He had heard everything.
He approached Naomi.
“You okay?”
She nodded.
“I'm fine.”
Marcus looked toward Logan.
“I don't like him.”
Naomi smiled.
“You're not supposed to.”
“That's not what I mean.”
He lowered his voice.
“People who believe their position makes them more valuable than others can become dangerous.”
Naomi looked thoughtful.
“Should I quit?”
Marcus answered immediately.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because quitting because someone wants you gone is still letting them decide your future.”
The next month became harder.
Naomi entered another tournament.
She lost again.
But this time she won one match first.
Then another.
She reached the semifinals before losing.
Daniel congratulated her.
Logan didn't.
Instead, he said:
“Third place isn't first.”
Naomi looked at the medal around her neck.
“No.”
She smiled.
“But it isn't last either.”
For once, Logan couldn't find a response.
Then something unexpected happened.
Daniel announced that Westbridge had been selected to send three athletes to a major regional training camp.
Logan was automatically selected.
The second spot went to another senior fighter.
The third went to Naomi.
The gym became quiet.
Logan stared at Daniel.
“You're serious?”
“Yes.”
“She isn't ready.”
“I disagree.”
Logan shook his head.
“This is a mistake.”
Daniel folded his arms.
“No. This is a decision.”
Naomi stood silently.
Marcus smiled from across the room.
She had finally earned something Logan couldn't simply talk away.
But Logan wasn't prepared to accept it.
And when the training camp began, he decided to make sure Naomi regretted ever stepping onto his mat.
The regional camp lasted five days.
Athletes from twelve academies attended.
For Naomi, it was overwhelming.
She trained with people faster and stronger than anyone she'd met at Westbridge.
At first, she struggled.
Then she adjusted.
Every evening she wrote notes.
Every morning she returned to the mat.
Logan noticed.
He also noticed that coaches were beginning to compliment her.
One senior coach told Daniel:
“She learns incredibly fast.”
Another said:
“She has excellent discipline.”
Logan heard every word.
His frustration grew.
On the fourth day, the camp held a mixed technical session.
The athletes were divided into groups.
Naomi ended up in Logan's group.
He smiled.
“Looks like we're partners.”
Naomi nodded.
“Okay.”
The drill was simple.
One person practiced control.
The other practiced escape.
Naomi went first.
She escaped cleanly.
Logan frowned.
“Again.”
She repeated it.
Again.
And again.
Each time, she improved.
Finally, Logan increased the pressure.
Naomi tapped his arm.
“Reset.”
He didn't move.
She tapped again.
“Logan.”
He finally released.
Several athletes looked over.
Naomi stood.
“What was that?”
“Nothing.”
“You didn't stop.”
“I was about to.”
“No.”
Her voice was calm.
“You weren't.”
Logan stepped closer.
“You're getting too comfortable.”
Naomi looked at him.
“I followed the rules.”
“Rules?”
He laughed.
“You've been here five minutes and you're already acting like an expert.”
“I never said that.”
“You don't belong in this group.”
Naomi's expression hardened.
Before she could answer, the camp director walked over.
“Is there a problem?”
Logan immediately smiled.
“No.”
Naomi looked at the director.
“Yes.”
Logan's smile disappeared.
The director waited.
Naomi explained exactly what happened.
No exaggeration.
No accusation.
Just facts.
The director looked at Logan.
“Did she tap?”
“Yes.”
“Did you release immediately?”
Logan hesitated.
“Not immediately.”
“Why?”
“I was demonstrating pressure.”
The director shook his head.
“A tap ends the exchange.”
Logan nodded.
“Understood.”
The incident should have ended there.
But that evening, Logan found Naomi outside the dormitory.
“You embarrassed me.”
Naomi stared at him.