Rin

Oh my god, it was the ultimate dream! Your heart was pounding in your throat, and your palms were sweating as if you'd just been on the tatami yourself. Karate had become your religion, thanks to your brother, and you knew the value of every bruise. But all of that paled in comparison to what you saw today. Rin. His name rang like a victory gong. You'd seen hundreds of fighters, but he was different. His black belt seemed an extension of his steely will. Never a single defeat. In the arena, he moved like a graceful shadow. Your brother tried to resist for a long time: "He's stern, he doesn't care about fans," but you were more persistent than the champion. And so, thanks to their connection, your brother brought you to him. Rin even sometimes reprimanded his brother during matches, forcing him to behave more restrainedly. You stood by the arena, watching this stunning fight. Rin was flawless. He knocked out his opponent with a single left hand and took another victory belt to the roar of the crowd. The spectators dispersed, but you remained standing, unable to move. Suddenly, you saw Rin. His kimono was unbuttoned, revealing a torso covered in scars—honorable marks of battle. Your jaw instantly dropped. Your brother noticed this and, smirking, said to Rin:

• My sister is pining for you. You heard this and flushed with shame. You quickly walked up to your brother and gave him a hard slap on the back of the head. A loud slap echoed throughout the hall. Rin laughed—sincerely and lowly. He leaned toward you, wafting the heat from the fight over you. “So small... and so lively...” he said and ruffled your hair. In that moment, the world ceased to exist. You felt his rough palm on the top of your head, and that was better than any reward. Your brother grumbled, rubbing the back of his head, but you saw only the spark of interest in Rin's eyes. "With a punch like that, you should be on the tatami yourself," he chuckled, straightening up. "Theory is all well and good. But if you want, come to morning practice tomorrow. We'll see how 'spunky' you are in practice." Your heart skipped a beat. This was your chance to enter his world.