Being let out of the hospital should be something to enjoy but for one Haruna Takaoka it was the end now she'll be in that date with the man she had for so long admired, adored and loved but in his typical fashion he didn't understand what he was implying regardless she was determined to make it up to him to let his return be memorable in a positive manner for once.
As the days passed her anxiousness was getting worst fearing the worst as she kept checking the places they planned to go to making sure no thug activity was happening in them for the past however long but thankfully they weren't but knowing hers and his luck anything could happen "No! even if something happens I'll kick it's ass."
Haruna yelled with conviction as she slapped her cheeks and looked in her closet following her mentors advice she wasn't going to pick fancy attire such as a dress or business suit it'll be an outing between comrades so she'll keep it simple but not looking like a bum.
She fished out a white t-shirt, black shorts and a yellow jacket putting them she did some twirls before she chuckled "I'm ready."
*Ding-dong
"Coming" Haruna said as she made her way towards the door greeted by her friend.
"Yo" he wore a blue jacket and a pair of green jeans "So are you ready?"
"I was born ready" Haruna proclaimed proudly as the two began their date "I got a variety of places to go-"
"Um Haruna is it okay that I pick a place first?" Naoto asked with a genuine smile.
Haruna pouted how can she say no to such a smile "Okay."
"Good" Naoto then wrapped his arm around Haruna's causing her to stiffen and blush as he lead her into the place, had she not been caught in the surprise of his arm around hers she would have recognized this road stopping at the destination Naoto proclaimed "Here we are."
"Max dome" Haruna whispered the seen of many battles between them and GWM once brisling with life is now completely empty and shut down but still standing tall "What brought you here?"
"Feeling nostalgic" Naoto answered with a warm smile as he turned to Haruna "I fought many battles here tough ones the very first one I believed I reached my edge was against Red death mask but thinking about you, coach and Takuma's father gave me my energy to overcome this struggle."
"Takuma's dad I guess I remember him he was that sickened wheelchair bound fellow right?" Haruna asked recalling how a sickened wheelchair bounded man insisted on seeing one of Tiger Mask's matches that one time.
"Indeed he and Takuma inspired me to follow this sport and it's because of what Yellow Devil did to them that I fought here and met coach and you as well."
Haruna wouldn't deny this's touching but their supposed to be having a good time not dwell in sad ones and him focusing on other people than her is getting on her nerves "But you already had your vengeance and Takuma had been doing better for himself."
"Yeah but ever since the whole thing with Mammy many had been questioning my alignment I myself am questioning it now" Naoto admitted as he looked up at Max dome "Looking at this place reminds me of what I had stood for and will continue fighting no matter what."
Haruna smiled "To me Tiger Mask W will forever be a good guy who fights for the weak."
"Um Haruna you also fought in here right?" Naoto asked "Against Ms. X."
Haruna tuned towards the dome gaining a nostalgic smile of her own "Yeah after that Big foot fella was making a fuss about how he'll beat you is when GWM had an interview with Payne and Queen as well as the Candy Pair, they looked extremely cool to me Milk and Mint that I was determined to be like them on that night I had both the pleasure of befriending and displeasure of seeing them lose I didn't have the courage of meeting them and assuring them after that loss."
"But you had it when Milk couldn't compete" Naoto pointed out.
Haruna's smile returned and became brighter "That I did, X was being a total bitch as always and I couldn't stand it anymore not to two people that I considered cool, who became friends with me that was the night I became Spring Tiger."
"You fought a good fight that night and won now that you confessed the truth to me I'm even more amazed by that match and that newcomer."
Haruna coughed "I wasn't that good…yet and X was an amateur so me and Mint won."
"That reminds me how did you learn behind coach's back?" Naoto wondered.
"I mostly watched and copied moves and admittedly Viper helped me a whole lot during that Furukawa mask event where I embarrassed myself during that match not knowing when I tag in or what I do when I do it, later both Milk and Mint also filled in some gaps Viper forgot about."
"Well you really talented Haruna and stubborn so you did well with what little you got" Naoto praised with a smile.
It made Haruna blush harder "Anyways I got a place for us to go to as well."
"Yeah sorry we got to make new memories rather than dwell on old ones."
Taking the lead Haruna gave one last glance to Max dome before heading to one of destinations she had planned for, after some more walking the two came towards Haruna's picked place being a bowling alley "I want to play a few rounds against you."
"As long as the competition is-"
"The loser has to buy the winner dinner!" Haruna cut him off showing her competitive spirit.
Naoto sighed in bliss sure it bothered him how competitive and how hot headed Haruna can be but it was part of her and he would lying if he didn't like competing himself "Hope you got enough money being the champion of a Mexican promotion doesn't pay much."
After registering and getting their shoes the two began to play with Haruna being the lady beginning landing a mere strike on her first try before taking down the one pin that dared to stop her perfect strike "Try to one up this."
Naoto smirked and with a deep breath throw the ball landing a perfect strike on his first try before turning to her "Already did."
Haruna gritted her teeth and took the ball landing a strike of her own before Naoto made a second strike, the two kept at it from strikes to mere strikes and overcoming impossible pins until the result finally laid in front of them "Phew Mammy would have yelled at me spending what money she gave me in one night."
Haruna on the other hand was dejected and nodded with tears in her eyes "Fine but next time I'll have vengeance."
Leaving the bowling alley the two came across a group of little girls playing one wearing the Springer mask "Here I come Mother Devil!"
The girls kept tussling and put a smile on Haruna making her bowling loss feel like nothing compared to this "Wow your becoming famous Haruna."
"Yeah I guess good to see some actual fans of mine rather than stupid trolls who accuse me of riding the cocktails of the new Tiger Mask's fame."
"Yeah" Naoto said with a weak laugh which didn't escape Haruna's notice as she eyed him with ire causing him to shake more.
"Were you actually thinking I was doing that?" Haruna asked with an accusing tone as she glared harder.
"Um I didn't know it was you at the time and besides she er you didn't say anything so?"
"So what?"
"It didn't really matter as long as that girl enjoyed fighting to me" Naoto admitted causing Haruna to sigh "I am curious however why did you change your ring name I actually liked Spring Tiger."
"I did too but wasn't my choice X forced me to shorten it."
"Still I really loved that match between you and Mother Devil and looking back now on how you had very little to work with makes it even more impressive."
"Yeah you helped too when you said about being a Tiger I didn't understand it at first but now I do, you along with Takuma wish to make a more fair and beautiful competition while also aiming to be the best though the original man was a heel at first he became a beloved face fighting injustices in the ring" Haruna looked up "From what uncle tells me of him it makes me regret not being around to see him personally."
"Me too but right now me and Takuma will carry on and be the best inheritors of that legacy, anyways I want a very delicious dinner like I said being a Mexican champion for Mammy doesn't pay much."
"Fine I know a place come" Naoto kept a keen gaze and was confused as Haruna kept passing one restaurant after another before reaching a place he never seen before.
"Matsuda and Juli?"
"It's a Wrestling themed restaurant the Candy Pair introduced me to, the service and food are incredible and has a reasonable price" Haruna added with a wink.
The bell chimed indicating their entrance "Welcome to Matsuda and Juli."
Standing before them was the Candy Pair's friend Jun Juli the waitress "Your Jun Juli the leggy waitress."
"Oh it seems I'm getting rather famous Gabriella did tell me I got a dedicated male fanbase" Jun winked at Naoto which made him nervous even more so when an irritated Haruna glared at him "Please sit here and I'll be with you in a second."
The two sat down as Haruna turned to her date "So care to fill me in on how you know her."
"Mammy tried to get her once when she came to America to do a Ring of Honour show but Jun refused" Naoto quickly defended.
Haruna sighed "Of course she would, good thing Gabriella is very serious about her girls or otherwise she would have been in deep trouble."
"That's why we're here to fix things and help Mexico's wrestling industry" Naoto spoke as he tightened his fists "Though I don't like the methods as Tiger Mask a sworn protector of Wrestling I must do this."
Haruna smiled warmly "That's just like you."
Naoto felt his cheek rising in temperature for some reason he can't understand not that he would get much of a time to think about it as Jun came "Sorry for the late so what can I get you?"
The two looked over their menu and placed their orders as Jun nodded and left them alone again, though after what she said Haruna evaded Naoto's gaze and his confusion had allowed a pregnant silence to fall upon them which gave birth to small conversation when Jun arrived with the food.
After digging in and Haruna paying due to her loss the two left, Naoto rubbed his belly "This place's food is delicious yet healthy and good for training I guess I'll frequent it during my stay here, thanks for showing me this place Haruna."
"You better thank Mint and Milk their the ones who brought me here" Haruna turned away with her arms folding up and a bush on her face.
"I guess that's something else to thank them over."
"Yeah-what do you mean?" Haruna quickly caught herself.
Naoto chuckled "Well they trained you, befriended you and been keeping you out of trouble in my steed so that's all things to thank them over."
Haruna was about to retort at some of these but ended up smiling "Yeah I'm lucky to have them as friends."
"Friends like them and Takuma are the best they help you and inspire you to be the best."
"Takuma is in Britian now right?"
"Yeah he's been working with Defiant wrestling and is now a tag team champion alongside Odin" Naoto looked up with determination the mention of Odin caused Haruna to hold her chest for a bit as she remembered Bunny Bomber and her relationship with the man "These two have each other's backs always did ever since their time in GWM."
Haruna smiled a bit bitterly at this before looking up at the color of the sky which is darkened black looking at the time through her phone it was 9 thirty "Well guess that's that."
"Actually I have something else in mind" Naoto spoke up with a serious tone getting Haruna off guard.
"What is it?"
"Come" he left with that prompting Haruna to follow him feeling a bit uneased about it.
Their walk continued until they reached the old building in which Kentaro used to train Naoto opening the garage through a key Naoto then turned on the lights revealing the ring "I wish to train with you, I had been meaning to do so ever since I arrived."
Haruna quickly smiled "Sure thing."
The two entered the garage taking of their jackets and rolling up their sleeves and most importantly putting their respective masks on "Ready whenever you are."
"Let's go!" Haruna cried throwing a kick at Naoto who easily blocked and shrugged before blocking another knee and pushing Haruna on to her back, the female feline gritted her teeth as she threw her legs at her opponent who blocked giving her enough time to roll back up and deliver a blade kick to his stomach.
"Not bad but you focus too much on speed and trying to get your opponent off guard for that reason you lost to Elizabeth you should also be able to run circles around or otherwise other large opponents will take advantage of this."
"So how to do that?"
"Simple we'll be working on your reaction time" following the answer the two of them kept going with the spar as both pointed something off in the another that they worked on until finally their fatigue caught up to them forcing them to settle down taking off their masks and chugging down on their bottles of water.
"Man this was the toughest training session ever" Haruna sighed in bliss as she eyed her former client "No wonder you're a big star."
"I did have a very good coach" he smiled as he touched her water bottle with his "And a very strong and tough not to mention scary manager coming with him."
Haruna risen and irritated eyebrow at this before she looked up at the time "Well time for me to go."
"Should I take you home?" Naoto offered getting up.
Haruna shook her head with a smile "No thanks you did enough."
Getting up Haruna began walking away leaving Naoto behind "Haruna I'll be cheering for Springer always."
Haruna stopped momentarily what she did next was something neither Naoto or herself expected she slowly made her way to him and before he said anything pecked his cheek before running off when her mind returned to her "Haruna wait!"
She was already gone when he tried to get to her all he could do was look on with confusion and a new found sensation of heat as he touched the cheek that was pecked.
(…)
"You kissed him!"
"On the cheek" Haruna quickly corrected her boss.
"I knew you were an annoying feisty girl back then but kissing a man before running off is messed up" X lectured.
"I was at the heat of the moment and well part of me still thought of this as a romantic date" Haruna laid on her bed looking up at the ceiling of her apartment.
X released an excoriated sigh "Well what do you plan to do when you meet him next and he brings that up?"
Haruna choked as sweat trailed down her cheek "Do you have any idea?"
X sighed again and Haruna was certain she was also shaking her head at her "This's your problem learn how to handle it."
"Wait Sandra-" the phone line was already cut before she could beg, sighing she looked down at her feet "What am I supposed to do?"
(…)
"That was rather cruel of you Ms. X" Lady admonished in her bored tone.
"Well if I cuddle her too much she won't grow" X defended "Besides I never been in a situation like that, what's the match card?"
Lady nodded as she tapped on her tablet "We first we have second match of the third grouping in the Six woman tournament the Nagas of Naniwa vs the Gorgons of Pacific Lamia, following that we have a single's match between Lyra Booker and Kyoko Natsumi, then Platinum Mask will be fighting against Solid Venom before the midway match between Cory Sniper and Kaito Marx which will have a commercial break after it once it's over we'll open up with a singles match between Jessie Ellis against Choco Caras, after that a match between Joana Smith and Daria Salivka then a video about Scarlett's planned return to the ring and finally the main event will be a tornado convenance store brawl between Dark Machine against Queen Bee and Clementine Cirrus."
"Alright then let's waste any more time."
A/N: We have reached it 100 chapters of Girmov this chapter mostly at least before the end there was Haruna and Naoto the two who started this federation with their involvement in GWM and partnership sure Kentaro counts too but this was supposed to be a date as well as ship tease for them which would blossom to romance in this story sure Naoto liked Ruriko but she and Takuma are a thing, looking back this was a story I never would have imagined to go on to 100 chapters since I began writing it simply as a story like Foxboy614 Wanna be the strongest in the world fics simple stories about the characters but I decided to put more emphasize on Wrestling which they neglected but after getting reached out by Epiclot214 and looking back to Tiger Mask W as well as some fighting games I believed the journey isn't over yet for our Tigers.
As stated in the end of the El-Palacio chapter Berserk and it's author Kentaro Miura who had left us were a strong influence in me to pick up imagination and write stuff sure looking back some of them were weird and cringe worthy but nonetheless it were things that I put myself into wanting to make a world and build around it for that I'll do all I can regardless of quality and depth. Thanks for reading and have a nice day.