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Quote by Sarah Rees Brennan

“Nicholas walked back to their dormitory, bumping shoulders with Seiji companionably in the way nobody else ever did, but he was still much quieter than usual. It was worrying.”

Book:Striking Distance

Work

Striking Distance

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Author

Sarah Rees Brennan

Sarah Rees Brennan, born on September 21, 1983, is a talented writer whose works span various literary genres, including fantasy, horror, and young adult fiction. She is known for her unique narrative style and profound portrayal of complex character relationships. more

“Tell me—or anyone else—something thatis personal to you, Coach had said. Seiji couldn’t talk to just anyone, but Nicholas had said they were friends. “I was… Jesse’s mirror,” said Seiji slowly. “I reflected his—glow, his glories and his victories. I used to think it was an honor. We were similar, I told myself, in all the ways that really mattered.” Jesse was left-handed like Nicholas, so facing him sometimes felt like looking into a mirror. Like seeing yourself through the glass, a better, golden self in a different world. A self who fenced just as well but didn’t have to work as hard for it. A Seiji who did everything in life with the same skill as he fenced. “You’re not a mirror,” said Nicholas. “You’re real.” “It’s a metaphor, Nicholas.” Nicholas shrugged. “You’re still not a mirror. Mirrors break. You never do.” Seiji thought of his moment of defeat against Jesse. The moment that Aiden had seen, and taunted Seiji with, making Seiji lose again. Seiji had trained his whole life to be strong, but somehow, he was still weak. Jesse had taken his sword, and Seiji hadn’t been able to stop him. The bitterness of that defeat sent Seiji to Kings Row. Always keep moving toward your target, his dad’s voice said, but somehow Seiji had ended up getting his target wrong. He’d moved toward loss and pain he still didn’t entirely understand. “I lost,” confessed Seiji. “Badly.” “Doesn’t make you a loser,” said Nicholas, having another lapse where he didn’t understand what words—let alone metaphors—meant. “You didn’t burst into tears and give up fencing. And you didn’t follow Jesse to Exton like a little lamb, the way he was expecting. You came to Kings Row, and you came to fence. You came to fight.” This view of the matter was so shocking that Seiji said something he’d thought he would never say to Nicholas Cox. “I suppose…,” said Seiji, “… you’re right.” Nicholas’s gaze remained fixed on the floor. “Being rivals shouldn’t be about being someone’s mirror. Both of you get to be real. Neither of you has to break.” “Sometimes you’re insightful, Nicholas,” said Seiji. Nicholas looked pleased before Seiji added: “I think it’s mainly by accident.” At that point, Nicholas rolled his eyes and stepped into his side of the room, yanking the curtain closed between them.”

Fence Fence Comic Fence Comics Seiji Katayama Nicholas Cox Nick Cox Kings Row Nichoji Nichoji Fence Jesse Coste

Book:Striking Distance

Source: Striking Distance

“That morning when Seiji came to breakfast, he discovered Dante attempting to take the seat beside Nicholas. “Hey, dude, no, I’m saving this seat for Seiji,” said Nicholas. Dante rolled his eyes without a word and went around the table. Seiji took the seat with a faint feeling of satisfaction. Naturally, Nicholas didn’t want to sit beside Dante. Who would? “There’s no actual need to save a seat for me,” Seiji informed Nicholas. Nicholas waved him off as if he were an annoying fly. “I’m gonna, you can’t stop me.” Seiji supposed he couldn’t. He started eating his breakfast, though Nicholas eyeballed Seiji’s protein-rich green smoothie suspiciously. Nicholas had no idea about the importance of nutrition.”

Fence Fence Comic Fence Comics Fence Striking Distance Seiji Katayama Nicholas Cox Nick Cox Nichoji Nichoji Fence Dante Rossi

Book:Striking Distance

Source: Striking Distance

“He was beginning to wonder whether the jigsaw was the correct metaphor for relationships between men and women after all. It didn't take into account of the sheer stubbornness of human beings, their determination to affix themselves to another even if they didn't fit.”

Relationships Couples

Author:Nick Hornby

“It seemed as though there was something going on here that Nicholas didn’t understand. Nicholas felt grievously injured. He’d become Seiji’s friend first, but here Seiji was having secrets with Eugene. On the other hand, Seiji didn’t train with Eugene, so that was sort of like Nicholas having a secret with Seiji. And going to the fair with Eugene would be fun, though obviously it would be better if Seiji were there, too.”