Game's Extra

The morning light filtered through Aiden's dormitory window as he prepared himself for the day. After a quick shower and breakfast, he headed to the academy. Arriving in the classroom, he exchanged brief greetings with his friends and took his usual seat. The instructor soon entered, and the lectures began. Eleven long hours later, the classes finally ended. Aiden stretched and said goodbye to his friends, making his way to the gym for his planned session with Ava.

Changing into his gym clothes, Aiden arrived at the training area first. He did a few warm-ups while waiting. After a while, Ava walked in, looking determined but slightly nervous. She headed straight toward him.

"You're late," Aiden said, raising an eyebrow.

"Barely!" Ava huffed, crossing her arms. "Let's get started already."

Aiden smirked. "Alright, let's begin. Hope you're ready."

Aiden wasted no time, leading Ava through a grueling strength training circuit. They started with burpees, followed by battle ropes, explosive push-ups, kettlebell swings, bench presses, and landmine rotations. The intensity was relentless, with Aiden keeping a close eye on Ava's form and pushing her limits.

After two hours, Ava collapsed onto a mat, breathing heavily. "Ahh... I'm... exhausted," she managed to say between gasps.

"Rest for a minute. We're not done yet," Aiden said, his tone firm but not unkind.

Ava shot him a wide-eyed look. "You're kidding, right? What did I even get myself into?" she muttered under her breath.

Aiden chuckled. "Already thinking of giving up? It's just the first day."

Ava, fueled by her pride, forced herself to her feet. "I'm not giving up," she said, determination blazing in her eyes.

"Good," Aiden replied. "Follow me. It's time for combat training."

They moved to the combat stage, where Aiden began to teach Ava the basics of mixed martial arts. He started with the fundamentals of boxing.

"First, let's get your stance right," Aiden instructed. "Keep your feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent. Hands up, elbows in. Got it?"

Ava adjusted her posture, mirroring his instructions. "Like this?"

"Better," Aiden said. "Now, we'll work on jabs. Focus on speed and precision."

For the next hour, Aiden drilled her on jabs, footwork, and defensive movements like pivoting, switching, and weaving. Ava picked up the basics quickly, her natural athleticism shining through. Once she seemed comfortable, Aiden decided it was time to spar.

Aiden adopted a relaxed stance. "Alright, let's see what you've got. Hit me."

Ava hesitated. "You want me to just punch you?"

"Yes," Aiden said plainly. "Don't hold back."

Ava threw a tentative jab, which Aiden easily dodged. "That was slow. Put more effort into it."

She tried again, this time with more force, but Aiden parried her punch with ease. "Better, but still not good enough. Keep going."

Frustrated but determined, Ava began to throw a series of punches, incorporating the footwork and techniques Aiden had just taught her. She managed to weave and dodge some of his counters, but her punches barely grazed him.

"Not bad," Aiden said, switching to a Philly shell stance. Using his shoulder and forearm to block her punches, he countered with a quick jab that tapped her lightly on the nose.

"Ow!" Ava exclaimed, clutching her nose. "Was that necessary?"

Aiden smirked. "Consider it a lesson. Keep your guard up."

Ava growled under her breath and resumed her assault. She began to experiment with pivoting and weaving to create openings, but Aiden's defense remained impenetrable. He blocked her attacks effortlessly, his movements precise and calculated.

"You're too predictable," Aiden said. "Mix it up."

Ava gritted her teeth and adjusted her approach. She started feinting, throwing fake punches to draw out his defenses. Aiden raised an eyebrow, impressed by her quick learning.

"That's more like it," he said. "But it's still not enough."

Switching to an orthodox stance, Aiden began to go on the offensive, throwing rapid jabs and straight punches. Ava struggled to keep up, dodging some but getting hit by most. Despite the barrage, she had a blissful expression on her face.

Aiden paused mid-punch, staring at her. "Are you... enjoying this?"

Ava blinked, her cheeks reddening slightly. "W-What? No! Keep going!"

Inwardly, Aiden sighed. "This woman is a masochist," he thought.

They continued sparring for another hour, with Aiden constantly adjusting his tactics to keep Ava on her toes. By the end of the session, both of them were drenched in sweat, but Ava still wore a satisfied grin.

"Alright, that's enough for today," Aiden said, wiping his forehead with a towel. "We'll continue tomorrow."

"Yes!" Ava replied enthusiastically, her voice brimming with energy despite her exhausted state.

Aiden raised an eyebrow. "You're way too happy about this."

Ava shrugged, still smiling. "It's fun."

"Yeah, sure," Aiden muttered, weirded out. He quickly grabbed his things and left the gym. Back in his dormitory, he took a long shower, changed into comfortable clothes, and flopped onto his bed.

As he drifted off to sleep, he couldn't help but think, "What have I gotten myself into with this woman?"