The morning sun slanted through the wide windows of the Han Boxing Academy, casting a golden glow across the polished wooden floors. Students lined up in formation, their breathing synchronized, their eyes straight ahead, though a few tried and failed to sneak glances at their peers. Soon Hae shifted nervously, her fists clenching inside her gloves as the coach strode down the line with an air of authority that made even the strongest boxers straighten just a little more.
"Today," the coach began, his voice cutting like a whip, "we will have paired drills. You will be training with a partner you have not fought with before. The goal is to test your adaptability, strategy, and teamwork."
Murmurs rippled through the line, a mixture of excitement and dread. Soon Hae's stomach twisted. She had faced her clumsiness head-on in the academy before, but the idea of pairing up with someone new and someone likely more experienced filled her with dread.
"And… Soon Hae," the coach called, pausing in front of her. Her heart stuttered. "You will be paired with Kim Nana."
The words struck her like a punch to the stomach. Kim Nana? The transfer senior from China who had been introduced with all the pomp and fanfare only yesterday. Nana, with her wide, innocent smile, her polite nods, and those eyes that seemed far too sharp for someone so seemingly sweet.
"W-what?" Soon Hae stammered. Fang Yu, standing just behind her, let out a loud, high pitched laugh that drew a sharp look from the coach.
"Ohhh, this is going to be good," Fang Yu whispered, elbowing Bai Cao. "Front row seats to the drama."
Bai Cao sighed, rubbing her forehead. "Try not to die, Soon Hae. Just… survive."
Soon Hae blinked rapidly, trying to will her heartbeat back into normal rhythm. "I can handle this. I… I can do this," she muttered, though the tremor in her voice betrayed her.
Nana stepped forward with a soft, melodic laugh that seemed too polite, too carefully measured. "Oh, Soon Hae," she said, tilting her head ever so slightly. "I've heard so much about you. I hope we'll work well together… I can help guide you, if you like."
Soon Hae's ears burned. The words sounded sweet almost motherly but there was an undercurrent in her tone, a subtle you better not screw up in front of me flavor that made Soon Hae's fists tighten reflexively. Fang Yu snickered loudly beside her, while Bai Cao shot a warning glance at her friend.
"Alright, pair up!" the coach barked. "Warm-up first. Then, sparring drills."
Soon Hae followed Nana to the center of the gym, trying to keep her breathing even. Nana's movements were graceful, measured, almost unnaturally smooth, like she had been born moving in perfect rhythm. Soon Hae tried to mimic a simple jab, and immediately tripped over her own foot, narrowly avoiding a collision with the mat.
"Careful there," Nana said softly, patting Soon Hae's shoulder in a way that made the latter want to crawl into a corner. "You wouldn't want to hurt yourself before we even start."
Fang Yu's laugh cut through the tension like a knife. "Clumsy rabbit strikes again!" she whispered, making Soon Hae want to disappear entirely.
Bai Cao muttered under her breath, "Ignore them. Focus."
The drills began. Punches flew, feet shuffled, and Soon Hae tried desperately to keep up. Every time she landed a hit—or even attempted one Nana was there, perfectly countering, her smile never faltering, her voice sugary yet pointed.
"Try to keep your guard up," Nana would say, as if lecturing a child. "Oh, careful with that left hook it's not your strength, is it?"
Soon Hae's face flushed. "I...I know that!" she snapped, though her voice trembled. She swung at Nana again, narrowly missing, and Nana's smile tightened just slightly, a glimmer of acknowledgment flashing in her eyes.
Fang Yu could hardly contain herself. "You've got her flustered! I can't stop laughing!" she hissed.
Bai Cao muttered, "Focus on your training, not the theatrics."
Minutes passed, each one longer than the last. Soon Hae's muscles ached, her knuckles stung, and yet she pressed on. Something in her chest refused to give up, the same stubborn spark that had dragged her through every clumsy, painful moment of training since she'd entered the academy.
And then… something clicked. In a sudden flurry of reflexes, Soon Hae dodged a jab Nana threw with perfect precision and countered with a punch that actually connected. Nana's eyes widened, just a fraction, before she regained her composure.
"Well done," she said softly, almost as if praising a younger sibling. But her voice still carried that subtle, sly undertone. "I didn't think you would them have it in you."
The words sent a thrill through Soon Hae. For a brief moment, she felt powerful, capable. Fang Yu whooped, clapping her hands in delight. Bai Cao allowed herself the smallest, proud smile.
From the sidelines, Lu Han leaned against the wall, arms crossed, expression unreadable. His eyes flicked between Soon Hae and Nana, and Soon Hae felt her face heat. Of course he's watching. Every move she made seemed amplified under his gaze, every stumble painfully obvious.
The drill continued until sweat streamed down her face, muscles quivering, but the fire in her chest didn't dim. Nana's occasional jabs both verbal and physical kept her sharp. Fang Yu's commentary kept her laughing through the worst of it, and Bai Cao's calm encouragement reminded her she wasn't alone.
Finally, the coach called an end to the drill. "Enough for today. You all will pair up like this until the end of the week. Soon Hae, Nana, I expect improvement."
Soon Hae's chest heaved, her entire body buzzing from exertion. Nana gave her one final polite smile and a pat on the shoulder, sending a silent message that both encouraged and intimidated. Fang Yu practically dragged Soon Hae to the side, bouncing on her heels.
"You're alive! You actually did it! And I didn't see you face plant even once this time!" Fang Yu exclaimed.
Bai Cao rolled her eyes, offering her usual, calm reminder: "You held your ground. That's what matters."
Soon Hae wiped the sweat from her forehead, her body trembling from exhaustion and adrenaline. "I… I actually landed a hit," she murmured, disbelief lacing her words.
Fang Yu grinned. "And it wasn't pathetic either! Look at you, clumsy rabbit, taking on a pro!"
Bai Cao chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Don't let your pride go to your head. There's still a lot to improve."
Soon Hae laughed, a short, breathless sound, the tension from the morning easing slightly. She glanced across the room at Nana, who was busy helping another student, her smile still perfect but now carrying a hint of respect. Then her eyes flicked toward Lu Han, standing silently in the corner. Her stomach twisted again, but not from fear this time.
When the academy finally dispersed for lunch, Soon Hae and her friends walked out together, the sun warm on their skin. Fang Yu jabbed her playfully in the ribs. "So, clumsy rabbit, when's the next embarrassing showdown?"
Soon Hae laughed, nudging her friend lightly. "Shut up. Let's just… survive lunch without any more incidents."
Bai Cao smiled, the hint of a plan forming in her mind. "Survive, yes. But maybe next time, we'll actually have a strategy instead of just flailing around."
Soon Hae grinned. "Deal. But don't expect miracles from me yet. I'm still the clumsy rabbit."
As they walked down the path toward the academy's exit, the bond between the three of them strengthened. Despite the teasing, the exhaustion, and the pressure of the seniors' watchful eyes, Soon Hae felt a spark of achievement she had rarely experienced before.
And somewhere in the distance, unnoticed, Lu Han watched from a shadowed corner. His expression unreadable, but his eyes lingered a moment longer than necessary on the clumsy rabbit who had just survived her first real test against a superior opponent.
He didn't say anything, of course. He didn't have to.
---