The day after her match was interrupted, Dawn Sawyer wasted no time getting to the heavy dumbbells to lift over her body. A few of the Berserk girls were impressed. The others brushed it off and went on with their own training. Rio and Sakura approached her while Misaki watched.

"Need a spotter?" Rio asked.

"Not really counting." Dawn replied as she strained. "I'm just… practicing."

"For your match against Digger?" Sakura asked. "Yeah, I see what you mean."

"Have you considered sparring to sharpen your skills?" Misaki asked.

Dawn gritted her teeth as she rested the weight on the bars above her. "How am I supposed to train against her with sparring? Not sure if you noticed, but Yamamoto has three-hundred pounds on me."

"That's not her only advantage." Misaki said. "It's true that Digger is heavy, but another strength of hers is the League of Evil. They help her cheat and get away with it. In my last match against her, she beat me with a bamboo sword, smashed a box on my head, and had the League of Evil choke me with a rope and quadruple-team me."

"I saw that match." Queen Bee said. "How is it they're allowed to compete?"

"I know they're rotten wrestlers, but the animosity between us and them works up the crowd. That's why the referee allows some leniency."

"Even though they hit you with a steel chair or slide you on top of the ropes." Sakura added.

"Well, you still beat Digger though." Dawn said. "You made a comeback after all that, and you came out on top. How'd you do that?"

"Well, for Digger's size, I started off with gaining a bit of momentum. It really put more power in my attacks." Misaki advised. "As for the numbers, well, that's why I had Sakura and Yumi at ringside with me. So I recommend you get some partners to watch your back."

"Like who?" Queen Bee asked. "About half of Berserk treat me like a black sheep."

"Well, I'll be there if you like." Sakura said. "Never was a fan of their cheating anyway."

"Thanks, Sakura." Dawn said. "What about you, Misaki? I know you have a feud with them too."

"Wish I could, but I already have a match right before yours." Misaki said.

"Well, if I'm going against the entire League backing Digger up, I need at least one more." Dawn said.

"How's about me?" Chocho asked as she approached.

"Really?" Dawn asked.

"That's right." Chocho said. "Those broads gotta learn not to meddle in my matches."

"Fair enough." Queen Bee said.

"By the way," Rio said, "Whoever wins gets to decide the match stipulations in you and Hornet's match. In what exactly do you plan to challenge her?"

"Well, since the League of Evil have a habit to help each other during their matches, I figured I'd take on Beatrice where they couldn't." Dawn answered with a confident smirk. "So after I plant down her hippo partner, I'll take Beatrice on in a steel cage match."

"Steel cage, you say?" Misaki asked. "That's pretty smart."

"Thanks." Dawn said. "So, Chocho, since Misaki did recommend I spar, how about a round?"

"What, that beating I gave you last night wasn't enough?" Chocho taunted.

"You didn't beat me." Dawn replied. "I'd have you smacked down if the League of Evil hadn't interfered."

"Yeah, I could tell that you were going to win from the way your eyes rolled back after the Chocho Special." Chocho said sarcastically. That comment made a vein pulse in Dawn's head. "Actually, I'm a little pressed for time. So how's about a simple arm wrestling match?"

"Fine by me." Dawn replied.

The two of them sat across from each other at a nearby table. Each of them gripped the sides of the table with their left hands and grabbed each other's right hands. Misaki, amused by the idea, covered both their hands while they readied themselves.

"All right, you two." Misaki said. "When I let go, you to begin. One round. Ready… GO!"

As soon as Misaki released her hands, Dawn and Chocho began pushing. They both gave it their all as they struggled to move their hands left and right and gripping the sides of the table tighter.

Dawn began to gain the advantage for a second, but it only lasted about halfway to the table when Chocho's push gained some more momentum. Chocho's push brought Dawn's hand further than vice versa, but Dawn pushed harder than ever nearly straining herself. They tied back in the middle again and kept pushing, their muscles straining with great intensity. Chocho pushed harder herself slowly, but assuredly bringing Dawn's hand down on the table. As soon as the back of her hand hit the surface, they stopped.

Both girls breathed heavily before Chocho stood and smacked her winning bicep. "Looks like I win."

"An arm wrestling match." Dawn pointed out. "You still haven't beaten me in a normal wrestling match."

"You always this competitive?" Chocho asked.

"You should talk."

"All right, you two." Misaki said. "Chocho, didn't you say you had to do something?"

"Right. I gotta run an errand." Chocho said. "But I'll see you at your match, Queen Bee." She turned around and left for the locker room to change.

"Don't feel bad, Bee." Rio said. "Odds were against you on this one."

"That doesn't help." Dawn said. "Look, it's one arm wrestling match. Next time, I'll send her to the mat."

Sakura giggled. "Sounds fun."


Kanae Fujishita tapped her feet while she sat in the doctor's waiting room. She had been waiting patiently for the result of her physical exam. Soon enough, the doctor come on by with a clipboard and a sheet of paper in her hand. Kanae stood up to speak to the doctor.

"How am I?" Kanae asked.

The doctor flipped over her notes. "Well, according to my examinations… you're fit as ever."

"So… no more back pain?" Kanae asked hopefully.

"That's correct." The doctor assured. "You're perfectly okay. You won't even feel any phantom pain."

Kanae sighed assuredly. "Thank you, doctor. That's good to know." She shook the doctor's hand and left the office with her own thoughts in her head.

"I should tell Natsuki about this. Of course, I'll have to ask my boss to fix my schedule to part-time. Just wait, Misaki. I'm coming back."


Author's Note: Sorry if this one was short. I didn't know what to put in this chapter. But on the bright side, I confirmed in my story that Kanae's about to get back into pro wrestling. Won't that be fun?

The next chapter will be a Kaito-centered one, where he will get used to the layout of the Animal Squadron gym and its members.

Any and all comments are welcome.