"Tonight, we're working on positional control and submission transitions," he announced. "We'll begin with controlled drilling, then move into supervised sparring."
His eyes briefly met Nia's.
"I expect everyone to maintain good control. This is a training environment, not a competition."
Derek stood near the front of the group.
He smiled as Victor spoke.
But it was a different smile from the one he had worn on Thursday.
Derek selected a heavyweight blue belt named Paul.
Derek blocked the movement and applied pressure.
"Don't give me your back," he said.
Derek followed, securing a tight grip around the upper body.
"You're making it easy."
Paul tapped.
Derek released him.
"Again."
They reset.
The second round was rougher.
Derek forced several transitions, ignoring Paul's repeated attempts to slow the pace.
When Paul tapped again, he remained on his back for a moment, breathing hard.
"Maybe find someone your own size," Derek said.
A few students looked away.
Nia watched from the opposite side of the mat.
Derek was not losing control of his technique.
Nia approached Paul as he sat up.
"You all right?"
He nodded.
"Yeah."
"Take a minute before your next round."
Derek turned toward them.
"I didn't ask for a medical assessment."
Nia met his gaze.
"Neither did he."
Paul looked between them.
Derek took a step closer.
"You're getting comfortable giving advice."
"I'm talking to a training partner."
"Then talk to your own partner."
Nia held his gaze for another second.
Then she turned away.
The decision seemed to anger him more than an argument would have.
Derek returned to the center of the mat.
"Anyone else want to give a demonstration tonight?" he asked.
No one answered.
He looked directly at Nia.
"Maybe our new student would like another opportunity."
Victor began to speak.
"Derek, that's enough."
But Derek was already moving toward the center.
"Come on. One round. Let's see what all this experience is worth."
Nia stood still.
The academy had reached a familiar crossroads.
Someone had issued a challenge.
If Nia accepted, Derek would have an opportunity to prove himself against her.
And if she walked away, people would remember that, too.
Nia glanced at Melissa.
The younger woman looked worried.
Then Nia looked at Victor.
Finally, she looked at Derek.
"Not tonight," she said.
Derek laughed.
"Of course."
Nia returned to her bag.
But as she walked away, she heard him speak to another student.
"Some people like pretending they belong until somebody asks them to prove it."
Nia kept walking.
The crack in the academy's perfect picture had already appeared.
The challenge was supposed to happen on Saturday.
By Friday night, almost everyone at Whitmore Academy knew about it.
Then someone mentioned it in the academy's private chat.
Derek had challenged Nia.
Nia had refused.
Derek had called her a coward.
Nia had threatened to fight him.
Derek saw it and laughed.
Then he shared it.
Nia did not see the poll until she arrived at the academy that afternoon.
When she entered the building, however, she immediately noticed that something was different.
The academy was unusually crowded.
Caleb looked up.
"Oh. You're here."
Nia stopped.
"Should I not be?"
"No. Of course not."
He looked toward the mat.
"Derek wants to talk to you."
"About what?"
"The challenge."
Nia closed her eyes briefly.
Then she exhaled.
"I thought that was finished."
"Apparently not."
She walked toward the mat.
Victor stood beside him.
"Nia," he said when she approached. "We need to clarify something."
"All right."
Victor lowered his voice.
"Derek has proposed a controlled exhibition round. I told him that we do not organize impromptu challenges."
"Then why is everyone here?"
Victor glanced toward the phones.
"That is exactly what I'm trying to address."
Derek stepped forward.
"There's no need to make this complicated."
Nia looked at him.
"You've already made it complicated."
Derek's face tightened.
"All I'm asking for is one round. No strikes. No slams. Standard submission rules. If you can handle yourself, there's nothing to worry about."
"Why do you need this?"
"Because you're training here, and everyone deserves to know what level you're at."
"Everyone?"
Derek gestured toward the crowd.
"They're curious."
Nia looked around the room.
Derek wanted a public confirmation of the hierarchy he believed he deserved.
Nia turned toward Victor.
"If I agree, will the round be supervised?"
"Yes."
"Will anyone be allowed to use unsafe techniques?"
"No."
"Will you stop the round if either person loses control?"
Victor nodded.
"Absolutely."
Nia looked back at Derek.
"Then I'll do it."
Derek grinned.
"Good. I knew you'd eventually come around."
Nia raised one hand.
"One condition."
"What?"
"No one touches my face. No slamming. No twisting a joint after a tap. If either of us taps, the round ends immediately."
Derek scoffed.
"Obviously."
"I want Victor to confirm that."
Victor stepped between them.
"Those rules are understood. This is a controlled grappling round. Anyone who violates them will be removed from the mat."
Nia nodded.
"Fine."
Nia removed her sweatshirt and folded it beside her bag.