[Taro Yamada]

GAME ON!

HP: ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰ 100/100

Pandemonium at the beachside. Urchins rolled out of the water to chase screaming sun tanners. Eels wrapped around several bystanders and electrocuted them. A large shark was shaking some armoured guy in its maw like a chew toy. In general, Tokyo's renowned heroes had a lot of work cut out for them if they wanted to get rid of the latest set of monsters.

Meanwhile, Taro was having fun.

He readied his hammer. "Fore!"

And a nautilus flew through the air before landing in the water. It slowly crawled towards him so that counted as an attack on his person, therefore he was good to hit it. Though he should probably find a smaller target than the entire bay. Oh well. He'll figure something out eventually.

A second mollusk joined the first in its impromptu flight lesson.

open

[Shirayuki Mai]

Sprinting down the beach Yuki Onna delivered palm strikes to rattle shellfish and kicks to scatter the fish before they could overwhelm her. She wasn't here for a cull. A distress call had been received and she was racing to the scene before it could become a statistic. Nearing the coordinates of the call Mai spotted the hero in question and sped up. The hero however was not the only one she saw, nor the only one she recognized.

Babel had been an absolute nightmare. Feeling responsible for failing to protect the city Mai had spent a great many hours analyzing each tragedy over and over to figure out ways to prevent such casualties in the future. One such casualty was now standing in front of her. Mai's heart skipped a beat at the sight, unsure of what to think. He had been a villain back then, was he still? From what she could see he was facing off against the sea life and not her colleague so there was a chance his allegiances had changed. Mai had seen traumatic events cause one to reconsider their paths many times before. If the one in front of her had decided to turn a new leaf she wouldn't want to cause him to fall back into the dark. No, she would stay cautious but not give any indication she rejected him.

"Careful! The tide can turn at any moment, stay on your guard!" Yuki Onna shouted towards Player One before rushing towards her colleague. She hoped she wasn't too late. Not again.

---

Tag:Taro Yamada

[Taro Yamada]

GAME ON!

HP: ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰ 95/100

The thing with golf, Taro was starting to discover, was that it was best played with opponents. There were whole tournaments revolving around the sport, where golfers duked it out by trying to get their balls in the hole in the least shots possible. They weren't quite as violent as what he was doing now but the people were competitive all the same. When the grunt tried to invite others to play though, they were usually too busy running from some human fish monster or whatever.

When a white-haired someone called out, he looked around him before pointing at himself. "Oh, that's to me. I'm fine." Just as he said that a larger-than-usual lamprey latched its teeth to the tip of his shoe. No punctures thankfully what with them being well-built. Nonetheless, Taro still lifted his leg and activated the rocket portion of his boots, blasting the creature to bits.

As Taro lowered his leg, he came to a realization that this person he's never met could play with him. She seemed busy but there was no harm in asking right? So the digital being tailed her, albeit in a slower manner. He was in no rush. "Say, do you wanna play some golf? I don't have an extra club but you could find something to use around here right?"

Meanwhile the hero's colleague was face down, unconscious and unmoving. For a little while at least. But soon enough they were getting dragged towards the water, with something extending from the water attached to their leg pulling them.

Shirayuki Mai

[Shirayuki Mai]

For a moment Mai didn't know how to respond. Play golf? In the middle of all this? Her mind struggled to catch up even as she finally managed to free her colleague from the shark's maw and beat it back. Checking his pulse she was relieved to find that he was still alive. Hmm, perhaps playing golf was some kind of slang? He did appear to actually be playing golf but Mai had seen far weirder aesthetics than sayings taken literally. The language the kids were using did seem to change every week so perhaps he simply meant to ask whether she wished to fight together and return these critters to the sea? What she'd seen of his actions did seem to imply as such.

"Alright. Let us 'play golf'," Yuki Onna replied in the manner of an old man trying to be hip. The sound of iron scraping over sand interrupted her next words. With widening eyes she rushed to stop her colleague from being dragged down under, planting her foot down firmly on the offending limb reaching from the ocean. "My apologies for not introducing myself earlier. I am Yuki Onna. Might I request assistance in ending this creature's attack?

---

Tag: Taro Yamada

[Taro Yamada]

GAME ON!

HP: ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▱▱▱ 65/100

As the shark roared before diving into the bay away from the woman's retaliation, Taro blinked in surprise. She accepted his invite? Huh. Maybe heroes knew how to have fun after all. Assuming she was one of course. Easy to tell what with her pulling people out of danger and all.

Speaking of person, she was saving them again from a watery grave, stomping the slippery limb that latched on into letting go. Taro tilted his head at the lying man in thought before shaking his head. "Nah. That guy's too big to be a club I think. Would be weird to hold him like one." It was definitely an option but he wouldn't want her to break her back while playing. Too bad he couldn't tell she didn't mean to play golf in the literal sense.

Taro's eyes rested on the woman as she introduced herself and he gave an easy smile. "It's chill. Name's Player One." He remembered not to tell his real name during a crisis at least. "And I thought you were free to play?"

As one limb slipped back into the water, several large tentacles erupted in its place. Some would slam down in the sand in rage, while others would swipe sideways. One smacked Taro in the face and he fell to the ground hard.

He just laid there as he waited for his body to get a grip and stop doing the staticy thing. "I g-get it though. Hard to do that-t in these c-c-conditions."

Shirayuki Mai

[Shirayuki Mai]

The more Player One talked the more confused Mai got. Modern day slang was always so difficult to understand. Every time she'd finally learned what it meant the youth had already moved on to the next version. It was wonderful to see their adaptability but incredibly frustrating to witness their casual disregard for the history of their language. Putting the thought aside she returned to going along with his suggestion to 'play ball'. No, wait. Was it play golf these days? She'd have to remember that.

"I can certainly lend a- Watch out!" Mai shouted as she saw the tentacle coming for him far too fast for her to intercept in time. She swore under her breath when he went down. She couldn't cover both him and her armored colleague which left but one option. As she charged into the fray Yuki Onna called back over her shoulder. "Are you alright? Leave this one to me and get to safety!"

With four limbs against eight it would not be the easiest fight but as a pro hero she could not back down. Not while innocents were at risk. Raining a flurry of blows down on the lashing tentacles she channeled her quirk to chill and try to freeze them while she fought her way towards the beast. Each parry, block or strike would stun it just a bit more. Whether it would be enough for her efforts to pay off only time could tell.

---

Tag: Taro Yamada

[Taro Yamada]

GAME ON!

HP: ▰▰▰▰▰▰▱▱▱▱▱ 50/100

Well this was a problem.

Much as Taro assumed obstacles like this existed in golf to for that additional challenge, he imagined that they usually weren't as destructive as the tentacle monster was being. Not to the point of said obstacles potentially killing the players at least. If he were anyone else, he likely wouldn't have survived the hit. As it happened, he simply sat up on the sand, unharmed once his body pulled itself together.

He called out to the woman charging at the creature. "Nah, I'm fine. You wanted help right?" Using his hammer as a crutch, the digital being stood up. "That thing attacked me, which means it has to die now." Perhaps he was too casual with that declaration.

In any case, Taro took note of the limbs Yuki Onna froze and, finding opportunity in an immobile target, he struck. One tendril after another was shattered by his hammer as he followed behind the hero towards the source, his stride not slowing despite further hits on his person by the creature. The tentacles meanwhile just seemed to keep coming. As if for every one limb was lost, two more took its place.

They were getting close though. That much was certain.

For a blue shell emerged from the water's surface, followed by a blood-curdling scream.

Shirayuki Mai

[Shirayuki Mai]

"Prioritize your own safety. Do not take any risks. If the fight turns against us you are to flee immediately, understood?"

Mai didn't have the capability to both dissuade Player One from heading into danger and fight off the threat at the same time, as much as she'd have liked. To allow one that may be seeking redemption to face mortal danger was a disgrace and if he were still an unrepentant villain seeking his aid would be shameful. Yet none were more keenly aware of her limits than Mai herself. One did not enter this field without a strong will. To dissuade a hero or villain when their mind was set was nearly impossible. Gritting her teeth she redoubled her assault. Her mind too was made up. She would make it unnecessary for him to risk himself with her own two hands. For that was what a hero did.

Whenever her footing allowed for it she kicked one of the lower tentacles at the others, every contact channeling her quirk and ensuring the slower tentacles would get into the way of the faster ones. Elbow, forearm and knee strikes and were added into the mix when she felt her hands begin to numb. Yuki Onna was in the zone, each blow flowing into the next like water. Instead of slowing down due to exhaustion her progress sped up as the beast suffered far more than she did. At her current rate it would not take long for her to reach the source of the problem.

Of course, that was the exact moment her phone rang.

With everything going on right now there was a fair chance it was someone in danger quite literally calling for aid. With a curse she swore and picked it up, three limbs making it far harder to fend off the assault than four. One tentacle made it through and slammed into her hip before she managed to divert its course.

"This is not a good time, Maf-"

"Professor Shirayuki! We've found witnesses who know who's behind all this!"

"What?! Sphinx, come agai-"

"Their name is Doctor Hail. He or she is the one that gave all the crabs vocal cords!"

"Hold on. Sphinx, what are you-"

As the giant blue shell surfaced one tentacle caught Mai right in the gut, driving the air from her lungs and sending her skidding a step back. With a curse she stuck the phone in between her ear and her shoulder before rushing forward once more, splitting her focus as well as she could to reach it as fast as possible. 

"Find a safe location and stay where you are, we'll reinforce you as soon-"

"Oh no, the witnesses! They're going for the witnesses!"

Hearing a clatter on the other end of the line Mai's eyes widened. Gritting her teeth she threw caution to the wind and prioritized offence over defense, tilting her body at the right time to take a dozen glancing blows instead of tanking them fully. With every hit she took she channeled her quirk, hampering the beast no matter what it did. The more either of them struck the less it could do. With the majority of its attention focused on her she hoped Player One could put his money where his mouth was. Her care for the safety of her students was far greater than her shame over needing assistance from a villain.

"Sphinx? What happened? Sphinx!? Sphiiiiiinx!"

The lack of response and sounds she could hear in the background only served to fuel her anxiety. Letting her phone drop she caught it midway through its fall and slid it into a hidden pocket within her costume before addressing Player One.

"Do you possess the means to kill this thing?" Yuki Onna shouted in his direction while fighting with all she had. This would go much faster if he did but if he lacked the ability she would not place any blame on him. She would simply need to redouble her assault and finish it herself.

Regardless of whether he could or not the moment the fight was over she'd check whether he was alright -if he was still alive- and get her colleague to the nearest first aid station before rushing over to where her students were. Today was a hectic day and it showed no sign of letting up. As much as she felt like she was using a bucket to pour water out of a sinking boat Mai could not let up, for even if her efforts seemed pointless every second she stood still risked the life of another innocent. No matter how much it took out of her that was not something Mai was willing to let happen. She'd fight until they won or her body gave out. Mai could only hope it'd be enough.

---

Tag:Taro Yamada

[Taro Yamada]

GAME ON!

HP: ▱▱▱▱▱▱▱▱▱▱ 0/100

As tentacles tangled themselves together - say that five times fast - due to the hero's quick thinking with varying their speeds of approach, Taro at one point held his hammer in one hand to draw his sword with the other, slicing down at the tendrils that were not fully frozen by the woman's Quirk. Still he got clipped from time to time, but at least they weren't as lethal as the initial hit.

He hummed at her warning. "Eh. Don't need to worry about safety usually. I can't feel pain like you guys do." Time and again he was reminded of how fragile human life was, and how many just weren't aware of how likely it was for him to outlive them all. Sustenance unnecessary. Infinite in age. Who knew what the future would hold?

A wet smack on his face pulled Taro to the present. What was he doing again? Oh right, creature killing.

Surprisingly enough, it was as if the number of limbs were letting up, each splash a sign that another had dropped in the water lifeless. Yuki Onna's precision contrasted his brutality, which was all well and good here. He tilted his head when she spoke into her phone but the conversation didn't hold his interest for long. Not much to glean from half of it- especially when it sounded like someone calling for help. Heroes must get those all the time.

At her question, Taro blinked before sheathing his blade with a smile. "Oh yeah. Check this out." Grasping his hammer in both hands, he twisted the handle. An orange glow spread across the head and smoke began to escape the exhaust the weapon was equipped with. All it took was a swing once he got close enough.

A crack on the monster's shell from his strength alone, followed immediately by an explosion.

Shrapnel shot out in all directions from the creature as the blast went clean through its armour. Something Taro couldn't avoid due to being the one to deliver the blow, but it's why the weapon was perfect for him. He didn't get hurt. He was still sta—

A pincer jabbed into his abdomen, as if the mutant mollusk wanted to take at least him down with it. Ah crap. Should've known something else was unnatural about it beyond its size. "D-d-d-damn. So c-clos-s-se." With little preamble his body blinked into nothing. At least it was one less threat the remaining hero had to contend with.

So much for that game though. Maybe another time.

Shirayuki Mai

[coffee]

I'M COMMANDER SHEPARD, AND I APPROVE THIS THREAD

So much going on, so little time to deal with them all!

Taro: 200 Tokens + 75 Tokens = 275 Tokens

Mai: 75 Tokens + 75 Tokens = 150 Tokens

tag: Taro Yamada,Shirayuki Mai,