Ji-woo's Observation

The scent of sweat and worn leather was a balm to Rosa’s raw nerves. It was a different kind of struggle here, a tangible one, measured in the burn of muscles and the sharp sting of a well-placed jab. The gym was a sanctuary, a place where the echoes of mockery faded and the only judgment came from the relentless rhythm of her own heartbeat. She moved through the drills with a fierce, almost desperate, focus, her body a weapon honed by sheer will.

“You’re getting faster, Rosa,” the gruff voice of her trainer, Kai, boomed, his words punctuated by the rhythmic thud of his own heavy bag. “But don’t let your guard down. Speed without control is just flailing.”

Rosa nodded, her breath coming in ragged bursts. She could feel Sora’s smug presence beside her, a silent, electrifying current of encouragement. *See? You’re not weak anymore. They can’t touch you here.*