NEW - NOIR EXTREME WRESTLING

Hana_Jeong: The hospital doors close behind me and the morning air hits my face, cold and damp. I don’t even realize I’m crying until the tears reach my lips. I walk without direction for a few seconds, arms wrapped around myself, as if holding my own pieces together. Somewhere behind those walls you’re still there, breathing, healing… alive. And yet, in my heart, it feels like I have already lost you again. I think this is the last time I see my sister. I barely slept. My body aches everywhere, but the exhaustion inside me is deeper than anything physical. At this point there is only one clear thought left: I want to go home. Back to South Korea. Back to my grandma, my aunt, my little nephew. Back to something simple and real. Maybe I’ll travel for a while. See the world with the money I earned. Forget wrestling, at least for some time. Yes… that’s what I’ll do.

Hana_Jeong: I stop first at Mizuki’s apartment. She opens the door and the moment she sees my suitcase, her eyes fill instantly. We don’t need many words. She already understands. We hug for a long time. “You will always have a home here,” she whispers. I nod against her shoulder, unable to speak. If I stay longer, I won’t leave. So I bow slightly, wipe my face, and go. My next stop is the Korean café. The familiar bell above the door rings softly as I enter. Early morning light filters through the windows. The smell of roasted beans and warm bread wraps around me like an old memory. Mr. Kang sits at his usual table with papers and receipts, glasses low on his nose. He looks up and his face brightens immediately. “Hana!” I bow politely. “Thank you for giving me work here… but my life doesn’t belong in Tokyo anymore.” He studies me for a moment, then reaches under the counter and pulls out a poster , a glossy print of me from before my last match. “Would you sign this for us?” I almost laugh, embarrassed. “Oh, come on… I’m not a star. And I could bring you one for free.” He shakes his head gently. “You will always be a star for us.” My throat tightens. I step closer, take both his hands in mine, and bow deeply the way we do in Korea when speaking to elders. He pats my shoulder softly, saying "Be happy, Hana. You have your whole life ahead".

Hana_Jeong: My apartment feels even smaller than usual when I return. I look around the room, the narrow futon in the mezzanine, the low table, the window with my little plants. I won’t miss this place. It holds too many nights of tears, too many insomnias, too much loneliness. I force my mind toward home instead. Grandma doesn’t know I’m coming. The thought of her face when she sees me makes something warm open in my chest. With the money I saved, I can help her move to a better house, expand her market stall. At least this adventure wasn’t meaningless. And my nephew… he must be so big now. I don’t have much to pack. Just a medium black sports bag. When I reach for the small gear pouch, I hesitate. The fabric smells clean, but in my mind the scent of blood is still there. I push it to the bottom of the bag and zip it shut. Tokyo has been unbearably hot this summer. Sweat clings to my skin as I leave the building, drop the magnetic card at the lobby desk, and head for the subway. I’m already late for my flight to Seoul. The closer I get to the airport, the lighter my chest feels — as if my heart is already flying ahead of me, crossing the sea back toward Korea. By the time I reach the gate, I hear Korean voices everywhere. Familiar rhythms, familiar faces. Home, already surrounding me. A few teenagers recognize me from wrestling. They squeal, asking for selfies. We take pictures, laughing awkwardly for a moment — and then they run off, leaving me alone again with my thoughts. Boarding will start soon. I sit quietly, hands folded over my bag, breathing slowly… not knowing that everything is about to change.

Sara_León: Two days of painful solitude pass in the hospital, only relieved by phone calls with my family. They tell me I should have told them before, that I didn’t have to carry all that on my own, and I realize once again how badly I have handled everything. They are the ones who insist that I be completely honest with you. I still believe I did the right thing by letting you go, but an idea begins to germinate in my mind. You can’t leave without knowing how I feel. Two days have passed, knowing it will no longer be painful. You are going to leave anyway, knowing the truth won’t stop you from going. I can do it. Damn it, I have to do it. And suddenly I realize that I don’t know when you are leaving. I get out of bed, against the nurses’ protests, feeling slow and numb. I get dizzy and fall to the floor, but I manage to steady myself and stand up. The doctor arrives and tries to convince me to stay a few more days. I promise him I will come back, but I convince him that I have something extremely important to do, in person. I promise him I will not take off the cervical collar. The nurses help me get dressed and I leave the hospital as fast as my strength allows me.

Sara_León: My first destination is the Korean café. I know you have worked there for a long time and it is really the only place I think you could have gone recently if you are planning to leave. The little bell rings when I enter and I stand looking at the establishment for a moment. I regret never having come in here. Remorse and guilt surface again for a moment but I quickly banish them, heading inside and finding a man I do not know, with a poster of you spread out beside him. When he sees me, he quickly takes off his glasses. “Oh! Aren’t you...?” I cut him off quickly, not knowing if I really want to hear what he is going to say, and I place both hands on the table, looking at him urgently. “Excuse me, I just want to know if Hana has come by here recently and if she said anything to you. I know you have no reason to trust me, but... please...” The man looks deeply into my eyes and smiles, leaning back in his chair. “Hana was here about 2 hours ago, yes... She told me her life does not belong in Tokyo...” I swallow with desperation in my gaze and turn around, bringing my hand to my forehead. “Two hours...” But the man’s voice interrupts me. “I don’t know what you are thinking... Nor what you think I think of you... But I want you to know that what you did the other night is the bravest thing I have seen a wrestler do here” I slowly turn around, looking at him with moist eyes and some bewilderment, and he continues: “Hana will surely still be at the airport, if that is what you really came to ask me”. I try to say yes, but the words do not come out, I only nod in gratitude and make an awkward bow, backing out and stumbling, heading to the subway and taking out my phone

Sara_León: I buy the cheapest flight I find for today right there in the subway, unaware of the murmurs of the people when they see me with the collar. Sometimes I get dizzy and every movement and effort are a terrible punishment for me, but I simply cannot stop. I start searching for flights to Seoul to identify those on which you are most likely to board. I manage to reach the airport and cross the security check without any kind of luggage, and I begin to search for the boarding gates. After almost half an hour of searching, I finally make out your silhouette, sitting in front of your boarding gate. I remain paralyzed for a moment, suddenly wondering if I am doing the right thing, but the little time left ends my reluctance and I end up standing in front of you, falling to my knees unintentionally, panting and completely exhausted, just out of the hospital

Hana_Jeong: I sit there staring through the glass at the planes rolling across the runway, rising, disappearing into the pale afternoon sky. My mind is already far away — over the sea, over the clouds, halfway to Seoul. I don’t hear the footsteps, the murmurs, the movement around me. So when someone suddenly collapses in front of me, my whole body jolts in shock — like my heart, already flying home, has just fallen into the ocean. My eyes widen, disoriented, trying to focus… and then I see you. “Sa…ra…?” Your name leaves me like air punched from my lungs. For a second I truly think I’m hallucinating. You’re pale, trembling, the cervical collar stark against your skin, breath coming in ragged bursts. Fresh fear crashes through me. “What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be in the hospital—” I drop instantly to my knees in front of you, hands hovering before finally touching your arms, afraid of hurting you and unable not to touch you. “Hey… hey, it’s okay… I’ve got you…” I help you up as carefully as I can, guiding you onto the waiting chair beside me. My movements are quick but gentle, adrenaline sharpening everything. I grab my water bottle with shaking hands and press it toward you. “Drink. Please. Small sips.” My other hand moves to your shoulder, grounding, steady. “Slow breaths, Sara. With me… in… and out… you’re safe, you’re okay…” But my own breathing is unsteady now, eyes scanning your face in disbelief and fear and something dangerously close to hope. “You shouldn’t be here,” I whisper, voice breaking despite me. “You’re hurt… you just had surgery…” And still my hand doesn’t leave you.

Sara_León: I let myself be guided by you, unable to speak, suddenly feeling too weak, aware of all the effort I have made to get here. At least you have not left yet, I am going to be able to tell you. I take your water bottle and drink as you tell me, obeying docilely and regulating my breathing. I notice some onlookers approaching, but I throw a few furious glances and manage to make them keep their distance, seeking some privacy with you despite everything. I finally manage to speak: "I’m sorry but I have to get straight to the point, I don’t want you to miss your flight because of me. The first thing I want you to know is that I have not come to stop you from leaving. I don’t want you to stay just because of me, I can manage on my own. But at the hospital I didn’t tell you everything I was feeling, and I don’t want you to leave without knowing what lives in my heart..."

 

Hana_Jeong: My heart is beating so fast I can almost hear it inside my ears. You sitting there in front of me, pale, exhausted, collar around your neck, eyes shining with something I cannot fully read… it makes everything inside me shake again. You say you are not here to stop me. Then why are you here? Tears blur my vision before I can control them. I press my lips together, trying to stay composed, but my voice comes out fragile anyway. “I thought you… you didn’t need to come…” I swallow, looking down for a second. “You could have called me…” It sounds awkward even to my own ears. Small. Defensive. My fingers tighten slightly around the water bottle. I don’t look at you directly at first, because if I do, I am afraid I will crumble again. “You just had surgery, Sara… You shouldn’t even be standing, let alone running through an airport.” My tone is soft, but there is worry under it. Real worry. Then my eyes lift to yours, confused and vulnerable. “You said you’re not here to stop me… so why push yourself like this? Why hurt yourself more?” My chest rises sharply. I am scared of the answer, and at the same time desperate to hear it. “I’m already leaving, Sara,” I whisper. “I already said goodbye to everyone. I already decided…” My voice breaks slightly. “So what is it that you still need to tell me?”

Sara_León: I look straight into your eyes, making a brutal effort to speak, and it shows… “I came to tell you that at the hospital you were wrong about one thing. No… I’m not going to keep wrestling. I can’t, after this last year. I don’t want to try again. I’ve been Stardom champion, I fulfilled my dream, and I’ve realized that I don’t really belong in a ring. The worst thing I’ve done in my life was born in a ring. The worst moments of my life have been in a ring too. I… I really the only thing I wanted when you were in the hospital was for you not to abandon me. My only longing was and is to be with you again, like before everything fell apart. I… I understand you, okay? And I want you to be happy above all else, I don’t want to hold you back. But I didn’t want you to leave and find out two weeks later that I had gone back to Spain and quit wrestling. And I thought I should tell you in person. Because you are one of the most important people in my life, and I want your happiness. And I want to be fair to you, opening my heart to you one last time…” As I say that I choke up, processing that I have already said what I wanted and realizing that maybe this really is the last time I speak to you. My eyes grow wet and you can see it, while my lips tremble, unable to say anything more

Hana_Jeong: I look past you again, over your shoulder, toward the boarding gate. The line is moving. Slowly… but moving. Every step they take feels like time pulling me away from you. My mind is chaos. Is this another sacrifice? Are you trying to free me… or punish yourself? Are you saying this because you want it… or because you think it’s what I need? I don’t know how to understand anything anymore. But I cannot deny what I feel. My eyes return to yours, wide and shining with tears. “Sara… no…” My voice trembles. I shake my head softly. “You won’t quit wrestling. It’s your life. You were born for this. You are the strongest woman I’ve ever met in a ring. I’ve seen it… I’ve felt it.” I take your hand in both of mine, holding it tightly as if it might disappear. “I… I don’t know how to process all this. I’m still in shock. Everything feels upside down.” My words come out messy, uneven. “Part of me is scared… scared that you’re doing this for me. And I don’t want to be the reason you give up your dream.” My eyes turn red, tears falling without control. “Sara… I would suffer everything again. All of it. Just to see you happy in that ring.” My voice breaks into a sob. “If that’s where your heart belongs… then I can endure anything.” You are so close now. Close like that night in the hospital. Like something fragile and sacred that I almost lost forever. “Sara… you know I would follow you anywhere if you wanted,” I whisper. “Do you remember our little finger promises? I kept every single one.” I stop to breathe, my forehead almost touching yours. “I love you so much… my sister.”

Sara_León: I rest my forehead against yours, feeling exhausted, and speaking very softly, like a whisper, closing my eyes. "I am very tired, Hana... I have not come here for you, I have come for myself. Yes, I am selfish, and I have broken each and every one of the promises we made to each other, unlike you. But do not look for hidden meanings, not this time." I pull back a little so you can look me in the eyes. "Look at me. This is who I am, more sincere and more broken than ever. I do not have the strength to keep pretending or being strong. If you leave, I will not wrestle again. I will not be able to. And it is not blackmail, I truly want you to be happy, and if leaving is what will give you peace, please go. I just want you to know the truth. That I love you like a sister too, and there is nothing I desire more than to get you back."

Hana_Jeong: Your words fall into me like stones into deep water. No manipulation. No masks. No heroism. Just truth… raw and trembling. And suddenly, beneath all the fear and confusion, my heart becomes very still. It has always known. I lift my hand slowly and place it on your shoulder, feeling how fragile you are under my palm. With the other, I brush your hair back from your face, my fingers trembling through the strands. “Sara…” I whisper. My forehead rests lightly against yours again, eyes closing for a moment. “I promised I would always be at your side. No matter what. Even when we were stupid kids making little-finger vows and dreaming of conquering the world together.” My thumb strokes gently along your temple. “That place… next to you… that’s where I belong. It always was.” I inhale shakily. “I stay with you.” The words come out soft, but absolute. Then a faint, uncertain breath escapes me, almost a shy little laugh through tears. “But… I’m not sure Stardom will accept me back after my resignation.”

Sara_León: I gasp in disbelief and surprise, feeling a wave of peace caressing my soul, comforting me. I had not come here to win you back, only to tell you the truth. And yet... “I stay with you” are the only words I truly wanted to hear, and I did not know it until this very instant. However, when you mention Stardom, I suddenly feel immensely weak, and my fears are quick to resurface.... “Stardom... I... I feel infinitely grateful that you are staying. I want to recover by your side. But I still do not want to go back. I am afraid, Hana. A horrible fear. Afraid of facing that crowd again, that pressure, those memories. I feel that if I go back there I will fall apart. The taste of the ring is bitter to me. I... I am still very weak, do not mind me, but I am truly terrified at the thought of returning.”

 

Hana_Jeong: I feel my chest tighten, tears spilling over as I gaze into those familiar, beautiful green eyes—eyes that have always held a mix of fire and fragility. Even if I’m not completely sure of your intentions, I know one thing: you came all this way for me. You came to the gateway to bring me back. I gently take your hands in mine, feeling the tremble, the fear, and the strength all at once. “Sara… you are a strong woman. You can overcome everything. You’ve always been my role model, my inspiration.” I pause, letting my words sink in, brushing a stray hair behind your ear. “We’ll train together, like we used to… and in the meantime…” I let a small, teasing smile peek through my tears, my voice soft but playful, “I can be your personal nurse.” I squeeze your hands gently. “What do you say?”

Sara_León: At last my tears flood my face, silently but uncontrollably, and I barely move my lips to speak directly from the depths of my heart, my voice like a fragile thread only audible to you... “Yes, please...”

Hana_Jeong: I left for South Korea with my heart overflowing with love, every thought consumed by you. I had promised I’d return in a week, but first I needed to see my grandmother, my uncles, and my little nephew. Before departing, I finalized everything with the realtor: a new apartment in Ssangmun-dong, a quiet, humble neighborhood, but dignified. With the money I had earned, I could give her this small gift. She deserved it—after raising me alone, sacrificing her entire life so I could grow in peace and study. I told her, in Korean, “You gave everything you had; this is the least I can do for you, Grandma.” Her tears mirrored mine, and I felt a weight lift from my chest. I spent the week there, walking the streets of my childhood, visiting the market where I had worked alongside her, hugging my little nephew who had grown so much, and sharing long, quiet dinners with family. For a few days, life felt normal again—safe, warm, and full of laughter that I hadn’t felt in months. A week later, I flew back to Tokyo. Leaving South Korea hurt more than the first goodbye, but my Sara was waiting for me. At the airport, I saw you holding a silly sign with my name on it. I felt a rush of relief, joy, and disbelief all at once. We hugged, tightly, as if we could hold all our months of absence in that single embrace. You ordered me into a taxi with a blindfold, making me trust you completely. When you told me to remove it, I stood in the middle of our tiny flat

Hana_Jeong: On the wall was a huge poster: “Welcome Back, Sis”, covered in pictures of us from our training sessions to our quiet moments together. My little heart overflowed, tears streaming down uncontrollably. I fell to my knees, sobbing silently, feeling the prayers I had whispered for months answered in this moment of reunion. During that time, we signed for a last match at a Stardom big PPV, the culmination of all our struggles and healing. I had promised at the airport that I would do everything to help you step back into the ring, and I meant it. Once you were cleared to train, we resumed our routines together—waking early, taking bumps on the mat, running drills in the gym, lifting weights, and sometimes Mizuki would stop by to give pointers. Training was hard at first; our muscles ached, our bodies protested, but it felt right. Every strike, every fall reminded us of our past mistakes but also of our resilience. It was like being rookies again, two naive girls who had arrived in Tokyo years ago, discovering everything together, learning, laughing, and healing. We ventured out into the city, exploring Tokyo’s hidden streets, grabbing late-night ramen, wandering through shrines, and sharing small adventures that made our hearts lighter. Slowly, our wounds—both physical and emotional—mended. We spent Christmas together, sending video calls to our families, exchanging small gifts, and enjoying simple warmth. Each day built back a piece of us, the trust, the laughter, the closeness we thought we’d lost forever. And finally, after months of recovery, training, and quiet moments filled with love and patience, the day of our match arrived the day where everything we had worked for, everything we had suffered and healed from. The culmination of our journey, our bond, and the proof that together, we could face anything.

Sara_León: They were wonderful months. I had come to internalize that I had lost you and myself, and all that time I spent felt completely magical to me. I didn’t suffer trying to make the most of every minute with you, I just enjoyed it. Day after day, conversation after conversation, I began to feel that I was becoming the Sara I once was again. Only one thing had changed... My admiration for you had multiplied. Not only did you forgive me, not only did you stay with me, but you set out to help me. I, a whole Stardom champion, put myself under your orders to recover, training day after day, still unsure about my return to the ring, but willing to try. If you believed in me, I felt that I had to do so too. Not only did we achieve one last match in Stardom. They asked us to stay, and we both said no instantly. We only wanted one, between us. No titles, no championships, no promotions. Just the two of us and the Japanese audience. Our farewell. You seemed to have it clear, I was overwhelmed just thinking about it, but I had learned the lesson and instead of hiding it I told you, sometimes falling apart and showing myself vulnerable, letting myself be comforted and encouraged by you. Everything felt right those months, remembering and reliving what once worked... But even better. My bonds with you were not only restored but strengthened. You were no longer just the girl who accompanied me and believed in me in my first months here. You were my best friend, my sister, in a deeper sense than it had been until now

Sara_León: When the day of the match arrived, I had fully recovered. I had spent hours training with you and alone, I felt good, I felt that I was vibrating with the ring again. However... The crowd, the lights, the announcements, the noise, the speakers, the screams, the insults, the spectacle, the cameras... Just thinking about it makes me choke, even while putting on my boots in the locker room. I haven’t opened social media since my last match. I have no idea what people think of me, and I’m terrified of finding out. My fingers tremble as I put on the top, sitting next to you and trying to regulate my breathing

Hana_Jeong: I sit beside you on the locker-room bench, pulling my knee pads up and smoothing the straps of my kickpads into place. I can feel the tension radiating from you without even looking your breathing shallow, your fingers trembling against the fabric of your gear. So I turn, and gently rest my hand on your thigh. “Hey… take a deep breath, sister.” My voice comes out soft, warm, the way I used to speak to you when we were rookies and everything felt overwhelming. “Tonight is ours.” I watch your face, my dark eyes bright with emotion. “I’ve dreamed about this moment so many times… just us, doing what we love most. No titles. No pressure. No expectations.” I squeeze your thigh lightly. “Just me and my best friend… the woman I’ve admired since the first day I saw her step into a ring.” You’re still tense, so I lean a little closer, my forehead almost touching your temple. “And don’t be afraid of them,” I whisper. “They missed you. They felt your absence, just like I did. And the moment we start moving together again—our way, our rhythm—they’ll remember. They’ll feel it. They’ll welcome you home.” I rise before you can sink back into the spiral, grabbing my small makeup pouch from the table. “Now,” I add in an exaggeratedly serious tone, “I need to make myself presentable so I don’t embarrass you in front of the whole country.” I start dabbing at my eyes in the mirror, then begin to sing a cheesy pop melody under my breath, swaying my shoulders and throwing you a ridiculous wink through the reflection. Anything, absolutely anything, to see that smile return before we walk out there together.

Sara_León: I feel your caress, your hand on my thigh, squeezing it in a comforting way, and when you speak I immediately feel relief. I trust you, much more than I trust myself. I press my lips together and nod repeatedly, trying to internalize your encouragement, and showing a crooked smile when you mention the fans. Your warmth and your adorableness are completely unbeatable to me, and watching you sway your shoulders I succumb to you and end up smiling shyly, lowering my head as I widen the smile, noticing a warmth in my chest that is hard to describe. Feeling that by your side nothing bad can really happen to me. I lift my gaze again, without stopping smiling, and say in a low voice: "Thank you, Hana... Seriously, thank you"

Hana_Jeong: A young staff girl slips into the locker room and bows slightly. “Hana-san… five minutes.” My heart jumps, but I immediately turn to you, catching your eyes before doubt can creep back in. I smile softly and nod. “It’s okay. I have a small solo promo before we start,” I whisper. “You’ll understand.” I pull my elbow pads tight, squeeze your hand once more, then follow her down the corridor. The familiar pre-match electricity is already coursing through me Then the opening notes hit. Sia – Flames. The curtains part and the roar of Korakuen Hall crashes over me like a wave. For a split second I just stand there, stunned by the ovation then instinct takes over. I jog down the ramp, hi5ing some fans, slide under the ropes in one fluid motion, and spring up onto the turnbuckle. I bow deeply to every side of the arena, palms together, head lowered in Korean respect. When I rise, they’re still cheering. I ask for a microphone. My hands are shaking a little but I smile through it, breathing in the noise, the lights, the place that raised me. “Hello, Tokyo!” I call in my accented Japanese. “I missed you so much!” The crowd answers warmly. “And I’m sure…” I grin, tapping my chest, “…you all missed your Korean sweetheart too, yes?” Laughter ripples through the hall, followed by applause. The tension eases from my shoulders. I nod, emotion already building. “It has been two years since I left my small neighborhood in Seoul to come here. And everything I became… everything I learned… happened in this country, in this ring.” I bow my head. “So I carry Japan in my heart forever. My coach Mizuki… the staff… the office… everyone of you who believed in a shy Korean girl with big dreams.”

Hana_Jeong: Respectful applause swells again. I take a breath. This is the part that matters. “But…” I say softly, “there is one person without whom I would have achieved nothing.” The arena quiets. I look down at the canvas for a second, steadying my voice. “She is the wrestler I admire most in this world. My role model. My partner. My best friend.” My throat tightens. “My sister… from another mister,” I add with a small, nervous laugh. The crowd chuckles gently with me. “She is the reason I became the wrestler I am today. The reason I learned courage. The reason I stand here tonight.” My eyes drift to the entrance. My voice drops, thick with emotion. “So please… welcome with all your hearts… my opponent tonight.” I lower the microphone slowly, gaze fixed on the curtain. “The Spanish Lioness… the one… and only…” I lift the mic again and shout with everything in me: “SARA LEEEEEEOOOON!!” And I step back, eyes shining, waiting for you to walk into the light.

 

Sara_León: I am wringing my hands in the curtain, hearing you enter and be received with ovations. I try to push away the memories of that night when envy blinded me. I know my reception will not be the same, but I do not want it to be. You have what you deserve, and surely now I do too. Maybe it is the last time I step into the ring, I have not decided yet. What I do know is that I must do it one more time. For me, for you, for them. None of that eases the panic or the remorse. And suddenly, I hear you announce me. I manage to hold back the tears when they try to appear in my eyes. I feel a brutal urge to run out and hug you in the middle of the ring, but I try to focus. I know why you are doing it, and I must help you. I ask them not to play music. When I cross the curtains, slowly, I notice a moment of silence. The lights blind me, but I can see the entire Japanese crowd looking at me. I feel that the boos will arrive at any moment, but before anyone can do or say anything, I quickly throw myself to the floor, kneeling and bowing my head until my forehead touches the ground. I am not sure why, I just feel that it is the right thing. Maybe it was that silence when I bowed to you, maybe that awareness that I still owe the audience an apology. Maybe just shame for being there, believing that I do not deserve it. Then I squeeze my eyes shut tightly, preparing myself for the first insult...

Hana_Jeong: I see you kneel and bow so deeply your forehead touches the mat. For a second my heart aches. You still carry everything inside you. The hall falls into that strange silence that comes only once in a lifetime. Not rejection. Not acceptance yet. Just breath held. I don’t move toward you. I stay where I am. Center of the ring. Because this moment must be yours alone. I slowly raise the microphone again. My voice comes out softer than before, full of emotion. “Tokyo…” The word hangs in the air. “You remember her.” I extend my arm toward you, still kneeling. “You remember her fights… her heart… her spirit.” A ripple moves through the crowd. “This woman beside me… is the reason I am standing in this ring today.” My throat tightens but I keep going. “She carried Stardom on her shoulders.” The murmur grows louder. “And tonight… she came back here.” I lower the mic slightly, letting the words breathe. “She did not come with pride.” “She came with courage.” I lift my voice, strong and warm: “Tokyo… please.” I point to you, my hand trembling with feeling. “Welcome home… Sara León.” I start clapping. Slow. Deliberate. Once. Twice. Three times. My eyes never leave you as I keep clapping, inviting them with my whole body, my whole heart. “Come on… louder.” The rhythm spreads. Rows stand. Hands rise. Noise builds. Applause swells around you like a wave finally breaking. I keep clapping, smiling through tears, voice barely above a whisper meant only for you: “They still love you.” And the arena roars.

Sara_León: I keep my eyes tightly shut while you speak, pressing my face against the ramp even more, feeling an intense pain, like that moment of pure agony just before achieving absolute release and satisfaction, like straining right before being able to expel the pain and shame from my heart. And then the applause begins. Timid at first. Loud shortly after. And when I finally rise with tearful eyes, it turns energetic. I see people standing, clapping fiercely. Admiration and respect in their eyes. I bring my hands to my mouth, unable to control the tears of surprise and happiness, and noticing an absolute peace in my soul. I stand up and see some hands reaching out along the sides of the ramp. With a trembling hand, I extend my arm and high-five some girls in the front rows, smiling. I keep walking, high-fiving more fans, and feeling like I am living a dream and that at any moment I will wake up. Every few steps I pause and bow my head, overwhelmed and grateful. I climb into the ring nimbly and slide between the ropes, but instead of heading to the corner I go straight to the center of the ring and wrap my arms around you in a tight embrace, whispering in your ear with a trembling voice just one thing: "Thank you... thank you... thank you... thank you...."

Hana_Jeong: My eyes blur the moment you lift your head and see them. All of them standing. All of them clapping for you. My chest feels too small for what is inside it. Relief. Pride. Love. You walk the ramp like someone reborn. Every bow you give them… they return it twice as strong. When you reach the apron I am already there. I drop down and sit on the bottom rope, holding it open for you with both hands. A small gesture. But my whole heart is in it. You step through. Back where you belong. The noise in Korakuen swells again when you cross the ropes. Two women. Center of the ring. Years of history between us. You come straight to me and wrap me in that tight embrace. I feel your shoulders shaking. Your breath against my neck. Your whisper repeating thank you again and again. My own tears spill freely now. I hold you just as tight. Forehead resting against yours for a second that feels eternal. I whisper back, voice warm and trembling: “Let’s rock this place together.” A soft breath. “We both deserve this.” I squeeze your hands once before we separate. The crowd still roaring around us. Tonight… it is finally just us. Like it was always meant to be.

Hana_Jeong: We stay like that for one last heartbeat. Forehead to forehead. Breath mixing. The noise of the arena wrapped around us like a storm. Then slowly… we separate. I keep your hands a second longer before letting them slide away. Neither of us looking away yet. Both smiling through tears. The announcer’s voice suddenly cuts through the air, loud over the speakers. He explains the rules. One fall. Time limit. He begins our introductions. Our names. Our weights. Our heights. Our countries. The crowd answers every word with cheers. But I do not hear any of it. Everything fades. There is only you. You standing across from me. My eyes shine, wide and joyful, drinking in your face. All the memories rushing through me at once. The dojo. The tiny flat. The hospital. The airport. Every promise. Every tear. My dream. Right here. Right now. Facing you in the ring. Not as rivals. Not as enemies. As sisters. Happy. Free. Ready to dance together again. The referee looks at both of us. Checks our corners. Then— DING. The bell rings. And without hesitation, with the same instinct we have always shared, I step forward at the exact same moment as you. My arms raise for a collar and elbow lock-up.

Sara_León: I stay in my corner, looking into your eyes, smiling. All my fears completely buried. I press my boots against the canvas and slowly rotate them, feeling the friction as I watch you begin to set yourself in a defensive stance, and I begin to do the same. I notice a tingling through my whole body, the one I always feel before the match. But this time I plan to enjoy it. I am going to have fun, I am going to do what I love most in the world with the person I love most in the world right now. And, when the bell rings, I head to the center of the ring, locking up with you in a collar and elbow lock-up and tensing the muscles of my arms, feeling the energy run through my whole body and not stopping looking into your eyes. Still full of love and admiration, but finally also of fierceness. And then, bending my knees and pushing against you to try to make you step back... I feel alive

Hana_Jeong: I feel the sudden surge of your strength and realize how much stronger you’ve gotten. In a blink, you push me back against the ropes, my body jolting from the impact. The referee steps in, raising his hands to separate us, but I barely notice him, my focus is entirely on you. With a quick motion, I slip around, lowering my stance into a wide squat, legs braced, and slide into a tight headlock. My arms coil around your neck just enough to feel the connection, and I glance at the audience with a small, confident smile, nodding slightly as if to say, look at us, dancing like only we can. My legs push against the canvas to stay low, grounded, letting you feel my resistance but still letting the energy flow between us. Every muscle is engaged, every nerve alive, every heartbeat synced to yours.

Sara_León: “Ack...” I moan as I feel my head between your arms, my hands pressing against your shoulders and dropping to one knee but quickly rising again, digging my boots into the canvas and trying to rotate, looking for a way out, but noticing how you have me perfectly controlled, too low for a good reaction... So I simply try to push forward again like before, trying to force you backward and hopefully manage to make you crash into the ropes, where you would have to let me go

Hana_Jeong: I grunt as your strength hits me full force, your push driving me back into the ropes. The impact jars my body, and I feel my grip on your headlock snap instantly. I stumble slightly, catching myself by digging my hands into the middle rope, using it to steady my balance. My chest heaves as I glance at you, wide-eyed, a mix of shock and admiration flashing across my face.

Sara_León: I step back as soon as you release me, and quickly lift my head to find you. Our gazes cross for an instant but my instincts are already fully activated and in motion. I adore you but right now you are a momentarily motionless rival in front of me, so I take a huge sudden leap, rotating in the air and throwing my leg forward, trying to crush your jaw with a roundhouse kick!

Hana_Jeong: I feel the air ripped from my lungs as your roundhouse connects with my jaw. The impact snaps my head to the side and my body crumples like dead weight, collapsing to the canvas with a hollow thud. For a moment, everything goes blank emotionless, suspended in shock my arms and legs splayed loosely as I lie there, trying to process the force of that strike.

Sara_León: The impact vibrates through my leg and my whole body, which begins to electrify as I feel that sensation of strength again. Seeing you collapse from just my kick revitalizes me, and I stay for a moment watching as you end up lying on the canvas. I quickly snap out of my trance, full of energy, and I crouch down to grab you by the hair and pull you up, forcing you to stand and placing your head under my armpit, passing one of your arms over my neck and grabbing your trunks as I take you to the center of the ring

Hana_Jeong: A sharp groan escapes me as you yank me up by the hair, my body still heavy from the kick. My vision swims for a second while you drag me toward the center of the ring, your grip firm, determined. The crowd reacts loudly, feeling the shift in momentum. You tuck my head under your arm and I instinctively wrap one arm around your waist, the other weakly bracing against your side. I know this position. I know what’s coming. My breathing is uneven, chest rising and falling against you as I steady myself for the impact. I squeeze you lightly. My knees bend slightly as I brace, trusting you even in the middle of the storm, ready to take whatever power move you’re about to unleash.

Sara_León: I feel how you squeeze me, accepting the position, and I bite my lip. It’s a strange sensation, enjoying hurting someone you love. Or loving someone because of how much you enjoy fighting with her. I nod slightly, as if you could see me, and I bend my knees, pulling your trunks upward and trying to flip you over, looking to throw you onto your back against the mat in a suplex!

Hana_Jeong: I feel you dip your hips and tighten your grip there’s no stopping it now. The world tilts. I let my legs extend upward as you lift me, selling the motion completely, trusting your control. For a split second I’m suspended above you, lights blinding, crowd roaring ... Then ....BAAAMMM! My back slams hard against the mat. The ring shakes from the impact and a sharp cry tears from my throat as I arch instinctively, spine curving off the canvas from the shock of it. My arms fling out to the sides before one hand moves to my lower back, fingers digging in as I roll slightly onto my hip. The pain radiates, but I sell it fully face twisted, breath knocked out of me, chest heaving as I stare up at the lights. The crowd reacts loudly to the clean suplex.

Sara_León: The mat thunders when I slam you against it and... the crowd cheers. I rise slowly, watching you writhe on the floor with the fans applauding. Applauding that I have knocked you down. This feels new, different. I bring my hands to my head, brushing the hair away from my face and remaining still for a moment, not quite believing what is happening in this ring, my chest overflowing with energy, happiness, pleasure, love and satisfaction. And then I return to the fight. I grab you by the wrist and your black hair and force you to your feet, violently pulling your arm to send you straight into the corner in an Irish whip!

Hana_Jeong: You yank me forward and whip me hard toward the corner. I barely have time to react before my body is hurled across the ring— I slam violently into the turnbuckle. The impact explodes through my back and shoulders, the metal frame rattling as my body crashes against it. A sharp cry escapes me as the force rebounds me forward, and I stumble out of the corner before collapsing face-first onto the mat near the ropes. The crowd gasps at the brutality of it. For a moment I don’t move. Then slowly, painfully, I try to push myself up. My arms tremble. One knee plants under me—but it wobbles badly. My body isn’t fully responding yet. I grit my teeth and force myself to sit up, dragging myself back until my spine rests against the bottom turnbuckle. My chest rises and falls heavily as I lean there, one arm draped over the middle rope, hair falling over my face.

Sara_León: As you sit up, I begin to clap, encouraging the crowd to build anticipation... and it works. They start clapping to my rhythm as I move to an adjacent corner, crouching down and waiting for you to sit fully against the turnbuckle, biting my lip and looking at you like someone looking through a sniper scope, feeling the crowd’s anticipation. Then I sprint at full speed toward you, jumping at the last moment and extending my knee, looking to CRUSH IT against your temple

Hana_Jeong: I see it in your eyes before you even move. That focus. That fire. When you start clapping and the crowd follows your rhythm, my heart pounds harder. I’m still seated against the bottom turnbuckle, chest rising fast, vision slightly blurred. Then you sprint. My eyes widen in pure instinctive fear as you charge full speed toward me, knee lifting, body flying. At the very last second, survival kicks in. I throw both hands down and grab the bottom rope tightly, wrapping my legs around it and pulling my upper body low and to the side. Your knee slices through empty air. Instead of crushing my temple, you fly past me and crash hard into the corner. Your momentum betrays you, your body colliding awkwardly against the turnbuckle pads with a heavy thud. The ring shakes from the impact. I stay tangled in the ropes for a split second, breathing hard, heart racing wildly then I slowly untangle myself, pushing up to one knee.

Sara_León: -BWAAAAMMM!!- My whole body slams against the turnbuckles, my own inertia betraying me, and making the entire ring shake. I bounce off the corner automatically, stumbling backward, staggering and falling on my back onto the canvas beside you, clutching my knee and curling up, groaning in pain and surprise, with the ropes of the whole ring still vibrating from the impact

Hana_Jeong: I push up to my feet and step toward you, stomping down sharply at your side to keep you grounded, the impact echoing through the ring. The crowd reacts loudly to the sudden shift. I reach down and grab a handful of your hair, pulling you up despite your groan, my other hand gripping firmly at the back of your trunks to control your balance. “Get up, girl” I mutter under my breath. With a strong pivot, I hurl you toward the opposite ropes in a clean Irish whip. You hit the ropes and rebound toward me at full speed. I plant my feet, wait for the perfect timing. Then I leap. My body snaps upward into a standing high dropkick, both boots shooting forward beautifully, aiming straight for your head as you rush back into me.

Sara_León: I groan loudly with your stomp, hearing the reaction of the crowd and keeping myself curled up, but you don’t give me a second to breathe and I feel a tug on my hair, making me get up between groans and being balanced by your grip on my trunks. I hear your order and I smile despite the pain. One day I’ll have to tell you how much I adore hearing you say that phrase in the middle of matches. So serious and dramatic, adorable but transformed into a machine for causing damage, the depersonalization of your opponent, the sign of superiority and control. All contained in three words...

Sara_León: My smile fades instantly when I feel myself thrown against the ropes, where I rebound, feeling how they dig into my back, and I run back toward you. Expecting a clothesline, I try to duck slightly, but I miscalculate your intentions and before I realize it I see you flying in front of me and I realize that I have made it easier for you to reach my own head. Your boots IMPACT against my face in a beautiful dropkick, sending my head back suddenly, a guttural sound coming out of my throat while the rest of my body flies forward for an instant before collapsing onto the canvas on my back. I bring both hands to my face, giving a loud groan of pain and kicking on the canvas with both legs, lying on my back

Hana_Jeong: Adrenaline floods my veins the moment my boots connect with your face. In that instant, I’m no longer the shy, fragile Asian girl who once doubted every step. Because of you… I learned to trust myself. I learned to be brave. To take risks. To stand tall in this ring with loyalty and fire in my heart just like you always did. When my moves land clean, it feels like I’m dancing ballet inside a storm. Every motion sharp, precise, unstoppable. After the dropkick, I land smoothly on my knee pads, absorbing the impact. The crowd roars as I remain there for a second, one knee down, one foot planted, eyes locked on you as you writhe and kick on the canvas. “Come on…” I whisper under my breath, almost lovingly. As you begin to rise, still clutching your face, I explode forward. I sprint toward you and leap. My legs wrap around your head in one fluid motion, body twisting mid-air. My arms extend outward for balance as my hips snap through, using the momentum to whip you over in a beautiful, spinning headscissors takedown. For a split second we’re suspended my body stretched gracefully, controlled. Then I pull through, aiming to flip you clean over and send you crashing back to the mat with precision and style.

Sara_León: I begin trying to get up, still with one hand on my face, managing to place one knee on the canvas, but before I can fully stand up, I suddenly feel your legs clamp around my neck like pincers. I open my eyes wide, feeling your swing, perfectly calculated, as if you were flying while holding onto my head only with your legs. For an instant, I envy your ability to fly, to make moving in the air look easy, natural. And then the momentum takes effect and I’m sent shooting forward, my body rotating in the air from your impulse and ending up crashing onto the canvas on my back again, rolling on it until I end up next to the ropes. I remain barely reclined on the bottom rope, trying to move backward and gripping it with both arms, the rest of my body lying face up, while I huff tiredly, moving my head from side to side and noticing the cold sweat beginning to emerge

Hana_Jeong: I see you draped against the ropes, chest rising fast, sweat glistening on your skin. For a heartbeat, I see my sister. Then the adrenaline washes everything else away. I love you like blood. Like family. But right now… you are my rival. And somewhere deep inside me, a fierce voice is screaming that if we are to leave Stardom… I must prove that between us, I am the better woman. There is no hesitation. I lunge forward and grab you by the ankle and the arm, dragging you forcefully away from the ropes before you can recover. The crowd reacts to the urgency in my movement. I pull you toward the center and release you flat on your back. No wasted motion. I turn and sprint toward the ropes behind me, my feet pounding the canvas. I hit the ropes hard, feel them stretch against my back. Then I explode forward. I rebound across the ring, building speed, heart hammering in my chest. I jump over you and I leap onto the top rope of the opposite side, springing upward with practiced precision. My body flips backward in a smooth arc performing a beautiful lionsault. For a split second I’m suspended above you, hair flying, the arena holding its breath. If I connect cleanly, I will immediately hook your leg tightly under my arm for the pin

Sara_León: I see myself being dragged across the ring, gasping but not resisting, still catching my breath, finally lying in the center of the ring with my arms at my sides and my chest rising in irregular spasms. When you run across the canvas I feel the entire ring tremble in my back, and before I can decide to move, your slender figure casts a wide shadow over me. Time stops, as it always does when I see you in the air. Your body arching, your black hair floating in waves behind you. But instead of smiling, I grit my teeth... "OOOOFFFFFFF!!!!" And I scream when you land flat on me lifting me by the head and the legs instinctively while I run out of air. My head falls again, but one of my legs stays up, when you very skillfully reach it before it falls, and before I can assess the damage of your lionsault, the referee throws himself to our side... "ONE!!!..." I open my eyes wide and I want to kick out, but I have not even been able to breathe, so I take a strong desperate gulp of air, feeling your weight crushing me... "TWO!!...." And I send all my energy toward my arm, which shoots upward, causing a slight rotation in my shoulder, lifting me off the canvas and breaking the pin just in time

Hana_Jeong: The impact jars through my own body too my abs tighten painfully from the landing but I ignore it. I hook your leg tightly, pressing my chest down over yours, teeth clenched as the referee counts. “ONE!” I press harder. “TWO!” Then you explode. Your shoulder jerks up and your arm shoots skyward, breaking the pin at the last possible instant. The crowd erupts. A wave of frustration surges through me. I slap the mat sharply with both hands—once, twice—the sound echoing with my irritation. “Ahh!” I exhale through my teeth. I push myself up, one knee first, then the other, rising with intensity burning in my eyes. No more softness. No more hesitation. I reach down and grab you violently by the hair, yanking you upward toward me. Your body follows, still recovering, and I pull you close enough to feel your breath. Without pausing, I draw my arm back. And attempt to slap you hard across the face, the crack meant to echo through the entire arena.

Sara_León: I groan, bringing my hands to your wrist while you force me to stand up by pulling my hair, my legs wobbling. You release me for an instant and I raise my head to look at you, but your hand is already on the way... -SSMACKKKKKK!!!- The dull sound of the slap against my cheek echoes in the arena, while my face turns instantly. I bring a hand to my cheek at the same time that my legs collapse and I fall clumsily sideways to one knee on the canvas, supporting myself with the other. I remain looking at the canvas with one hand rubbing my face and my hair falling over my face, still gasping

Hana_Jeong: The sound of the slap still rings in my ears as you drop to one knee, hand pressed to your cheek, hair falling over your face. For a second I watch you there, breathing hard. Then I grab you again. I force you back up by the hair, fingers tight at the back of your head, guiding—no, driving—you toward the nearest corner. Your back hits the turnbuckles and I lean you there, one forearm pressing briefly across your collarbone to keep you in place. I step back half a pace. Then I raise my arm high in the air, fingers forming a sharp V, firing up the crowd. The arena responds instantly cheers swelling, energy rising with me. I don’t look at you. I turn and burst into a run, circling along the ropes to build momentum, my feet thundering against the canvas. One side. Second side. I pivot sharply and sprint straight toward you, lifting my leg at the last second, aiming to drive a running kick straight into your jaw against the corner.

Sara_León: I groan again as I am dragged and pushed by the hair once more, still feeling the heat in my cheek, which begins to redden vividly, and I grunt when my back hits the corner, quickly stretching my arms and bracing myself on the ropes. I feel your arm press into my collarbone and I pull my head back slightly to breathe better, your skin digging into mine for a moment before I see you raise your hand. The crowd roars... as is natural. I would too if I were with them. If only you could see yourself as I see you, as they see you... But you run off, interrupting my thoughts and making the ring tremble. I try to recover my breath, but seeing you move I assume I hardly have any escape, especially as dazed as I am... But that does not stop me from feeling a stab of panic when I see you running toward me. I instinctively raise and turn my head, closing my eyes when -PHHASHHHH!!- Your boot IMPACTS squarely against my jaw, making me spit to one side and sending my head into a deep black for an instant, in which my legs tremble from the impact and I collapse sitting against the corner, coming back to myself quickly but very dazed and gasping, already feeling very sticky from the sweat, my hands clutching the ropes they find along the way

Hana_Jeong: My foot connects clean and your body crumbles down into the corner. For a few seconds my leg stays draped over the top rope from the follow-through, chest rising and falling hard as I steady myself. The crowd is so loud but inside my head there’s only the rhythm of my breathing. I lower my foot slowly and step toward you again. You’re slumped there, clutching the ropes, dazed. I grab you by the hair once more and haul you up just enough to shove you forward, throwing you out of the corner so you stumble toward the center of the ring. No pause. I turn and climb the turnbuckles quickly second rope, then the top balancing with practiced precision. I crouch low in a tight squat on the top turnbuckle, fingers gripping the padding, eyes locked on you as you try to regain your footing. The arena buzzes in anticipation. “GET UP!” I scream down at you, voice sharp, commanding. I wait for you to stand and turn toward me. The moment you do, I launch. I spring off the top rope, body twisting forward, legs extending outward as I aim to wrap them around your head mid-air, attempting a high, flying hurricanrana to snap you down to the mat with all the momentum from above.

 

Sara_León: I snort as I’m manipulated by you once more, trying to get up when you pull my hair but being thrown forward before I manage it. I trip over myself, collapsing in the center of the ring on all fours, my head down and fists clenched, forearms against the mat, shaking my head. I spit to the side, taking air, while I hear the anticipation of the crowd. I see you shout at me, looking at you out of the corner of my eye through the curtain my hair forms beside my face, and I tilt my head in desperation, really feeling powerless, but rebelling against that feeling. I notice that you’re waiting, and I try to take advantage of your mistake, regulating my breathing, moving nonstop so as not to frustrate you but slowly to recover. I get to one knee... I wait... Then I stand up and look at you, your shiny skin reflecting the lights, your wet hair over your face. At that instant, you launch toward me... And I run in your direction. I try to banish the dizziness, send a wave of energy to my muscles. I wrap my left arm over your head at the same time that the right slips between your legs, right at the peak moment of your jump. Now, I take advantage of the inertia. I rotate violently on myself, carrying your body with me in my arms for a fraction of a second, and I throw you to the mat while I let myself fall face first, trying to crush your body in an improvised bodyslam!

Hana_Jeong: From the top rope I see you rise. For a split second, something feels wrong. You’re not frozen. You’re not waiting. You’re coming at me. My eyes widen mid-air. “Oh I’m fucked...” The words barely leave my lips before you catch me. Your arm hooks over my head, the other scoops under my legs at the absolute peak of my jump. My body is completely exposed, completely yours. You spin. The world blurs. Then... BBAAAAMMMM!!! You drive me down violently onto the canvas. The impact from that height explodes through my entire body. The ring shakes. The air is ripped from my lungs in a broken scream that cuts off into silence. For a second I don’t move at all. Then my body rolls weakly onto my side, curling slightly, one arm wrapping around my ribs, the other clutching at the mat. I look like a wounded animal. Breathing shallow. Eyes unfocused. Hair covering my face. The crowd roars at the counter. And I just lie there, twitching faintly, trying to find air again.

Sara_León: Just as we land, the ring trembles and the crowd roars. I jump to my feet but immediately stagger and let myself fall backward, ending up sitting on the bottom rope, my arms hanging over the middle rope trying to find my balance. The people applaud while I look at you lying on the canvas. My chest shakes violently from panting, and I already feel completely soaked in sweat. And, in that position, I realize that I myself am surprised by what I’ve done. And that... Yes, I love wrestling. I grip the middle rope, feeling it like an old acquaintance I didn’t know I missed. I brush the hair from my face, even enjoying the exhaustion, the pain, being at the limit. A crooked smile slips out when I finally gather the strength to move toward you again. I press one of my boots on your shoulder and step on you, pushing you to one side to place you face down. Then I crouch and wrap my arms around your waist, pressing my chest against your back and bending my legs, taking a breath... And letting out an animal roar as I pull you upward, trying to catapult you backward in my German Suplex!

Hana_Jeong: Your boot presses into my shoulder and I roll over helplessly, face scraping the canvas as if I’m nothing more than debris in your way. I barely have time to react before your arms lock tight around my waist. Your chest against my back. Your legs bend. That breath. And then you explode. With a roar, you launch me backward. My body lifts off the mat like a ragdoll, completely at your mercy. For a split second I see the lights upside dow. Then my upper back CRASHES violently into the canvas. The impact folds me in half. For a horrifying moment I’m bent awkwardly, weight balanced only on my upper back, my legs flipping over so far that my head is nearly tucked between them. The crowd gasps at the angle. Then gravity wins. My body slowly tips and collapses onto my side. I curl instinctively, arms wrapping around my ribs, knees drawn slightly inward. My breathing is shallow and broken, a faint tremble running through me. I look small. Curled. Like a beaten animal trying to protect what little air is left in her lungs.

Sara_León: I crawl toward you on all fours and grab your hair, near your ear, and speak between pants: “I know it’s not... the best... moment but... thanks....” I realize it sounded much better in my head, but I press my lips together and nod to you anyway, trying to make you understand that I mean it, while I begin to get to my feet, pulling your hair and your shoulder with the other hand, wrapping your head under my arm in a front headlock, handling your trembling body at will and grabbing you by the blue trunks. I bend my legs and let out a groan when I push your hip upward, making the motion to throw you into a vertical suplex... But stopping when I manage to hold you vertically upside down. The crowd begins to applaud automatically, while I count every second of effort, my arms and my thighs trembling violently, creating anticipation to slam you down onto the canvas

Hana_Jeong: I groan sharply, clutching your arm in pain as you yank my hair, my body trembling under your grip. I don’t speak just another pained groan escapes me. Then, as you lift me vertically, a sudden idea strikes. I shift my hips explosively, reversing your hold into a DDT. The impact sends your forehead crashing against the mat with a loud thud, and your body rolls forward instinctively. I flip backwards, landing gracefully on my knees, catching my balance. My chest heaves, adrenaline coursing, and I can’t help but laugh loudly, triumphantly to the cheering crowd. I point to my temple with my index finger, gesturing with a cocky grin toward the audience: “You see? She's strong but I'm smarter!” The fans erupt, energized by the audacity and cunning of my reversal.

 

Sara_León: -BWOOOOOOMMMM!!!- My head crashes against the mat suddenly, without knowing how it could have happened. I feel a momentary white flash and an intense pain run through my skull, while my body turns a full roll and I end up lying face up. But my instincts activate and I look for a gap of strength between the initial daze and the total exhaustion, so that, without knowing exactly how, I tuck my knees and drive my legs upward while pushing myself with my hands, getting to my feet in a jump and becoming dizzy instantly. I make a quick calculation before my legs fail me and I feel you right behind me, so with everything I have left I let myself fall again with my back to the mat, suddenly raising my legs backward and trying to crush your head with my boot in a brutal pelé kick!

Hana_Jeong: I’m still grinning to the crowd, pointing to my temple, enjoying the reaction and letting the moment of confidence wash over me. For a brief second I forget where you are. Then suddenly... PAAASSSSSHHHHHH!!! Your kickpad CRASHES violently into the front of my head. My entire body jerks from the impact and I collapse onto the canvas like my strings were cut, twitching as I land flat on my back. A faint groan escapes me but my eyes are empty, unfocused. A thin string of drool slips from the corner of my mouth as my limbs spasm slightly. For several long seconds… I don’t react at all. The arena noise fades into a distant blur. I can vaguely hear the referee rushing to my side, kneeling and checking on me, his voice urgent as he waves his hand in front of my face, almost ready to call the match. The crowd murmurs in concern. Then slowly… my chest rises in a deeper breath. My fingers twitch. I blink heavily, my eyes finally focusing again as awareness crashes back into me. Still completely stunned, I weakly roll over onto my stomach, lying face down on the canvas, my body trembling while I try to process what just happened. My head spins violently, and for a moment I just stay there… shocked, trying to gather my senses.

Sara_León: My kick connects while I crash down on my back... and I stay there. A second later, the ring trembles when you fall too, but all the dizziness hits me at once. I just received a spectacular DDT, that last display of strength hasn’t been free, and I remain lying next to you with my arms stretched out to my sides, one leg bent, my chest heaving up and down nonstop, my gaze unfocused and only able to move my fingers. The referee goes back and forth, first to you, then to me. He grabs my hand and I squeeze it slightly, letting him know I’m still in the match. I blink uncomfortably before rotating over myself until I end up face down, bringing my hands to my head and squeezing it, shutting my eyes tightly while I slowly regulate my breathing

Hana_Jeong: For a few long seconds the world is nothing but a loud ringing inside my skull. My cheek presses against the canvas, the mat warm and slightly damp from sweat. I barely feel my own body. Then I realize… you’re right beside me. Our feet gently touch. The contact is light, almost accidental, but it grounds me. Through half-open eyes I see the referee step between us and begin the count, his voice echoing through the arena. “ONE!” The crowd begins clapping rhythmically, urging us on. I barely have any strength left, every muscle trembling from exhaustion, but I slowly extend my foot and tap yours. Tap. A weak signal. Tap. Another. Tap. My silent message to you: we have to get up. “THREE!” Breathing heavily, I drag a shaky breath into my lungs and start forcing my body to move. My arms tremble violently as I roll onto my stomach, my hair falling over my face. “FOUR!” With a groan I push myself up slightly, my body rising just enough until I’m on all fours. My head hangs low, almost touching the mat, my back heaving with every breath. But I keep pushing. My body is supported only by my knees and elbows now, shaking under my own weight as I try to gather the strength to keep rising, the roar of the crowd slowly returning to my ears while the referee’s count continues above us.

Sara_León: I hear the referee counting, and I try to focus, trying to push the pain away, to clear the cobwebs from my head. I feel your foot touch me once. An accident in all probability. Another tap, and then another. I clench my fists, feeling the rhythmic clapping of the crowd, and your small message. Get up, Sara. The referee keeps counting while I curl my body to end up on my knees with my forehead still dragging across the canvas, noticing my breathing now more controlled, but the sweat falling from the tip of my nose. Another count from the referee, and I manage to straighten up in a painful movement, ending up sitting on my knees, one hand on my head. And I see that you are also getting up. I turn to face you, and extend an arm, grabbing the back of your neck to finish lifting you and force you to look at me. I tilt my head with a gesture on my face similar to a “sorry”, before withdrawing my arm and trying to throw it directly against your jaw, releasing your neck instantly and leaning on you for a moment so as not to collapse onto the canvas

Hana_Jeong: What had started as a beautiful farewell between sisters has slowly turned into something else… a fight of pure exhaustion, two young women refusing to fall before the other. When your hand grabs the back of my neck, forcing my head up, my tired eyes meet yours. My vision is still blurry, my chest rising and falling heavily, but even through the exhaustion there is something stubborn in my gaze. Defiance. Courage. You strike first. SMACK! Your forearm crashes against my jaw and my head whips to the side, my black hair flying through the air as my whole body sways. My legs nearly give out and for a moment I feel myself falling backwards into darkness. But somehow I stay up. Breathing hard, I reach forward with trembling arms and grab the back of your head the same way you did to me. My fingers tighten in your hair and with the little strength I have left I swing my hand. SMACK! The slap echoes across the arena as it lands against your face. The effort drains the last bit of energy from my body. Instead of pulling away, I collapse forward into you, my forehead dropping against your shoulder. My arms hang weakly at my sides as I lean my weight against you. For a moment neither of us attacks. We are just two exhausted bodies in the center of the ring, holding each other up, our chests heaving, sweat dripping to the canvas while the crowd roars at the raw, stubborn struggle between us.

Sara_León: I feel your grip and I raise my head unintentionally, ending up in front of you, seeing your exhausted eyes but still full of energy. I groan when you tighten your grip on my hair, lifting my head a little backward, and I close my eyes when I see your hand. The slap hits my cheek squarely, and my head jerks to the side. My body is about to collapse forward, but just then your head rests on my shoulder and I end up with mine resting on yours, my hands searching for your shoulders as a grip so I don’t fall completely. For that moment, we both remain motionless, only panting against each other. “You know...? I... love... this...” I manage to say with difficulty in a very low voice. I feel along your arm with one hand, examining you, and I realize that you are without strength. That revitalizes me a little, and my hands close over your hair while I slowly begin to stand up, trying to take you with me

Hana_Jeong: When you whisper those words, I feel them against my ear through the noise of the arena, soft but clear. For a moment, despite everything—the pain, the exhaustion, the fight.I smile faintly. My left arm slowly rises and drapes around your right shoulder, almost like an embrace, my forearm resting across your upper back as we lean against each other. My lips move close to your ear as I whisper back, my voice broken by heavy breathing. “Sara…” I whisper like if I was denouncing that I'm done. My lungs burn as I try to draw air, every breath deep and shaky, my chest pressing against yours as we barely stay standing. Then I feel your hands tighten again. Your fingers slide into my hair. “Ahh…!” I groan softly right next to your ear as you start pulling, the pain real and sharp after everything we’ve taken. My arm slips from your shoulder as my body follows the pull, slowly being dragged upward. My legs tremble as I rise with you, still half leaning against your body, my hands weakly pressing against your waist while you bring me back to my feet, both of us swaying in the middle of the ring

Sara_León: Once I manage to get you to your feet, I place myself behind you and wrap my arms around your waist, slightly to one side, pressing my body against yours, and slowly feeling my strength return just from seeing you staggering. I feel like I can’t go on anymore, but thinking that you are worse off keeps me active, and a thought suddenly appears in my mind... “I can win...” Then I bend my legs and shout as I pull you upward and backward, trying to throw you onto your back on the mat in a belly to back suplex, feeling all my muscles burn from the effort

Hana_Jeong: Your arms suddenly tighten around my waist from behind, pressing your exhausted body against mine. I barely have time to react before I feel you shifting your weight. My eyes widen slightly. Then you lift. “Ahhh!” My feet leave the mat as you throw me backward with the last of your strength. My body goes completely weightless for a split second before... BBAAAMMM!! My back crashes violently against the canvas. All the air explodes out of my lungs in a broken gasp as the ring trembles under the impact. For a brief instant my body arches from the shock before collapsing again, completely helpless. In that moment of impact a thought flashes through my dizzy mind. She’s a real force of nature… Every time I make the smallest mistake, every time I take even the smallest risk against you, the punishment is brutal and immediate. She has me… I'm fucked. My body bounces weakly from the force of the suplex and rolls awkwardly across the mat before I end up on my side, arms wrapping instinctively around my ribs. My legs twitch as I curl slightly like a wounded animal, my hair falling across my face. “Ghh…!” I try to breathe but only ragged gasps come out, my chest rising unevenly while I lie there trembling from the impact. I can't even crawl away as my legs and arms fail me

Sara_León: Once on the mat... I realize that it is very difficult for me to try to get back on my feet. I raise my head and see you there, trembling. Destroyed, but conscious. If I try a pin, you will break it, I know it. As long as you are still there you are a danger. In that state of extreme exhaustion, the old fear of losing to you returns. That fear of seeing that there is no way to defeat you. And that drives me toward the ropes, which I use to help myself get back to my feet. I approach you with an unsteady step, but I manage to grab your hair firmly and pull you upward, already just letting myself be carried by instinct. I manage to force you to get to your feet, and I pull your head toward me, bending you forward and giving a small jump to place it between my thighs. I clamp my legs on both sides of your skull and raise my gaze toward the crowd. My chest shakes with gasps, and my hair sticks to my sweaty face. I raise my thumb and pass it across my throat while I have you trapped between my legs... And the crowd roars in approval. My eyes become watery for an instant as I look at the stands, and I nod in gratitude. Then I lean over your back and bring my arms to your thighs on each side, my chest pressing your lower back. I then pull upward with a grunt of effort and lift you from the mat, leaving you curled in my arms face down... And I can barely support your weight, so I let myself fall sitting onto the mat, trying to CRUSH your skull against it in a package piledriver

Hana_Jeong: My vision is still blurred from the suplex when I feel your hand violently grab my hair again. “Ahh!” You pull me up and my whole body follows like dead meat, my legs barely cooperating. I stagger in front of you, barely standing, my breathing ragged and shallow. Then suddenly my head is pulled down between your thighs. A weak groan escapes my lips as your legs clamp around my skull like iron. My hands instinctively grab at your hips, my fingers trembling as I try to steady myself. My hair hangs toward the mat while my exhausted body sways slightly, completely trapped between your legs. When you raise your arm and make that throat-cut gesture, I hear the crowd erupt. Through the fog in my head I understand. Piledriver. My eyes widen slightly. I feel your arms wrap around my thighs and suddenly. I’m lifted. My body folds helplessly as you hoist me upside down, my legs curling while my head points straight toward the canvas. My arms hang weakly around your arms. Everything slows down for a moment. I can hear your desperate breathing, feel your body shaking from the effort. Then you drop. BBAAAAMMM!! My skull and upper shoulders spike violently into the mat as you sit down into the package piledriver. The impact sends a brutal shockwave through my entire body. My legs jolt upward from the force before collapsing lifelessly to the side. My mouth falls open in a silent gasp as my whole body goes completely limp in your arms for a second. “GHHH…!!” A strangled cry escapes me as the pain explodes through my neck and spine. My hands twitch weakly against your sides before sliding away, my body slumping forward and then slowly tipping sideways onto the canvas. For a moment I don’t move at all. My cheek presses against the mat, eyes half-open and unfocused, my chest barely rising while my body gives a few faint, involuntary twitches from the devastating impact.

Sara_León: "Now yes..." I murmur to myself, crawling toward you, seeing your state. My pulse quickens from pure anticipation, suddenly beginning to believe that the victory is mine. I push you by one shoulder carelessly, like shaking you, forcing you to end up on your back on the canvas. I hook one of your legs, bringing it toward me and noticing with satisfaction how it hangs lifelessly from my grip, while I lie over you perpendicularly. My forearm crushes against your cheek, making your head rotate slightly. I feel your breathing and your heartbeats through my body, and I just stay in that position, pressing you against the canvas while the referee throws himself to our side... "ONE!!...."

Hana_Jeong: Your forearm crushes hard against my cheek, grinding my face sideways against the canvas as you hook my leg. My body barely reacts when you pull it up, my limb hanging loose in your grip as if it doesn’t even belong to me anymore. The contrast hits me in a strange way. Outside the ring, you are always so gentle with me… so protective. But here, right now, I am nothing more than an opponent beneath you, a target, something to defeat, something to finish. Your body presses down over mine, your weight pinning my chest to the mat while the referee slides beside us. My eyes flutter weakly. I can hear the crowd roaring somewhere far away. My lungs burn. “ONE!!...” Your forearm digs deeper into my cheek, forcing my head to twist slightly to the side. My arms barely move, my fingers twitching uselessly against the mat. She has me… For a split second I feel the darkness creeping in again, the devastating piledriver still echoing through my skull. No… I grit my teeth weakly, summoning every bit of stubbornness left inside my exhausted body. I can't end like this. Suddenly, with a desperate gasp like someone breaking the surface of the water after almost drowning my arm shoots violently into the air. “AAAAHHHH!!” My shoulder jerks up from the mat just enough to break the count at the last possible second, my body immediately collapsing back down as I scream hoarsely from the effort. My chest heaves wildly, my arm falling back to the canvas while I lie there shaking, barely conscious but still in the fight.

Sara_León: The unexpected burst makes me end up on all fours, with you underneath me. I stay with my mouth completely open for a few seconds, trying to process it. One day I will have to talk to you seriously about that thing where you think you are not a star. However, I don’t know why I’m surprised, I already know you. That resilience of yours was what drove me crazy back then, what made me internalize that I couldn’t defeat you in a balanced fight. I look at your beautiful face, trying to think what to do to win. Only one thing comes to mind, no matter how much I try to reject it. I don’t know if I want to use it again. But, to be fair, I also didn’t want to step into a ring again, and in the end doing it was the right decision. And, to be fair, it is and always was my best and most fearsome move. So, clenching my teeth and shaking my head, I get to work. I grab a handful of your hair and force you to sit up, ending seated, with me behind you. With mechanical and precise movements, having done them dozens of times, I slide my left arm under yours, pressing my chest against your arm against your back, while at the same time I pass my right arm over your chin and throat. I hesitate for an instant before feeling that it is the right decision, and then I try to join my hands at the height of your left shoulder with a sudden and violent pull, seeking to submit you to my crossface chickenwing

Hana_Jeong: I feel the full force of your crossface chickenwing slam into my body, my arms trapped painfully against my back, my chin crushed against your forearm. Every muscle in my body strains against the hold, my chest heaving so hard it feels like it might burst, each breath a jagged gasp of pain. My legs tremble uncontrollably as I scream, a raw, high-pitched sound that cuts through the roar of the crowd, my tears streaming freely down my cheeks. The audience is frozen in awe, their gasps and shouts mixing with my cries, as if they can feel the searing agony coursing through me. Desperation takes over. I stretch my legs with everything I have, dragging my toes across the canvas toward the ropes, inch by excruciating inch. My hamstrings scream, my hips twist painfully, and my back arches almost unnaturally as I push myself closer to that thin line of salvation. Each movement only tightens your hold, the pressure on my neck and shoulders intensifying, a white-hot burn spreading through my head and chest. My temples throb violently, my scalp feels like it’s splitting, and every nerve in my body is screaming in protest. My foot hovers agonizingly close to the bottom rope, barely a centimeter away, yet no matter how I stretch, the cruel precision of your grip keeps me just out of reach. My head feels like it could explode at any second, and my vision blurs as the pain consumes me. Every scream, every tear, every trembling limb becomes a testament to the price I am willing to pay to survive your strength.

Sara_León: I manage to submit you, to hold you… and you don’t give up. One part of me smiles in relief, remembering that frantic tap out from a few months ago, instant, almost pathetic. Thank God, you are no longer that woman, you’ve come back, and even better. Another part of me panics, not knowing what to do if you manage to break free. You start to crawl, and I see myself dragged with you, tightening my arms more and more, twisting your head, wrenching your shoulder. I try to secure the submission with my legs, but every small movement I make you take advantage of to move a little farther. My heart races in desperation, using all the strength I have left to keep you in the hold, trying not to loosen even a centimeter. I shake my head slightly, resting my cheek on your back and literally struggling against your body, going to the limit of my strength and my will. For a fleeting instant I think about intensifying the force with a strike, like I once did. But I am no longer that woman, and I quickly discard the thought. I am a professional wrestler, and you are my friend. I will not risk anyone’s life in the ring again, under any circumstances. Suddenly, I notice how you stop, very close to the bottom rope, and I feel your whole body trembling and shaking. My instinct tells me that I have a moment to react, and then I try again. I suddenly extend both legs, wrapping them over your waist from behind and causing my hold to jerk backward, making your whole body stretch suddenly as we fall to the side, moving away from the ropes. I keep your body completely embraced with mine and drive my forearm into your throat, locking my hands together and panting violently against the back of your neck, keeping you completely pressed against my sweaty body, completely exhilarated by the adrenaline and the effort and willing to keep you in that position for as long as necessary for you to submit, feeling a mixture of emotions arise inside me. “GIVE UP, HANA!! COME ON!!”

Hana_Jeong: I feel the instant your legs wrap around my waist like an unbreakable anaconda, cutting off any last shred of control I have. Pain explodes through my body, every nerve screaming, my vision narrowing as if the world itself is pressing in. My chest heaves violently against your forearm, my throat burning under your relentless pressure. The referee’s frantic calls blur into nothing. I don’t even hear him. My body convulses involuntarily, drool sliding down my chin onto your arm, each gasp a jagged plea for air. You scream over me, your voice sharp, keeping me painfully alert, and the agony becomes unbearable. My arms flail slightly, trying in vain to escape, my legs trembling as if they’ve lost all purpose. Then, through the unbearable weight, through the raw, searing pain, I choke out the words, shaking violently, sobbing uncontrollably: “I… GIVE UP… I GIVE UP!” My voice cracks and echoes, filled with total defeat. My spirit feels shattered, broken under your unrelenting hold, and all I can do is submit completely, exhausted, humiliated, and powerless in your grasp. "Please Sara... I give up... " I'm actually begging you.

Sara_León: As soon as you shout with a broken voice the referee quickly calls for the bell to be rung “DING DING DING!!” But I stay a moment longer without releasing you, my muscles numb and truly full of disbelief. When you beg me, when you mention my name, I manage to react, releasing you quickly, as if I had just become aware that I’m hurting you. I crawl backward, ending up sitting on the canvas with both hands resting on it, leaning slightly back, panting. I did it, I managed it. I defeated you in a fair fight. And I wasn’t even looking for it. Suddenly I notice how healing the situation is. I know I did it right, that you fought as if a title were on the line, you didn’t do it for me. You were brutal, sincere and resilient. And I managed to bend you, to force you to shout my superiority. In the ring. I bring a hand to my forehead, smiling, and then I realize one more thing. The crowd applauds and cheers. For my victory. It had been more than a year since I experienced this. Tears flood my eyes, while the referee offers me a hand, helping me to stand up and raising my wrist for everyone, while I cannot stop the tears of happiness. I enjoy the moment for a few seconds, but quickly I release the referee’s hand and crouch urgently toward you, taking you by the shoulders, my eyes red from crying. “Hey, Hana… Are you okay?? Give me your hand.”

Hana_Jeong: For a few seconds I don’t even move. My body is still trembling from the submission, lungs dragging in deep, painful breaths while the echoes of the bell ring inside my head. Your hold is gone, but the memory of the pressure is still wrapped around my throat and shoulder like a ghost. Slowly, I begin to roll away from the center of the ring. My body turns weakly across the canvas until I reach the edge, near the apron. Every movement feels heavy, but something inside me starts to change. The sharp pain begins to fade, replaced by a strange warmth… a deep relief spreading through my exhausted muscles, almost like my body is quietly thanking me for enduring it all. The arena is roaring now. Your name begins to echo through the building, wave after wave of chanting voices celebrating your victory. I curl up near the ropes, drawing my knees toward my chest, my body folded into itself. My hair falls completely over my face, messy and soaked with sweat, hiding my expression as if I’m trying to disappear from the moment. From the outside it probably looks like I’ve been completely forgotten, just a beaten body resting near the apron while the spotlight belongs to you. And that’s exactly how it should be. I stay there, curled in a ball, chest slowly rising and falling, letting the noise of the crowd wash over the ring while they celebrate you. Then I feel you coming closer. Your hands touch my shoulders gently, and I slowly lift my head just enough for my voice to come out, hoarse and tired but calm. “I’m okay, Sara…” I whisper, my breathing still uneven. I shake my head slightly and bring one hand up weakly, almost asking you to stop worrying. “Let me be… go on…” My eyes close again for a moment as the chants continue around us. “Give all your attention to the audience… celebrate with them…” A small, exhausted smile appears under the curtain of my hair.

 

Sara_León: A tender smile appears on my face while I caress your shoulder with one hand. You are adorably stubborn, but this time you are not going to get your way. “The thing is, Hana…” I grab one of your wrists firmly, and with the other I close my hand on the back of your neck “…that there is only one person in the world I want to celebrate this with…” And as I say it, I stand up with a sudden pull, taking your wrist and your head with me, forcing you to stand up violently, pulling you toward me. When you are still in the air from the momentum, I release the holds and extend my arms, letting you fall into them while I catch you and squeeze you in a very tight hug, stepping back toward the center of the ring and taking you with me, swaying slightly. And I stay there, clinging to you, sobbing with happiness on your shoulder, holding you like the most valuable thing I have in life, pressing you against my chest, caressing your back, your arms. “I need you to feel my love… Because words could never express my gratitude.”

Hana_Jeong: I don’t even try to resist when you suddenly pull me up. My body is still far too exhausted for that. My legs wobble the moment my feet touch the canvas again, barely able to hold my own weight. The world spins for a second, and I simply collapse forward into your arms, letting you catch me. My head falls onto your shoulder while my arms instinctively wrap weakly around your waist. I can feel your body shaking as you hold me, your breath warm against my neck, your tears mixing with the sweat still covering both of us. For a moment I just stay there, leaning completely on you, letting you carry most of my weight while the crowd keeps roaring around us. Slowly, I bring one hand up and hold onto your back. My voice comes out quiet, tired, but sincere. “Sara… I love you…” I breathe deeply, trying to steady myself while still resting against you. “You did it… look at them…” I tilt my head slightly, glancing toward the stands where the entire arena is still chanting your name. “You can do everything.” Then I lift my head and look directly into your eyes. Our foreheads come together gently, touching as we stand there in the middle of the ring, sharing a moment that belongs only to us despite the thousands of people around. For a few seconds neither of us moves. Then I whisper softly. “Sara… you will always be the better woman…” A faint, exhausted smile appears on my face. “…and my best friend.”