Chapter 43: Life Won't Let Us Go
Abandoned warehouse, inside the ring.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
Yuzuha, exhausted, threw one last punch, connecting with the unconscious Tojo Ran's face.
"Haff... haff..."
Sweat poured down her face. She gasped for air, only slowly rising from her mounted position after hearing the referee announce her victory.
"WHOAAA—OOOOHH!!!"
Maintaining her professional pride as an underground fighter, even with no strength left, Yuzuha let out her signature roar, declaring victory to the audience.
The next steps were routine: patch up her injuries, then collect her appearance fee and prize money.
"That was close... If I'd lost because I was hungry, my reputation would be ruined..."
Yuzuha clutched her stomach, her eyes scanning the crowd, looking for the man who had called out the advice. But she found nothing.
"That guy... he must be a 'pro,' right? I have to thank him properly if I get the chance..."
"Anyway... food first!"
Yuzuha changed back into her regular clothes in the locker room and stumbled out in a daze.
...
...
Meanwhile, two streets away, at a roadside oden stall.
Shiraki Kei and the woman named Tenma Nozomi sat side-by-side at the counter, eating a late-night snack and chatting idly.
"Bro, you stumbled into that match by accident, right? Are you interested in women's underground fighting?"
Nozomi chewed on a fish ball, explaining:
"That place... the organizers are called 'Valkyrie Opera.' They're at the very bottom of the underground fighting world. No high-quality matches."
"Heh, I don't know what kind of dumb luck they had, but that cheapskate boss managed to invite Yuzuha and Tojo Ran. Maybe it's related to the recent yakuza turmoil?"
"But I'm not in the life, so I don't know the details..."
"By the way, bro, what do you do for work?"
As they chatted, they opened up.
After Kei briefly introduced himself, Nozomi sighed deeply, giving him an "I feel you" look.
"Ehh—? So you are an underground fighter, but you're unaffiliated? That's tough... You won't make much money like that."
"Me? Haha... My situation isn't any better..."
Nozomi got excited and ordered a draft beer for each of them.
"Me, my fighting skills are decent. I wanted to make it in the legitimate pros, but I was diagnosed with a detached retina. So I could only fight in the 'underground'."
"After bouncing around a few groups, I came to Valkyrie Opera and had a 'great record' of three wins, zero losses."
"...I thought the audience would love me."
"But that cheapskate boss said my style wasn't bloody enough, and it wasn't sexy enough. The audience didn't buy it. So he told me to pack my bags and get lost!"
"What the hell? Winning by grappling is still winning! If they want a show, they should watch pro-wrestling..."
"..."
Nozomi tilted her head back and chugged the entire mug of beer. With a loud BURP, her face flushed, she declared recklessly:
"Ugh~ So yeah—Tenma Nozomi, twenty-six years old, is now beautifully unemployed! Let's drink to freedom~!"
"Hahahaha..."
Since he was in the same industry, Kei understood everything she said. And Nozomi needed someone to vent to, so she rambled on, already treating Kei as a drinking buddy.
"Bro, you're younger than me, right? Just call me 'Nozomi-chan'! Makes me feel young~!"
Nozomi raised her glass, slinging an arm around Kei's shoulder.
"By the way, bro—why were you wandering around alone at night? Looking for a... soapland? I know some people..."
"..."
Three rounds of drinks later, the food had lost its taste.
They talked about everything and nothing, occasionally exchanging ring experiences.
During this time, Kei kept thinking about that "key point."
—Disrupting the opponent's rhythm.
So-called "agile" moves often weren't about finishing the opponent in one hit, but rather disrupting their rhythm, letting your own "melody" take the lead.
The principle was the same.
That feeling... was somewhat similar to the "performance" aspect of women's fighting.
Facing an opponent physically stronger than yourself, letting your "performance" dominate, forcing the opponent into your rhythm—that was also a way to win!
"..."
A few more beers went down.
Suddenly, Nozomi got a call. She laughed and chatted for a bit, then hung up.
"Boss, check please!"
Nozomi paid for the oden, then grabbed Kei, not letting him leave.
"Bro, we hit it off so well! It's still early! Let's go to the next spot!"
It turned out Nozomi had two friends who knew she was unemployed—and had gotten a big severance package—so they were clamoring for her to treat them.
Nozomi, high on alcohol, decided to drag Kei along.
Kei couldn't refuse, and he was still a bit hungry, so he went with her.
...
...
Shopping district, Chinese restaurant.
Kei, Nozomi, and two other women sat around a table. With beer and food ordered, the atmosphere was casual.
Kei actually liked this feeling.
A few friends gathering, drinking beer, chatting, complaining about their lives, and comforting each other. It felt... real.
"..."
Nozomi recounted her unemployment story again, getting drunker and more reckless. The others could only raise their glasses in consolation.
Taking the opportunity, Nozomi introduced everyone.
"That one with the ahoge (cowlick) and shark teeth is Iori Ichika. She's been my bad influence since childhood. She's a 'cop,' but has a terrible temper."
"She used to be in the Organized Crime Control Division, but she beat up her incompetent boss, so she got transferred to the Juvenile Division. Basically, she was sidelined! Now she has to do gray-zone jobs for pocket money..."
"..."
Nozomi looked at the other woman.
The woman wearing a kimono with long black hair introduced herself. "Mitani Hana. Head of the Jinguji-gumi."
Nozomi added, "That's a yakuza group."
Hana waved her hands frantically, telling Kei not to worry. "The Jinguji-gumi is tiny! We rely on larger organizations. Yakuza can't make money these days either. Can't make ends meet. Life is hard!"
"..."
"—And that's that."
Nozomi spread her hands, looking at Kei. "A poor yakuza, a corrupt cop, and me, the unemployed bum. Tonight is 'Losers' Relaxation Time'!"
Hearing this, Hana facepalmed. "Nozomi-chan, don't say that. Shiraki-san might get offended..."
Kei shook his head and sighed deeply. "No, to be honest... I've been worried lately, too."
"Right? Right? Who doesn't have problems these days! Life won't let us go..."
Nozomi had expected this and pressed for gossip. "Shiraki-bro, tell us! Venting makes you feel better!"
"Mm."
Kei thought that made sense. He leaned back in his chair and answered seriously, "I have ten million yen in cash, and I don't know how to spend it."
The three women casually teased, "Haha, right, you have it tough too... Huh?"
Six eyes went wide simultaneously.