Chapter: Prequel - It's Not Easy Being Min
Min had a rough time. Then Rei came and made everything more complicated.
PANEL ONE:
Rei is sitting on top of Xiu Mei, who has caught herself enough to avoid having both shoulders touching the ground, avoiding yielding another point.
Rei: Nice save.
PANEL TWO:
As the fight starts again, Min brushes her hair aside and comments while Grandpa Lin is too engrossed in the match to care.
Rei: Oop! Too slow!
Min Hua: I don't get it. She could have finished it right there...
PANEL THREE:
Kenji replies to Min Hua,
Kenji: Like I said. She always drags the second round out.
Min Hua: Okay, but why?
PANEL FOUR:
Xiu Mei, now standing, approaches with a straight high kick, which is avoided by Rei falling back.
Kenji (off camera): Well. If it's over too soon, she won't learn anything.
PANEL ONE ANIMATION:
1. Xiu Mei brings her raised foot from the previous comic down in an axe kick. Rei side-steps this attack.
Rei: Not a bad follow-up.
2. Xiu Mei continues the attack with a punch which is also avoided by Rei continuing to lean backward.
Rei: Oop!
3. Xiu Mei continues to press her assault with an elbow press. Rei avoids this as well by continuing to lean backwards.
Rei: *snrk*
PANEL TWO:
Xiu Mei grabs Rei by her bangs.
Rei: Oh... Oops.
PANEL THREE:
Xiu Mei pulls Rei forward by her hair as she drives a knee into Rei's stomach.
Rei: FFBWOOGH!
Min Hua: Point Lin!
PANEL FOUR:
Grandpa Lin and Min Hua glare at Kenji as he laughs uncontrollably.
PANEL ONE:
Rei crouches, doubled over, while Min stares wide-eyed.
Grandpa (off camera): Min Hua. It is getting dark. Set the lights before continuing.
Min Hua: Uh... right.
PANEL TWO:
A smiling Xiu Mei pulls Rei to her feet while Min carries lanterns away, looking back in confusion.
Xiu Mei: I'll admit, I'm surprised that worked.
Rei: Yeah, I was too cocky.
PANEL THREE:
The sun has set and the training tent is now lined with lanterns.
PANEL FOUR:
Rei and Xiu Mei strike identical ready postures while Min calls for the match to begin.
PANEL ONE:
Rei immediately starts the fight with the same rising kick Xiu Mei used earlier. Xiu Mei manages to sway back far enough to avoid it but both her and Min Hua look surprised.
PANEL TWO:
Rei follows up with another kick which Xiu Mei used earlier.
Xiu Mei: This is...!
PANEL THREE:
Min Hua watches in confusion.
Min: That's our style! But... That... doesn't make any sense. I thought...
PANEL FOUR:
Rei catches Xiu Mei with the same leg sweep that Xiu Mei had started their match with.
Xiu Mei: Whoa!
PANEL ONE:
Xiu Mei looks up in shock as Min Hua calls the final point.
Min: ... Point and match, Haiyaou.
PANEL TWO:
Grandpa Lin holds his head and avoid's looking at Kenji's super-smug mug.
Grandpa: I... really hate it when you're right. Fine.
PANEL THREE:
Min and Xiu Mei both stare at Grandpa in shock.
Grandpa Lin (off camera): Xiu Mei. I am very disappointed. If anything, facing our style should have given you an advantage.
PANEL FOUR:
Min watches as Xiu Mei gets more agitated.
Grandpa Lin (off panel): I have clearly overestimated your progress. I cannot allow you to instruct her, so it falls to me. Perhaps afterwards she could tutor you.
Xiu Mei: ... What?
PANEL ONE:
Xiu Mei stands and scowls at her grandfather.
Xiu Mei: Her? Tutor me? In our own family's style? How could I accept such an... offer...
PANEL TWO:
Xiu Mei picks Min up by the arm.
Xiu Mei: When my own sister is so far behind that she could be called inept? If nothing I try can reach her...
PANEL THREE:
Min is pushed into Rei.
Xiu Mei (off camera): Then maybe this "miracle tutor" girl could.
PANEL FOUR:
Xiu Mei walks away from the tent. Rei and Min watch her leave. The awkward is thick in the air.
PANEL ONE:
Min Hua and Rei arrive at Min's room. The bed is unmade and there are clothes strewn about. There are also several books laying out.
Min Hua: We're short on space, so you'll be staying with me. I... wasn't expecting company. Sorry for the mess.
PANEL TWO:
Rei walks in as Min watches.
Min Hua: We only have one spare bedroll and your Dad has it... So I guess you can have the bed.
PANEL THREE:
Rei stretches, wincing as Xiu Mei's shot to her stomach acts up.
Rei: Nope, 't's all yours.
Min Hua: Really? But you're a guest...
Rei: Urngh! Uhh... you take it.
Min Hua: Are you sure?
Rei: Yeah, I'm fine with the floor.
PANEL FOUR:
Rei holds her stomach while Min watches.
Rei: It looks like you had a rough day. If we're going to get started tomorrow, you're going to need a good night's sleep.
Min Hua: Oh... thanks.
Rei: Jeez, your sister is brutal.
Rei sleeps on the floor as Min Hua has trouble sleeping.
PANEL ONE:
Rei clumsily sits a salad bowl on the table as part of breakfast. Grandpa seems grumpy about Rei's fingers touching the salad (so picky). Min is givin' her the cautious eyeball.
PANEL TWO:
Min watches suspiciously as Rei and Kenji do dishes.
PANEL THREE:
Rei passes by Min's window. Min happened to be sitting on top of her dresser reading by the light from that same window and watches Rei pass.
PANEL FOUR: (animated)
Min hops from the window to follow Rei, but makes a crunching noise as she lands, which Rei notices.
Rei turns and says, "Hi!" scaring Min, who had thought she was being stealthy.
PANEL ONE:
Min Hua avoids eye contact with Rei and replies, "Uh... Hi. So... I guess we're supposed to train... or something."
PANEL TWO:
Rei takes in Min's body language and tries to figure out how to respond.
PANEL THREE:
Rei offers Min a bucket she was carrying and says, "If that's what you want, then sure. But I've still got some cleaning left to do. With your help, we could get started sooner."
PANEL FOUR:
Min accepts the bucket and falls into step beside Rei while saying, "This was your plan all along, wasn't it?"
Rei re-positions a length of rope she has looped around her shoulder and replies, "Heh, nope! I'm not gonna complain though."
It ended up being our second best show of all time, sales-wise. Pretty dang happy about that.
Have a great time and sell lots of merch!
You are not wrong. xD
This makes me really nervous, and it just seems… pointless. We can’t base a future energy policy on the availability…
Rei questionably benefited from that.