The semester moved forward with the steady, predictable rhythm of academic life. Midterms came and went, a stressful but manageable blur of all-night study sessions and caffeine-fueled essay writing.
The kendo team was growing. Kofi's recruitment event had brought in a small but dedicated group of new members, their clumsy, enthusiastic energy a welcome addition to the dojo. He was a good teacher, patient and insightful, his leadership style a quiet, steady contrast to Ren's intense, demanding presence.
Nina, as the new editor-in-chief of the campus paper, was a force of nature. She had completely overhauled the paper's workflow, instituted a rigorous fact-checking system, and was in the middle of a long, and a very loud, and a deeply, deeply, personal, war with the university's student government over their lack of financial transparency.
