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 tying new rope to cordon off the path up to the Lin family compound. Min stands behind her.
Rei: As for your style, I can't really help. Not yet anyway.
Min: S'fine. Don't worry about it. This is just Xiu Mei pushing her "punishment" off on me.
PANEL TWO:
Rei, looking concerned by Min's wording, continues to focus her attention on her work while Min glares off to the side.
Rei: So you aren't mad about getting stuck with this?
Min: Eh, whatever. I haven't really thought about it.
Rei: You didn't really seem surprised.
PANEL THREE:
Min leans further into the rope while Rei continues working off-panel.
Min: I'm not. That's just how she is. If there's something she doesn't want to do, she passes it to me. And if she can't she'll just take it out on me instead.
Rei: So that's where those bruises came from?
PANEL FOUR:
Rei gives Min a look of frustrated concern as Min turns and hides her face, embarrassed.
Min: No, she just does that sometimes because I can't stop her. I'm nowhere near her level yet... sorry, but you're the one who got "stuck" with something. Ugh, just forget it.
PANEL ONE:
Rei turns to continue working while Min expresses her sadness.
Rei: Come on... she's how much older than you? That kind of gap in experience is really tough to overcome. I don't know how far along you are, but once we get started, I'm sure you will catch up in no time.
PANEL TWO:
Min turns to reply.
Min: It's not that I'm bad. I'm already dan-ranked. Grandfather trusts me to teach the basics to the younger students. It's just that...
Rei: What?
Min: I...
PANEL THREE:
Min turns back toward the rope and scowls.
Min: I'm... really short.
PANEL FOUR:
Rei turns to Min. Min is pulling at her waistband.
Rei: Well, yeah. But don't worry about it. You're probably due for a growth spurt or something.
Min: I just had one. I'm thirteen and my clothes finally fit. Well... most of them.
PANEL ONE:
Xiu Mei approaches Min and Rei. Min has moved to the same side of the path as Rei and is leaning on the already tied off rope. Rei is blushing as she starts the next length.
Min: Surprised? What're you? Sixteen at least, right? Heh, I hope I get even half a bust like yours.
PANEL TWO:
Min's expression sobers.
Min: And the way you handled Xiu Mei? Everyone knows you were holding back. If you're that good, then maybe...
PANEL THREE:
Xiu Mei grabs Min by the ear, interrupting her.
Xiu Mei: Maybe you'd be that good if you trained harder... or at all! You get time off and this is how you spend it?
PANEL FOUR:
Rei grabs Xiu Mei's pointer and middle fingers, pulling them back and away from Min. Xiu Mei is quite surprised and Min Hua glares.
Xiu Mei: Wha? Aaah!!
Rei: Could you not do that to my "student?" Thanks.
PANEL ONE:
Rei pulls Xiu Mei's fingers back further in a submission hold.
Xiu Mei: Okay! Okay! I'll stop!
Rei: ... Alright.
PANEL TWO:
Xiu Mei rubs her now-released hand.
Xiu Mei: I do believe my sister is right. You were holding back... perhaps I should take my own advice...
PANEL THREE:
Rei watches Xiu Mei warily as she walks away with a smile on her face.
Rei: So... we're good?
Xiu Mei: Mhmm!
PANEL FOUR:
Min Hua looks very confused.
Min Hua: Wait. What?! How... what just happened? How did you do that!?
PANEL ONE:
Min Hua continues to look surprised.
Min Hua: I don't get it. She... she just walked away. No yelling. no fighting.
PANEL TWO:
Closer shot of Min Hua as she tries to impress how strange Xiu Mei's behavior was to Rei.
Min Hua: And she was smiling! Xiu Mei NEVER smiles unless she's...
PANEL THREE:
Rei interrupts Min Hua with a serious look.
Rei: Min.
PANEL FOUR:
Min Hua continues to have her mind blown.
Rei: We should do it. We'll train together. By the time we're through, you'll be able to kick your sister's ass.
PANEL ONE:
Min Hua stares up at Rei:
Min Hua: You... You really think that you... that I could?
PANEL TWO:
Rei looks back at Min:
Rei: A lot fo that depends on you... but yeah. You can.
PANEL THREE:
Min Hua stoops over to collect the remaining lengths of rope.
Min Hua: Well then... let's stop wasting time with this crap.
PANEL FOUR:
Min walks toward the edge of the wooded area with a smile on her face.
Min Hua: This is gonna be amazing. I can't wait!
PANEL ONE:
Min Hua glares at Rei, her hair now up in a bun and her face flushed with bruising and blushing.
Min Hua: I hate you SO MUCH right now.
PANEL TWO:
Rei rears back to punch Min Hua, causing her to flinch hard.
Min Hua: Nn!
PANEL THREE:
Rei pokes Min on her cheek.
Rei: Boop.
PANEL FOUR:
Min Hua grits her teeth in rage while Rei looks on in confusion.
Min Hua: RRRRRRRGH! Scratch that! I HATE EVERYTHING! This is SO embarrassing! OKAY! One more time!
PANEL ONE:
Rei looks up while thinking of an alternate method of gauging Min Hua's ability while Min Hua glares sullenly.
Rei: Since sparring doesn't seem to be an option... and I need to gauge your form, how about you just attack?
PANEL TWO:
Min Hua grits her teeth and strikes a fighting pose.
Min Hua: Alright, just remember you asked for it!
PANEL THREE:
Min thrusts forward with a punch which Rei sidesteps.
Rei: Huh. Well, you've got speed.
PANEL FOUR:
Min follows up with a high-reaching sideways snap kick, which Rei also avoids, though she has now raised an arm just in case she hadn't been fast enough.
Rei: Oh hoh! Good power too!
PANEL ONE:
Min Hua backflips toward Rei as she is laughing.
PANEL TWO:
Min's backflip turns into a slashing kick, which is sidestepped by Rei.
Min: What're you...
PANEL THREE:
Min lands from her kick and carries her momentum into an axe kick. Rei, again, sidesteps awkwardly.
Min: Laughing at!?
PANEL FOUR:
Min rises with a punch that barely misses Rei. Rei is smiling widely, which confuses Min.
Rei: I'm just really happy! You're fantastic!
PANEL ONE:
Min swipes at Rei's face, which is avoided by a back bend.
Min: Fantastic!?
PANEL TWO:
Min leaps at Rei who is still recovering from her dodge. Rei begins to fall backwards.
Min: Seriously!? I can't even lay a finger on you!
Rei: Oop!
PANEL THREE:
Rei redirects the fall and pins Min into the grass. Min is bewildered as to how Rei managed this.
Rei: Well, yeah. Of course you can't. You're not supposed to. This isn't a fight...
Min: H-how did... ??
PANEL FOUR:
Rei plops down next to Min, but doesn't release her hand. Min stares at Rei's hand on her own.
Rei: I was just seeing where you were at... remember? You're way further along than I expected. This'll be easier than I thought.
Min: Mmm.
Love the blurring effect on the Beast-Thing BTW.
Holy Crud! Is that Sare as the Four-legged Beast-Thing?!? That would be one hell of a 'downside'!! Remind them about…
ooh, now THAT's a critter.
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!