[Jogging, is it? No matter the exercise, Sanji won't complain. It's just another way in which he gets to monopolize Jae-Ha's time and maybe make his father proud, so he throws himself into every activity like it's the best way to spend the afternoon.
So it's a tragedy that over the course of the next few days, weeks, and months, his improvements remain modest. Under the watchful eye of Jae-Ha (and Reiju, when she refuses to be chased off), the boy makes gains in all the areas he should. He's young, and healthy, and determined to prove himself, insisting into the late hours of the evening that he can keep going, keep sparring. Keep trying.
But in the end, he's still just is a boy of eight. Not a monster like his best friend, or the result of successful genetics like his sister and brothers. Maybe if he had more time -- years to train -- but as the pressure increases and the mansion begins preparations to greet the Water Tribe's general, neither his father nor brothers have the patience to spare him.
They won't hear his apologies. Especially Father. Eventually, Sanji stops trying all together.
Two months pass. Sanji learns quickly to avoid everyone who isn't Jae-Ha and Reiju, as even the maids have begun looking at him with disdain. The only place that will accept him is the kitchen -- no, not the staff, they won't talk to him, but pots and pans make better company anyway. During those late nights when everyone has gone to bed, the boy creeps through the halls and lights some of the lamps, cooking to new recipes for his best friend to try. Maybe here, if he's lucky, he can be good at something.]
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So it's a tragedy that over the course of the next few days, weeks, and months, his improvements remain modest. Under the watchful eye of Jae-Ha (and Reiju, when she refuses to be chased off), the boy makes gains in all the areas he should. He's young, and healthy, and determined to prove himself, insisting into the late hours of the evening that he can keep going, keep sparring. Keep trying.
But in the end, he's still just is a boy of eight. Not a monster like his best friend, or the result of successful genetics like his sister and brothers. Maybe if he had more time -- years to train -- but as the pressure increases and the mansion begins preparations to greet the Water Tribe's general, neither his father nor brothers have the patience to spare him.
They won't hear his apologies. Especially Father. Eventually, Sanji stops trying all together.
Two months pass. Sanji learns quickly to avoid everyone who isn't Jae-Ha and Reiju, as even the maids have begun looking at him with disdain. The only place that will accept him is the kitchen -- no, not the staff, they won't talk to him, but pots and pans make better company anyway. During those late nights when everyone has gone to bed, the boy creeps through the halls and lights some of the lamps, cooking to new recipes for his best friend to try. Maybe here, if he's lucky, he can be good at something.]