The mess hall had gone quiet.
Kai sat across from Hiromi, the metallic clink of his fork echoing faintly in the otherwise empty space. Overhead, the cold fluorescent lights buzzed gently. The breakfast was simple — rice, eggs, and grilled fish — but Kai barely touched it.
Hiromi chewed slowly, deliberately, watching him.
Then she spoke. Calm, steady.
"You know training's already started, right?"
Kai looked up, confused. "What do you mean?"
She tapped a finger against the table. "Lesson one: Don't trust anyone."
His brow furrowed.
"Not even me. Not even the people who smile at you. Your allies today might slit your throat tomorrow if the deal changes. You have to think that everyone is your greatest enemy." Hiromi said, with a very firm voice.
Kai let the words hang. A part of him wanted to deny them. The other part knew better.
"And... lesson two?" he asked, voice low.
Hiromi gestured casually toward the food. "That things you're eating? Could've been poisoned."
Kai froze, fork halfway to his mouth.
Hiromi smiled faintly.
"You ate it anyway. Not because you trust me, but because you didn't even think about it." She said, with a mischievous smirk on her face.
Kai set the fork down slowly. "You trying to scare me?"
"No," she said, tilting her head. "I'm trying to keep you alive."
She stood up and stretched, hands above her head. Her movements were fluid — feline, controlled.
Then she looked back at him.
"When I hugged you earlier," she said, voice quieter now. "I could've broken your neck in a second."
Kai stiffened.
He perfectly knew she was right.
Hiromi turned around, her back to him. "And you let me. Just like that."
A chill ran down his spine.
"You're too soft," she continued. "Too trusting. You want to survive in this world? Start thinking like a survivor."
Then, she took some rapid steps to go next to Kai.
She was so delicate and fast that Kai didn't even notice her.
"Moreover, why did you let a stranger hug you? Don't you have a girlfriend?" Hiromi whispered into his ear, clearly teasing him.
Kai's eyes narrowed as he felt a shiver down his spine.
He didn't like being talked down to — but he couldn't deny she was right.
He sighed. "So what now?"
She looked back at him over her shoulder.
"Now?" she grinned.
"We fight."
Kai's eyes widened.
The training hall was dimly lit.
A square of padded flooring took up the center.
Surveillance cameras hummed softly from the corners.
This wasn't just a place to train — it was a test chamber.
A place where blood had probably stained the mats dozens of times before being scrubbed away.
Kai stepped into the ring reluctantly since he had no other choice.
Hiromi stood opposite him, already barefoot, her posture relaxed but alert.
He hesitated.
"I don't want to hit you."
She rolled her eyes. "Oh no, a gentleman. How cute."
"I'm serious," Kai muttered.
"So am I."
And without warning, she moved.
A blur.
She closed the distance and swept his legs out from under him with a graceful kick.
He hit the mat hard, breath leaving his lungs in a sharp gasp.
Before he could move, she was kneeling beside him, elbow pressed lightly to his throat.
"In a real fight, you'd be dead, in three different ways." she said, marking her words.
Kai coughed, eyes wide.
"Again," she said, backing off.
He got up, slower this time, pain flaring in his shoulder.
"I don't know how to fight," he growled.
"Then learn. Just let your survival instincts take over your soul, Kai." Hiromi said, taunting him to a fight.
Another rush. A jab aimed at his chest — not full force, but fast enough to sting. He barely dodged it, stumbling back.
"You're not even trying, Boy!" she said, circling him like a predator.
"I don't want to hurt you!" He exclaimed.
"I Know you won't. But there's no gender equality when it comes to criminals, Kai."
She came again — a low sweep toward his ankle. He jumped back, barely avoiding it, heart pounding now.
His instincts were kicking in.
Survival.
She charged again — this time a punch.
Kai stepped to the side, clumsily, and caught her arm by reflex.
Their eyes locked.
For a moment, everything froze.
Then she smiled. "Good."
She twisted free and landed a palm strike to his chest that knocked him back again.
"You've got good instincts," she said, stepping over him. "They're buried under all that fear and confusion, but they're there."
Kai groaned. "Are you trying to kill me or train me?" He asked, trying to catch his breath.
"Both," she said, smirking. "One makes you stronger."
He sat up, sweat running down his face now.
His breathing was heavier.
But there was a spark in his eyes.
A flicker of something that wasn't there before.
"You want to go again?" she asked.
He nodded, wiping his mouth.
"Yeah."
The training went on for another hour.
Kai was bruised.
Exhausted.
But something had shifted.
Each time she came at him, he reacted faster.
Dodged better.
Caught her wrist.
Moved his feet the right way.
His body was starting to remember what fear had always told it to forget — that he could fight back.
Hiromi, for her part, never slowed down.
"FASTER, KAI! HIT ME!" Hiromi repeated more than once, while moving around him.
"YOU HAVE THE HEARTBEAT OF A PREY! YOU SHOULD BE A PREDATOR!" she exclaimed, while throwing a barrage of punches at him.
Her words echoed deep into his mind.
Kai kept trying to protect himself , but after some time, he managed to see an opening into her offense and... in that moment... he managed to land a perfect hit.
A direct jab to her face.
After that, she stepped back, feeling the punch.
Kai felt guilty as he saw some blood dripping from Hiromi's nose.
"Oh... i'm so-" He tried to say, but Hiromi interrupted him.
An aroused smirk appeared on her face.
"Splendid, Kai. Now we should move to the next step." She said, while wiping the blood away.
After that, she dashed at him again.
She was relentless.
Efficient.
Brutal when she needed to be, but always just within the lines.
She pushed him to his limits — then past them.
And when he finally collapsed on the mat, gasping, arms spread out like a broken angel, she crouched beside him.
"You've got potential, Kai. You're a fast learner, like you were clearly made for this kind of things..."
He didn't speak. Just lay there, blinking up at the ceiling.
She smiled again — not mocking this time. Almost warm.
"Tomorrow, we start weapons training."
He groaned. "Eh?"
She stood, turning away.
"Oh, and one more thing," she said without looking back.
"Next time someone hugs you… make sure you know if they're friend or foe."
The door hissed open as she walked out, leaving Kai staring at the ceiling — sore, dizzy, and very much awake.
But for the first time in days… he didn't feel helpless anymore.