Description: A group of clever disguised Gedo High students (as Gorin High students) comes in Justice High's athletic fields late evening wishing to do some vandalism to get a message across. Alas, Athena Asamiya, model students of Justice High, decides to stand in their way and stop their evil doing. The battle that follows will forever be known as 'the clash of the phoenix' as Athena fights the intimidating leader of this small group. Thankfully, another student comes in to help Athena against the group of thugs, but will he make it in time to stop this battle!?
The athletics field of Justice High is as elite as everything else about the campus. The sports venues supported are reserved for events typically perceived as 'highbrow', with kyuudou ranges, tennis courts, kendo arenas, and more. During the day, it is a hub of activity, as arrows thunk into targets, swords clash, and tennis balls smack against anything and anyone depending on how the matches are going.
But the evening has a different atmosphere to it. A calm, peaceful place where it can be easy to seek solitude. By sunset, most Justice High students have gone home or retreated to the dorms to cram for the next grueling exam or claw their way through mountains of homework. Flood lights keep the area illuminated even at night more for security than to enable late-night athletics. Those activities are only for allotted hours during the day, after all. The sun is setting in the horizon, leaving the shadows long with what light that remains a golden hue except where overwhelmed by the powerful floodlights above. The air is crisp but not too cold, a gentle breeze brushing through but finding othing in the way of debris to disturb on its way by.
The lights fall on empty courtyards, arenas, and archery targets. And nearly empty stands. Seated on a row overlooking the impressive combat arena, Athena Asamiya is enjoying a moment of quiet tranquility from an otherwise hectic day to type away on her pink sticker-clad laptop. At home, Master Gentsai will do anything to distract her from keeping up on her important internet chatting! Given her impressive successes as a new entry in the fighting world, she's already garnering a following, and it would be rude to not interact with her growing number of fans, right?
She won't stay late. Just another fifteen minutes more. She is as dedicated to her schoolwork as anything, and Justice High does not seem to believe in affording a whole lot of free time to the students enrolled within its militaristic campus. Her face is illuminated by the glow of her screen, her long hair allowed to rest against her back, held in place by the star-crested comb atop her head. Not having gone home yet, she's still clothed in the Justice High uniform - a miltiary red-orange skirt, black, long sleeved dress shirt, and a red-orange military jacket that she's unbuttoned to let it hang open now that she's no longer under the scrutiny of the relentless instructors here.
Now and then someone else will wander through the area but no one pauses to tkae notice of the rapidly typing student in the stands overlooking the small but elaborate arena.
Justice High, the highschool of Japan's elite... The elite of the future. Out of the lot, their students were the worst. Most of them had it the easy way : wealthy families, particular talents, most raised into thinking the world belongs to them, that it was their destiny to rule upon the lower classes.
Every single one of them, they looked down upon Gedo High and their student. Justice High despiced them, looked down upon them with a strong feeling of scorn, like they were the scum of society, a plague that had to be get rid of.
A prejudice, Daigo had toward Justice High. One that was only amplified and awoke his passion and strong desire for social justice and equity. After all, when someone keeps being told he is a delinquent, a criminal and scum, he eventually becomes one...
No more! This day it would all end, once and for all.
His methods might be questionable, but Daigo would restore the pride Gedo High used to have, and give their students some to strive for, a bit of hope that they can be better than what the rest of society tells them. This was his most fervent desire...
Loud noises can be heard echoing through the athletic fields. Metal clashing against metal and loud laughter bursting out from a gang of students who make their ways into the fields. All of them wear baseball bats and they also wear sport uniforms of various colors. They're a small gang, six students at most, lead by a towering japanese man who had a lot more bulk and brawn than the rest.
The tennis courts are trashed, any decoration and smaller trees and bushes are trampled, kicked ripped off. Some that comes from the archery range slugs the various targets and break needlessly whatever they can that falls upon them.
They're macking a small ruckus, though as the sunset and the students are probably in their dorm, they'll have plenty of time to wreck the place before someone comes to them. At least, that's what they seem to think.
A soft giggle escapes Athena's lips as she pauses to read something on her laptop's screen then starts typing away rapidly in response to something stated. She was trying not to let the growing fame go to her head, but it was a great way to unwind after an exhausting say of Exceptional Academic Excellence (or die trying). Even around the campus she was building a reptuation to that point that some of her fellow students were beginning to view her as an overachiever out of an entire school full of overachievers.
Prodigy fighter, excellent grades, charmingly friendly (it has to be fake, right?), and there's even a buzz building around her appearance before a fight exhibition where she sang the national anthem. It was said it brought the audience to tears or stirred within their souls unprecidented love for their country and that the girl's stage presence was phenomenal. But while this made some students envious, her successes were also drawing a lot of admiration from her schoolmates, especially how in spite it all, Athena Asamiya didn't lord it over anyone. Her (obviously fake!!) humility only earned her even more positive feelings among the student body.
Yet through it all, she was beginning to sense something was amiss in Southtown. Controversies were afoot at the other schools, from stolen mascots, to fired principles, to vandalism. It seemed tensions were building and showing no signs of cooling off. Hence the immediate alarm that goes off in her mind when she hears the loud noises and laughter. Justice High students aren't really known for their raucous laughter... and the cringe-inducing clang of metal on metal does not fall in line with any approved Justice High approved activities.
Violet eyes glance up from her laptop to look across the field. Before she even moves, she's witness to horrendous vandalism. Unlike Gedo, the students at Justice are not tasked with cleaning or maintenance. There's simply not time for it. But that doesn't mean the flagrant disrespect isn't offensive all the same. Wincing as a jade decorative statue is shattered, the girl snaps her laptop closed and rises to her feet.
Standing up, tucking her computer under her arm, she pauses to brush her skirt, straighten her red-orange military jacket, and then moves out from the seating to the stairs down into the field. Surely once they know there's been a witness, this band of ruffians will want to run off. After all, they certainly don't want it known they were up to such dishonorable deeds, right? Like, that wouldn't be their entire goal, would it?
She might not be noticed at first until she finally rounds the base of the arena to come upon the group, "Hey!" comes the scolding cry. "What do you think you are doing?!" Her left hand is tucked, hugging her laptop under her shoulder, her right hand clenched at her side, her expression the very image of self-righteous judgement. "Stop that this instant!" Eyes shift to the tallest among them, the girl blinking once before reminding herself that stature alone is not an indicator of power.
The random act of chaos and destruction seems to enthrall the students who are here performing those deeds. Always the thrill of being caught, the rush of adrenaline that keeps them on the edge. They destroy everything they see and can, nothing escape the slaughter of their baseball bats.
They have simple bandanas to cover their mouth with caps for the most part over their head as well as Gorin High sport uniforms. While it might mark them as obvious student of this school, their masks might at least prevent them from being identified right away by potential cameras.
Some throws rock and brick they brought in backpack to break windows, while other takes out spray paint cans to cause further vandalism upon the walls of the various building.
Unlike what it might first seem, this was not just a random act of vandalism. Their leader wanted to make a point : to deliver a message to all of Justice High, but not only Justice High, but all the other schools, most likely. The various punks and shorter students followed the tall man's orders. He didn't shout them what to do, he just gestured with his hands to indicate what had to be done. This was obviously planned.
Everything was going according to the leader's plan. He figured they'd have enough time to do everything they had to do with relative hinderance. At least until a girl's shout can be heard. It was easy those who were in the archery field, half a dozen of them, with the tall man leading them. All of their head turns up in Athena's direction.
There's some doubt in the boys' demanor as they all glance up to the tall man. Obviously they didn't know how to react to this. He glances over his shoulder to them and speaks softly to them, "Stick with the plan," He says, probably inaudible to Athena.
"Get the hell out of here, girl, unless you want to get hurt... This isn't your fight," The tall man says. He had no intention of hurting the girl, but if she was going to interfer, he'd have no choice.
Now out from the stands and getting a closer look at the trouble makers, the Justice High honor student can make out the uniforms. Gorin High? Not exactly an inter-school socialite, she isn't well versed on the different tensions between the Southtown schools beyond a vague sense of there being rivaleries, especially in the arenas and sports fields of their various teams and, as she's heard of late, even between cheer squads. But that's all in good, clean fun. The mess being made of the prestigious school's athletic field, on the other hand, is definitely not clean and certainly not fun for whoever is going to be tasked with cleanup and repair!
That they at least pause when she makes her presence known is of small comfort, at least. Maybe this can be resolved quickly enough, even though by now enough damage has been done that /someone/ is going to have to be held accountable either way. It's too late just walk away. "What do you think you are doing? Are you not considering the burden you are placing on those who will have to clean this up? Or the disruption to our schedules as all this damage has to be repaired?"
Violence shouldn't need to be the answer, but this group is not going to listen to words alone, it seems. Turning her right shoulder forward to look toward the taller student defiantly. Cautiously, she lets down her emotional walls just a little. Enough to become more aware of the sentiments at play here - among those easier to read, she can more readily pick up their hesitation but then renewed confidence at the unheard words and gesture of the man who is clearly their leader. There is also a sense of envy blended with pride, ambition sparked by the presence of their leader.
"Is this how you fight your athletic rivals? Afraid to face them in the competitions, you'd stoop to sabotage to obstruct their practice?" The taller one is unfamiliar to her as he might be to most in the school district. Justice High's curriculum allows little in the way of socializing, especially with other schools! She is also surprised to find that for now, it is harder to get a read on him. But she can tell without a doubt that he carries the confidence of the others on his shoulders. If he were run off, the rest would undoubtedly follow, she believes.
"My name is Athena Asamiya, and I cannot stand by while this injustice takes place." Leaning forward, she carefully places her pink latop on the concrete right next to the raised arena, before standing up straight again. "This is your last warning, whoever you are. If you stop now, I will speak to the administration on behalf of you and yours, that maybe the sentence on you will be lighter."
Hands are lifted, right arm cocked back at the elbow, left hand extended forward. "Otherwise, I will have to stop you myself." There is a pulse that radiates out from the student as she taps into that vast resevoir of power that has carried her far in her fighting career. No visible manifestations are seen, no stirring of dust, no flap of skirt or hair, simply a sense that something has changed!
COMBATSYS: Athena has started a fight here.
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Athena 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Daigo has joined the fight here.
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Athena 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Daigo
Most of the thugs carry on their act of savagery and destruction while Athena speaks to their leader. At the very least, she has his attention as well as four other students who stay by his side to support him, awaiting to see if they want their boss to deal with her.
The name... Athena Asamiya. It causes a small reaction of awe from some of the students. They knew her, from some of her recent prowess, one of the iconic symbol of Justice High, one of the elite even in Justice High. However, the tall man who lead them did not falter by hearing this name.
On the contrary, this seemed almost like a sign of fate... It must have been destiny that brought her here. "Justice?" The tall man shouts back at her. He lets out a deep, mocking laughter escape her throat. "Justice!? If you want justice, you've to the wrong place! /YOU/ are the source of more injustice than justice!" He calls out.
He gestures with his hand to the violence the rest of his man are doing, "All of this is /YOUR/ doing! It is a necessary action, so you can see what your elitism has brought upon itself!"
Alas, his speech might make no sense with his current outfit, but Athena's speech of injustice obviously awoke a fierce passion in the tall man's spirit, something Athena might feel strongly.
"What about social justice!? And equity!? This will mark a brilliant new beginning, for everyone to see the truth behind those who, like you, hide between empty words like Justice!!" The tall man gestures with his baseball bat and points it toward Athena, "Let everyone see what their elitism have created! Beat her up, make an example of her!" The tall man shouts.
Despite whatever fright the other students might have had at first, hearing their leader's retort was enough to boost their moral and spirit.
The four students charge Athena, rushing up at her. They attempt to gang her up, the first one attempting to slug her with his baseball bat, another lunges at her from one side and attempts to kick her and the other two tries to circle her.
COMBATSYS: Gorin High Gang has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Athena 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Gorin High Gang
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Daigo 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Daigo has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Athena 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Gorin High Gang
> //////////////////////////////]
|=------\-------\0 Daigo
COMBATSYS: Athena has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Athena 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Gorin High Gang
> //////////////////////////////]
|=------\-------\0 Daigo
COMBATSYS: Daigo takes no action.
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Athena 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Gorin High Gang
> //////////////////////////////]
|=------\-------\0 Daigo
COMBATSYS: Athena dodges Gorin High Gang's Reckless Attacks.
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Athena 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Gorin High Gang
> //////////////////////////////]
|=------\-------\0 Daigo
There has to be a line drawn somewhere, she thinks to herself. Thoughtless vandalism against a school can't be allowed to take place without resistance. Whatever sparked this invasion from Gorin High cannot justify this. If it is part of a cycle she does not yet fully understand, then it is up to her to be one to put a stop to it. It is with no intent return the favor to the offending school that she takes this stand against the invading gang. But she also knows that once word gets out... the response maybe difficult to contain - beyond her abilities to do so in fact!
The girl gives her name. She is known across the schools, growing fame from a skyrocketing martial arts career above and beyond her already formidable academic successes. Many have her pegged for a Student Council position come the next elections. Making an example of her for 'Gorin' will definitely spark a response from the elitist students. Harm /their/ rising star...?
Hopefully Master Gentasi will understand that she had no choice but to use her power here. What was all the training for if it could not be put to use in defense of her school's property from wanton thuggery? Daigo responds to her mention of justice more vehemently than she had expected, a fierce emotion accompanied by that laughter of his, and the lone student recoils a little while maintaining her stance.
"I do not undestand what has made you so angry, but this is not the way to address it." she replies, trying to keep her voice calm in spite the increasing sense of being threatened. "There are already so many avenues open to us as students to settle our differenes in the sports field in friendly competition. We haven't attacked Gorin-" she cuts herself off. Maybe some Justice High students HAVE been up to no good recently? Well, she'll stick with her story for now. "And- and we believe every bit in social justice. Effort and hard work should be rewarded... and those who have such opportunities must use what they have to help those who do not." She exhales, frowning slightly. Their leader is giving the gang their orders... It will be hard to run him off with his lackies on the charge!
Make an example of her? Athena closes her hands then reopens them, closing her eyes for a moment as she begins to focus on the four that bravely rush forward. She senses their optimism, their confidence, their pride at answering their boss's call without hesitation. And she also senses their inclination for pack tactics. Four boys on one girl hardly seems fair!
Eyes snap open as the bat swings for her, Athena ducking low, arms out at her sides to avoid the weapon's woosh through the air. The kick is slipped around, the girl twirling to the side just enough to avoid his foot, long hair trailing just a little behind. The speed with which she moves discloses the skill this young student has... but it's her response that might cement just how seriously she should be taken. Hands clench at her side as she stands amid the four, "I warned you..." Eyes clench shut, head bows, as in that instant, an incredible force surges against the gang members - a powerful psychokinetic blast that very well may send all four flying through the air if they cannot brace themselves in time!
There is no sound to accompany the event, no flashy auras or sparks of power to signal what is about to happen - simply a silent assault by which she hopes to cool their confidence significantly!
Hey, it's the weekend. And though the Japanese school week includes Saturday (slave-driving bastards), it being a Saturday afternoon means that students are looking forward to their weekly day off, preparing to have some fun and enjoy themselves. For the past few weeks, Saturday has meant "travel to some random-seeming place for Saturday Night Fight" in the case of Haru Sakuraba, neophyte pro fighter, but since this is a holiday week in the US, SNF is taking a week to run a clip show (to the annoyance of their sponsors). This means Haru found himself with time on his hands.
Deciding that a week off was a good opportunity to keep up with his training regimen, Haru bundled up his things and headed out to the athletic field right after classes ended, doing laps around the track. What could possibly go wrong with doing laps around a track? Nothing, so he ducked into the locker room, took a shower, and was walking back to his dorm when... well, all hell broke loose.
The path from the shower rooms to the men's dorm passes by where the Gedo punks have decided to make their incursion into the ivory tower of learning that is Justice, and where one lone woman stands against them in defiance. Of course, the real problem is that so few people are around right now, ready to head off to their weekend plans, that the sports complex is basically empty except for Athena, Daigo, and a boatload of Gedo kids. And in an action he'll look at in considerable regret later, Haru actually watches this scene go down for a moment in anxious silence, trying to figure out if he should get involved and go down there, or run for help.
Once someone takes a swing at Athena with a bat, his decision is made, though.
Dropping his gym bag in the stands, there's a moment where the dark-haired student snatches something from one of its side pockets, and then dashes down the steps and bursts onto the field, heading toward the gangers looking to give Athena trouble. "HEY!" he shouts, trying to screw up his courage as best he can. "What are you doi--"
It cuts off when he actually gets near Athena, and feels something... indescribable. Something he hasn't felt before now, for sure. It leaves him looking at her, dumbstruck, for a moment, before his awareness of where he is seems to kick in. And as he does so, he watches Athena deftly avoid the bat strike and retaliate with... something?
Blinking in confusion, all he can think of to say is: "...now I don't know who I'm supposed to be helping." Smooth, Haru.
COMBATSYS: Athena successfully hits Gorin High Gang with Super Psychic Throw.
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Athena 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Gorin High Gang
> //////////////////////////////]
|=------\-------\0 Daigo
The gang of four Gorin High students were fighting with all their might and obviously not taking Athena seriously. They knew the reputation of Athena Asamiya : model student, perfect in every way, probably one of the best representative of Justice High. She represented everything they fought against, this elitism, this perfection, and Daigo's speech made them fight with passion.
They all lunge at her in an attempt to gang-up on her and hold on to her so they can beat her up, but before any of them manages to get close enough, Athena unleashes a wave of psychokinetic energy that sends all of them flying, literally, knocking them in the air, some dropping their baseball bat as they're hurled in all different directions from the explosion.
Though Athena has no time to rest, just as everyone is scattered around by this wave of energy, Daigo charges in, the towering hulk shouting as he rushes toward Athena with incredible speed. He swings one of his massive arm toward, sending his fist right for Athena's face, attempting to smack her hard with the back of his hand.
He does so with incredible agility and strength, considering his size and bulk : though obviously, Athena had aroused in him a powerful emotion. To him, she represented oppression, the oppression his school always had to suffer at the hand of other schools and students like her.
He didn't fight Athena. He fought the ideal, what she stood for and represented. With his powerful backhand smack, Daigo shouts, "If this is what it takes for you to understand, than it is a sacrifice I am willing to pay for you, and all the others like you to understand. To stop keeping a blind eye on all of this, to stop this hypocrisis,"
Daigo growls at Athena, his arms and muscles shaking a bit from anger, "You, a girl who has been pampered, who had everything predestined to her, who was given everything, understands social justice!? How is it just, for the few of you here to dwell in all this luxury, while others have trouble having school furniture! Have you ever had to worry if you would be able to eat the next day!? All you've ever known was opulence and you ignore all of the true mysery,"
After Daigo's onslaught, the other students manage to get back on their feet. It might have been enough to scare them away at first, but now that their leader had joined the fight, it gave them enough courage to charge back on at Athena.
Two of them jump right back to help Daigo, attempting to squeeze Athena once more and attack her from behind, using what seems to be karate to attack her, kicking at simultaneously and performing similar attack to try and push her back in Daigo's direction, to keep the pressure.
One of the member of the gang seems too stunned and dazed to come back, still wobbling and struggling to recover. He's probably done for. The third one tries to get his baseball bat back.
Fortunately for Haru, none of the students present seem to have noticed his presence. At least, not the Gorin High students.
COMBATSYS: Athena dodges Gorin High Gang's Synchronized Beating EX.
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Athena 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Gorin High Gang
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Daigo
COMBATSYS: Athena blocks Daigo's Phoenix Backfist.
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Athena 1/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Gorin High Gang
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Daigo
The model Justice student exhales as her assault on the four gangers is successful in sending them flying. It might have been an extreme reaction, she thinks to herself, but with the way they were mobbing up on her, could she really take the chance to respond with less decisive force - especially with their imposing leader still towering over the confrontation? Violet eyes open, the girl looking up and taking quick stock of her success. Maybe that will force them to reconsid-
No time is spared before the leader is upon her along with two of the less dazed or disoriented 'Gorin' high students. The shout alerts her that she is about to be crushed underfoot by the leader as the Psychic Student whirls to face him, once again a blur of motion, her hair trailing a split second behind. Eyes widen as he moves his mighty arm. There is no time for anything fancy now, the girl bringing her own much smaller arms up over her face and turning into the blow to weather it as best as she possibly can.
The impact is thundering as she finds herself subjected to the kind of kinetic energy she had not felt since her battle with the Silver-Haired Devil weeks ago. In spite protecting her face, her arms are sent flailing as the is bodily driven back several meters, feet sliding along the concrete as she reels, just barely able to recover her balance before she would have toppled over all together!
"Ng." the agony coursing along her arms provokes a wince as Daigo's words echo throughout the athletic field. Teeth grit as she sucks in her breath. The magnitude of his striking force... this is no ordinary gang leader. Who /is/ he? A soft breath escapes her lips as she lowers her hands, arms trembling a little at the force she just weathered.
When he describes her life as pampered, her lips press together into a straight line. A thousand thoughts come to mind - about the humble quarters in Chinatown shared along the Psycho Soldiers. About every cent earned going to pay for school. He is right though, she thinks. She thought they had it rough. But did they ever want for food? Master Gentsai seemed to always have just enough that meals were not in question... But schools suffering for lack of financing to the point that even having seats is in question? She realizes she's never stepped foot on another of the campuses in her life. She /doesn't/ know what they are like...
The desperate gang members coming after her are met with no better success than the first time, as Athena gives their karate strikes the slip while keeping her focus on Daigo. She doesn't even have the chance to apply conscious thought to that flicker in her mind of another presence - another individual of note... she doesn't sense hostile intent, so for this immediate moment, she cannot even spare a glance. "Be that as it may," she replies, forcing her voice to stay calm, as she starts to move toward Daigo - not sprinting, but fast enough to keep a little distance between her and the two determined Gorin toughs.
"But the damage you have already caused here will only cause greater financial strain for Gorin High," she draws her arms back behind her, "For there will have to be reparations paid for the damage you've caused!"
The dim lighting is illuminated as rose hued energy courses down her hands, crackling with quite visible energy this time. "You have only hurt your own with this vandalism and I will see to it that you learn this is not how to solve what has wronged you!"
She slides to a stop still some meters away, hands slamming forward, the crackling pink energy smashed together and sent flying at Daigo with incredible speed, thin blue lines of binding power around the sphere barely keeping the incredible surge of energy in check as it threatens to blast into Daigo head on. "Call off your boys now!"
This situation has become very complicated, to Haru's estimation. He knows OF Athena Asamiya -- it's impossible not to, since they're in the same grade at the same school and oh right she's an international pop idol and pro fighter -- but it's not like they casually hang out or anything. Add on top of that Haru's default shyness/tendency to be avoidant, and you get a recipe for them having never met before this moment. In fact, considering that Athena has her hands full with a... remarkably large man who just appears to have hit her really hard... the truth is they probably STILL haven't met yet. It may be a minute or two.
At the moment, though, it looks like five on one, and one of those five is freakin' Daigo Kazama, a mountain of a man even by adult standards, let alone high school teenagers. The other people with him, though... are they from Gorin? The sports suits are pretty much a dead giveaway to anyone who knows anything about the various schools of the area. But why are they here, and why are they trying to beat up Athena Asamiya?
Spying one of the attackers out of the corner of his eye -- specifically, the one lunging to get his baseball bat back -- Haru is thrust into the action by some impulse he feels deep down to get involved. Never mind the fact that his fight-or-flight response is telling him that this ISN'T a televised sports fight with expectations of no brutality, and that he might leave this place injured... or worse.
Right now, he just knows what he thinks is right.
"Hey!" he yells at the guy going for the bat. "I don't know what your problem is, but..." And then, with a flick of the wrist, he lashes out with... well, a yoyo. A gunmental grey yoyo that will hurt an awful lot if Haru's aim is true and it smacks into the guy's stomach to stagger him, but a yoyo nonetheless. "...this isn't a reasonable response, FYI!"
COMBATSYS: Haru has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Athena 1/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Gorin High Gang
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Haru 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Daigo
Gorin High Gang falls asleep.
COMBATSYS: Haru has left the fight here.
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Athena 1/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Gorin High Gang
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Daigo
COMBATSYS: Athena has left the fight here.
> ///////////////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Gorin High Gang
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Daigo
Gorin High Gang wakes up.
Gorin High Gang falls asleep.
Gorin High Gang wakes up.
COMBATSYS: Daigo has left the fight here.
> ///////////////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Gorin High Gang
COMBATSYS: Gorin High Gang has ended the fight here.
COMBATSYS: Gorin High Gang-66 blocks Haru's Medium Strike.
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Athena 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0Gorin High Gang-66
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Haru 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Daigo
COMBATSYS: Daigo endures Athena's Psycho Shoot.
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Athena 1/--=====/=======|====---\-------\0Gorin High Gang-66
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Haru 0/-------/-------|=====--\-------\0 Daigo
The flurry of ineffective strike from his gang gives Daigo
The flurry of ineffective strike from his gang gives Daigo enough time to readjust his stance, straightening himself up. "This is a cry of the heart from the oppressed," Daigo replies, his eyes glaring at Athena as he assumes a combat stance. Most of his face was covered by his bandana
His irises burned with hatred, but he had nothing against Athena. He fought what she represented, the mockery of social order that Justice High represented. "If we do not use such drastic measures, all of you will continue to ignore us, and things will only get worse and worse for us! From this point on, will you and all the elite here be able to keep ignoring the elephant in the room, huh!?"
It seems like this was the gamble this man was making. That this would force them to realize some sort of injustice they have been ignoring. Athena was not supposed to be here, but if she was beaten up by the scum of society, those they treat with scorn, perhaps they might realize the extend of their mistake.
He had to take this decision quickly, and Daigo would assume the responsabilities of his actions and live with its consequences. Beating her up, making an example out of her would be for the greater good.
Enough talking though, the tall behemoth lunges back at Athena, rushing straight for her. "Never!" He shouts at Athena. The sphere of energy hurled at him would force him to jump out of the way to avoid it but...
He doesn't. Doing so would delay his attack, slow him down. No, instead he charges right in INTO the charge and forces his way through it, which seems to cause him great pain, a loud growl of anger and pain coming from him as his body absorbs the blow, the energy hyperstimulating his nerves, making his muscles spasm and wrecking him with numbing pain.
The projectile seems to have done little to halt the charging behemoth who literally dashes through it with howls of pains, though they just seem to make him much more intimidating. Bursting through it was daring, perhaps reckless, but in the end, she probably didn't expect to see him come out of it into a straight line for her like he managed to ignore the kinetic blast.
And then in a second, he's right on her, his massive arms attemping to squeeze her against him, both resting on her waist to hold on to her, and before she knows it, the man swings her over his head with all his might, throwing himself backward to gain some momemtum through this to slam her harder against the ground.
The Gorin High student who takes up the baseball bat glances up in the direction of the boy who just stood up to him. He frowns and retorts, "Get lost if you don't wnat to get hurt, kid," However, it seems it's not enough to dissuade him from it as he hurls his yoyo at him. The Gorin High Student reacts quickly, lifting the baseball up to deflect the yoyo somewhat, causing it to hit its midsection but after most of the energy behind it was absorbed by the baseball bat. Still, for a yoyo, it made the man grunt.
"There's another one here!" He shouts to the two other Gorin Students who didn't know where to help their boss. Instead, they decide to do what they're best at : ganging up on the wearker ones.
They rush to help their follow classmate, while the one with the baseball bat approaches Haru and takes a swing, with it' "You've been warned, aaahh!" He shouts as she swings the weapon straight for his midsection.
COMBATSYS: Daigo successfully hits Athena with German Suplex.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Athena 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|====---\-------\0 Gorin High Gang
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Haru 0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0 Daigo
Her Psycho Powered bomb launched, Athena steps forward and recovers her balance, drawing her arms back, lingering energy still crackling at her fingertips for a second before vanishing. And, really, she has less than a second before the powerful man comes charging clean through her attack! Violet eyes widen in shock. She's seen a lot of different response to her bigger attacks before, but never /that/. Usually her opponents decide after their first brush with what she can do that they would rather take any and all measures to avoid further contact... she can only hope that is the decision he makes as well once the experience catches up with his mind!
She's barely recovered her own balance before her entire vision is blocked out by the towering rebel. Drawing back, arms raised, she clearly was expecting another powerful strike - the backfist alone sent her reeling, what kind of pain train did the furious student have in mind now? Unfortunately, her stance is useless against his shift in tactics, arms slipping in easily around the smaller Justice student. She has only just long enough to try and slam her fists against his chest in vain before she's crushed tightly, breath decidedly squeezed out of her as she's forced to worry about the stress being applied to her back!
Before she knows it, she's being hefted up, featherweight that she is, and then being slammed right back down against the concrete on the other side! The suplex is the hardest she's ever actually been thrown in her young fighting career. No one she trains with are capable of that kind of powerful hold and none of her sanctioned opponents have had that focus either. "Ugh," she grunts, rolling onto her side, her left hand going to her lower back.
Another pained roll brings her to her knees, rising up a little regain her footing, her jacket hanging slightly askew, the back of it scuffed by the impact with the ground. "This attack will only begin a cycle of reprisal between the schools," she gasps out before pausing as a new wave of awareness in pain washes over her. "You won't be ignored, you will be hated!" Her tone suggests that this is not the outcome she desires but only the one she predicts. Tensions between schools being what they are, aggrivation like this will only set things on fire between them! "Is that what you want! Is that justice?"
Backing up a few more steps, quickly finding her rhythm now that the pain has been dulled by enough adrenaline at least that she can move. "Once the truth gets out and the cycle begins... how will it end!" She wishes she could talk him down, wishes this didn't have to be solved with martial and psychic prowess. But the look in his eyes is not one belonging to a man seeking to discuss the issue. He has a point to be made known. And all his drive, passion, and fury are dedicated to the task.
"So be it..." she murmurs, shrugging her shoulders and shedding her jacket lest the formal garb infringe on her movement. Her hand goes to her neck to slip over the dark grey tie at the collar of her black dress shirt and pulls the knot free before discarding it over her jacket. If this is going to be an all out fight, she doesn't want to be held back by the decorative trappings of her uniform.
"Then it is up to me to stop this before it goes any further. I will not let you use me to further your cause!"
A sprint forward has the girl springing into the air. A forward tuck, a flash of Psycho Power, and then she descends down sharply to crash into the giant of a student. Or so it seems, for while the dangerously painful image of the girl dives against him, Athena is still airborn. "Aaaaah!" A second copy smashes downward at a difficult angle to defend against, also pure energy in spite harboring the illusion of it being her.
Finally the real girl descends, a Psycho Power coated canonball, as she attempts to crash into Daigo, smash through his hopefully already weathered guard, and finish knocking him into the pavement!
COMBATSYS: Daigo blocks Athena's Phoenix Fang Arrow.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Athena 0/-------/<<<<<<<|====---\-------\0 Gorin High Gang
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Haru 0/-------/-------|=======\-------\1 Daigo
Once his suplex is done, Daigo rolls on his back and he slowly straightens himself out. His brows were furrowed in pain, his body trembling as he feels the full after effect of Athena's psycho-ball. He managed to ignore the pain momentarily, but after he tossed her over her, his body reminded him cruely the backlash of his decision.
All of his nerves were having, his body felt numb by pain... Fortunately, his adrenaline allowed him to carry on despite the echo of pain his body gave him. Behind the bandana mask, Daigo pants as he rises up and has to push on his knee to force himself back up, as if this simple action was exhausting.
When he speaks up again, his voice seems calmer than before, less vindicative. "They already hate us and despise us," He says through his ragged breath. He closes his eyes, as if contemplating and he adds, "It is a necessary conflict... To instill the changes needed," His soft intonation contrasts greatly with his previous rage filled voice from his previous speech.
He took no pleasure in doing what he had. Alas, it was something someone had to do. He would carry their burden on his shoulder and face their consequences, only in hope his actions will allow everyone to have a brither future. "There is no justice. There is only 'your' justice..." Daigo says. His fists raise up as he gets ready to continue this battle, "You and I come from different place... We can't never understand each other," At least, not with how things were currently. They could go on a long time and discuss their different views on the subject, maybe with a nice cup of tea but...
This was far from the proper setup for this.
The tall man waits for Athena's next move. When the first phantasmal copie soars down into Daigo, one of his massive arm rises up to block her incoming strike, holding her there with his strength and trying to push her away. It was meant to leave him open, but the pain he felt through his previous move and due to her energy had left his senses keen and alert, allowing him to react more quickly and moving his free arm at the other illusionary girl to block the attack.
Despite them being illusions, Daigo felt the pain through his arms. Perhaps a lot more than a normal schoolgirl would be making, but she was able to attack something few in Southtown could do : his psych, and make him believe and think he was in more pain than it actually felt.
Despite all of this, Daigo manages to spot the real Athena right before she descends at him. The man shakes off the two illusions and move both hands in front of him to block Athena's descend. Despite blocking the blow with his forearms, her power and strength are enough to force him back on one knee from the force of the impact.
"I'm sorry it has to come to this..." He murmurs. It was his turn to give Athena a display of his power. He keeps the same stance but his intense focuses allow him to channel a wave of fiery flames around her. The flames shroud him and engulf him. They swirl rapidly around his body, forming crimson waves before a final shout cause them to burst further outward, hopefully catching Athena full on with the initial blaze and knocking her away with the larger final blast.
COMBATSYS: Athena interrupts Super Phoenix Fire from Daigo with Super Phoenix Infinity EX.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Athena 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Gorin High Gang
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Haru 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Daigo
That he defended against her relentlessly falling meteors of Psychic Assault speaks volumes to Daigo's tenacity. The airborn fighter can only begin to wonder at what kind of foes this young man has faced such that he can be an indomitable wall of strength. When she finally drops as well, it is with the fleeting hope that by now his guard has been weathered and she can finally break through and deliver a clean, decisive hit.
As she slides to a stop seconds later, she realizes quite well that her hope did not transpire. Whirling up to her feet quickly, she raises her hands and grits her teeth. She has been giving him nearly everything she's got! But... not /everything/. Her right foot slips forward, violet eyes fixed on the tall-statured student. "We can't," she replies, her voice steady even if she's feeling shakey at the threat he represents. To use her to spark greater conflict between the schools? Unacceptable! "...if we don't try!"
When the flames ignite, she begins bracing, arms raised defensively, wondering what trajectory and power his next attack will possess. Will she be able to withstand it? Wait - what is she doing just hanging back, she tells herself. Is that a demonstration of HER resolve? Her will to defy these invaders' goals of providing spark to already dry kindle between the campuses? A glint of pink sparks in her right eye as she looks up, deciding not to flinch before the flames that are setting the entire area aglow.
"Your apology means nothing in light of your actions!" she cries back, shifting her own stance, leaning forward, arms clenched tightly in front of her. It's now or never. She might even be too late. Did she hesitate for too long? Is she not taking Master Gentsai's strict teachings enough to heart? There is only one way to find out! An explosion of violently pink energy erupts around the girl as she straightens her legs and lunges /through/ the scorching flames of the Phoenix, driving her Psycho Power infused shoulder into Daigo's chest as she continues to rise - propelled by muscle power, psychic impulse, and unrelenting determination as she goes airborn...
"This ends now!"
Arms spread out at her sides, the girl flipping forward again, the sheath of energy coursing over her body unfurling out along her back and limbs, projections of a huge bird of pure psychic manifestation, the vengeful Phoenix turned right back on Daigo as Athena's dive takes her somehow /through/ the man, or so it would seem to the naked eye, the girl sliding to a stop several meters past, the winged image collapsing into a thousand rose hued sparkles of energy that rapidly fade away. A soft gasp escapes her lips, the girl staggerin forward, dropping to one knee, her left hand propping her up.
It is only then that the damage she suffered becomes clear. Her left sleeve is burned off at the elbow, her right sleeve, the shoulder she had lead with, falling away in ashes up to her shoulder. Sucking in her breath, she turns, her orange skirt bearing black scorch marks while the rest of her black shirts hides the damage. Her right hand lifts and tenderly rubs across her face, smudging away some of the soot left by the Gedo Boss's determined flames. Exhausted, hurting as she is, all she can hope for now is that with that impact, she stole whatever resolve he had left for this crusade against Justice High...
His powerful blast of flames left Daigo somewhat vulnerable for Athena's attack. Much like he did with her, he definately didn't expect her to have the guts to dive through his flames in such a bold manner.
It took some courage to do so, and that was something Daigo can respect. Though circumstances make them both enemies and perhaps they will always be.
His eyes widen the moment he notices the surge of energy overcome his flames and in an instant she smashes into his chest, empowered with her psycho power. Daigo's feet literally slides on the concrete a meter or two before Athena takes them both airborn, the man still stunned from Athena's attack. Once she disappears and with the lack of impulsion from her, Daigo's form soon falls back to the ground where he came and he crashes into the stands nearby in the most ungraceful manner one could expect from a man of his stature.
His body was wretched : the pain had been wrecking and draining his vigor and vitality, his bones and muscles ached not only from the psychic strain they endured by also from the fall and countless stands he might have broken from his fall. A trail of blood is apparent down his forehead due to the shock of the landing.
Most people would lay down unconscious by then, but not Daigo. He fought for his students, what he thought was an important battle. They were the source of his strength, what allowed the behemoth man to keep on going.
His form moves into the stand, one of his powerful arm shoving off some of the splinters and bench he broke with his fall. He breathes heavily as he rises up to his imposing height.
"It ends when I say it ends!" Is Daigo's answer to Athena's last words.
Looks like he still had it in him, the will to fight and carry on with this. This student was definately no ordinary one, obviously a lot more than meets the eyes. His imposing shape was a first sign, the visible scar on his eyes another... What could he have gone through that gave him such strength, one can only wonder.
Daigo kneels slightly and leaps : a massive jump to cover up the distance between him and Athena. He lets out a loud shout and send his fist down toward Athena. Alas, Daigo's jump seems just a little short from Athena and his fist smashes right into the ground in front of her, sending a powerful burst of energy into the concrete, causing it to literally shatter at her feet. The outburst of energy he sent with him fist causes a wide aread of concrete under Athena's feet to crack, bursting from an explosion of flames, like a geysers that erupts under her feet and sends a blazing inferno of heat, flames, and molten debris upward at her.
COMBATSYS: Haru dodges Gorin High Gang's Random Weapon.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Athena 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Gorin High Gang
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Haru 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Daigo
MEANWHILE:
Away from the titans clashing just across the field, Haru is facing down both the disguised 'Gorin' students AND his fears at the same time. When he decided to intervene, it was one person with a bat. NOW it's four people, one of them with a bat, and that's actually a completely different situation. Especially because the one with the bat is currently attempting to smack him in the stomach with it. Eyes widening in surprise, he kicks off the ground, hopping backwards at a low angle as the bat swishes through the air just where he was.
"Warned about _what_?!" Haru demands, looking at the four encroaching attackers, confused and terrified. "Why are you even here?" He glances off out of the corner of his eye for just a moment, watching Daigo and Athena go at it, and his eyes widen even further. That fight couldn't be any more different than a guy with a yoyo facing down some punks. There's splashes of energy, a cataclysmic battle of forces unleashed. Hopefully the gang stops to follow his gaze, too, because Haru actually falters for a moment, watching it. "...whoa," he mutters, under his breath.
But the persistent malice of the people fighting him eventually make him snap out of that stupor and turn back to the gang. "Look, you don't need to do this! What is smashing up our school going to do except upset people?" He doesn't make a move on the gangers just yet, just watching them for the moment. And also, he'll continue proving that Haru really does not understand these people at all by adding: "And what's the point of that?" Oy vey.
COMBATSYS: Haru calculates his next move.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Athena 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Gorin High Gang
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Haru 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Daigo
Gorin High Gang falls asleep.
Gorin High Gang wakes up.
COMBATSYS: Daigo successfully hits Athena with Phoenix Fire.
[ \\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Athena 1/----===/=======|====---\-------\0 Gorin High Gang
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Haru 0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0 Daigo
To see Daigo rise does, in fact, cause Athena to blink in surprise. How can he... how can he still get up? What magnitude of fighter /is/ he? No wonder the boys that followed him on this school invasion were so bolstered by his commands, his presence alone demanding nothing less than absoluete success. Panting for breath, perspiration rolling down her cheeks, the disheveled student lifts her hand to brush locks of hair out of her eyes and back over her right ear, fingers coming away from a touch of blood from beneath her hairline.
It's only then that she realizes she is not alone in her fight. Off to the side, a fellow student is doing his best with the gang members. No wonder she hasn't been hassled or surrounded by them for the last minute or so. To have an ally brings a faint smile to her lips in spite the circumstances. She owes him her thanks, a fellow comrade of Justice against this unjust act. Eyes flick back to Daigo directly just in time to see him leap. A gasp escapes the agile girl's lips, not expected a man of his stature to be able to get airborn, let alone with the speed and range he demonstrates!
Again she tries to escape, backing up a step, arms raised... If she thought she could weather this storm, she was sorely mistaken! Concrete explodes into fragments and a plume of fine powder. It almost conceals the flames that explode up around the girl, young Asamiya sent flying into a spinning trajectory until her upper back crashes against the base of the raised arena. She realizes then that her delusions of dropping the man decisively with her last attack were no where near accurate. He's made of even sterner stuff than she had remotely realized with their initial exchanges of attacks.
Slowly, Athena slides down against the arena's base into a seated position. Cuts and scratches from flying debris, no small amount of fire, and tumbles against the ground are starting to mount up. Violet eyes are still open, however, still burning with resolve to keep on fighting. Gritting her teeth, the girl pushes herself to her feet. "With your power," she murmurs, "You could change the world for the better... but this warpath you are on is not the way!"
The wall behind her provides the support she needs to push off and charge Daigo. It seems she intends to face him in direct melee combat again. Or, well, something of the sort. Once again she takes to the air, once again she tucks herself forward into a steep, precarious rolling dive into the large man, once again she is fully enshrouded in that rose hued energy of hers. Unlike last time, there is no feint, no preliminary crashing assault. Simply one last dive of the Phoenix as Athena tries to bowl Daigo over at last! Should she find an opening in his guard, upon landing, she will kick out with her feet toward his shins, attempting to sweep his legs clean out from under him!
Considering the explosions of energies, loud screams and violence that seems to be going on between Athena and Daigo, the other students are definately more than happy to let their boss deal with it for now and take care of the other nuissance that came in this way.
When the time will be right, they'll jump back to help out their boss once he has weakened Athena, but they know they were out of their league against her. "It's not just random smashing," The man with the baseball bat says with a growl, "This is to send you guys a message," After all, while this group were fighting, other students were still on the loose continuing to perform their acts of vandalism, "Like the boss said, you've been treating us like shit for too long, and this is what you get!"
One of the student who approached Haru attempts to lunge at him and catch him from behind, to restrain him and hold his arms to keep him wide open while a second student rushes at him and swings his fist for his midsection, attempting to give him a few punches while he's being held in place.
"You guys keep on treating us like criminals and low-lives, huh!? Well that's what we'll become if that's what you want us to be!" He says. His words felt like they were someone's else speech, though something all the students here seemed to feel strongly about and that drove them to continue this.
COMBATSYS: Athena successfully hits Daigo with Phoenix Arrow.
[ \\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Athena 0/-------/-======|===----\-------\0 Gorin High Gang
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Haru 0/-------/-------|=====--\-------\0 Daigo
The tall man is panting, his chest heaving from the exhaustion this fight is causing him. His injuries and the pain were taking their toll on his pace in this battle, but he fought with desperation and resolve. His mighty fists clenches tighter in the small crater he caused in the concrete with his brute force and a display of his own kind of energy. Daigo slowly rises back to his full height, keeping his only eye on Athena.
"With my power," He murmurs back, "I /HAVE/ to change the world for the better," He replies. Both of his hands clench into fists as he resumes his combat stance, "Your sheltered life clouds your eyes from the truth, you have no idea how it is in the streets, I dare you to come out and see it for yourself, maybe then will you be able to see the injustice and feel the same powerlessness to change anything through virtuous means,"
Despite his stance, Daigo's fatigue seems to have reduced his reflexes and alertness. His eyes follow her and he tries to move his arms to block her but fails to do so in time, allowing her to break though his guard and lands into his pectoral muscles and face, causing him to stagger back from the pressure of her weight with the force of her blow.
His momentary loss of balance allows her to easily sweep him off his leg with a kick, causing the large man to let a cry of surprise out of his throat as he falls from his full height on the concrete with a loud thud.
Surprisingly, the man doesn't seem to be over with. He quickly brings back from the ground, leaping at Athena in an Athena to bodyslam her, much like a football player would tackle an opponent, attempting to use his bulk and massive strength to slam her down to the ground.
COMBATSYS: Haru counters Hold and Punch from Gorin High Gang with Moonstone Tenacity.
[ \\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Athena 0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0 Gorin High Gang
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Haru 0/-------/------=|=====--\-------\0 Daigo
They want to get in close and personal. Haru Sakuraba... really does not like up close and personal. Which the disguised goons are gonna find out in a really quite painful way.
Suddenly there's two guys in his grill, one of whom is going in for a grabbing technique, and now they're shouting about being looked down on which doesn't make any sense to him because he wasn't aware relationships between Justice and Gorin had gone sour. But then, someone's attacking a classmate he barely knows with what feels like an immense power, and then there's Asamiya-san herself who appears to be just sort of letting lose in her desperate battle and there is SOMETHING that is GNAWING at Haru in the back of his mind like snatches of a song that you just can't identify and--
Long story short, this is not a recipe for stability.
"Would you..." Haru starts, and his eyes flash a brief, opalescent white, before he extends his hands and shouts, with a surprisingly dramatic echo-y reverb effect, "...BACK OFF FOR A SECOND?!"
Instantly, a spherical barrier of psychic power erupts into place around him, catching both of the approaching gang members fast, held there by the power, which then erupts outwards in an explosion of... well, it looks like flower petals (specifically lotus petals) but considering this is merely a visual manifestation of Haru's will, the visual is probably irrelevant. The pain those who were attacking him might feel is probably real enough.
When the light fades, Haru is taking in deep breaths through his mouth, looking down at his hands instead of at the Athena/Daigo situation or even the two other goons who might be up in his business shortly. "What... is even going on right now...?"
COMBATSYS: Daigo successfully hits Athena with Aggressive Strike.
[ < > /////////////// ]
Athena 1/----===/=======|======-\-------\0 Gorin High Gang
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Haru 0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0 Daigo
Sliding to a stop after her well practiced Phoenix Arrow, Athena leans forward again, knee and hand against the now fractured concrete from his incredible strike. Another soft release of breath is heard That she's barely staying mobile after everything she's endured from the powerful Gedo boss is plainly evident in the amount of effort every motion requires. She wishes she could just stay like this, or even better, fall forward, exhausted and hurting as she is. But the circumstances require better of her.
Grunting, she pushes up and slowly turns, too weary to lift her arms, too stubborn to give up. Besides, when you've been told you're to be used to be made an example of, and not having any idea the kind of young man she is dealing with, it's no wonder that she refuses to relent an inch now. Panting for breath, she glares back at Daigo with defiance. "I will," she spits back at him between gasps for air. "I will see for myself." Her torso heaves with each inhale as she slowly wills her hands to lift. She's not finished yet. There is still one fighting on her side, bravely facing off against numbers so that she doesn't have to.
"And where there is effort to bridge the divide between our lives, I will be there." Her arms are pulled back now, energy building along her limbs as she prepares to pull one last attack from that fount of power she commands.
"And where there is effort to widen the gulf even further through violence and vandalism, I will also be there to put a stop to it."
He lunges, taking to the air again. Already committed to attacking herself, there's no chance to change her mind. He collides with his smaller opponent bodily before she can launch her own attack. For her own part, she's crashed backward, smashing against one of the few unbroken sculptures not yet damaged by the vandals. Falling forward to her scraped knees, realizing she's about to collapse at last, and knowing she still has her signature attack chambered, she swings her arms forward past each other, crashing the gathered energy against itself to launch the projectile against Daigo at nearly point blank range!
COMBATSYS: Athena can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Haru 0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0 Gorin High Gang
> /////// ]
|======-\-------\0 Daigo
COMBATSYS: Daigo interrupts Psycho Ball EX from Athena with Phoenix Fist.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Haru 0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0 Gorin High Gang
> ////// ]
|======-\-------\0 Daigo
When the students feel the field of energy covering them and halting their movements, they squirm a bit and one of them whimper, "Damn it, not that again...!" The blast of energy sends them both flying off away from Haru, hurling them off a good distance and causing them to roll on their back painfully so. What was with this school and psychic, it was scary... The third one, the one with the baseball bat seems to hesitate a moment before attacking Haru now that his two follows had been blasted a short distance off.
After his rough tackle, Daigo tries to use his colossal strength to his advantage and presses it against Athena, not giving a chance to escape his intimidating frame. When the two recovers from the tackle into the scultupres, she can see Daigo's back arched slightly, his massive fist already charged up behind his back. It was a matter of timing, whoever would be first to hit would overcome the other, that much was clear considering the state of both of them.
His fist flares up with energy, the burning flames of the phoenix as he hurls his fist for Athena's face, just at the same time as she presses her arms near him and sends the wave of energy. His fist connects first with her face, probably breaking her focus, though a part of the energy surges through Daigo's muscles. It hardly seems to falter him though, as if he was beyond pain. He fought for his ideals, his resolve and determination turning into an unstoppable juggernut.
He follows up with another fist to her midsection when he sees the opening, unleashing another burst of flame through all of this, another shout following his attack.
There might be nothing that will stop his onslaught, even if Athena has collapsed it feels like he's about to give her a third shot but something holds his fist : a moment of clarity, lucidity as he sees her limp frame against him.
Another thing gets his attention. Not only his attention, but also the one of the other students who were fighting : a loud shout that comes from the fields as other students dash off, others who were around and had to perform other tasks Daigo set them on. "Let's get the hell out of here!" They shout, "We've done what we came for, go-go!" They shout to those who were fighting.
The shouts are enough to call off the students who were attacking Haru. Those on the ground rolls back to their feet and run away, dispersing. The student with the baseball bat glances over to Daigo and he shouts at him, "Big Boss.. Come on! Everything's done, we got to get the hell out of here now before others arrive," He seems torn between running off and trying to make him snap out of it. Though in the end, he opts for the cowardly option and runs away.
Daigo lowers his fist, his muscles finally relaxing as he stares at Athena's body : at what he had done, the bruises and everything. He didn't want this to end that way, but he had no choice. His features soften a bit and Daigo murmurs, "I really wish with all my heart what you say is true, Athena..." His voice was sincere, though it was filled with bout.
"Forgive me," He adds as he rises up to his feet. His body trembled with pain and fatigue and Daigo knew he still had more to ask out of it. No time to stay here any longer. He glances down at her, and then back at Haru, the only other student who was there and his eyes narrow into a glare for a moment.
Fortunately for him, Daigo had no time and was in no shape to finish what had been started. The tall behemoth turns on his heels and run away, like the rest of his gang.
That violent final exchange is the breaking point for the stalwart psychic. Arms flinging forward to unleash her attack leaves her with no hope of defending herself from the crushing fist against her face. Head knocked back, she's actually forced up to her feet just by the angle and kinetic power of Daigo's fist, unable to fall just yet. Still, her teeth grit, lip bleeding from the powerful blow, right arm drawing back as she calls forth still more of that painful, rose-hued energy, driven into a fine, precise point with which she intends to slash clean through the student (psychically, not physically!).
It's the second punch that decides it though, the frailer fighter bent forward over his hand, her own arms going limp, the power she was building for her last attack fizzling before she can connect. She would have been helpless to stop another strike after that, leaving only Daigo's own self control responsible for her not suffering further harm from his powerful strikes. Left to her own volition, she finally rolls off his hand to the ground, sprawled where she falls, oblivious to the scattering of the incursion.
Still on the adrenaline high of fighting back for his life, more or less, Haru is giving the unintentional who-wants-some eye to the remaining gang members when they sound a sudden an unexpected retreat. Blinking in surprise, his grey-eyed gaze flits from person to person among the four he was just fighting, until one of them actually addresses a comment to 'Big Boss'. Following that person's line of sight, Haru realizes he's addressing this to Daigo, and for the first time since this all started, Haru has a chance to actually look at and evaluate this person.
He is a mountain of a man, imposing, all the more so for the clear beating he endured while battling Athena, yet unlike the Psycho Soldier, Daigo is still standing, bloodied but unbowed. More than that, though, is the man's aura: a controlled burn, like a flow of lava dammed up by steel, ready to consume all in its path were it not for the iron resolve keeping it in check. And perhaps more to the point, Daigo doesn't have the aura of an 'evil' man.
It's maybe that last fact alone that makes Haru simply stand and watch as Daigo and company make their way off the athletic field. He meets Daigo's gaze, if it comes his way, unwaveringly... but that doesn't mean that confusion and some amount of fear aren't behind the stormcloud color of Haru's eyes.
It's not until they are basically gone that Haru seems to process that Daigo's LEAVING because he just beat down one of Justice's own students. Yelping "Asamiya-san!" out loud, he turns and inelegantly scrambles across the field toward where Athena lies on the ground, dropping to his knees next to the unconscious psychic and bringing his hands up to his head. "Asamiya-san... are you alright? Can you hear me?"
Meanwhile, behind the frightened face, an internal battle is taking place. Given how she's hurt, Haru COULD do something about it. But in the process, he'd have to face down one of his own fears, too. To an outside observer, the dark-haired young man hovering his gloved hands in the air, seeming to perhaps touch her, perhaps not, probably looks something between 'comical' and 'about to do something creepy.' Thankfully, he eventually seems to reach a decision, biting his lip and pulling a glove off before pressing that hand, palm down, on her upper arm.
On cue, his hand glows with the same opalescent light from before, but directed to heal rather than harm, this time.
Unconscious but breathing, the fallen fighter is unaware of the silent struggle being waged in the chambers of Haru's soul. On her back, she shows no signs of coming to immediately without some kind of assistance. Her upper arm is bare for Haru to touch when the young man comes to a decision, the long black sleeve having been burned away by the wrath of Daigo's flame earlier in the exchanges that took place.
It's Haru's own gift that he resolved to share, against his reservations and fears, that brings her to quicker than could have been hoped for otherwise. With much of her injuries throbbing beneath the surface, a lot of thie impact he has goes unseen, but for the bruising that fades from around her mouth. A fluttering of her eyes has her finding herself gazing up into the face of the student for a moment before the aches and exhaustions of the fight surge back into her awareness with a soft gasp as she rolls onto her side away from him for a moment, eager to compose herself as quickly as possible, mind still reeling at trying to figure out everything that just happened.
A hand pressed against the ground finally has her backing up to lean against the statue against which she was trapped at the end of the violent alteracation with the Gedo High boos. It takes a moment to realize that some of the ache that SHOULD be felt isn't at all, however, right hand lifting to rest gingerly at her lip, a curious look to her eyes as she tries to sort that unexpected discovery amid so many other thoughts.
"T-thank you," she stammers, glancing around at the damaged courtyard with a faintly mystified look before looking at Haru again, "Did... did you run them off? We'll have to tell what happened..." There were still a lot of voices heard when she had fallen and given the nature of the final exchange between her and Kazama, she doesn't really even know how things fell there. Her hand lifts higher to rest against her forehead. Now that she can actually focus on her fellow student, the look she gives him seems to go beyond mere curiosity to the point that she actually sits up a little straighter.
"Who /are/ you?" she finally asks, the inflection of her voice making it sound like she's inquiring after more than just his name. But then she bows her head, grimacing as a headache beyond any throbbing bruise sets in. "A-ah." Shoulders slouch a little as she closes her eyes again, "Forgive me, I- Just need..." she leans back against the statue again, the back of her head braced by the figure's leg, "To rest a little."
It seems unlikely she'll be in any condition to talk further for a while.
Log created on 12:45:33 11/29/2014 by Daigo, and last modified on 21:44:00 11/30/2014.