An Unexpected Encounter (for Hexmint)

[CaptainL]

Continued from here

Mizuki couldn't say she would have ever seen it coming. She was hot off the heels of what was looking like just another day in the life of LAW enhancement talent - she had been dealt a humiliating defeat against a far more capable opponent in nothing flat, barely even getting any offense of her own in, and feeding her foe's ego just as much as she padded out her win-loss records. She'd been through this plenty of times, and it never really got easier. All she had was the promise of a paycheck to keep her spirits up, and to tell her that she really was getting somewhere; that this wasn't all for naught. But when her job involved her coming home battered and bruised, with the memories of her opponent gloating over her broken body to a chorus of cheers fresh in her head, it started to wear down on her spirits.

Something was different about this opponent, however. Yuna Auburn had seemed like yet another merciless, egotistical heel who was more than happy to bask in the attention of all the fans as she left Mizuki bruised and humbled at her feet. The brunette had dealt with plenty of them, and they'd become a fact of life for her - if she got in the ring, she could expect to be sore, humiliated, and often crying by the end of it. But even though Mizuki had been left with all of those things...Yuna didn't rub it in her face. She showed...sympathy for the girl, sympathy that Mizuki never thought she would find in someone who seemed so far above her level not just in skill but in social standing. Yuna didn't seem like the person who would even want to dirty her hands with Mizuki - she was rich, glamorous, beautiful, and confident. Yet, she had offered to meet up with her after the match, maybe even to give her a few pointers. Even now, Mizuki was left asking herself what was going on. Was it a trap? Was Yuna just getting her to let her guard down so she could strike? That seemed quite possible. But there was something honest in what the blonde had said that made her want to hear her out, at least out of curiosity.

Following the match, Mizuki had changed back into her everyday clothes, and she adjusted her glasses as she stepped out from the locker room with her gym bag hung over her shoulders. She took a moment to rest against the wall, her slender and unassuming frame all but causing her to blend in among the backstage personnel going about. She could at least hope that Yuna could find her. And if she couldn't...well, then she wouldn't have to risk anything, at least.

Spoiler

[Hexmint]

Mizuki managed to see Yuna not too far from her in the backstage among all the personnel there. Her attire made her stand out amongst everyone else. Mizuki could see that she was chatting with her manager, still in her haughty attitude, alongside many other personnel who wanted a good view of her. Yuna then walked off with people still viewing her and taking pictures, giving Mizuki a chance to follow her

Eventually she reached her room in the LAW backstage. She suddenly decided to take a few selfie pics of herself to share on social media to congratulate her victory. After which she breathed a very great sigh of relief

“Finally… I’m away from all those people”

Yuna then dropped the Sadist Queen personality as she began to change back into her casual attire. She sat there in peace for a bit… thinking about the fight

“That girl… I wish I had a better opponent than her. I mean that girl barely put up a fight. It felt almost cruel… I hope to get some better opponents soon”

Yuna began to talk to herself. It seemed she actually wished she had a more worthy opponent than someone like Mizuki. It seems even if she's called the “Sadist Queen” she doesn’t take much pleasure in bullying the weak

Spoiler

[CaptainL]

From where Mizuki was standing, she could see Yuna, still celebrating her victory. Even with how harsh she had treated her opponent, her good looks and dominant personality were well enough to garner her her fair share of support, and she was eager to flaunt it. Mizuki let out a sigh as she shrank back against the wall, leaning her back up against it as she sagged lower with a frown. How could she ever hope to compete with that? Not only had Yuna completely demolished her in barely any time flat, she was getting all the attention no matter how effortless her victory had been. It was just another cruel reminder for the brunette that she didn't belong here. That if she had just been able to secure any better job, anything at all, she wouldn't need to be in LAW at all. She was here out of desperation, and everyone knew it.

When Yuna made her way to the changing room, she passed by Mizuki - and she didn't seem to notice the girl's presence at all. Mizuki looked back up at her with some confusion. She supposed she might not have recognized her with her glasses, and given how unassuming the lightweight was, Yuna could well have mistaken her for a crew member. But it was still enough to make her let out a sigh. What if Yuna had just set her up, and that she was only leading her on so that Mizuki would make a fool of herself waiting for the company of someone to whom she was never worthy of the time? It seemed like something that someone like Yuna would do. It seemed like something Mizuki could expect from people, too.

But there seemed to be something different about Yuna. Out of her costume, she seemed to drop her attitude - now, she seemed almost regretful. For once, she didn't seem like the kind of person who would rub victory in Mizuki's face. The brunette's gaze followed her curiously, watching as she disappeared into the room. After a moment's pause, she crept toward the door. She knew she shouldn't interfere, but she couldn't help but be curious...

And when she heard Yuna's voice through the crack in the door, it made her stop in her tracks as a wave of cold shot through her. Better opponent. Mizuki hadn't been good enough. It was just what she had thought - she was a disappointment. She'd always be. With a heavy sigh, she let her shoulders slump as she stared down at her feet. Maybe she shouldn't have bothered after all.

But...she did turn her head up. Yuna indeed seemed to regret her actions. Maybe she really did have some hope for Mizuki after all. Maybe she really was trying to help her. And maybe something good could come of this. The brunette sucked down a gulp - it seemed risky to approach someone who, for all she knew, was still an active threat. But nothing ventured, nothing gained...right?

With no small amount of trepidation, Mizuki knocked on the door a few times. "U-U-Um, Miss Yuna..?" she stammered. "Is this...an okay time..?"

[Hexmint]

*Yuna then checked her phone. Checking social media about her fight and decided to interact with her fans. That is when he heard a light knock on the door and a familiar voice, she almost immediately knew it was Mizuki*

“Ahh, Mizuki? You seem to found me~”

*Yuna then opened the door to see Mizuki in her casual outfit. She warmly smiled seeing her, Mizuki could feel a surprisingly welcome aura from Yuna. It was a seemingly different feeling to when Yuna was beating her senseless and laughing. She’s seemed rather friendly*

“I’m glad you found me! Didn’t think you’d want to see me after I beat you like that. you look rather cute actually. First I should say… I’m sorry for humiliating you like that in that match. I… don’t think I took much pleasure in beating a weak girl like that. But you know… it was kinda up to my boss”

[CaptainL]

When Mizuki heard the mechanisms of the doorknob turning, she sucked in a breath and her muscles went tense. She wasn't sure what might await her on the other side, but she was already prepared for the worst - that Yuna might be mad at her for interrupting her, or if she felt like she wasn't worthy of her company, or any other terrible things. She might even attack her, she thought to herself, as if she wasn't aching enough already! Already she was convinced she was making a mistake she'd soon regret. But no matter how much every impulse was telling her to run away, Mizuki, locked up in fear, couldn't bring her body to move...and the next thing she knew, she was face to face with Yuna herself.

But...when she looked up to make eye contact with the blonde, what immediately struck her was how non-threatening Yuna truly was. This wasn't the fearsome Sadist Queen she had suffered at the hands of, with barely anything to say for herself. She was welcoming, almost. Warm, and inviting. Mizuki couldn't begin to imagine why she would be so different in and out of the ring. For a moment, she stared back at Yuna, blinking a couple of times, as though trying to convince herself this was really happening. But she shook that thought out of her head a moment later - and when Yuna called her cute, a blush lit up across her face as she glanced down at the ground.

"C-Cute..? Me? Ah, no..." She fiddled nervously with her glasses. But as Yuna went on to call her weak, she let out a long sigh and stared down at the ground. Mizuki knew just as much as anyone how little she belonged in the squared circle. She had no hope of even reaching the levels of LAW's midcarders. But hearing it said to her face only made it sting that much more; it reminded her of how hopeless she really was.

When she continued, her voice was soft and sullen. "I don't really...want to do this stuff either. But I don't really have a choice..." Slowly, Mizuki looked back up at Yuna. When she saw the look on her face, her own frown softened just a little. She didn't quite know why...but she felt like she could trust Yuna. Maybe, for how different they seemed, they could meet on the same level after all. Yuna, it seemed, was only doing this out of necessity too. But Mizuki had no idea why a girl as beautiful and powerful as her would need to. Surely, she could do anything she wanted, right?

But she had a feeling this conversation was getting too personal to have out in the open like this. "Um...do you mind if I come inside?" Hopefully, that wouldn't be too intrusive.

[Hexmint]

*Yuna faintly laughed seeing her get nervous when she called Mizuki cute but then looked a bit worried when she noticed her look saddened when Yuna called her weak*

“Oh, well… I was thinking of an idea to maybe help you out. I believe that you have a sense of potential… if you hone yourself first. Come on inside and maybe we can talk a bit more”

*Yuna proceeded to open the door for Mizuki, letting her inside with a warm welcome*

“I don’t mind you entering. I’m better having conversations in private rather than public anyways~”

*the two the walked into her room, Yuna then sat on the small couch in it and layer back in it, waiting for Mizuki to maybe start a conversation with her*

[CaptainL]

When Mizuki first heard it, she stopped, blinking a few times and staring off into the distance in disbelief. Was she really hearing what she thought she was hearing? Had Yuna just offered to help her? She was used to her opponents either bullying her or forgetting about her after a match - and especially, she couldn't begin to imagine why Yuna, of all people, would want to extend a hand to her. Yuna already seemed like everything Mizuki could only wish she was. Pretty, confident, wealthy, and able to hold her own. What good would it be to have Mizuki around her, when the brunette would surely only drag her down? Why her? And why would she do this when she had just beat her without even breaking a sweat - wouldn't that already prove everything there was to prove about how hopeless she really was?

Nevertheless, Mizuki had to concede that she was curious. There weren't many people who would ever tell her she had potential. And if she wanted to succeed in this job enough to make it worth all the aches and pains and mental anguish it left her with, maybe she needed to bring that potential out. At the very least, it couldn't hurt to at least try, could it?

Sucking in a breath and gathering her nerves, Mizuki at last pushed open the door and took a step inside, glancing back and forth around Yuna's room. Immediately, she felt out of place next to all the luxuries the blonde had at her disposal, considering she was used to communal locker rooms and hard benches. For a moment, she hugged her arms closer to herself, as though trying to shrink back into the corner. She knew she didn't belong. But she still sucked in a breath and took a few steps forward to join Yuna on the couch.

"S-So, erm..." she began, fiddling with her glasses and kicking her legs, "you really think I have...potential? What exactly...do you see in me..? I'm...a nobody." Even as she spoke to Yuna, her eyes never settled on her; she always glanced off, not feeling worthy. Mizuki didn't think she had anything worth being proud of. And what could someone like Yuna, who so far eclipsed her, possibly have to offer her?