Days had slipped by in a steady beat of training, recovery, and avoidance of the family tension.
The violent confrontation with her father had left bruises that faded faster than the emotional ones, but Lena had thrown herself back into her routine with her usual discipline.
By the evening of August 3rd—the day before her twentieth birthday—the cool of that night had dulled her bruises into a manageable ache.
She had processed it in her own way: extra drills on the mat, long runs through Tokyo's humid streets, and silent moments staring at the ceiling in her Airbnb room.
The Worlds loomed closer, a beacon that demanded all her focus. Everything else, including her father's presence in the city, had been boxed away until after her tournament.
The Suzuki Gym echoed with the fading sounds of the day's sessions as Lena and Kaito finished their private training session.
Late afternoon light slanted through the high windows, painting the tatami mats in warm gold and soft orange colors.
The air hung heavy with the familiar scent of sweat and rubber.
Lena's white gi clung to her powerful frame, damp patches darkening the fabric across her broad shoulders, defined core, and thick thighs.
Her brown hair, pulled into a practical ponytail, had loosened with curls escaping at the temples from the intensity of their randori.
Kaito, in his usual black rash guard and shorts, moved with that effortless fluidity even while packing up.
He rolled his shoulders as he gathered his water bottle and towel, the faint scar above his eyebrow catching the light.
Their session had been particularly well today—Lena used more of his wrestling transitions into her judo game, flowing better than she had in weeks.
She felt sharper, more centered. More ready.
As they zipped their bags near the edge of the mat, Kaito glanced at her with a small smile.
"Big day tomorrow. You're turning twenty. How does it feel?"
Lena straightened, slinging her bag over her shoulder with a slight wince at the pull on her healing arm. She let out a dry chuckle, wiping sweat from her brow with the back of her hand.
"Awful. Knowing I'm gonna be so old. Twenty sounds ancient. Like I should have my life figured out already, right? Instead, I'm still chasing a lifelong dream."
Kaito raised an eyebrow, leaning against the wall with casual grace.
"Old? What? You're just starting the prime of your life. Most athletes hit their peak around now. You've got strength, experience, and that stubborn fire that makes you dangerous. Twenty is nothing. It's the beginning."
Lena paused, considering his words. She adjusted the strap of her bag, her eyes reflecting the golden light from the windows.
"Yeah… I guess. It still feels weird. Like the clock's ticking louder or something." She offered a half-smile, the kind that didn't quite reach her eyes but showed she was trying.
The conversation felt easy after the chaos of the previous days.
Training had become their way of healing, a space where all the chaos from the outside dissolved into movement.
They started walking out of the gym together as the evening deepened. The streets of welcomed them with the familiar evening bustle: salarymen loosening ties on their way home, the sizzle of street food vendors firing up takoyaki grills, and the distant rumble of trains.
The air was warm and thick, carrying the scent of blooming night flowers.
Neon signs flickered to life in pinks, blues, and reds as they walked through the streets.
Kaito walked close but not too close, his presence was more so that of like a third wheel on a date.
For a few blocks, comfortable silence stretched between them, broken only by the city's sounds in the backround.
Then he spoke again, voice thoughtful. "What are you gonna do for your birthday? Anything planned?"
Lena shrugged, kicking a small pebble along the pavement. "I don't know. Probably just chill. Mom has to head over to my dad's place to fill in for Mia and him watching the kids. Mia and Thomas decided to go tour Tokyo or whatever. Mom's got too good a heart sometimes. So… I'll be spending it alone. But it's fine. I'll get to do more stuff I want to do… alone."
Kaito glanced at her, his dark eyes searching her face. "You okay with that?"
"Yeah," Lena replied, a touch too quickly. She adjusted her bag again. "I'm used to it. Training, eating, sleeping, repeat. Having the place to myself means no distractions. I can drill forms without anyone hovering or asking if I'm okay every five minutes."
They continued walking, the conversation deepening as the streets grew quieter near her neighborhood.
Kaito stayed silent for a stretch, then asked gently, "You want anything for your birthday? Anything at all?"
Lena shook her head. "No. I just want good luck to win the tournament. That's enough."
Kaito persisted lightly. "Come on. What do you like? What do you dislike? Help me out here."
Lena rambled then, the words flowing more freely as they turned onto a tree-lined side street where fireflies occasionally blurred in the fading light.
"I love animals. Cats are the best—independent but they'll curl up with you when they decide you're worth it. Dogs are great too, all that loyal energy. I love white roses—they look so clean and elegant. Willow trees too. There's something peaceful about how they sway, like they're dancing with the wind. And dancing… I love dancing to cool down after hard training. It gets rid of the stress in my body, lets me move without thinking about technique or opponents."
She paused, a small smile playing on her lips.
"I hate when people criticize me. You know that one all too well." She shot him a pointed look.
Kaito made a face, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Guilty."
Lena continued. "And I hate people who act egotistical. Sometimes at tournaments, you see these fighters win one match and suddenly they're jumping around, banging their chests, screaming like they just conquered the world. It's ridiculous. So stupid. The mat doesn't care about your celebration. There's always the next round, the next opponent. Acting like that just makes you look fragile when you lose."
Kaito laughed, a warm, genuine sound that cut through the evening quiet. "I've seen that too. It's all show until reality hits."
Lena rolled her eyes and punched his shoulder lightly with her good arm. "Don't laugh. It's annoying."
They reached the familiar Airbnb building as the sky deepened into twilight.
Soft lights glowed from windows, and the faint scent of someone's home-cooked dinner wafted from a neighboring house.
Lena stopped at the door, turning to face him. The conversation had stretched the walk, filling it with ease.
Kaito grew quiet for a moment, studying her under the porch light.
"Can I spend the day with you for your birthday? Meet up around 10 a.m.?"
Lena felt a faint blush creep up her neck, warming her cheeks. She looked away briefly, trying to play it nonchalant.
"Yeah, sure. Why not?"
Kaito caught the subtle shift—the slight flush, the way her fingers tightened on her bag strap. A small, knowing smile tugged at his lips.
"See you tomorrow then."
Lena rushed to her door, waving quickly. "See you tomorrow."
Kaito waved back, then turned and jogged off into the evening as if he suddenly had errands to run.
Lena watched him disappear around the corner before stepping inside, the door clicking shut behind her.