lalailucky

[lalailucky]

The strangly blank smile Grizz had indicated he'd been spacing out until Fujko spoke once more. Focusing once more.

"Two years and a half roughly. Thinking about it, he's hardly changed at all. Same style, hair color, height... hm, you should live a little y'know? I think you'd look good with red hair."

"I think fighting in a ring with other people is living plenty. I think I'll keep it dyed orange though, I've had this for too long to change it now."

"My father ran a boxing gym in which he helped train athletes, it was how I learned so much about the technical aspect of boxing. I was taught a lot about the sport by my father, much of which I'm trying to teach Russle now."

"Actually, how'd you get into the fashion scene?"

Surely, if he were to guess, Fujiko could be found at the beach.

And right he was! Sitting under an umbrella was the fashionista herself. While usually she would have taken to the sea, riding the waves to the best of her ability, she have taken the day to watch the area around her, trying to find inspiration for her next fashion project.

Will he approach her?

@lalailucky

[lalailucky]

“Mm, I’m Oki. Sorry, I’m just used to my friend doing most of the talking. Between the two of us, one of us needs to do the listening.”

It was a personality thing, and a coach thing. It was easier to find the weakness you’re looking for when you weren’t blabbing about your own. It was also one of the first things Russle was taught. That aside, she did feel like the smallest here. In terms of presence anyways. A fashionista, a heavyweight boxer, and a boy who seemed to have more presence due to his own confidence alone.

Surely, if he were to guess, Fujiko could be found at the beach.

And right he was! Sitting under an umbrella was the fashionista herself. While usually she would have taken to the sea, riding the waves to the best of her ability, she have taken the day to watch the area around her, trying to find inspiration for her next fashion project.

Will he approach her?

@lalailucky

[lalailucky]

"Why don't you join one of their combat clubs? If you do boxing then maybe we'll see each other in the ring sometime."

"Weren't you just talking about a weight class difference?"

Something he was interested in? That was a tricky question. It wasn't because he didn't find anything interesting, but because the one thing he was interested in cast quite the big net.

"I'm not really interested in any specific things, though if it can get my blood rushing and adrenaline kicking it's worth the attention. I'm not usually picky about what it is, so long as I still have free reign over how I wanna do things. Suppose I'm not much of a team player in that regard."

"Neither is Russle, he'll trip over his own teammates before he trips over his own feet. It's a good thing his sport doesn't require any sort of cooperation in the ring."

Although he wanted to object, he has quite literally tripped over his own teammates on multiple occasions. Basketball, soccer, volleyball. He was prone to forgetting his own teams positioning in favor of the ball he was tunnel visioned on. Despite his physical attributes, he wasn't a popular pick as a teammate.

Surely, if he were to guess, Fujiko could be found at the beach.

And right he was! Sitting under an umbrella was the fashionista herself. While usually she would have taken to the sea, riding the waves to the best of her ability, she have taken the day to watch the area around her, trying to find inspiration for her next fashion project.

Will he approach her?

@lalailucky

[lalailucky]

Just met today? Neither of the coach nor boxer seemed very convinced. Especially how easily Fujiko pinched her friend's cheek, and how said friend's cheek seemed to grow a little warmer after the touch.

With crossed arms, Grizz's averted eyes seemed closer to thought than fluster.

"I should at least see the school first, regardless of what I personally think. Even if Hope's Peak falls through, I can always stick around Japan just cause. It'd be something new!"

"Should probably find a club if I do though, be good to have something to do other than classes."

"Just not that one with the flower boy."

Surely, if he were to guess, Fujiko could be found at the beach.

And right he was! Sitting under an umbrella was the fashionista herself. While usually she would have taken to the sea, riding the waves to the best of her ability, she have taken the day to watch the area around her, trying to find inspiration for her next fashion project.

Will he approach her?

@lalailucky

[lalailucky]

The swift and sudden break from touch came as a surprise to the student, who was distracted by the coach until then. Funny though, the blue one noticed his expression go from focused, to disappointed. Just for a brief moment until he pleasantly smiled again.

"Yuuup, don't see why not. We had a fun game of volleyball and even got something sweet together. It was a good time all around."

"I'd be down to stick around at Hope's Peak even if it was just her."

Surely, if he were to guess, Fujiko could be found at the beach.

And right he was! Sitting under an umbrella was the fashionista herself. While usually she would have taken to the sea, riding the waves to the best of her ability, she have taken the day to watch the area around her, trying to find inspiration for her next fashion project.

Will he approach her?

@lalailucky

[lalailucky]

By now he was absent-mindedly following Fujiko, so after entering the train he found something to hold. A fan of the idea of not getting toppled over by an of the trains abrupt starts or ends.

Grizz wouldn't get to enjoy his validation for very long, as there was a gruff chuckle behind and above. Russle was amused, joke or not he thought it was obvious the boy couldn't even lift a weight.

"I don't think you even qualify to enter as a lightweight, little guy. In a ring you'd find yourself hard-pressed to even damage a heavyweight."

"There are other people you can try against. Hope's Peak is more recognized for its heavyweight boxing competitors, but there's always Taekwondo or Judo. Maybe even..."

Once again they seemed to branch off, with it being more of the coach's wandering thoughts leaving to a whole different conversation of possible fighting styles. As she spoke, Russle followed Grizz's hand. Noticing it was connected to Fujiko's. Not being one to beat around the bush, he asked the fashionista with clear implications...

"...You two close?"

Surely, if he were to guess, Fujiko could be found at the beach.

And right he was! Sitting under an umbrella was the fashionista herself. While usually she would have taken to the sea, riding the waves to the best of her ability, she have taken the day to watch the area around her, trying to find inspiration for her next fashion project.

Will he approach her?

@lalailucky

[lalailucky]

"Always good to know something!"

A glance was tossed back to the two, with Russle and the coach. Russle didn't seem like any sort of threat, rather he seemed like a big guy following a small girl. A duo he was too familiar with to not already be comfortable around.

"Suppose so, I'm certainly going to be keeping an eye out for them to see how they fare against an ultimate. I'm curious what their strategy is."

"You think I could try to beat em?"

With a smug smile, he pulled up one of his short sleeves to flex. As the smile devolved into giggles, it became apparent that his muscles looked slightly above average at best. He might've not been serious, but he still sounded confident enough for it to almost sound like a believable possibility.

Surely, if he were to guess, Fujiko could be found at the beach.

And right he was! Sitting under an umbrella was the fashionista herself. While usually she would have taken to the sea, riding the waves to the best of her ability, she have taken the day to watch the area around her, trying to find inspiration for her next fashion project.

Will he approach her?

@lalailucky

[lalailucky]

"A fashion model..."

Well, he didn't really see it. Aside from the splotch of blond hair, she didn't seem to stand out much. His Oki looked much more traditionally attractive...

"Hey-!"

From the corner of his eye, he spotted Grizz looking over the coach's shoulder while she held out an open notebook. That was their strategy book! And it was being shared so openly!

So using his mighty reach, it was plucked out of reach and closed. Ensuring the secrets to be kept safe.

"You can't just go around showing people our strategies!"

"You can't just go taking my things and deciding what I share! I'm your coach!"

The two began to bicker about the notebook, all the while Grizz slipper back to his friends side. There wasn't much to look at, not much he didn't already understand.

"Do you know any sort of self defense?"

Surely, if he were to guess, Fujiko could be found at the beach.

And right he was! Sitting under an umbrella was the fashionista herself. While usually she would have taken to the sea, riding the waves to the best of her ability, she have taken the day to watch the area around her, trying to find inspiration for her next fashion project.

Will he approach her?

@lalailucky

[lalailucky]

Both shifted their attention to him. While the coach maintained a polite smile, they still seemed a little confused. Russell however, had a frown to pair with his raised eyebrow.

"Why?"

It was so obvious he should attend, guaranteed success and all. Like, if either of them received an offer they'd take it in a heartbeat.

"Just a little too far from home is all, I'm used to being around family. Blood or otherwise."

"Well, we're not from here either. We're visiting from to Korea to participate. We're only visiting for a few weeks, until we can find a title match against the Ultimate Boxer. We aren't far from him now, I can feel it!"

The girl seemed more enthused than Russell, who seemed a little intimated by the challenge yet to come. After all, who wouldn't be. Having to fight a boxer whose strength was recognized by Hope's Peak itself.

"You're a student there? For what talent?"

Surely, if he were to guess, Fujiko could be found at the beach.

And right he was! Sitting under an umbrella was the fashionista herself. While usually she would have taken to the sea, riding the waves to the best of her ability, she have taken the day to watch the area around her, trying to find inspiration for her next fashion project.

Will he approach her?

@lalailucky

[lalailucky]

The name of the school caught their interest, but rather than give a response, the giant first consulted his friend.

"You think-?"

"No, even if he was an ultimate you're too far above his weight class."

"Mmm, you're right."

His big hand shot forward, opening up to be shook for a proper introduction. The suddenness of it did have Grizz hold Fujiko a little tighter, even if it was for a brief moment.

"I'm Russle and this is my coach, we're on our way to Hope's Peak Academy for a match against the school's ultimate boxer."

Surely, if he were to guess, Fujiko could be found at the beach.

And right he was! Sitting under an umbrella was the fashionista herself. While usually she would have taken to the sea, riding the waves to the best of her ability, she have taken the day to watch the area around her, trying to find inspiration for her next fashion project.

Will he approach her?

@lalailucky

[lalailucky]

"I was thinking the same thing."

The smaller girl was the first to notice them, tapping her bigger friend on the shoulder to catch his attention. Upon feeling her touch, be turned around to face both Grizz and Fujiko.

The orange haired boy basically towered over the other three, sharp eyes gazing down at them past his glasses. As the girl slipped behind him, he finally spoke.

"Yeah?"

Put bluntly, he sounded a bit annoyed to be bothered. Especially mid conversation with his friend. Ever the brave soul, Grizz nudged his friend to the hulking giant.

"My friend had a question for you."

Surely, if he were to guess, Fujiko could be found at the beach.

And right he was! Sitting under an umbrella was the fashionista herself. While usually she would have taken to the sea, riding the waves to the best of her ability, she have taken the day to watch the area around her, trying to find inspiration for her next fashion project.

Will he approach her?

@lalailucky

[lalailucky]

"Bet. We probably only have time to talk with one before the train arrives, so I'll let you pick. Bonus points if they're actually a Hope's Peak student."

Surely, if he were to guess, Fujiko could be found at the beach.

And right he was! Sitting under an umbrella was the fashionista herself. While usually she would have taken to the sea, riding the waves to the best of her ability, she have taken the day to watch the area around her, trying to find inspiration for her next fashion project.

Will he approach her?

@lalailucky

[lalailucky]

"That guy looks pretty weird."

Grizz nodded to a duo. One dark skinned and big, his tough body guided by a face that had yet to grow any facial hair. Orange hair rose ouward like a fire, and boxing gloves hung off his backpack. The girl beside him was smaller, more frail. Baby blue hair and pale skin, a small set of gloves hanging from her bag. The big one spoke with presence and size, while the little one was more soft-spoken. Neither trampled each other's sentences however, instead bouncing off one another.

"...or that one."

A short little guy in a rather clean fitted suit carrying a briefcase. Jet black hair was tied behind him, and those sharp red eyes wandered aimlessly as he constantly muttered to himself. In his free hand, he held a cup of coffee. Not in a cup that you would expect somebody to receive from a coffee shop, but rather a white ceramic cup.

Surely, if he were to guess, Fujiko could be found at the beach.

And right he was! Sitting under an umbrella was the fashionista herself. While usually she would have taken to the sea, riding the waves to the best of her ability, she have taken the day to watch the area around her, trying to find inspiration for her next fashion project.

Will he approach her?

@lalailucky

[lalailucky]

"Ehehehe, damn that was something."

The chaotic swarm was overwhelming, but it was also just as stimulating. Whenever Fujiko looked back, those sparkling eyes were either distracted between people and setting, or his smile grew wider when her eyes met his. Really, he almost seemed oblivious to the chaos around him.

"Mm, I always feel more at home among a crowd. Which is a very welcome feeling given that I'm pretty far from home. By pure guess alone, how many of the people here do you think are Hope's Peak students?"

Although her grip loosened, it hadn't dropped from his end. It remained lazily connected, there to remain or break as Fujiko saw fit.

Surely, if he were to guess, Fujiko could be found at the beach.

And right he was! Sitting under an umbrella was the fashionista herself. While usually she would have taken to the sea, riding the waves to the best of her ability, she have taken the day to watch the area around her, trying to find inspiration for her next fashion project.

Will he approach her?

@lalailucky

[lalailucky]

"I don't mind~"

The slow and smooth tone sounded like he was flirting, with only the innocent smile on his face putting those intentions into question. Not that Fujiko could see his face anyways. Otherwise she would've seen that slightly smug smile grow evermore.

So he held onto her, pulling her a little tighter even if it seemed he didn't have any issues weaving through the crowd with her.

"I'll always be right behind."

Surely, if he were to guess, Fujiko could be found at the beach.

And right he was! Sitting under an umbrella was the fashionista herself. While usually she would have taken to the sea, riding the waves to the best of her ability, she have taken the day to watch the area around her, trying to find inspiration for her next fashion project.

Will he approach her?

@lalailucky

[lalailucky]

"Holy shit."

Oh yeah, there was that red-haired playboy... well, more like a dejected loser at this point. Whatever, in any case he remembered most of the fiasco.

The closer they got to the metro, the closer he stuck around her. Usually lagging a step or two behind, almost leaning behind her. He might be used to the metro, but this wasn't his metro. And he didn't want to get lost or lose his friend.

"Old habits die hard, but being targeted by the student body and physically assaulted sounds like they'd be an excessive way to override those habits."

"Although this sounds like an awful case of mob mentality as well. I'd imagined some of the students enjoyed having an acceptable reason to abuse another person. I'm curious why the faculty didn't step in."

"There's Justice, and then there's having a Witch Hunt. It's a scary thought Japan's hope doesn't know the difference."

"In any case, dude still got the consequences of his actions. I doubt he'll try to pull anything similar after the absolute beatdown he got from basically the whole school."

Surely, if he were to guess, Fujiko could be found at the beach.

And right he was! Sitting under an umbrella was the fashionista herself. While usually she would have taken to the sea, riding the waves to the best of her ability, she have taken the day to watch the area around her, trying to find inspiration for her next fashion project.

Will he approach her?

@lalailucky

[lalailucky]

Within those five minutes, Grizz had taken out his phone to Google what a "Hanakotoba" was. The definition certainly helped, but most importantly put a name to something he recognized.

As soon as Fujiko popped out, the phone was swiftly slipped away back into his pocket.

"Perfect."

Surely, if he were to guess, Fujiko could be found at the beach.

And right he was! Sitting under an umbrella was the fashionista herself. While usually she would have taken to the sea, riding the waves to the best of her ability, she have taken the day to watch the area around her, trying to find inspiration for her next fashion project.

Will he approach her?

@lalailucky