Training for Up Ahead (Ophi and Cassie)

"That's just a theory," Valt commented. "Then again I wasn't involved in laying the foundation for these canals. All I know is that technically, if you let yourself float, you'll eventually end up in the center. But really I really have no idea why it's salty... guess one day we can explore on that?"

His seal is so precious isn't she? "Don't worry, you're helping him a lot. We're a big family aren't we? I'm sure even if he doesn't voice it out loud, he really is thankful for whatever you guys are doing." Of course that declaration is paired with a kiss to the cheek. 

To Ophelia's question, Valt simply nodded and smiled. "Yeah, that's the kind of guy he is. He don't want anyone to be burdened by his burden, so if he can help it, he'll do the dirty work himself, king or not. Well, that's the kind of person he is. Anyway, if you're up against him, make sure to be careful, alright?"

Cassie's question is interesting, but...

"Generally, nope. Unless I somehow have data of Angemon for example, that's impossible. Those that you knows as [Magic] are essentially high level programming. Under that is [Aura], or elemental manipulation... That's generally the limit of a normal Digimon who doesn't understand magic. Hikaru understands it, but how to say... he tends to be limited by his form's nature. Form's nature... let's say if you, Ophi, evolves into Sorcerimon, you would suddenly able to cast magics... but compared to those who understands magic to higher degree, you'll probably lag some... Hikaru is the reverse. His body prior to Alphamon generally are considered brute beasts. By that nature, he's "limited" by his form. He can use magic, but to lower degree than naturally magic proficient Digimons."

Get herself an extra pair of arms? "Get to Oujamon then," Valt answered.

The peck surprises Valt, but it's something that he enjoyed. He kissed Cassie back on the forehead.

"I'm blessed~" he declared. Anyway, what was the weight? It's simply a floating type weight that designed to make it harder for the puller to swim as fast due to the water resistance. Here hoping that Cassie could do it!

"Not sure if those Digimon would wander outside and get inside, though... unless they're amphibian, because the fish type tends to float for some reason... Well, that's what I thought... Come to think of it, I actually forget if there is any rain over here... Snow is obvious, but what about rain? Perhaps that's what caused the water's salinity..." Valt answered.

Then again, he's not too sure about it.

"Or probably salt is instead injected to the water stream to keep it constantly salty? Hell if I know."

He's amused how Cassie turned this talk from about Hikaru to about him though. Valt grinned and nuzzled her.. "You dorky seal, yeah obviously I'll lean on you now and then. You're my beloved girlfriend aren't you~? Even a big tough guy like me need to be loved now and then~" Valt joked.

Valt sweatdropped at Ophi's reminder that yes, this girl will not be careful and be reckless most likely. "...Hhhh, should've known as much. But I guess like this I can reduce my guilt that I at least advised you to be careful both as your teacher and as someone close to you."

Though what's strange is she have no idea about Oujamon?

"I'm not in condition to use my D-Nexus, but you can check the data on yours. Just careful to not accidentally walk to the canal while browsing your D-Nexus," Valt joked. Hope this time around she will seriously be careful. But then, he paused.

"...Ophi, how do you deal with people who use water techniques out of curiosity? None of my friends can use them I admit, but still, it makes me curious. I don't have any element weaknesses that borderline traumatic, so I'm really curious."

Hmmm, so Ophi is jealous? "Hey, you know what? Why don't later this Valentine we go together? Me and Cass, you and Bu, somewhere nice."

Valt gave Cassie a quick peck to the cheek after putting that collar though. "When it comes to floating object, it's less about the weight that you have to care about, Cass... it's the water friction. It's less than friction with solid object at times, of course, but... water can be moving. And if your force to pull minus the friction is less than the water's own force of flow, you'll be pulled backward you see. Well, the weight will also affect the friction though."

Why this seal is so cute? It's beyond illegal at this point! "I think if we argue who love another more, we'll stay in this spot for hours to come," Valt joked. "But I do love you more~" he nuzzled her cheek and gave her a loving lick. "After this we probably should eat somewhere, three of us. Got a nice place to suggest~?"

That's not the problem though. "Well, yeah it's not like you're going to fight to death or anything. Hikaru most likely would only teach you lesson how to fight with a defensive Digimon on the go. I think it'll be educative,  but... He tend to have this little mischievous streak when he's teaching... Mainly, he have this problem of often teasing his opponent as he fight. And in turn, well....

Let's just say he's in for a walloping, and that's why I said "be careful". He's the king after all. But... I guess if you want a real lesson, fight as a team rather than as an individual. If you want a true fight, tell him to go into his Plutomon form."

That's true, no one knows how to deal with something they have no idea of, huh.... "...I think it's mixed, but I feel that's why you should start thinking how to deal with it... If you gonna freeze or feel intimidated... I feel the best way to deal with it is to first get used to the warm bath in the sanctum. I'm not forcing you by the way, I'm just telling you how to deal with phobia. It's not easy, trust me, but eventually it's something that you have to deal with."

Dates are indeed for two people, but... "The idea of double date is to have fun with friends and introduce your date to your pal so to say. If it doesn't work then both party are free to do their own things so to say, so it's more to both romantic and bonding so to say..."

Does that makes sense?

"I'm thinking to go to the forest on the east or so--"

"You know, the forest is safe place and all, but if you want to gain some new experience, how about another place?" a voice suddenly called out. turned out on the other side of the canal, Hikaru is having his little morning walk.

"Sup? We just talked about you."

"Good things I hope, considering the city still haven't kicked you out," Hikaru joked. "Nah, the city won't kick you for a lese majeste. Anyway, training hard? I'm just going to the center myself, honestly."

"What are you planning to do there? Just inspection?"

"Just inspection, nothing to be worried about~ Anyway, the forest is very nice indeed, and safe, but for adventurous couples such as yourself and Bu, probably somewhere on the west or the tropics. Well, west is too hot...."

"Cipher Jungle then... Sounds good?"

"Well don't ask me! Ask the ladies! As the father of one of the lady though, I approve~"

"Hmmm, no preference? That's fine I guess, there are lot of places with kind of food that you described. There's also fried chicken place, have you tried fried chicken? They're mix of crunchy and meat, definitely my kind of thing. Also I'll give you something good later! Have I ever gave you any shrimp crackers come to think of it? We can't eat while we're in this canal though, so we probably should wait until we're above the boat til we can munch."

Either way, Valt suddenly have a good idea. "Actually, I think we can also have a little breakfast while still in the water, but I think it's best if the water is warm rather than cold like this.... Do you want to try, Cass? The so called "poolside breakfast"."

Ophi's noncommittal answer did not pass through Valt though. He silently wondered how he could help her with this. It's not that fighters shouldn't have traumas... in fact, fighters are more likely to have trauma, but there are points where Ophi should be more flexible... it doesn't make sense to have hypothermia in the tropics for example... sure in the north he won't try to pull her to the water either, but in other place? ...He's worried.

Granted, he did not said that to her face, and simply hoped that she won't encounter any fighter with water element soon...

Hmmm... Bu and him? "...I don't think we ever talked that much. Just pleasantries on the sides. Well, I guess it's a good time to chat with her and all that?"

Itch to spar? Hikaru tilted his head. "...For your information, I'm not really a fighter, you know? Well, if you insist, we probably can do something, but I can't see any direction where I'll win for some reason," Hikaru answered.

"is it fine for you to say that you can't win that easily?" Valt asked

"I can't see why not. It's not like I'm chosen as a king for my power. It's more of my charisma and defensive abilities. I'm a fighter who relies on his teammates to win, and I see no shame in that," Hikaru answered.

"But can't you test this future daughter-in-law or something?" Valt asked.

"...Well, if she insist..." Hikaru muttered, seem to not fully convinced. "Eh well, anyway, I'll try to see if I can make some room in my schedule for that spar. I can't say that it'll be epic, but I'll try to answer your expectation, fair?"

Anyway, Hikaru looked at his D-Nexus. "Welp, I'm going to be late, so I best get hurry! Now, excuse me..." Suddenly, he flew to the water, pretty much dipping himself in. He then lifted his tail and.. cranked it!? He literally cranked it as if it's a machine, then before long, he let out a motor-like sounds, then zooms away.

"....I don't know what happened either, don't ask."

"Fried chicken are nice... Too bad we can't eat on the canal because it'll pollute the water. We can eat on the boat, but we must be careful... because you see..." he pointed at the edge where there are some fried chicken stalls. They're selling the karaage type it's seem. "Well, there are many sellers on the central of the city too, so no worries there."

Eel crackers? Interesting. "Yeah, they're just made out of shrimp meat, so obviously it tastes shrimpy... I think compared to eel crackers, they're softer though, but still very much crunchy."

...Valt blinked though when Ophi said that Cassie will probably makes a sandwich of all thing said. "...I... don't think they will be delicious at all, hon... but at least you're valid." Valt bunted Cassie affectionately.

Poolside breakfast doesn't seem to be the kind that Cassie knows tho. That's normal he guess. "Let's see, basically, you just chill on the pool, and the food is brought to you with a floating tray. you eat while you swim, or just sit somewhere while your body is submerged underwater. It's generally not a traditional way to eat, but despite so, it's very popular. I guess it's because it felt "Fresh"?"

Hikaru tilted his head and nodded. "...Hmmm, I see... So basically you want to have an all out brawl with me? Well, that's fine... I can do that, but with condition that we'll stop if I say stop, even if none of us are going down, got it?" Hikaru warned.

Either way, as the king sailed, perhaps too literally, looks like both sisters are dumbfounded.

"No, i know nothing about that," Valt answered. "I really know nothing."

"Nah, sometimes it'll hurts your jaw, or somehow the crunchiness sort of clashes together. Honestly, I prefer balanced myself. Soft and followed with crunchy is the best in my opinion, but I don't mind either of the two. Just don't give me mushy thing. I think mushy is the greatest crime you could do to any food. I guess that's why I don't like porridge. I love cream soup though," Valt answered.

Valt then seem to be pensive for a moment before continuing. "...Say, what sort of power would our children get then? If your stomach apparently is fine with any sort of food... I just wonder what sort of combination that will spring out for some reason or another."

looks like there's a bit misunderstanding. "Well, we won't eat our poolside breakfast here. We'll eat it in our house, where the pool water is much warmer than this... And more suitable for relaxing at any rate," Valt answered to Cassie. Anyway, ignoring what happened with Hikaru....

"I have no idea if Fuu could, but Perry probably can't considering her body... But if she could, well, color me surprised. anyway, we're here! Time for heavier weight, and afterward we'll start practice using boats!" Valt once again fixed the collar on Cassie's neck and changed the weight after pulling it aside to the sides. He tied new one to Cassie's neck.

"If you feel you can't do it, you can tell me, alright?"

"Put a bread on top and a bottom of deep fried battered meat," Valt answered, grinning. "By that answer, yeah I love burgers a lot. Especially the kind that have crispy and crunchy patty. Battered chicken is my favorite, especially with aniki's gravy-like sauce, yumyum~"

Cream soup seem to make Ophi wondering what's it is. "Basically, it's a thick soup. The texture is creamy, similar to milk, but probably a bit denser, so it felt like you're eating something rather than just drinking. Have you ever tasted any melty cheese? It's a bit softer than that."

That's true, considering how different Valt and Cassie is, he's sure that there's a lot of factor to pay attention to. Thus, he guess it's only natural for them to have no idea what exactly going to be the answer.

Well, looks like Cassie is having difficulty in pushing forward. Valt noted that by now, the pull backward is probably more than her casual swimming. Thankfully, this is more of a test than anything. Not too long after they swam forward, they would see the boat parked on the distance.

"Yep, almost there now Cass! You can do it!"