"Would it be okay for me to train with him then? It sounds like he is not a good person." Hinata asked worriedly.
"Not to worry Little Hinata, Garou may not be considered a good person by most, however he has his own sense of honor and justice. One thing to note however, is that he hates heroes. As well as those that are popular, to which we are neither." Miku explained.
Seeing that Hinata understood what she said, although still a little bit apprehensive about it. Miku opened the door and led Hinata in, the sight of the room left Hinata in awe as it was not actually a room.
The place they arrived at appears to be an empty section of land surrounded by large trees and a wide stream a little further into the distance. All throughout the field that they were standing in were different kinds of training equipment and environments. There were wooden dummies to practice against. What appears to be a long obstacle course with many different obstacles to get through, and a place where there are weights of different sizes and shapes for physical conditioning.
In the middle of the field stood an old man with spiky white hair, his back to them, his presence notable, yet seemingly spread throughout the environment making him seem like a part of the nature around him.
The old man stood with a slight hunch to his back, yet it didn't seem to make him any less imposing, if anything adding a sense of a predator ready to pounce on its prey at any moment, yet also making him seem like a simple old man. On his body was a tight black black jumpsuit that showed the muscles visible underneath, along with a pair of light colored pants.
The old man seemed full of contradictions yet it felt that was the way it was supposed to be. With his hand behind his back the old man, Bang, spoke as Hinata and Miku approached, "Well young ones, to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit? Most people don't come all the way out here for no reason?"
As he spoke he looked over his right shoulder, his blue eyes piercing into them, observing them and waiting for their response.
Miku looked into the old man's eyes as she started to explain, "Sir, we came here hoping that you can help Hinata here train and learn to fight. Where we come from…"
As Miku was talking Bang interrupted her not looking at her and stared directly at Hinata, who was evasive and didn't look into his eyes, "I do not wish for you to speak for her. If this is something she wants, then she should be able to tell it to me herself, if she can't even do that then I have no reason to teach her."
Bang, being as old and experienced as he was, could tell that Hinata was a person with extreme anxiety and a timid personality, she was obviously someone who would follow what others told her and not willing to put forth her own opinion. He wanted to make sure that this was something that she wished to do and not something that the person he assumed to be her twin sister, put her up to.
Bang kept staring at Hinata, not emitting any pressure, just staring at her. He could see her trembling, her shoulders shaking so hard he could feel the subtle vibrations in the air emitting from her.
'This has to be her own decision, not anyone else's. She needs to be able to take the step forward and express what she wishes for herself. If she can't be determined enough to speak her mind, she won't make it far as a martial artist.' Bang mused as he sized her up.
Miku wanted to walk forward, to comfort Hinata, however as she was about to do so, she noticed Bang glance in her direction. The moment she saw the warning look in his eyes, she understood what he was trying to do. He was trying to lead her out of the shell she had placed around herself even if it was only slightly.
Miku knew that this was an important step for Hinata as the girl was too afraid to even look at people directly, her personality became more and more withdrawn after their mother's death. Leading to even the most simple human interaction being difficult for her.
The only reason that Hinata was able to be so calm around her was the fact that Miku had always been by Hinata's side, even if she did not know it herself. The other reason was that they were in their mindscape and surrounded by a feeling that made her calm.
So knowing what Bang was trying to do Miku hardened her heart and stood still, waiting for Hinata to take that step. A little push forward is all she needs and Bang is more than qualified to do such a thing.
Hinata stood in place, her fists tightened and her gaze staring at the ground. She could feel her shoulders shaking, fear gripping at her heart. She could feel the gaze of the man that Miku had told her was named Bang.
She felt herself wanting to crawl into herself and escape from this situation. She had thought that things had gotten better since she didn't have any problems around Miku, even feeling that she could express herself much better than she had in the last 12 years since her mothers death and sister's birth. She knew that most people around the age of 15 have at least a few people that they can be comfortable with and be themselves around.
However she didn't have anyone like that around her, most girls her age talk about things that she doesn't understand, nor care about, such as boy's, crushes that they have on said boys, make-up and all kinds of gossip. She couldn't feel herself fitting in with such a crowd, the only people that she has even spoken a word to during her days at the academy had been Shiina Aburame, heiress of the Aburame clan and a loner such as herself, as well the couple of times that she spoke to Sasuke Uchiha. They had bonded slightly over the fact that they had both lost someone precious to them, as well as Hinata not being one of his fangirls, though Hinata knew she could never understand how deeply hurt Sasuke was.
She knew she was weak. She knew she was timid. She knew that she had social anxiety. However, just because she knew that, doesn't mean that it is easy to change. She had spent the last 6 years of school trying to be more assertive, yet she was only able to talk to 2 people and even then they had not been long conversations, mostly just a few sentences here and there, however even that made her feel extremely proud of herself. Including her sister Hanabi, that made 3 people that she was able to speak to without breaking down in the process.
And now? Now she had Miku to talk to, someone who understood her as she was, who understood why she is the way that she is. For the first time in what feels like forever she had felt free. The connection between her and Miku is the most comforting feeling in the world to her.
'I-I. I want to do better. I want to be better, I don't want to be the helpless girl who has to have those around her fight to protect her. I-I want to be able to protect Miku, a-and to do that I have to be able to protect myself as well. Yet how can I do that if I can't even look this mister in the eyes.' Hinata clenched her fists tighter, her nails digging into the palms of her hands as she felt the emotions within her start to shift.
Bang kept his gaze calm as he stared at the girl in front of him, he could see that she was starting to spiral, yet he also knew that this is something that she has to go through to be able to break free from the shell that she has placed herself in, even if just a little bit. 'One this lass makes the first crack, she will be able to spread them further until she is ready to emerge. We do not need her to emerge right away, but she needs to make that first crack herself, no matter its size.'
Miku clenched her fists as well as she saw the suffering that Hinata was going through, but she knew that this is something that Hinata herself wants deep down, that is the only reason as to why she has not yet intervened. She has spent much of her life not being able to interact with Hinata personally and she did not want to lose this opportunity that she had finally gained.
Bang looked at the girl and after seeing that she was reaching her limits he finally spoke to her again, asking the same question as when he first spoke, "So what is it that you have come here to do? This is not a place that most people come to visit."
As soon as she heard this question Hinata felt her mind stop. She stood there, her mind blank, slowed down to a stall.
And as fast as her mind her mind stopped, it started at an even faster speed, memories flashing past her eyes, starting from when she was a child, the look of pride on her mother's face as she looked at her, her father's indifference to her, the times she had spent with Hanabi, the times she failed in training, the times she had cried by herself in a corner because of the disappointment of her father crushing down on her. Memories big and small, important and inconsequential, all flashing by until they came to a screeching halt, what she saw now was a girl who looked so similar to herself yet with long hair, and a mischievous smirk, holding a glass of chocolate milk as she called it, her foot on the table and drink in the air as she ranted to her about the drinks greatness, the flush on her face as she got over excited about the topic as she tried to showcase its magnificence.
'Ah.' Hinata thought, 'It was never really that complicated was it?'
As she came to terms with what she was feeling she slowly raised her head, determination faint, yet present within her eyes as she looked back at Bang, her voice breaking as she said while stuttering, "I-I want to… to become strong. I want to be able to protect everyone close to me. I want to be able to keep them safe." Hinata said then cast a glance towards Miku as she finished, "I want to be able to stay with Miku, to keep her safe from harm, and show her all the wonderful sights that I can!"
As soon as she finished speaking her heart out she felt her knees go weak and started to fall down, yet she never hit the ground as Miku had hurriedly rushed and grabbed her into her arms.
After being caught in Miku's arms Hinata felt herself relax and felt the tension ease away from her shoulders after letting that out. She knew that although she wouldn't be able to speak to strangers confidently, she could at least speak more freely with those she felt a bond with. The old man in front of her radiating a warmth that felt like the grandfather she had never had but always wanted. She already felt herself finding comfort in his now softened eyes.
Bang stood there, still hunched over slightly with his hands behind his back, as he looked at the girl now held in her sister's arms, 'Ah, she finally did it. She made the first crack in her shell.'
"Very well." Bang said, drawing the attention of the two girls, a soft smile on his face as he gazed at them, " My name is Bang, also known as the S-Rank hero Silver Fang, I have seen your determination, as well as your will to protect those dearest to you. I promise you, with my honor on the line…
I will make you strong!"