3rd Punch [Video]

[emperor_with_no_groove]

[Well… that method definitely wasn’t Akihiko’s preferred way to break the news gently to the rest of the camp. Now, to deal with the aftermath…]

Don’t worry, everyone. We’re not gonna throw in the towel without a fight. We’ve got this.

[He falls quiet for a minute, contemplating, and then tries his best to display a reassuring smile to the network.]

Hey, what do you guys like to do for fun? There’s a bunch of clubs in my school, and those are great for teambuilding and meeting new people.

So, I was thinking… Why don’t we start up some clubs right here? Like swimming, archery, boxing, or anything else you’re into! There can even be a book club, if sports aren’t your thing. Maintaining mental strength is important too.

[Though he can’t help quipping next with some personal bias.]

Of course, we can’t let up with our training, especially now, so make sure you guys find a good balance between the two, okay?

Comments

Video

[anythingwithstrings]

Given my first, second, and third choices aren't really possible... I kinda like soccer. It's not something I'm really good at, but I have fun playing.

...How's your leg? *It would be kinda rude not to ask about the wound she kinda inflicted.*

Video

[emperor_with_no_groove]

Soccer's a good one! It's like running, but with more coordination. Do you have a favorite position?

[Akihiko looks at her for a long moment.. and then laughs good-naturedly.] So you were the one shooting at me, huh? Not bad. Don't worry, it's healing. I'd like to use Diarama to speed it up, but... [He shakes his head, realizing she doesn't know what his Persona is.] Never mind.

Oh, um... Did I hit you with that bolt of lightning back there?

By the way, what's your name? I don't think we've introduced ourselves yet.

Video

[anythingwithstrings]

Not really, Katie's the one who plays Soccer. I just helped her practice.

*Maya doesn't play to win, she plays as a workout. And because it was something she could do with Katie. Given how Katie should not be allowed to sing, and most songs don't have a trumpet part.*

...Right, whatever that means. And no, you were short a few feet. Scary as hell but you didn't have your aim down. Guess I made the right call keeping my distance.

Maya, the little one in Cabin 7. Not to be confused with the old one in Cabin 6.

[video]

[notsogrimreaper]

...Are you okay, Akihiko-sempai? If I can help, let me know.

[He's worried. He's so upset and afraid and angry that he might lose his friends again, but he can't tell Akihiko that. He tries to answer his upperclassman's question, like things are normal, and that he is more interested in the idea of clubs than the solstice deadline.]

I still think a dating club would be better if we had more experienced campers around... but other clubs could be a lot of fun!

[No, he didn't realize that 'experienced' sounded slightly wrong.]

I haven't done much training though, if I'm honest...

[Uh oh. There's Ryoji's 'brilliant idea' look.]

Hey, I know! You owe me a favour, so you could be my personal trainer!

[video]

[emperor_with_no_groove]

[A shadow passes over Akihiko's face right then. It's been a rough week for him, after learning about Minako's death, followed by the recent revelation. Like with everything else, he has to grin and bear it, while burying all of his suffering deep down inside.]

I'll be fine, Ryoji. [Have a small smile.] Thanks. Hell, to tell you the truth, I'm more worried about everyone else.

[Experienced? His eyes widen a little.] Uh... Well... If you don't mind older women, they... might be more experienced...? [This subject is seriously not his forte.]

Really? [Instead of being horrified by the idea, look at how Akihiko's face just lit up some.] Hey, that's fine with me! Are you sure you're not the one doing me a favor? [He laughs heartily.]

But man, you shouldn't have admitted to not doing much training. [Akihiko grins with slightly devilish intent.] I'll have to put you through the wringer.

[video]

[notsogrimreaper]

[Ryoji notices that dark emotion flit across Akihiko's face, and thanks to it, he isn't convinced by the smile. If Akihiko doesn't want to talk about it, he won't pressure him. All he can do is offer support, let him know it's there if he needs it.]

I understand. I'm the same. If there was any way I could stop this, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

Huh? Well, I guess older women have usually had more dates, huh? [Oh. So he was talking about that kind of experience. Totally innocent. Mostly.

And oh, that 'brilliant idea' was going to turn out to be horrible for Ryoji, wouldn't it? Whoops.]

W-Well, shouldn't you go easy on me if I'm out of practice? I mean, I can't overexert myself!

[hououji]

A club is normally an extra-curricular activity, though, isn't it? Most of our days are spent practicing things like swimming, archery and hand-to-hand combat. That isn't to say I wouldn't enjoy one, only that I'm already doing what I used to do in my archery club in a more curricular sense, here. It might be better if instead of clubs based on sports or combat interests, we form clubs based on more casual pursuits, to help us relax after we get our hair singed off from the climbing wall. Video games, or music or painting. If we pool our money or get permission from Chiron-san, it might even be more likely to get funding for things we'd like. I know Maya-san [A beat. Her... sister?] was saying she'd like a cello or a guitar, and were we able to get funding from camp, we'd be able to at least get her something to play.

[emperor_with_no_groove]

[Whoa there! She's on a roll! Akihiko laughs in approval, and waits till she finishes to respond.] Hey, whatever you want, as long as you keep your enthusiasm going! That's exactly what we need to get everyone else up and moving! Do you wanna lead one of the clubs?

[His face lights up with interest.] You think so? Yeah, she told me that too. There's a couple of things I'd like to get from back home...

[But then a thought occurs to him, and his expression turns serious.] They might not bother with the people that are still pending... but we can definitely try to get some things for the others.

[hououji]

Lead a club? [Wait what when did she says that.] I'm not really much of a leader, to be honest. And I prefer to spend my free time studying. We don't attend school here, but I don't want to fall behind in my academics.

[Oh. Serious expression. Probably not a good thing] ... I don't think they'll really hurt you. I don't think they could. Many of us have friends who are--[How does she word that? ... She'll skip it, leaving the implication.] And I know I will never, ever let Umi-san be hurt. She's my dearest friend, and closer to me than a sister. If they hurt some of us now, the rest of us will never cooperate with them. It's too dangerous so early in the game. They still need us.

video;

[orangehoodie]

But if we put up a fight, the gods will get angry at us and we'll definitely get killed, won't we?

video;

[emperor_with_no_groove]

We can't be sure of anything right now, Ken. If we just lie back and accept our fates without any resistance, that could be considered a weakness. Then they'd have no need for us.

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[orangehoodie]

... So it's a lose-lose situation either way, then. But it's probably better if we don't do anything. Aren't the Greek gods pretty famous for not liking when people stand up against them?

video

[totheno1]

There are risks and costs to action. But they are far less than the long range risks of comfortable inaction.

...I practiced Fox Hunting while studying in England, although I suppose that may not quite fit a club's curriculum. [Wow rich guy hobbies much?] However, that skill may be useful for the horses and pegasi in the stables.

video

[emperor_with_no_groove]

[He nods.] I agree. We've gotta work together, Nanjo-san, so we can keep things in perspective.

Hunting, huh? Learning how to aim and shoot could definitely come in handy. Though, some people might not like the idea.

video

[totheno1]

[Well uh...]

Not quite that type of hunting, actually. It is a traditional English sport between various lords whereupon foxhounds are released and chase a single fox. There may be between thirty to a hundred hounds. We attempt to keep up on our horses.

It's mostly of a social experience. Commonly used to solidify alliances and increase your social status.

Yet it is also demanding physically. I do not know if you've ever experienced a few hours on horseback, especially on gallop, but I have seen my share of amateurs unable to last more than thirty minutes. [If you don't know how to do it, your butt will hurt. A lot.] You need to be on a horse you can trust as you'll be going through some very rough landscape, farmlands and fences to jump over.

[Video]

[brat_from_hell]

There's an interesting sport in my world, but I don't think anything like it exists here. I think I'd like to join a book club, though.

[Video]

[emperor_with_no_groove]

Really? [He's intrigued.] What kind of sport? Maybe you could introduce to other people, and see if they like it.

That's good! I don't think too many of us have kept up with our studies since we came here... You wanna start it?

[Video]

[brat_from_hell]

It's called Brass Rackets. It's kind of a fighting sport...there's a ball and rackets and a net, and there are teams of two. You have to try to knock down people on the other team with the ball. The rackets are magic and they tap into the force of your personality and your willpower.

voice;

[fandancing]

It seems a little redundant to form clubs based around those things when we're sort of forced to do them anyway as part of our training. Although it depends on who your parent is, doesn't it?

I wonder if it's considered offensive to enjoy something that's the opposite of what your god parent represents. Like enjoying swimming when your parent is a god of fire.

voice;

[emperor_with_no_groove]

Not really, when they're for different purposes. Fighting and exercise can have similar effects on your body, but your mental state won't necessarily be the same.

And there's that too. Why not try to learn something new that isn't covered by your training, right?

It shouldn't, unless your parent is easily offended. Parents don't usually dictate what their kids like and dislike, do they? I mean, aside from stuff that's bad for them.

voice;

[fandancing]

I suppose that's true. I've been interested in archery since I got here, though... but I haven't been brave enough to give it a try yet.

I think that would be the most useful thing we could do if we made clubs.

I'm not sure. Since I don't know much about Greek gods I was reading a bit more about them and... they seem pretty easy to offend.

video

[watch]

[ someone who's not in his cabin! well, he seems nice enough, even if jun's never been the "group activities" type of person. ]

Were you in a lot of clubs back home...?

[ he must've totally been like mr. popular or something!! ]

video

[emperor_with_no_groove]

[Hello, new person! Akihiko gives him a friendly smile in greeting.]

Me? Well, not really. I was on the boxing team, and that was my main focus. I'd go swimming sometimes too, but I didn't officially join the club. Though if I had more time, I might've joined the soccer team.

[Please go ahead and take his fangirls...]

What about you? What kinda activities do you enjoy?

[little_lost_lizard]

We could try alchemy, I suppose. I don't know how much this world's physics would let people achieve without Hermes's power, but I can try to teach what I know from home.

I suppose it would be ordinary chemistry, really. But that could still be useful... actually it might even be useful in combat. Not sure how much in the way of dangerous things they'd let us make in the camp without an actual battle right on the horizon, but we can probably get away with something if that climbing wall is any indication.

[She's babbling a little, but that's just distracting herself from how angry she is over this particular decision. And she isn't even directly affected.]

[emperor_with_no_groove]

Hey there, Ssil. How're you holding up?

[He's just smiling, looking like nothing is wrong.]

Yeah, you should! Who knows, maybe other people's abilities would work too? You won't know till you try!

[...She brings up a good point though. It gives him pause.]

Well... If that's a concern, then try not to make it too dangerous. Still, we're just practicing. They want us to be prepared for that possibility, considering Chiron's training and all.