Keep Rollin', Rollin', Rollin' (for Letta)

[CyanDimitrik]

Bandita's latest match lead to some very unexpected consequences; consequences the teenager couldn't possibly have been prepared to explain away to her awaiting family. The wrestling match was rough, spirited, exciting for everyone to watch - a spirited luchadora facing a debutante aristocrat, both struggling with a savage tenacity to claim the victory over the beaten and battered body of her rival. And in the end, Bandita secured the pin over Laxia.

And kissed her. Right there in the ring. In front of God and everyone.

It was impulsive. Maybe even stupid. She knew her family would be watching her fight. And despite the beautifully wonderful experience, words, and promises made in the aftermath away from the cameras, Bandita's trip back to the apartment left a tight knot in her stomach. And not from the numerous shots to the abs she'd taken earlier that night.

The apartment was cramped. Way too small. It never felt smaller.

Her siblings were already in bed, but Nana Lola had words. The girl sheepishly endured the interrogation, her eyes on the toes of her scuffed sneakers, her hands fidgeting nervously. All she could offer in response were quiet appeasements and apologies - for what, she's not even sure. All she knew was she didn't like her family being upset with her.

But after all of that had subsided and Nana Lola dawdled off to bed, herself, the luchadora stayed up. She got out her cellphone, and she sent a text message:

<<Wouldn't trade tonight for anything in the world. Talk tomorrow!>>

The next day was spent recuperating from her match. Even coming out on top, Laxia had worked her over thoroughly. And in-ring abrasions and beatings always felt their worst the day after, when the adrenaline was gone and there was little else to occupy herself with. But each point of soreness, each ache, reminded her of her match with Laxia and brought the experience fresh to her mind. She normally wore her soreness with pride, but this time, it was pride mixed with a little something more; fondness. Daydreaming. Closing her eyes and letting her mind revisit the submission holds, the grapples, the strikes, feeling Laxia pin her exhausted body down, or in turn, pinning Laxia to the mat beneath her.

The day was riddled with texts on top of it; nervous to not become a nuisance, but unable to resist the excitement of talking to her again.

<<Did you HAVE to kick me in the face that hard earlier? Jaja>>

<<Should we watch the match together sometime?>>

<<Really excited to see you again! >>

The next day, the Latina was back to training. Despite everything else, she kept herself to a strict regiment. The soreness was gone enough to focus on strengthening herself, keeping in top shape and at peak agility. She hit the tumbling gym to practice rebounds and wall-runs. And in the process, wound up thinking about the aristocrat again - reflecting on nailing her with her signature move from the corner to counter. How she could have pinned her right there. If Laxia would've been mad at her for pinning her the way her impulse mind wanted to.

The cellphone made more appearances, shooting messages.

<<Hope things are going good! You have to tell me when you're wrestling next, I can't miss it!>>

<<Did I ever mention you look really cute all laid out on the mat? Jejeje! >>

<<Let's get together tomorrow. Unless you're still hurt. I didn't hurt you, did I?>>

The prospect of their impending date played heavily on the girl's mind, and it was nearly impossible to not talk about it to her family. Of course there were teasing questions from her siblings about the girl she kissed, why she did it, what it means~... but she kept evasive! It was too new! And she wasn't even sure how to make it make sense! And the looks her grandmother would give her discouraged any kind of indulging in the topic at all!

Nothing could stop Bandita's excitement today, however. She'd sent the address to Laxia for where to meet her; the glorious Tokyo Dome City, just inside. She didn't know the city well enough to guess where to go, but that's the beauty of the dome. It has everything. Including a theme park, food, movies, like its own microcosmic city. Probably where it got its name from!

Bandita was waiting eagerly, bright smile on her face. Today, she decided that if she'd be going out as Bandita, she'd do it in Bandita style. A sleeveless split-top showing off her trim midsection, black shorts, and boots, along with her mask, crucifix, and hair tied back in the typical ponytail and ribbon.

The Latina stands out significantly - and to her delight, entertainment-seekers recognize her from her matches! She finds herself stumbling through conversation with fans, having to rely heavily on her cellphone's translator app, signing autographs, and accepting well-wishes from her elders. It's the first time she's interacted with fans since coming to Japan, and it has left the girl positively radiant with joy.

[Letta]

Laxia’s debut had been… eventful. In more ways than one. Inside the ring, certainly. And then afterward, in the locker room. She still wasn’t entirely sure what to make of everything that had happened. The feelings were unfamiliar enough that she’d spent some time trying to sort them into something sensible before eventually giving up and simply letting herself be swept along with them. That didn’t mean she had forgotten why she was here. Of course not. She had come to LAW for a mission. That much hadn’t changed.

Still, for someone whose entire life had been filled with carefully laid paths and neatly arranged options, that night had made her feel something she hadn’t in a very long time. Alive. Free. Besides, being new to LAW, having someone on her side could only be useful. A friend, perhaps. Bandita could tell her more about the promotion, and there was certainly plenty Laxia could learn from her in the ring. So really, this was all perfectly practical... There was no need to explain why she kept checking her phone. That was entirely unrelated. Probably.

Her butler, Sebastian’s expression after the match had done nothing to help her reasoning. There was no chance he hadn’t seen what happened, yet he’d said nothing beyond congratulating her on a hard-fought debut. Somehow, that was worse. Later, soaking in a steaming bath, memories of the past few days returned one after another. The match. The pin. The kiss. The locker room... What Bandita had said. What she had said. “Uuugh...” Mortified, Laxia slowly sank until everything beneath her nose disappeared beneath the water.

*Blub blub blub.....*

After her bath, she crossed the cold marble floor toward the living room. The mansion was as immaculate as ever. Expensive furniture, rare decorations, every detail deliberately placed and perfectly coordinated. Yet sitting alone on the sofa, Laxia suddenly became aware of just how enormous it was. And how empty. Her beautiful home had never felt quite this lonely before. Perhaps that was why her eyes kept drifting toward the phone sitting on a distant table. Black screen. Nothing. Laxia narrowed her eyes and stretched one hand toward it as though sheer aristocratic authority might somehow summon a message. “....” Nothing. She flicked her fingers once, still nothing.

“Hmph...”

Her shoulders drooped- *Ding.* “...!..” Laxia practically sprang from the sofa, snatched up the phone, and bit lightly at one fingernail as she opened the message. The corners of her mouth slowly curled upward. <<I feel the same... Talk tomorrow..!>> Her thumb darted across the screen before she hit send, one long leg twisting around the other as she smiled to herself.

The next morning reminded her exactly how hard they had fought. “Uuugh…” Getting out of bed was difficult enough. Her arms, back, thighs, and especially her abdomen all ached considerably worse now that the adrenaline had disappeared. Her personal physical therapist was called in soon afterward. “Ow, ow, ow... a little gentler there..!” “Relax.” “I am relaxed!” “You are not.” “....” A firm press against her abdomen brought Bandita immediately back to mind. Working along her thighs reminded her of tangled legs and grappling on the mat. For a moment, Laxia’s expression softened. “Are you alright?” “Hm? Yes. Why?” “You were smiling.” “I was not.” The phone provided further distraction.

<<S-sorry... Was it that bad..? But what about those chops of yours!>>

<<Yeah, let’s! I want to see your other matches too~>>

<<Really excited to see you again..! >>

Laxia stared at that one a little longer, typed something, erased it, then tried again.

<<Me too… can’t wait..!>>

Once she had recovered enough, Laxia returned to training in her private gym. Stretching. Weights. Core work. Footwork. And far too many glances toward her phone. *Ding.* Her head snapped toward it almost instantly. Her trainer looked over as well. Bandita’s name was on the screen. Somehow, the messages worked better than any recovery drink. Even while training, their match kept replaying in Laxia’s head. She reconsidered counters, timing, positioning, what she should have done differently and where she might have turned the match around. Occasionally, however, the replay wandered somewhere less useful. Their stomachs pressing together. The close grappling. A submission that had left their bodies tightly entwined. “...” Laxia shook her head hard and refocused on the heavy bag. “Focus.” “I am focusing.” “You stopped moving thirty seconds ago.” “...I was thinking through strategy.” Thankfully, the trainer didn’t ask what kind. Her phone chimed again.

<<I already have another match! You better come watch~ I’ll send you the details.>>

Then.. “What…!!?” Her face flushed instantly.

<<Hmph! You seem to have forgotten how you looked sprawled out on the mat. Win once and suddenly your memory gets very convenient, doesn’t it?>>

<<Of course! Tomorrow works. I’ve been fine for ages~>>

The following day brought an unexpectedly difficult problem. What was she supposed to wear? Laxia instinctively reached for an elegant dress, held it against herself, stared into the mirror- ...and put it back. Too much. A jacket followed. Too formal. Then a skirt. Maybe. No. Before long, a small mountain of rejected clothes covered the bed.

“...Why is this so difficult?”

Eventually, she settled on something far more casual and comfortable than she normally would have chosen. It felt oddly unfamiliar. Which, perhaps, was the point. Laxia had been quite confident when she climbed into the driver’s seat of her black Range Rover. Driving herself there would be simple. It was not. She was not lost. Road system was simply unnecessarily complicated. That was her official conclusion. Ten minutes later, she parked wherever she could find space and called a taxi. It wasn’t surrender. It was strategic adaptation. Besides, she absolutely refused to be late for her first date.

Tokyo Dome City was dazzling from the moment she arrived. Crowds, restaurants, attractions, lights, and movement everywhere. Laxia checked the time and hurried toward the meeting point, scanning left and right as she went. No Bandita. Her steps slowed. Had she come to the wrong place? She was reaching for her phone when she noticed a small crowd nearby. And at its center, A familiar mask. A familiar ponytail. Bandita. She was surrounded by fans, smiling brightly as she struggled through conversations with the help of her phone, signed autographs, and accepted their well-wishes. Laxia stopped for a moment. “...She’s more popular than I thought.” The worry on her face faded into relief, then a quiet smile. Seeing Bandita like this felt different from seeing her in the ring. For a few seconds, Laxia simply watched. Then she approached.

Spoiler

“Bandita...”

No response. She was still too busy with the fans. Laxia moved closer, unconsciously smoothing her clothes and adjusting her hair before abruptly catching herself. “....” Nobody saw that. Hopefully. She stepped closer still and called again, slightly louder this time.

“Bandita...!”

[CyanDimitrik]

It made Bandita's heart soar to interact with fans like this, even if she didn't understand hardly a damn thing they were saying. Their smiling and excited faces communicated far more. And when cellphones came out - thankfully similar no matter where you go in the world - she understood the assignment. Confidently shoulder-to-shoulder with fans, smiling in that plucky can-do way, a wink, the 'OK' handsign flashed for some, blown kisses for others. It was like living in a dream. And for the first time since arriving in Japan, she was engaging as the Bandita persona without fretting about providing for her family. There was nothing on the line here. Just pure, simple fanservice. Bonding with the people.

Her name is being called from a variety of sources, in an equally varied number of voices. But one cuts through the clamor and rings persistent, determined, and accented quite differently!

Her head lifts from signing a pad of paper, and she spots three distinct things all at once: a pretty face with delicate, refined features, orange-ginger hair styles conservatively, and the most beautiful eyes she could conjure to reckoning.

"Laxia!," she calls. The excitement peaks in her voice, her eyes brightening along with her smile. "Sorry, escuse me, sorry, sorry!," she excuses, hurrying to finish with the autograph before weaving around the bodies. Thankfully, having a slender and nimble frame is useful for that!

The moment she emerges, the girl sprints to her, ponytail bouncing in her wake. The final gap is covered in a hop, her arms lashing out to hook around Laxia's neck in an embrace that is as passionately earnest as it is shameless. If Laxia has the wherewithal to catch her in that moment, the momentum may, in fact, lead them into a half-spin. Either way, the hug is tight and affectionate, pressing her cheek to Laxia's in its duration.

Once disconnected, the girl begins bobbing eagerly on the balls of her feet with her hands fidgeting together in boundlessly eager energy. "You look great," she says, glancing over Laxia's wardrobe choice - and figure, if she's being honest with herself. It's different in the daylight. Good different. Natural. She wasn't sure how to expect she might join her, but she's clearly pleased with what was chosen!

"For 'de record," she adds as her smile spreads, turning playful. "I don't get to see how I look sprawled on 'de mat. But if I have to look some way, I'm glad it's good for you."

Cameras are flashing. This is an absolutely candid moment that LAW fans aren't going to miss, especially hot on the heels of their match a few days ago. That kiss clearly meant something, and Bandita is doing nothing if not wearing her heart on her sleeve.

[Letta]

Laxia watched Bandita mingle with her fans from a short distance away. Bandita seemed completely at home in situations like this, naturally slipping shoulder-to-shoulder with fans for pictures and answering every cheer with that brilliant smile of hers. A wink here, a little gesture there, even the occasional blown kiss, there wasn't the slightest trace of awkwardness in any of it. Watching her give each fan the same bright, wholehearted attention, Laxia found herself beginning to understand why people seemed to take to her so easily. It was a different kind of charm from the bold, competitive woman she'd faced inside the ring.

...Though the thought that she apparently blew kisses at just anyone did cross Laxia's mind for a brief moment. She quickly shook the silly thought away. Laxia called Bandita's name a few times, but more and more people seemed to gather around her by the second. Before long, Bandita was becoming difficult to even see through the growing crowd. What if she lost track of her like this? She knew it was a silly thing to worry about, but a faint sense of unease began creeping in all the same. Then, when Laxia called her name once more- Bandita's gaze finally found her. Ah...! Those hazel-green eyes. The instant Bandita spotted her, a dazzling smile spread across her face. Better yet, she called Laxia's name loudly enough to carry straight through the surrounding commotion. Whatever little anxiety Laxia had been feeling disappeared immediately. The crowd had looked nearly impossible to escape from, yet Bandita somehow slipped through it with surprising ease. And the moment she emerged completely- She ran straight for Laxia.

“Oh my...!”

Those last few steps were less a run and more Bandita practically throwing herself into her. Bandita's arms hooked around Laxia's neck, carrying all of her momentum with them. Laxia's eyes widened at the sudden feel of bare skin and warmth wrapping around her. Nearly losing her balance, she had no choice but to hold Bandita tight and spin with the impact before finally finding her footing again. Then Bandita's soft cheek pressed against her own. Warm. Smooth. For a moment, Laxia simply let herself enjoy the feeling. And even after they separated, Bandita could hardly seem to contain herself—bouncing lightly on the balls of her feet, her hands fidgeting with all that restless excitement. Watching her, Laxia felt a matching smile creep onto her own face without even realizing it.

In a way, Bandita almost looked like an outward reflection of everything Laxia herself was trying to keep contained. “Thank you... You look... really good too...” Suddenly self-conscious about being complimented, Laxia lifted a hand and unnecessarily fussed with her hair, pretending it was nothing. Meanwhile, her eyes quietly wandered over Bandita's outfit. The slit top boldly exposed her narrow waist and firmly defined stomach, while the short shorts left those athletic legs on full display. It was completely different from how she'd looked in the ring. Her ring gear had given her a sharp, striking presence made for battle. This, on the other hand, looked much more natural on her, yet somehow made it even harder for Laxia to look away.

It wasn't until she realized she'd been staring a little too long that Laxia abruptly averted her gaze, once again finding a completely unnecessary reason to play with her hair. Hopefully Bandita wouldn't notice how warm her cheeks had gotten. That little hope was promptly destroyed by Bandita's next remark. Laxia's eyes flew wide.

“Are you crazy...?! Everyone can hear you...!”

Flustered, she lightly swatted Bandita on the arm. Her face was considerably hotter now than it had been a moment ago. Click. Laxia froze. Slowly, her eyes shifted to the side. Several cameras were pointed directly at them. Click. Click. Another barrage of flashes. What had happened after their match a few days ago had probably already given people more than enough to talk about. And if those reporters had just heard what Bandita said.. “...Oh, for goodness' sake...!” Laxia immediately seized Bandita by both shoulders, turned her around, and began ushering her through the crowd as though physically steering her away from the storm of camera flashes. “Come on...! If we stay here any longer, we're going to end up doing interviews before our date even starts...!” Laxia made it another two steps before suddenly faltering.

...

Date.

What had she just announced out loud? Another flash went off behind them. The tips of Laxia's ears turned bright red. “...Just hurry up...!” This time, the hands pushing Bandita along gained just a little more urgency.

[CyanDimitrik]

It's difficult to say whether Bandita was impervious or ignorant of the cameras flashing, because her eyes were only for Laxia at that moment. Expressively wide and glittering, hiding no amount of glee at seeing the aristocrat fluster, her smile innocent and yet very much not at the same time. Bandita isn't prone to willfully committing a social faux-pas, but somewhere between unabashed honesty and youthful impishness, she found great entertainment in revisiting their private text messages then and there. In front of God and everyone.

She surrenders no response to poor Laxia's protest. Just a flutter of the lashes.

Of course it was true. If she's going to be laid out and in a vulnerable state in the course of competing with Laxia in a full-contact sport, and there's nothing she can do about it? She could either look completely rumpled and unappealingly broken, or she can delight in the idea that some part of Laxia finds her defenseless form appealing on the mat. It's kind of taboo. It's kind of exciting. And it's also kind of very mutual. She's accepted that she's the odd duck in her family of entertainers - she's the one who wants the bumps, bruises, and battering of gladiatorial competition. Let them have their music. Laxia understands.

Right?

It's moments like these that bring to the forefront just how quirky it is to find someone like Laxia involved in the sport. But she'll have to ask about that a little later, finding herself positioned and pushed at the shoulders. A surprised giggle escapes her as she stumbles along. The onlookers part like a cloud, all at once making room and encircling again behind them - moreso when Laxia suddenly stops.

Bandita's head tilts to look back at her with a grin. She said date. She heard that. Everyone heard that. That made it official. She's on a date with her princess - the bandit and the noble. Cameras flash again, immortalizing the stunned look on Laxia's face, the sweet smile Bandita is casting back at her, and the realization that the two are romantically entangled now.

Pushing resumes! Bandita stumbles along, their audience parts, and at last, they're clear of the gathering. Bandita whirls to her right in a speedy and full 360 spin, repositioning herself at Laxia's side with her left arm hooked possessively with Laxia's right. There's a snugging amount of pressure in the hold, but she still walks, stealing frequent glances to the other girl.

"So do you speak Japanese?," she asks suddenly. "'Cuz I don't. I have to use a translator thingie on my phone. Slows everything down. But I didn't ever espect to wind up in Japan, and it wasn't exactly taught at my school...," she rambles.

Bandita doesn't hesitate to take the bold lead between them, if Laxia seems to hesitate even a moment. She pauses only long enough to scan the different avenues and options with clueless attention, the mysterious moon-shaped etchings of the far east blending together into strings of nonsense as inscrutable as it is unpronounceable. But she seems to pick a direction at random and marches forth with audacious certainty.

This is because the point isn't the destination, actually. It's the company. Time with Laxia is the main drive here for her; everything else is secondary. She can make cherished memories running away from security as easily as she can dining out at the fanciest restaurant, as long as it's with her date. And to that end, she finds herself drawing the two onto an elevator.

"Don't hit anything," she says suddenly, looking back to Laxia with a sly smile. "We wait until someone else calls for 'de elevator. That's where we'll get off and see what we get."

Their date has turned into an adventure. No plan.

[Letta]

With the tips of her ears still burning red, Laxia kept her hands on Bandita’s shoulders and guided her through the crowd. Even as she pushed her along, though, Bandita’s teasing words refused to leave her mind. Bandita sprawled helplessly across the mat. Sweat clinging to her skin. Hair disheveled. Breath coming in short, ragged bursts, her toned abdomen tightening unevenly with every rise and fall... “....!”
Laxia’s face flushed all over again. Ahh... no..! What am I even thinking about...?! She pressed her lips together and silently pushed Bandita along with a little more determination. For now, all she needed to do was focus on getting them away from the crowd as quickly as possible. After weaving through enough people, the cameras and surrounding chatter finally began to fade behind them. “Phew... finally...” Laxia had barely begun to sigh in relief when-

“Eh...?”

Something slipped naturally around her arm. Bandita. She had somehow spun neatly into place beside her, hooking her own arm snugly through Laxia’s as though it were the most natural thing in the world. Laxia’s eyes widened for a moment. People simply didn’t do things like this with her. Not so casually. Not without hesitation or permission, just closing the distance and holding onto her as though they had every right to. But the surprise didn’t last long. A small smile soon tugged at Laxia’s lips.

“Japanese?” Laxia turned her head at Bandita’s sudden question. “Of course. Japan is a major market in the arts, after all..” It was a rather confident answer. There was, however, one small problem. Most of Laxia’s Japanese had been learned through books and private lessons. Which meant she had yet to fully appreciate the difficulties awaiting her when actual native speakers started talking at speeds no textbook had ever prepared her for. And her distinctly textbook-like accent was another matter entirely. In truth, whenever conversations became too complicated, Laxia had developed a habit of discreetly slipping out her phone and making generous use of a translation app whenever nobody was looking. Bandita didn’t particularly need to know that.

“I... I never expected to end up here either. I learned a little in school, but...” The two continued talking as they walked arm-in-arm. And whenever Laxia hesitated for even a moment over which direction to take, Bandita confidently took the lead as if she knew exactly where she was going. For someone who clearly had no idea where she was going, she walked with remarkable certainty. Laxia, caught up in their conversation, naturally fell into step behind her. Strangely, it never even occurred to her to question it. By the time she realized where they had ended up, the two were already standing inside an elevator. Rows of buttons greeted her.

“Hmm... if this is the main floor, then maybe we should start with-”

Laxia raised a hand toward one of the more promising-looking buttons. Then Bandita stopped her. Her finger froze in midair. “...What?” Slowly, Laxia turned toward her with an incredulous expression. That was the plan? There was a brief silence. But Laxia’s baffled expression didn’t last. The corner of her mouth twitched upward. “Haha...” It was such a Bandita idea. They didn’t even know what floor they would be getting off on. It was exactly the kind of thing Laxia ordinarily would never choose for herself. Her life had always been structured around plans. Schedules. Carefully arranged choices. She usually knew where she was going, what she would be doing, and often what came afterward.

But now? She didn’t even know where the elevator doors would open next. And strangely, she didn’t dislike that at all. If anything, there was something almost exhilarating about it. Perhaps this kind of uncertainty was something she had wanted for much longer than she realized. And perhaps.. That was part of why she found herself so drawn to Bandita. “Haha... alright!” Laxia withdrew her hand from the buttons and stepped back, surrendering herself to Bandita’s ridiculous little plan. Where would they end up? She looked toward Bandita with bright, expectant eyes.

.....

Nothing happened. “....” The elevator didn’t move an inch. There had been so many people outside. Surely somebody would call it almost immediately. A few seconds passed. The anticipation slowly drained out of Laxia’s gaze as her eyes began wandering around the elevator. Floor indicator. Buttons. Doors. Ceiling. Back to the floor indicator.

“……”

Why wasn’t anyone calling it..? All at once, the silence inside the cramped elevator became strangely noticeable. Laxia stole a sideways glance at Bandita. Then immediately looked away. A moment later, another glance. Then away again. It wasn’t that being alone with Bandita felt awkward. Absolutely not. They had been considerably closer than this not very long ago. ...No. She was not thinking about that right now. The difference was that this was a public place. A small, enclosed space occupied by only the two of them. Their arms were still touching, and if Laxia turned her head just a little, Bandita’s face was right there beside hers. Even though there were undoubtedly people somewhere just beyond those doors, this little box somehow felt strangely cut off from the rest of the world. Laxia cleared her throat for no particular reason.

“Ahem...”

Silence.

“...It isn’t broken, right? Haha~ ha...”

A tiny laugh followed the joke. The elevator remained completely still. “....” There were so many people outside. How was nobody calling this thing?! Suddenly, Laxia felt like she needed to keep talking. Otherwise she was becoming far too aware of Bandita standing beside her. Her arm. Her warmth. How close she was. Before Laxia could start wondering whether she should hug her, or perhaps do something even more intimate while they had this brief little pocket of privacy, she hurriedly opened her mouth again.

“S-so, anyway... what kind of food do you-” She had barely begun, gaze dropping toward the floor, when- “Ehh....?” As a faint vibration rose beneath their feet, the elevator began to move.

[CyanDimitrik]

The funny thing is, that tension lives inside Bandita as well. But she's making no effort to hide it. Rather, it gets overshadowed by the unrepentant joy she's shining at the American beside her. Any time those blue eyes flicker her way, she'll catch Bandita stealing a glance back at her with a bright smile. Her position adjusts slightly, tucking herself in closer to Laxia's side. And soon, her free hand lifts to gently touch her date's upper-arm, as if smoothing the material of her hoodie.

Food?

Her brows perk behind the mask at the start of the question before the elevator lurches and begins to travel upwards.

The green gaze sweeps to the floor indicator, then back to Laxia, bristling with excitement. "We're moving!," she announces unnecessarily, complete with a little bob on her feet. "And to answer your question, I like...," she pauses. "I like elote." She has no idea what the word for that is in English. "But if I'm going out, there is 'dis place, it's called Roybertito's. Have you ever been? It's a chain, right? I dunno if any are in 'de U.S. Has 'dis bean cup..."

While she was answering, the elevator moves with smooth efficiency. Past the second floor, beyond the third. It sways to a stop on the fourth floor with a BING!

She snaps her gaze to the floor indicator, then excitedly back to Laxia, clutching at the captive arm with unbridled anticipation. The doors glide open, and a Japanese family with a little girl linger outside to let the passengers out. Bandita doesn't hesitate to tug Laxia along, stepping out onto the expansive overlook.

Similar to the ground floor, it is brimming with attractions and various interests. "'Dis place is incredible," she marvels. "Who knows what all was on 'de other floors, ah? But come on!"

No hesitation, Bandita is pulling her out onto the walkway to begin exploring. She maneuvers and weaves around the throng of passing bodies with a dancer's grace, remaining attached to Laxia's arm. That's even with the odd looks she's getting for wearing a mask like this! But the fancy footwork isn't needed long before she brings the two to a crashingly abrupt halt.

There stands a broad, extravagantly explosive sign over an entryway, featuring star-studded swirls and blessedly merciful English:

TOKYO DOME
ROLLERXSKATE ARENA

Why it has that X, Bandita could not say. But it didn't matter. No words are spoken. Just a slow turn of her head to Laxia, the mask conforming to her twinkling wide-eyed stare, her toothy smile speaking volumes for her.

They have found their fate.

[Letta]

Every time Laxia glanced at the girl beside her, she found Bandita looking back with that bright, genuine smile. The way she expressed exactly what she felt without hesitation, without trying to hide anything... That was something unfamiliar to Laxia. And perhaps... Something she was a little envious of. With their arms still linked and their bodies naturally closer than before, the elevator finally began to move. Bandita answered the question Laxia had thrown out almost casually, mostly to break the awkward silence between them.

“Elote...?”

Laxia tilted her head slightly. She had no idea what it was. She didn’t know it was her beloved street food, one of the strongest contenders, a pinnacle among fair snacks.. the kind of forbidden treat she would normally keep herself away from because of her strict diet. Ah... So this was the difficulty of a language barrier. And then came another name. Roybertito’s. Strangely enough, the name didn’t feel entirely unfamiliar to Laxia.

“Bean cup...?” She repeated quietly. “Sounds amazing...” She had no idea what it actually was, but hearing Bandita talk about it made her curious. Before she knew it, the elevator came to a smooth stop. The two women looked at each other. There was a mixture of anticipation and nervous excitement in their eyes. Neither of them knew what kind of place was waiting on the other side. And somehow, that was part of the fun.

When the doors opened, Laxia found herself naturally following Bandita’s lead as she stepped out. The two women looked around in quiet amazement. Even Laxia found herself taking in the surroundings with genuine curiosity. This was not the kind of place she was accustomed to visiting. “Eh...? Yes...!” It was barely an answer, more a small reaction as she allowed herself to be guided along by Bandita. Bandita moved forward without hesitation, leading her through the crowds with the confidence of someone who had already decided that everything would work out. Laxia followed naturally, continuing their conversation and allowing herself to be pulled along by that fearless energy. She couldn’t even bring herself to question it.

As they walked, Laxia glanced around. She couldn't tell whether the curious looks were drawn by Bandita’s mask... or by the unlikely sight of a luchadora strolling through Tokyo arm-in-arm with a noblewoman. But one thing was certain. This was Tokyo. A city overflowing with people expressing themselves in every possible style. Unique fashion, unusual aesthetics, and countless different personalities blended together naturally. Because of that, Bandita’s mask seemed to draw far less attention than Laxia had feared. Perhaps, she realized, there had been nothing to worry about after all.

Eventually, after hurriedly pulling Laxia along through the crowds, Bandita came to an abrupt stop. Laxia stopped as well, following her gaze upward. Above the entrance was a bright, extravagant sign. Her eyes moved from the sign back to Bandita. And there it was. That unmistakable excitement. That joy shining through her hazel-green eyes. Even behind the mask, Laxia could feel exactly how much this meant to her. A small smile formed on Laxia’s lips.

“Shall we...?”