It had only been about a couple of months since Hagashi started training his son in magic, and he was starting to feel a little hopeless. The man would express as such one day at home with his wife.

Hagashi
 What will I possibly do about that boy...

Hihisha
 Hagashi, he's only four years old.

Hagashi
 I'm aware, Hisha. But I've seen numerous a student his youth who are perhaps tenfold easier to teach the most fundamental of magicks.

Hihisha
 Perhaps he is just different somehow, you can't give up hope ere so soon.

Hagashi
 Aye, you perhaps have the right of it.

Hihisha
 Mayhaps his fishing venture with Papa right now could clear his mind on it.

Hagashi
 Fishing? Tarry there a spell, this is the first I'm hearing of it.

Hihisha
 Oh, did he not tell you? Hashi's nursery is closed for training today, so Papa said he wanted to take him fishing.

Hagashi
 Gods...


Hihisha
 Hagashi, what on Othard troubles you? Can your son not take time out of his day to bond with his grandfather?

Hagashi
 That is not the issue here, and you know it. I just fear he'll fill the impressionable babe's head with drivel.

Hihisha
 Come now, Hagashi. Let's not assume the worst. If I know my dad, there's no chance he'd want to get in the way of father and son. Granted, he's a colorful character, but one who knows his limits. I'll have it on good authority that they are surely enjoying a humble fishing trip and nothing more.


Hashi
 Grampa, I thought we were going fishing.

Hihiji
 Nay, that was a ruse! Today, you will be learning some real combat!

Hashi
 Real... combat?

Hihiji
 Listen, Hashboy, I know you've been having those little lessons with your father on magic. 

The man downs his sake like usual, helping him keep his train of thought in a bizarre and scattered yet most sincere way.

Hihiji
Ahhh!

He took a brief second to take in the refreshing nature of his swig, and then continued his lecture.

Hihiji
 Not only that, though. I watched 'em in secret! 

Hashi
 Huh? You did?

Hihiji
 Ayeuppers. And I could tell straight away, lad, you weren't keen on any of it, were ya? Go on, be honest.

The young lad feeling a bit pressured, he hesitated but eventually responded.

Hashi
 I didn't really like it that much, but dad doesn't care! He still wants me to learn his stupid magic! But I hate magic! It's too hard and it's boring!

Hihiji
 *chuckles* What if I told you, little lad, that you don't HAVE to learn it?

Hashi
 Huh? I don't? But dad said I do...

Hihiji
 Listen, Hashi. Your dad's a bit messed up, you see. Something bad happened back when he was a lad, a bit older than you are now, and it's cause of that that he don't want you just punching things.

It was true. Back when Hashi's father was just 10 years old, him and his rather headfirst pugilist-centric friend Ono'to, both looking to make some quick pocket change in Kugane, persuaded a local restauranteur to hire them to pick up about two bags worth of rice from a field in the local countryside, despite knowing the route was inhabited by ravenous beasts, and sure enough, this concern presented itself to them on the way back from the job. Whilst the young Hagashi proposed a more tactical approach to dispatching the creature, his impulsive friend disregarded this completely, charging at the creature that would soon enough overwhelm and deliver fatal blows to the reckless youth. Whilst Hagashi was reasonably able to scare the beast off, the damage was already done to his friend; only barely knowing healing spells at the time, he had no choice but to run for help, which sadly ended up being for naught as the unfortunate friend would be already cruising the aetherial sea once help had arrived. After this experience and a subsequent lecture by his already stern father, the young Hagashi would go on to resent the art of pugilism and similar forms of combat.

Hashi
 Oh...

Hihiji
 Well I say... Bollocks to that! ...Erm... Don't go repeating what I just said there, lad, that's a naughty little word only for grown ups.

Hashi
 So... Dad is wrong?


Hihiji
 Well, yeah, in a way, least in my opinion. Don't think ill of him, though, boy. In his head, he just wants to protect you cause he loves you. But that don't mean you should live a boring life.

The man kneels down to his slightly shorter Lalafellin junior.

Hihiji
 You wanna have a fun life, don't you?

Hashi
 I... I do!!!

 The boy quickly perks up.

Hihiji
 Heheh, thought so, ya little scamp. Now I'll get to the point. So hows about instead of learning that boring old magic from your pops, you learn how to punch and kick stuff from me, your pop-pops, instead?

Barely a moment passes by when the little boy chipperly gives his answer.

Hashi
 Oh, yes! Alright, woooo!!!


Hihiji
 Heh, knew I made the right call. Alright, lad, first, let's warm you up!

Some time passes, and the elder already dispatches his arduous training regimen he has planned for the boy.


Hihiji
 Corm'on, Hashboy! It's just an easy little push-up! Be quick now, we're a bit want for time and you gotta do at least 200 of these, so get a move on!

Hashi tries to meet the quota, but it's proving slower than Hihiji had hoped.

Hihiji
 Ah, of course... Silly me...

He takes yet another dose of sake before continuing his epiphany.

Hihiji
 Yer just four, and this is your first training session! No wonder this is so hard for ya!

It was a response so gauche that even the extremely young Hashi looked on in perplexion.

Hihiji
 Alright, I'll count it to 50 instead for now. Now go! I didn't stay stop, ya little bugg- er... I mean... boy!

After somehow completing the warmups his grandfather set for him, Hashi had gotten to the main course of exercises, varying between lifting, balancing on, and dragging rocks that were small but heavy enough for his size, as well as core exercises like various crunches, and a lengthy sprint here and there.

Through the series of workout sessions, his tasks would become progressively harder over time, yet the boy would show promise, exponentially more so than his elder expected, a prime example being that at this point he was already confidently walking across the soggy sand tethered to various heavy objects in a timely manner. Hihiji thought he knew the boy's limits at his tender age, but clearly he was training one who would become an absolute beast. Hihiji was also creatively coming up with all sorts of excuses to keep the truth from his parents. Fishing was the most convenient one, but he knew this alone wouldn't be sufficient, as it wasn't like Hashi had any special interest in fishing. The lad was good at it, though, thanks mostly to his special training under his grandfather giving him very good strength and nimbility, and Hihiji had actually taken him fishing a few times, both as a training method and as a precaution if the boy's father one day happened to insist he come along on these fishing trips to check for himself that it wasn't a lie to train his son in the pugilism that he deeply despised. Sure enough, this did happen once, about 6 months in, and while leaving slightly suspicious as the lad didn't seem like one who fished often despite being able to pick up a rod easily and throw it farther than the average amateur, he ultimately had no evidence to bring truth to these fears, so he decided he had no grounds to accuse. Despite being an old, slightly foolish, brain-decaying drunk, Hihiji was surprisingly forward thinking. Other excuses included but weren't limited to bringing him along to do the odd errand with him to get him out a bit more. This at the very least wasn't unusual to Hihisha, as he would always bring her along on odd jobs when she was little, even riskier ones like hunting big game, much to the disapproval of her mother. Hihiji had assured his dear daughter, however, that he wouldn't be doing this with his grandson. In reality, he'd have him doing much riskier things, once he was able to.

It would get up to about a year in, and the boy's promise was strong.

Hihiji
 Alright, Hashboy! Cooldowns are now done. Now, it's time for post-workout grub!

This was always what the lad looked forward to. It was certainly rewarding after having to do all the strenuous exercises his granddad was making him do. 

Hihiji
 Before ya tuck in, lad, pass me the ponzu, will ya? And don't spill it over yerself again!

His warning would be for naught, however, as sure enough, Hashi would attempt to hand him the already prepared small bowl of ponzu sauce but it would slip out of his hands, emptying the contents onto his own clothes.

Hihiji
 Auggh, see? what'd I just tell ye, ya numpty? You did that last time too! Little ponzu spiller! Y'know what, I'm gonna call you Ponzu Spiller from now on, actually, nah, too long. Just Ponzu will do. Just to remind you of what you once took from me. *groans* Enjoy yer grub, Ponzu.

Hashi
 Hey, come on pop-pop, I didn't mean to-

Hihiji
 Sorry, lad, can't hear you over my suffering eating this could-be-better tofu now deprived of its ponzu, by none other than Ponzu!

Hihiji would definitely have his petty, juvenile moments such as this, but little did young Hashi know, it was this petty, juvenile moment that he would go on to hold dear as a core memory.