𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐎𝐍𝐋𝐘 | ᴋᴜᴢᴜʀʏᴜ ꜰᴜʏᴜʜɪᴋᴏ x ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ

~𝟐𝟎~

Hannah stepped into the training room, the sound of her sneakers softly echoing against the floor. She wore a pair of black, high-waisted leggings that hugged her toned legs, paired with a fitted, deep maroon sports bra. Her athletic top had thin straps that crossed over her shoulders, leaving her arms free and highlighting the strength she had developed through her training. Over the sports bra, she wore a light grey zip-up hoodie, currently unzipped but pulled snugly over her frame. Her outfit was practical, designed for both comfort and movement.

She tugged at the bobble holding her ponytail, tightening it around her long, curly brown hair, making sure it was secure for the intense session ahead. Loose tendrils framed her face, some of her curls stubbornly escaping despite her best efforts. A focused expression crossed her features as she took in the familiar surroundings of the room, mat-covered floors, various training equipment scattered around, and the quiet hum of determination that always seemed to linger in the air.

Across the room, Peko stood near the training mats, already in position, her katana sheathed at her side. Peko wore her usual black, tight-fitting training outfit, simple and efficient, made for combat. Her hair, as always, was tied back in her signature silver braid, though a few loose strands framed her face. She noticed Hannah entering and smiled softly, a rare warmth in her typically stoic demeanor.

"Ready for another session?" Peko asked, her voice calm but with a hint of anticipation.

Hannah returned the smile, rolling her shoulders to loosen them up. "Always. Let's see if I can keep up with you this time."

Peko chuckled lightly, though her eyes glinted with seriousness. "You've been improving. It won't be easy to outpace you today."

The two women moved to the center of the mats, standing a few feet apart as they prepared to begin. The air around them was charged with focus and mutual respect. They both knew how important this training was, not just for Hannah's own skills but for her place alongside Fuyuhiko and the Kuzuryu clan.

Peko took the lead, starting with a series of defensive maneuvers. Hannah followed closely, mirroring her movements with precision. Sweat began to form on Hannah's brow, but she pushed through, her muscles remembering the drills they had done countless times before. Each movement was deliberate and controlled, Peko's presence pushing Hannah to maintain her form.

After a while, Peko switched tactics, ramping up the intensity as they moved into sparring. Hannah's fists struck out in calculated jabs, each time meeting Peko's effortless parries. Their movements flowed together in a rhythm, quick and sharp, like a dance they both knew well.

"You're getting faster," Peko commented mid-spar, dodging a punch aimed for her side. "Keep focusing on your stance. Your balance is key."

Hannah nodded, adjusting her footing as she attempted to land another strike, her breath coming in short bursts from the exertion. She could feel the burn in her muscles, but it was a satisfying ache, the kind that told her she was getting stronger, better.

The sparring session continued, each woman pushing the other to her limits. Hannah's focus never wavered, even as she started to tire. Every time she stumbled, Peko was there, offering quiet encouragement and advice to help her correct her form. The respect between them was clear, their movements becoming more in sync as the training went on.

Hannah unzipped her hoodie fully, revealing the rest of her toned upper body as she tossed the garment to the side. The cool air in the training room hit her skin, but she was too focused on the next round of training to care. As she stretched her arms, loosening her muscles for what was to come, Peko's sharp eyes caught sight of the bandages wrapped tightly around Hannah's wrist, several layers wound in neat rows, as she had seen a few times before.

"Hannah," Peko's voice was calm but firm as she gestured toward the bandages. "How's your wrist? You've been favoring it for a while now."

Hannah glanced down at her wrist and flexed it slightly, the dull ache immediately reminding her of why the bandages were there in the first place. She offered Peko a dismissive smile, rolling her eyes slightly as if to brush off the concern.

"It's fine," she said casually, shaking her wrist a bit for show. "Just a little sore from training. Nothing I can't handle."

Peko, however, wasn't convinced. Her expression didn't change, and her gaze remained locked on Hannah's bandaged wrist. She stepped forward, her usual composed demeanor still intact, though there was a hint of concern in her eyes.

"Hannah, you've been wearing those bandages for days now." Peko pointed out, her tone leaving little room for argument. "If it's more serious than you're letting on, you could make it worse by pushing yourself too hard."

Hannah sighed, realizing that Peko wasn't going to let it go easily. She rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly before meeting Peko's eyes, still trying to downplay the injury.

"I told you, it's not a big deal." she insisted, though there was a slight wince in her voice as she flexed her wrist again. "I can handle it. I don't want to fall behind in training just because of a little bruising."

Peko raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed with Hannah's attempt to brush it off. "Training is important, but not if you're injuring yourself in the process. Pushing through pain is one thing, but ignoring it is reckless."

Hannah looked away, her stubbornness kicking in, not wanting to admit that Peko was right. She hated being seen as weak, especially when she was working so hard to prove herself, not just to Fuyuhiko and the Kuzuryu clan, but to herself. The last thing she wanted was to slow down her progress over something as trivial as a sprained wrist.

Peko stepped closer and gently took Hannah's wrist in her hands, her touch surprisingly gentle for someone who was so used to wielding a blade. She began to carefully unwrap the bandages, her expression unreadable as she inspected the wrist.

"Hannah," Peko said softly, her eyes flicking up to meet hers, "training can wait. You need to heal properly, or you'll end up doing permanent damage."

Hannah bit her lip, knowing deep down that Peko was right. The wrist had been bothering her more than she was willing to admit, but she didn't want to show weakness. Especially not in front of Peko, who had always been so composed and strong.

"I know," Hannah finally muttered, her voice quieter now. "But I don't want to be seen as a burden. I don't want Fuyuhiko to see me as a concern."

Peko's gaze softened even more at that, her hands still cradling Hannah's wrist. "You're not a burden. And my young master wouldn't want you to push yourself to the point of injury. You're strong, Hannah, but part of being strong is knowing when to stop."

Hannah sighed again, feeling a weight lift slightly from her shoulders. She gave Peko a small, grateful smile. "Fine. I'll take it easy... but just for today."

Peko smirked ever so slightly, finally satisfied. "Good. Now, let's adjust the training so you can still participate without putting strain on your wrist. We'll work on footwork today."

Hannah nodded, relieved that she could still train even if it wasn't as intense as she wanted. As Peko rewrapped the bandages more carefully this time, Hannah couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort knowing that Peko was looking out for her.

After what felt like hours, they finally paused. Hannah leaned against the wall, panting slightly, wiping the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand. Peko, less winded but still glistening with perspiration, stood beside her, offering her a bottle of water.

"You're improving," Peko said again, more firmly this time, her eyes locking with Hannah's. "Soon, you'll be able to hold your own, even against more serious opponents."

Hannah smiled, taking a long sip of water. "Thanks, Peko. It feels good to see progress, especially with everything going on."

Peko nodded, her usual serious expression softening for a moment. "You'll get there. Just keep training, and don't lose your focus."

Hannah nodded, feeling the weight of the challenge but also the satisfaction of knowing she was growing stronger, both mentally and physically. With Peko's guidance, she felt more prepared than ever for whatever challenges lay ahead.