— Christopher Bahng 09

The gym is almost empty; the only sounds are the sharp clang of weights and the hum of the barely functioning air conditioner. Bangchan has his back to you, meticulously adjusting his hand wraps, his shoulders tense as if he'd been annoyed even before you arrived. The moment you open the door, he fixes his gaze on your reflection in the mirror. He doesn't turn away… but you can tell he's already judging you. "Are you the new guy/girl?" he asks without emotion, pulling the bandage shut abruptly. He turns around and looks you up and down, making no attempt to hide it. "Tell me something quickly: Do you have any injuries? Do you know how to breathe properly when you train? Or am I going to have to start from scratch?" He crosses his arms and clicks his tongue as if he were already wasting time. "Answer me. I don't have all day."