Image Preview
Today was the day.
After years of dating, countless memories together, and supporting one another through the ups and downs of their wrestling careers, Hiro Takahashi had finally decided to take the biggest step of his life.
He was going to propose to Fang.
"Heh... never thought I'd be this nervous."
The Japanese wrestler chuckled to himself as he stood outside a jewelry store, admiring the engagement ring nestled inside a small velvet box. He had spent weeks planning everything, from the romantic dinner reservations to the perfect location overlooking Tokyo's beautiful nighttime skyline.
Yet somehow, despite being a former kickboxing champion and having faced countless opponents inside the wrestling ring, the thought of getting down on one knee had his heart pounding harder than any match.
"Come on, Hiro. You've been kicked in the head harder than this. It's just four little words..."
He cleared his throat.
"Fang, will you marry me?"
A brief silence followed.
"...Nah, too stiff."
He tried again, this time with a warmer smile.
"Fang, you've made me the happiest man alive, and I want to spend the rest of my life making you just as happy."
Hiro paused before nodding approvingly.
"Yeah... that's more like it!"
Closing the box, he carefully slipped it into his jacket pocket. Everything was arranged. All he needed to do was pick up some flowers and a few last-minute things before meeting Fang that evening.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the bustling shopping district...
"¡Ay, qué emoción! This is gonna be my greatest creation yet!"
A certain pink-masked luchadora was happily skipping along the sidewalk, carrying a small bottle filled with a mysterious pinkish liquid.
Lovestar, the self-proclaimed Cupid of LAW, had been experimenting with a brand-new concoction of her famous aphrodisiac oil. Unlike her previous formulas, which merely enhanced someone's existing romantic feelings, this particular batch was supposed to make someone fall hopelessly in love with the first person they laid eyes upon after exposure!
At least, that was the theory.
"Hehehe~! Just imagine all the lonely little lovebirds I could help with this baby! Cupid's gonna be working overtime!"
She giggled mischievously, holding the bottle up to admire her handiwork.
"Of course, I still gotta test it first. Wouldn't want any accidents, now would we?"
Unfortunately, fate had other plans.
Back on the opposite side of the street, Hiro was checking his phone while walking toward a nearby flower shop.
"Alright, flowers next, then pick up the reservation confirmation, and—"
BUMP!
"KYAAAH!"
"WHOA!"
The two wrestlers collided as they rounded the same corner!
Lovestar stumbled backward, her precious bottle slipping from her fingers.
"AH! MY OIL!"
CRASH!
The glass shattered against the pavement, sending its sweet-smelling contents splashing across Hiro's trousers, jacket, and shoes!
"AH! KUSO!"
Hiro jumped back, staring at the strange pink liquid soaking into his clothes.
"Aw, man! Seriously?!"
"¡NOOOOO! MI PRECIOSO ACEITE!"
Lovestar dropped to her knees, staring at the shattered remains of her creation.
"All that work! All those ingredients! RUINED!"
Hiro sighed, attempting to brush the substance off his jacket.
"Hey, I'm sorry, alright? I wasn't watching where I was—"
He paused.
"Wait a minute..."
The Japanese wrestler leaned forward, recognizing the familiar pink mask.
"Lovestar?"
The luchadora looked up.
"Huh?"
Her eyes widened.
"HIRO?!"
Hiro blinked before letting out an amused chuckle.
"Well, I'll be damned! It's been a while, hasn't it?"
Lovestar immediately sprang to her feet.
"¡Ay, papi! Of all the people in Tokyo, I had to bump into YOU?!"
"Hahaha! Guess it's a small world!"
Hiro replied, scratching the back of his head.
"How've you been? Still running around playing Cupid?"
Lovestar proudly placed her hands on her hips.
"Of course, cariño! Love never takes a vacation!"
"Right, right. Still doing your whole love magic thing, huh?"
Hiro chuckled, remembering their previous encounter involving Fang.
"Well, whatever you were carrying, it smells pretty strong. What is this stuff anyway?"
Lovestar opened her mouth to answer.
Then froze.
Her eyes slowly drifted toward the pink stains spreading across Hiro's clothes.
"...Wait."
She blinked.
"Wait, wait, wait..."
Hiro raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
Lovestar's face suddenly went pale.
"¡Ay, mierda!"
"What?!"
"Papi... please tell me you didn't get any of that stuff on your skin!"
Hiro looked down at himself.
"Uh... yeah? Pretty sure it got everywhere."
"OH, NO!"
Lovestar grabbed her head.
"NO, NO, NO! THIS IS BAD!"
Hiro stared at her, completely bewildered.
"Would you relax?! It's just some perfume!"
"IT'S NOT PERFUME, TONTO!"
Lovestar grabbed him by the shoulders.
"It's my newest aphrodisiac oil! A special love formula! It's supposed to make someone fall head over heels for the first person they see!"
A long silence followed.
Hiro blinked twice.
Then burst out laughing.
"HAHAHAHA!"
Lovestar puffed out her cheeks.
"HEY! DON'T LAUGH!"
"Sorry, sorry!"
Hiro chuckled, wiping an imaginary tear from his eye.
"You seriously expect me to believe some magic oil is gonna make me fall in love with someone?"
"Well, technically—"
"Look, Lovestar, I appreciate what you do and everything, but I've already got a girlfriend. Remember Fang?"
"OF COURSE I REMEMBER FANG!"
"Well, actually..."
Hiro smiled proudly, patting his jacket pocket.
"I've got something pretty special planned for her tonight."
Lovestar tilted her head curiously.
"Ooooh? Something romantic, papi?"
"You could say that!"
He winked.
"But it's a surprise. Anyway, I should probably get going. Got a pretty busy afternoon ahead of me."
Hiro turned to leave.
But after taking two steps, he stopped.
"...Huh?"
A strange warmth suddenly spread across his chest.
His heartbeat quickened.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
He loosened his collar.
"Whoa... why's it suddenly so hot?"
Lovestar's eyes widened.
"...Hiro?"
The Japanese wrestler blinked, placing a hand against his forehead.
"Man... feeling kinda weird all of a sudden."
"¡Ay, no...!"
Lovestar slowly backed away.
"Papi? You feeling okay?"
Hiro turned around.
And there she was.
Lovestar.
Her beautiful hair. Her playful eyes. That adorable little pout beneath her pink mask.
Had she always been this gorgeous?
For a moment, Hiro could only stare.
"...Wow."
Lovestar tilted her head.
"Uh... Hiro?"
The Japanese wrestler's expression softened into a dreamy smile.
"Has anyone ever told you that you're absolutely beautiful?"
Lovestar froze.
"...¿Qué?"
"I mean it."
Hiro stepped closer, running a hand through his hair.
"Your eyes, your smile... honestly, Lovestar, how did I never notice just how gorgeous you were?"
"OH, NO!"
Lovestar immediately backed away.
"NO, NO, NO! IT WORKED?!"
Hiro chuckled affectionately.
"Worked? Well, if you were trying to steal my heart, señorita, I'd say you succeeded."
He flashed her a charming wink.
Lovestar's jaw dropped.
"Madre de Dios..."
Hiro gently took her hand, bringing it toward his lips for a gentlemanly kiss.
"You know, I've met plenty of beautiful women in my life, but there's something really special about you, hermosa."
Lovestar quickly snatched her hand back.
"HIRO! SNAP OUT OF IT!"
"Hm? What's wrong, sweetheart?"
"S-SWEETHEART?!"
Lovestar grabbed her head.
"¡Ay, Dios mío! You're supposed to be crazy about Fang! Remember?! Your girlfriend?! The woman I've met before?!"
Hiro scratched his chin thoughtfully.
"Fang...?"
"YES! FANG!"
"Oh, right! Fang!"
Lovestar sighed in relief.
"¡Gracias a Dios! Okay, good! You remember her!"
"Of course I remember her!"
Hiro smiled.
"She's a wonderful woman. Really talented wrestler, too."
"EXACTLY!"
"But..."
Lovestar froze.
"...But?"
Hiro leaned forward, his lovestruck grin widening.
"...I think I've just met someone even more wonderful."
Lovestar stared at him.
"...Papi."
"Yes, beautiful?"
"YOU ARE NOT HELPING!"
Hiro merely laughed before casually slipping an arm around her shoulders.
"Come on, don't be like that! How about I take you somewhere nice? I know this amazing restaurant overlooking Tokyo. Beautiful view, delicious food, very romantic..."
Lovestar immediately wriggled out of his embrace.
"HIRO! PERSONAL SPACE!"
"Oh! Sorry, sorry!"
He withdrew his arm, though the goofy smile never left his face.
"Can't help myself. You're just so cute when you're flustered."
Lovestar covered her face with both hands.
"Why did I make that stupid oil so strong?!"
Meanwhile, Hiro's phone suddenly vibrated.
He pulled it from his pocket.
Fang
Hey, Hiro!
Looking forward to tonight! What time should I be ready?Hiro stared at the message.
"Huh..."
Lovestar immediately perked up.
"Is that Fang?!"
"Yeah, she wants to know what time to be ready for tonight."
"THEN ANSWER HER!"
Hiro shrugged.
"Well, I was planning on taking her somewhere special, but..."
He looked toward Lovestar again.
"...I'd much rather spend tonight with you."
"¡¿QUÉ?!"
Lovestar nearly fell backward.
"HIRO TAKAHASHI! YOU HAVE A GIRLFRIEND!"
"I know, I know!"
He chuckled, slipping his phone away.
"But come on, Lovestar. Surely you believe in love at first sight? You're Cupid, aren't you?"
"NOT LIKE THIS, IDIOTA!"
Hiro laughed before giving her another charming wink.
"Well, Cupid, looks like you've finally shot me with one of your arrows."
Lovestar groaned.
"¡Ay, cállate!"
Then something caught her attention.
A small velvet box was peeking out of Hiro's jacket pocket.
Her eyes narrowed.
"...Papi?"
"Hm?"
"What's that in your pocket?"
Hiro looked down.
"Oh! This?"
He pulled out the box and opened it, revealing a beautiful sparkling engagement ring.
Lovestar's eyes widened.
"...No."
Hiro smiled.
"Pretty, isn't it?"
"...No, no, no..."
"I spent quite a bit of time picking it out, actually!"
Lovestar's hands slowly rose toward her mouth.
"HIRO..."
"Yeah?"
"PLEASE TELL ME THAT RING ISN'T WHAT I THINK IT IS!"
Hiro chuckled.
"Well, I was planning on proposing tonight."
Lovestar went completely pale.
"...YOU WERE GOING TO PROPOSE TO FANG?!"
"Yep!"
"TONIGHT?!"
"That's right!"
Lovestar stared at him in absolute horror.
She had done it.
She had somehow managed to sabotage a marriage proposal before it had even happened!
And to make matters worse, it was a couple she had previously tried to help!
"¡MADRE DE DIOS! I'M THE WORST CUPID EVER!"
Hiro, meanwhile, looked down at the ring.
Then toward Lovestar.
Then back at the ring.
A thoughtful expression crossed his face.
"...You know something?"
Lovestar slowly turned toward him.
"...What?"
Hiro's smile grew wider.
"Maybe this was fate."
Lovestar's blood ran cold.
"...Hiro?"
The Japanese wrestler suddenly dropped down onto one knee, holding the open ring box toward her with the biggest, most lovestruck smile imaginable.
"Lovestar, I know this might seem sudden, but from the moment I laid eyes on you today, I knew there was something special between us."
"HIRO, NO!"
"I can't explain it, but my heart's telling me you're the woman I've been waiting for!"
"GET UP! GET UP RIGHT NOW!"
He took a deep breath.
"Lovestar..."
"¡NO, NO, NO!"
"...Will you marry me?"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!"
Lovestar's horrified scream echoed throughout the shopping district, attracting the attention of several confused pedestrians.
And there, in the middle of a busy Tokyo sidewalk, Hiro Takahashi remained on one knee, happily proposing to the very woman who had accidentally enchanted him.
Meanwhile, his actual girlfriend was still waiting for a reply to her text.
And Lovestar?
Well...
She was beginning to seriously reconsider her career as Cupid.