I went in at full power from the start. Like always. Moving is just too much fun — I can't help it, I give everything every time.
We ran through the whole thing once, and then Ruka said one thing.
"...Hinata. Your right hand on beat 3 is different every time."
Wait. Really?
"Yeah."
...She got me.
I had zero idea. I thought I was nailing it — it felt good, felt clean — but Ruka had been watching the whole time. Watching herself and watching me at the same time.
I genuinely respect that.
We spent the rest of the session drilling just that section, over and over. And when it finally locked in — clean, exactly right — Ruka said, "Yeah."
That's it. Just "yeah." But somehow that one word landed harder than any long compliment could have.
Ruka's praise is real praise. She doesn't throw out a "nice!" just to be nice. So when she says "yeah," it means something.
I don't think I'll ever be as calm and observant as Ruka. And I don't think Ruka will ever show up with her engine already maxed out like I do. But yesterday made me feel like that's exactly how it should be.
We're different. That's what makes it interesting when we work together.
Next lesson, I'm going full power again!!
Ruka -- put up with me a little longer lol
-- Hinata