As she helped Nashi prepare for her next match backstage, Yukino shook her head to all the concerns her partner raised.
"Don't worry, Nashi," she explained,
"I know you're out there doing your best, and I'm gonna be sending you good vibes no matter what, okay?" She smiled a little wider to the pink-haired girl as she gave her a pat on the shoulder - but, at the same time, she did bite at the inside of her cheek with rising concerns when she thought about just who it was Nashi was going up against. Sanae Saitou had shown herself to be a formidable contender through her Apex run, not only crushing the competition in a series of successful qualifiers against greater and greater foes, but going on to force the Venus of Submissions herself, Toshimi Minami, to tap out to her finishing move at
Apex itself - putting her in the running for the World Openweight Championship. She knew that Sanae and Nashi had plenty in common - both of them being idols, both wanting to impress the fans with their acrobatic and hard-hitting moves, and both having a burning passion to put their all into their matches to chase after success. She would, no doubt, strive just as hard here as Nashi would. By anyone's mark, Nashi was right to be concerned about what was ahead of her.
Still, Yukino cleared her throat and stood a little taller, looking at Nashi with a grin.
"It's gonna be hard, I'm sure...but you just need to do your best, and give it your all! I know you're gonna do that already in every match you're in, so...just keep up the good work! It's worked out for you before!" And just then, Yukino's eyes turned toward the door, as the workers backstage called the Idol Dragons out to the ring. Yukino didn't have time to offer any more advice - it was showtime!
When Yukino ran out to the top of the ramp, arm in arm with Nashi and waving to the fans, the crowd broke into an uproar of cheers and applause as the two girls struck a few poses. But the cheers were just as loud for what came next - as the lights that filled the arena turned green, and the energetic beats of pop music were pumped through the speakers, with several fans singing along as Sanae Saitou came dancing down the ramp!
As had become typical for her, Sanae had a microphone in her hand, and she was singing into it on her way down to the ring, waving her hands and pointing into the stands as she stopped to pose for some high-fives and photo ops of her own. But once the ring was in sight, a grin flashed across her face - and, as she handed the microphone off to a nearby ring girl, she took off at top speeds, running to the ring and diving in through the ropes in a burst of athletic prowess that won her a few more cheers! There, Sanae picked herself back up and dusted herself off - and when she looked across at Nashi, it was with a grin wide across her face as she hopped down into a stance with her feet apart and her hands on her hips.
"Aaaall right, everybody!" Sanae cheered, pumping a fist in the air.
"I hope you're all just as hyped up about this match as I am!~" Indeed, as Sanae set her eyes on Nashi, her smile grew even wider, and she confidently puffed out her chest. She'd heard plenty about Nashi, and how she was becoming a swiftly rising sensation in the company. But Sanae was riding high off the thrill of her Apex victory, and she felt ready to take on anyone in her way - she had never felt so powerful as she did right now! She was sure she could handle it...and she was sure that, either way, it would be a match to remember!
When Yukino saw Sanae, however, she sucked in a breath and stiffened her stance. She knew that the green-haired idol was dating Lyra Heartfield - who had dealt her
a stinging defeat not long ago. While Sanae seemed cheerful and friendly enough, she still couldn't help but be on guard when she was reminded of the company she kept.
"Be careful, Nashi..." she warned - she was going to have to keep a close eye on Sanae, she feared.
