The next day, the gym was alive with its usual energy, filled with the sounds of fists hitting heavy bags, sparring partners circling each other, and trainers shouting encouragement. Akame entered quietly, heading for her usual spot on the bench, but today, she wasn't here just to wait for Yuta.
Her gaze found Suo almost immediately, and her breath caught as she watched him spar. His opponent, a taller, well-muscled fighter, threw heavy punches with brutal force, but Suo didn't return his aggression. Instead, he weaved through the strikes, moving as if he were skimming through air. His movements were fluid and quick, each dodge and feint perfectly timed. It was almost like a dance—a dangerous, powerful dance.
Akame's chest tightened as she watched him, her pulse quickening. She'd always been drawn to the grace and control of dance, to bodies moving through space in perfect rhythm. But Suo's movements were different. This wasn't ballet; this was combat, dangerous and unyielding. Yet somehow, he made it look beautiful.
I want to learn, she thought suddenly, her heart racing. She wanted to feel that strength, that control. She wanted to move through her world with the same confidence he seemed to radiate.
As Suo finished his sparring, barely winded while his opponent panted and retreated, she felt an unexpected boldness rise within her. She hadn't planned on approaching him—hadn't even thought of it until this moment. But something in her told her she needed to try. Taking a deep breath, she rose from her spot on the bench and began making her way across the gym.
The moment she stood, the energy in the gym shifted. Conversations fell quiet, and heads turned to watch her make her way toward Suo. Even Umemiya, who was mid-conversation with Nirei, felt the change. He glanced over, noticing her focused expression as she threaded her way through the gym toward Suo, her head slightly down, her hands gripping the sleeves of her hoodie nervously. A pang of something sharp flickered through him. Jealousy. It was unexpected, unwelcome, and he quickly forced himself to let her be, trying to ignore the way his chest tightened as she continued on.
Suo, meanwhile, noticed her approach with a faint smile, his eyes lighting up with a playful glint as he straightened. "Well, well, didn't think I'd see you wandering over here," he greeted, wiping sweat from his brow with a towel. He tilted his head, his gaze warm but slightly teasing. "What's up? Checking out the talent today?"
Akame's cheeks colored, but she managed to hold his gaze. Just ask, she told herself, taking a steadying breath.
"I, um..." She hesitated, glancing down for a brief second before gathering her courage. "I was watching you spar, and... your style. It's different from the others. It's more... fluid," she said, her voice soft but certain.
Suo raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Fluid, huh?" He glanced back at his sparring partner, then smirked, looking back at her with a slight shrug. "Guess that's one way to put it. I learned from someone who wasn't exactly traditional, so I guess it's a little unorthodox."
Akame nodded, feeling her confidence strengthen. "It's... graceful," she said, almost to herself, her tone carrying a hint of admiration. "And controlled."
Suo chuckled, folding his arms as he studied her with a glint of curiosity. "Are you saying you'd want to learn it?"
Akame's heart pounded as she looked up at him. "Actually, yes," she replied, her voice quiet but firm. "I was hoping... I mean, if it's alright... could you teach me?"
The playful gleam in Suo's eyes faded, replaced by something like surprise. For a moment, he didn't answer, just looked at her, as if trying to understand her request. His smile softened, the flirtation disappearing as he studied her expression, her eyes shining with a genuine determination he hadn't expected.
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SUB ROSA | Wind Breaker
Fanfiction❝ She was like light slipping through the cracks-out of place, yet impossible to ignore.❞ Akame finds herself in a world that was never meant for her, a quiet contrast to Furin's chaos. But in a place that challenges her at every turn, she begins to...