Shahaan tugged his hoodie tighter around his shoulders as he walked toward the dojo. Each step on the wet pavement reminded him of yesterday's lessons, the soreness in his legs, the ache in his arms. He was eager, but the weight of his own expectations pressed on him.
The tatami mats were still damp from the morning cleaning. Kaito was already there, standing silently, his gray eyes fixed on Shahaan as he entered.
"Today, we focus on basics again," Kaito said. "Footwork, balance, blocking. If you cannot master these, the rest will fail."
Shahaan nodded. He positioned himself in the center, knees bent, hands raised, trying to remember every correction from the previous day. The first movement, a simple step forward, felt awkward. His balance wavered. His body felt heavier than usual.
"You are thinking too much," Kaito said. "Let the body move. Trust it."
Shahaan tried again. Step, pivot, block. His arms shook. He stumbled slightly. Frustration rose like a fire in his chest. He wanted to quit. The dojo felt like a cage, his weakness exposed for all to see, even if only Kaito noticed.
"Focus," Kaito said quietly. "Feel the floor, the weight, the rhythm. You will learn, or you will be left behind."
Shahaan exhaled sharply and tried once more. This time, his steps were a little smoother. His arms still trembled, but the motions connected. A small victory. Just a flicker of progress, yet it filled him with a strange warmth.
After hours of repetition, sweat dripping into his eyes, muscles burning, Shahaan finally managed a sequence correctly. Kaito nodded, not smiling, just acknowledging.
"Good. Small victories matter," he said. "Remember this feeling. You will need it."
Leaving the dojo that evening, Shahaan walked through Kabukicho with a new awareness. The alleys, the neon, the distant chatter of the streets—it all seemed sharper, more vivid. He realized that learning to defend himself was not just about fighting others. It was about understanding his surroundings, trusting his instincts, and holding onto that spark of control he had finally found.
For the first time, fear felt less like a cage and more like a guide. The streets were still dangerous, the bullies still prowled, but Shahaan felt the first stirrings of strength inside him. Step by step, he would grow.