2699/Sticks

Sticks
Date of Scene:	19 July 2025
Location:	Sugata's House
Synopsis:	The Star Driver boys fight with sticks and Chiyo despairs and leaves because they are Not Subtle about Being Boyfriends, and then Takuto and Sugata talk about Chiyo.
Cast of Characters:	Takuto Tsunashi, Chiyo Sakai, Sugata Shindo

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Takuto Tsunashi has posed:
After a fight with a Grimm with a bunch of other mahoujin, and taiyaki afterwards, and also some great photos with some kids and the taiyaki vendor, and Sugata rebuking Reshbal and Sugata and Tauburn having to live with Takuto's reaction to that...

...Takuto had said he wanted to fight with his boyfriend right then, but it was a good opportunity to fight with Chiyo too. "Because," Takuto had said as they were coming in, "that basically wasn't a fight, it was stepping on a bug and then eating pastry fish."

Now, they're in Sugata's dojo, and I don't think it's air conditioned??? and Takuto's in his hakama and is standing with his bokken, looking momentarily impatient-- shifting his weight-- waiting to see if it was going to be Chiyo or Sugata fighting him first. "Ohhh, I dunno, Chiyo-chan might have a chance against me after you've worn me out, Sugata-kun."

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
"I am *not* going to stand here and watch you two make lovey eyes at one another while you fight," Chiyo responds with a laugh at the very thought of it. Of course she'd seen it before, those two were horrible about that once they got going. But at the same time she didn't want to deal with Takuto *after* he'd gotten all worked up over Sugata. That felt wrong.

It was hot, of course, it was all 'traditional' here. Though likely there was an overhang of shade trees just outside to make it cooler? Sugata's family was rich, they could afford decorational shade trees darnit.

Dressed in a hakama herself she still couldn't help but feel a bit out of sorts in the outfit. It wasn't what she typically fought in. It felt odd because it was vaguely reminiscent of the half-kimono she wore when Guardian Daifuku--Which meant it felt out of place on her now.

"I'd still really appreciate it if I could wear something else," she admits with a sigh though she does cross over to the array of training swords to reach for one with a glance cast back toward Takuto. "If you two *really* want to go at it first, I'm going to head over to the springs."

Sugata Shindo has posed:
Sugata's dojo is not air conditioned, chiefly because he's a traditionalist and sadist who believes in suffering, but also because he has a hot spring outside and if it gets too bad, they can always dunk themselves in it - or the cold water pool. He too is in his hakama, bokken in hand, but he barks a laugh when Chiyo accuses them of making lovey eyes and doesn't dispute it.

"You should fight her first. Take it seriously, even, and give her another taste of what it means to fight you."

Not that Chiyo ever took Takuto for a joke, but - though it had been a day, Sugata was still irked by Koji Silva saying that he was the best part of Takuto, and the part of him that wanted everyone and everything to know that his partners were the best, that he was blessed to have them, that Takuto was incredible, is in full swing.

"Then she can watch us and see what masterworks are like. Maybe it will be an inspiration for you - and a reminder to Reshbal of why he should be mindful of what he says."

No, he has not let that go.

He casts a glance at Chiyo, considering. "Do the clothes make you feel out of sorts? I'd say you should wear something similar to your henshin, if not that 0 a large coat, to practice moving in it."

Takuto Tsunashi has posed:
Takuto makes a face at the idea of kendo in the dojo in anything but his gear, then exhales in a little puff of breath and visibly lets it go.

"What do you say?" he asks Chiyo with a laugh. "Would you like to be attacked like I would attack a fast bear?" Because of course Takuto would fight a bear. Especially a very fast one. "She's just out of drills, Sugata-kun, I'm not going to beat her up. You do it, you're the one with a healer in your back pocket."

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
The urge to stick her tongue out toward the pair when Sugata mentions 'watching masterworks' is there, but Chiyo wisely decides to resist the urge. With all that had happened, with what Koji had said, he was likely wanting to vent a little about that still. It was rather cruel and mean of Koji--And quite frankly had surprised Chiyo no little bit.

Before she can say anything else, Sugata hits on her discomfort. With shinai in hand she pauses to glance down at herself. Her free hand breifly flits over the hakama cinched at her waist as she quietly remarks: "It reminds me of what I lost. My old henshin wasn't that different." Just shorter. But the kimino top, the apron that was fastened around her much like the hakama's positioning, it felt so similar.

That little introspection is quickly cast aside as her head rises, plum curls tossed over her shoulder from the quick motion. It wasn't going to do her any good at the moment dwelling on that with Takuto raring for a match. His question earns a little laugh as she shrugs, and moves back into a prepared stance.

In her best mock-American-movie accent she quips, "Come at me, bro."

Sugata Shindo has posed:
"Of course you're not going to beat her up," is the immediate response, and Sugata looks briefly surprised before understanding - "There's a difference between beating her up, and giving an example of the difference in skill. It's not a mark against you, Chiyo."

Yes, he's belatedly realized why Takuto is mulish, aside from the fact that fighting Chiyo out of henshin isn't nearly as exciting as it in henshin.

"Sparring is a way to know each other better, and seeing as every fight we've found together lately has been less than worthwhile... sparring is another option. And frankly, I find losing to Takuto exhilarating."

Not that he always loses - they're evenly matched, a lot of the time, though if it came down to it, in a proper fight?

A smile, more of a smirk, crosses his lips at the thought.

"I'll be your opponent, then, and if you like, you can head to the hot springs after." He is very aware of the major appeal of his home. "And besides - I'm fairly certain Chiba-san is closer to her than me."

Still, he steps up, takes his stance, and the fight is on - and over, fairly quickly, though Chiyo isn't demolished in an instant. It's just that Sugata isn't holding back, taking her as seriously as any other competitor.

When the match is over, he offers his hand to help her back to her feet.

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai does indeed spar, and does as best she can--But the sword was not her main weapon. She knew this. Once it's over she takes up the offer to head to the springs to enjoy a nice soak to ease her muscles. Besides, she was telling the truth about not wanting to watch them make happy boyfriend eyes at one another.

Takuto Tsunashi has posed:
"... sorry," Takuto says, still watching the door that Chiyo left out of, even after the outside door's audibly shut. He looks at Sugata and chuffs out air, shaking his head. "I just didn't think it would be any fun for her if I pulled RA-chan's move, either... I get your reasoning, but I can't help feeling like it may have been a mistake with Reshbal in her head probably still sulking. She was also in clothes that made her twitchy, and she did not have a good day with what Reshbal said. I'd rather fight her when she's comfortable, and teach her when she's on uncertain ground. Until she's comfortable with the rest of us. You're right, but... I think today may have been a mistake, to drag her into practice, after all that."

A beat, and he looks really sheepish, lifting one arm, bokken and all, up to rub at the back of his head. "I just didn't know all of why I didn't wanna until now. But I think you were right anyway, she looked okay, and if not Wako-chan will yell at us."

Sugata Shindo has posed:
"It's fine. You might be right, anyway - perhaps this wasn't the best day for this. Still... better to have an off day of training here than out there."

Sugata is frowning after Chiyo, considering practical training measures.

"I might have been spoiled in training with people like you, Benio, and Kazuo," he admits after a moment's thought - Chiyo isn't a bad fighter, by any means - they wouldn't have helped her become one of them if she was, but having spent so much of his life as a warrior among others as devoted to kendo as he is, it's strange to remember that other teenagers aren't like this. Some people want social lives and to seek out romance. Some people have other - needs, and endeavors, and can communicate without swords.

...sounds fake.

"Reshbal is going to be a problem, if he remains that way, but I don't want to undermine her connection with him by stepping in further," he admits, "I'd rather fight her in henshin too, but I didn't think she'd go for it."

Takuto Tsunashi has posed:
"Bet you she would," Takuto says, hefting his sword and balancing it on a finger, ready to be grabbed out of the air at the slightest flinch from Sugata. "I mean, she's fast with a hammer. I fought alongside her as Daifuku more before you got here though. She's nobody to mess with... so I bet you she would. She could also use more practice with Resh in the field. And I think maybe-- we should ask her to do regular kendo club to learn the principles and the basic fights with other people who are just learning kendo, and spar with her hammer versus swords?"

The way he says swords at the end is ostensibly looking away from Sugata, but his gaze has slid over sideways and his head's tilted back just at a specific angle in the light. The way he says swords is slowly, but he manages not to make it sound silly... until he starts giggling.

Sugata Shindo has posed:
"I'll take that bet," Sugata says, and oh, his sword is at the ready, had never been dropped but now - Takuto is so ready, and there's every urge to launch after him, trade blows and play in a way that satisfied. He holds it. "Fast with a hammer explains her movements today, but her old weapon was heavier than her Star Sword. You might have a point - I might not think that club is... useful, but that's at our level."

Chiyo's not at their level in Kendo. They should be focusing their training with her on the area that is at their level.

"Look at the student becoming the master." Oh now he's just being a smirking bastard. He shifts his stance, properly at the ready. and as Takuto starts to giggle he says, deadpan, "Why don't you stop giggling and show me what your sword can do?"

Before he launches into the first attack.

Takuto Tsunashi has posed:
Takuto doesn't feint, he's simply not there, he's already countering what Sugata counters with when he pulls Benio's move on Sugata, but he's doing it leading from the left instead of the right, changing the dance; so it goes, it's like chess between the two of them at this point, chess with figure skating moves thrown in for spice.

And then he breaks the game by breathing 'hi~' next to Sugata's ear while rushing past him and seeing what happens--

Sugata Shindo has posed:
He's simply not there, and then he's countering, and then Benio's move, from the wrong direction - no, from a different direction, changing the dance, disrupting the pattern, until they're both fully invested in the by play, in the dance, until -

Yes, he does stumble over his feet at that breathy 'hi~', and he whips around in a strike that Takuto will certainly be able to block and shoots back with a firm, "Stop that."

He does not think he will stop.

Takuto Tsunashi has posed:
Takuto grins, he GRINS, blocking the hit with one wooden sword and pulling a flashy twisting move to swipe his other down low, make Sugata jump too, maybe, because whether or not he hits he's moving again, he's moving again and this time he murmurs, "Make me." And his voice is a low, laughing challenge, too close, too warm.