deernet | [Video; un: Uravity]

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[Video; un: Uravity]

[It took...a while for Ochako to find the courage to really start acting like herself again after all of what happened in July. Thankfully, she has some amazing friends, an absolutely wonderful boyfriend that she would do anything for, and is as resilient as she is stubborn. Moping about and feeling remorseful will get her nothing, she has to act if she wants things to get better, so this is exactly what she's doing today, despite how she's still very nervous and really, really ashamed still. The things she did and said, the people she hurt, the one she killed... That's going to weigh heavy on her for much longer than just a month. But the first step to growing and moving on is to address and confront it. To apologize.

So the video opens up with Ochako sitting in presumably her living room, which...anyone who knows her, or has been to her and Bakugou's home before, will notice is different. Different wall colors, different arrangement of furniture, just...overall different. But she makes no note of that. Instead, she just puts on a sheepish smile to the camera and bows lightly.]

Ehehe...hello, everyone. It's been a while since I posted to the network, ne? S-Some here in Trench might know me, but I bet a lot of others don't. My name is Uraraka--...um! O-Or Ochako, if you're from the Western hemisphere of Earth. [She rubs the back of her head, mussing up her hair a little. Anyone who knows her would know, again, this is a nervous tic Ochako has. She clears her throat and laughs awkwardly.] Last month was, eeh...p-pretty crazy, huh? I know I went, um...pretty crazy. Myself.

[Her smile falls, and so does her hand in her hair, settling into her lap as Ochako sighs. She then sets her omni down on the floor she's kneeling on, looking rather somber all of a sudden as she takes a deep breath in and out, as if preparing herself.]

It's true it wasn't really me, that it was all part of The Reckoning's...stuff, but. That doesn't mean it didn't happen, and I couldn't have tried harder to fight it. Neither does it make anything better, because it was still my body, my voice, that did and said all those things. So, I just...I--

I want to apologize. To everyone I hurt in some way. I am...deeply sorry, for everything.

[She gazes downward, and then bows as low as she can, a full dogeza. Ochako said nasty things, physically and emotionally hurt people she considers very friends. She even went and killed someone in cold blood at some point, among other things. She can still see the blood, hear the breaking of a neck, the splatter of a body on hard ground... Those thing's can't be erased, but she can at least admit they happened, and apologize for them. It's the first thing to do before she starts trying to make amends for it.

She rises, just for a moment, before bowing back down again.]

And to those that helped me overcome...thank you. Even if it was just for a moment, you really saved me. I'm grateful.

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.. It seems this sort of thing happens to a lot of people in this place though.

[ If the month he arrived was any indication, anyway. Daniel doesn't have too much of a reference point since he hasn't been in this place for too long, but even just from what he's seen so far, losing control of yourself and hurting other people.. it seems to be a pretty common occurence here.

Even if it's obviously not a good one.

But that thought makes it hurt a little to see someone as young as her blaming herself over it. If it's something that even adults can't handle, then how is she ever supposed to be strong enough to deal with it by herself? It's not fair of her to put so much pressure on herself. ]

Do you think that those other people it happens to are also in the wrong? That they should've done their best to fight harder against it? [ His tone is not accusatory in any way, mind you.

It's still gentle. Like he's trying to hold up a mirror in front of her, showing just how unnecessarily hard she's being on herself. It's something you don't often notice yourself, but to a third party like Daniel, it can be clear as day. ]

Yeah...s'my first time going through it myself, though.

[And, maybe foolishly, Ochako thought she'd have what it takes to take it on. She is by no means inexperienced with tough battles and scary situations - the war raging in her world, on top of everything else she and her classmates have gone through over their one year at UA...it toughened them all up. Even just training and stuff, too. She thought she was prepared for it, but Ochako's facing the reality that she, and even her strongest friends, just can't push through it on on faith and determination alone. That's not possible. And for a small sixteen year old kid, that's a really hard pill to swallow.]

N-No, I--...of course not. If they were fighting against it too, then they were trying hard like I was. I just... [Ochako sighs, hanging her head.] I don't want it to be an excuse, y'know? It shouldn't be an excuse. I can't tell anyone else how to treat it, they'll deal with it differently than me I bet, but...someone else said it best: I can't remove myself from the act itself. I don't want to.

...Too many people back in my world ignore the bad things they do, or did, and don't try to change. Or it gets hidden away somehow, to protect their image. I can take the burden - if I don't, I can't grow past it. [And people are counting on her to keep moving forward. She can't let this be a setback.]

[ It's a little surprising to hear something like this from someone so young. But then again - hasn't Daniel been caught off guard by the sheer maturity that children are sometimes able to display out of nowhere? You can't ever give them too little credit, especially when they can be this mature over something so painful. ]

Don't get me wrong. I think it's great that you want to take responsibility. [ Especially when Daniel sure does know kids who would run away from that as soon as they could.. Even if they didn't have a valid excuse, like in Ochako's case. ] You're right that it's something you can really grow from. You can see where maybe mistakes have been made, and try to avoid those next time..

[ His voice trails off though, indicating that he's not done. And he very much isn't, since he shakes his head and continues. ]

But if it turns out to be too hard at any point, you shouldn't cling onto it too hard either. You can't grow if it weighs down so heavily on you that it makes you sink rather than float, you know?

.. I guess what I'm trying to say is that you should cut yourself some slack if it does get too hard at any point. [ The corners of his lips curl up a little into a faint smile. ] But you seem like a bright girl, so I'm sure you'll figure it all out in the long run.

[This guy definitely has her pegged, and Ochako actually blushes a little bit, hunching her shoulders a little. She's prone to compartmentalize, leave things in the back of her mind to fester and grow moldy, seeping into the cracks of her heart and mind until they do indeed weigh her down with guilt and regret. Not going to help Bakugou when he was kidnapped was one of those regrets, and also with Sir Nighteye...

Heh, it almost reminds her a little bit of Aizawa, though this man is far less, ah...~~vampiric~~ ~~hobo-esque~~ blunt. Her lip quirks a little, remembering and missing her dear sensei, but it's enough to put her in better spirits - remembering the people she's close to, and cares about.]

Ehehe, I appreciate that. I'll, um...I'll definitely try. [Because Ochako can't really promise she won't fall back on her norms. It's pretty ingrained.] You're very kind, sir, you actually sort of sound like my teachers back home. A few of them, if they were all put together in a weird sort of way.

[Mic, Aizawa, even All Might...ugh. Ochako misses them all.]

I'm hoping that's a compliment.

[ There's some amusement in the man's voice as he says it, like it's mostly a joke. After all, he feels like she does mean it positively, just going by Ochako's voice, but he is also well aware that most teens aren't exactly super fond of teachers as a whole - hence why he can't help but make a faint joke about it.

And also to just try and keep the air in the conversation light, considering everything the girl seems to have to deal with. ]

But I guess it makes sense. I'm a teacher too, back home. [ Not quite here yet. ] I run a karate dojo there, though none of my students are here.

[ Hence why he can't help but jump in and help other teenagers when they need it instead - like this post Ochako made. It's in Daniel's blood to try and help out kids when they seem like they could use some adult guidance. If he can't help out his own kids while being here, the least he can do is fill in for the teachers who didn't make it to this place. ]

Ahahah, it is, it is!!

[And yet she's laughing a little, which is probably also a good thing. Ochako definitely needs a bit of laughter in her life right now, since it'll be harder to do once her thoughts settle again. And though the UA teachers are definitely still teachers - meaning they have to be strict, assertive, and put their foot down to manage twenty or so unruly teenagers with superpowers, no less... Ochako definitely feels like it's a bit different in high school, UA especially, than it was in her middle and elementary school days. Maybe because her class all live together now in the dorms or something, or because they have one specific, assigned homeroom teacher, or just because...they've all been through so much? Whatever the case may be, her schoolmates and teachers have felt kind of like an extended family in a way.]

Oh!! There's actually some dojos here already! I'm not sure if you know him, but are you familiar with someone named, ehh...Johnny Lawrence? I learned from him for a short while, before being tutored by, um...ah...ehhh... [A dog. Who was actually...a wolf...and goddess...of the sun...] S-Someone else!! But I know martial arts from home, and from what I learned here, too.

You missed it - there was a tournament a few months back between the various teachers. I took the first place championship for the unarmed division, ehehe! It was a lot of fun!!

[ Are you familiar with someone named Johnny Lawrence, she asks, as if his life back home hasn't nearly solely been revolving around the other guy against Daniel's will for a year or two now...

Not that Ochako could know. Daniel doesn't blame her in the slightest. But his facial expression and tone do noticably drop for a moment as he says: ]

Yes, I.. sure know Johnny. [ SURE DOES. ] We're from the same place.

[ He figures that should suffice.

Hopefully.

Especially since he has something else to focus on, hoping that it also means she won't linger on the Johnny connection either. ]

But it's great to hear you won! You really must be something special to win that, I'm impressed. [ Especially in this place with people with all sorts of odd powers and training.. It's not even on the level of a regular karate tournament back in the Valley. ] It's too bad that I arrived a little too late to see you in action.

[ Though it's probably for the best that he missed the tournament and everything leading up to it for a variety of reasons.. ]

[Oh, that's...about normal a reaction to mentioning Johnny Lawrence, actually. But! Ochako laughs a little awkwardly, knowingly, and does indeed change the conversation point away from that particular individual. She can understand those types of verbal cues, even if she's young. Hell, right now there's plenty she doesn't want to talk about, either, so she gets it.

Moving on!]

Mm, it was wonderful!! Especially since in the final round, I was fighting against my best friend. We bought fought really hard against one another, and didn't hold back because we were friends, so it was really satisfying just getting to fight like that, win or lose. [But Ochako wanted to win, and it was that fierce determination and resolve that saw her through to the end.] I sprained my ankle, and was suuuper sore after, and I think I had a black eye for a little while, but I had a lot of fun!!!

[8Db]

[ Some adults may be a little bit concerned by teens talking about spraining limbs or getting black eyes, even if it's during something like that.

It's not as if Daniel is not one of those parents at all. He is a little concerned at the mentions, but.. on the other hand, it's not like injuries never happen during karate, or any other fighting sports, for that matter. And it sounds like Ochako mostly thinks back on it as a good memory, so that softens the blow a little bit. ]

Sheesh.. You're a real tough one, aren't you?

[ Daniel laughs as he says it though, shaking his head a little. ]

Are you saying that fighting your best friend is that much fun? Can't say I've ever tried it. [ Because Daniel was a friendless loser when he was younger--

I-- I mean.

Hm. ]

Maybe I've been missing out, seeing how enthusiastic you are about it.

[Considering all the times she gets beat up just in regular sparring, training, and physical exams at UA? Yeah, a friendly match between her and her best friend is a blessed memory she'll hold dear for a long time. Superpowered Hero kids are made of some strong stuff indeed ~~even if Deku likes to challenge that and break his bones constantly back home~~.]

Ehehe, I'm just used to fighting like that - it's part of what I do back home. I'm actually really lucky I learned so much from Gunhead-sensei in such a short amount of time. [She's love to give him a call again sometime, just to see how he's doing...if he's okay. Something to think about for the future when and if she goes home, and the war there ends at last.] But yeah, my friends that are here are really strong, so getting the chance to fight them in earnest is the best!! They have a lot of combat and fighting skills, whereas I'm pretty new to it overall, so getting the chance to show my stuff, and really go Plus Ultra is the best!!

Mm!! It's really satisfying!! I usually go on runs, or work out, or beat up dummys and sandbags at the gym when I'm uh...like this. [Mentally and emotionally dissonant, she means.]

[ .. yeah, she definitely is like some of the kids bakc home.

Maybe a little bit more intense, on account of the fact that her world sounds a little more intense than the otherwise normal karate land that Daniel comes from, but so many things of the stuff she's saying here is stuff Daniel could imagine his students - or maybe even more Johnny's students - saying back home.

It's faintly nostalgic enough for the man to smile a little. It's bittersweet. ]

Staying active is good. [ He'll agree with that, as someone who does karate to relax.. ] Have you ever tried meditating too? I find that it's a pretty good combination with the more active stuff, especially right before or after it.

[ Watch out, a dad nerd coming through with his Meditation Tips... ]

[She usually will say she's a Hero in training - with superpowers, a Hero name, costume, the whole shebang - but got a little off track in her excitement. Ochako's just like that, but if asked...she'll probably detail just how hectic and dangerous her life actually is. Even before the war, Heroes risked life and limb doing what they do, but now...it's especially bad.

Perking right up, she nods her head furiously with a grin. Seems her spirits are returning, or she's being properly distracted from everything else.]

Mmhm!! I do some meditative Tai Chi mostly, and Gunhead sensei taught me some breathing exercises to clear my mind and my body before combat training and self-defense. He, uh...eheh. H-He said I get kinda unfocused... [And he's right. It's still something Ochako needs to work on - staying on task, and not letting emotions and thoughts run high while doing what she does.] I also stretch, of course.

Do you teach here, eh...Daniel-san? I'd love to find a new teacher, or tutor. Or even someone to spar with.

.. hm?

[ The sound escapes him out loud before he even truly realises it. It's just.. surprising, what she's asking him here. Despite the topic of their conversation, Daniel didn't see it coming at all, actually quite humble when it comes to these sorts of things. It's not like he actually expects anyone to want him to help them train, after all.

But it's not a bad thing. Even though he's quite for a moment, stunned by the surprise, it's a good kind of surprise. Something flustering, but more than anything.. touching. ]

You'd like me to teach you? Are you sure? [ He tries to suppress a smile, but it's impossible. It's stronger than he is, fighting its way onto his face all the same. ] I suppose it's not like you're even close to a beginner, but.. then again, I also suppose Miyagi-do could be useful for anyone. It's a technique that's got a lot to do with both self-defense and protecting others.

[ And Ochako seems like such a kind, cheery girl that he's pretty sure that sort of thing would suit her arsenal. ]

.. truthfully, I've been a little reluctant to open my dojo in this place. [ It's definitely a bit more of a vulnerable thing to admit, but if she's being kind enough to ask him, then Daniel should at least be honest with her. ] I was worried people might find learning that sort of thing pointless in a place like this, with monsters and all..

[ And he didn't want to disappoint himself if no one turned up for lessons. ]

But I would be honoured to teach you some stuff. You could be my first student here.

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[Video; un: Uravity]

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cw: very mild MHA spoilers for season 4

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