A Meeting in a Coffee Shop (For SuckerPunch)

[CaptainL]

"O-Oh, thank you..!" the compliment flattered Yuki, and she felt the blush coming likewise to her cheeks. She was happy to know she had hit it off so well with Kelsea; the girl seemed nice enough, and while it still felt weird to her to think that she had a fan, she didn't think it was a bad thing. If anything, the more she thought about it, the more that she felt reassured, and more confident towards her upcoming match. If she was good enough to have a fan like Kelsea, then surely she was good enough to beat the champion.

But all the same, Yuki still had her doubts - and Kelsea picked up on that, too, offering her sympathy. It touched Yuki to hear such concerns for her, and she knew that Kelsea had to be a good friend if she was so considerate. But what she didn't understand was why Kelsea had suddenly stood up, leaving her leaning back with wide eyes! "Wait, what are you doing-!?" she said - just before Kelsea called out to everyone in the cafe, making it abundantly clear that the next challenger was, in fact, in the building!

"Whoah, what the hell-!?" she exclaimed in shock. While Yuki was usually a polite and well-mannered girl, it was hard not to be shaken by this! She winced as she heard the cup break on the floor, wondering how she was going to explain this, but soon enough, all eyes were on the table. A fair few people were starting to line up by Yuki, bringing napkins forward in lieu of any proper autograph books, and she was faced with just staring back at them, blankly.

"Kazikura-san! It really is you!" "She looks so much taller than on TV..." "You really think you can beat Aoi?" "How do you expect to contend with her Warrior Sacrifice?"

She had never seen so many people - complete strangers, at that - be so invested in her, or her future. It didn't matter that she hadn't been the one to announce her challenge; as far as anyone was concerned, it was Yuki herself who said all that! She looked back at Kelsea out of the corner of her eye, whispering to her in a desperate attempt to seek guidance. "What...was that for-?"

[SuckerPunch]

"Heh!" Kelsea laughed confidently. She stood straight-backed abd thrust out her right hand, thumbs up! The light refracted of the purity of her smile and the joy in her eyes! She was so proud of what she'd done for her friend that she was difficult to look at without being blinded!

The mob was coming. Ravening and shambling! Eager for information and Yuki's energy! For a quiet girl like Yuki, it was no doubt, a nightmare! Their cacophonous gibbering! Their prying eyes! They sought to devour her and leave the husk for Sunday's paper. Or so it must have seemed.

"This is nothing compared to what you'll face in the future Yuki-chan!" Kelsea encouraged while pumping her fist enthusiastically! "But you're the lovely Dynamite Schoolgirl! You are the future champion of the Lightweight Division!" She declared proudly. Her blush returning as she complimented the woman's beauty once more.

"Aren't you?!" She demanded!

As reporters closed in, Kelsea clapped Yuki on the back! A powerful slap that would leave a red mark on her back, and worse, thrust her towards her interviewers! A manuever her Jiujitsu coach had done to her! The pain had filled her with support and fighting spirit!

"GANBARU YUKI!" She cried! A japanese fighting chant, essentially, 'Do your best!'.

"I believe in you! GANBARU!"

[CaptainL]

Kelsea had been the wakeup call. But now, the proof was in front of her. Yuki had fans. She was a national, if not global, sensation, and more people than she could ever have imagined were now clamboring for her to announce her plans for the future! The very thought of it was intimidating. Now, in addition to doing this all for herself, she had all these people watching her, and she couldn't let them down! If she lost, it wouldn't only be a setback for herself, but for everyone who believed in her. How was she supposed to contend with stakes like that?

And yet...Kelsea was still helping her with that. Shining like a beacon of light in the darkness, as she stood back and flashed her that infectious smile. She had to admit, it was making her feel better about this whole thing. If she had come this far in the indies, then surely she still had what it took to take on the champion! She could have done without the slap on her back, something that made her yelp in pain she was unprepared for, but nevertheless she stepped forward to the crowd. If she would disappoint everyone by losing, then it stood to reason that her backing down from a challenge would be just as much of a disappointment to everyone who believed in her - and to people like Kelsea, who looked up to her and took her for an inspiration! What would they think if their hero, whose spirit no doubt helped inspire them to persevere through their own challenges, was too afraid to stand up to a championship match? In fact, the crowd had joined in with Kelsea's encouragement, chanting "GANBARU YUKI!" back at her! She knew now what she had to do!

Straightening herself, and taking in a breath, Yuki turned to face the crowd. "Yes. That's right! I'm Yuki Kazikura! The one and only Dynamite Schoolgirl! And I'm going to be the Lightweight Champion!" When she looked back at Kelsea over her shoulder, it was with a smile of genuine warmth and confidence. She owed it to Kelsea, after all, for helping her rise to this challenge!

[SuckerPunch]

'That a girl Yuki!' Was all she could think as Yuki stood up and addressed the crowd! Gosh. She looked so lovely as she met the crowds questions and adoration. As she seemed to come to terms with her own fame. Her own success. Afterall, she was the number one contender! She'd earned her spot through hard work!

As Yuki turned and looked at her, she was pumping her fist! Leading the chant. "GANBARU YUKI! GAMBARU YUKI!" The positivity was practically bubbling off of her. However. When she met Yuki's eyes she developed a bit of a blush! She turned away somewhat, embarassed. Embarassed by how Yuki was looking at her. A beautiful, athletic woman whose spirit she admired was looking at her with adoration in her eyes. Heck. It was enough to make any young woman blush. But it didn't halt her spirit! "GANBARU CHAMPION! GANBARU CHAMPION!" She changed the chant as she met Yuki's gaze. Returning the young woman's look with similar adoration.

[CaptainL]

Yuki could hardly believe it. Never before in her life had she expected she would get this much support - it seemed the entire coffee shop was united in their pledge to her, and she barely even knew anyone! She blushed at first, not used to dealing with this sort of pressure, but the more it dawned on her that she had so many people counting on her, the more she knew that she had to be the kind of person they wanted her to be. Yuki wasn't usually one to back down from a challenge, and this would be no exception!

"That's right!" she said, facing back over at the crowd. "I'll do it!" As the patrons went up in a cheer, Yuki stepped aside to allow them to bring forth their questions and autographs, signing whatever they had on hand. If Kelsea looked at her, during this, she would see her developing a wider smile, as though the whole endeavor had filled her with pride and confidence. If these people deemed her worthy of such confidence, she would have to live up to that!

At last, though, when all was said and done, and the cafe returned to what seemed like some semblance of normalcy - which seemed, at least by Yuki's standards, to be an eternity - she looked back at Kelsea, sitting down across from her and meeting her with a short polite bow. "Thank you, again, though," she said. "Knowing you believe in me really means a lot...I promise I won't let you down, okay?"

[SuckerPunch]

The coffee shop finally cooled down. Yuki had been showered in praise and good feelings. Watching the young woman soak it in and become revitalized by it had been refreshing. Kelsea hadn't planned to ambush the woman with a pep rally per se. However, Kelsea rarely planned anything.

"I know you won't Yuki-chan! You're already amazing! I can't wait to see you in your lovely outfit fighting your hardest! Gosh. I can't believe I got to meet you!" She practically swooned. However, as they'd returned to their conversation, it was Kelsea's turn to be embarassed! Her cheeks flushed a bright pink that complimented her clothes nicely. The crowd's dispersal made the conversation feel so much more... intimate.

It was easier to talk to Yuki when she had been a celebrity. But now Kelsea felt like Yuki was her friend! And that meant that Kelsea wasn't sitting across from the Dynamite Schoolgirl anymore. She was sitting across from a yamato nadeshiko. An image of the idealized japanese beauty named Yuki Kazikura! An athletic, kind, and adorable young woman. And all those thoughts were clearly visible in Kelsea's eyes as she looked upon her coffee mate.

[CaptainL]

While she might have been confused and anxious at first, Yuki was now truly convinced that there was no one she would rather be sharing a table with right now than Kelsea. The girl might have been loud and unsubtle, and found her way to worm herself into Yuki's affairs, but she wasn't annoyed by her presence any more. She was honored to have such a loyal and devoted fan - no, a friend. She had stood up for Yuki and helped her reach for new heights, encouraging her to forge boldly onward in her career path. That, as far as Yuki was concerned, was what friends did. She knew she meant everything to the girl, and she wanted to be the person Kelsea saw her as.

"Yeah...it's really been nice. I'm glad to have met you." Her smile grew a little wider as she heard Kelsea's words of encouragement, and she took a last sip of the coffee left in her cup. Then, looking at the bag lying by the side of her seat, she turned her attention back to her newfound friend. "So, you heading anywhere?"

[SuckerPunch]

"Heading anywhere?" The words of her new friend shook her from her reverie! She considered Yuki's question for a moment. Hm. She could have sworn that she was getting coffee to stay awake for something... But what... Was...

Oh no! "OH NO!" She burst out suddenly! Kelsea leapt out of her seat, her hands to her cheeks like a Salvador Dali painting! "I'm late! Oh gosh! On my first day!" She espoused to the universe!

"I'm so sorry Yuki-chan! I have to go! It was so nice to meet you!" She spoke rapidly and without pause! She didn't wait for Yuki to answer and was already out the door by the time she'd finished her sentance! A whirlwind of pink and blonde that left the entrance door swinging wildly.

Upon the table, a yen piece was left spinning like a top. As it slowly came to a ringing halt, it fell flat one a piece of pink paper. A phone number underlined by a hastily drawn petal.

At the time. It was unclear as to whether or not Kelsea Rose really did have an appointment, or if her anxiety had finally toppled her in the face of her beautiful new friend...

What was certain was that the blonde Gaijin was as pretty as she was unpredictable. Just what had Yuki stumbled into?

[CaptainL]

Yuki wasn't sure what Kelsea's schedule was. On her own regard, she didn't have much in mind besides to scope out the arena her upcoming match was scheduled to take place in, and probably to get some training in as well to ensure she was at the top of her game; certainly she would need it! However, she was content to get to know Kelsea a little more, and maybe they could keep up with their conversation as they walked. But once Yuki brought up any future commitments, a switch seemed to flip in Kelsea's head, as she jumped up from her seat.

Even though she would later concede that she should have expected such behavior from Kelsea, Yuki didn't expect her to be quite so panicked. "What..!? Hey-!" she called out. Kelsea had an appointment? She didn't recall her ever mentioning something like that, and with how frantic the blonde was about it, she knew it had to be important. She just hoped everything was okay with her! "What for-?" she began to say, but it was already too late. Kelsea had taken off out the door, leaving Yuki behind at the table before she was even aware she had left.

Yuki sighed, her shoulders slumping as her gaze turned down to the table. She picked the coin up off the table, but then saw the paper underneath it. A number...it did bring a smile to Yuki's face to see that Kelsea was just as interested in staying in touch, and she would have to put this into her phone. For now, though, she would set the paper in her bag, before she would set back out for Korakuen Hall. She did, after all, have plans.