It's honestly bigger than Momo was imagining it would be. You hear stories about dwellings in America being larger but seeing the difference is a whole experience. Back at home she's used to serviceably small apartments that one or two people can make due with. To see an apartment as spacious as this is a shock to her. So much floor space to stretch out in! All of the furnishings seem a bit bigger too. Add in an actual, bonafide bed and Momo is convinced Io Shirai is living like a queen.
In the common area there's a simple television and very soft sofa which a girl could just sink into. It's on this sofa that Momo awaits her mentor's return from the kitchen. Where most people might just sit on it, Momo is splayed out like a very large cat at rest. Her right arm dangles limply over the edge, allowing her fingers to brush against the cool wooden floor. She makes no move to so much as blow away the annoying errant strands of hair that have fallen over her face. Instead she just stares at the bookshelf full of CDs and DVDs belonging to the Genius of the Sky.
One might assume that she was gazing upon a fine work of art given her seemingly rapt attention. Really she's just resting, allowing herself to simply be without any other goal. It's peaceful, almost meditative. With the gentle sound of the AC kicking in, Momo replays the events of the preceding Saturday in her mind. After pinning the legendary Emi Sakura with the Peach Sunrise, Momo was cheered. Her. Cheered.
What has she done to earn that kind of support? Don't they know about all the damage and pain she's caused? Do they not know the darkness she's surrounded herself in most of this year? However undeserving she feels of the support, it feels undeniably good. Western fans are more vocal than Japanese ones, so the impact has been much more immediate. Here in this place she's not a monster. Momo Watanabe is not the Black Peach. For these fans she's a hero. It's thrilling and bizarre all at once. Not being saddled with expectations frees her to just be. For a moment in that match, right after the referee counted three, Momo felt like her old self. A glorious if fleeting moment where her inner queen made a public appearance.
When Io came out, the inner Momo Watanabe disappeared. Her old mentor had made it clear she wanted to reform a team with Momo. In the couple of days since their reunion, Io has expressed the desire to help Momo. Just how is a mystery at this exact moment. So Momo has been staying at Io's place, doing nothing in particular. This sofa, she's found, is a very good place for naps. Heck she could just close her eyes right now and drift away..
<"Momo-chan, don't you take another nap on me. How much sleep could you possibly need?!">
Momo grumbles a bit at the tone Io uses toward her. It's like Io Shirai thinks she's Momo's mother or big sister. Still Momo knows that there's a lot of work to do in the weeks and months to come. She's well rested so she doesn't really need the shut eye. So she begrudgingly sits up, folding her legs in front of her so that Io has a place to sit. Io hands her a cup of iced tea and places a fresh bowl of popcorn between them. Another novelty of the west which Momo hasn't really partaken in much before. She shovels out a handful to munch on while Io speaks.
<"So let's cut to the chase, Momo-chan. I know you must feel really lost after everything that happened in Stardom. I mean, you joined OedoTai and started looking like a delinquent. You still do! What's with this look? You must spend a lot on eyeliner.">
Yeah, Io is already getting under her skin. From Momo's experience, Io doesn't really do gentle and caring. It's usually tough love or a cool front to hide behind. Sometimes the curtain pulls back, like that hug in Vegas. A hug that somehow felt genuine. Weird coming from a woman like Io. This criticism about her appearance, however, is not something Momo is just going to let go unanswered. She tilts her head quizzically to the side and smirks.
<"I was inspired by yours. I mean, what's this about?">
With just a few thumb taps, Momo summons a plethora of images of Io during her NXT run. With no further words she holds the phone up for Io to reconsider her position. There's an awkward silence as Io's face falls at the reminder. After a few more moments of silence Momo laughs and puts her phone down.
<"You're not one to talk, Io-san. But I have started to think about changing up my looks. This is really too shady a look for me, you know? It's a monster's look.. and that's not who I am.">
Io folds her arms over her chest.
<"Are you sure? The way you dominated Sakura-san a couple days ago says otherwise.">
Momo's brow furrows.
<"Look, you wanted to help me. Don't just sit there criticizing everything, get around to the helping part already.">
Maybe she's better off without this. Fending for herself in unfamiliar territory might be better than lectures from Io. But that instinct is wrong, isn't it? Making this about herself is the kind of thing that will lead to trouble, isn't it?
<"I'm getting to it. What I meant is that the way you look can affect how you see yourself. You start to see yourself as that kind of person. Take Mayu-san, she-">
Momo holds a hand up to interrupt.
<"Io-san, that's not helping. What does Iwatani-san have to do with my training?">
It's probably the 100th time, bare minimum, that Io has name dropped the Icon of Stardom. The two had been huge rivals while Io was the ace of Stardom. Clearly Io hasn't let go of that rivalry. Or maybe it's something else. Right now it doesn't matter, getting to the point does. Weirdly, Io doesn't respond right away, so Momo presses the issue.
<"So you're saying that I need to change how I look if I'm going to leave the monster dead and buried?">
Io nods.
<"Precisely. To act like a queen and think like a queen, you have to feel like a queen. Looking like one will help.">
Momo nods, feeling like they're finally on the same page. She plays with a strand of her still light colored hair as she replies.
<"I think I'll go ahead and dye this black again. Last time I felt even a little bit like a Queen, that's how I looked. Even with everyone else getting the spotlight, I felt like I could conquer the world..">
But she didn't. Despite the absolute war she fought against the most dangerous woman in wrestling, Momo couldn't win. She just didn't have enough of that fire or strength. Still, she hasn't had anything close to that since she turned herself into a monster. Maybe feeling more like a queen might help after all. It certainly isn't the worst idea. Yet she can't help but push back against Io just a bit. Momo's expression becomes playful as she adds a bit more.
<"Besides, we can't have two blonde women for you to focus on. You clearly want to focus all that attention on Iwatani-san.">
Io gets indignant.
<"What's that supposed to mean?">
Momo grins.
<"You tell me. You're the one who keeps bringing her up.">
They lock eyes as Momo awaits any kind of response from Io. For some reason this comment really seems to be getting under the older woman’s skin. Momo just sits there waiting, watching one of the most accomplished wrestlers of her generation doing mental gymnastics to formulate a reply. It’s quite the sight to behold! Getting one over on Io makes Momo feel good, and it stokes the competitive fire in her a bit. Harnessing that fire is going to be very different than just messing with io, though, and to be honest Momo will need some help to get it going. Still she can’t help but grin a bit wider as she realizes she’s thrown her old mentor off a bit.
<”Nevermind, Momo-chan. You’re right, she’s not important! Why would that idiot be important to what we’re doing here, right? So, where were we?”
Momo snickers.
<”Something about me changing my hair.”>
Io nods, starting to regain her composure.
<”Right. To get the outward change going, I made us an appointment at a local spa.”>
<”Sure, fine. That means you’re getting a dye job too?”>
Io nods, but Momo continues speaking before she can put it into words.
<”Then that’s fine. As long as we’re in this together. I’m not that 14 year old girl you took under your wing anymore. I’m not going to just do every single thing you think I should do without considering it. Maybe teaming up isn’t the worst idea, but I have one request.. no, I’m going to call it a demand.”>
Io is taken aback by this shift, Momo has never spoken so directly to her.
<”Sure, what is it?”>
<”If we’re doing a Queen’s Quest thing.. no more leopard print.”>
<”But it’s cl-”>
Momo’s expression and tone grow stern.
<”No more leopard print. Just.. no.”>
Io sighs and nods in agreement.
<”No more leopard print.”>
<”Good. As long as we’re partners, not teacher and student, that works for me.”>
—-------------
In the early morning hours, there’s nothing but the quiet sound of waves crashing against the shore. A force of nature rolling in and out, shifting the sands with its natural cycle. There are far less people out at this sleepy hour than when the sun is high in the sky, and that solitude suits Momo just fine. If there’s one thing she needs after a week alone with Io Shirai, it’s some space. Four years has been more than enough time for Momo to forget just how intense her mentor’s presence can be. One week’s been more than enough to remind her thoroughly.
Even that trip to the spa was a bit tense because of Io’s natural tendency to thrust herself into the spotlight. Moving to America means that Momo needs to polish the English she learned in high school; the more she has to use it, she hopes, the better it will gradually get. What happened, though, was Io taking the lead and checking them both in. Sure she’s lived in America for a few years now and as such her English is much better. But that simple action is a perfect example of what’s wrong with Io Shirai. The woman simply has to be the center of attention, the leader. Now that she’s an 8 year veteran and 22 years old, Momo finds it more annoying than anything.
After a moment Momo shakes the thoughts of Io Shirai and focuses on the present. A slight breeze picks up and blows her hair back over her shoulders and into her eyes. She closes her eyes and slowly shuts out the rest of the world. How does she feel right now? Certainly different than when she walked out of Stardom a couple weeks ago. Different even than when she walked out on a ToW stage for the first time. It’s hard to quite put into words. Almost as if she’s not completely empty anymore. While she doesn’t have a clear idea of how to find her way, she at least feels like she has more of a chance of getting to the ultimate goal. Somewhere down in the darkest corners of her person, the regal heart of a competitor pounds proudly.
<”So this is where you went to, Momo-chan!”>
The Genius of the Sky’s voice cuts through Momo’s tranquility and draws her back to the present. Momo pulls her hair back, cinching it with a blue scrunchie as she turns around to face Io.
<”I came out here to loosen up a bit. Things have been a bit..”>
Her face scrunches up as she searches for the right words.
<”They’ve been a bit tense since they.. um.. announced that tournament.”>
It’s not totally inaccurate, but it obfuscates the truth of the matter that Io herself is almost more hindrance than help. It’s probably better not to rock the boat right now. Io pats her on the shoulder and smiles confidently.
<”Don’t worry about that, Momo-chan. You do really well in tournaments, remember? I’m sure you can do this, especially now that Queen’s Quest is back!”>
Momo rolls her eyes.
<”About that, Io-san. I-”>
Io raises her hands defensively.
<”I know, I know, no leopard print.”>
Momo laughs a little but then looks Io right in the eyes.
<”I’m not so sure we should just make it Queen’s Quest. I mean, Queen’s Quest was really your idea. We’re in a different world now.”>
<”Hey, we made Queen’s Quest to be a place where everyone stands on their own. No one backs down from each other, and we all get stronger No leader, just mutual strength!”>
Momo sighs.
<”That’s not how it happened though. For you Queen’s Quest was a vanity project for Io Shirai. You made yourself the leader. For me, it was a family where everyone supported each other instead of one woman.”>
The two of them glare at each other, Momo’s conviction far stronger than Io seems to have expected. Io snarls a little bit in response. But then she relents and shrugs.
<”Okay, it wasn’t perfect either way. This time I’ll make sure that we all work together.”>
Momo sighs again; Io’s already at it, promising to make things happen even though she professes it will be a group effort. Then something else catches her attention.
<”Wait, ‘we all’? What do you mean by ‘we all’? Isn’t this just the two of us?”>
Io smiles devilishly.
<”Oh, I’ve got something special planned for you. A nice surprise.”>
Momo looks away, eyes drifting over the waves. She shakes her head and then turns around to head back to the hotel.
<”Whatever. I’m going to head back and try on that new gear I ordered.”>
Space. That’s what she needs right now, space. Space from io Shirai.
