“How long?”
Claire hesitated.
“Long enough that I don't like talking about it.”
Sophie nodded.
She didn't push.
Claire appreciated that.
Across the room, Derek was staring.
He had overheard enough to become curious.
Old competition.
Different arts.
Years of training.
Why had Mike reacted so strongly when Derek approached her?
And why did Claire move like someone who knew exactly where her balance was even though her hip was stiff?
Derek couldn't stop thinking about it.
He had seen hundreds of fighters.
There were obvious tells.
The way they stood.
The way they breathed.
The way they protected their hands.
Claire didn't look like a fighter.
But something about her was wrong.
Not wrong in a bad way.
Wrong in a way Derek couldn't explain.
She moved slowly because she didn't need to move quickly.
That thought irritated him.
After class, most students began packing their bags.
Derek stayed.
Brandon stayed too.
“Bro,” Brandon said, “you should definitely spar her.”
Derek looked at him.
“Why?”
“You know why.”
“She doesn't look like much.”
“Exactly.”
Derek smiled.
Brandon held up his phone.
“Imagine the clip.”
Derek laughed.
“What caption?”
Brandon thought for a second.
“Black belt takes on mystery woman.”
Derek shook his head.
“Too dramatic.”
“Quiet woman challenges black belt?”
“She didn't challenge me.”
“Then make it funny.”
Derek looked toward Claire.
She was helping Sophie put away equipment.
“Easy round,” he said.
Brandon grinned.
“That’s what I'm saying.”
Mike approached.
“What are you two planning?”
“Nothing,” Derek said.
Mike looked at Brandon.
“Put the phone away.”
Brandon slipped it into his pocket.
Mike looked at Derek.
“Go home.”
“I've got another round.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because you're done.”
Derek stared at him.
Then he laughed.
“You've never stopped me before.”
Mike's face hardened.
“Maybe I should have.”
Silence.
Derek looked away.
Mike walked toward the front desk.
Claire watched him.
Then she looked at Derek.
“Your coach is trying to tell you something.”
Derek smiled.
“You giving advice now?”
“No.”
“Good.”
Claire picked up her bag.
“Because I don't want responsibility for you.”
Derek laughed.
But the laughter sounded forced.
Claire walked past him.
Then stopped.
“Derek.”
He turned.
“If you ever train with someone who is lighter or less experienced than you, remember that you control the pace.”
He shrugged.
“I know.”
“No.”
She looked directly into his eyes.
“You know how to control people.”
The sentence landed differently.
“You haven't learned how to control yourself.”
Then she walked away.
Derek stood motionless.
For the first time that night, he had nothing to say.
The Easy Target
The next Thursday, Claire returned.
She hadn't planned to.
Mike had invited her to stop by.
Derek arrived early.
He had spent the entire week thinking about her.
Not because he feared her.
Because he couldn't explain her.
That was worse.
He had searched online.
Nothing useful.
Claire Bennett wasn't famous.
There were no obvious tournament videos.
No social media profile filled with fight clips.
No championship photographs.
Just an ordinary name.
Derek decided that meant she had nothing to hide.
When Claire entered the academy, Derek smiled.
“Back again.”
Claire nodded.
“Looks like it.”
“You training?”
“Maybe.”
He laughed.
Mike looked over.
“Derek.”
“What?”
“Don't.”
Derek raised his hands.
“I'm being friendly.”
Claire put down her bag.
Sophie approached.
“Want to drill?”
“Sure.”
They started.
Derek watched.
Claire moved even more comfortably this time.
Her hip was still stiff.
But her balance was perfect.
She never crossed her feet.
She never leaned too far.
She never reached.
Every movement was economical.
Derek began noticing things he hadn't seen before.
She kept her chin protected.
Her hands returned naturally to position.
Her eyes stayed on the centerline.
She wasn't practicing like a retired recreational athlete.
She was moving like someone who had spent years learning what happened when a body moved one inch too far.
After twenty minutes, Derek couldn't stand it anymore.
He walked over.
“Thirty seconds.”
Claire didn't look up.
“No.”
“Twenty.”
“No.”
“Ten.”
She smiled.
“No.”
Derek laughed.
“You really don't want to?”
Claire finally looked at him.
“Not like this.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means you're trying to win before we even start.”
Derek's expression changed.
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
“Yes, you do.”
Mike called from across the room.
“Derek, leave it.”
Derek ignored him.
“Just one round.”
Claire sighed.
Then she looked at Mike.
Mike shook his head.
Claire looked back at Derek.
“One round.”
Derek smiled.
“Deal.”
Mike walked over.
“No.”
Derek looked surprised.
“You just said—”
Mike cut him off.
“I said no.”
Claire looked at Mike.
“It's okay.”
“No, it isn't.”
“Mike.”
He stared at her.
Claire gave him a small nod.
Mike understood.
She knew what she was doing.
He stepped back.
“Technical round,” he said.
Derek grinned.
“Of course.”