My counter opened.
He saw it.
I knew he saw it.
He knew I knew.
For one suspended second, both of us were balanced between attack and restraint.
I could force it.
So could he.
Neither of us did.
We separated.
"Stop," Reed said.
We lowered our hands.
My breathing was heavy, but I felt strangely calm.
Reed walked toward us.
"What happened at the end?"
Cole answered first.
"Bad exchange."
"Why?"
"We both had possible attacks."
"Then why didn't you take them?"
Cole looked at me.
"Risk wasn't worth it."
Reed looked at me.
I nodded.
"Same."
Reed folded his arms.
"Three days ago, both of you would've thrown."
He was right.
"That's improvement."
I wiped sweat from my forehead.
It felt almost anticlimactic.
No dramatic finish.
No winner.
No crowd.
Just two people choosing not to make a bad decision.
And somehow that felt more important than the first dodge.
Reed headed toward the door.
"Tomorrow, full group."
I groaned.
Cole laughed.
Reed opened the door.
Then stopped.
"And Diaz can bring the phone."
I looked at him.
"Why?"
Reed glanced over his shoulder.
"Because the camera was never the problem."
Then he left.
Cole and I stood alone.
I picked up my water bottle.
"So what happens tomorrow?"
Cole shrugged.
"We train."
"That's it?"
"What were you expecting?"
I looked at him.
"Maybe another surprise punch."
He smiled.
"Wouldn't be a surprise now."
I took a drink.
Then I said, "Cole."
He looked at me.
"That first day."
"Yeah?"
"If I hadn't moved..."
He knew what I was asking.
His expression became serious.
"I would've stopped."
"I saw the video."
"I know."
"You slowed."
"Yes."
I nodded.
For some reason, hearing him confirm it mattered.
"Still stupid," I said.
"Still worked."
"Don't get comfortable."
He laughed.
We walked out together.
The next afternoon, the room was full again.
Diaz had his phone.
Everyone knew Cole and I were going to train.
The energy felt almost identical to that first day.
Almost.
But I wasn't the same person standing on the mat.
Neither was Cole.
Reed gave us no speech.
No lesson.
No reminder.
He simply looked at us.
"Ready?"
Cole nodded.
I nodded.
The phone camera lifted.
The room went quiet.
Cole faced me.
I faced him.
He stepped forward.
And the entire world seemed to slow down again.
Part 5: When He Stepped Forward Again
The camera moved closer.
I could hear Diaz breathing behind it.
Cole stood in front of me.
His chest rose.
Fell.
His eyes stayed on mine.
Around us, the other soldiers waited.
Nobody shouted now.
Nobody joked.
They had seen enough over the last few days to understand that this wasn't a performance.
At least I hoped they had.
Cole raised his guard.
So did I.
Reed stood at the edge of the mat.
"Begin."
Nothing happened.
Five seconds.
Ten.
Cole shifted.
I didn't.
Fifteen.
Someone's boot squeaked behind me.
Twenty.
Then Cole stepped forward.
Suddenly.
Exactly like the first day.
My body recognized the movement.
My mind recognized something else.
His shoulder.
His hip.
His eyes.