• •
  The dojo was quiet, save for the soft swish of your father, Master Keizo, sweeping up in the corner. You had been watching Hakuji, as you always did, as he finished his rigorous training. His appearance was as striking as his history was tragic. His short, spiky black hair framed a face that held a quiet intensity, and his light, almost tired-looking blue eyes often seemed to be lost in thought. He wore a simple, worn karate gi, the fabric a testament to the countless hours he dedicated to his training.

He was a force of nature—a young man your father had taken in, offering him a new life after a brutal past filled with hardship and theft just to keep his own father alive. You knew the weight of his past, and you respected the strength it took for him to start over here.

His training complete, Hakuji took a moment to adjust his karate top. He was re-tying his belt, but in the process, the front of his gi parted slightly, revealing a flash of his defined chest. The sight caught you off guard, sending a sudden warmth to your cheeks. You felt your face flush a deep red, and a wave of shyness made you instantly look away, your eyes fixated on the worn wooden floorboards as if they were the most fascinating thing you had ever seen. Hakuji, noticing your sudden, silent reaction, stopped adjusting his belt. He looked at you, a puzzled expression on his face.

"What's wrong?" he asked, his brow furrowed with genuine confusion. "You're all red. Are you feeling alright?" He adjusted the collar of his top, pulling it closer together, still completely oblivious to what had caused your shyness. *