "You're a natural, Kanae. I can see the fire in your eyes, the determination in your movements. You're going to be the baddest bitch on the streets, I just know it"