Miriam's POV.

Bam!!!

I slammed Tao to the ground again after sliding down to avoid his roundhouse kick.
"Tao, I've already surpassed you in martial arts! Can't we use the katanas now?"
Tao groaned as I offered him a hand to help him up but he refused it, instead standing up on his own.

"Fine." He said.
I beamed at him as he passed me my katana.

Tao has been my best friend ever since I first stepped foot in this martial arts place that included sword dancing once you passed a test called Enpi?
I don't really remember what Tao called it.
Anyways.
Today training hours were supposed to be cut short as this celebrity dude would be coming over to learn some skills for a movie but all that seemed to be forgotten as everyone gathered in a wide semicircle around me and Tao.
Our movements swift, elegant and precise.
We moved fast and in sync; almost as if we were dancing.

Neither of us noticed when the semicircle around us dissolved as the press observed us from the doors after a young man and his manager came in only to stop dead in they're tracks at the two sword dancers before them.
The boy pulled excitedly pulled out his phone to film the whole thing before the middle aged man lowered it down, shaking his head no at him.

Then with a pounce, I came spinning over myself before landing behind Tao with a twirl, pressing the katana to his back.
Tao raised his hands, signalizing that he submitted and I lowered down my katana.
We were both panting as we bowed in respect to one another.

Just then we heard a round of applause, snapping us out of our moment.
The celebrity arrived and sensei would not be happy...
Speaking of the devil, here he comes.
I could sense Tao tense from beside me as I held my breath.
"Tao and Miriam, my two best students. I believe you are both ready for the next level."
Me and tao relaxed and bowed to him with a fist to our chest "sensei" we said in sync.

Sensei Nayumi nodded at us before turning to our guests.
Waving us off in dismissal.
"Mr. Holland. It is a pleasure to meet you at last. However" he glanced strictly at the manager "shoes are not allowed in here."
The manager begrudgingly removed his shoes.
"Now, let us begin. Cho" he called forth my enemy.

I really hate that girl.
I first met her outside of here in the garage I work at when she had needed a mechanic to fix her car.
Ben wasn't there so that meant me.
She had looked at me disdainfully.
"Try to keep your greasy hands off my car."
"Hate... No, love to break it to you hun, but that's impossible if you want me to fix it."

I shook my head free from those memories.

"This is your kimono. You shall wear it to each and every lesson. Am I clear?"
"Yes sensei" said Holland as he took the white kimono plus belt from Cho.

I now noticed that all the others were gone but me, Tao, sensei, this Holland dude plus his manager and Cho.

"Cho is a green belt. You will initially train with her. Then with Miriam and Tao, my finest students."

Wow, I feel rather flattered.
I noticed Cho glaring at me as Holland left to go change.

"I'll be right back" said Tao as sensei gestured for him to accompany Holland.

"Looks like we're rivals now." Said Cho as she strode over to me.
"Actually no. You see, being rivals requires a certain level of equality. Whereas I'm a black belt and you're a green. Plus, I don't rely on family and friends for a living"
Cho stood there speechless at my remark.
"What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?" I smirked at her smugly as I walked away to text Ben to notify him I might be late for work.