She immediately put her hand on her right collarbone. It wasn't until she was sure everything was okay that she finally realized it was just a dream. Still breathing heavily, she leaned back, lying on the bed again. Damn. It wasn't even a dream, it was a real nightmare. The Frenchwoman had seen this nightmare before, but recently, or rather after her title shot, she began to see it almost every day.
"Putain..."
This nightmare was not something as detailed as possible, just some abstract things.
Ring. Another title match. Ladders. Defeat. Broken collarbone. Shattered dreams.
No matter how many times Charlotte tried to focus and recall who her opponent was in this dream, she couldn't do it. One thing was for sure, it wasn't Kyoko. However, it didn't change much, because the scariest thing was that every time this nightmare made her feel the taste of decay in her mouth.
The taste of her burned-out aspirations.
Having lost all desire to sleep, Charlotte got out of bed. After washing her face and having a light breakfast, she put some things in her bag and left her apartment.
It might have seemed like she was going somewhere far away, but she wasn't. Charlotte went down just one floor below, left the building and walked exactly ten steps forward, after which she stopped in front of the entrance to her martial arts school. Yes, both her apartment and her school were in the same building.
Previously, she always had a smile on her face when she entered this place, because she devoted an incredible amount of time to arranging everything here in the highest class. But now there were practically no emotions on the Frenchwoman's face. The reason for this was the “closed" sign. After the string of failures that still continues to haunt her, she no longer felt worthy of teaching martial arts.
Taking a deep breath, Charlotte opened the door and went inside. It was dim there, no wonder, it was early morning after all. The giant space was completely empty and the only visitors were exercise machines and the other equipment. Charlotte could have left this place open as a common gym, but she decided against it. Lately, she preferred to train alone, and this ringing silence was a kind of pacification for her.
Forgetting to lock the door, Charlotte went to the locker room, where she quickly changed into her workout clothes. She only took a towel and a bottle of water with her, she didn't need her phone because she wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone.Workout outfit
Returning to the main room, she took a look at the rings, mats, and exercise equipment. Perhaps she should have opened the curtains to let in more light, but she didn't find it necessary enough. Instead, Charlotte warmed up first, and then took some time for cardio. Only when she felt that her blood was running through her veins fast enough she headed to a punching bag in the far end. After taking a deep breath, she began to work with it, trying with every punch to release at least some of the negativity that was in her heart.
Hana Ito woke up in a much better mood, with her day starting at the crack of dawn after a night full of rest in a comfortable bed tailored directly to her needs. A woman such as her didn't dare go about solving her problems with half-measures or empty platitudes. She desired the best, and that's what she got...and she was a firm believer that an early start to one's day would lead to the most fruitful outcomes.
On a day like this, however, Hana couldn't possibly have predicted how things would go for her.
Barely a week into her long-term stay in Japan with her new signing to LAW, she had a thorough tour of the city, enjoyed a myriad of sights, got into contact with family, acquired all her personal belongings from overseas shipping, and got herself accustomed to her new living arrangements. A weekend of deep cleaning, reorganizing, and getting to know a new set of neighbors would typically leave most people drained. However, Hana was NOT most people, and was barely inconvenienced by such tasks. In fact, she found them reinvigorating. For she met every roadblock with maximum effort and dignity...as a 'royal' should.
Of course, with all these matters settled, Hana still had to attend to her affairs regarding LAW. She was still being processed in their systems, so accessing their facilities at the gym was out of the question. Hana detested missing out on an opportunity to work out, but rather than pester her younger cousin Akari for assistance, she'd look for a workaround. Speaking of her cousin-...Hana thought back to a conversation they had regarding that pink-haired Frenchwoman Akari crossed paths with in the ring. Charlotte Ravel, the Sand Lizard...to think that her cousin encountered someone out of the blue at their own gym. What a fascinating experience that must've been. Hana could easily picture Akari getting all worked up and lost in thought, a slight chuckle left her lips.
Oh, cousin dearest, whatever shall they ever do with you?
Still, that memory brought up a good solution, as Akari described Charlotte's school as welcoming, challenging, and inspiring. Perhaps a place like this would prove suitable for Hana's needs. In any case, it would do her some good to visit that 'interesting' Frenchwoman whom Akari couldn't stop raving about. Akari said that they were open fairly early, and if this Charlotte woman truly was worth her salt as a martial artist, the crack of dawn practically meant opening time. The gym was a fair distance away from Hana's apartment, so the walk over would provide a decent start to Hana's warm-up.
But first, she needed to commence her morning routine.
Following a short session of stretching after getting out of bed, Hana showered and washed her hair, freshening up with an assortment of products to keep her hair and skin as radiant as ever, followed by a healthy but light breakfast to give her all the energy she needed without making her feel bloated or risking being queasy in the middle of her workout. After that, Hana tidied up her living space, packed her gym bag with the essentials, and left her apartment complex.
The walk over was brisk, with the cool morning air filling her lungs with a sense of freshness and vitality. It was a good feeling, and it felt as if there was promise in the air. Today was going to be a good day. Hana decided that for herself as she turned the corner and reached the address of Miss Ravel's gym. She stood in front of the doors, glancing at the building from top to bottom. True, it was early in the morning, but even with the closed sign out front, Hana felt as if something were wrong. She would've come back later, but through the windows, she caught a glimpse of someone training in the back, a dark silhouette, but a person nonetheless. Maybe the first staff member forgot to change the sign around, or perhaps they were getting reps in early...who knew. Hana never even considered that the place was actually closed for good, and considering the door was unlocked, she didn't hesitate to step through with authority and purpose.
It was dark, quiet, cold, and uninviting. You could hear a pin drop on the floor. Empty didn't even begin to describe the place. It was a ghost town, and as Hana glanced around, her gaze was met only by the unmoving walls and equipment. That was until she walked further in and caught the attention of the lone gymgoer in the corner working on the heavy bag.
"Heaven's sake-...I nearly thought this place was haunted." She said, her tone firm yet casual. She glanced around before looking back at the woman...the woman with pink hair. Interesting. "Pardon the intrusion, I hope I wasn't disturbing anything. I figured you had just forgotten to turn over the open-and-closed sign. After all, the door was unlocked, so I just let myself in." Hana said, still directing the nonexistent conversation like this was all normal for her. "I must say, Akari had given this place a rather glowing review...But I see my rambunctious cousin has left out a few details." She said. "...Or perhaps, she was merely unaware-...correct me if I'm wrong, but-...you ARE Charlotte Ravel, correct?" She said. Her tone had this sense of familiarity to it, like she was addressing an old friend in Charlotte. This casual tone was paired with a natural European accent and a posh attitude. Unlike Akari, she had no trouble in pointing out the obvious or directly stating how she felt.
For the Frenchwoman, it'd be a rather hectic span of three minutes for her to wrap her head around...a sudden visitor...one who seemed to easily make herself at home here and assume such a casual attitude with her despite the cold atmosphere of the closed gym...then suddenly, a bombshell reveal that she just so happened to be related to someone Charlotte had personal ties with, and on top of that, she KNEW who Charlotte was. If Charlotte wasn't fully awake now, she would have no choice but to be as she had to process all this information rather quickly...
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This was about the rhythm Charlotte had spent the last half hour in. And funny or not, that time period literally didn't exist for her. Although she kept sending punches and kicks into the punching bag over and over again, her thoughts were somewhere so far away that time passed completely unnoticed for her. She might as well have started watching the series and only on the seventh episode realized that she had missed the entire plot.
What had she been thinking about all this time? It wasn't anything specific. It was a string of completely different thoughts. Starting from her mistakes of the past, ending with her mistakes of the present. She wanted to go from a monster to the greatest fighter of present time, but instead she went from a monster to a loser. And now the pink-haired woman is trapped in her own thoughts, decisions, and consequences.
Charlotte was so lost in her own thoughts that she didn't even notice that someone had entered her school. She didn't even hear the sounds of her own strikes, so she also didn't hear the footsteps approaching her. If the person who entered her school was her enemy, that person would certainly have managed to catch her off guard. However, even in spite of all this, when a woman's voice was heard a few steps away from Charlotte, the Frenchwoman did not flinch. Instead, she sent another kick into the punching bag, and then turned to the unexpected visitor.
Glancing at this black-haired woman, Charlotte slightly raised her left eyebrow. How did she even get inside? The answer to this question was not long in coming. The door was open. Ah, right. Due to the sheer number of thoughts in her head, Charlotte forgot to close the door behind her. Okay, this question can be considered closed. But there was a much more important question. Who is this woman who is now standing in front of Charlotte and talking to her as if they have known each other for a hundred years?
“Cousin?” Unable to stop herself, the pink-haired woman muttered faintly after hearing the familiar name.
After learning that this woman was Akari Ito's cousin, Charlotte ran her eyes over this woman once more. Yes, if you pay attention to the details, they are indeed a little similar in terms of appearance, but in terms of temperament... no, in terms of temperament, these two women were definitely completely different. Although they both seemed to have a habit of talking too much, their speech patterns were literally diametrically opposed. Anyway, this woman, thanks to Akari or not, apparently knew who Charlotte was.
“Yes, that's right, it's me,” the Frenchwoman replied in a much more even voice than usual. “You're a perceptive one." After saying that, she looked behind the black-haired woman. “Which makes it slightly perplexing that you managed to miss that the sign at the entrance doesn't have a reverse side.” Charlotte folded her hands behind her back and decided to make the situation clear. “The school is closed.” Although she tried to make these words sound as natural as possible, there was still a subtle note of pain and sadness in them. “What's your name and why are you here?”
"Well, forgive me...but if this place is truly closed for good, I'd suggest taking a look online and making sure that all GPS services know that. I wasted a good twenty minutes walking over here, and I'd like my workout to consist of more than just a brisk stroll through the cool morning air." She said, hearing Charlotte's query after the fact. When she did, the corners of her mouth turned upward ever so slightly in a proud smirk.
Oh, she LOVED introducing herself.
"My name is Hana Ito, often recognized in the ring as Lady Hana, the Suplex Queen...an accomplished figure from across the pond, whereas my -darling- cousin Akari took to Japan, I made my name in the United Kingdom. Where Akari took to puroresu-...I mastered the art of Catch-Style wrestling." She said emphatically, giving the rightfully inquisitive Frenchwoman a lengthy answer to a basic question.
At least in terms of carrying on, she and Akari were alike in that case, but Hana seemed to be far more confident and assured in her words and actions, not allowing a single notion disturb her train of thought as she spoke without hesitation or nervousness. She was a grown woman and would address Charlotte as such. However, there was a strange, regal authority to her tone and movements. Amid all the professionalism and proper conduct was an exquisitely posh attitude. Not necessarily bratty or entitled, but as if she were in a lively ballroom speaking to colleagues at a high-class gala...and not in a closed, slightly unkempt gym. There was an aura of refinement to her vocabulary. Sharp, witty, and a little egocentric...but a healthy amount, at least, in Hana's eyes.
"Though, if you want to talk about perplexing...we should have a conversation about you." She said rather bluntly. Akari would've skirted around the fact that Charlotte looked a little...off. Akari typically avoided pushing someone to talk about their issues, believing they needed to feel safe and comfortable enough to talk about it on their own time, at their own pace. Hana, while she had similar feelings, took a different approach.
"Your gym is closed yet here you are training...in the dark...all alone. I heard many things about you, Ms. Ravel, as Akari spoke VERY highly of you. Better than most other people here at LAW. She told me that you were the picture of tempered ferocity. Passionate, but reserved, and incredibly spirited for a fighter. I wasn't expecting our first interaction to be so dull and incidental." She said. "Perhaps my cousin hasn't kept up with you as of late...don't blame her, she's going through a tough time herself, but that's not my information to fully divulge." She said, knowing that the recent loss of her uncle, Akari's father, was hitting her cousin and family pretty hard, even if Akari was set to return to the LAW stage fairly soon, if not already. Still, she shouldn't be the one telling all this to Charlotte. Those two could have their moment of catching up later. Hana wasn't here to spread the news or micromanage Akari's friendships for her. She was here to train.
"But enough about that. You've closed your gym down, and you seem to be dissociating. I could see it in your eyes when I walked in. It took you a moment to recognize I had even come in...and gotten this close to you. Why?" She asked straightforwardly, a puzzled yet curious expression on her face. This woman really wasn't one to beat around the bush, it seemed. color=#111D4A]"Well, I suppose I can't make you answer if you don't want to...But I would like to inquire about using this space for at least an hour. I'd be more than happy to pay you extra if you were to accommodate my needs. I'm not too stingy to pass on a generous donation to a worthwhile cause. If I had to guess...you likely live here, don't you?"[/color] Perceptive indeed, this one. color=#111D4A]"I wouldn't dream of depriving you of receiving fair compensation for your resources and space."[/color] She said, making a very forward monetary offer. A private gym session with no interruption? Hana knew how to make lemonade out of even the shoddiest of lemons, wanting to see how she could sweet-talk the Frenchwoman and strike a deal with her.
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“Maybe I should also advertise in the newspaper?” Charlotte asked before she could stop herself.
Perhaps she wanted to be witty in this way, but in fact she only showed a complete lack of a sense of humor. Even the people closest to her roll their eyes every time she tries to make a joke. As they say, if you are not an electrician, then you should not go into the electrical panel. However, Charlotte stubbornly continues to ignore this statement.
Then the Frenchwoman's right eyebrow rose slightly. The reason, of course, was the way Hana introduced herself. Considering how long the response Charlotte received was, she felt some vibe.…
Hana of the House Ito, the First of Her Name, The Unburnt, Queen of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men, Queen of Meereen, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Protector of the Realm, Lady Regent of the Seven Kingdoms, Breaker of Chains and Mother of Dragons.
That kind of vibe.
“Charlotte Ravel',” the pink-haired woman formally introduced herself in a much more concise manner. “Hana Ito...” she repeated, looking at the black-haired woman again. “Yeah... you and Akari definitely have something in common...”
She didn't say out loud what exactly it was. Both of Ito cousins were definitely the type who liked to talk a lot. Even so, there was definitely a significant difference between them. While Akari's speech mostly consisted of many sentences that were not always tightly connected, Hana definitely spoke with unshakeable confidence.
“What?" Charlotte did not understand, even blinking several times in surprise.
When Hana said that they should talk about her, Charlotte was clearly taken aback by such a statement. Although they had only met a few minutes ago, the Frenchwoman had already managed to draw some conclusions. This woman sounded like she was if not the center of the universe then she definitely wanted to be. Of course, there is nothing wrong with the fact that a person knows how to appreciate themselves. But Hana's behavior, in Charlotte's opinion, was clearly beyond the bounds of decency. And so far, the Frenchwoman definitely didn't like it.
As Hana continued to speak, Charlotte's fists involuntarily clenched and unclenched several times. At one point, she even pursed her lips. She had already met people who were used to saying what they thought. For example Astrid. This Norwegian woman was straight as a rail. But in any case, there's a big difference between talking straight and talking straight about something you don't have a clue about.
“Why?" Charlotte repeated Hana's last question. “I think that should be my question." The pink-haired woman's eyes narrowed slightly. “Why do you pretend like you know me?” Her heart started beating a little faster, and her breathing became a little heavier. “Dull and incidental you say?” She repeated the words that seemed to her the most annoying. “Well, if you don't like something, then you can show your perceptiveness again." Charlotte waved her head to the side. “Since you've found the entrance, you should be able to find the exit without any problems.”
Charlotte had nothing against people who preferred to speak bluntly. But Hana acted like she knew everything in the world, even though she certainly didn't. Some people think that it doesn't matter what you say, the main thing is to behave confidently and then you will create a strong impression. Hana's behavior and words really made an impression on Charlotte, but this impression was by no means positive.
Because of her bad mood, she even had the urge to hit that black-haired woman. But, as Akari correctly pointed out, Charlotte was the picture of tempered ferocity. So the Frenchwoman took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down. Besides, Hana asked to train here. However, even in this she was able to show grandiloquence, placing special emphasis on the fact that she could offer Charlotte a substantial sum for this service.
“Either Akari didn't tell you enough, or you weren't listening to her carefully," Charlotte said in as even a voice as she could manage at that moment. “I don't care about your money...”
If Charlotte had wanted to respond to Hana in the same manner, she would not have hesitated to mention that she is actually rich as hell. So why didn't she say that? Well, first of all, it was information that was known to an extremely small number of people. Secondly, Charlotte used her solid bank account only once in her life, namely to open this school. But, of course, the point wasn't that Charlotte was rich. The point was that neither Hana nor anyone else would be able to buy Charlotte.
“I think there's only one option...” Charlotte began.
At that moment, she was about to say that it would be better if Hana turned around and looked for another place to train. But... despite all the crap that filled the Frenchwoman's life, she was still the person for whom the well-being of others was much more important than her own. She opened this school so that anyone who wants to practice martial arts or just keep themselves in good shape would have the opportunity to do so.
She didn't like Hana's way of speaking, just like her temperament. But this woman came all the way on this chilly morning to visit Charlotte's school. Charlotte might not be ready to admit it out loud right now, but the fact was that she appreciated it a lot. And therefore…
“You can train as much as you want today,” she finally said after a short pause and ignoring Hana's suggestion that Charlotte lives nearby. “All the inventory is at your disposal, I don't need your money.” Charlotte looked into Hana's eyes. “But only on one condition." She stuck out her index finger. “Don't interfere with my own training.” After that, the Frenchwoman crossed her arms under her chest. “If this condition is doable for you, then the locker room is over there.”
Last edited by skip-stop on Sat Feb 28, 2026 12:48 am, edited 1 time in total.
