[Taka Yasashi]

TAKAYASASHI

Yasashi bounced on the balls of his feet, working his shoulders as he went through the motions. Martial arts were just another part of the family's training regimen. Her mother had perfected the style used by the Taka family after it had been passed down to her. Four 'known' generations of vigilantes with a very particular martial art lead some to believe that his family was older. 

He didn't care, but he also didn't dare let his training go to waste. The Taka family martial art was a combination of various styles. Standard and Kick-boxing, grapples, plate-armor combat, and swordplay. The intended result was a juggernaut on the field of combat. Unstoppable. Yasashi dipped against his invisible opponent before snapping out a fast low kick. His huge body moving at a disturbing rate.

He glanced around after another volley of punches and movements, taking a breath. No one watching him as far as he could see. Good. His size and speed made normal people uneasy, and he'd never gotten over it. Here it was prized, but he didn't feel that proud. After all, his quirk said 'Paragon' on his transcript. A physical 'perfection' quirk.

Shame crossed his face.

How was he supposed to be proud of a quirk like Antipaladin?

His finger twitched and he looked at it, watching the dark-gray bone form around his knuckle. He sighed. Might as well get back to training. 

wordsSora Nakoma

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[Sora Nakoma]

The old UAU training grounds. It had been literal years since Sora last walked on the familiar grass, just as immaculately maintained as ever. He had just wrapped up a discussion with a couple of the teachers, regarding some students that he and his own former teacher Fuyuko had recently saved from a gang of drug dealers. Since it had been a while, he asked if it was okay for him to take a walk around for a bit for nostalgia's stake.

And so, here we are.

With a gentle breath he took in the clean air of the early afternoon, enjoying the peacefulness. Normally the training grounds were abuzz with shouting, yelling, and whatever miscellaneous sounds were created by the Quirks of the students occupying it. But right now it was pretty quiet... except, he realized, the sounds of heavy steps and grunting. Curiosity getting the better of him, Sora decided to follow the noise, walking towards it with his hands in his pockets.

It wouldn't take long before the source of the grunting came into view; he was a rather large fellow, after all. Doing some martial arts training, from the look of things. It wasn't any form Sora was familiar with, but then again he wasn't exactly a master of hand-to-hand combat himself. Even his own fighting style was simply one of his own design created through trial and error. Maybe this guy's was the same sort of deal?

Then again, the motions of the giant student were more rigid and structured than his own exercises; there was a uniformity to them that told Sora they were taught by someone else, rather than experience itself. Without even really thinking about it he approached the stranger, coming to stand behind him. "Excuse me?" Sora greeted in a casual tone, tilting his head slightly to look up at the younger man once he turned around. The height difference was even more noticeable up close, but Sora knew bigger and less human-looking people. "Hi, sorry to interrupt." He said in an apologetic tone, holding out a hand to shake if Yasashi wanted. "Name's Sora, Sora Nakoma. I'm a former student here. Was just revisiting the old training grounds when I saw you. Thought it'd be weirder to just sit back and watch so I figured I'd say hi."

Taka Yasashi

[Taka Yasashi]

TAKAYASASHI

Yasashi remained in the hand-to-hand posture, both arms out on each side with his fingers curled and ready for grappling. He dove and reached at his invisible opponent, his eyes fixed forward. He followed that up with a series of punches and a head-butt. As he moved, dark gray formations began to grow along his arms. He didn't even notice. He stopped the sequence, letting out a breath and drawing his thumb across his lip as he stood up straight.

He scratched his head- "Excuse me?"


Yasashi practically jumped out of his skin, hopping forward a whole pace and turning around. He stumbled back and forced himself to stop, reaching up to grasp at his own heart. He'd been so focused he hadn't even noticed this person walk up behind him! He blinked a few times, his eerie ice-blue eyes taking in the person. Where had he seen them before? The wheels turned over in his head.

Yasashi rubbed the back of his neck, "Ha ha! No problem! I wasn't exactly paying attention!" Yasashi guffawed nervously, "Nice to meet you Sora!" he grabbed the man's hand in his own massive palm, "Taka Yasashi!" He offered eagerly.

"Not a problem!" Yasashi waved the concern away, he appreciated it but he honestly had no expectations of privacy in his life. It wasn't a big deal if someone watched over his training. He was used to it.

wordsSora Nakoma

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[Sora Nakoma]

Sora couldn’t help the small smile that took hold of his face when Yasashi jumped at his greeting, the sight of such a physically impressive person reacting so viscerally to a simple hello pretty amusing to the young hero. The boy returned his greeting once he got a sense of what was going on, introducing himself and accepting his handshake offer. Sora nodded and shook back. “The pleasure is mine.” He assured the hero in-training as they released each other’s hand. The name Taka was familiar to him, but he couldn’t quite place a face to the name at the moment.

Yasashi said it wasn’t an issue for Sora to watch, and he crossed his arms as he thought. The blue horns hidden beneath his unruly hair emerged; it was something that happened often when he was thinking or concentrating. “Your form is interesting. Clearly practiced, but not any formal martial arts I’m familiar with. I assume it’s something of your own make, like my own? Or perhaps you were instructed in?” He asked, voicing his earlier observations.

Dericho chuckled a bit. ”Sorry, just always interested in learning more when I see something unfamiliar or that catches my interest.”

He paused for a moment. It was tempting to offer to spar with the young hero, but given how he was already interrupting his training Sora didn’t want to impose any more than he already was. ”How long have you been at UAU?” He decided to ask instead.

Taka Yasashi

[Taka Yasashi]

TAKAYASASHI

Yasashi rubbed his neck and nodded at the question that Sora posed, it wasn't like it was a secret or anything. "It's called er... Juggernaut Style, it's a style maintained by my family," Yasashi said. He was pretty sure his Mother wouldn't mind him offering that kind of information. "My family taught it to me before I started attending the school here, though I've still got a long way to go apparently."

He didn't offer specifically why his family would know a fighting style like this or anything to that extent. He really didn't want too many people knowing that he was related to Aegis. He resented her enough for having forced him to attend this school, if he ended up having everyone's interactions with him colored by that relationship, he'd be miserable.

He broke into a gentle smile, "I'm making some modifications, though," He said turning towards the training building, "I don't like hurting people..."

Sora's next question drew him out of his sudden musing and he blinked, "Oh! Uh... I just started. First year, sir," Yasashi offered with a nod of his head. 

wordsSora Nakoma

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[Sora Nakoma]

Sora nodded as Yasashi explained a little about the fighting style he practiced; particularly about how it was something his family used, and how he believed he had a long way to go. "I see. My fighting style is based on one my father came up with, though I've had to make adjustments as I developed my Quirk since ours aren't the same."

Taka wasn't offering any more information about his style's origin, but thankfully Sora wasn't nosy enough to ask; it wasn't that uncommon for hero students to have hero parents, after all. He himself was one such case, so he just chalked it up to that and was content to leave the matter alone.

It was then that the large youth admitted he was trying to put his own spin on the style, noting how he disliked hurting others. At this Sora put on a gentle smile. "A good quality for a hero to have;" He assured the student. "Being able to fight is one thing, but a hero doesn't go around trying to hurt others for no reason or disproportionately. We're meant to be peacekeepers, after all; and seeing the ones you trust go out of their way to brutalize criminals only create distance between civilians and heroes. At least, that's how I see it."

So he was a first year? It was a bit surprising, given his size and build, but such physically gifted individuals weren't too rare at a place as prestigious as UAU. "I see." Sora said simply, scratching his chin thoughtfully. An idea occurred to him. "You say you wish to adjust your fighting style, yes? To be less harmful?"

Sora stepped a few feet away and held his arms open, as if welcoming the boy. "If you would be interested, I think I could show you a thing or two. My style incorporates my Quirk, so you probably won't be able to incorporate a lot of how I do things. But my style is focused on restraint over actual combat; submissions, holds, trying to immobilize and neutralize without causing more harm than necessary."

Taka Yasashi

[Taka Yasashi]

TAKAYASASHI

Yasashi seemed to relax a little bit more as Sora started talking, the vibe the man gave off was more comfortable than Yasashi had initially suspected. His shoulders eased and he rubbed his head, shifting from one foot to the other, "Your father did? My great-grandpa set the standard, but my mother perfected it," He admitted, doing his best to control his expression when he mentioned his mother.

Sora's words were kind, though, and Yasashi offered him a big smile, flushing a little and nodding, "Thank you, if only my quirk was any good for hero work," He said without thinking, glancing at his feet. 

Before he had a chance to think about what he'd let slip, Sora posed a question and he brightened, "Yes!" His eyes brightened even more when Sora explained himself, "That- yes that would be wonderful!" He beamed, his icy blue eyes not seeming as scary anymore. His thoughtless flub long forgotten. "What do you need me to do?" 

wordsSora Nakoma

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[Sora Nakoma]

Sora nodded as Yasashi asked about his father, taking note of the fact that his great grandfather had been the one to come up with their own family’s style. If he was a first year, that would put their martial arts a decent while before the advent of Quirks. He mentioned his mother perfecting the style, which more or less confirmed Sora’s suspicions that he had hero parents (or at least one); martial arts weren’t uncommon outside of heroism, but he felt like to “perfect” a fighting style meant it needed to see legitimate use. Yasashi’s age taken into account, perhaps his mother had been an early heroine not unlike his own.

The boy seemed pleased with Sora’s words of encouragement, but the young pro did not miss what he absentmindedly said about his own power. Curious. He didn’t seem to even realize what he had said, though, instantly focusing on Sora’s offer to help him train. He was certainly eager, which was always a boon for training, and he asked what he should do to start with.

Sora rested one elbow on his hand, reaching up to lightly scratch at one of the horns on his head as he considered how to proceed. The boy’s feelings about his Quirk would certainly need to be addressed, but for now they could focus on the training at hand; best not to force an issue. “Well for starters, I’m willing to bet you’re used to fighting, or at least training, against people smaller than yourself, am I right? I can’t imagine there are many your age with such a body type, are there?” He asked, wanting to get a general feel for the boy’s experience thus far.

Sora inhaled slowly and lowered his stance a bit, one foot slightly in front of the other and his palms open as he held them in front of himself. “First I just want to see how you make your approach. Come at me however you’ve been trained to; slow, fast, whatever. This’ll be the best way for me to get a good grasp of where your abilities stand at the moment.” The name Yasashi had given for his family’s style gave him an idea of what to expect, but it was better to learn by doing.

After saying this Sora gave him a reassuring, relaxed smile. “Don’t worry about hurting me or anything. And take your time; it won’t do either of us any good if you aren’t in the right mindset.”

Taka Yasashi

[Taka Yasashi]

TAKAYASASHI

Yasashi blinked at the initial comment about his size, it wasn't a derogatory one, more like a purely neutral observation. It should have felt like something normal to say, but Yasashi appreciated the comment anyway. His size had always been something that left him feeling uneasy about himself. He scratched the back of his neck and nodded, "Yeah, I rarely get training partners my size," He admitted.

The hero-in-training nodded at Sora. He wasn't going to turn down the opportunity. And while he hated violence, he enjoyed testing the limits of his body. He wished his mother would have just let him become an athlete rather than a hero. Regardless, he took a deep breath and crouched, holding his hands out to either side with his fingers hooked and ready for grappling. The muscles in his legs coiled as he took a deep breath.

He nodded at Sora when he reassured him, "I hope I don't disappoint," Yasashi rumbled, his body tensing before exploding outward in a forward dash. Going through the motions of his forms was one thing, but his mother had practically beat into him the need to end a fight quickly and efficiently. For him, a brutal launch was as normal as shaking hands. He simply didn't know any better having only his Mother's style as a frame of reference.

He crossed the distance between them quickly, his eyes focused so hard that they had formed pin-pricks, his big hand rocketing towards Sora's face...

wordsSora Nakoma

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[Sora Nakoma]

Sora nodded with a quiet hum as Taka confirmed his thought about his size, not surprised that he had been right on the money with his expectations. After the boy's words he took a moment to prepare himself, noting that he hoped not to disappoint. Sora offered him a smile. "So long as you give it your best shot, there's no concern with that happening." He assured the student in a genuine tone.

There was but a few short moments before Yasashi made his move, charging directly for the smaller hero with all the ferocity and strength of a rampaging bull. "Fairly direct." Sora thought to himself, his expression showing no signs of concern despite his "opponent's" size and speed. But as the trainee approached, Sora pulled one of his hands back before thrusting it towards the giant. Suddenly a powerful, howling gale cut through the air towards Yasashi, the harsh wind slowing him down as it moved in opposition to his charge.

The hero wasted no time in taking advantage of the situation, stepping to Taka's side with the aim to grab his arm before kicking at the back of his knee in an attempt to bring him to the ground, a more localized blast of wind propelling his leg into his target with more force than he could normally manage, though he wasn't striking with all his power since this was just a sparring match.

Through his own strength alone such a tactic likely wouldn't work, but combined with the power of his wind he was more confident. Sora's fighting style made use of his wind manipulation to enhance and supplement his regular martial arts, hoping to bridge the gap between himself and more technically skilled or physically powerful opponents.

Taka Yasashi

[Taka Yasashi]

TAKAYASASHI

Yasashi barreled forward, his eyes widening a little as he saw Sora's hand move, in an instant he felt a mighty wind pushing him back and slowing his progress. His teeth gritted, his cheeks flapped in the gale as he tried to barrel rush his way through. He couldn't even reach his opponent, let alone land a hit! What had he even been training for? He pushed his muscles anyway, trying to keep his momentum at least to some degree.

Instead, one moment Sora was there, the next he was just... gone. A movement to his left drew Yasashi's attention in that direction. His eyes widened. How did he get there so fast? A sudden pain in his knee and Yasashi was on the ground, face first, his head pressed into the ground. All his strength had been rendered useless in the face of a quirk. He coughed, his body trembling once with the effort.

"I yeild," Yasashi grunted, his taught muscles relaxing.

He wasn't a fool who threw himself at a wall like a bull, he knew when he was beaten and accepted a loss in a sparring match gracefully. At least thats what he told himself. When Sora released him he would sit back down and let out a sigh, running his hands through his short hair and hanging his head. 

"Not good enough."

wordsSora Nakoma

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[Sora Nakoma]

Just as Sora intended, his combination of a wall of wind and the strike to his leg was sufficient to take down Yasashi despite his greater size and weight. He watched as the younger man surrendered and pushed himself to a sitting position, seemingly frustrated as he muttered about not being good enough. This made the hero frown. Their first exchange and he was already so down on himself?

Sora walked in front of Taka and extended a hand down, smiling as he offered to help him to his feet. "Nonsense." He insisted, shaking his head. "You did precisely as I told you. This hardly even qualifies as the training itself; I just needed to get an idea of how you do things. You know the old saying, 'the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step'? Well before you take that first step, you need to know where you're going, right?"

Whether Yasashi accepted his offer to help him up or not, Sora would then cross his arms as he looked up at the sky for a moment. "When my wind crashed into you, how did it feel? Physically, mentally, any way you can describe it." Sora held up one finger. "If you can address one issue with how a problem has stymied you, you'd be amazed at how much of a difference it can make. Believe me, a wall is made up of many bricks; and the more bricks removed, the less of an obstacle it provides."

Taka Yasashi