Once this place bustled with frenetic intensity. Some of that energy lingers on, heightening what passion remains on display here. This was once the home of a faction that would secure the future for Joshi Puroresu by any means. Natural light blazes in through the few windows and dust particles dance in the rays of sunlight. It’s like an oven in here despite the door being open. Equipment sits stacked in the corner, unused since Power Rise’s dissolution. Only the ring remains as it was, as it was intended to be.
Many girls came here to forge the future, but none of them could agree what that future would be. Unlike the Sakamochi Solution, Ohka and Toki, Setsuna knows exactly what she wants. What she has to do. It’s all that fills her mind even as her body trembles at the strain she’s put it under. Setsuna groans in agony from the effort, watching the upside down world around her.
Kojima: <What’s wrong? Aren’t you going to be the Ace of Izanami?>
The words club the girl over the head with traumatic force, but still she holds the headstand.
Setsuna: <YES. I. PROMISED!>
Kojima: <Then don’t let up! Are you going soft?!>
Setsuna grits her teeth, tenses her muscles and breaths in and out to reinforce her exhausted body. Five seconds, ten seconds, thirty seconds. Somehow her power keeps her upright until the legend barks out her next order.
Kojima: <TIME!>
Setsuna crashes to the mat, all the pent up energy in her form escaping with a thud. For a moment her eyes meet Kojima’s and she’s startled to find less disdain than before. It’s a focus not seen since Toki’s time in MGP and certainly never something Setsuna has been the subject of. Her body screams in pain, but the teenager pushes herself up off the mat and waits expectantly.
Setsuna: <What’s next?>
Kojima’s eyes bore deep into her being, searching for something. Setsuna snarls, pacing across the faded canvas. Whatever it is that Kojima’s looking for she’ll do it.
Kojima: <A real warrior is ready for battle at any time. You have bravado, dedication and the right spirit. But do they hold up when you’re not fresh?>
Setsuna stops dead in her tracks. There’s more. Even after all this she still has something left to prove to Kojima. She presses down the frayed edge of her wrist tape and nods.
Setsuna: <They will. What’s next?>
Her body trembles; today’s workout has been more intense than even the past two weeks. But she must keep going. She can’t keep her promise if she relaxes. Kojima motions to the grizzled 26-year old leaning back in the red corner.
Kojima: <This is not assaulting Aria Knight from behind. Shibasaki-san will hit you as hard as she can. You have three minutes. Impress me.>
Setsuna nods fiercely and spins around to face the older woman, hiding her tiredness behind a savage scowl. As the two begin to lock up Kojima turns away, cupping a hand around the base of her phone.
Kojima: <You’ve been too soft on the kid, Takara-san. You’re wasting her just like that idiot Mariposa.>
Within the ropes, Shibasaki unleashes the full power of her hard boiled offense. Setsuna flinches at every blow, but still finds the resolve to hit back. Every day for three weeks her training’s ramped up in difficulty and despite that she’s still standing. Though her body shouts for her to take this easy, she can’t. There’s no semblance of sparring now - it’s a full-fledged battle.
SMACK! Shibasaki lands a torrential combo punctuated by a forearm to Setsuna’s face. Kojima looks on eagle-eyed, analyzing her every move. And there, just behind Kojima is a shorter woman with shaggy hair and a warm smile. Crash Mizumori. A moment later she fades away.
Setsuna’s fist connects with Shibasaki’s face, opening a cut on her forehead. Setsuna steps back, winding her arm up as her mom’s words come to her.
Crash: < I’ll be there screaming my lungs out the day you become an Ace, Secchan.>
WHAM! Setsuna hammers Shibasaki with a thunderous lariat that takes the veteran down.
Kojima: <TIME!>
Setsuna’s legs are jell-o and she wobbles backwards into the blue corner. She gazes at Shibasaki through the soaked strands of hair in her eyes and nods in respect.
Setsuna: <How was that?>
Kojima is as tired as her, but her voice still manages to carry that intimidating power.
Kojima: <You’ve shed your blood for me now.>
Setsuna touches her cheek, then beholds red on her fingertip.
Setsuna: <Of course. You said yourself that our Joshi ring is sacred. Women have suffered and bled to make it that way, and now I’m one of them. That’s what an Ace does.>
Kojima: <Don’t get ahead of yourself, Setsuna-chan.>
Setsuna: <I proved it against Quinn-san when I turned her attack into my victory. I will continue to prove it when the Young Lioness Cup begins, Kojima-san. This will be the greatest test of my life, it might break me worse than the Russian did, but I’m going to keep my promise. There are a lot of girls from around the world here and I’m going to show them that in this sacred ring, a true Joshi wrestler is at her most powerful. None of them will take my spot atop Izanami!>
Setsuna slaps the worn-out turnbuckle emphatically.
Setsuna: <Especially not the grandma I’m fighting first. Jackobin dishonors this sacred ring with her cheating, abandoning her partner and claiming to run Izanami. She will not advance; for all of Izanami, I’ll shatter her brittle bones. I won’t rest until I lift that belt and trophy up to the heavens so mama can see who I’ve become. I have no option but victory.>
Setsuna pushes herself off the turnbuckles but stumbles, the mat filling her vision. Suddenly the fall stops and she looks up to see Kojima holding her up.
Kojima: <Well done, you understand. Go seize your destiny.>
