APP:
Character's Name: Rock Lee
Character's Age: 20
Character's Model: Koike Teppei
Year in School: Junior
Major / Minor: Health/Fitness Education Major. No minor (but he takes multiple classes in other fields to broaden his horizons).
Clubs / Activities / Job?: Running for track. Soccer. School-employed tutor (based around his major). Volunteers his time on the weekends to give back to the community.
Background History: (T-taking liberties with Gai considering we don't have one
yet. Ssh.)
Lee lost his parents to a car accident before he was old enough to really remember them. He was old enough to recognise the loss, and unlike some orphans around his age Lee never held anything against his adoptive family: an elderly couple who may have made better grandparents than going through the full stages of raising a child. They were loved and respected by him all the same.
Through his younger years and into middle school, Lee underwent a lot of teasing, though whether it was for his peculiar attitude, his eyebrows, or just because he couldn't bring himself to be mean enough to fight back, it was unclear. He made few friends (such.. as.. Tenten, possibly. I need to.. ask. Um. -- friendship cards when they were five has been confirmed), which he cherished dearly, but it never was enough to push the bullies away. (It was strange, considering he kept himself physically fit enough --mostly due to his excess of energy leading him to sports-- to take them on, but they chanced fighting him, knowing he'd never strike back.)
One incident was worse than any other, in middle school when the punks were truly rearing their ugly heads: someone with a cruel heart had found he'd been taking care of a stray cat nearby the school, and Lee was unable to save the animal before the worst of the damage was done. It was the first time he hit back (and the only time he ever needed to, as no one messed with him once they heard the damage one punch had done), and afterwards Lee felt so awful that he couldn't do anything to help that he took it out on himself. This resulted in multiple cuts on his hands, a trip to the hospital, and scars which are still visible to this day.
It was somewhere between point A and B that Lee met someone who changed him forever. Though Lee had always led an innocent and energetic life to this point, this man, Maito Gai, had stepped in and brought out the best in him. Lee had a new sort of optimism and drive do be his very best, and very rarely let others put him down. Despite him becoming a New and Improved version of himself, Lee's quirky, strange appearance made little change -- except for, perhaps, his outfits becoming bolder and more offensive to ones retina.
Lee had moved to attend a new high school, in Tokyo (as his father had passed of old age, and his mother would have an easier time there in finding assistance in terms of her elderly needs) and easily made friends in this new place. A few people still thought him weird, but the city had certainly seen stranger. Being a more liked guy, however, somehow did nothing to help girls find more interest in him. Lee's dating scene was nothing impressive; he was a perfect gentleman that always got turned down because being kind and totally honest somehow was too much for the fast lived girls of today.
However, there was one girl he met, that Lee had first seen during his final year in high school. She never turned him down, and yet she never really accepted his courtship either. This endless beauty was the wonderful miss Sakura, and Lee was completely and totally head over heels in love with her, from first glance. They went on a few dates (or Lee thought so, but Sakura seemed to view it more as "friends hanging out") and soon enough it was time for him to graduate. Graduation certificate in hand, Lee confessed to her and promised he'd be back one day, because he couldn't afford the colleges of Tokyo even if they had more to offer.
He moved away to attend a cheap community college, working two jobs atop of his schoolings, and putting it all away. Lee mailed his mother (snailmail, and never email, as neither of them were terribly computer savvy) and made a trip into the city every holiday to visit, even if it meant taking a day off of work and spending a little of his earned cash. He built up enough to afford two years at university (which was all the schooling he'd need), and transferred back into Tokyo. Lee, after all, couldn't break his promise of returning.
Personality/Likes & Dislikes:One might describe Lee as ignorant, or naive. This isn't necessarily true, but it's not wrong, either. He prefers to look for the best in people, seeing them as innocent before they are proved guilty, and even then he might give them a second chance if he thinks they deserve it. Optimism leads him to sometimes forget that the world
can be a horrible place, but when push comes to shove Lee will do what he can to stop those who are actually bad from doing harm.
He's a romantic guy, who believes in love at first sight and happily ever afters and all that good stuff. Despite believing in having a one true love, Lee doesn't think love should be shared only with ones partner. He makes a point of hugging all his friends and sharing his heart with the world. Even.. if that means crying whenever he is moved by stupid little things that others might not think of as a big deal. He's very honest, in that way, and in every thing else that he does.
Lee has an endless supply of energy, able to run around all day, from the crack of dawn to sunset, and could still keep going if he wants; he's been this way all his life and doesn't seem to be slowing down any time soon. He's determined in his sports and is used to being constantly active. This is why, when he hurts himself through overexertion (because he really is sometimes
too dedicated to something), Lee is very,
very bored through his recovery time -- he often gets up a few days before he's actually properly healed to go do things. Sitting around and watching TV to kill time simply isn't how he likes to go about things.
There are times when he is self-punishing, such as when he falls through with a promise (which will never happen, so long as he can help it) or when he loses a challenge (that he probably issued in the first place). He used to be terrible about it, but now he has taken to doing things like running an extra lap
after he has reached the point of wanting to take a break. However, Lee usually gets caught up in doing things once he is active and forgets he meant to only make one more lap, and not twelve.
First person writing sample: Good
day, everyone! I hope you've all been well! I certainly have been; the weather has been most lovely lately. It was wonderful to take the train in yesterday even if it was a bit of a long ride. I was seated by the window and I must tell you there wasn't one cloud in the sky!
Perhaps there was one. Or two. The first would be lonely without a second, I imagine. Maybe there were more on the other side of the train that I couldn't see. Of course, I moved when we got closer to the city and more people boarded. I'd been seated there for so long! Someone else needed the chance to get such a marvelous seat.
I do believe there was something else I wanted to say that slipped my mind... hm. AH! Yes!
I HAVE MOVED BACK TO TOKYO~~!I found I couldn't move in to stay with Mother; she moved into the nursing home she'd been writing to me about, but I'm nearby enough to visit her! She'll be helping me afford my apartment until I find myself a job.
I do think I heard someone from the university say something about my grades being high enough to tutor.... Mother really doesn't need to help, BUT SHE INSISTED BECAUSE SHE HAS A HEART OF GOLD.
BECAUSE OF THIS, I WILL BE SURE TO VISIT HER EVERY DAY, OR I WILL RUN FROM MY HOUSE TO HER AND BACK THIRTY TIMES. ♥
Classes start tomorrow, but I already moved all my things in. I have but one box left to unpack, and what I had in my backpack yesterday, though I am not sure where I will put most of those. I'M SO EXCITED TO BE BACK. I wonder if I'll bump into anyone I know in my classes. I~ hope~ so~!
Third person writing sample: He'd been running with water in hand, but it was hardly as satisfying as the one he'd pulled out of the cooler he'd packed and kept with his bag. After a long run there was little better than a cold drink and a chance to catch his breath, and though he probably should have sat down, he didn't. Lee planned on doing a few more laps before he declared himself done.
He was feeling good, today. Better than yesterday, and the day before that. The past few days had been spent working on his track course, because he'd the mentality of a sprinter and the body of a long distance runner; he always ran as hard and fast as he could toward the goal without pacing himself. The only problem that stood for Lee was that the goal was far beyond where he could get to running on a single burst of energy. Instead of learning to balance out his speed, distance, and time, Lee just made a point of seeing if he could get those sprints to last for longer periods.
It seemed to be working, but the competition the upcoming Saturday would be the real test. Hopefully he didn't misplace his footing and trip right before the finish line this time, letting a member from some other team pass him by.
It wasn't like that happened often, of course. In fact, it hadn't happened since high school. Lee just got a little overexcited scanning the crowd for a familiar face, a chance of seeing a speck of hair that was unlike any other, and when he saw it he misstepped and
wham, hello dirt, you certainly taste delicious today.
She wasn't
actually there, and that might have distressed him more than him not placing in the race. Lee ran extra laps, either way.
Other Notes: Got permission to app a third. o/
- Lee might be adopting a pet soon, since his apartment complex allows it. I've yet to decide if its something really weird, or a dog. Considering his PB is pictured with dogs, methinks it'll be a lab. Named Buddy.