"You'll help me?" Ren asked quietly.
"Of course. I can't just let my boyfriend's apprentice look so down in the dumps." Gale answered with a smile.
"I wish Kaien could be more like you sometimes."
"Cut him some slack. He means well. We'll start tonight." Gale chuckled.
—-------------
Meanwhile, back in Squad 4's underground training room, the others sat slumped against the walls, catching their breath. None of them could quite process what had happened or rather, what they hadn't even seen, given how quickly Ren had ended the spar.
"I still can't believe it." Miko muttered. "Ren's a beast of his own. At this rate, he might've even caught up to Shin."
"Yeah." Sora added, her tone heavy with respect. "I felt it firsthand. His battle instinct is insane. He sets traps without hesitation, always waiting for the perfect counter, like he can read every move before you even make it. And that pressure he gives off, it's overwhelming."
