Naomi zipped her bag.
“Maybe.”
“You should stay in recreational training.”
She looked directly at him.
“Why?”
“Because competition isn't for everyone.”
Naomi paused.
“Is that your decision?”
Logan smiled.
“No.”
“Then I'll make my own.”
Marcus heard the exchange from several feet away.
He didn't move.
He didn't need to.
Naomi could defend herself.
But Logan wasn't finished.
The following week, he began assigning her deliberately difficult drills.
Whenever Naomi succeeded, he increased the difficulty.
Whenever she struggled, he made sure everyone heard about it.
“Too slow.”
“Bad balance.”
“You're telegraphing everything.”
Naomi accepted every correction.
But eventually Daniel pulled Logan aside.
“Enough.”
Logan frowned.
“I'm training her.”
“No. You're testing whether you can break her.”
Logan scoffed.
“You think she's special?”
“No.”
Daniel looked toward Naomi.
“I think she's stubborn.”
Logan smiled.
“That makes two of us.”
Daniel's expression remained serious.
“Don't confuse stubbornness with permission.”
Logan didn't answer.
That night, Naomi stayed late.
She was exhausted.
Marcus waited outside.
When she finally emerged, he handed her a bottle of water.
“How was it?”
“Hard.”
“Good.”
She smiled.
Then she looked back through the glass doors.
“Uncle Marcus?”
“Yeah?”
“Do you think I belong there?”
Marcus studied her face.
“You belong anywhere you've earned the right to stand.”
Naomi frowned.
“That sounds complicated.”
“It isn't.”
He pointed toward the gym.
“You don't need Logan's approval.”
Naomi looked at the building again.
For the first time, she understood something.
She wasn't fighting to become Logan's equal.
She was fighting to become herself.
The trouble began on a Tuesday.
A local sports network announced that it would film a promotional segment at Westbridge.
Logan was the featured athlete.
He spent the entire morning preparing.
His name would appear on television.
His championship record would be mentioned.
He wanted everything perfect.
Daniel, however, had other plans.
“We're including the newer athletes.”
Logan looked up.
“What?”
“The segment is about the academy.”
“I'm the champion.”
“And they are students.”
Logan's jaw tightened.
Naomi was scheduled to demonstrate a basic movement with Kayla.
She was nervous but excited.
When the cameras arrived, the atmosphere changed.
Everyone wanted to look professional.
Logan was excellent in front of the cameras.
He spoke confidently.
He smiled at the right moments.
He demonstrated techniques flawlessly.
Then Naomi stepped onto the mat.
The director asked her to repeat a drill she'd been practicing.
She did.
Not perfectly.
But well.
“Good,” the director said.
Logan watched.
After filming, he approached Naomi.
“You looked nervous.”
“I was.”
“It showed.”
“I'll get better.”
Logan shook his head.
“You don't understand.”
“What?”
“This place has standards.”
Naomi looked at him.
“I've been training every day.”
“That doesn't mean you're ready.”
She sighed.
“Then tell me what I need to improve.”
Logan smiled.
“Everything.”
Kayla stepped forward.
“That's not helpful.”
Logan turned.
“You've been training two years and still think you know everything.”
Kayla immediately stepped back.
Naomi looked between them.
“There's no reason to talk to her like that.”
Logan's eyes narrowed.
“You're defending her?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because she didn't do anything.”
Logan laughed.
“This is exactly the problem.”
“What problem?”
“You think everyone deserves the same place.”
Naomi didn't understand.
Logan continued.
“Some people belong at the top.”
He pointed toward himself.
“Others don't.”
Silence spread through the gym.
Naomi's face changed.
She wasn't angry.
She was disappointed.
“Then I guess we'll find out.”
Logan walked away.
Marcus had been standing near the entrance.