"Protégé like you want me to be a Wrestler?" Yukiko asked Wrestling is something that never appeared on her mind after all fighting delinquents and reforming them was more in line with the police officing job her friends suggested for her.
"Indeed I see it in you Shinzaki the fire and the passion of the fights" Fujiko answered as she gazed at the younger pink haired girl with a nostalgic smile "You enjoy fighting don't you?"
Yukiko contemplated the question she didn't enjoy people getting hurt she only fought to protect those that needed help "No I'm defending people."
"Then you're a good face Wrestler one that would sweep fans hearts and minds, a selfless combatant with a fiery passion and the will to do what's right" Fujiko proclaimed as she looked up to the sky with a far away gaze "Right now the Wrestling world is decaying less applicants are intrested and more crowds are tunning out what it needs now is a fresh new start a new sun to bring forth a new dawn-"
"Didn't you hear her?" Shinya interrupted reminding both women of his presence the boy had stood up from his seat shedding his mask of gloom finally displaying an emotion one of a negative outcome anger "Don't go around forcing people to look things your way! Wrestlers are all nothing more than emotionless machines that care not for who they hurt! Belts and money that's all there is to them."
The boy wheezed from the shouting glaring at the bystanders that looked at him scaring them, Shinya picked up his bag and waved back "Thanks for the meal talk to me in never ever time."
Fujiko gave the retreating boy a solemn and pitied look letting a sad chuckle out "Don't worry Ms. Fujiko I'll get him."
Yukiko bowed and quickly followed after Shinya said youth was stomping his way through the street "Shinya! Shinya!"
"What do you want?" he asked glaring at Yukiko with weak unbalanced eyes.
"Shinya Fujiko wasn't forcing me into anything it was merely a suggestion the choice ultimately is mine to make" Yukiko answered giving him a fiery glare "You need to apologize for your comments their hurtful and untrue."
"So you're going to lecture me on the damn nightmare I had been suffering from?" Shinya asked trembling.
"No" Yukiko affirmed as she twirled her fingers "What I mean is er."
Shinya turned around and ran off from her sight "Shinya!"
"Let him leave" Fujiko told her as she caught up to the two youths "Kid got lots of things to vent about."
Yukiko weakly nodded and cast a sad look at where she last saw the boy feeling her chest getting tighter "Shinya please be okay."
(…)
Shinya huffed as he walked kicking anything that dared stand on his way until he made it to the apartment building in which his father had thrown him in hosting his responsibility on to the man in the reception "Hey kid-"
Shinya didn't let him finish as he took the stairs causing him to sigh "Just when you finally started showing emotions."
Shinya opened his room and slammed the door behind him throwing his bag unto the wall before he fell on his bed grabbing his elbow which he buried his face into screaming "Just when I thought-Wrestling will keep ruining everything for me."
The boy looked up to the ceiling his eyes becoming hazy as he felt warm on his cheeks sitting up he touched his cheeks feeling something lukewarm and wet being a water substance, looking to the mirror he saw the substance coming from his eyes "Why do I even care? She's just some annoying girl that robbed me of an opportunity to relieve myself from all of this."
He again fell back on his bed looking up the ceiling with a clear view on his eyes recalling the day he met her, he was in a dark place one that he wishes to never leave only when his time comes it was coming that day but she had to come and ruin it and has the gall to lecture him about the familiar pain and darkness he felt at home with "Augh."
He sighed staring into the ceiling feeling insulted by what had occurred not caring how slowly the clock ticked and the sun went down he could have heard a knock or two along with a ring but he doubts it, his mind is too preoccupied to feel fatigue always had been since he was thrown in here but these recent days had made it lighter "No they didn't."
Denial was something that also began plaguing his mind all around him are people filled with happiness confidant and hopeful for a future as bright as their dreams, all his dreams are of times that had passed times in which he was happy in Yukiko told him he had a bright future like everyone but he doubts it he has no interests nothing that brings him happiness as the sorrow that clouds his heart is eternal.
(…)
Yukiko had listened to Fujiko and left back home but her usual smile and fire weren't with her on the journey "I'm home."
"Welcome back" an adult woman with short pink hair and blue eyes greeted Yukiko "Dinner will be ready just wait until your father returns."
"I'm not hungry actually" Yukiko spoke with a forced toothy smile on her face.
"Yukiko tonight we're having curry" the woman said with a much higher tone of voice.
"I'm not hungry" Yukiko raised both of her palms in protest, the woman began shaking "Mom?"
The woman grabbed hold of Yukiko's collar "Who are you and what have done with my daughter?"
"I'm your daughter mom it's just" letting a sigh Yukiko looked to the side.
"Something wrong?" it wasn't normal to see her cheerful and fiery daughter like this.
"I-I just got in a fight with someone" Yukiko admitted.
That someone couldn't have been a bully or a street thug or otherwise she would be the normal Yukiko she knew "Is it a friend?"
"Probably and probably not it's complicated" Yukiko went passed her "Well no supper for me."
The woman looked sadly at her daughter "Yukiko."
Closing her door Yukiko slummed back against it as she looked up at the ceiling feeling inadequate, normally whenever she saved someone they would be happy and sing her praises if they were weak people and promise to be as strong as she is.
If they were a bit stronger they would claim they didn't need her help and scream but after a while they would finally admit their own short comings and apologize, for girls that think she's too tomboyish they would start modelling themselves after her and for weak boys they would want to be more manly.
Shinya Shimizu was none of these things he was a depressed lonely kid whom she only learned of his existence recently after she saved him against his will, she spent sometime with him and fought alongside him for their lives but even then she doesn't truly understand him one bit.
All she knows is that his parents had caused him great trauma that is haunting him since then, giving up and falling into bed Yukiko forced herself to sleep ignoring her rumbling stomach and her tongue's desire for curry.
Waking up the next day Yukiko did her regular routine only a lot more slowly as she still missed her fire making way to school she observed her classmates and others walking in either pairs or groups enjoying themselves and talking, Shinya wasn't around.
Swallowing her worry Yukiko went to class and when lunch break came she traced the place where he eats and he wasn't there either "Shinya."
She sat eating her food looking with loss at where the male sat and ate alone feeling her chest tighten harder than before, only the sound of the bell alarmed her as she returned to class and continued with her day but kept a far and lost gaze at the window wondering where he could have gone to.
As the school day ended Yukiko walked alone with her head down an uncommon occurrence to those who knew of her, the young teen made her way home rather than the streets to find and beat up punks like she always does.
The next day arrived and once again there was no sight of Shinya Shimizu forcing Yukiko to again feel guilt as her form slumped worse than yesterday this wasn't lost to her classmates "Yukiko are you alright?"
"Y-yes" she didn't even bother to force a fake smile on her lips as she walked away watched by punks who immediately made their way.
(…)
"And another failed combatant bites the dust" the commentator spoke as boos were heard with Panther Risako standing tall holding her title belt which didn't change hands for so many years ever since she won it destroying another rising combatant so effortlessly "Many question if the queen of the jungle can be dethroned-"
The tv was shut off by the giant shadowy figure who gritted their teeth "Boss we have a report."
"Come in" the figure ordered.
The punks entered and took their seats "So what can you tell me about the brat Fujiko wants to train?"
"She had been down lately" the first punk answered "When we asked she had some falling out with the boy brat we caught that day."
The figure spat in disgust "If Risako wasn't doing enough damage as it is already."
The so called queen of the jungle not only is she killing young tigers in the ring but now is throwing a wrench to Fujiko's prospect "Um Boss should we ignore Fujiko?"
The figures crimson eyes shined glaring unto the punk's eyes causing him to stiffen and shiver from fear "Fool! Who do you think I am?"
"You are-"
"I'm not a combatant that nigs on an oath I have taken nor break promises!" the figure stood the hulking form standing over the punks who fell on the floor with fear, the figure turned to the screen turning on the tv as the reporters gathered around the defeated opponent.
"With this loss Berserk will close down its doors as Risako had put this on the line in return for a title shot, how are you and the other berserkers feel Toyoda?" one reporter asked, the named Toyoda nodded weakly as she looked down.
The dark figure opened a drawer in the office picking a file with the name Berserk on it looking through she found one interesting person in it "This girl will be the key."
(…)
Yukiko got up beginning her new depressing routine which started about two days ago this third day Shinya better be there or otherwise…she lets out a sigh as she goes to the kitchen, after breakfast and some good byes she walked towards her school and again Shinya is nowhere to be seen in the crowd and on lunch break he wasn't at his spot "I really messed up didn't I?"
This conclusion made the once cheerful girl wipe tears from her eyes at how she failed to help someone in pain she Yukiko the defender of the weak just broke one of them, the school continued but unlike in the last two days Yukiko didn't move from her spot it's not until two worried girls came to her "Yukiko are you okay?"
"Aoi and Mika what are you doing here?" Yukiko weakly asked with a dry throat.
"That is what we want to ask you, where have you been all day?"
"I-I just-"
"Forget about Shimizu!" one of them scolded "If you cry for idiots you'll never sleep, you can't help everyone especially those that don't want to help themselves!"
"C'mon let's grab some curry" one of them offered as she helped Yukiko up while the other took her free arm and began dragging her along once they made it to the school gate they were intercepted by a group of punks leading them was a tall young woman with short pink hair and hazel eyes wearing a pink shirt along with a white skirt and black boots.
"Excuse me can we pass?"
The leading woman stomped scaring the two girls whilst Yukiko looked up at her with no interests causing the punk woman to yell out "Ah don't look down on me!"
"Hey isn't that Hiyori" a guy pointed.
"Scram!" the now named Hiyori yelled as the crowd disappeared, the young woman pointed at Yukiko "Your friends with Shinya Shimizu right?"
Yukiko felt her eyes sparkle "Um-"
"She's not his friend!" one of the girls yelled.
"Just leave her alone that jerk did enough damage to her."
"Wait how do you know him?"
"Aoi!"
"I'm just curious maybe she's his girlfriend or-"
"Do you know that bastard son of the queen of the jungle or not?" Hiyori yelled in frustration scaring both girls who lost their grip on Yukiko but luckily Yukiko got a grip on herself as she looked up at the punk girl.
"Queen of the jungle as in Panther Risako?" Yukiko asked.
"Yeah her" Hiyori almost spat "She took it away from me my dream."
Yukiko unwrapped her arms around the two girls as she made her way towards this Hiyori "I-"
"Where is he?" Hiyori demanded "If Risako won't listen to reason than his life will be it."
Yukiko's depression was washed away feeling a new adrenaline coursing through her being reminded of Shinya and how much pain he was in all because of a woman that left him and her wrong doings were blamed on him, her hands were clutched into fists and her eyes flared up "Don't you dare touch him!"
"You're his bodyguard or something?" Hiyori asked.
"No I'm the one who fights for the weak!" Yukiko launched her arm towards Hiyori who ducked and threw a punch of her own at Yukiko's stomach forcing her to fall back clutching it in pain.
"Yukiko!" the two girls screamed as they attempted to catch her but Yukiko stopped them.
Hiyori smirked "Risako picked a pretty bad protection for her kid."
Hiyori threw another punch at Yukiko but she ducked and threw a punch of her own towards Hiyori's cheek, the larger combatant managed to tank it as she brought both of her hands up and bringing them down at Yukiko's back making her fall on her face.
Yukiko lifted her face up coughing before she felt Hiyori taking hold of her and locking her head in, Yukiko's eyes widened as she tried to kick herself out but Hiyori tightened her hold with a smirk "Your really bad at bodyguarding one would think you would at least know how to endure and break off a sleeper hold."
Hiyori tightened her hold harder making Yukiko gasp as she struggled to breath "Stop it!"
Hiyori turned around to the two girls that carried Yukiko flashing phone lights at her face blinding her and loosening her hold allowing Yukiko to strike back with a headbutt that freed her, Yukiko held her neck and coughed from the lack of air she turned around and launched a kick at Hiyori but the larger girl blocked it and took hold of Yukiko's leg which she began to twist "AH!"
Yukiko fell on her back as Hiyori kept twisting her leg with a smirk "Now tell me where is the cub?"
Yukiko gritted her teeth as kicked at Hiyori hands forcing her to let go, Yukiko caught her breath as she risen up and launched another kick at Hiyori this time connecting "What do you want with Shinya?"
"My dream was taken away from me" Hiyori began "My gym Berserk was closed down not too long ago after our ace lost to Panther Risako for the IWWF Asia Heavyweight championship, the only way that Panther agreed for a title match against her is that Berserk will cease operating should she lose."
Her voice broke as tears fell on the ground and her hands clutched the ground "We had hopes as our ace is an international star on world stage but it was all for nothing, I'll never be a star!"
Hiyori faced Yukiko with a face full of tears and despair "All my life I wanted to be a star in Wrestling and now Risako had taken it away from me!"
Yukiko's expression turned to sorrow hearing this "That is why it's only fair I take something from her."
"No" Yukiko spoke the sorrow taking in a new form an emotion that she didn't feel for a while one she needed "Taking your anger and frustrations on someone simply of whom they relate to isn't an excuse!"
Yukiko launched her fist at Hiyori hitting her nose cracking it with blood trailing down from it "Ah!"
Hiyori fell back holding her broken nose in pain as she struggled on the ground, the larger girl forced herself up and launched a fist at Yukiko who was about to duck "Jump over it!"
Yukiko did as the call suggested and jumped over her opponents fist surprising her as Yukiko laid back and launched both feet's at Hiyori's face cracking her broken nose further "Ah! How dare you?"
Hiyori sent a close-line towards Yukiko "Duck!"
Again Yukiko did as the voice commanded and swept her opponents feet's forcing her to fall face first unto the ground "Grab her arm and twist it behind her back!"
Yukiko adhered the voice for the third time taking hold of the arm and twisting behind Hiyori's back "AH!"
Hiyori tried to hit Yukiko back but the two girls flashed their phone lights at her stopping her as she slumped down and kept weeping "Stop it I give up."
Yukiko sighed as she released her hold allowing Hiyori to stand on her knees and hand as the other one was brought to her face covering her weeping face, Yukiko looked down with a saddened expression as she offered a hand to her "Listen I honestly don't know what it feels like to have something you wanted for all of your life taken away from you but what I do know it's not fair to take that anger on someone else, so let's call it."
Hiyori took the hand and smirked as she launched a punch towards Yukiko "Yukiko!"
The two girls screamed but the punch never came "What?"
"Attacking someone that offered you help isn't nice" the voice that was guiding Yukiko spoke prompting all present to look towards the source being Dragon Fujiko having a tight hold on Hiyori's wrist "But then again you were a despicable heel before your gym was closed down."
Fujiko launched her own fist at Hiyori breaking her teeth and sprouting blood from her mouth, Yukiko tried to keep her grip on her fallen opponent's hand but Fujiko stopped her pointing at the punks who were shaking in their boots "Tell that person not to interfere again and that I'll do things at my own pace."
"R-roger that!" one of the punks saluted.
"Take care of her as well" Fujiko ordered pointing at the downed Hiyori.
"Right away" the other punk scrambled as both took hold of Hiyori and dragged her away.
"Thanks Fujiko I own you twice now" Yukiko spoke in gratitude but her fire was subdued.
"Something wrong?"
Yukiko sighed "Shinya had disappeared ever since that day."
"I figured kid had suffered a lot" Fujiko looked at the fallen Hiyori "He isn't the only one who suffered at Risako's hands as you saw just right now."
"Risako she might be the biggest bully I had seen yet!" Yukiko screamed on the top of her lungs "I'll never forgive her for what she had done to those girls who had dreams to what she had done to her own flesh and blood who had the blame hosted upon him."
Fujiko smiled as she saw Yukiko with determined eyes "So you'll be my protégé?"
"Yes but I need to make things right with Shinya first" Yukiko answered.
"Go and do that" Fujiko gave her a pat on the back to which Yukiko had nodded to as she began making her way, for the first time she began feeling like her old self again eating dinner and knowing of what she must do now.
(…)
After the school day was over again with no sign of Shinya Shimizu among the crowd or his spot the pink haired girl approached his classroom where a few students were preparing to leave "Excuse me do you know where Shinya Shimizu is?"
One of the remaining students a guy looked at her funny before he bursted laughing "No can't you see how happy we are with no gloom upon u-"
His sentence was cut short by Yukiko punching him so hard he fell "Please don't make comments so unruly about someone you know little to nothing about."
"We haven't seen him for four days" a girl spoke as she looked down feeling a bit of shame "Because he never interacted with us we didn't bother to know where he lives either sorry."
Yukiko shook her head with a smile "It's alright I'll figure this out myself, thanks."
After the wave of goodbye Yukiko took to the streets and began retracing the steps of all the places she and him came to, he wasn't in the stand where they ate with Fujiko nor was he in the café and even the back alleys where they fought for their lives.
"Shinya!" she called but only the echo of her voice responded to her, her ears perked up when she heard something before feeling something on her leg.
Alarmed the pink haired girl looked down to see a kitten its small size and sheer adorableness had relieved Yukiko who breathed a sigh of relief as she kneeled down and scratched the feline's chin "Your Shinya's friend right?"
Looking up Yukiko saw that girl again Mai Nagasawa "Mai nice to see you again."
"Likewise I guess you're looking for him again right?" Mai had her arms folded up.
"Yes I said somethings that I need to apologize about" Yukiko admitted as she looked down with sorrowful eyes an expression that seemed to alien to her face for Mai.
"Figured something big happened when he locked himself in his room and didn't come out for four days" Mai sighed "C'mon let's go."
Yukiko nodded as she got up and followed after Mai who took her to a fairly functioning apartment building it wasn't too fancy and expensive like some five star hotel nor wasn't some run down escape for hooligans and law evaders, it still maintained a respectful air and hospitable atmosphere.
Following in Mai had pressed the elevator button and took Yukiko to the floor treading carefully Yukiko and Mai made it to a door which is dark from the inside and locked tightly shut "He's behind that door."
Yukiko was about to knock but a hand fell on her shoulder looking back she met the eyes of a man that spoke fatigue "Here's a spare key."
"Manager what are you doing?" Mai asked surprised that the manager would simply gave out a spare key to one of the rooms occupied by one of his guests.
"Nagasawa this kid always been a problem ever since his old man hosted him off to my hands, try as I might I was never ever entering his circle of trust by this point I'll trusts anyone to snap him back to reality" the manager turned to Yukiko with a hopeful glint on his eyes "Please knock some sense into him."
Yukiko was surprised but steeled herself as she nodded using the spare key she swung open the door greeted by the dark and messy room her eyes surveillances the space until it landed on a blanket with something big underneath it, taking her steps Yukiko grabbed the blanket and tore it off meeting an angered and depressed Shinya Shimizu "What do you want?"
"To help you" Yukiko answered firmly.
"Haven't you had enough?" he asked with an annoyed glare.
"No I haven't as my heart will never forgive me leaving someone who's suffering so much to pass me by!" Yukiko declared "Shinya I'll beat up your mom and make her sorry!"
For the first time in ages his eyes lit up he could feel the water substance increasing but not in sorrow "Yukiko you-"
"Your mom is a bully and I can't stand bullies, will never stand them!" Yukiko smiled towards him "I'll make her sorry for the sorrow she put in you."
"Yukiko" Shinya got off his bed and hugged her as he screamed and wailed "No one ever said something like this to me before."
Overwhelmed Yukiko soon smiled as she patted the back of his head "I'll stand by your side and take Fujiko's offer weather it's my call or not one thing for sure Panther Risako is the biggest bully I had seen yet and she'll pay for not only what she did to you but to many aspiring Wrestlers and fans!"
Shinya couldn't keep it in for much longer his eyes balled out and his screams of despair were escaping his lungs, Mai and the manager wisely left allowing the two youths to hug and reconcile as she patted Shinya's head Yukiko looked up with determination knowing what path lies ahead of her.
A/N: Now with Yukiko's determined and her falling out resolved her training arc begins in the next chapter, for those who noticed the reference it was mostly just something I did doubt I would use actual Wanna be the strongest in the world characters here and thanks for Epiclot 214 for the design and info on Hiyori. Thanks for reading and have a nice day.