NEW - NOIR EXTREME WRESTLING

(Previously - Part I: Noir goes to Japan) 

Princess_Misaki: As I lounged comfortably on the sofa, mindlessly refreshing Instagram over and over, a glaring phone call interrupted my app. “Hello, this is Zack. We’ve met before—at your coffee shop. I’m from NOIR’s event operations department...” Of course I remembered him—he was the one who brought Hana and me here. I’d also told him last night that I wanted to replace the tag match with a singles bout. “Hello, Zack. I’m listening... go ahead.” The man on the other end let out a sigh. “Misaki, first of all, forgive me—what I’m about to say is in no way personal. But I don’t understand why that girl from Stardom got injured out of nowhere, and right after that, you come forward asking for a match against Hana. Maybe it’s really God playing a joke on us—we put so much effort into putting together this tag-themed tour, and that Stardom team was one of the most promising rising acts lately... but now, forget it. I just want to tell you—don’t let any more surprises happen on our end, or the shareholders will be furious. That wouldn’t be good for your career, you know? I...” “I think you’ve said enough, Zack. It was just an accident—no one wanted that girl to get hurt.” I did hide my issues with Hana over the phone, but that girl’s fall wasn’t part of anyone’s plan. “Alright, Misaki. Tomorrow night, Tokyo Gymnasium—you and Hana, singles match. Please, just don’t make me keep taking the fall for this.” I didn’t want to hear him complain any more, so I hung up. My gaze landed on the broadcast of NEW playing on the TV. My palms and the soles of my feet began to sweat and tingle with excitement. I watched the girls on screen execute the submission hold, the Ceiling Hold, and a smug, slightly wicked smile curled at the corners of my mouth.

Princess_Misaki:

Hana_Jeong: When I finally get to the tiny hotel room where I'm staying for the next couple of days before the tour officially starts, my phone starts buzzing. It's the NOIR GM. He is completely furious yelling about the sudden change in plans and the chaos at the training facility . But in the end, management decided to give us what we wanted: a singles match to settle this whole pickle right out of the gate. I hang up, step outside onto the tiny balcony, and light a cigarette, watching the smoke drift out over the neon-lit Tokyo skyline. For the first time all day, my muscles finally begin to relax. Between the long flight over the Pacific, arriving at the old Stardom facility, and the raw, explosive confrontation with you... I am completely exhausted. I take a slow drag, a quiet smile playing on my lips. Tired as I am, I'm happy. Tomorrow night at the Tokyo Gymnasium, I get to show everyone that Hana is officially back in Japan.

Hana_Jeong:

Princess_Misaki: No one knew how soundly I slept that night. I woke up completely refreshed the next morning and spent the entire day training in my home gym. Tonight, I would show Hana that fists and feet speak louder than words. As evening fell, I got out of my car, slung my sports bag over my shoulder, and walked with my head held high through the athletes' exclusive entrance. Some fans were already waiting there; I high-fived and hugged them, openly showing off my relaxed demeanor. It wasn't until I'd changed into my gear that I heard the DJ inside the arena already hyping up the season tickets for NOIR and Stardom. Tonight, no one would catch my interest except Hana—until I heard my name, along with my combat record that could be proudly announced. With a bright smile on my face, I emerged from the tunnel, high-fived my fans, and slowly made my way onto the canvas, winking and blowing kisses to the crowd.

Princess_Misaki:

Princess_Misaki:

Hana_Jeong: I slept like a rock. I woke up late and didn't do anything special during the day. I pulled a hoodie over my head, grabbed my bag, and took the subway like any ordinary Tokyo commuter, arriving at the venue quietly and discreetly. I am eager to conquer Japan again. Tonight, I’m going to prove who truly represents the Far East in NOIR. In the locker room, I'm finishing up my makeup when a staff girl sticks her head through the door. "Hurry, Hana! Misaki is already doing her entrance!" I calmly finish up, walk through the backstage corridors, and stand behind the heavy velvet curtain. My theme music hits, echoing through the packed Tokyo Gymnasium. I wait a few deliberate seconds to build the tension, then burst through the curtain. I bring my full, energetic entrance running down the ramp, high-fiving the screaming fans behind the guardrail with a huge, authentic smile on my face. I slide smooth as silk under the bottom rope, pop to my feet, and glance right at you. I shake my hand like if I was telling you: Don't get close. I climb the top turnbuckle, shading my eyes with my hand in my signature pose as if searching for land across the ocean. Then, I launch into a crisp, beautiful backflip, landing cleanly on the canvas on both feet. Standing dead center in the ring, I shrug my shoulders and raise my hands, my smile turning into a competitive smirk. So, what have you got?

Hana_Jeong:

Hana_Jeong:

Hana_Jeong:

Princess_Misaki: When the lights begin to dim and you make your entrance, I retreat to my corner. The spotlight is no longer on me—I only need to lean back and soak it all in: the music, the rare moments of ease, and, to be honest, even your defiant gestures and moves. That is your right, your basic tribute to the place where your dreams began. Silently, I watch you complete your entire performance, forcing myself to stay composed, reminding myself that this is just work, that I shouldn't let personal feelings creep in. But when I catch that final glance you throw my way, something inside me ignites. The truly angered don't shout; the fire burns through everything except my expression. Quietly, I tighten my knee brace, step to the center of the ring, and meet your icy stare. The announcer is going to great lengths to hype the upcoming NOIR and Stardom schedules. In this cacophony, the loudspeakers are just loud enough to mask our voices. "At last. No more hiding for you now." My face remains calm, my voice cold, yet I still wear a smile—I can't afford to be caught in some unflattering photo in this digital age. I must keep up appearances in front of the crowd, even as the blaze inside me rages on.

Hana_Jeong: "I don't hide from anyone, girl," I say, stepping right into your face while keeping that same sharp, unbothered smirk on my lips. I lean in just close enough so only you can hear me over the echoing voice of the ring announcer. "It's time to give you a reality check." Without hesitation, I plant both hands on your chest and shove you hard, sending you staggering back toward the ropes as the bell rings to officially start the match.

Princess_Misaki: Just before the bell rang, you tried to push me away with both hands—you seemed to be telling me just how well‑prepared you were. I hadn't expected you to be so cold toward me even before the match began, but this time I wasn't going to give in. As I staggered backward, the bell rang, and I quickly grabbed your wrist! "Eat your own bitter fruit, Hana!" Using the momentum you gave me, I pulled you toward me, my other elbow already cocked and ready to drive into your chest!

Hana_Jeong: "Argghhh!" The impact of your elbow drives the wind right out of me. I spring off the ropes, clutching my burning chest as the arena erupts into a mix of shock and cheers. "You little terror..." I spit out, my pain instantly morphing into raw aggression. I charge right back at you, stepping through the ring with violent intent, and swing my arm around to drive a heavy, open-handed slap across your face.

Princess_Misaki: I stared at you, watching you storm over in a rage, and a vivid red instantly bloomed across my face. My head was jerked sharply to one side, and my twin ponytails lost their usual lively bounce, instead tangling messily to either side. That blow genuinely made me angry—this didn't feel like a match at all; it was more like two teenage girls taking out petty grudges over some trivial matter. "You little—" I looked up, grabbed your hair, tilted your face upward, and landed another heavy slap across it.

Princess_Misaki:

Hana_Jeong: PASSHHHHH! The crack of that slap echoes off the rafters, loud enough to ring in the ears of everyone in the front row. My black hair flies across my face as my head snaps back, and I stumble sideways, hitting the middle rope. My cheek feels like it's on fire, pulsing with a deep, furious heat. The arena goes wild, but all the noise fades out into white noise in my head. "You...!" I don't bother setting up a wrestling hold. Fueled by pure adrenaline, I drop my shoulder, sprint full-speed across the canvas, and hurl my entire body into yours, attempting a brutal, head-on spear to take you down to the mat!

Princess_Misaki: I also think it’s stupid to bother with strategy at a time like this—as long as I’m crazier than you, I’ll scare you into not daring to move another inch. When you charge at me, I’m determined to meet you with a hard‑core defense and destroy you. I stand my ground and roar at you, the veins on my neck and arms bulging more and more visibly. I clench my fists, raise them high above my head, ready to slam both my hands down like a knife‑hand strike right onto your back while taking that spear thrust of yours head‑on. Kkkkthud—my body feels like it’s been swept away by a truck in an instant, unable to withstand even that first impact; I almost throw up, but I still smash my palms down with all my might. You drive me to the edge of the ring, and I keep chopping at your back, one blow after another, even though my abs are already swollen, red, and aching unbearably.

Hana_Jeong: What was supposed to be a wrestling match has completely devolved into an unscripted, chaotic brawl. As your heavy, double knife-hand chops crash brutally down onto my spine, I grunt in pain, but the agony only fuels my rage. I refuse to let go. Clinging to you like a dog, I scramble and drive my legs into the canvas, trying to force my weight over yours to gain top position on the mat and rain punches down onto your face. We twist and wrestle recklessly on the canvas, completely ignoring the referee's panicked warnings, rolling closer and closer to the ropes until we are right on the edge of the ring—seconds away from tumbling headfirst onto the concrete below. The referee lady acts frantically trying to separate us

Princess_Misaki: My eyes might already be swollen, because I could feel my vision narrowing little by little—until I could see nothing except your knuckles coming down. I knew you would never let go of me, trying to get on top of me, and I was like a startled buffalo, almost completely disregarding any sense of dignity. Even though I was on the ground, I kept a tight grip on your hair, landing my fists on your nose, your eyes, and your cheeks. We screamed and clawed at each other. As we rolled together to the edge of the ring, I grabbed one of the ropes with one hand, hoping to pull myself up faster. "Alright, alright! Girls, calm down! This isn't a match—it's a brawl!" The referee tried to physically block us. In the chaos, I grabbed your hair and slammed your forehead hard onto the canvas. I struggled to my feet. Behind me stood some Stardom wrestlers—they might have been sent in to save this farce. Some of them climbed into the ring, trying to pull you away, while others held me from behind, pulling at my arms. "Alright, Misaki, Hana, stop it now," they tried to whisper to us, hoping to salvage the situation as much as possible within the bounds of the storyline. But they all knew exactly what was really happening between us.

Princess_Misaki:

Hana_Jeong: I let out a furious, animalistic scream, blood trickling down my lip from my bleeding nose. Crimson drips onto the canvas, but I barely feel it. Seeing the sea of hands trying to restrain us, I force my body to go limp. I take a ragged breath and slowly raise both hands in the air, nodding at the terrified Stardom wrestlers holding my shoulders. I play along, pretending to cool down, giving them the illusion that I've regained my senses. The moment they loosen their grip and step back to create space, I explode. I sprint forward, diving straight at you before anyone can react. I grab a tight handful of your hair, yank your head down, and start wildly aiming punches straight at your face!

Princess_Misaki: I can barely open my eyes from the beating. Your feigned retreat fools me, and as I slowly start to back off, you lunge at me again—your face dark and terrifying, the dark red lipstick making you look even more monstrous. You grab my hair, and the searing pain twists my head into a sickening angle. 'Fuck!' I roar, trying to move, but I'm too constrained—so I just flail wildly, slapping blindly at your cheeks from my blind spot. The sharp cracks of our slaps and our roaring voices echo through the arena. 'They don't seem right... Could this be part of the script?' The Japanese audience murmurs below. Even for a hardcore match, such a savage opening is unheard of. The low whispers turn into gasps, and more and more wrestlers—some still in their street clothes—rush in from all sides, along with security, to pull us apart. Our hair is already a tangled mess, blood streaking our faces, our eye sockets and noses swollen... For a professional wrestling match, this is an absolute disaster.

Hana_Jeong: The arena drops into a weird, stunned silence between the collective gasps of the crowd. Security guards and half the locker room swarm the ring, piling onto us like a wall of meat to break the grip we have on each other's hair. I’m being dragged backward by three security guys, my feet barely touching the canvas, but my eyes never leave yours. Blood drips from my nose onto my chest, my dark lipstick smeared clear across my cheek, and my chest heaves as I fight against the hands pinning my arms. "Is this what you wanted, Misaki?!" I scream over the chaos, my voice raw and echoing out through the house mic near the ring apron. "Is this your 'lesson'?! Look at you!" The referee is frantically signaling to the back, trying to figure out how to call the match, but the crowd is completely locked in, watching two former friends tear each other apart in real-time. I spit a mouthful of blood onto the mat, my eyes burning with pure, unfiltered rage as they pull us to opposite corners.

Princess_Misaki: I frantically tugged and pulled, trying to grab hold of my colleague's protective gear and arms, still struggling to break free and shut that chattering little mouth of yours up for good. A girl with thick, muscular build even threw herself onto the canvas, wrapping her arms around my legs and pinning me in place. "Shut up, you coward!" I roared, my eyes practically spitting fire. "You should thank these girls for saving your life – I just lost my chance to hear you scream for mercy! Let go of me!" I bellowed. "One day I'll step on your head and make you hear the sound of your own shoulder popping out of its socket, clear as day!" I didn't know if my vicious threat had been picked up by the microphones and broadcast through the speakers, but the moment those words left my mouth, the Stardom girls frantically dragged me backward, trying to haul me backstage before any potential public uproar could spiral out of control.

Hana_Jeong: The two Stardom girls holding me by the arms frantically beg me to calm down as they usher me through the curtain into the backstage area. My former coach, Mizuki, pushes past them, her face pale with frustration. She grabs my arm and drags me straight into the empty locker room, shutting the heavy door behind us. "I'm fine, Mizuki. I'm not going to do anything," I say, my voice eerily flat. Then, without missing a beat, I wind up and drive a brutal, explosive soccer kick straight into the middle of a metal locker. The deafening BANG echoes through the room, leaving a deep, jagged dent in the door. "Hana, you need to focus on what brought you here!" Mizuki snaps, not even flinching. "You were supposed to team up with her tonight, and you are letting past history completely ruin this. NOIR management is furious, and I don't know how much I can do to protect you from this fallout." Before I can answer, the locker room door opens. A young staff girl hesitates at the threshold, looking terrified. "Hana... please follow me to the boardroom. Right now." I wipe the dried blood from beneath my nose with the back of my hand, grab a towel, and follow her down the silent hallway. I step into the executive boardroom, where the Stardom GM and three stern-faced corporate officials are sitting around a long glass table, their expressions grim. The GM looks up at me, sighs, and points to an empty leather chair. "Take a seat, Hana," he says coldly. "We're just waiting for Misaki so we can start this meeting."

Princess_Misaki: I can't remember how many people pulled my arms or held my shoulders. All I remember is that they struggled to drag a girl who looked much frailer than most people back to the backstage storage room—because they couldn't let me meet Hana again in the locker room. I wouldn't inflict violence on innocent people, but they really did put in a lot of effort. "Calm down, Misaki. Let it all pass, okay? I don't think you're in the right state to go back to the canvas right now. Don't worry—we'll handle the audience tonight." A tall female wrestler explained to me as calmly as she could. I knew she was trying her best to soothe my agitation. I just looked up at her and told her that none of this mattered to me—at least not now. "Misaki!" Just then, Zack poked his head in from the door. His face was frighteningly gloomy. "Zack..." He simply said his own name, his tone laced with reproach and dissatisfaction. "I'm not in the mood to greet you, handsome," I tossed out coolly, and made to get up. "Sit down! Do you still think you're in the ring? Have you forgotten what I told you? Do you know how many things you two have messed up? Because of you, I might have to work overtime all night tonight! You selfish bastard!" My anger wasn't quelled by his words. I stood up and lunged forward, trying to grab this suit‑wearing guy. "Now you will come with me to the meeting room quietly. If you try to use violence against me again, you'll end up not in the meeting room but in the police station! HULK!" His angry, threatening words made me stop in my tracks. I did my best to keep my emotions in check and followed him to the door of the meeting room. He was silent the whole way, constantly dealing with messages on his phone.

Princess_Misaki: "Get in," he said at the door, and gave no further instructions. I glanced at him, then pushed the door open and walked inside. There were four people who looked like event officials sitting there, along with the other instigator of all this—Hana. I swept my eyes over the people in the room as a form of greeting. "All right, sit down, Misaki. We can begin." The official in the middle said sternly, speaking the first words of the night to me, then pointed to a seat next to Hana. I walked over, shot a sidelong glance at Hana, pulled out the chair, and sat down.

Hana_Jeong: I don't even bother looking up at you properly as you sit down, merely rolling my eyes and leaning back in my chair. Mr. Kidani, the Stardom Chairman, sits at the head of the table. He radiates that cold, terrifyingly quiet anger so characteristic of Japanese executives. When he finally speaks, he speaks in heavy, deliberate Japanese, and even with my limited proficiency, his tone leaves zero room for translation errors. "Ladies, your behavior tonight was an absolute disgrace to Stardom," he says, his voice flat and cutting. "You are both former Stardom wrestlers. You have an obligation to set an example for the young rookies. Your home promotion, NOIR, wants to pull you back to the USA immediately to avoid further embarrassment during this international tour." He pauses, crossing his hands on the glass table, his gaze shifting between the two of us like a razor. "But we have a better idea. Since you are both valuable assets, and since you need to generate profits to reimburse us for your costs and wages and given that you clearly want to kill each other you will remain on this tour. Not as a tag team, but in one-on-one competition." A heavy silence fills the boardroom as the officials nod in agreement. "Stardom will host three major shows and six minor shows across Osaka, Kyoto, and ending in Tokyo. As two of the biggest draws on this tour, you will compete against each other at each of the three major shows. Each match will feature a different stipulation. The woman who wins the best of three will be declared the definitive winner of this feud. The third match in Tokyo will only happen if you are tied at one victory each. You will receive the rules and stipulations for each match exactly 24 hours before you step into the ring."

Hana_Jeong: Mr. Kidani adjusts his papers, then looks up with a ruthless, icy smile. "Ah... I was almost forgetting. Since your reckless behavior caused all this extra trouble and financial loss, you will be sharing the same hotel rooms for the remainder of the tour to save money." My eyes snap wide open. My jaw instantly tightness and I start to open my mouth to furiously protest... share a room with you?! but the Chairman shoots me a glare so terrifyingly sharp that the words freeze in my throat. I slowly snap my mouth shut, swallowing my rage, and drop my head, staring bitterly at the table in silence.

Hana_Jeong:

Hana_Jeong:

Princess_Misaki: When Mr. Kidani spoke, my expression shifted from disdain to sheer disbelief. "What the…" "Shut up, Misaki! I think you've caused enough trouble!" An intimidating, commanding voice boomed from the middle‑aged man's throat. I was terrified. I crossed my arms to hide my panic. I knew that right now I needed to face this man—who had likely just lost tens of thousands, maybe even hundreds of thousands of dollars because of us—with a more humble and repentant attitude. "I mean, Mr. Kidani, I can apologize for what I did, but it's obvious we're no longer fit to compete together, right? What do you think? You want me to keep performing with her in the ring? Even live together?" As someone with a fighter's background, I couldn't bring myself to be submissive in everything. Even though I was still a little uneasy inside—this man could have me fired at any moment—maybe I didn't need the salary, but I would become a laughingstock in this industry.

Hana_Jeong: Listening to you complain about me as if I weren't even sitting right next to you makes my blood boil all over again. "Are you afraid, Misaki?" I snap, leaning sideways toward you, my voice dripping with venom. "Maybe deep down inside, you already know who the better woman is." "SILENCE, BOTH OF YOU!" Mr. Kidani explodes, slamming his palm onto the glass table with a deafening crack that makes everyone in the room jump. "You are going to wrestle each other, and you are going to share the same lodgings! Otherwise, I am sending you both back to the USA tonight, and I will personally notify every promoter in this industry about how completely unprofessional you are!" The room goes dead silent. The threat hits like a wrecking ball. "Yes, Mr. Kidani," I say quietly, lowering my eyes in total submission to the Chairman's authority. I pull myself up out of the leather chair, give you one last lingering, icy glare, and walk straight out of the boardroom without looking back.

Princess_Misaki: When Kidani pounded the table so hard it boomed, I knew for real this time that he was genuinely angry. I swallowed all my complaints, even though Hana still tried to spar with me verbally. "I understand, Mr. Kidani..." When Hana's gaze drifted over again, I glared back defiantly and stood up to leave. "Wait, Misaki..." That low, magnetic voice came again, and I could only watch Hana leave the room first. "Mr. Kidani? Is there something else?" I asked, confused and somewhat fearful as I looked at him. "From the very first day you decided to start wrestling, I've been the one in charge here. I'm happy to see you go further and further, all the way to New York. But I have to tell you—you need to understand who's really in charge of this body: reason or emotion. I'm sorry I couldn't help with you and your sister's relationship, but that's no excuse for you to run wild, got it?" I listened as you laid out all my sore spots, but I had no strength to argue back. I could only lower my head, turn my gaze to the other side, and nod. "Go on. Don't let me hear any bad news again. You don't have many chances left." Like grasping at a lifeline, I fled the conference room as fast as I could, waiting for our next work schedule.

(TO BE CONTINUED)