Shizuka Hiratsuka was the kind of teacher who made you feel like she was personally invested in whether you understood the material.
She walked through True Qi healing in the same careful detail she'd used for condensation: the principle was simple — continuous gentle application over an injured area, encouraging circulation and clearing bruising from the inside. Could work on yourself. Could work on someone else. Couldn't replace a doctor for anything serious.
"If you hurt your internal organs or your nervous system, you see a medical professional. This isn't a miracle technique. It's first aid."
She said it twice and made them repeat it back. Then she confirmed Ren had absorbed the lesson by watching him demonstrate on his own arms.
The bruises faded visibly. Sensation returned in segments.
"Expected." She nodded, then addressed the room: "Good. Ten-minute break. Next period is sparring."
Students scattered. Some sat on the floor trying to condense True Qi. Some just needed a moment to stare at the ceiling.
Ren was already finding a corner to consolidate his own progress when Yukino Yukinoshita appeared in front of him.
"Ren-kun." Her tone was direct. "Spar with me next period."
Ren looked at her with mild surprise. "You're sure?"
She was currently Tier 2. He'd just confirmed Tier 3. The gap between tiers wasn't symbolic — in a direct exchange, one tier meant the difference between effort and effortlessness.
"I'm sure." She met his eyes steadily. "I already have a working grasp on True Qi condensation. Combined with my talent, I can make it work. That's why I want to fight you."
She wasn't posturing. He could tell.
Her talent, she'd said — something about her body. She had a specific ability that made her unusually suited for martial arts. If she was confident enough in that ability to challenge someone a tier above her, she had a reason for it.
And if she shows it off fighting me… well. I'm curious.
"Fine. We'll go after the break."
Yukino nodded crisply and walked off to change into training clothes.
From behind Ren, Megumi Kato's voice floated over. "I suppose I'll end up not being able to find a partner again today."
He turned. She was already looking at the room with resigned amusement.
"Sensei won't forget about you," Ren said. "Your current strength is nothing to her. She'll notice."
Megumi considered this. "Maybe. Good luck with your fight." She went to change.
Ren watched them go, then glanced down at his school uniform. He was the only person in the room who hadn't brought training clothes.
I should remember that tomorrow.
The break ended. Students came back in various combinations of proper training gear and hastily tied-back hair. Yukino returned in a fitted combat suit, ponytail high, moving like someone who'd had this outfit on before.
Shizuka did a headcount, registered the odd numbers, and said: "Pair up on your own. If you're left without a partner, come find me."
The class shuffled and sorted. Ren was already standing with Yukino. He noticed Megumi drifting slightly behind them as the pairing-up happened — nobody quite registering her, everyone's eyes sliding over her like water over glass.
Unsurprisingly, the unpartnered student who came to Shizuka was Megumi Kato.
Shizuka looked at her for a moment, then at Ren, then spoke to the class: "Alright — whoever doesn't have a partner, come see me. You three over there—" her eyes landed on Ren's cluster — "how are you splitting up?"
Confused murmurs rippled through the room. Three? There are clearly only two.
The sharper students focused — really focused — and the confusion on their faces changed to something between shock and bafflement.
There really was someone else there.