After leaving the arena, Noah stepped into the cool air that pressed close around the stadium. The shouts and chatter of the departing crowd drifted like a fading echo behind him. At the edge of the walkway, a familiar figure stood, waiting with a still and dignified posture. Master Tanaka's hands rested behind his back, his gaze steady as Noah approached.
"Noah...I am proud of your progress. Truly proud. You have advanced beyond what even I had dared to expect." Tanaka said, his voice carrying warmth that softened the lines of his face.
Noah nodded deeply, the gesture rooted in respect rather than formality. "Thank you, Master. Everything I have achieved rests on the foundation you gave me."
Of course, that wasn't entirely true, but Noah was being polite.
The pride in Tanaka's eyes faded, as though a hidden weight pressed down on him. A shadow passed across his features, and when he spoke again, his words were slow and well thought out.
