[ACTION]

[kaidont]

[If you are currently near the outskirts of Union, you might hear a bit of a racket.

Or you might outright just find Kaido, Flabébé and Sraggy.

They've set up a set of twin practice dummies (a big one for Kaido, a smaller one for Scraggy) and are practicing kicks and punches with synchromised timing, with Flabébé alternating between checking on the egg they have nearby and pushing a large ball around with Fairy Wind.

They've been at this for a week. Someone stop them.

Or alternatively, complain about the noise]

Comments

[at_too_low]

[We can do that. BROFIST]

So are we done for today or do you have a plan for me already?

[kaidont]

I have a plan.

[at_too_low]

Lay it on me! Ah, wait...

[Guess what he's taking out. His notebook and pen are back again]

Right, go on.

[kaidont]

[You don't really need those]

We're just training your reaction speed for now. Come here.

[at_too_low]

[Well alright, he puts them away... And is about to come closer to you, but pauses]

Wait. Is this a test already?

[kaidont]

Test?

[at_too_low]

Well, what if I come closer and you flip me over again?

[kaidont]

[He laughs]

Nah, don't worry. We're going for something more basic.

[at_too_low]

[He nods then and comes closer]

[kaidont]

[He's taking a fighting stance]

Okay, so. I'm going to give you openings, and you need to attack them as fast as you can. It'll be really obvious ones at first, the point's to get them printed into you so you can strike at one before your brain gets involved.

[at_too_low]

[He nods again and takes a fighting stance, too]

Got it.

[kaidont]

[He's dynamic, moving a little on his feet... and suddenly his right arm moves a bit too far towards the center, opening up his right shoulder]

[at_too_low]

[Alright, he can get this-- moving forward, diving under your arm, and striking at your shoulder - a touch rather than a hit]

[kaidont]

Not bad. [grin] Don't be scared to hit. You won't have time to hold back when we speed up. [He's opening his left arm around his stomach, if you're paying attention enough and not being distracted by his words]

[at_too_low]

[Too bad for him, he gets distracted]

Well, I don't want to hurt you. And there's no guarantee I won't land a hit wrong and injure you.

[kaidont]

I can take it. And you just missed one. Stay focused.

[The same opening, this time with his other arm]

[at_too_low]

[He's about to go "You can't make me talk to you and keep watching for openings!" but realizes that, well, you probably can. You get a harsher, slightly angry jab to your stomach with his left hand]

I wouldn't have missed it if it wasn't you!

[kaidont]

Learning to work with distraction's part of the job.

[A lower one]

[at_too_low]

[Another strike, with his right this time - he's scanning you with his eyes, learning to pay attention... speaking still comes to him as easy as ever, though]

Yeah, well, your face's a distraction!

[kaidont]

Oh come on, that's a low blow even for you.

[A high blow is what you're supposed to hit this time, though]

[at_too_low]

[He laughs]

What d'you mean, even for me?!

[He hits it-- but clumsier this time, wasting time on pulling back his right arm and striking with it again]

[kaidont]

You like hitting where it hurts, with words anyway.

[He's opening his shoulder slightly, but it's much less obvious than the previous ones]

[at_too_low]

Well, maybe if you didn't frown all the time, you'd look better~

[He almost notices that - not really consciously, a kind of instinct tells him it might be an opening, and almost moves to it - but doubt takes over and he stays his hand, frowning a little. Did he miss it? Should he have missed it? Was it really an opening anyway?]

[kaidont]

Stop thinking too much! [He'll swiftly but gently bonk your head if you don't block him]

[at_too_low]

Wh--

[He does raise his arm to block it, but a second too late - so your bonk is half-successful. He lowers his arm and frowns again, shaking his head]

... This is harder to do than I thought. I keep... letting my guard down because I don't see you as an enemy. I think I would've stricken at that opening if I was actually fighting someone.