Touchdown: Busan

Ruka watched the naginata sail past her head as she slid down the rubber mat. She swung her tanto in a reverse grip and found nothing but air as her target's leg moved deftly out of the way. To think a guy of Ryu's size could be this nimble, Ruka thought.

She spun her body with her knees, planting a heel firmly on the mat and using it as a spring to lunge at the still recovering Sergeant. To his credit, Ryu was quick to recover. He was able to position the weapon's shaft between him and Ruka.

The blade met wood. The blunt clash ringing across the gym.

Ryu pushed Ruka back and held the blade in front of him, forcing the Lieutenant to collect herself. Ruka kept her stance low, creeping, almost stalking, looking for an opening to pounce on.

They circled each other, grinning as the sweat from their brows trickled down to their eyes. It has been a while since both of them sparred.

Ryu was always a challenge to Ruka, with his size, she knew that even one hit could be dangerous — that's why she always moves whenever they engage. This has helped her multiple times, not just in dealing with an opponent bigger than her, but multiple opponents as well. The speed and agility she gained as well as the situational awareness on where to position herself by constantly moving around allowed her to engage multiple enemies without being overwhelmed — the shinobi attack at Echigo being a great example.

Ryu on the other hand, always felt like he's not just fighting a fighter smaller than himself, but also like he's facing multiple opponents as well. Ruka would be striking on his lower left only to appear on his upper right the moment Ryu moves to counter attack — and the Lieutenant can sure mix things up.

"She looks... unafraid, facing an opponent like Ryu-san," Anna whispered in awe as she and Shouichi were watching the two spar from a section of the gym's wall.

Both of them also just finished an hour of work out. Sweat clung to their body like a second layer of skin. Shou sat on a bench while stretching his legs. Anna on the other hand, was just standing and watching the two senior officers spar.

"And what's with their stamina?" Anna turned to Shou whose eyes were also fixed on the two fighters. In contrast to Anna's awed gaze though, Shou's was more intense and analytical, like he was studying how they move.

"They were already working out when we arrived, started sparring after ten minutes," Anna continued, "and it's been," the girl looks at her smartwatch, "an hour and a half since then. And they're still sparring," she said, clearly impressed.

"They could go on for half a day," Shou replied.

"Half a day?!"

Shou smirked and nodded.

"And Sanada-shosa?"

"He could beat the entire squad's asses for a whole day, but... we can't even last that long."

"And here I am," Anna slid off the wall until she was sitting with her legs splayed on the floor, "absolutely normal."

"Hey. Who are you talking to?" Shou laughed, earning a curious look from the girl.

"Sanada-san is a monster fighter. Ruka-san is so versatile it's actually frightening how much she can do. Ryu-san is... well, look at him," he pointed at Ryu, eliciting a giggle from Anna. "Takeru-san is the best shot I've ever seen. And you..." Shou caught himself.

"Hmm?" Anna tilted her head innocently. "What about me?"

"You're..." Shou cleared his throat when his eyes met Anna's. He wiped his hands on his sweatpants for no apparent reason but to find something to do with the jitters he's feeling.

"Come on, Shou-kun, spit it out," Anna nudged Shou's thigh with her elbow.

"You're... absurdly pretty," Shou stuttered in a small voice that Anna barely heard what he said.

"That makes me the only lizard out of the Black Dragons," Shou tried to deflect with a joke, but it came out awkwardly in his head.

The blush on each corporal's cheeks could be attributed to the flush of their work out — but only the both of them would say it.