deercountry | You're The Best Around : Karate War Training Montage Log

[ wait, what was that. that voice? where has he heard that voice before? shoyo flips through his memory bank and retraces his steps, all the way back to a bathroom at a party and— the athlete's eyes go wide. his mouth drops.

he doesn't say a word. he just:

you're the guy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ]

He's the guy. The bathroom guy.

His training partner points at him, slack-jawed, and it's all over. Normally, the driven Midoriya keeps his composure in the face of any exercise. Right now, he turns beet red and wraps his arms completely around his own head.

"...snnjhta--ghgh--demsjfdj--"

These are not words. These are the desperate, dying sounds of his dignity muffled in the bracers of his costume. He lowers his arms and says in a wavery voice, a parody of the energetic attitude he otherwise would have had,

"Let's... let's do our best..."

[ oh, my god, this is very awkward. and shoyo accidentally made it worse? he made it worse. he couldn't help it. he's. dynamic. once the shock has passed and shoyo's hand is deflating back to his side he's— trying to smile, but it comes out wobbly and he's sure he could feel the secondhand embarrassment burning his ears into a rusty color.

like, damn. when he was your age, all he could think about was volleyball. ]

. . . Yup . . . [ he needs to fix this. ] Hey, so . . . You were the nice one, so, [ a tight swallow, ] that never happened. I never heard anything.

[ th-thumbs up—? maybe fist bump? ]

Edited 2022-05-18 18:34 (UTC)

Even if Shoyo hadn't been animated, even if he had simply raised an eyebrow in the manner of Midoriya's intimidating homeroom teacher Aizawa, it would have been just as mortifying. Midoriya had no friends in junior high. He's always been a nerd, still is, even if he's a jerd now. Absolutely no chance, no way, did he ever think he'd be mistaken for someone who--does things like that--in a bathroom, as a guest at someone's party no less!

He's the one. The nice one. That's him... Please kill him now.

He can't speak. He can only press his lips in the thinnest of strained non-smiles, eyes wide, and bring one hand up for the weakest, most awkward fistbump of his life.

Finally, he croaks a small "Th-Thank you..." before stiffly turning and making his way to the starting point. He'll explain what he knows of Quirkless fighting, Ozpin's particular brand of teaching, how to watch out for structural damage in the tower, precaution against unknown monsters... in a bit. He needs a moment.

[ if he could stop himself in the past . . . maybe he would have. shoyo allows izuku to take the steps he needed, and once her clears his throat, fills his lungs with air and— well, he promised!

it never happened. ]

So, uhm— you're a super hero? That's awesome.

Edited 2022-05-19 16:55 (UTC)

"Wouldn't call myself 'super' just yet, but..."

He blinks several times and slaps both of his own freckled cheeks. Get it together!

"R-right. Yeah. Okay." His voice levels and his eyes focus. He's a professional at this. He should guide his partner. "Normally I'd just carry you and jump to the top, but we're training for a Quirkless--uh, non-powered tournament like the Olympics. So, we should try to just get by without that for this exercise. I'll only use my super strength in an emergency, but don't worry, I'll keep you safe." This he actually says with an even confidence, eyes unwavering.

"I, uh, don't know what kind of monster Ozpin-sensei has lured over here, but we should also avoid hurting it as well. It's better to avoid engaging an unknown enemy that isn't the objective anyway." Only when needing to suddenly save someone from that does he break that rule with zero regrets...

He huffs a short sigh. First Johnny Lawrence with the bears, now Ozpin with whatever's lurking and howling around here. These animals(?) didn't ask for this! (Or maybe they did, how should he know...) He continues, rambling sightly but at least staying relevant,

"There are a lot of ways in which a martial artist can dodge or deflect attacks. If it comes to it, you keep it at a distance with your bō and cover me, and I'll take care of close quarters and diversion. We'll also be using our agility to get to the top of the tower. Your jumps will come in handy." He points a gloved finger at the tower and traces a zig-zag. He's either miming stairs or parkour jumps.

[ shoyo nods to the things he recognizes— they were principals that jason has walked him through, and something he too, has come to believe on his own. he's never been a fan of attacking animals, even if they were beasts. the sole time he was driven to stab a giant demon snake was because— it was unfortunately necessary. he never found his knife after it exploded, but maybe it was just the start to a reaction. shoyo had realized then that he isn't fond of combat so up close, so ready to harm something he perhaps didn't need to. he didn't have to break skin and cut something up to keep himself and the opposing safe. ]

I've got your back, too. [ a half-spin of his bo! ] Thanks— for having me learn with you.

[ he's nervous— but he's eager. his look is expecting and says, silently: ready? there's no going back once they cross! ]

"Of course. Let's do our best." He punctuates that by closing one hand in a fist.

He steps in, taking point as planned. The stairs seem fine; only have to step over a few destroyed ones. His armored shoes protect him, and he finds paths his partner can follow. The damage to the burned out tower is mostly cosmetic, but he avoids the ruined windows, and he honestly wouldn't trust the roof...

He stays quiet and puts a finger to his lips to indicate Shoyo should do the same. The animal noises have gone quiet too, and that's a bad sign. He half-starts to motion for caution, then remembers Shoyo might not know combat signs. Instead, he motions for him to stay close, behind and a little to the side. That's universal. There, Shoyo can watch his blind spot--having his back.

The wolf-like animal bursts through a half-broken window, leaping across the stairwell at them. Midoriya dodges, switching their positions on the stairs, keeping himself bodily between the monster and Shoyo.

"We're moving! Go up, get the high ground!"

It's not exactly helpful for the tournament, but using the terrain is part of Midoriya's training too, and he can always use the practice. He counts on Shoyo's agility to keep him from getting pinned down.

[ oh, holy dog. it’s a dog. weredog— thing! the jolt that shoots shōyō’s heart into his throat pounds and brings a response. it could turn into panic, in a simple switch, but—

he takes a deep breath, holds it in, and imagines the beach. that’s all he needs to concentrate, funnily enough: beach vision. shōyō could hear him, and react with the guideline. move up. move fast. that, shōyō was sure to deliver. he hastens his steps with hops to avoid debris and splintered steps, but he doesn’t steamroll his way any higher— he’s waiting for izuku, always. ]

What should we do if it gets too close—?!

Shoyo's question is answered almost immediately. The monster charges at Midoriya--Deku--but he's ready with a jump and a roundhouse kick. His training built that into his array of responses to do without thinking. This was unexpected to a predator that prefers to make the first strike their last. The wolf--dog--whatever--tumbles down one flight, but is back up and scrambling again.

"Our plan! Cover me but keep your distance," he cries hurriedly, no longer worried about sound. He wobbles slightly as he regains his footing on the stairs before dashing up, ushering Shoyo in an effort to make him move faster.

"For now, run, don't wait! Let's see if jumping that gap makes it go away!"

Sometimes animals balk at things outside their specialty--confounding human stairs and architecture, for example. Midoriya's hope, however, is in vain.

[ shoyo has to find some middle ground, then— the staff helps with long distance, but not by a whole lot. he's sure he'll have to be some ways close anyway to have his back, or, front. maybe the front. was it possible to have more than one wolfbeast on their tails?

shoyo hopes to all existing gods that is a false consideration. he skips steps as he jounces upward. and speaking of having his back— half of a flight has been taken out, he can see. ]

Hole! We're gonna have to jump long distance!

"Ready!" he confirms. "Let's go!"

Since he switched to using mainly kicks to attack last year, Midoriya doesn't skip leg day. He sails over the gap without fear. His feet skitter over uneven wreckage on the other side, but it holds enough that he doesn't have to use his Quirk to save himself.

The monster behind them hesitates at the gap, backing up... then runs and leaps over it with a snarl. Midoriya catches it in the shoulder with a countering grab using both arms, and he's got barely a second to decide if Shoyo's staff will be enough to defend them both or if he will have to call on his super strength.

[ shōyō’s over the gap easily enough. he has an impressive jump, and balance to boot. it’s the one thing his confidence doesn’t waver with. with their lupine challenger hesitating, shōyō makes the mistake of exhaling with relief— then immediately jolting into defense oh, crap—

they’re more than lucky to have midoriya take the first jab in a hold to keep the creature at bay. it snaps it’s jaws about and shōyō doesn’t necessarily think beyond i have to help him. that gives birth to throwing much of his hold to the lower end of his staff and swinging the upper end straight into the muzzle.

a dog’s most sensitive spot. or had the snoot been sharks? well, it works enough for the wolf to yelp and perhaps even stun for a moment. ]

Sorry!

[ to the wolf— but definitely necessary, he hopes—?! ]

It's lucky Shoyo moves without much thought, letting his training and reflexes take over. Midoriya knows from experience that's what's born of hard work and practice. He shoves in an arc that uses the wolf-monster's force against it. With a surprised yelp, it tumbles off the precariously crumbling perch to fall one story to the stairs below.

"Sorry!!" Midoriya cries in a mirroring apology. He wouldn't be as polite(?) in a combat situation, but this is a training exercise.

"Hurry, Shoyo-kun!"

It's not far to the top now, and it looks like the wolf has given up the chase. It's just too much to ask to be hit in the face and then thrown down a flight of stairs.

[ gogogogogogogo! shoyo chants, loud as he breaks for the steps in record timing, especially now when he doesn't have to worry about izuku straying behind. it's time to show off leg day, and with an exillerated boost that pumps him all the way to the tower's top— he can't help but to literally vibrate when the stairs have finished.

he has never, in his life, done something so exciting. ]

Did we win—?!

Real champions never skip leg day.

"Not just yet--but here!"

They're at the highest point of the building now, so there's just one thing left to do. He pulls out the package they're meant to deliver from one of his belt pouches and places it on a charred end table. (It's wrapped in wax paper and twine. It's definitely just a chocolate chip cookie.)

He looks around reflexively as if expecting a horn to go off or a sign to pop out of nowhere. His own principal is fond of silly things like that back home. A student could cross the finish line bloody and beaten, but a cutesy picture would still pop up over it.

Now he celebrates, and not one moment before victory is secured, baring his teeth in a fierce smile.

"That's it then!!" He holds his balled hand out for a fist bump.

[ that vibrating anticipation finally builds to its apex and bursts. shōyō pulls his legs to his chest in a powerful, pumping jump as he did the same with his own fist. his knuckles knock against the young hero’s, and with it his teeth bare a victorious grin to share. ]

Hell yeah! [ his celebration may as well seem over the top, but it felt like a grand victory for shōyō. he hasn’t done anything like this before. ] Couldn’t’ve done it without you!

[ not only that, but he highly values teamwork, now beginning to clap the boy’s shoulders. ]

It was, all in all, a very short fight. Most fights are just a flurry of blows coming up against the limits of what the body can take in minutes or seconds, often altering the course of one's life. Someone (or something) gives, and there is no desire to keep trading blows. The objective here was simply to deliver the package.

He scrunches up his shoulders but grins. He takes Shōyō's exuberance in stride because it matches the energy of some of his classmates. He thinks of Ashido's outbursts, often coupled with dancing or falls controlled by her fast reflexes. And teamwork--that's just a requirement for what he's studying and working as. Even the most solo of Heroes collaborates every once in a while. Midoriya isn't extremely outgoing, but he studies people's strengths so he can pull them together into improvised teams. Today he's learned a little about Shōyō's.

He glances back the way they came and considers the (probably) angry and nervous monster down below. He jabs a thumb at a window.

"Since the exercise is over, uh... Let's use my super strength to climb down outside."

Edited 2022-08-01 20:17 (UTC)

You're The Best Around : Karate War Training Montage Log

ok!

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

after a million years, my fight tags stop eluding me orz

no worries! if it feels to old for you feel free to handwave!

I figure this can be a quick sort of FITE lesssgo

:)!

boatgate will not kill my karate spirit! (this isn't karate...)

it’s karate…….. in spirit 🥹

I love shoyo's faces so much

he's so expressive i die

no subject

thank you for the delightful end to a delightful leg day! 🙏

leg day saved them ;u; AND IT'S A WRAP ty ty