[Hiyori behaved like this a lot with Jun. Once they were a couple definitely, but even back home before they started dating. He'd drag him around to different places, running off whenever he saw something fun, and expect Jun to keep pace. Some of that is just his bossy, outgoing personality, but there was also another motive especially in the beginning. Jun was the type who could get caught up in gloomy thoughts sometimes. If left to his own devices, he might have just exercised in the dorm all day (or worse, brooded over Sagami Jin), which meant it was up to Hiyori to make him have fun.
Bakugo isn't what Hiyori would call gloomy. He's quite well-rounded, all things considered. He doesn't need to be dragged to an arcade; he goes there regularly. But the same principle might just apply, anyway. Pull Bakugo into his pace, and don't let him focus on things like the statues or his own impending departure: that's the goal here!]
Don't tell me you're not excited. Not everyone gets to dance next to me!
[Ever the egotist.
He does let go quick, and then they settle on a difficulty level as well as a song. A very chirpy, cutesy song. One with "Love" in the title. A DDR classic!
Truthfully, he chooses it partly to see what reaction Bakugo will have. He can be conniving like that; he and the other members of his unit. They'd manipulate things during Lives so the whole performance would play to their strengths, leaving their opponents outshone. It happened during the Summer Live, when he made sure the whole show went Eve's way: featuring their style of dance, their kind of fanservice. Naturally, they won that event, along with so many others. Most of their opponents positively hated them. But Bakugo, much like the kids from a certain unit they faced, doesn't seem the type to give up. And sure enough, he accepts the cutesy song, seeming familiar with it. Hiyori smiles.]
Great, then let's go!
[And so it begins. They go through the selection scene, the song banner appears, and he stands in the center of the platform and spaces his feet between the glowing arrows. He's ensured the song they'll be dancing to is one that suits his style more than Bakugo's; in other words, his plot is going off without a hitch, and he has this in the bag!
... or at least that's how it would be going if this was a regular dance-off. Bakugo would sooner explode someone's face off than willingly do cutesy dance moves, but this isn't a regular dance performance. DDR is all about rhythm, and the "dance" is mainly just stepping really fast. There's no place for "cute" moves or fanservice, and he'll be at a disadvantage if he does try to make his "dance" look good. No one is looking for bells and whistles here, and in that sense, he's at a disadvantage. Can Hiyori Tomoe truly lose himself in the rhythm, without sparing a single thought to how he looks?
"Are you ready?" the machine asks. It's the moment of truth. The answer...
Is yes! He's prepared for this. He even made sure to wear an arcade-ready outfit, complete with fashionable sneakers! He's prepared to work up a sweat, forget about doing things the "idol" way, and simply step to the beat as fast as he can! As soon as the arrows appear, he jumps to it. First he's a bit fast, and then a bit too slow, but soon he finds a rhythm that carries him all the way to the chorus, where he really hits his stride. Is it any wonder that lyrics like "love you love you love you love sunshine" speak to his soul on a deep, spiritual level? Probably not, but they sure to! He likes this song, he's having fun!
And he's at least passingly familiar with it too, as he seems aware of when the song will end. The final stretch: he'll give it his all! Though when he gets off-rhythm again, he doesn't let it bother him too badly; this is basically a warm-up round, after all. He just calmly course-corrects.
At the end, he's sweatier, his legs are feeling the burn... and he ends up with a respectable A-.]
Not bad for a warm-up!
[Said with a smile. But what does it say on his opponent's screen...?]
[He can get gloomy, sullen, brooding, melodramatic if something fucks up in his life badly. Mostly because he doesn't want other people to see him struggling with anything. Keeps his sadness and frustrations to himself and works through them on his own. That way people get to see what Hiyori sees. Well-rounded, self-reliant, strong and capable, certainly not someone who needs to get dragged out for social crap by overly extroverted companions! As Hiyori does exactly that. Brat.]
Excited? Heh, I'll crush you! [His lips hook upward at one corner, eyebrows dipping towards his nose in a challenging dare. He loves winning, but he loves obliterating a good opponent even more! Doesn't matter if it's a cutesy song or a rocking blaze, he'll own this dance and carry his victory high! There aren't many songs on the DDR list he'll recoil at. Doesn't mean zero. A few will get him smashing the skip button like it's a cockroach. But he's practiced on them regardless, refusing to be caught at a disadvantage in anything!
Bakugo takes his place on the stage, feet in the center block. 5 position. Oh is that Hiyori's ploy? He thinks choosing a song suiting his own tastes more than his is gonna throw Bakugo off. Muscles flex in his legs as he tenses himself in preparation. Like hell is he gonna let this guy get a single win over him! Rhythm is rhythm. Once he gets the beat of the song and the sight of the arrows, all that matters is following, each, and, every, one! His body moves in a mixture of aggressive assurance and fluid athleticism. No robotic steps or staccato motions on his side. Both arms hover outward at his side, using them as a guide to keep his balance and position his body.
Left foot covering 7 4 1 blocks, right foot taking 9 6 3, and using whichever to land 8 and 2, while always returning to 5 position, unless he foresees which side's coming up next. Step step, stomp stamp! His overshirt flutters behind his back as he swings his legs forward, one hand catching the railing behind him before hauling back and hitting the 1 and 3 squares in a hard blast. Landing the rhythm from the start. Words blaze across the screen, Good Job, Cool, Wow, Amazing, PERFECT! Hiyori's basking in the words while Bakugo lets himself move with the music's rhythm more.
Shit, missed that damn 8 arrow! SLAM! Right at the very last combo.] Che! [Look at him, clicking his tongue in annoyance because he ended with an A rather than a A+!] Shitty arrow snuck past at the end!
Too violent! [In response to the comment about crushing him.] But I know that's your way of showing enthusiasm, so you must be really pumped up!
[Wherever he ends up next, he'll miss this back-and-forth banter.
The DDR battle begins. Having someone loudly and energetically stomping next to him does make it harder to keep rhythm, but he does his utmost best, racking up COOLs and AMAZINGs and PERFECTS and even a 69 combo at one point. ("NIIIICE," the screen says. This is the Golden Peacock.) His performance isn't flawless, but in the end, he's perfectly satisfied with his results: not perfect, but pretty good for a warm-up! It seems his practice paid off. Seems he may have beaten Bakugo, in fact, if his opponent's irritated tongue-clicking is any indication.
But a quick glance at the screen tells him that's not the case: Bakugo didn't come up short, he got an A with no minus. Which makes his grumbling seem very much unwarranted, earning a skeptical look from Hiyori.]
What's there to frown about? You bested my score, so cheer up!
[But he does get it. Bakugo is the intensely prideful sort, one who takes every kind of competition seriously. (Even whack-a-mole, he assumes!) And it's not like Hiyori doesn't have any pride of his own: as an idol and a dancer, he would like to win at least one round. Bakugo may be more experienced with arcades, but when it comes to things that are dance-related, he ought to be the senpai!]
That was basically a warm-up though, so there's no need to get too cocky. Anyway, let's choose our next song! But first, we have to choose a difficulty! Were you hoping to kick it up a notch every round? Or would you rather just pick one and stay there the whole time?
[He has a feeling he knows what the answer is, but he asks anyway.]
Shut up and dance. [So mean! Hiyori's not wrong though; this is his way of showing excitement. An unrelenting force thrilled to utterly crush his opposition! Victory has always been what he strives for, uncontested wins! No matter if Hiyori is here or not, Bakugo won't go back on the person he is. This resort, the people he meets, nothing will eradicate his heart. The same as Hiyori's brilliant sunlight won't ever be put out. He trusts the idol to keep it that way, whether in the resort or back home.
Bakugo's battled several people in the arcade for position at the top; he's adjusted to the beat of someone next to him just as much as he's trained to use his explosions and combat alongside teammates and competitors. Even if he had a habit of treating the former like the latter a lot. He got better about it! Eventually. (Of course this stupid bird's gonna give the sleazy compliment for 69 score.) Hiyori's rhythm matches with his own several times, they keep in step and sync, the music and movement flow together. Before going their own way towards the very end.
And leaving him with that less than perfect result, earning the machine his glaring ire.] I missed the last combo! My damn foot wouldn't move the way I told it to! [Right blame the foot. Not like he made a mistake or anything. Bakugo plants his hand on the controls and gives the wheel a spin. Colors and words shuffle round and around in a wild flash of psychedelic hues, songs looping garbled chimes as they scroll past the screen.]
I can handle anything this game throws at me! [Level 10 took him a while to get down, but he's been at the arcade for over a year now.] Next one's my choice. [Before locking in on a song with a fiery beat and pounding rhythm.] How high can you handle?
[Hearing Bakugo blame his own foot, as though it moved autonomously on its own, is pretty funny. Hiyori doesn't laugh, but he does point out:]
It's your foot, right? It doesn't have a mind of its own. Unlike Kleken-kun's tentacles. He said those each have their own heart and their own brain, so they grab things all on their own sometimes. Which sounds like a convenient excuse, doesn't it? "It wasn't me, it was my tentacles!"
[He sure loves getting off-topic. And gossiping about things other people have told him.
There's some disappointment when Bakugo says the next song's his choice. Here he'd been hoping to keep picking cutesy songs and gradually chip away at Bakugo's endurance for such things. Hiyori isn't a cheater, but he will use every weapon in his arsenal, and a cutesy song can also be a weapon. Cuteness is justice! It's power!
But if this is how he learns what sort of songs Bakugo likes, he supposes that isn't so bad.]
Me? [He puffs out his chest, now clad in only a T-shirt.] I can go all the way up to 100! β
[(There is no 100.)]
I feel we ought to save that for last, though. I'd say we kick it up one notch, but I know you're the type who does everything twice as hard. So since it's you I'm facing, let's kick it up two notches! βͺ
[Which would put them at Level 8. They're entering the big leagues!]
You believe a word that comes outta that squid's mouth? [He rolls his head on his neck and fixes Hiyori with a dry expression over his shoulder. Kleken himself, in a moment of sincerity, told Bakugo not to believe anything he said. And in that instance at least, the blonde believed him. Hasn't helped Kleken much since, but that's his problem. Still doesn't excuse Bakugo's foot for not listening to what he told it to do!] I'm getting a perfect next time!
[That's the important part! Oy! What're you getting disappointed about?! Song choice is give and take! At least Bakugo's not slapping death metal on the screen. (There is no death metal in the game.) Shouldn't surprised anyone his pick has a beat and rhythm he can get behind, edging as close to "intense" as he can push DDR into being.]
It doesn't go to 100! [Says the guy who'd crow about smashing through to 100 if the game had that. But he throws the difficulty meter to the highest, a solid 10, and the screen blares red in excitement and warning. Hot challengers on deck this time! Bakugo's lips split into a feral grin when Hiyori tries backing out and sticking with "two" notches.]
Too late, Parrot. You said 100! Do it or die!
[And slams the START button, kicking the game into its new tune with pulsating beat and reverberating fireworks bursting on the screen.]
Usually not at all, since he's a self-professed liar. But even liars like him have hidden depths, since he's gotten on good terms with all of my birds! You two might just run into each other in the Vale someday. βͺ
[It's true, Kleken and the birds do get along. Though if he lingers on thoughts of his birds too long at this point, he'll just depress himself.
Bakugo picking the next song is more than fair, but he'd been hoping to monopolize the song selection. That way he could overload Bakugo's eardrums with cute, chirpy tunes! Perhaps he could justify it by saying that Bakugo has more experience with arcade games, so him choosing the songs helps level the playing field between them. But it's all a moot point, as Bakugo chooses something with a hard, stomping beat, grinning in response to Hiyori's suggestion that they kick things up two notches. It'll be tough, but Hiyori is prepared to bring his A-game. Level 8, here they come!
... or not.
He sees the number "10" flash across the screen and his smile dissolves. His face flashes with alarm.]
...... eh?
[10. Bakugo just jumped straight to 10. He bursts out:]
That's cheating!
[No, it's really not. But he doesn't have time to complain further, because the next round is starting. There's no time to warm up either, at least not on this song: he's hit with a barrage of notes right off bat, and it's all he can do to keep up.
He does try, to his credit. He has, in fact, practiced at this level before, mostly out of curiosity to see how hard the game could get. He knew the opponent he was dealing with; there was no way Bakugo didn't like to turn things up to 11 (or 10, as it were). He expected it to come to this at some point.
Still, Level 10 this early? He wasn't prepared! He's visibly flustered as he jumps along, mashing his feet down over and over. At first he's just flailing, having started out on the wrong foot. It's hard to course correct once you've gotten off-rhythm at this level. But as the song reaches its chorus, through sheer sweat, focus, and determination, he starts to hit his stride. He can hear Bakugo furiously dancing next to him, and if he focuses on thatβon the rhythm of Bakugo's steps alongside the beatβhe can get back into the swing of things. It's similar, really, to dancing with Jun and the other Eden members. He and Bakugo are dancing to the same song, the same map. It's a duo performance, and so he'll treat it like one, bringing the same energy as his partner!
His face is flushed. His legs are moving fast, faster than his brain can even process. His eyes watch the screen and his brain mindlessly issues commands, feet following suit even as his legs start to feel the burn. It's exhausting. It's exhilarating. He's getting sweaty, and yet... it's kind of fun, isn't it?
For about 30 seconds or so, before the second chorus and the outro completely annihilate him.
He does his best, but it's not enough. He's faltering left and right: too slow, and then he steps on the wrong blocks entirely, finding it impossible to get on track afterwards. He would've managed a C if he'd continued as he had during the chorus, but now...
A big, fat, throbbing "D" is his final score. "NICE D!" the screen says!]
... so unfair...
[Tired and flushed, he slumps his shoulders in defeat.]
Che. So you're not some sucker getting taken in by him. [He knows Hiyori's a smart guy, but he's also kind and trusting, and Kleken's the sort who lies and manipulates for his own entertainment. Bakugo scoffs at the idea of meeting Kleken in the Vale.] He'll never be there as early as I am.
[Jogging through the forest trails with the sun barely leaving its horizon home? Nah, he can't see the tentacled conman getting up so early, unless he spent the entire night awake doing slinky deeds.] You're one of those people who think animals can tell if someone's good or bad?
[Like hell is he gonna let Hiyori pour his sunshine music through his head without taking some kind of break from it! He has to get his own preferences in there as well. Sucks the machine doesn't include any rock songs, but he's found enough intense beats to satisfy his badass cravings. Bakugo barks out a laugh at the other boy's protest.]
Don't get pissed I called your bluff! [Now Hiyori has to own up to those bravado words! He braces his hands on the bar behind him, legs spreading in preparation for the music, and the second it kicks off, he's in motion. Arrows pour down the screen, sometimes a waterfall cascade of direction, sometimes sticking drips demanding pinpoint action mid breath. Red eyes narrow on the screen, occasionally widening as a stray arrow flies past his proverbial foot. Dammit! He's practiced on 10 several times, but even he's no perfect master.
Besides, since becoming an Ace, Bakugo's not had need to hit the arcade anywhere near as often as when he was a 3. He left it alone more so other low ranks could use it and earn vouchers without having to contend with his high scores. Doesn't mean he's out of practice!
His feet are a blur across the arrows, tromping a clockwise path in rapid succession. Sweat gleams on his forehead, breath catching in his chest, twisting around to avoid tangling his legs. Among the rhythm of the song and his own steps, he hears Hiyori's pace starting to catch up and break even. Tch, the hell-? He's using Bakugo's motions to lock in his own rhythm?! ... He'd be impressed if he weren't pissed about it! Like a runner catching up to the lead, Hiyori's bringing his pace in line with the blonde's, nearing the song's end with almost perfect matches. Their feet are practically in sync with each other, skin glowing in the screen's flashing intensity. Shit, he's not even paying attention to his legs, instinctively translating screen directions to limb movement. Not some damn pushover even at max difficulty! Bakugo's expression cracks open in a grin, exhilarated by the thrill of a great challenge!
Until something happens and Hiyori completely falls apart beside him. He slams the final two chords on his feet and lets his arms drop to his side, breathing hard and rolling his shoulder. Good, but... his own screen pulses a big shiny "B" in his face. Level 10 is still fucking hard!] Oy! What the hell tripped you up, Hiyori?! You were on beat for almost half the song!
[Yeah, he's not happy he won; he's uppity cause his partner crashed.]
That doesn't sound like me at all! But that "purposefully sleazy" side of him reminds me of a couple of people from back home, so talking to him feels somewhat nostalgic.
[He's thinking of Rinne and Ibara here.
He does smile when Bakugo says he'll be at the Vale even earlier than Kleken. It's genuine and appreciative, since although he knows Bakugo won't be visiting the Vale just to look after his birds, he can guess that's part of the reason, and that unspoken agreement is something he feels no small amount of gratitude for.]
I'm not sure I'd go that far, but I do think they can tell when someone's making an effort to be gentle with them. Plus my birds are extra smart, so I have faith they won't be deceived by villains~βͺ
[Said while beaming like a proud parent. In reality, his birds can probably be won over by anyone who brings them food; such is the way of pets. Though Hiyori's also not wrong in assuming their intellect is higher than average, since they're magical resort birds who inherited traits from their parents, and he, Rinne and Vil are all crafty people in their own ways. (... Jun not so much, though.)
In any case, it's time to switch over from "proud parent" mode to DDR mode, but he doesn't exactly make the transition smoothly. Here he was psyching himself up for Difficulty Level 8 (which he truthfully finds pretty hard as a DDR amateur) only for Bakugo to hit him with Level 10! And then he's truly put through hell.
All sorts of thoughts flit through his mind. Is this what it was like for Jun, learning dance from him in the beginning? Having a stage partner who can do everything effortlessly while you flail and flounder? Hiyori has seldom struggled with his idol work, and almost never makes mistakes onstage. But perhaps this experience will teach him some empathy.
Because boy, did he make some mistakes just now. Enough to add up to a big fat D! Not a score to be proud of, and certainly not one that can impress Bakugo. He gripes, all flushed and flustered, expecting his opponent to gloat or rib him over his loss.
But no, instead he looks peeved again. Like he's the injured party here! Not a sore loser, but a a sore winner!! Which in turn makes Hiyori even more miffed, although he's also a tad embarrassed.]
I don't know, since they all went by so fast! But at that level, once you've gotten off-beat it's so hard to get back on. It's less dancing and more like boot camp!
[But then he shakes his head. Tries to collect himself, knowing Bakugo won't be the least bit impressed by his excuses. Sure, he fell flat on his face. But a good performer picks themselves up afterwards, right?]
So thank goodness we didn't agree to "best of three." Otherwise, you'd already be the winner. But you wouldn't feel happy about it, so it'd be a huge waste! And that's exactly why we must go on.
[He steps up to the selection screen again, already back to smiling!]
I'll be choosing the song and the difficulty this time, so brace yourself accordingly~βͺ
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Bakugo isn't what Hiyori would call gloomy. He's quite well-rounded, all things considered. He doesn't need to be dragged to an arcade; he goes there regularly. But the same principle might just apply, anyway. Pull Bakugo into his pace, and don't let him focus on things like the statues or his own impending departure: that's the goal here!]
Don't tell me you're not excited. Not everyone gets to dance next to me!
[Ever the egotist.
He does let go quick, and then they settle on a difficulty level as well as a song. A very chirpy, cutesy song. One with "Love" in the title. A DDR classic!
Truthfully, he chooses it partly to see what reaction Bakugo will have. He can be conniving like that; he and the other members of his unit. They'd manipulate things during Lives so the whole performance would play to their strengths, leaving their opponents outshone. It happened during the Summer Live, when he made sure the whole show went Eve's way: featuring their style of dance, their kind of fanservice. Naturally, they won that event, along with so many others. Most of their opponents positively hated them. But Bakugo, much like the kids from a certain unit they faced, doesn't seem the type to give up. And sure enough, he accepts the cutesy song, seeming familiar with it. Hiyori smiles.]
Great, then let's go!
[And so it begins. They go through the selection scene, the song banner appears, and he stands in the center of the platform and spaces his feet between the glowing arrows. He's ensured the song they'll be dancing to is one that suits his style more than Bakugo's; in other words, his plot is going off without a hitch, and he has this in the bag!
... or at least that's how it would be going if this was a regular dance-off. Bakugo would sooner explode someone's face off than willingly do cutesy dance moves, but this isn't a regular dance performance. DDR is all about rhythm, and the "dance" is mainly just stepping really fast. There's no place for "cute" moves or fanservice, and he'll be at a disadvantage if he does try to make his "dance" look good. No one is looking for bells and whistles here, and in that sense, he's at a disadvantage. Can Hiyori Tomoe truly lose himself in the rhythm, without sparing a single thought to how he looks?
"Are you ready?" the machine asks. It's the moment of truth. The answer...
Is yes! He's prepared for this. He even made sure to wear an arcade-ready outfit, complete with fashionable sneakers! He's prepared to work up a sweat, forget about doing things the "idol" way, and simply step to the beat as fast as he can! As soon as the arrows appear, he jumps to it. First he's a bit fast, and then a bit too slow, but soon he finds a rhythm that carries him all the way to the chorus, where he really hits his stride. Is it any wonder that lyrics like "love you love you love you love sunshine" speak to his soul on a deep, spiritual level? Probably not, but they sure to! He likes this song, he's having fun!
And he's at least passingly familiar with it too, as he seems aware of when the song will end. The final stretch: he'll give it his all! Though when he gets off-rhythm again, he doesn't let it bother him too badly; this is basically a warm-up round, after all. He just calmly course-corrects.
At the end, he's sweatier, his legs are feeling the burn... and he ends up with a respectable A-.]
Not bad for a warm-up!
[Said with a smile. But what does it say on his opponent's screen...?]
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Excited? Heh, I'll crush you! [His lips hook upward at one corner, eyebrows dipping towards his nose in a challenging dare. He loves winning, but he loves obliterating a good opponent even more! Doesn't matter if it's a cutesy song or a rocking blaze, he'll own this dance and carry his victory high! There aren't many songs on the DDR list he'll recoil at. Doesn't mean zero. A few will get him smashing the skip button like it's a cockroach. But he's practiced on them regardless, refusing to be caught at a disadvantage in anything!
Bakugo takes his place on the stage, feet in the center block. 5 position. Oh is that Hiyori's ploy? He thinks choosing a song suiting his own tastes more than his is gonna throw Bakugo off. Muscles flex in his legs as he tenses himself in preparation. Like hell is he gonna let this guy get a single win over him! Rhythm is rhythm. Once he gets the beat of the song and the sight of the arrows, all that matters is following, each, and, every, one! His body moves in a mixture of aggressive assurance and fluid athleticism. No robotic steps or staccato motions on his side. Both arms hover outward at his side, using them as a guide to keep his balance and position his body.
Left foot covering 7 4 1 blocks, right foot taking 9 6 3, and using whichever to land 8 and 2, while always returning to 5 position, unless he foresees which side's coming up next. Step step, stomp stamp! His overshirt flutters behind his back as he swings his legs forward, one hand catching the railing behind him before hauling back and hitting the 1 and 3 squares in a hard blast. Landing the rhythm from the start. Words blaze across the screen, Good Job, Cool, Wow, Amazing, PERFECT! Hiyori's basking in the words while Bakugo lets himself move with the music's rhythm more.
Shit, missed that damn 8 arrow! SLAM! Right at the very last combo.] Che! [Look at him, clicking his tongue in annoyance because he ended with an A rather than a A+!] Shitty arrow snuck past at the end!
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[Wherever he ends up next, he'll miss this back-and-forth banter.
The DDR battle begins. Having someone loudly and energetically stomping next to him does make it harder to keep rhythm, but he does his utmost best, racking up COOLs and AMAZINGs and PERFECTS and even a 69 combo at one point. ("NIIIICE," the screen says. This is the Golden Peacock.) His performance isn't flawless, but in the end, he's perfectly satisfied with his results: not perfect, but pretty good for a warm-up! It seems his practice paid off. Seems he may have beaten Bakugo, in fact, if his opponent's irritated tongue-clicking is any indication.
But a quick glance at the screen tells him that's not the case: Bakugo didn't come up short, he got an A with no minus. Which makes his grumbling seem very much unwarranted, earning a skeptical look from Hiyori.]
What's there to frown about? You bested my score, so cheer up!
[But he does get it. Bakugo is the intensely prideful sort, one who takes every kind of competition seriously. (Even whack-a-mole, he assumes!) And it's not like Hiyori doesn't have any pride of his own: as an idol and a dancer, he would like to win at least one round. Bakugo may be more experienced with arcades, but when it comes to things that are dance-related, he ought to be the senpai!]
That was basically a warm-up though, so there's no need to get too cocky. Anyway, let's choose our next song! But first, we have to choose a difficulty! Were you hoping to kick it up a notch every round? Or would you rather just pick one and stay there the whole time?
[He has a feeling he knows what the answer is, but he asks anyway.]
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Bakugo's battled several people in the arcade for position at the top; he's adjusted to the beat of someone next to him just as much as he's trained to use his explosions and combat alongside teammates and competitors. Even if he had a habit of treating the former like the latter a lot. He got better about it! Eventually. (Of course this stupid bird's gonna give the sleazy compliment for 69 score.) Hiyori's rhythm matches with his own several times, they keep in step and sync, the music and movement flow together. Before going their own way towards the very end.
And leaving him with that less than perfect result, earning the machine his glaring ire.] I missed the last combo! My damn foot wouldn't move the way I told it to! [Right blame the foot. Not like he made a mistake or anything. Bakugo plants his hand on the controls and gives the wheel a spin. Colors and words shuffle round and around in a wild flash of psychedelic hues, songs looping garbled chimes as they scroll past the screen.]
I can handle anything this game throws at me! [Level 10 took him a while to get down, but he's been at the arcade for over a year now.] Next one's my choice. [Before locking in on a song with a fiery beat and pounding rhythm.] How high can you handle?
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It's your foot, right? It doesn't have a mind of its own. Unlike Kleken-kun's tentacles. He said those each have their own heart and their own brain, so they grab things all on their own sometimes. Which sounds like a convenient excuse, doesn't it? "It wasn't me, it was my tentacles!"
[He sure loves getting off-topic. And gossiping about things other people have told him.
There's some disappointment when Bakugo says the next song's his choice. Here he'd been hoping to keep picking cutesy songs and gradually chip away at Bakugo's endurance for such things. Hiyori isn't a cheater, but he will use every weapon in his arsenal, and a cutesy song can also be a weapon. Cuteness is justice! It's power!
But if this is how he learns what sort of songs Bakugo likes, he supposes that isn't so bad.]
Me? [He puffs out his chest, now clad in only a T-shirt.] I can go all the way up to 100! β
[(There is no 100.)]
I feel we ought to save that for last, though. I'd say we kick it up one notch, but I know you're the type who does everything twice as hard. So since it's you I'm facing, let's kick it up two notches! βͺ
[Which would put them at Level 8. They're entering the big leagues!]
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[That's the important part! Oy! What're you getting disappointed about?! Song choice is give and take! At least Bakugo's not slapping death metal on the screen. (There is no death metal in the game.) Shouldn't surprised anyone his pick has a beat and rhythm he can get behind, edging as close to "intense" as he can push DDR into being.]
It doesn't go to 100! [Says the guy who'd crow about smashing through to 100 if the game had that. But he throws the difficulty meter to the highest, a solid 10, and the screen blares red in excitement and warning. Hot challengers on deck this time! Bakugo's lips split into a feral grin when Hiyori tries backing out and sticking with "two" notches.]
Too late, Parrot. You said 100! Do it or die!
[And slams the START button, kicking the game into its new tune with pulsating beat and reverberating fireworks bursting on the screen.]
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[It's true, Kleken and the birds do get along. Though if he lingers on thoughts of his birds too long at this point, he'll just depress himself.
Bakugo picking the next song is more than fair, but he'd been hoping to monopolize the song selection. That way he could overload Bakugo's eardrums with cute, chirpy tunes! Perhaps he could justify it by saying that Bakugo has more experience with arcade games, so him choosing the songs helps level the playing field between them. But it's all a moot point, as Bakugo chooses something with a hard, stomping beat, grinning in response to Hiyori's suggestion that they kick things up two notches. It'll be tough, but Hiyori is prepared to bring his A-game. Level 8, here they come!
... or not.
He sees the number "10" flash across the screen and his smile dissolves. His face flashes with alarm.]
...... eh?
[10. Bakugo just jumped straight to 10. He bursts out:]
That's cheating!
[No, it's really not. But he doesn't have time to complain further, because the next round is starting. There's no time to warm up either, at least not on this song: he's hit with a barrage of notes right off bat, and it's all he can do to keep up.
He does try, to his credit. He has, in fact, practiced at this level before, mostly out of curiosity to see how hard the game could get. He knew the opponent he was dealing with; there was no way Bakugo didn't like to turn things up to 11 (or 10, as it were). He expected it to come to this at some point.
Still, Level 10 this early? He wasn't prepared! He's visibly flustered as he jumps along, mashing his feet down over and over. At first he's just flailing, having started out on the wrong foot. It's hard to course correct once you've gotten off-rhythm at this level. But as the song reaches its chorus, through sheer sweat, focus, and determination, he starts to hit his stride. He can hear Bakugo furiously dancing next to him, and if he focuses on thatβon the rhythm of Bakugo's steps alongside the beatβhe can get back into the swing of things. It's similar, really, to dancing with Jun and the other Eden members. He and Bakugo are dancing to the same song, the same map. It's a duo performance, and so he'll treat it like one, bringing the same energy as his partner!
His face is flushed. His legs are moving fast, faster than his brain can even process. His eyes watch the screen and his brain mindlessly issues commands, feet following suit even as his legs start to feel the burn. It's exhausting. It's exhilarating. He's getting sweaty, and yet... it's kind of fun, isn't it?
For about 30 seconds or so, before the second chorus and the outro completely annihilate him.
He does his best, but it's not enough. He's faltering left and right: too slow, and then he steps on the wrong blocks entirely, finding it impossible to get on track afterwards. He would've managed a C if he'd continued as he had during the chorus, but now...
A big, fat, throbbing "D" is his final score. "NICE D!" the screen says!]
... so unfair...
[Tired and flushed, he slumps his shoulders in defeat.]
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[Jogging through the forest trails with the sun barely leaving its horizon home? Nah, he can't see the tentacled conman getting up so early, unless he spent the entire night awake doing slinky deeds.] You're one of those people who think animals can tell if someone's good or bad?
[Like hell is he gonna let Hiyori pour his sunshine music through his head without taking some kind of break from it! He has to get his own preferences in there as well. Sucks the machine doesn't include any rock songs, but he's found enough intense beats to satisfy his badass cravings. Bakugo barks out a laugh at the other boy's protest.]
Don't get pissed I called your bluff! [Now Hiyori has to own up to those bravado words! He braces his hands on the bar behind him, legs spreading in preparation for the music, and the second it kicks off, he's in motion. Arrows pour down the screen, sometimes a waterfall cascade of direction, sometimes sticking drips demanding pinpoint action mid breath. Red eyes narrow on the screen, occasionally widening as a stray arrow flies past his proverbial foot. Dammit! He's practiced on 10 several times, but even he's no perfect master.
Besides, since becoming an Ace, Bakugo's not had need to hit the arcade anywhere near as often as when he was a 3. He left it alone more so other low ranks could use it and earn vouchers without having to contend with his high scores. Doesn't mean he's out of practice!
His feet are a blur across the arrows, tromping a clockwise path in rapid succession. Sweat gleams on his forehead, breath catching in his chest, twisting around to avoid tangling his legs. Among the rhythm of the song and his own steps, he hears Hiyori's pace starting to catch up and break even. Tch, the hell-? He's using Bakugo's motions to lock in his own rhythm?! ... He'd be impressed if he weren't pissed about it! Like a runner catching up to the lead, Hiyori's bringing his pace in line with the blonde's, nearing the song's end with almost perfect matches. Their feet are practically in sync with each other, skin glowing in the screen's flashing intensity. Shit, he's not even paying attention to his legs, instinctively translating screen directions to limb movement. Not some damn pushover even at max difficulty! Bakugo's expression cracks open in a grin, exhilarated by the thrill of a great challenge!
Until something happens and Hiyori completely falls apart beside him. He slams the final two chords on his feet and lets his arms drop to his side, breathing hard and rolling his shoulder. Good, but... his own screen pulses a big shiny "B" in his face. Level 10 is still fucking hard!] Oy! What the hell tripped you up, Hiyori?! You were on beat for almost half the song!
[Yeah, he's not happy he won; he's uppity cause his partner crashed.]
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[He shakes his head to deny being a sucker!]
That doesn't sound like me at all! But that "purposefully sleazy" side of him reminds me of a couple of people from back home, so talking to him feels somewhat nostalgic.
[He's thinking of Rinne and Ibara here.
He does smile when Bakugo says he'll be at the Vale even earlier than Kleken. It's genuine and appreciative, since although he knows Bakugo won't be visiting the Vale just to look after his birds, he can guess that's part of the reason, and that unspoken agreement is something he feels no small amount of gratitude for.]
I'm not sure I'd go that far, but I do think they can tell when someone's making an effort to be gentle with them. Plus my birds are extra smart, so I have faith they won't be deceived by villains~βͺ
[Said while beaming like a proud parent. In reality, his birds can probably be won over by anyone who brings them food; such is the way of pets. Though Hiyori's also not wrong in assuming their intellect is higher than average, since they're magical resort birds who inherited traits from their parents, and he, Rinne and Vil are all crafty people in their own ways. (... Jun not so much, though.)
In any case, it's time to switch over from "proud parent" mode to DDR mode, but he doesn't exactly make the transition smoothly. Here he was psyching himself up for Difficulty Level 8 (which he truthfully finds pretty hard as a DDR amateur) only for Bakugo to hit him with Level 10! And then he's truly put through hell.
All sorts of thoughts flit through his mind. Is this what it was like for Jun, learning dance from him in the beginning? Having a stage partner who can do everything effortlessly while you flail and flounder? Hiyori has seldom struggled with his idol work, and almost never makes mistakes onstage. But perhaps this experience will teach him some empathy.
Because boy, did he make some mistakes just now. Enough to add up to a big fat D! Not a score to be proud of, and certainly not one that can impress Bakugo. He gripes, all flushed and flustered, expecting his opponent to gloat or rib him over his loss.
But no, instead he looks peeved again. Like he's the injured party here! Not a sore loser, but a a sore winner!! Which in turn makes Hiyori even more miffed, although he's also a tad embarrassed.]
I don't know, since they all went by so fast! But at that level, once you've gotten off-beat it's so hard to get back on. It's less dancing and more like boot camp!
2/2
So thank goodness we didn't agree to "best of three." Otherwise, you'd already be the winner. But you wouldn't feel happy about it, so it'd be a huge waste! And that's exactly why we must go on.
[He steps up to the selection screen again, already back to smiling!]
I'll be choosing the song and the difficulty this time, so brace yourself accordingly~βͺ