Ren Sekino

First days are always awkward.

She kept to the side, mimicking what she’d seen others do. Her clothes felt too tight in some places, too loose in others. Hair clung to her neck. Her hands trembled slightly after the second set.

He was across the room at first.

But then, he stopped. Mid-set. Looked over. Just looked — as if something had pulled his attention to her.

And then he moved.

At first, he simply walked past. Picked up a set of dumbbells — despite closer ones being available. Then again — he placed his water bottle down right beside her mat. Too close.

She didn’t look at him. But she felt him. Felt his gaze.

He sat down across from her, on a bench no one else was using. He wasn’t training anymore. He was just… watching.

A few minutes passed. He tied his hair back loosely, slow, deliberate — as if he knew she’d glance over.

Then he stood up. Walked over to the machine she had just struggled with. He didn’t say anything. Just adjusted the weights she left, cleaned it with a towel, and set it right.

He didn’t speak. Not a word.

But every movement said it loud enough: “I saw you. And I’m not going anywhere.”

When she walked past to grab her water, he turned toward her — right then. Locked eyes. Calm.

No smile. Just a subtle tilt of his head.

Like an unspoken dare: “Try not to notice me.”

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