A Meeting in a Coffee Shop (For SuckerPunch)

[CaptainL]

"So...you're really a...fan of mine, huh?"

Truth be told, Yuki was still trying to deal with the flurry of emotions this revelation had stirred in her. Things had started out normally enough. It was a day she had off from school, but, never really one to not occupy herself in each idle moment, Yuki found herself on her way to Korakuen Hall regardless. She had a title match coming up there with reigning Lightweight Champion Aoi Fukiwara, after all, and it never hurt to familiarize herself with the facilities - as well as the fact she would be seeing the inside of Korakuen Hall in person. As an indie wrestler who was quickly on her way to stardom, Yuki was amazed by the prospect of wrestling a match in such a prestigious arena. She barely even considered herself worthy of that.

Nor did she consider herself worthy of having people recognize her and approach her in the streets - but that was exactly what had happened this time. Before Yuki had a chance to go inside, a girl flagged her down on the sidewalk, talking about how she recognized her from TV. Truth be told, Yuki was taken aback by that thought at first. Being on TV at all was an honor for her, but to have people actually recognizing her and offering to meet was something Yuki wasn't prepared for. She had friends at her school who knew she was a wrestler and followed her career, but this...

Nevertheless, their encounter had led here, to a nearby coffee shop. Sitting by the window, Yuki kicked her legs idly under the table as she looked up at the girl sitting across from her. "Well, thank you...it really is an honor to meet people who care about what I do, miss..?" Yuki lingered on that last part, realizing she hadn't gotten her fan's name.

Spoiler

[SuckerPunch]

"Huh? Of course I am! You're -THE- Dynamite Schoolgirl!!"

Truth be told, Kelsea had just spilled coffee all over herself. She was still slightly unstable from the week's match. Rose Gold had been defeated in especially devastating and humiliating fashion. Kelsea felt bad for her, of course. But ironically, it had made Rose Gold more popular. Tripled her scores in image searches alone. Women's Professional Wrestling was a very strange sport. Gosh her legs hurt so much!

Of course it hadn't been pure instability or her bad luck that had caused the spill. Kelsea had seen one of her childhood idols emerge from Koruken Hall! She still hadn't gotten used to seeing the big names around there. And most of them didn't seem to see her at all! She had waved madly, attempting to grab her attention! Unfortunately, she'd forgotten about the cup of iced coffee in her hand, flailing it back and forth and spilling it everywhere! It had been the crowd's distress over the sudden mocha sprinkler system that had helped to draw Yuki's attention her way in the first place! 'Ha! Everything happens for a reason!' Thought Kelsea as they'd locked eyes! And now their fates were intertwined!

Kelsea sat across from Yuki looking as pleased as a dog with a bone! Her bright golden eyes sparkled with adoration for the younger woman sitting across from her. "Miss Rose! Kelsea Rose!" She declared as she thrust a hand across the table, sending a spray of napkins onto the floor in her eagerness!

"Oh! Sorry! Sorry!" She blushed from embarrassment as she got up from her seat and began collecting the napkins, returning to her seat and giving the nearby barista a heroic thumbs up! All in a day's work citizen!

"I used to dream of being you when I was younger! You were amazing! An inspiration!" She espoused cheerfully and without filter!

Kelsea Rose!

[CaptainL]

As soon as Kelsea had spilled coffee all over her, Yuki jolted from the sight, at first alarmed by the drops of liquid going into the crowd! Many bystanders scattered, and Yuki was among them - but even when that moment of surprise stopped, there was still the fact that this woman recognized her! She would have thought herself nondescript enough to blend into the crowd; she was certainly able to do that before. But to the young blonde in front of her, it seemed, Yuki's face was unforgettable. Not used to being put on the spot like this, that face had grown red, as she tried to rush in to control the situation. "N-Not so loud-! People can see us!" she said. But, despite all that...there was something oddly compelling about being recognized like this. Was Yuki really that famous?

Looking to salvage the situation, Yuki closed the distance. "Look...it's okay. I'll buy you another coffee, okay?" she offered. And that led to the two of them finding themselves in the shop Kelsea had bought her drink from, with Yuki sitting across from her at the table, an iced coffee of her own in hand. She might as well spare a moment to get a drink, she thought - but she was also closer than she ever was to a real fan. Not just one of her classmates congratulating her after a match, or showing her support when she came to school with her arm in a cast; those were people she already knew. This...was different.

A blush was still on her face as she swirled the coffee in her cup. "Kelsea. All right," she said with a nod, trying to help cement it in her mind. She recognized that with the girl's fair hair and complexion, and with a name like that, she was definitely not a local - was Yuki really so popular she'd crossed borders? It was something that really opened her eyes to think about.

And so too was Kelsea's excitement so much that she knocked over the napkins on the table! "Whoah-! Hey, hold on-" Yuki moved to pick up the fallen napkins, but Kelsea was already on it, gathering everything up. As she sat down, Yuki reflected on how this girl's enthusiasm and energy was almost too much. Compared to her own more sedate and quiet demeanor, staying focused even in the middle of a heated match, she could already tell they were like night and day. But at least she was nice about it.

"Ah, an inspiration? Really?" Yuki smiled to Kelsea, taking another sip of her drink. "I...never realized I would inspire anyone. I'm still so young, I never got out of the mindset that my career was only starting...you really look up to me that much? I'm...I'm touched."

[SuckerPunch]

Yuki had been so kind! She'd immediately run over. No doubt drawn by the alarm of the japanese citizens prepared to start a riot! The two women were very different! Almost dichotamus.

Kelsea stood out like a sore thumb in her bright pastels and bobbed blonde hair. It was kept in a hairband of red as bright as her smile. It even had a little heart at its crest. She had great big eyes, a brown so eager they were almost golden. She was Gaijin, a Foreigner, through and through. Kelsea looked sweet enough to give you a toothache...

Yuki on the other hand was the picture of Yamato Nadeshiko. The ideal japanese beauty. From her lovely skin, to her straight black hair, to her humility and poise. A few years Kelsea's junior, yet she looked very much the older woman.

"Oh my gosh!! I would LOVE to get coffee with you!" She spouted with enough energy to power a city block!

----------

Kelsea's eyes were practically sparkling with adoration! She nodded, confirming her name. "Oh my GOSH! This is so amazing getting to meet you Kazikura-san! Thank you for taking the time out of your day for little me!" She clapped her hands in front of her and bowed her head in gratitude.

"That much? Oh my gosh! No! More!" She laughed. It was a charming, bubbly thing. Warm, comforting, and welcoming. Kelsea was just as happy as she was carefree.

"I remember watching you matches when I was in high school! You were brave! And bold! You flew through the air and never nacked down from bigger opponents! And you looked so pretty!" She leaned forward, putting her chin in her hands as she drifted off into reverie. It wasn't until she'd come back from her daydream that it struck her. Yuki-san wasn't pretty anymore. She was beautiful now.

Kelsea quickly slapped her hands over her mouth. "I didn't mean- I mean you are- but- Oh my gosh!" She spoke through her fingers as her face turned a paler shade of pink than her cutesy dress.

[CaptainL]

Seeing Kelsea's exuberance, Yuki had to blush a little harder, averting her gaze. This girl was most definitely not subtle, that was for sure. From what she knew about American tourists, she seemed to fit the stereotype, but at least she was respectful and her Japanese was good enough to hold a conversation. "It's nothing, really..." she said. She just hoped that the noise she was making wasn't going to attract a mob of people trying to get her autograph or photos or what have you, when she really just wanted to get a drink and have some nice conversation. Because, if what Kelsea indicated about her popularity was true, that was apparently something she would have to watch out for now. The idea of being famous still seemed so alien to Yuki, and she made a mental note that she would have to adjust.

Still, the excitement Kelsea showed her made Yuki feel proverbially warm and fuzzy inside. She had never thought she would be this important to anyone. If someone was this vocal about meeting her in person, it was at least good that it was on positive terms. She looked back up towards the blonde, a smile growing across her face, and she began to scoot her seat a little closer to her. "Thank you...really, thank you. It means a lot to hear that I could...inspire you like this, I never thought...it would be this way." She herself began to drift off in thought. All this time, even when she signed on to the big leagues, Yuki was still in the mindset that she was doing this for herself. Wrestling was her passion; even her parents thought she was just a chuuni when she started training, but she still went above and beyond in her career. But she was doing it because of the personal gratification and fulfilment it brought her; it made her feel powerful and in control, like she could do anything. Meeting someone like Kelsea proved to her that she indeed could - but it was so much more than that, too.

Both girls, as it turned out, had gotten lost in thought, but for different reasons. Nevertheless, Yuki came back down to reality as Kelsea did, clasping her hand over her mouth. Yuki blushed a little at that, realizing how the last thing she'd said was how pretty she was. "It's okay," she said, calmly but still with confidence. "It's...it's flattering, really. I never knew I'd ever have...well, a fan like you. Thank you."

[SuckerPunch]

"Oh my gosh! You're so welcome!" Kelsea's blush began to fade, suppressed by Yuki's humility.

"I came to Japan once for a tournament. It was in the same arena you were performing in. I got to see you in person!" She smiled as she thought back to her first Pro Wrestling show. In a way, she had Yuki to thank for her current career.

"I remember being inspired by how free you seemed! And how happy!" Her smile widened. The adoration in her eyes somehow intensifying.

"I couldn't really get many of your matches in America." She looked away, maybe a little ashamed.

"But I'm so excited that I get to watch you again! What's it like!? How does it make you feel to be in there!?" Kelsea suddenly snapped back into over-eager form. She slapped her hands on the table enthusiastically as she leaned in, excited for her response!

[CaptainL]

At long last, it seemed that Kelsea was beginning to quiet down, a fact that made Yuki relax. She let the tension in her body out with a breath, her shoulders slumping in the process; it seemed that when she wasn't on high alert in fear of Kelsea causing a scene, Yuki could open up and actually enjoy the conversation. The corners of her mouth coiled into a smile, as she leaned closer with her hands on the table, listening to the blonde.

"Oh, I see!" Yuki nodded at Kelsea's discussion of previously being to Japan, which certainly explained her grasp of the language, if not the culture. "That's very nice! So, you were following me even before LAW, huh..." She smiled, thinking back on the implications of that. She understood it when Kelsea said that her matches were harder to come by overseas, but still, the thought that she had fans before she was even on as big a stage as she was on now was news to her. But she also recognized those feelings Kelsea alluded to when she talked about how free and happy she seemed, something she nodded her head towards in agreement.

"I really do like it. I can't imagine myself anywhere else. There's just...I don't know, it's hard to describe, but there's a rush to it that you just don't find anywhere. I don't know if it's adrenaline, or just doing what I love, but it really makes me feel alive. It's hard work, I know, and I wouldn't ever doubt that. But it's work toward what I enjoy, so...it's worth it. It's all worth it."

Saying that, Yuki sat back in her seat, glancing out the window. Finally, her thoughts turned to what was currently on her mind. "You know, it's funny to think of how experienced I was even when I started LAW. Even though I'm just 18. I never really thought of myself like that, up until I found out I was eligible to challenge for the Lightweight Championship...I have my big match coming up," she admitted, chuckling a little bit at the thought, as though the prospect was absurd. "I'm doing my best to make sure I'll be ready."

[SuckerPunch]

Kelsea sighed happily as she listened to Yuki gush about her experience. She'd felt that way about Jiujitsu. That was until she'd met professor Takemi! That was when her life shifted drastically. When she'd found her passion. Like Yuki. The two women weren't too different.

"I was! I saw you at my very first wrestling match!" She grinned stupidly. That grin shattered however at Yuki's mention of the Lightweight Championship match. Something moved behind her eyes. It was breif, hardly noteworthy. But it had been there.

Her hands came up to her cheeks in shock. "OH MY GOSH!!! You're going to challenge Aoi-san for the belt! That's so exciting! How are you preparing!? What are going to do? Oh my gosh!! Tell me everything!" Kelsea practically squealed with excitement! She... should have gotten decaf.

[CaptainL]

Yuki could see how interested Kelsea was in her story, and she had to smile to that, nodding her head in turn. She felt like she had a kindred spirit - and while her demeanor could often be cold and curt when it came to others, she definitely saw herself in this girl, which helped her open up. The connection had been made - in fact, she was one to think that the two could be friends, even despite initial hesitation.

"Ah! So I see...well, it's funny things work out like that, huh?" Yuki said with a chuckle. "At any rate, I'm happy I could make a good first impression..."

But when Yuki mentioned she was going for a shot at the belt, that's when everything changed. If Yuki thought Kelsea had been excited before...this was another matter entirely. She had to scoot back in the chair a few inches as Kelsea practically burst forth in cheer, wincing as their conversation had drawn the attention of a few heads turned toward the table. "N-Not so loud-!" she said, still unused to the concept of having this much attention on her. Still, the idea of someone being so excited to see her in the title scene - as surreal as the thought was - wasn't a bad idea, and she soon warmed up to it, even if she wasn't about to alert it to everyone within the building. "I've been training a lot," she explained. "Taking time out of my schedule to devote to it. I know that I'm going to need to be ready. In fact, I was going to go scope out the arena and get a feel for it before...well, you showed up. It's okay, though," she added, not wanting Kelsea to feel bad about the meeting. "I don't mind talking to you! It's really an honor to know, and...heh, really, I'm sure I'll do fine," she said with a shrug. "If I've got people like you counting on me, and people believe in me like they have...I must be on to something, right? They wouldn't recommend I go for the chance if they didn't think I could do it."

[SuckerPunch]

Kelsea's warmth seemed to be infectious. She could feel Yuki's heart warming. It was nice! Kelsea didn't have many friends in Japan. Similar to Yuki she had spent most of her time training. In fact, she had only just come out of a match. Rose Gild had suffered a humiliating and painful defeat. One that had made it somewhat hard to walk even. It had been draining and painful. She felt terrible for her. But ontop of that, she felt exhausted! It was what had led her to get coffee.

"And a good second impression too! You're even prettier now! I bet you must look majestic in your wrestling attire!" She gushed again. Her cheeks taking on a pink glow again... Kelsea always had trouble talking to pretty girls. However, Yuki was making it much easier on her.

"Oh! Sorry! Sorry!" She faux covered her mouth as Yuki rebuked her for her volume. She couldn't help but giggle at her own absentmindedness. "I'm glad I got to talk to you Yuki-chan!" She whispered enthusiastically.

However, Kelsea's mirth began to fade as she listened to the woman across from her. She could feel her sadness... "Yuki-chan. You sound like your heart hurts." She could see Yuki trying to be strong and felt a pang of guilt. She knew that lack of confidence well.

Kelsea stood up suddenly, a determined look on her face. Her chair screeching across the floor. She hurried over to Yuki's side and grasped both of her shoulders, urging her to stand! If she was complacent she would turn her own frown upside down! Yuki was about to embark on a magnificent journey! And Kelsea needed to what she could for her new friend! Loudly... Like she did pretty much everything.

She grinned with reckless abandon before stating. "Okay Yuki-chan. I need you to repeat after me!" She drew in a deep breath through her nose before stomping her foot and looking straight at Yuki, fire in her eyes! She was serious!

"I'M YUKI KAZIKURA! AND I'M GOING TO BE THE LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION!" She threw her arms up as she released her voice with all of the breath and enthusiasm in her young body!

A cup shattered as a patron of the otherwise quiet coffee shop was shocked by the sudden shouting!