"Ready?" Frowning, Tsunagu questions his child as they stand in the training grounds, in him his fighting stance where across from him stands a small child, with blonde pigtails held by green bands matching her green gleaming, grinning from ear to ear.
"Ready!" Excitedly, she roars lunging at him as she and him fight, a one-sided fight. Tsunagu dodges or counters said hits as she easily counters his hits and his own kicks, the two training as per usual, both agile fighters making sure not to get hit with the elder of the two, holding back.
"Urgggh…my body's sore." Sayako whines, craning her neck back as sweat slides down her tender form.
"That is the expected reaction when one trains." Tsunagu notes as he gets out mineral water for them both.
"Yeah, yeah…" Pouting, she rolls her eyes at the victor of the matter.
"Here." Tenderly, Tsunagu gives her the water.
"Thanks…" She opens the bottle, taking a small sip of the water.
"You need to focus on your punches more than your kicks you have a good left hook but your right is sloppy." Sternly, Tsunagu explains to the young Sayako nodding her head, furrowing her brow at the notes given.
"Riiiight…say, dad? Why do you always cover your neck? Whenever we go out you never let anyone see your neck except me, dad or Hikaru why is that?" Curious, Sayako blurts out taking Tsunagu back as he nearly chokes on his water from her words.
"Sayako…sometimes certain aspects of a person can make someone uncomfortable or perhaps even intimidate someone." Calmly, Tsunagu attempts to explain to her only to see her furrowed frown.
"Your neck does that?" Lost, she quirks her head to the side staring at said part making Tsunagu grimace briefly.
"It makes me seem taller how am I to protect the people, talk to them if they feel uncomfortable by my neck." Pained, Tsunagu sighs bowing his head.
"That seems more like a them problem than a you problem." Frankly, Sayako states making Tsunagu flinch from her words, sweat dropping at her words.
"Sayako…" Tiredly, Tsunagu begins.
"Besides who wouldn't like your neck it's really fun to climb on, you can see all sorts of things from that height, heck it's like a giraffe's neck!" Softly, Sayako smiles, her greens glistening at the thought, gushing bringing a small sad smile to Tsunagu's lips.
"That isn't exactly a compliment Sayako." Sweetly, Tsunagu hints, he appreciates the compliment to an extent but…
"Why not? I love giraffes they're my favourite animal, I mean have you seen the way they run!? Oh or the way they fight it's so funny! But I just mean…you're the one saving their hide who cares what you look like? You're the one fighting the bad guys you shouldn't have to hide who you are cause of that!" Firmly, Sayako scowls standing up from her seat, her greens glaring at her father's gawking green.
"…" Silently, Tsunagu states at his little girl, feeling nothing but pride bloom within from her words.
"What?" Sayako scowls, furrowing her brow when noting the pregnant pause and her father's firm stare, almost in stunned silence from her declaration.
"Nothing." Easily, Tsunagu dismisses shaking his head, a small smile upon his lips relieved to hear such words from his little girl.
"Is that…is that why you don't hold hands with dad in public?" Pensively, Sayako questions meekly making Tsunagu flinch from such an observation.
"Sayako…" Tentatively, Tsunagu begins, noting the sorrow in Sayako's eyes.
"I see guys and girls do it all the time even girls sometimes so why can't you guys? Sometimes when we're going out, we have to hold hands but the boys always make it a big deal when they have to hold a boy's hand why is that?" Puzzled, Sayako confesses to her father, bowing her head staring at her fidgeting fingertips.
"That's…it's complicated dear." Tensely, Tsunagu grimaces glancing to the side, his fingertips flex around his water bottle.
"Mr. Sai is getting married." Sayako states.
"Your teacher?" Tsunagu recalls said teacher, a kind man, if Kazz had told him right.
"Yeah…we were talking about weddings; they were teaching us about them how the bride wears a dress and all that who wore the dress when you and dad got married? Was it you?" Fascinated, she ponders out loud making Tsunagu erupt into a coughing fit at the thought, a faint ruby red tint to his cheeks from the question.
"Um well…" Tsunagu places his hand over his mouth, trying to beat back the blush threatening to resurface.
Then again I've never seen a wedding picture of you guys why is that?" Confused, Sayako points out.
The world isn't ready for us yet Sayako that's all." Dejected, Tsunagu sighs.
Well, they should be! Why should they matter? It's you and dad's life not there's. Why do you guys have to hold back due to some stupid people? When I become a hero I'll show them, I'll make sure people like you and dad can get married, can hold hands in public, can do whatever they want!" Proudly, Sayako states the fact resolution laced in her tone shocking Tsunagu, his eyes widening when hearing her words, feeling the bud of pride that had surface soon flourish bloom…
You're going to make a great hero Sayako. I know it." Tenderly, Tsunagu smiles softly down at his little girl, his greens glassy as he places his hand on top of her blonde locks.
"Daaaad…stoooop…" Whining, she pouts when he wraps his arms around her bringing her into a hug as she squirms.
"At least he's here, at least he acknowledges you, at least he shows some degree of interest in your life!"
"Sayako…" Tsunagu whispers, whimpering almost as he clutches the smaller, smoother, colder hand in his bigger, rougher, warmer hand, feeling his heat try to melt away her icy hand. He hears the brief crack in his voice, feeling the tears threaten to fall down his glassy green. He closes his eyes, placing his temple upon her hand, his eyes slammed shut as he stays by his baby girl's bedside…
*What do you think of Best Jeanist now guys? Of his thoughts towards Sayako and their relationship?*