Ponytails: Heroes? Or just idols?
Oct 5, 2023 2:26:03 GMT
Post by Nana Productions on Oct 5, 2023 2:26:03 GMT
2022
Everything hurts. Dozens of spots she can’t pinpoint with pain she can’t even define. Chills run down her spine as she pushes the cold compress against her neck - one more pain to add to her checklist. The middle aged trainer’s eyes dart up and down, searching for anything more serious.
TRAINER: <Everything seems to be in order. You’re sure you’re feeling all right?>
Saya smiles cheerfully despite the litany of pains she’s suffering. The trainer continues to gaze upon her with concern, so she throws a thumbs up.
SAYA: <A-Okay! All in a night’s work. Nothing some rest won’t fix up.>
He sighs and nods as her smile persists.
TRAINER: <Very well. Take care of yourself, Onikawa-san.>
SAYA: <Will do. I’ll be good as new in time for our next show.>
With concerned huff he walks off to examine one of the other girls. Saya grips the slightly torn cushion of the chair before gingerly standing back up. It’s greeted by a snort from behind her.
<You can take a beating, but good? I’ll believe it when I see it.>
Saya slowly lowers the compress off her neck as the words stab at her. It only takes a quick over the shoulder glance to confirm her suspicion. Aiki Misora, the ace of QJPW, leans against the doorframe somehow simultaneously causal and incredibly judgemental.
SAYA: <Oh, Misora-san. Can I help y->
AIKI MISORA: <You can help by cleaning up your act in the ring. You’re making a mockery of QJPW with those crazy moves. Don’t use them if you can’t nail them every time. Otherwise you look like trash.>
The ace’s eyes narrow devilishly.
AIKI MISORA: <Then again that’s a perfect description of you. Trash.>
Saya’s eyes cut to the QJPW Regal championship resting on Aiki’s shoulder. She looks back up into Aiki’s eyes and jabs her finger at the belt.
SAYA: <Trash can do a lot more than you think. Give me a shot at that belt and I’ll show you.>
The ace throws back her head and laughs.
AIKI MISORA: <You?! And what have you done to earn that shot? What makes you think you deserve to share a spotlight with me?>
SAYA: <For starters, I took three Scarlet Suplexes tonight and kept getting back up. I beat the woman you took that belt from tonight. How about we find out who’s better next month at Ryu->
Her face scrunches up.
SAYA: <Ryugu->
Aiki folds her arms over her chest and starts tapping her foot.
SAYA: <Ryugogu..>
She clamps her eyes shut so she doesn’t have to look at Aiki’s scolding expression.
SAYA: <RYUKUKUKOGUKAN!>
Aiki cackles again.
AIKI MISORA: <You can’t even speak right! I will not be facing you at Ryugoku Kogukikan. You don’t deserve to be anywhere close to something this important. You’d probably break it somehow. Try not to break yourself, trash.>
She turns on her heels and saunters out as Saya clenches her fists. There’s total silence as she shakes in fury in the ace’s wake. For a moment mental images of a baseball bat coming down hard on Aiki’s unsuspecting form fill her thoughts. Then a hand comes down on her shoulder.
NANA: <She’s not worth it.>
The veteran smiles kindly as Saya lets out a heavy sigh.
SAYA: <I’m good enough to be top champion.>
NANA: <I know.>
She pats Saya on the shoulder.
NANA: <And someday, the big spotlight will be on you. You’re going to be a star.>
*****
Present
It’s a cramped studio no larger than a karaoke booth back in Japan. Saya glances up at the small nylon banner they’ve taped to the wall behind them; it proudly proclaims HARDCORE IDOLATRY in stylized lettering.
Next to her, RYKO holds a prop microphone and smiles cutely toward the tripod mounted phone. Nana’s got a flashy red sequin jacket on over a tank top, Saya one of her old t-shirts and jeans and RYKO.. well RYKO appears to be garbed in a uniform like idol outfit.
RYKO: Welcome back.. To HARDCORE… IDOLATRY!
She claps just a bit more enthusiastically than her co-stars.
NANA: Thanks for joining our live streaming episode! Before we continue with the American drink challenge, let’s take an audience question.
She leans forward, her eyes darting up and down as she scans her phone’s screen.
NANA: <Saya-san, RYKO-san, are you scared about your next match?>
Saya taps the rim of a pint glass full of brown liquid.
SAYA: <That’s right, they’re pretty big aren’t they?>
As she ponders this, she lifts the glass up and sniffs its contents. The odd smell causes her to scrunch up her nose.
RYKO: <Two big kaiju! It’s like one of those old TV shows. Two heroines in pretty, close fitting costumes battling big monsters. Which one of us is the leader?>
SAYA: <The leader usually wears red right?>
In unison they turn their heads to look at Nana, who struggles to keep a straight face. A second later she cracks up and doubles over laughing at the idea.
SAYA: <This one’s laughing, but she’s totally the leader type!>
RYKO: <She is!>
SAYA: <Well the kaiju - they’ve really steamrolled everyone who’s stepped up to them haven’t they? It’s scary to think what they’ll do if things don’t go their way. Look what they did to RYKO-san! But this time she’s not alone, and no matter how big or scary they are, we’ll keep getting back up and wear them down. We’re not scared! Isn’t that right RYKO-san?>
RYKO nods excitedly.
RYKO: <That’s right! In fact, i’m excited for the chaos this fight’s going to have. Now Saya-san.. Are you ready?>
Saya raises the cup up and nods.
SAYA: <And here she goes!>
RYKO: <Saya-san’s trying root beer for the first time.>
Saya takes a big swig of the drink, the other two watching eagerly. Suddenly Saya’s face screws up and she swallows desperately.
SAYA: <OH GOD, IT TASTES LIKE SALONPAS!>
Nana cackles with joy and the idols’ bonding time/stream continues on.