The tournament inn was lively. Fighters walked through the halls, stretching their arms, adjusting their uniforms, and chatting about upcoming matches. Some were reviewing strategies, others were trying to get a feel for their competition. The tension in the air wasn't overwhelming, but it was there, settling quietly between conversations and focused glances.
Josei ignored all of it.
She sat in her room, hands resting on her knees, breathing slow and steady. Meditation had always helped her prepare before a fight. It cleared her mind, kept her movements sharp, and ensured she didn't waste time worrying about things she couldn't control.
The lantern flickered beside her, casting long shadows against the wooden walls. The window was slightly open, letting in a soft breeze mixed with distant voices from the streets below. The merchants were still selling goods, their calls blending with the hum of tournament preparations.
Then came the knock.
It wasn't casual. It was sharp, deliberate, heavier than it needed to be.
Josei opened her eyes, listening for a moment before standing up and walking toward the door.
She pulled it open.
Two fighters stood there.
The one in front was tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in a competitor's uniform. His stance wasn't stiff, but there was something too controlled about it, like he had decided exactly how he wanted this moment to play out. His smirk was familiar. Josei had seen it plenty of times before. It was the kind of smirk that meant he thought he had the upper hand.
His friend stood slightly behind him, shifting from foot to foot, looking unsure but expectant. He wasn't talking, just waiting, flicking his gaze between Josei and the door like he had a good idea of what was supposed to happen next.
Josei didn't react. She just waited.
The taller one tilted his head slightly, running a hand through his hair. "Didn't think you'd open the door," he said, his voice smooth, practiced.
Josei didn't answer.
The smirk stayed. "Tournament halls are busy, but no one really pays attention to who moves between rooms, do they?"
Josei exhaled, slow and steady. "Leave."
The second guy's gaze flickered between them, his thoughts already running ahead.
Josei started to close the door, but before it could fully latch, the taller fighter suddenly rushed inside and slammed the door shut behind him.
---
Outside the room, his friend stood frozen, his mind going wild.
His pulse picked up. His thoughts spun out in a dozen directions, racing ahead before he even had time to process what was happening. He swallowed hard, feeling the heat in his face, his brain filling in gaps with expectations that weren't real. He wasn't thinking clearly anymore—he was just waiting.
Then came the sounds.
A sharp impact.
Then another.
Then another.
Each one was fast, clean, without hesitation.
Then came a loud thud, solid and final.
Then his friend groaned, low but clear.
The second guy tensed, his stomach twisting, his mind already fully locked into the fantasy he had created. He wasn't questioning if he was right anymore—he was just waiting for the proof he thought would come next.
Then the door swung open.
His friend flew out, crashing hard onto the floor.
He rolled awkwardly, arms and legs folding beneath him as bruises immediately started forming. He gasped, stunned, staring up at the ceiling like his brain had been knocked loose.
The door slammed shut again.
The second guy just stood there, staring, all his wild thoughts crumbling in an instant.
This wasn't what he had pictured.
This wasn't what he had expected.
This was just a beatdown.
His friend groaned, pressing a weak hand against his ribs, blinking like he still hadn't fully processed what had happened.
The few fighters walking through the hallway slowed, glancing at the scene, but nobody asked questions.
Nobody needed to.
Josei had handled it.
The two fighters scrambled to their feet and limped away, disappearing down the hall without another word. Neither looked back.
Inside her room, Josei adjusted the lantern, sat back down, and continued meditating.
Because to her, nothing had happened.