⒊ [Action/Voice]

[theogre]

[Even though it's been two weeks since she's returned from the draft, things haven't gone back to normal for Sakura Oogami. It feels like the energy in Luceti is tenser than normal, that the conversations are heavier. It could just be the company she keeps, but it's having an effect on her exercising nonetheless. Becoming stronger is just as much a goal as it is a method to clear her mind and relieve some stress for the Super High School Level Fighter. Very early on the 13th, she decides two things. She's going to take out some of her stress, and she's going to try to address Luceti as a whole.

Early in the morning, then, anyone will be able to find Sakura depositing cement slabs used for karate outside of Community Housing 5. It's not just one or two slabs, though. By the 8 AM has rolled around, she's carried nearly two-hundred broken slabs of cement to the ground floor. This is work, but she'll stop to speak to anyone who needs to speak with her.

After that, she can be found running through the village. Eight in the morning is a late start for her, so she decided against running in the forest. Unfortunately, Sakura running is a terrifying sight to some. After looping around the town three times and showering, she'll address her journal.]

I apologize for the mess I have left outside of the fifth community housing building. As far as I am aware, there is no "dump" in Luceti, is there? I am in need of a place to dispose of a large amount of broken cement. I will take care of it as soon as I can.

I am also wondering if anyone is familiar with remodeling the apartments. I find myself with too much space and wish to convert some of my rooms. [...] Or build a new place entirely, if such a thing is possible.

[She's about to end her message, but she remembers something at the last second.]

And to the New Feathers of Luceti, welcome. I am Sakura Oogami. If you find yourself in need of answers or moving furniture and other heavy items, I am more than able to assist. If any of you are familiar with Hope Peak’s Academy, I would like to talk to you as soon as possible.

[Once that's over and done with, she can head to her final destination. House 21, you have a visitor. Knock knock.]

Comments

[action]

[cilantro]

[Well, we've decided to go for a walk, maybe see if we can get to the Battle Dome for a little early morning training with our Pokemon, so on his way there, Cilan and Pansage (hanging onto his shoulder) end up passing Community Housing 5.

...And stopping and staring for a moment at the large pile of broken slabs outside. Well, that's not something you would normally see every day...]

[theogre]

[There is not an elevator in the building, so it takes Sakura a moment to exit the building again. She's holding a lot of broken cinder blocks to add to the pile, but Cilan and Pansage don't escape her notice. She's only seen them through the journals, but green hair does stand out...]

Good morning, Cilan. Pansage.

[And she's just going to unceremoniously dump her slabs into the pile.]

[cilantro]

Good morning, Sakura. [Pansage waves in greeting as well. Now that we're seeing you in person, you're taller (and muscular) than we expected, but that's not necessarily a bad thing, so they'll just roll with it.] That's quite a lot of broken cement--I take it you've been working with quite a rigorous taste today...

[Though it doesn't look like this is part of a renovation or anything, possibly just...rather intense training...]

[theogre]

You are correct. [She smiles and nods back, actually, because Pansage is cute. She'd never admit that much herself, but he's definitely cuter in person.] The air has felt tense lately. There is nothing like a good workout to lift one's spirit, is there?

[cilantro]

Mm, I agree! We were considering the idea of doing a little training ourselves today at the Dome.

[Pansage makes an arm-flexing motion with a "Pan~!" of agreement. Even if we don't...actually have noticeable muscles like fighting-type Pokemon do, that doesn't mean we can't stay in shape too!]

[theogre]

I see. I have tried using the Battledome, but with my lack of programming skills...I could not create a scenario that suited me. The nature and equipment in Luceti are enough for a rigorous workout, however. You two are welcome to join me any time.

[cilantro]

Ah, I see. To be honest, the Battledome has a bit of a foreign taste to us as well even with some knowledge in programming, since they didn't have facilities with such an advanced flavor to them like that where we're from. [The reason we at least try to use it is the whole "Pokemon having insane powers" thing and avoiding any random passerby potentially getting hurt or something. Still...]

What type of workout do you usually like to do?

[theogre]

For one such as myself, I cannot think of the Battledome as anything but false. It may look and feel real, but the experience is not the same. [Even if she would like to fight someone, she'll stick to old-fashioned training instead.]

Each day, I try to run ten miles before returning and beginning on my endurance and power training. I often use swing-style suspension and weight-lifting, but my method also varies from day to day.

[cilantro]

[Wow that's a lot of working out.]

Mm, sounds like there's a variety of hardy flavors to it. I can see that you're very dedicated to your training... [Explains where all the broken blocks came from...though, speaking of which, you've amassed quite a pile of them.] How many of those cement slabs have you broken so far?

[theogre]

I broke my entire collection this morning. There were over two-hundred. [Upon realizing this was a lot, she decides to correct the story.] I broke several of them at a time, however. I did not break them one at a time.

[cilantro]

Over two-hundred of them? [...Um. I don't think we even know anyone that can even do that, here or in the Pokemon world. Brycen maybe could do it, but...] My, that's very impressive, and several at a time too...I'm sure that would certainly give quite a workout to do.

[Even Pansage seems impressed by that too--we'd be able to break a few no problem but we'd probably start getting tired by the time we got to past one-hundred, let alone two-hundred...]

[theogre]

That is correct. I would have used more, but such materials are hard to come by in Luceti. They took several months together.

[She sounds proud of herself, and she is. Her strength holds special meaning to her.] If either of you would like to learn, I can certainly teach you the basic technique for breaking.

[cilantro]

Well... [Cilan's not sure if he himself should be trying to do that--there's a high probability of injuring our hands and as a chef, that's not really the part of your body you would want to be injured. So he turns to his Pansage.] I don't know if I myself would be particularly skilled in that flavor of activity, but it does sound interesting--what about you, Pansage? Do you want to try it?

[Pansage nods, making a "Pan~" noise of approval as it swings it's paw down through the air in a karate chop motion. His Pokemon would be more than interested in learning more about breaking stuff!]

[theogre]

[That gets a nod of approval. She'll have to add Super High School Level Move Tutor to her name.]

Very well. I will teach Pansage the basics of breaking. Are you interested in watching?

[cilantro]

[Cilan nods--as if there was ever even a chance we wouldn't be interested in watching this.]

Absolutely! I'm sure it'll be an enthralling lesson to taste.

[theogre]

Very well. It will only take me a moment to set up. Please give me a moment.

[She jogs over to the pile of cement bricks. It doesn't take her long to find a half that is a suitable size for Pansage. One of the more intact halves will serve as her own for the demonstration. Within a few minutes, she's reconstructed two breaking stations for herself and Pansage. Hers, however, is much taller.]

This will suffice for the moment. [She looks down to Pansage, her face stern but without malice.] Are you ready to learn?

[cilantro]

[Pansage will have hopped down off of Cilan's shoulder to take his place at his breaking station, while Cilan stands back and out of the way to watch. Once Sakura has finished setting everything up, he nods. We're ready!]

[theogre]

Very well. To begin, you must stand with your feet at a forty-five degree angle to what you wish to break, your body rotated away such as my own.

[She moves into the stance indicated, waiting to see if Pansage has any problems. For now, they face away from their target.]

[cilantro]

[Pansage looks down at it's feet, and then back at Sakura's for a moment before moving itself to try to copy her stance and rotate away a little from their cement bricks. It then looks back up at her as if to ask "How's this?"]

[theogre]

Very good, Pansage. To perform a proper break, you turn your body towards the target. Elevate your elbow over your head and extend your arm, pointing your elbow towards the sky like so.

[A quick learner. Not that she expected less.]

[cilantro]

[Pansage copies the movement, attempting to elevate it's elbow above it's head--though, it's not quite as high up above the head due to the little tree growing there that would probably be nearly impossible to lift it's elbow above, but otherwise it does look like it has an idea of where it's elbow is meant to be positioned at...]

[theogre]

Very good. [She can see that Pansage has what may be the correct form for him to take, even if he can't mirror her exactly.] You next move your tricep forcefully, directing your power through your fingertips while pulling the elbow to your side. The outward momentum increases your speed. [She demonstrates that last part, though she doesn't strike the object.] Those steps, in succession, comprise the basic breaking technique.

[cilantro]

[Pansage watches her demonstration before turning his attention to his own slab of concrete. After a moment of concentration, it then brings it's arm down like Sakura did, copying her movement...except he doesn't think to pull back from not striking the object and does end up hitting it, causing it to promptly crumble apart into smaller slabs of rock. W-welp...turning to look at Sakura now as if to ask if that was how it was supposed to be done anyway, right?]

1/2

[theogre]

[That...that's not how it's supposed to go.]

...Very well. Those are the proper steps. [She repeats them all in a series of swift, fluid movements, shattering her own slab and striking the ground beneath it, leaving a sizable dent.]

[theogre]

[And then she turns to face Pansage, crouches, and gently pats him on the head.]

If you remember these steps and train frequently, you can break many more than one at a time.