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The dare had been simple but ridiculous
“Swap your signature gear for today’s training! Surely that won't be a big deal for the two of you, eh?” Popo’s grin stretched ear to ear, chuckling mischievously like a madman
“…Unless you two can’t handle it hmm?”
He definitely had some unresolved hatred rooted from the past
But everyone else agreed, some were curious, excited, and honestly? Looking forward to the potential chaos. Gai and Miyo were known for being too similar with their skills: sharp, fast, agile, flexible. Some wondered, will a change mess them up? or can they adapt?
...And the pair having that sense of competitiveness and pride, couldn't find any reasons to refuse without looking... cowardly
So here they were now, standing in the middle of the training room while their friends, not too far, watched like it was a live drama
The rules were simple: Take down those ten moving wooden dummies using the other's signature and you pass. That's all it is
Gai rolled his shoulders, confidence practically glowing
“Well then” he started, gently drawing out his trusty kunai and shurikens. He held it out to her, the way someone might offer a bouquet “Would you do the honors, M’lady? Show me how it’s done. And oh— careful it's sharp” He winked
The feline only gave him a distasteful look but took the weapons from his hand anyways
Her fingers curled around the kunai’s handle, noticeably larger than her own small hand. She carefully and curiously inspects the items, seemingly even slightly impress by it. Gai behind her just smiled
Cute. He thought
Miyo with a blade...
Scary. The others sweat
She stepped forward. Stretching her arms
And then—
She moved. Racing towards the group of dummies
It goes like a clean blur, twisting mid-air, throwing shurikens that hit just right the target, then landing with a kind of balance that made it like the world adjust itself around her. Then the blade flashed once, twice, many times—
And so the dummies hit the ground before the others even realized she was done
The boys were awestruck and was then followed by the loud cheers of her name. Miyo, not bothered, just walked back next to him as she pass her cylinder device to his way, of which he quickly caught
Gai’s heart thumped
Okay. Okay. That was… insanely attractive
He swallowed.
He wanted to impress her too. He really wanted to. Maybe then she’d look at him the way he looked at her
He puffed his chest proudly and gripped her tool like it was an extension of his soul. He saw her many times use it before, how hard could it be?
“Alright! My turn to shine. Prepare to be amazed, Miyo—"
Failed.
Not even a minute later, he was dangling upside down from a pissed-off-looking dummy, the thin wire from the device had wrapped around his ankle like it had beef with him personally
His hair brushed the floor. Face already flushed pink as he swung slightly back and forth. Pathetically
There was a long, horrible awkward pause
“…Miyo...a little...help…please...?” he croaked, wanting nothing more than to bury his self
The boys then burst into laughter. Especially the two founded brothers, Lonky and Popo whose been cackling like there's no tomorrow
“HEY—! STOP LAUGHING!” Gai fumed, face extra redder as he thrashed uselessly in the air “IT’S HARDER THAN IT LOOKS YOU KNOW—!? OY—"
But then he froze
Because he heard something gentle
Something warm
Something he had never, ever heard before
Gai wriggle and tried to turn as much as the rope allowed—
And saw her
Miyo
Laughing
Not the usual smirk. Not the usual scoffing. Nor one of her sharp, proud exhale-laughs
But a real real genuine laugh
Soft. Bright. Carefree
Beautiful
He’d never heard anything like it. Never seen her shoulders shake so freely. Never seen her full of light. As if he had met sunlight for the first time after a long winter
Come to think of it… she had never laughed like that before
And he was the first to hear it
The first to see it
The reason behind it
Forget passing the test. Forget looking stupid. Hr would hang upside down every day if it meant hearing that again
Gai didn't know falling in love with the same person twice was even possible but he just did. At this very moment.
Her smile dropped the moment she caught him staring. She stiffened. Coughed. Turned away with the most obvious fake calm he’d ever seen from her
But her cheeks…
oh, her cheeks were pink
She walked over to him, refusing eye contact. She worked the wire loose, grumbling “Stop staring at me like that”
Gai, still hanging upside down, smiled like an idiot
“You’re cute when you laugh”
She dropped him.
Face-first. Onto the hard floor
“OW—! WHY—”
“It slipped”
“No it didn’t!”
She didn’t argue. She just crossed her arms, cheeks burning, trying desperately to hide it
Their friends, who watched silently from afar, shared knowing looks, got the the cue then silently left the pair alone
Gai sat up, rubbing his head. Still grinning but then, it melted to something just... shy and gentle. A softness she isn't prepared for
"Miyo"
Miyo didn't look at him "...What."
"I'm really glad you laughed today"
She stopped
"I meant it" Gai said, pausing for a bit then carefully, he continues “I know... you don’t laugh like that. Not to anyone and you know? Seeing you like that. Hearing you like that…I... it made me happy. Really happy"
He rubbed the back of his neck, eyes darting anywhere, flushing deeper shades as each second pass. Very embarrassed now, but still honest
"I... could’ve stayed there listening to it all day if you’d let me”
Ah.
Crap.
This is—
This is so bad for her heart
Something fluttered painfully in her chest, it pound so fast it felt like it wanted to escape. She opened her mouth to say something— anything— but nothing came out. Her mind just… blanked
How was she even supposed to respond to something that straightforward? Miyo didn’t know how to react
She could tell him to shoo away
Tell him to stop saying strange things
She’d done it countless times before. Cause that's what is familiar to her
But now—
She couldn’t
Why? Miyo always knew what to do. What to say. She was never at a loss. But now, this time. This one time. She didn’t know what to do. Didn’t know what to say. All because of… him
“…I—” she managed, voice barely steady
She turned away too fast, nearly stumbling
“...Don’t get used to it” was all that she could mutter. Even if the tips of her ears were glowing red
Gai only smiled wider
"Okay" He said gently
"I won't"
And so Gai would spend tomorrow. And the day after doing anything to see it again