Despite recently losing in rather painful fashion, having suffered a few head wounds in the process, Hinoka was apparently ready to enter the ring again at short notice. Even if there was no face to face meeting, she gave her in-voice and signed up for another match regardless of opponent. Spoiler
A familiar enough tune was enough to set the crowd on fire so they started chanting Hinoka's name repeatedly. This went on for a minute and a half but the stage was strangely empty. Was it a malfunction or did something go awfully wrong?
The redhead finally emerged out of backstage with an awkward grin on her face coupled with a rather disorganised walk. She just raised her arm in the air only to receive less fanfare than usual mostly derived from the confusion. A trained eye might have noticed some wincing. Either way Hinoka was ready to make her journey to the ring, but another noticeable change was how she was only walking to the ring rather than her usual march to battle.
Upon reaching the apron, she decided to take the steps and didn't even perform a spectacular flip into the ring. Hinoka just hung around with her back pressed against the turnbuckle as if standing around was just that much of a chore. The crowd couldn't focus on her for long as they had to get ready for fighter #2.
The slow beat of Latin music started to play through the arena and Yuiza Arroyo walked through the curtains with a grin and usual swagger to a rising chorus of cheers. Spoiler
The rookie had been on a successful winning streak since her debut and she was looking to add another W to the win column. However, Yuiza was eyeing Hinoka carefully as she noticed the red head was moving weird on her way to the ring. Yuiza felt that something was up, but figured that if Hinoka was good enough to wrestle than it wasn't Yuza's business to butt in. The rookie climbed on the apron and strode towards the nearest corner before flexing to the crowd to another cheer. She hopped over the top rope and walked to meet Hinoka at the center as she waited for the bell to ring.
Hinoka didn't pay attention to the calming music even if on a regular day she didn't take time to sniff the flowers. She wasn't aware that Yuiza would be spying on her entrance either. Instead Hinoka continued to rest in the corner with a slightly exasperated expression, wishing to just concentrate on for standing long enough.
Unaware if her opponent was friendly or somebody being wary of, she didn't make much eye contact and just walked rather slowly towards the centre. "...Don't hold back..." Her words almost resembling a whisper with how distorted it was. More were starting to catch on how unusual the redhead's mannerisms were today. Even without a defined strategy in mind, she still saw herself as capable of besting the opposition.
DING DING DING
Hinoka's legs remained frozen but raised her arms up even if the stance looked a bit more rigid and impractical with how little was guarded.
Yuiza immediately knew that something was up, Hinoka looked weirdly gassed despite the match having just started. Yuiza wasn't sure on how to proceed but upon hearing the red head tell her not to hold back,Yuiza shrugged and ducked down - looking to lift Hinoka and deliver a body slam to the mat.
Her message was stated, but the intentions were unclear. The referee was almost ready to check before a word put out. Hinoka had a basic offense plan, lure Yuiza into her arms and flip over. However that relied on the probability her opponent would start off the match through traditional means.
Just as the rookie approached she tried swiping her shoulders, only for Yuiza to leave her line of view. Before she could even bend down, the redhead was in for a little heart attack upon being lifted up effortlessly. Being in no condition to counter at all, she was slammed backfirst onto the canvas.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Screaming as if she was already being put through a finisher. Usually she would punch up or thrash around for a bit, but besides some swaying and twitching eyeballs, Hinoka remained on the mat.
The match was brought to a temporary halt as Yuiza caught onto Hinoka's strong reaction and halted her assault. This provided the redhead a tiny bit more room to heal even if she already looked busted.
After hearing the referee's words, Hinoka felt rather a bit miffed as if she was being underestimated or seen as dependent. "Of course I can!" Hinoka reared her arm and was about to throw a strike only to suddenly pause, realising she almost hit the official out of blindness. However some obviously didn't know that including the ref who felt a bit more alerted.
"Ummm...I...ignore that!" Her voice alternating in volume due to insecurities. Now sitting up again, she pulled her thighs up as if undoing a squat has become a workout. Once returning to a wobbly stand, she had only one thing on her mind, fighting the rookie. Scuttling towards Yuiza even if it wasn't sure they were in the clear, she threw a messy cross punch towards her opponent's chest.
Yuiza watched as Hinoka barely managed to get back to her feet before wildly swinging at the ref. She stood there as Hinoka shambled over there and barely managed to land a punch on her chest.
"Right, gotta put you down!" Yuiza muttered as she grabbed Hinoka into a facelock and pulled her towards the center. Quickly did Yuiza lift Hinoka in the air before driving her down with the Judgement's Hammer. Spoiler
Yuiza covered the downed Hinoka with a lateral press and hooked the leg, the referee going onto her knees and counted the quick fall.
"1!2!3!"
The bell rang and Yuiza stood up while the referee started to check on Hinoka proper. The violet haired woman looked disappointed, hands on her hips, as she finished the match with a mercy before she could do more damage to Hinoka. The crowd was a mix of cheers and some booes, but Yuiza simply shrugged to the fans and climbed out of the ring to start making her way to the back.
Hinoka luckily didn't get disqualified for snapping but what followed was worse on multiple magnitudes. Like her previous encounter, this sad excuse for a punch led to Yuiza being unfaze due to Hinoka's condition. Judging by the grunts, you could argue it caused slightly more strain to the user.
She was forced into a facelock and carried into the centre without any opposing force in play. Only a hawk's eye would notice the blank expression while Hinoka was hoisted into the air just to be suddenly twisted around like a waterwheel, all culminating in an agonizing fall. "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" As if she fell on a bed of nails followed by something inside snapping , yet less loud compared to the previous scream. Not even reacting to the three count ,her body became still as stone with arms spread, the referee counted at the speed of light.
So the match was over and truly an odd display of events. To say the crowd were disappointed was an understatement, since this might be a contender for shortest match in a long time yet they paid seats to witness a long haul. At best, a few merciful fans assumed Hinoka was attacked before the match even if far from the truth. Otherwise spectators were just chanting 'Bullshit' repeatedly.
Prior to this, Hinoka was gaining a lot of momentum for exciting enough matches and physique, but after an incident like this, any sponsors would probably want to severe ties.
While the stage was cleaned, the referee decided to not hesitate calling a medic to escort Hinoka out of the arena, for it was a no brainer she couldn't be trusted to leave otherwise. It required landing on her head enough times for her to think about past actions. Eyes disjointed and gazing at the lights.
Things weren't exactly spectacular before this. She was mostly walking a lone path but why? Most of her opponents were welcoming enough and mingled with them, however Hinoka didn't exactly build much from the initial meeting. There was one exception being Mic Check. That night out was one of the strangest yet exciting moments of her life, allowing her to connect with the world. She even tried developing confidence and a sense of humor by asking Mic for a sensual match, despite that not being her taste and more out of curiosity. Why weren't there any further interactions after this? Did she go too far despite being flirted on in response? She thought about it being a match where thousands watched. It almost felt like a publicity stunt exploiting the rocker's fame. Finally coming to that possible realisation, Hinoka scolded herself for making such a discomforting offer.
She had to force herself to be the hero one time and fight against Candice, a woman she barely knew in a hardcore match, despite the risk of weapons could have been avoided entirely. It resulted in a win but a trip to the medic after some fractures mixed with loss of blood.
The next match was just as brutal, having suffered further head injuries and back pain from that final fall. It possibly could have avoided by surrendering earlier having acquired plenty of strain prior to that moment. Tifa was a welcoming figure in comparison and could made a potential training partner or even friend, but Hinoka only thought of testing her skills rather than socialise in that moment. Would an opportunity come like that again? After another bullheaded decision, there might be no reason.
And to the present, having sustained moderate injuries in past matches it may have been eye raising to see Hinoka in matches so soon. Only now it was realised she never was actually cleared by a medical professional to compete. Hinoka just ignored any advice to rest and went off in her own volition, even lying to anyone asking otherwise. All it led to was further fractures, wasting time on what could have spent on other performers as well a stain on Hinoka's record. All four of these instances engrained in her mind. It was clear. The redhead didn't deserve any pity, for she was a stubborn socially inept piece of shit who mostly wasted her future here. Tears dropped from Hinoka's eyes while forcing herself to a state of self-loathing. The medics finally arrive to load her up on a stretcher and out of the arena.
