Another Familiar Face, Another Lasting Problem

[TheManVan]

Reiko, the leather-clad biker Queen was roaming the streets. With her upcoming match at LAW of the Jungle, she was exceptionally on edge as she was about to take part in a brutal battle with her former friend Candy Cane. She had scared off numerous fans who had came up to her, asking for either a selfie or an autograph and had to get physical whenever she caught them trying to snag a photo without her permission. She had currently taken up in an iconic delinquent crouch, arms resting on her knees as she hunched forward with a cigarette between her gloved fingers while she hung out at the entrance of a park.

All the walking around, especially in the hot day's rays in her leather outfit had built up quite a sweat. She wasn't going in a particular direction, the Queen Cobra was trying to keep the tension in her body at a 'reasonable' level as she was ready to let loose all of that pent-up aggression come to the next PPV.

She just hoped that some idiot didn't come along and drive her nerves out of proportion.

[Roy (abracy)]

Makoto, who everyone used to know her as The Innocent Tornado, was also roaming the streets. She had only just joined LAW recently, she did get to catch up on Aigle but not really for everyone else and that includes Reiko and Candy Cane. She didn't even have a match yet though she does plan to very soon, anyways she takes this day of peace without all of the paparazzi guys and fans trying to go up to her...not that she had as much trouble when she joined LAW but still. Anyways she decided that maybe she can go a park so she can have a quiet place to train her body. She had always trained her body even when she was a singing idol but not as much as she liked to so she plans to train hard everyday and for long periods of time to make up for all of that lost time she had.

Even though that Makoto is wearing clothes that's more appropriate for this kind of weather, even she wasn't safe from the sweat that she will build up especially with her more private outdoor training for inevitable debut match on LAW. Makoto could faint see a figure sitting on the entrance of the park that she's going to.

As she stepped closer and closer she thought 'No it couldn't be...could it?'. She widen her eyes as she walked up to her "Reiko? Reiko Hinomoto is that you?"

[TheManVan]

Reiko's eye hardened as she turned her head, glaring with her eye up to the voice that had called out to her. She wished that it was a voice belonging to a complete stranger, so she would be able to tell them to fuck right off. But she knew the voice, it was a while since she'd heard it but she could pick out that annoying innocent voice belonging to a certain Judoka that she met while she was in Rumble Rose, none other than Makoto Aihara. The two had built a relationship of respect and competition before coming to LAW, but now all of that meant nothing to Reiko.

"Oh for fuck's sake...What do you want?" she harshly replied to the Judoka as she stood up, taking another drag off of her cigarette as she tried her best to dismiss the Judoka so that she could leave her alone, she wasn't in the mood to deal with other Rumble Rose Alumni.

[Roy (abracy)]

She couldn't believe that she found Reiko here of all places but she also couldn't believe that she found Reiko in such a state that she is right now. She remembered Reiko as a kind and respectful wrestler, but now it's like she's a completely different person. She just couldn't believe that Reiko could change so much in such a time frame

"Reiko, what happened to you after all this time!? Your looks are completely different, such new clothes that I would have never imagined you wearing. And your hair, I thought your hair was dark brown but now it's blonde? How did that even happen? Where did you get those tattoos on you anyways and- wait...that scar...who gave you that!? I need some answers!" It's clear that Makoto is so confused on Reiko's massive transformation that she needs an explanation.

[TheManVan]

Reiko glared at Makoto as she fired off question after question pertaining to her new appearance, her bleach blonde hair, her leather outfit, and embarrassingly enough, her make up scar that Reiko had on her face just for the intimidation and coolness factor of it. But regardless, she was exceptionally frustrated with this never-ending questions that she turned to Makoto, "Enough! Shut up with your questions! This is the new me! I'm not that weak fool who just smiles and loses!" she shouted out as she took a step forward and grabbed onto Makoto's collar.

"So do me a favor and get the hell out of my face! I have a big match against Candy coming up and I don't need you here to piss me off even more!"

[Roy (abracy)]

That make up scar is actually a pretty convincing scar to Makoto, even though that being an singing idol had taught about make up and she has developed a sense of fashion but it didn't exactly give her the ability to tell the difference between a make up scar and a real one though. She was kind of taken back when Reiko just shouted all of a sudden, shocked but not scared in any way. Not even when Reiko grabbed Makoto by the collar of her judo uniform.

"Reiko what are you talking about!? That 'weak fool' is also my friend! I don't care if you keep saying that is the new you, I know that this ISN'T you and I think you know it too. So please tell me Reiko, what's going on? I want to help you"

[TheManVan]

Hearing Makoto trying to reach out for her in such an innocent way only reminded Reiko of how she was before this drastic change. Like any person who would have their pedestal broken, Reiko only remembered bitterly as she snarled and pulled Makoto closer, practically smacking heads with her. "Just shut up! The Zero Fighter was nothing but a Zero! Why the hell should be someone like her when I can be me!? Someone who wins, someone who takes!?" she shouted, bitterly hissing at Makoto as she gripped her gi even tighter.

"I can't rely on anyone but myself, so if you think that you can take me then you should go and forget it! I'm not Reiko Hinomoto anymore, I'm Rowdy Reiko!"

[Roy (abracy)]

Makoto was still in shock, but still not scared of her even in the state that she's in right now. Not even the snarl or the pulling of her judo uniform or the shouting did anything for her in terms of fear. After she's one of her best friends, how can she be scared of her? She grabbed onto Reiko's collar of her leather jacket and get in close and personal with her, not out of anger but out of determination to help her friend and also some frustration.

"The Zero Fighter was a proud and strong warrior fighting to continue her late mother's legacy. Your friends don't want someone who wins and takes, they want their friend who they know and love after so long of being away from each other. I'm sure that even someone like Candy Cane wouldn't want you to be this way. I may not know your mother as well you do or your sister but I KNOW that she wouldn't want you to be this way and she wouldn't care whether you win or lose. I don't care if you keep saying you're Rowdy Reiko because we all know that's not you. You are Reiko Hinomoto, The Zero Fighter and I want to help you whether you like it or not!"

[TheManVan]

Reiko heard all of Makoto's speech about how she viewed her, it struck deep to Reiko as she remembered why she fought as a wrestler as now Makoto grabbed on her collar as the two former friends glared at each other. There was a break in Reiko's harsh scowl, but it quickly intensified as she shoved her head harder into Makoto!

"Screw all of that! I'm done fighting for others and falling short because of it! I'm tired of trying to fill in shoes that aren't mine! I like the way I am now, a woman who can win! So do me a favor and get lost or get bent!"

[Roy (abracy)]

Makoto still views Reiko as her friend, a friend who needs help and dammit she's going to try and give her that. She grabbed on Reiko's collar tightly as she shoved her head against Reiko's to try to stay on top of her during this stare down.

"So what? You lost a couple of matches and then you wake up the next day and decided that everything that made you great and made you of who you are are terrible qualities so you gave it all up and became an empty shell of who you once were!? What happened to the love and compassion that allowed you to be friends with other fighters like me and Candy Cane!? What happened to the pride that you have being the daughter of one of the greatest women wrestlers in Japan!? What happened to that drive and determination to follow in your mother's footsteps and become one of the greatest wrestlers in Japan just like her!? All of those qualities of which you say 'Screw that' to made you into the strong Zero Fighter that we all know and love in the first place and you gave it all up so you can 'become stronger'! Apparently being 'a woman who can win' also means to not care about your friends and family who have supported you all of this time and actively try to get your sister and your late mother to be ashamed of you right? I thought you were better than this! No...I KNOW you're better than this Reiko Hinomoto! I don't care if you don't want my help or if you beat me into a bloody pulp, I will never give up on you!"