Hikari 005: Life is Not Fair

Ten more. Each one is increasingly exhausting as the Deathmatch Princess forces herself through them by sheer force of will. Squats like this aren’t necessarily tiring or painful on their own at this point in her career. When you have to do them after multiple hours of other exercises, sparring and studying film of your opponent it’s a tad bit more understandable. With the recent backstage assault by a pair of vicious westerners, Hikari is in kind of rough shape. But she’s alive. If she’s alive she can keep fighting, keep winning. Keep doing these squats even when her mind isn’t really focused on it and she honestly would rather be somewhere more solitary.

Or at the very least, away from the woman who’s overseeing her training. HIkari’s still not sure what to make of the woman anymore. Some days Kagetsu is right on top of things, masterminding Hikari’s training regimen and fighting at her side. Others she’s off doing her own training or working with that old friend of hers. Seeing the two of them hurts Hikari in ways she can’t quite put a finger on. She tries to understand what it must feel like to be reunited with a friend after so long. In the end it’s something that she can’t, though. Not with how many friends she’s lost in the business. Not with how it feels like every meter she pulls herself up, she falls back down two.

She finishes the last squat and looks over her shoulder to see if her mentor is satisfied with the effort. Kagetsu gives her a nod, a smile.. and then walks past her. The flash of red and black hair is all Hikari needs to know about the woman’s identity. Hands on her hips in frustration, Hikari wonders what she’s done to deserve this kind of treatment. All the people she cares about leave her. She ends up having to fight on her own, and that’s harder when everyone here has teammates to rely on.

Units that have already formed or seem destined to form. Jamie has her friend Bea, and turns out to be little better than the other major force in WLCW, Orphan Black. Orphan Black is also dangerous, combining the cold violence of the champion Momo Watanabe with the frenetic madness of Starlight Kid. The two sides are on a collision course, with Hikari Noa right smack in the middle. And the icing on the cake is that her mentor, who should be watching her back, seems more interested in an Oedo Tai reunion. Nobody’s really in her corner now, it seems. To them Hikari Noa is just there to fight and bulldoze en route to the fight they want. Nobody’s been terribly interested in her for who she is. The last person who actually cared about her that way has been out of the ring for almost a year now.

The person who retired that girl? Hikari Noa.

A rapid line train rushes past Hikari, bypassing the station on its way to Shibuya station. Its speed generates a mild wind that blows her steely blue dyed hair dramatically. This evening is a little chilly, but she doesn’t feel terribly uncomfortable in the casual tan dress she’s wearing. Hikari is bouncing with excitement as she awaits the arrival of her best friend. In each of Hikari’s hands is a warmed can of coffee fresh from a vending machine on the platform. Her friend hasn’t tried this blend yet, so Hiakri’s gotten an extra can in order for them to both bask in its tastiness.

After the turmoil in recent months, Hikari is tremendously happy that her best friend has finally made it to Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling as well. Maybe Pinano and Natsumi Maki have left, but it’s okay now. Hikari’s not alone, she has her best friend to be her tag team partner as well! Both of them love death match wrestling too, and deep down Hikari secretly hopes they get the chance to team up in one. Together they’re going to be unstoppable! Sure Sena is rough around the edges, but she’s still in her first year of wrestling. With Hikari there to guide her and watch her back, Sena’s getting better slowly but surely. Someday the Deathmatch Princess and the Tokyo Space Ranger are going to win the tag titles!

Her pent up energy finally starts releasing as she spots a girl with silver hair that sports purple highlights. Hikari enthusiastically waves to Sena, stretching her arm as far up as it’ll go since Hikari is fairly short. Despite being bypassed by that earlier train, this is a fairly busy station filled with mostly students and office workers headed home. Thankfully Sena sees her outstretched arm and is able to deftly navigate the sea of humanity to reach Hikari’s side. Before the other girl can say anything, Hikari hops forward and throws her arms around Sena in an affectionate hug. As soon as they make contact, Hikari can tell something’s off. While Sena returns the hug there’s a moment of hesitation; Hikari pulls back with a bright smile and Sena’s smile in return is reluctant. Like there’s something waiting in the shadows that she hasn’t revealed to Hikari just yet, and doesn’t know how to reveal. Or maybe she’s just tired. Training is challenging, and they’ve both been doing a lot lately. Hoping this is the case, Hikari grabs one of the cans of coffee and offers it to Sena.

<Here, Sena-chan! I know you’ve wanted to try this one, so I got a can for both of is.>

Sena hesitates, looks down at the can, and then at Hikari.

<Hikari-chan, we need to talk.. can we go sit down for a bit?>

Hikari blinks, confused by the somber tone her friend speaks in. With a shrug Hikari nods and motions toward the end of the platform. Sena nods and follows behind her so they can avoid blocking the lanes of foot traffic which seem to form organically among the commuters. Each step they take causes Hikari’s anxiousness to worsen a little bit more. Panic starts to mount a bit as she ponders what it is that could put her best friend into such a state. They emerge from the more packed sections of the platform as if exiting a cave into open skies. Without immediate words both girls take a seat, one next to the other. First Hikari pops her can of coffee open, hoping it might ease the sudden tension that’s filled the air. A moment later Sena opens her can as well, though neither girl takes a drink yet.

Sena takes a deep breath, looks out across the other platforms and finally speaks.

<I’m not sure how to say this, Hikari-chan.. I.. I don’t think I can keep doing this.>

Hikari’s inner alarms begin blaring and she looks to Sena.

<It’s not that easy. The last few weeks have been really hard on me. I thought the training would help me work through this condition I’m in, but.. it feels like it’s getting worse. Hikari-chan.. you know I’ve been sick, right?>

<That’s just it, Hikari-chan. I.. I don’t know if it’s going to get better. The doctor said it might get worse if I keep wrestling..>

Sena looks to Hikari, tears forming in her eyes. Before Hikari can say anything Sena looks down at her feet.

<I’ve decided. I’m going to retire soon. And I want you to be my last opponent. Will you do that for me?>

A million thoughts race through Hikari’s mind; denial, anger and profound aching sadness all battle for her attention. She can’t subject Sena to them though, so she just nods.

<O-Of course. One last time, right?>

Sena retired last April and it still hurts. Worse still is that she's stuck just watching Kagetsu fawn over her own friend. She shifts her thoughts to Bea and Jamie and just gets angrier. Jamie can be as bent out of shape as she wants, but Hikari has earned her shot. No one else has been able to best Momo. If that makes Jamie and her friend mad, too bad. Life's not fair. If it were, Sena would be here teaming up with her. The intensity of Hikari's feelings grows and she realizes she needs to clear her mind. Not like Kagetsu is going to notice if she steps out. Yet she does, and calls after Hikari.

<Oi, Hikarin, where are you going?>

<Out. I need to be alone.. and then on Saturday I'm destroying Bea.>