Chapter 9:In the wide shadow of a close one: part 2. The First Fist

Yue still remembered that first lesson. She walked in on her own( even if she was fine her mom wasn't gonna use too much time when she could be working learning about and investing in the stock market). Yue walked in the door nervous, considering when it came to new surroundings she was unacquainted. This was because, after her dad leaving, for much of her years she had been homeschooled not just on normal lessons, but on the nature of the world, how it worked, and planning for the future intensely.

Her mom had coached her in what to say, and Yue, knowing that it was practically all she had to cling too, held onto it like a sponge. She tentatively stepped in. Her mother had dropped her extremely early, so when she arrived she expected to find only the master. Entering, she saw a single man(she estimated about age 30) sitting cross legged in the middle of the hall, who Yue assumed to be the owner. She noticed that this man seemed to be very clean, almost pristinely. She opened her mouth to speak before being cut off by the man.

"I assume you're the new person who is planning to join us at the endless dojo?"

The man turned around, and that's when Yue recognised this man had a blindfold on his face.

"I'm assuming that with your silence i can say i'm right?"

Yue paused for a millisecond, then replied with "Yes. How dya know."

"Most of my students have learned a spectacular agility, and even the newer ones learn quickly how to silence their steps and lower their breath. Also, considering the formality of your mothers email, it was obvious to see that she was a woman who didn't waste time."

"Understandable.Since I'm here early, can you drill on the three basic punches."

Hirokoshi was wide-eyed.

"....You seem to have done some background studies before coming here. Is it a thing in your family where you are always prepared?"

"Apart from that time… yes."she calmly stated

Hirokoshi contemplated the phrase she said 'apart from that time' before pivoting around and walking towards the back of the room.

Yue looked quizzically at him while he pulled a rope in the back of the room down.

The minute he did,BANG, a row of punching bags appeared in front of her.

"Sooo, lets see what you got."

2 hours later

7 people walked in.

Yue noted every one. 3 boys of light skin, 2 girls of the same, 2 of dark skin.

The 7 got on one knee and greeted Sensei Hirokoshi.

"You seem to command a lot of respect Sensei" Yue stated

Hirokoshi didn't reply. " We have a new student called Yue. Does anyone wanna show her how the people of the endless gym fight?"

The dark skinned boy stood up and walked towards Yue. He touched a pad on the ground and jumped back as it flipped into a mat. "Sure, why not?" The boy said. " Names Temi btw, I'm assuming you know a bit about fighting if you're here, so let's get started I suppose."

"Let's start,"Yue proclaimed.

She got into a tentative defensive stance, not knowing what to come. The boy seemed to have teleported, it was like she was seeing everything in 5 frames per second. The next second was, mentality changing. During the time that she didn't see him, she weakened her guard in the center. Temi saw this opportunity, and before she knew what happened, she felt an agonizing pain in her gut. She was forced to her knees.

"Is that enough SenseiEH?"

Yue knew this was the best time to attack. That pain was completely more than she expected, but through it she rushed Temi. But the gap between ability was too big, too wide. Temi easily dodged her, all or nothing kick, then , as she was off balance, sweeped her foot.

They say the feeling of a real punch, is really the first step of a fighter. Yue never forgot that moment.