After confirming his victory, Kahn collapsed on the training platform, sprawled out and panting heavily.
Across from him, Azula—though defeated—looked far better off.
Even though she'd been on the offensive the entire match and burned through plenty of stamina, she still had more left in the tank than he did.
Honestly, if Kahn didn't have perfect control over his body—avoiding wasted energy and moving with precision—he would've fallen long before Azula showed a single weakness.
After all, while they were around the same age, Azula was a prodigy who'd received the best training the Fire Nation could offer.
In raw physical ability and technique, Kahn wasn't even close.
His victory came down to exploiting the rules, capitalizing on Azula's emotional slip-up, and relying on his mysterious "golden finger"—that uncanny body control.
If Azula hadn't lost her composure and chased him so recklessly, there's no way he could've won.
But "if" didn't matter. He'd won—fair and square, at least on paper.
Zuko came running over, eyes wide with disbelief.
"You actually beat Azula! That's amazing!"
Even Azula, the Fire Nation's golden child, had been taken down by Kahn.
That made Zuko's own loss sting a little less.
It wasn't that he was weak—it was that Kahn was strong.
"Well, you can't really say that…" Kahn rubbed the back of his head awkwardly.
He couldn't bring himself to brag, even if he had technically come out on top.
This kid doesn't know how to take a compliment, he thought, grimacing.
Across the arena, Azula stood still, head bowed, breathing faintly.
Her face was hidden from view, unreadable.
Just as Kahn began wondering if he'd accidentally crushed her spirit, she suddenly threw her head back and burst into laughter.
"Ha! Hahaha! Hahahahaha!"
She laughed until she was nearly wheezing, then glanced at Kahn with a mischievous smirk.
"So, you're really Zuzu's friend? You're… interesting. And stronger than I thought."
"You don't seem like the type to play silly games with my brother. Or do you actually like playing childish things—like raising turtles or something?"
"Azula, don't go too far!" Zuko snapped, glaring.
Azula ignored him completely, eyes fixed on Kahn.
"I think we'd get along better than you and Zuzu. What do you think?"
[Ding!]
[Friend request received!]
If Kahn had a system, he was pretty sure that's what he'd be hearing right now.
He blinked, caught off guard. Wait, after all that, she wants to be friends?
Was this girl serious, or just really bad at expressing herself?
Actually… come to think of it, everyone around here seemed oddly fond of him—his classmates, Zuko, and now Azula.
Maybe he had some weird "kid magnet" physique?
Nope. I reject this art style entirely.
Lost in thought, Kahn's mind drifted.
To everyone else, he just looked like he was thinking deeply.
"Kahn, ignore her!" Zuko said loudly, grabbing his sleeve. "Come on, I'll teach you Firebending!"
Azula smirked. "Hmph. I know Firebending too—and I've learned more than you."
"Yeah, but the teacher said your form isn't standard at all! Your stances are unstable!"
"But I can still beat you up."
"You—!"
Their argument yanked Kahn out of his daze. He sighed, half-amused, half-exasperated.
"Are your friendship slots that limited? Can each of you only have one?"
Both Azula and Zuko blinked, confused.
Kahn smiled faintly and said, "Zuko and I are friends—that's not changing. But I don't mind if you join us too, Azula. We can all be friends."
That was his polite way of rejecting Azula's "exclusive offer" while still extending a hand.
Zuko's face lit up. In his mind, Kahn's words were basically a declaration of loyalty, and he immediately shot Azula a smug grin.
Azula's smile vanished. How dare he—both of them!
Normally, she'd have blasted anyone who dared refuse her.
But Kahn… she hesitated.
"Tch." She clicked her tongue, looking away with a sour expression.
Zuko, however, wasn't so lucky.
When she noticed him smirking, Azula promptly blasted a tiny flame at him, setting his butt on fire.
"AHHHHH!" Zuko yelped, running in circles before rolling on the ground to put it out.
Kahn couldn't help but laugh under his breath.
Azula's irritation seemed to fade after that.
She glanced at Kahn again but said nothing more, simply folding her arms.
So… tsundere? he wondered. Or maybe yandere?
Either way, aside from poor Zuko's scorched backside, things seemed to be settling down.
Once Zuko finally extinguished himself, he got up, glaring daggers at his sister.
Azula ignored him entirely.
Then, when he remembered Kahn's earlier refusal, his mood suddenly brightened again.
He grinned and said, "Come on, Kahn, I'll teach you Firebending!"
Normally, Kahn would've been all for it—but right now, he just flopped back on the ground.
"Give me a minute. I'm dead tired," he groaned.
After all that dodging and sweating, his throat was dry.
"Zuko, got any water around here?"
Zuko nodded and ran off.
A moment later, he returned—with a maid carrying a teapot and three cups.
Kahn blinked. Oh. Fancy.
Despite their bickering, Zuko had even brought a cup for Azula.
Kahn took one sip of the warm water and smiled to himself. Good kid.
Azula downed hers in a single gulp.
"You know," Kahn said, "chugging that much water right after training isn't great for you."
"Tch." Azula shot him a look of disdain, ignoring the advice entirely before sitting down next to him.
"…Huh?"
Kahn looked at her in confusion. She'd actually sat beside him?
The three of them rested there quietly—Azula to his right, Zuko to his left—until Zuko suddenly perked up.
"Kahn! Why don't you finish that story you were telling last time?"
Kahn blinked. "Last time? Oh—yeah, that one."
He sat up, brushing the dust off his shoulders. "Alright, listen up."
Azula rolled her eyes, lying back on the floor and crossing her legs. "Zuzu wants a bedtime story? Hmph. How childish."
Kahn ignored her and began.
"So, last time, Sun Wukong got scolded by Patriarch Subodhi in front of everyone. The old man tapped him three times on the head…"