Tatsuya Yamazaki - SHSL Street Fighter
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Tatsuya found himself snorting at the quip he'd shortly received from Ken, averting his gaze in his mild exasperation. A love affair was the last thing he'd have considered the two to be partaking in, but as it seemed, the architect was simply inquiring something of their captor that Tatsuya did not need to be forced out for. Still, the street fighter lingered uncertainly for a moment, wondering if he should better leave or continue to check out the premises as he first desired; even as he tentatively decided on the latter, wandering over to inspect a set of weights nearby, Tatsuya remained quiet yet attentive as he listened in on the conversation taking place nearby. He hadn't thought Ken would be asking anything too important, really, and in hearing the previous motive brought up, Tatsuya wasn't incredibly moved. The subtle change in Ken's tone did not pass by unnoticed however, and idly, Tatsuya considered that for Ken to be asking this question and in such seriousness, the architect was not as much needlessly curious as he seemed legitimately concerned about those people taken hostage...
Which was a reasonable response, all in all. It was normal to want to know what would come of them, and although Tatsuya still thought it futile in the case they were being lied to, the outcome interested him too. So to then hear from Monokuma that all the hostages were still alive, albeit left in captivity, it was one of the better responses. That their respective loved ones would be allowed to leave even if one of them were to die was surprisingly honourable of the bear as well... It made Tatsuya wonder why their captor would bother to keep their word if the main purpose of this killing game was to cause them all to suffer. After all, wouldn't it be that much more 'despairing' if those people were slaughtered regardless of what happened? Tatsuya supposed this wasn't exactly something to complain about, although he truly couldn't help being cynical towards any sort of positive outcome in as dangerous a scenario as this. Even now, he couldn't completely accept what the bear had said as truth, part of him inclined to believe that Kameyo had been killed. It's not like he could do much in this situation to save her, after all.
Tatsuya turned from the set of dumbbells he'd been hovering over, just in time to see a particular dude (was it Logan...?) rush into the room to affront Monokuma on the topic at hand... which was amusing to witness, but pitiful more-so. Especially when a card was mentioned... was Logan's loved one a card?? What the fuck...
Cocking his head whilst uttering a derisive huff, the street fighter watched as Monokuma spat his threats and Logan left the room as quickly as he'd arrived, albeit with a bit of a temper (of which Tatsuya could not complain... it would be rather hypocritical of him if he did). Sure enough Monokuma was swift to leave the premises too, and Tatsuya remained in the gym with one last person, Ken.
Steeling his gaze a bit as the architect turned to address him with one of his usual remarks, Tatsuya folded his arms and was fully prepared to bite back with a retort of his own... except Ken had faltered before Tatsuya could even think to open his mouth, admitting to being shaken by his near-death experience and, with visible unease, turning away. That was... somewhat unexpected, for as far as Tatsuya had known Ken, the man very rarely showed weakness of any kind. Laughing, playing off his insecurities with jokes, or whatever it is Ken did to cope, this is what Tatsuya had understood him for. So to watch in silence as Ken began to pace whilst muttering things to himself, Tatsuya listened, confusedly, cautiously, unsure of what part exactly that he had to play in this...
If anything it seemed he had nothing to do with this at all, which made the street fighter feel rather uncomfortable to say the least. It was like observing something you know you have no business paying attention to, like a car crash by the side of the road or in seeing a stranger accidentally trip over. Ken's affairs were no where close to his own, but still Tatsuya stood by in silence, unmoving save for his gaze which followed the man as he rambled to himself, his uneven tone and desperate speech evidence enough of a minor breakdown. And the fact that Ken was talking to himself at the moment, altering between flimsy reassurances and the things he'd done wrong... the importance of the knife that was taken from him, his inability to react appropriately in the face of danger...
Tatsuya's brow furrowed as things peaked to the point where Ken was simply shouting at himself to stop, keeling over and then repeating realities like they were a mantra upon which to cling. Perhaps this was the point where he'd have best intervened, when Ken had fallen silent and Tatsuya was standing there somewhat awkwardly regretting the fact that he had not left the room earlier because he had no damn clue what to say in response to all this (seriously, Ken was not fucking normal and Tatsuya had no idea how to deal with the unsettlingly genuine side of the bastard who he'd much rather be attempting to punch holes into). But before Tatsuya might've found a way to somewhat civilly excuse himself from this gauche situation or otherwise, Ken appeared to recover somewhat from his state of panic, spending a moment quietly tending to his bird before standing. Tatsuya tensed up as Ken turned toward him, and in hearing the guy address him by his
complete first name...
Oh no. Oh
fuuuuck no. Ken had just had a breakdown, and now Ken was being serious with him, and now Hell's gonna freeze over. This is not good. This could
not be good.
It took Tatsuya a good measure of resolve to maintain his composure as Ken made his requests of him, expression reluctant. To teach Ken self-defense... No. No way.
"Are you actually..." Serious, but Ken had already asserted that.
"You know I don't..."
He trailed off again, a frustrated sigh signalling his inability to find the right words in response to this.
"You're a fucking idiot," Tatsuya quickly settled on.
"And a bloody lunatic as well."
Pausing, his expression hardened, absolving himself of his hesitance.
"I don't want to teach you anything," he admittedly bluntly.
"But..." His gaze averted momentarily, sighing his frustration.
"You need it, clearly... You're desperate."
In saying this, Tatsuya fell silent for a moment, silent in comprehending the other's struggle. It had nothing to do with him. Nothing at all. But Ken was laying down his pride for this. He was turning to Tatsuya for a favour, and it was so intrinsically belittling for someone like Ken to do that, to bare his dignity in this way that it was both... incredibly unnerving, and really almost irritating for Tatsuya to witness. It meant that Ken was being completely real with him. He was desperate, and he was turning to Tatsuya for help. To offer that punch across the face, for Ken, it was a big fucking deal, so how could Tatsuya, knowing this, refuse him on this basis, as though void of all pity...?
Impossible. It was impossible. Tatsuya
hated taking pity on people, and someone like Ken, for all the shit he put him through, deserved his sympathy the least. But still, Tatsuya had a conscience. As much as he hated this, it was simply impossible to say no in response to a hopeless request like this... Even if Ken was the one requesting it of him.
"Ugh..."
Gritting his teeth a moment, Tatsuya finally made up his mind, throwing his hands up slightly in exasperation.
"Fine," he snapped, angrily, and swiftly, almost on impulse, had already swung an arm back, fists balling up in succession.
"Chin up-"
Aside from the sudden change in stance and demeanor, there was no other warning and almost no time to brace oneself. Tatsuya threw his right arm around in a rapid hook, catching the side of Ken's face against his knuckles and with enough driving power to throw the poor guy completely off his feet. While not intended to induce a coma, Tatsuya was not quite holding himself back; that punch was a manifestation of all the rage and suffering Ken had caused Tatsuya throughout their high-school life (plus a bit of his anger from being cooped up in here too, not that it would benefit Ken to know that), and honestly... It was an extremely satisfying thing, to finally relieve himself of much of that tension, in the form of a single punch.
Withdrawing his arm and glancing down at his fist, Tatsuya smiled.
"That... felt a lot better than I thought it would," he remarked almost pleasantly, gripping his affected wrist and flexing his fingers. His attention then returning to Ken, who was most likely still sprawled out on the ground, Tatsuya raised a brow.
"How do you feel about one more? You know, to seal the deal."
@SolemnOath
