Part-279

  “Only if you catch me!” he shot back, grinning. The pyful banter warmed his heart, a remihat no matter how tough things got in the dungeon or o, he had a solid support system at home.

  After dinner, he headed back to his room, feeling lighter. He thought about the petition—his teammates, the atmosphere, and the adrenaline of the matches. He couldn’t wait to show what he was capable of. But even as excitement bubbled up inside him, a nagging feeling reminded him of the fight with the **Foolish Hobgoblin**. He o quer that obstacle, but for now, he would focus on the Judo tour.

  ---

  The m, James woke up early, the anticipation buzzing in his veins. He quickly dressed in his judo gi, the fabric crisp and f against his skin. As he stood in front of the mirror, he adjusted his belt, a sense of determination washing over him. Today was the day he’d face off against the best—both in the judo arena aually in the dungeon.

  Upon arriving at the indoor stadium, James was immediately taken aback by the buzz of activity. The sounds of footsteps, ughter, and the occasional shout filled the air. The expansive space was divided into several mats where petitors were already warming up. But what surprised him most was the sight of several female members milling about.

  “Hey, Ryan!” James called out as he spotted his friend in the crowd. “Are there going to be girls peting too?”

  Ryan nodded, a grin stretg across his face. “Yeah! The national team petition is mixed-gender. We have fuys and three girls on our team. This means that we’ll be peting against other teams, which will be a great opportunity to test our skills against the best in the try. It’s also a ce for us to showcase the talent and diversity of our judo club. I’m really excited to see how we do.”

  James blinked in surprise. “I didn’t even know we had female members in our Judo club.”

  James was surprised to see so many female members in the judo club. He had always assumed that judo ort dominated by men, and he had never really given much thought to the possibility of women peting at a high level. But now, as he looked around at the talented aermihletes o, he realized that he had been wrong. The women were just as skilled and dedicated as the men, and they were just as capable of achieving great things. He was impressed by their athleticism and their ce, and he felt a sense of admiration for them. He khat he had a lot to learn from them, and he was excited to see what they could achieve in the petition.

  Ryan chuckled, shrugging. “The girls train separately in the ms, so I guess you’ve just never crossed paths with them. It’s a bit of a tradition in our club. The girls prefer to train in a separate group, and they find that it helps them to focus and improve their skills. It’s also a way for them to bond with each other and create a supportive unity. But don’t worry, they’re all really friendly and weling. They’re just a bit shy around new people, especially when it es to guys. So, I think it’s best to give them a little time to warm up to you. Ohey get to know you, they’ll be ygest fans.”