This is my Reaper. There are many like it, but this one is mine

"Of course, Auber-sama! I'll eat whatever you make me!"

She was out of her element at Ulv's house, so the last time she was cooked for didn't do the event justice. This was, after all, one of Keiko's idols making food for her! Now that it was in her own place, where she was most comfortable, on top of it being just after training and at her hungriest, it was hard to contain her excitement. Nevertheless, Keiko sat down at the table and chairs in the kitchen, awaiting the meal appropriately. In the meantime, Keiko was curious.

"So, Auber-sama--what did you think? About my lessons? A-and, uhm, also how I fought?"

A seed of anticipation was budding in Keiko's chest, a bit of anxiety coupled with it, hoping good things were to be said.

Keiko's eyes were glued to Ulv's hands. Her hands were moving with purpose and precision, but they weren't striking, or rushed, or even cadenced. The movements flowed together like a dance, and the whole time Keiko lost herself in it, forgetting that what was actually happening was a preparation for a dish. In a way, the smoothness and consistent motion made the girl think about the way in which a step was performed as hoho. Her trance was ended when Ulv responded.

The words of acknowledgement and praise lifted the anxiety pressing on the girl's shoulders. She even breathed a sigh of relief from living up to the expectations she created for herself, and spoke onwards, only the excitement left.

"Thank you, Auber-sama. I, I don't mean to, like, rush anything... I'm just excited about it, so I wanna know when we can start? Oh, also to fit it to my schedule, you know! It helps to know ahead of time and everything..."

The Kuchiki wore a surprised expression. Hour and a half? Keiko was asking when they'd start, but she didn't expect it to begin today! In fact, she was asking when to start in the sense of a schedule, and how to fit it in as a routine. But, today definitely works. Keiko's eyes were at first wide from surprise, but then from excitement yet again, and a gajillion thoughts ran through her head. She had just went through two, one-hour long sessions of training and arduous work, but the promise of expedient learning under Ulv re-energised her and washed away the fatigue. Endurance was something Keiko had a bit of confidence in.

"What's Pneuma training? Is it a special breathing method?"

Keiko was a little confused now. Was it that Pneuma training wasn't necessary? She may have misunderstood, but the way Ulv talked about it made it sound obsolete. Either way, if it was something Ulv still used even then, it must be good, right? So, Keiko studiously gave her attention to the lecture, the mental notepad brought out once again. The whole time, the mention of special breathing made Keiko conscious of her breathing, now thinking about bringing it into a proper cadence and controlled pacing, rather than just instinctively inhaling and exhaling.

"I see, I see. What's the specific rhythm then?"

Keiko immediately went into a state of focus and performed according to what Ulv was stating. She breathd in slowly and evenly through her nose and out again, filling her lungs before emptying them. Slow, steady, and consistent. It took active effort and concentration, but she was successful. The filling of her lungs to absolute full and absolute empty, as best she could do, brought out an impulse to break this pattern and do whatever felt most comfortable. It was like her body was trying to take control of itself, but her mind forced it to do what she intended.

When Ursa Taekkyeon was described, Keiko switched over to following instructions for it. She visualised herself performing strikes, and adjusted her breaths accordingly. With each visualised attack, her lungs deflated at the same time. It almost felt like the pattern of breathing performed which each stroke of a swimmer's freestyle. Subconsciously, Keiko's reiryoku followed the patterns of her breathing, rising from abdomen and settling in her chest. With each breath exhaled, her energy followed up the breath and through her limbs, like the breath was literally following the path of her mental strikes.

At the mention of Flow Control, Keiko's turned quick and shallow. There were no other instructions, so it was difficult to know what else to think about, but it felt attuned to her instincts. Her sharpness of her breaths felt like a reaction to the world around her, any bump into her responded to with an adjustment in her breath, and the thought of a strike returned with the momentum.

The instructions for Dragon Tiger Gate was felt the most. Just as Ulv said, the quick breathing interlaced between heavy, deep breaths, felt like hyperventilation. What Keiko was breathing was spiritual particles, but in human terms, it felt like each inhale took in oxygen, and very little oxygen was leaving in each exhale. It brought some lightness to her head, and a tingling sensation throughout her body, but it didn't feel incapacitating. The execution of the previous breathing techniques prepared her for the control and cadence of the Dragon Tiger Gate breathing. She knew how to stay in control of her breathing, how to keep a proper pattern and pacing, how to let the breath flow naturally, and also how to adjust it responsively.

The variety of breathing methods felt like a great deal of fatigue was flushed from her body. When she opened her eyes, it was like the world was a bit more saturated. She was filled with much more energy, more physical readiness, but not in the form of excitement like before. Keiko felt calmer. She didn't speak with as much vigor, but it was clear that her vitality was revived.

"Hm... Uh, so? How was it? Was I doing it right?"