As soon as she had the chance, Sheena ninja'd herself out of the cafeteria and away from the conversation she'd been semi-forced to have. She probably could have just clammed up and told the boys to go away, but she'd kind of owed at least Endrance some kind of explanation. It wasn't everyday the embodiment of darkness pops up and delivers a
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Junpei knew speed and accuracy were his biggest weak points. Maybe if he improved those by even a fraction, it'd make him better more than increasing his strengths would.
"I'm going to spend a lot of time picking myself up off the floor, aren't I?"
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As for Junpei's question? The swordsman laughed, shielding his mouth with the back of his hand. "Yes, I suppose, for the first few lessons you will." Okita was undoubtably faster than Junpei, even if he was shorter. On strength they might have been equal for Okita was not exactly one to rely on that unless he was pushing his blade against another person's in a fight. Putting up his hands, Okita nodded for Junpei to do the same. "Let's test that strength of yours though, hm? Push against my hands - the object is to match me, not overcome."
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Okita leaned his weight subtly to the left and waited to see how fast it would take for Junpei to adjust. "Relax your shoulders," he said suddenly in a quiet voice. It was obvious to anyone who knew him that he was concentrating, reading Junpei's movements as a teacher should, looking for weaknesses and strengths as he shifted his weight between his hands, waiting for Junpei to follow him.
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"Tch." He reeled himself back in and tried to realign himself. His shoulders relaxed, but only for a short while before they tensed again.
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This time, when Okita shifted the pressure, Junpei was not as quick to respond. Yet, when he did, this time he didn't overcompensate. He wasn't sure which he liked better, even though he knew both were wrong.
Feel my opponent's movements...
Junpei's shoulders started to tense again, but he caught himself. With an irritated expression, he relaxed again. This whole control thing was hella-hard.
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He could feel the tension in the boy's shoulders, it transferred to his palms and the way he pressed against Okita. He was trying hard, however, and after a few moments, Okita hummed quietly in approval. "Can you feel the difference? When you're tense, you can't tell how much pressure I'm giving you, but when you relax..." Here, he again switched hands, putting a little more weight into his right. "You can tell, can't you? Your hand will immediately sink back if you're relaxed and you can push back with the right amount of strength to maintain the balance."
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"...yeah. This is harder than I thought it'd be," Junpei replied, watching their hands as if the visual attention would help him. "I'm so not used to other people, like this. The Shadows just try to eat you when they get this close."
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Then suddenly Okita's hands weren't there and Junpei stumbled forward, eyes flying open.
"Oh, shit!"
Thankfully, his teacher's hands were there to keep him from doing a ridiculous face plant right onto the floor. Or worse, Okita's chest. Righting himself, Junpei rubbed the back of his neck and averted his gaze from Okita, feeling embarrassed. He was right. He was going to be picking himself up off the floor a whole lot.
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He already had a plan formulating in his head about how to train this boy, but it was important not to frustrate him. Unlike the students at home, Junpei didn't have pain of seppuku hanging over him if he suddenly deserted. "You were improving, however. Remember that embarrassment, and remember how quickly the playing field can change." Putting his hands back up again, Okita waited for Junpei to do the same. "Try again. This time, you lead. Try to get me off guard."
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"Okay," he said, rolling his shoulders to try to make the relaxing thing easier.
Hands once again against Okita's, the boy looked at them for a long moment before taking a deep breath and closing his eyes. Still, for a second, he stood there making himself relax. With a few slow breaths, he exerted pressure against Okita's hands.
He moved them slowly to one side and, after a little bit back to the center. Then, after letting them stay there, he lessened the pressure before suddenly lowering his hands. Okita didn't say he had to stick with the side to side.
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