This was not going to be pleasant. Kaoru watches Mari's attempt, working up his own courage to try.

He could probably get more than a foot at least. After it was obvious that she wasn't able to get any higher, he took a running start at his tree.

His hands slips at first and he winces - it was easy to forget how hard the bark was - but he frog hops up half the tree before his strength gives out on him and he has to frog hop back down before he falls down the tree entirely and breaks his neck on the landing.

Fuck indeed. "Can you see any smaller trees?" Practice will make it easier.

He didn't want to practice. He wanted to be home.