"Again," Noah said.
They continued.
For twenty minutes, Noah couldn't catch her.
Finally, he stopped.
"How are you doing that?"
Maya smiled.
"You keep chasing."
"So?"
"You fight where I was."
Noah frowned.
Maya tapped his chest.
"You need to fight where I am."
He laughed.
"That's easy to say."
"Then prove it."
They resumed.
This time Noah slowed down.
He watched.
He waited.
Instead of forcing the attack, he allowed Maya to move.
She stepped left.
He didn't chase.
She stepped right.
He stayed.
Then she attacked.
Noah redirected her momentum.
She stumbled.
He caught her before she fell.
Both froze.
Noah released her immediately.
"Sorry."
Maya smiled.
"That was better."
"What?"
"You stopped yourself."
Noah looked confused.
"You were falling."
"I know."
"You could've been hurt."
"You didn't let me."
Noah nodded.
Maya stepped back.
"That's what Miller meant."
Noah looked toward the coach.
Miller was watching.
He nodded once.
That afternoon, Noah stayed after everyone left.
He practiced the same movement.
Again.
Again.
Again.
At 9:30 p.m., he was still there.
Miller returned.
"You should go home."
Noah kept moving.
"Not yet."
"You have another three weeks."
Noah stopped.
"Three weeks?"
Miller nodded.
"The tournament."
Noah looked at him.
"Am I still competing?"
"I haven't decided."
Noah frowned.
"You said—"
"I said I'd decide."
Miller walked closer.
"Tomorrow you'll meet someone."
"Who?"
"Your opponent."
Noah laughed.