The clang of hammer against steel rang through the workshop, sharp and steady. Mei gritted her teeth as she struck again, the glowing metal shifting slowly beneath her blows. Sweat streaked down her temple, but her eyes burned with focus.
This wasn't practice anymore. This was the beginning. The first armor plate for Glamrock Roxanne.
Uncle Jian stood nearby, arms crossed, nodding with approval. "Good. Keep your rhythm. Don't fight the steel—guide it."
Mei adjusted her stance, raising the hammer again. Each strike echoed like a drumbeat, filling the space with determination. For the first time, she wasn't just learning—she was creating.
---
That evening, Hana dropped by the workshop. She stopped in the doorway, stunned by the sight before her.
Mei stood over the workbench, welding torch in hand, sparks cascading like a shower of stars around her. Her movements were sharp, confident, nothing like the hesitant girl Hana had once teased for fumbling with fabric and needles.
"Whoa…" Hana whispered.
Mei flipped up her mask, grinning as she revealed the glowing outline of the armor piece. "What do you think? My first real plate."
Hana walked closer, eyes wide. "You look… different."
"Different how?" Mei asked, tilting her head.
"Like…" Hana struggled for words. "Like you're not just pretending to be strong anymore. You are strong. You've changed, Mei. A year ago, you wouldn't even touch a screwdriver. Now you're out here shaping steel like it's nothing."
Mei laughed softly, setting the torch aside. "It's not nothing. It's hard. But… it feels right." She ran her fingers gently over the cooling plate, her reflection glimmering faintly on its surface. "For the first time, I feel like I'm building more than just a costume. I'm building myself."
Hana smiled, though her eyes glistened. "I'm proud of you. Really proud."
Mei's heart warmed at the words. She glanced at her best friend, then at the armor piece. "This is only the start. Roxanne's not going to be easy, but… I'm ready now."
Uncle Jian, listening quietly, allowed himself a rare smile. "Then let's make her real."
The workshop filled again with the rhythm of steel and sparks, but this time, Mei wasn't just chasing a dream. She was forging it, one plate at a time.