uccellodifuoco | Appointment Post

Of course. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position. [ she recites it as if it came from a book, but at least this time it's obvious it did come from one.. ]

[He nods.]

I see you read about it. Now, do you understand what it means and implies the part about gaining and maintaining a superior position?

[He won't be surprised if she doesn't though, even if she's a genius.]

.. Um.. I thought they meant a superior position in the physical sense, since it would be difficult to play this game if they meant it in a way that has more to do with your status in society.. [ you're overthinking again, kotomi. ]

But.. it surprised me. I thought at first that it would be really unfair, since some people are already much bigger and taller than others, just like Ikki-kun and me..

Being taller and bigger does give one an advantage, but being small can also give you advantages if you use the right strategy and techniques. Normally when facing someone bigger and stronger than you, you will want to use their own strength against themselves while keeping yourself safe. Was that in your book as well?

[ she shakes her head. ]

It didn't mention a whole lot on strategies for the game. That's why I wanted to ask Ikki-kun about it..

I see... Well...

[He scratches his head, honestly he doesn't know names for techniques or whatever, what he knows of wrestling in particular was right from fighting with others. Not to mention things from when he was quite young.]

Maybe it's better if we go right at the practice, you can learn as we go that way. Come, try to push me down.

.. Okay. I'll try my best, but.. um.. if I hurt Ikki-kun, please say so.. [ it's cute how she almost thinks she could actually ever do that. kotomi, please..

But she's trying now! Putting both her hands against his chest and.. trying.. to push... I hardly need to mention that of course nothing is happening, right, she has no strength in her body at all and even if she did, she couldn't just force it into something like this. ]

[He's more worried about her hurting herself than hurting him, but says nothing about it. It's adorable to see her worry like that... And it makes him wonder how she thinks wrestling and such works, if you don't hurt your opponent a little you can hardly win as far as he knows.

For a moment he thinks she is just pressing a bit her hands against his chest, mentally preparing to push... Until he realizes that she's already trying to push, with no strength whatsoever. But that can't be, he knows the girl is soft and innocent and everything but... Come on, even Shun as a baby gave him stronger kicks than this when he tried to change his diaper. And it was Shun, and a baby, there shouldn't be nothing less strong than that. But with the current display he starts to think that Kotomi fits that bill perfectly.

Ikki arches an eyebrow as he studies her efforts, wondering if he should push her back a bit or hug her or step aside and see if she really was trying to push by having her lose her balance. Honestly, he has the impression that she won't be able to even use other's strength against themselves... How the heck is Smoker teaching her anything?

He takes a step back and to the side, leaving nothing but air on her hands and plenty of space for her to fall if she indeed loses her balance at the sudden movement. If she falls, though, he won't let her go far before he gathers her in his arms avoiding her even the smallest chance of getting hurt by the mat.]

.. Ah--

[ Once he steps to the side, she does indeed fall over. She was trying to push, honestly! The problem is just that she.. can't.. since it's Kotomi.. but the force is still enough to make her topple over once he steps away, falling forward-- until she's instead grabbed by him before she falls, her eyes wide from surprise.

It actually takes a moment or two for her to recover, before that she can't do anything but blink blankly, as if she's wondering what happened. ]

Ikki-kun.. stepped away.

[He holds her in his arms easily, an amused glint in his eyes as she recovers and processes what just happened, taking the moment himself to make sure she's turned upwards looking at him rather than going face down. She really was trying to push, poor thing, it's a wonder how she manages to open doors even.

He smiles a bit at her words.]

I never said I wouldn't move. That's one of the most basic ways to gain advantage no matter how much stronger your opponent is, if you get them to charge at you or try to push you down and you just dodge it they will fall instead. All their impulse and strength will work against them once they fall.

[He places her down in the mat, slowly so she doesn't get hurt before letting go, keeping a hand on her shoulder. His grip is gentle and the pressure light, but if she tries to get up it will increase just enough to keep her unable to raise again.]

Once they are on the ground, all you need to do is keep them down. Can you get up?

[ She looks as if she's trying to take the information in, but at the same time that process is also what makes her unable to say anything back until he's already laying her down there and pushing on her ... Oh, right, she's supposed to get up-- and she tries, she tries really hard! (Although really hard is still not much in Kotomi terms..) But it's difficult, especially when it's him doing it, so she can't get up at all.

So after a moment - with a slightly dejected expression - she shakes her head. ]

I.. I can't get up. [ And then it turns more worried.. ] W-will I have to lie here forever now, Ikki-kun..?

[... Ikki just... Raises his free hand and places it against his face, congratulations Kotomi, you have made him facepalm. Really, how can you be this sweet, innocent and naive? He sighs after a moment and looks at her seriously, he opens his mouth to say something but pauses for a second, changing his mind about what to say.]

Kotomi-chan. Will you try to wrestle with that Sakura after I teach you so you can become better friends with her?

[Because that's definitively not a good idea, girl.]

[ What are you doing, Ikki? Kotomi has no idea what a facepalm is, so she just stares - at first curious, then maybe a little bit concerned..

But then she question distracts her. ]

.. That's.. what I wanted to try. I thought it would be sad if Sakura-chan had nobody to wrestle with, and I wanted to become better friends with Sakura-chan either way..

... What if I wrestle with her and you just talk with her? That way she will have someone to wrestle with and you can become better friends with her.

[Since it will be your boyfriend wrestling with her and that's a connection you both will have and whatever. He is keeping her lying on the mat, by the way, you stay there until he has this sorted out, Kotomi.]

Ikki-kun doesn't think that'll be a problem..?

[ apparently she doesn't really mind the lying on the mat thing, either way - she's not even really bothering to move from where she is now. ]

I think that the problem would come if you tried to wrestle with her... Or with anyone.

[Exasperated sigh. He didn't really mean to say that aloud but he slipped.]

W-What I mean is that if she really likes wrestling she must be very good at it, learning about it in a few days won't make you able to compete with her. In that case she would be better off just having someone to listen to her and talk with her than a bad wrestling partner, you don't have to know everything about wrestling from the start to talk with her, I'm sure she wouldn't mind telling you things if you really want to get to know her.

[Save! Let's hope Kotomi misses the point of him being worried about her wrestling, his tsun doesn't allow him to say it openly.]

[ For a few moments she's quiet. It's almost as if she gets it, really, and that she does miss the point, especially when she nods.. but then: ]

But why is it a problem for me to wrestle with anyone then, Ikki-kun? Some people might not be good at wrestling like Sakura-chan, right?

[Why him.]

Not everyone likes wrestling, if you wrestle with them they may not like you because they dislike wrestling. And those that like it are too experienced for you to be able to be of help for them. You won't make as many friends as you're making now if you wrestle with people.

[There! That should avoid any problems, right? He's sure this can't backfire on him.]

R-.. really?

[ Wrong idea, Ikki. Since now the girl lying on that mat is starting to wibble, making that same sad and worried face as she always does when she talks about bullies.. ]

I.. I won't be able to.. make friends..?

[Shit. How does he fix this?]

If you try to wrestle with them. If you don't then you won't have any problems, you haven't had problems up until now, right?

[Please don't cry.]

I haven't had problems, but.. b-but.. I w-wouldn't want to start having problems now.. I don't want to be lonely without friends.. [ she's not crying - not exactly, at least - but her face is still pretty darn wibbly as she stares up at him. ]

It's not as if your friends would leave you though. And even then you would still have me.

[Grumble, grumble. That wasn't meant for you to hear, Kotomi, so don't bother with it. Ikki sighs and passes a hand through his hair before looking at her.]

If that's so then you really shouldn't try to wrestle with anyone. If you think someone needs a wrestling partner just tell me and I'll be their partner. You can make friends with them by just talking and hanging out with them.

[ Well, to be honest, she would already be satisfied with just Ikki by her side, yes.. ]

... Okay, if Ikki-kun said so.. [ for a moment or two she's quiet before she goes on. ] Sakura-chan said she wanted to meet Ikki-kun though.

[Do you go around the village telling everyone about your boyfriend, girl? Not that he minds but it makes him feel a tiny bit bad because his tsun makes it hard for him to openly talk about you.]

Then there's no problem at all. Promise me you won't try to wrestle with anyone, okay?

[The hand that was keeping her down moves to caress her hair and face before he leans down to kiss her softly and shortly, smiling that small smile of his afterwards. He would feel bad about lying and making it sound worse than it really is if it wasn't because he is worried about her wrestling otherwise.]

Don't worry, you'll keep making many friends even if you don't do everything they do.

[ She really does go around talking about him, of course she does - Kotomi is practically like an open book, after all, and it's so normal to have him as her boyfriend by now that she just casually tells everyone she meets. ]

.. I promise, Ikki-kun. I won't wrestle with anyone.. [ And promises Kotomi makes are absolute, no matter what, so he can at least count on her in that sense. At least it looks like she's calmed down a little thanks to the kiss and his smile - especially the latter calms her a lot, it tells her everything is okay. ]

Appointment Post

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