Izanami Dojo locker room
6.26.23
A small row of lockers is all the company Setsuna needs. Sure there are 9 other girls who train here, but she doesn't know any of them well. Only one speaks Japanese fluently, or so she assumes. In the interests of avoiding the claustrophobic crunch of everyone prepping at once, she comes here a few minutes before or after the rush. This emptiness welcomes her, allows her to focus exclusively on what's important. Becoming an ace.
Briefly she scrolls through her phone to find the only partner she needs: her workout playlist. Each of the song names is comforting: Hisashiburi no Lipgloss, Believe Again, Smile Always Forever and countless others. Idol music motivates her, makes her feel like anything is possible. Perfect accompaniment for her quest. She places an earbud in one ear and suddenly she's not alone.
?: <"What the hell do you think you're doing, kid?'>
The voice is low and fills the room without being raised. Setsuna spins around to face its source, wincing in a little pain. A couple of bruises can be seen on her body, courtesy of Bonecrusher.
Setsuna: <"What do you mean?">
Just an arm's length away sits a sturdy framed woman, her face hidden by a towel draped over her head. She nods to Setsuna's bruises.
?: <"Your bravado got you beaten like a dog.">
At the challenge, Setsuna forces herself to stand up straighter despite this shooting pain through her body. She can't look weak.
Setsuna: <"It's nothing. I couldn't just let them get away with what they did to Kojima-san.">
?: <"And you suffered for it. For Kojima?">
Setsuna: <"Of course. She might not see me, but I look up to her. Please understand.">
?: <"You look up to Kojima? Tell me, how's that working for you? You're not afraid to say it even when it paints a target on your back? The crazy Russian bitch was just the beginning.">
The woman's tone is sharp and forceful, prodding Setsuna with each syllable. Youthful boldness and her own sense of purpose create great indignance in response. There’s something oddly familiar about the interloper but that’s beside the point. Setsuna squares her shoulders, debating if she needs to get physical. This woman sounds like trouble.
Setsuna: <”I’m not. It doesn’t matter how many times I’m broken by them, it doesn’t change anything. Kojima-san means a lot to me and I’ll go through any amount of pain if it means some day she acknowledges me.”>
?: <”Is that all you want? Acknowledgement?”>
Setsuna: <”What I want? I want to climb up the uncharted mountain and claw my way to the summit. I want to shine so brightly that no one can deny I’m the ace of Izanami! I want to become so strong that even a legend like Bison Kojima-san sees me for who I really am! And whatever it takes to get there, that’s what I’ll do. I don’t think you’d understand.”>
?: <”Do not throw accusations at me. You want to be an Ace? Toki Minako said the same thing, and look where she is now.”>
For a moment Setsuna recalls that night in the hospital, her mother lying on the bed drawing her last breath. Her response is forcefully decisive.
Setsuna: <”I won’t fail like Toki-san. I will be an Ace. I promised someone very important, and I won't fail her.">
The woman's tone suddenly grows somber as she slowly forms a fist with her right hand.
?: <”Crash Mizumori-san.”>
Hearing her mom's name spoken startles Setsuna. The other woman leans forward, pressing the issue with a stern satisfaction.
?: <”To achieve your goals you’ll do whatever it takes, yes?”>
Setsuna hesitates for a moment. The familiarity of the woman's voice both angers and confounds the trainee.
?: <”Well? That is what you said.”>
Setsuna’s hands ball up into fists.
Setsuna: <”Yes. That’s exactly what I’ll do. By any means necessary.">
There’s an uneasy tension in the air as the two stare at each other. The nerve of this woman to intrude in their dojo and - laugh?
?: <”You have fire, now prove yourself. Kojima is watching, don’t disappoint her.”>
Setsuna’s heart skips a beat - how does this woman know Kojima is watching? The woman doesn’t explain, instead standing up to her full height; just under that towel glints a pair of exhausted eyes full of lingering intensity. They’re powerful and challenge Setsuna to respond. She considers leaning forward to see who’s under the towel, but the air about the woman makes it clear this would be ill-advised.
Setsuna: <”I won’t disappoint her. There are a lot of gaijin girls here - and one gaijin grandma - but I’m not close to them. How could I be? I don’t even speak their language. But I’ll send my message in the language of combat. I know Quinn-san has lived in Japan before and she seems to like it here. She’s fast and passionate. Maybe she can even fight nasty. But it takes more than speed and passion to be successful in wrestling. Even if she’s been here before, this is a joshi ring. My power’s going to rise to the occasion as I tear her apart limb from limb and break her spirit so no one can doubt my potential. Please tell Kojima-san that I’m going to do what Power Rise couldn’t by destroying the gaijin standing across from me.”>
No words come in response as Setsuna stands there pumping her fist emphatically. Suddenly the woman suddenly shoves a box into Setsuna’s hands.
?: <”That’s yours. Try not to get it destroyed.”>
Before any questions can be asked, the woman storms out of the locker room. Setsuna spins around just in time to see Takara Runa poke her head in curiously. Within the box Setsuna spots two things: first a jacket with the words ‘POWER RISE’ on the back. Then a scrap of torn paper with a message scrawled on it: Do better. -Kojima.
