[ Rin had gone to the room initially to take stock, make sure he had everything in order for the coming day he'd need them. The addition of the switchblade Keisuke had returned to him is a lucky break considering his other options are a damaged bat and shards of glass, though he's still holding out for the knives he's more accustomed to, but the rest of his own belongings are hardly anything impressive. Bandages made from the parts of his uniform he doesn't use can only do so much if a ghost can cause irreparable harm in an instant. Eventually, though, he'd needed to let out some steam, and a silent, non-living target is favourable when he has a lot on his mind.
He notices in the middle of practising, swinging fists and kicks at the dummy, that his hair is proving to be an issue, starting to get too long again now; he wouldn't care about the rest but his bangs demand attention with how obstructive they can be to his vision. He has his other senses to rely on, of course, and perhaps back in Toshima it would have been a welcomed challenge to make fights more interesting, but here it's far too dangerous to play such a game.
Speaking of games...
It's funny, in a weird way, that Rin now finds himself a participant of the next round of Hide-and-Seek. Normally, he'd never do something like this, finding the idea of the game utterly foolish with how little information they were supplied and how, from an outside view, it only seemed like a worthless endeavour that ended with many lives loss (no matter if they came back in the end). And yet all it'd took was hearing that Hiro - smart, trusting Hiro who he's grown to care about maybe a little too much - was joining for the second time to have him going too.
Of course, he wants to go to protect him, but Rin knows better than that - knows that he's unfortunately, hopelessly, infuriatingly a step behind this place; he can't fight ghosts, intangible horrors, nor could he fight the monsters he'd encountered that had snatched him up in their jaws despite any fight he'd put up. How could he possibly protect a friend in a game that had killed so many already?
The thought circles his mind countless times as he practices, just as it has for the many days since he'd made the decision, and he strikes at the dummy with a lot more force, letting out a frustrated sound that could almost be mistaken for one in pain. He halts his movements after that, shoulders and chest heaving with his pants as he leans his sweaty forehead against the dummy, still unaware that he's no longer alone. ]
[ It was meant to placate than to alert, the intensity of that strike luring him away from the peril of inattention, eyes nearly drawn to the floor in an idle trance, clustered and entangled by the occasional intrusive thought. Akira withdrew from his spot against the wall, approaching with purpose, but halting with reluctance to resume the sequence of steps that would inevitably deposit him at Rin's side - because his once dignified stature seemed deceptively smaller with every intake of breath. A hypothesis, irresponsibly safe: perhaps he was just exhausted from overexerted effort, forgotten consequences of prolonged endurance pushed to its limitations. But, Akira couldn't believe that - although it would be easier to dismiss than to wonder. The noise emitted a moment ago - sounded like pained desperation ]
Might have to take it easy for a bit.
[ A suggestion, soft and focused than receding into uneasiness. It felt oddly intrusive to remain at a somewhat close proximity to Rin, so he relocated towards the mouth of the exit, head peeking out in an unintentional search for something until - ]
There's a water fountain nearby. [ In case he was thirsty. ]
Distracted as he is, in mind and body and spirit, Rin is uncharacteristically unknowing of Akira's presence. And so his reaction is one that wouldn't be expected - he jumps, startles, the stiffening of his spine a prelude to the rest of his movements. His head jerks to the side, narrowed blue eyes sharp as they seek out whoever has spoken, but it lasts barely a moment.
Seeing Akira, realizing he recognizes that voice, has his shoulders sinking in something akin to relief, a relaxing of his frame as he still heaves in breaths, lips parted as he inhales and exhales. He watches as the other moves away, a spark of confusion and curiosity in his eyes, but he focuses instead on moving to where his belongings have been discarded onto the ground. Using the vest from his uniform, he wipes at his sweaty face, peeking at his current companion around the fabric. ]
Taking it easy lets you get soft. [ He eventually answers, but his disagreement isn't spoken in too serious of a tone, a consideration of it in the ways his lips form around the words. ] But I should probably take a break, yeah.
[ He pads over to Akira, walking closer, slowing his steps when he's before him to give the impression that he was going to stop there- only he doesn't, simply flashes him a smile before he pushes open the door and heads into the hall. Taking that suggestion, he seeks out the water fountain across from the room they're in, calling back over his shoulder before he bends over to take a drink from it. ]
[ It was an indelible impression, what he had seen in Toshima - an airtight secret he continued to harbor, even now. But, the doubt that once circulated, stifled by speculations, stagnant and fixed, dwindled into the familiarity of confusion. He wasn't sure why it even mattered at this point, how Rin's smile continued to faze, leaving his thoughts shuffling into a frantic, disorganized line towards ambivalence. But, he couldn't dismiss that sincerity, that bold, indirect proclamation of loyalty towards his friend: to save a life when Rin didn't have to - Akira felt oddly guilty for the smidgen of suspicion that continued to linger. After all, it didn't make any sense. Something like that couldn't possibly be fabricated.
The door settled against his arm on its way towards the frame. It wasn't enough to break his focus that adhered to Rin's departing back, though he finally moved away when he was addressed with a question, drawing closer, within earshot of their ongoing greeting. Akira noticed it then, the length of Rin's hair from a different angle. He remembered it being shorter. It was strange to think about, how they were all changing, progressing forward although they were away from where they're meant to be - like they were adjusting steadily to this place and its nonsensical hazards.
Belatedly, he shifted his focus elsewhere, a blank point in space. ]
Not long. [ Knowing him, he won't bring up what he had witnessed, but: ] You come here to train often? [ Not as thrilling as Bl@ster, or Igura for that matter. But, it was a means to blow off steam, perhaps. ]
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He notices in the middle of practising, swinging fists and kicks at the dummy, that his hair is proving to be an issue, starting to get too long again now; he wouldn't care about the rest but his bangs demand attention with how obstructive they can be to his vision. He has his other senses to rely on, of course, and perhaps back in Toshima it would have been a welcomed challenge to make fights more interesting, but here it's far too dangerous to play such a game.
Speaking of games...
It's funny, in a weird way, that Rin now finds himself a participant of the next round of Hide-and-Seek. Normally, he'd never do something like this, finding the idea of the game utterly foolish with how little information they were supplied and how, from an outside view, it only seemed like a worthless endeavour that ended with many lives loss (no matter if they came back in the end). And yet all it'd took was hearing that Hiro - smart, trusting Hiro who he's grown to care about maybe a little too much - was joining for the second time to have him going too.
Of course, he wants to go to protect him, but Rin knows better than that - knows that he's unfortunately, hopelessly, infuriatingly a step behind this place; he can't fight ghosts, intangible horrors, nor could he fight the monsters he'd encountered that had snatched him up in their jaws despite any fight he'd put up. How could he possibly protect a friend in a game that had killed so many already?
The thought circles his mind countless times as he practices, just as it has for the many days since he'd made the decision, and he strikes at the dummy with a lot more force, letting out a frustrated sound that could almost be mistaken for one in pain. He halts his movements after that, shoulders and chest heaving with his pants as he leans his sweaty forehead against the dummy, still unaware that he's no longer alone. ]
no subject
[ It was meant to placate than to alert, the intensity of that strike luring him away from the peril of inattention, eyes nearly drawn to the floor in an idle trance, clustered and entangled by the occasional intrusive thought. Akira withdrew from his spot against the wall, approaching with purpose, but halting with reluctance to resume the sequence of steps that would inevitably deposit him at Rin's side - because his once dignified stature seemed deceptively smaller with every intake of breath. A hypothesis, irresponsibly safe: perhaps he was just exhausted from overexerted effort, forgotten consequences of prolonged endurance pushed to its limitations. But, Akira couldn't believe that - although it would be easier to dismiss than to wonder. The noise emitted a moment ago - sounded like pained desperation ]
Might have to take it easy for a bit.
[ A suggestion, soft and focused than receding into uneasiness. It felt oddly intrusive to remain at a somewhat close proximity to Rin, so he relocated towards the mouth of the exit, head peeking out in an unintentional search for something until - ]
There's a water fountain nearby. [ In case he was thirsty. ]
no subject
Distracted as he is, in mind and body and spirit, Rin is uncharacteristically unknowing of Akira's presence. And so his reaction is one that wouldn't be expected - he jumps, startles, the stiffening of his spine a prelude to the rest of his movements. His head jerks to the side, narrowed blue eyes sharp as they seek out whoever has spoken, but it lasts barely a moment.
Seeing Akira, realizing he recognizes that voice, has his shoulders sinking in something akin to relief, a relaxing of his frame as he still heaves in breaths, lips parted as he inhales and exhales. He watches as the other moves away, a spark of confusion and curiosity in his eyes, but he focuses instead on moving to where his belongings have been discarded onto the ground. Using the vest from his uniform, he wipes at his sweaty face, peeking at his current companion around the fabric. ]
Taking it easy lets you get soft. [ He eventually answers, but his disagreement isn't spoken in too serious of a tone, a consideration of it in the ways his lips form around the words. ] But I should probably take a break, yeah.
[ He pads over to Akira, walking closer, slowing his steps when he's before him to give the impression that he was going to stop there- only he doesn't, simply flashes him a smile before he pushes open the door and heads into the hall. Taking that suggestion, he seeks out the water fountain across from the room they're in, calling back over his shoulder before he bends over to take a drink from it. ]
How long've you been there?
no subject
The door settled against his arm on its way towards the frame. It wasn't enough to break his focus that adhered to Rin's departing back, though he finally moved away when he was addressed with a question, drawing closer, within earshot of their ongoing greeting. Akira noticed it then, the length of Rin's hair from a different angle. He remembered it being shorter. It was strange to think about, how they were all changing, progressing forward although they were away from where they're meant to be - like they were adjusting steadily to this place and its nonsensical hazards.
Belatedly, he shifted his focus elsewhere, a blank point in space. ]
Not long. [ Knowing him, he won't bring up what he had witnessed, but: ] You come here to train often? [ Not as thrilling as Bl@ster, or Igura for that matter. But, it was a means to blow off steam, perhaps. ]