Lightning – My Hero Academia
Chapter 41: Refinement
Ako stood outside of the 1-A dorm, feeling cold and on guard. With only sweatpants and a black shirt on, he had none of the padding in his hero suit to cushion any blow he might receive. Concealed underneath the trees, there was hardly any moonlight to illuminate his surroundings.
"Tell me, Tanaka, are you afraid? Do you feel helpless in my element?"
"I'm not in the mood for teasing, Yui. Let's just get to the exercise." He said in response.
"As you wish." Yui said with a smirk.
Her voice was then replaced by a low, animalistic growl. Ako swallowed nervously, raising his hands up in preparation for the attack he knew was coming. Yui let out several more little growls, but Ako couldn't see where she was coming from.
Suddenly, Ako heard her snarling behind him. He turned around and moved out of the way just in time to dodge her trying to pounce on him in her lioness form. She slid on the grass and turned towards him, pouncing towards him again while changing back into human form at the same time.
Yui threw a kick at Ako's head while flying through the air. Ako blocked it with his arms and took a step back. Yui landed on the ground and slashed at him, her hands turning into paws with sharp claws. Ako took several more steps back before pushing her back with a punch to the chest.
Yui growled and pounced once more, changing back into lioness form. Her weight forced Ako onto his back. He yelped in surprise and punched her in the shoulder. Yui raised her head and opened her mouth wide, looking to bite down on Ako's head.
Ako moved to the side and raised his arm up to block her, but he incidentally put his arm into her mouth. Yui clenched down on it with her teeth and didn't move. Ako struggled for a moment before realizing what had just happened.
"Got you," Yui said, changing back into her human form. "Had you been an enemy, you would've lost that arm just now." She said smugly.
"Yeah yeah I know. I set myself up for that. Can you get off me now?"
"Sure," She got up and extended her hand out to him. He took it and she pulled him to his feet. "Now we fight normally – with no surprises." She decided.
"Good. Things will go a lot differently this time now that I'm not at a disadvantage." Ako said, hopping in place and getting into his boxing stance.
"Show me." Yui taunted, getting into her own fighting stance with her arms extended and her hands open.
Ako made the first move, throwing a few jabs to size Yui up. She flicked his fist away with her hand. Ako moved in and threw a kick at her side. Yui caught his leg and tried to make him fall on his back. Ako jumped up and kicked her back with his other foot.
Yui stumbled back momentarily while Ako landed on his back. He kicked back up to his feet just in time to block Yui trying to slash at him with her left hand. He blocked her arm with his right forearm and grabbed hold of it with his left hand.
Ako turned and twisted her arm over his shoulder. He ducked down and pulled her over his shoulder. She rolled awkwardly across his back and stumbled onto her side. As Ako approached her with his speed quirk, he raised his fist up as if to punch her.
With her other hand, Yui reached across and knocked Ako aside with her paw. He rolled up to his feet as Yui was getting up. She was about to transform, but Ako used his speed to pin her against a tree. The shock and impact to her back was enough to stop her midway.
"Ah!" She exclaimed in surprise. Ako quickly pressed his forearm up to her neck to keep her back.
"Now I got you." He said. Yui struggled a little before snickering.
"Not bad, Tanaka. I will let you have this one, even though I could easily get out of this by transforming again." She pointed out.
"Right," Ako let her go and stepped away. "I don't know how long you plan on doing this, but I'm losing out on sleep for this. I don't want to overdo it." He said.
"That's fine. I don't need much. I've already learned a lot." Yui said, brushing her arms off.
"Well, glad I could help." Ako said.
"Could you teach me to do that move you did before? Where you grabbed my arm?" She requested.
"Uh...yeah. Sure. You just take the wrist like this, twist, and then you lower yourself. You use your weight to pull your opponent's weight." He explained, walking her through the movements slowly while grabbing her arm to demonstrate.
"Let me try on you." She said excitedly.
"Sure. Just don't go too-whoa!" Ako was interrupted by Yui grabbing his arm and going through the motions all at once, pulling him down awkwardly and causing him to flip on his back.
"Ha! I got it!" She laughed. Ako let out a shaky exhale, still surprised by the impact. He stared up at her laughing down at him.
"Y-Yep. Nice." He said, groaning a little while stretching his back and arm out.
"I will have to use this move more." She decided.
"Yeah. It's a good close combat move. My dad taught me that when I was a kid." Ako said.
"Is that so? Did he teach you all about fighting?" She asked curiously.
"Almost everything I know." He answered.
"I see...I wish that I had someone to teach me the way he teaches you." She admitted quietly.
"Why do you say it like that?" Ako asked.
"I've never had a teacher. Everything that I know, I've had to teach myself...when I was training with Gunhead, he told me that I needed to become refined. But I don't know how to do that."
"It takes practice. You gotta keep doing it over and over again, and you'll get a little better every time until you mastered it." Ako answered simply.
"Is that all there is to it?" Yui asked doubtfully.
"Well, it's easier said than done but...yeah." He nodded.
"Hmm," Yui took a moment to think this over. "Thank you for helping me to become refined, Tanaka." She said appreciatively.
"You're welcome," Ako replied sincerely. "After all, we're part of the same team, right?" He said with a little chuckle. Yui smiled and nodded.
"Same team!" She agreed happily, getting to her feet and helping him stand up once again.
"Heheh, so does this mean we're calling it for the night?" He asked.
"Yes. You're already complaining too much. Go get your beauty rest." Yui teased him, tapping her fist in the center of his chest.
"Tch, you don't have to tell me twice. Goodnight, Yui. See you at training tomorrow." He said, offering her a fist bump. She tapped her fist against his with a grin.
"Yes!"
Ako chuckled and quickly returned to his room. He took in a deep breath and sighed. He flopped into bed and relaxed, relieved that the extra training with Yui had ended quickly. He had to admit, even though he would've much rather been asleep, he'd had a bit of breakthrough with Yui tonight.
They were helping each other out sincerely, so in that sense, Ako didn't regret agreeing to meet with her...