[Constant strain isn't getting her anywhere but exhausted and with at least the slight encouragement of movement-]
Are you doing that?
[A wild untamable hope flares up in her, shoving back the creeping feeling of a fear that freezes. If it's not him, it can be beaten back.
...and there's something freeing about talking, too. This is a spar, one she knew she had precious little chance of winning and that tastes sour, but Shikamaru's her friend, she has nothing to prove here, and she can talk to him.]
[Action]
Are you doing that?
[A wild untamable hope flares up in her, shoving back the creeping feeling of a fear that freezes. If it's not him, it can be beaten back.
...and there's something freeing about talking, too. This is a spar, one she knew she had precious little chance of winning and that tastes sour, but Shikamaru's her friend, she has nothing to prove here, and she can talk to him.]