Meanwhile in Japan: Ribera

Ribera Steakhouse
Gotanda, Tokyo, Japan
September 23rd: 8:21pm Local time

The spiritual home of wrestlers to many visiting wrestlers in Japan.

Ribera steakhouse.

Adorned on the walls of the restaurant, with its wooden tables and simple interior, are pictures on the wall featuring various wrestlers who have dined there, a large number of them foreign, including some FWA stars. Tonight, one young lady will consider herself lucky to join them, the Asian-Canadian Baddie, Cali Hayama. Sitting on a table are four members of YOKAI Death Squad. Cali sits near the wall and she already has her famous Ribera’s jacket on. She is enjoying a hearty steak meal with some water. Next to her is Ririko, her colourful hair down, as she wears a cute top and a light sweater on top. Across from her is Miyu Kawamato. She has a sparkly top on, clashing with her reputation as a hardcore specialist, and has her hair in a ponytail. Then finally, without her mask on, Katsuki Sasaki, otherwise known as Katsu. She has her hair down with her dyed tips. After a few weeks home which have been up and down to say the least, she is looking to finally get back to FWA to seize the opportunity of a lifetime.

Looking across to Cali as she eats, Miyu Kawamato asks her a question, with the friends talking in Japanese.

“So, how did this place become famous to Gaijin wrestlers?”

Chewing and swallowing her steak, Cali smirks.

“Well, from what I know, in the late 70’s and early 80’s, this place became a bit of a hot spot for foreign wrestlers looking for some good steak while in Japan. The first to ‘discover’ it is debated. The owner was a fan and began adorning the place with pictures, even giving some jackets. It’s a bit of a right of passage to go here for us foreign wrestlers.”

“Then why did it take so long for you to come here?” Katuski asks, using some chopsticks to grab some of her rice.

“I wanted to come with friends.” Cali says. “At the time I debuted in CJW, you didn’t have any foreigners with some of them leaving to go elsewhere. So I waited for you all to agree. And it’s pretty fitting. We had some steak in New York a bit ago, now we’re enjoying it back here in Japan.”

Cali gives a smirk and cuts a piece of her steak, the temperature of it appears to be medium-rare.

"At this point, we do not even consider you 'foreign.' You are one of us." Sighing, Ririko looks down at her food. “But I wish Reo came with us, though. Shame she is not feeling well.”

“I think she is just down a bit after her performance so far in the Comet GP.” Miyu comments. “She won her first match when Katsuki was in her corner, but since then has had four straight losses. She is virtually out at this point.”

“And I don’t want to see her like this.” Ririko pouts. “Wrestling or not, teammate or not, she’s my little sister. I don’t want to see her beat herself up like this.”

Knowing all too well the struggles of rough losses, Katsuki taps her chopsticks on her plate.

“Before I fly out tomorrow evening, I would love to talk with her. Give her some support and maybe get her mind off things.”

Showing a grin at the sight of her friend showing why she considers her a co-leader, Cali smirks.

“That could help. Also her next match this weekend is against me… So I’m not going to go light on her, but I think a little friendly competition, win or lose, can maybe get her head straight.”

Ririko shows a weak smile.

“You would do that for her? Thank you so much.” She is put at ease. “Though I guess us three still have to worry about our tournaments. Miyu and I are 3-2 right now, so we may have to go through each-other to make the playoffs.”

“We still have two weeks before we face each other, but I got an idea. Want to start our match with a duet?” Miyu suggests. “Sing a little song.” Ririko laughs.

“Haha! That would be funny!” Before looking and realising the former idol… is serious. “R-Really?”

Kawamato nods. “Before the bell, sing a song together of your choice, lighten the mood, then we fight. You’re a really good singer. I think it can be a nice highlight of the tournament.”

The powerhouse gives a nod and gives a big grin. “Then I am in! That sounds like so much fun.”

“Well, I will not be too concerned with singing… I’m 4-1 right now, so getting a bye is a real possibility.” Cali closes her eyes, trying to think through the rest of her matches. “Top three in each block make the playoffs. First place gets a bye. This tournament is a grind so I’ll need the night off… Then one win, finals.”

The Canadian takes a deep breath.

“Gah, the only time a non-Japanese born competitor made the finals was when Stephanie Starr made it. I’m basically a step away from making history. It’d be so sweet… And maybe gaining a few extra subscribers on YouTube and Twitch would be a bonus, hehe.”

She jokes. Katsuki follows it up with one of her own.

“Well, we are two ‘foreigners’ trying to make it in different companies, yes? So while you do that here, I will be making my own in FWA…”

The rest of the table has a brief moment of pause. They look at each other and feel a sense of unease.

“Hey, Katsuki.” Miyu asks. “Wouldn’t it be cool if I fly out with you and watch your match at ringside? I could even get my lucky barbed-wire bat…”

“Miyu, you are wrestling that weekend here in Japan.”

Katsuki blinks, finding it strange that she is even asking to potentially forfeit matches in the biggest tournament of the year just to be with her in America.

Then, Katsuki gets the idea…

“You don’t want me alone there. Don’t you?”

Silence from them.

“Why don’t you trust me? You three are in the hunt in CJW’s biggest tournament of the year!” She explains. “I do not want you sacrificing it for me.”

“It is just we know you have had a hard time as of late.” Ririko comments. “A little bit of support can help.”

“I know you support me. In person or not.” Katsuki clarifies. “I am feeling better. I am not perfect, but I have had a heart to heart with Kosu-” She stops herself, realising the explanation might be a touch strange to her friends.

“-With myself, and I am mentally ready. I am mentally prepared for a Steel Roulette match. I know I can hang with Cyrus, Mike, Gabrielle, Alejandro, Trevor… Thank goodness Trevor was cleaned and he was denied a spot” She doesn’t even use Shawn’s name. “I can do this.”

“I know you can!” Cali raises her voice, getting some attention from the other patrons. She holds her hand up, apologising and lowers her voice. “I know you have what it takes to win… But that will come with some targets on your back.”

“I know…” Katsuki taps her foot under the table. Her patience is being worn thin by her friends.

“You will be in Jeremy’s sights, again. He’s weird, but the guy is willing to burn someone alive if you upset him. He’s detached from reality and he is dangerous for that. And he also has numbers. His bad of misfit friends might have one shared brain-cell, but it is still like four against you and-”

Katsuki nods her head. “I know. I am going to be smart with this. I will not be rushing to the ring alone with them all together. I know that.”

“And you did not let me finish. Because did you…”

She changes her language to English. This is a message she needs to get as clear as possible to her friend.

“Did you fucking watch Meltdown and Fallout?” Her voice shakes.

“Danny Toner decided to wage war on everything and brought Rondo and Nova Diamond back. You know, two Hall of Famers!? Then, add a bunch of other misfits in this ‘NTR’ group. They mauled Chris and Alyster. They did the same to Bryan on Fallout… He’s out now. A 300-pounder they put on the self-”

Looking down, Cali’s blood seems to be boiling… “And they touched Kay.” She mentions her longtime friend and former video editor, Kimmy Cortez.

“She got a dream job doing video and production for FWA and she constantly goes on how it’s a fucking awesome to be making video packages, trying to be creative in how they shoot stuff. Helping edit footage together. They didn’t hurt her, but they seriously freaked her the fuck out.”

Cali’s voice has strain.

“Kimmy doesn’t feel safe there anymore. I have known her since I was in middle school, connecting online through games, being able to meet in person in High School, and she was even the first person I came out to when I messaged her all the way back on the days of Skype with that. And with her, she’s in production. If they did something worse, that’s a giant-ass lawsuit. You signed up for this shit. They have full reign to fuck you up… What if they do to you what they did to FTN and Bryan?”

“I can defend myself.” Katsuki tries to put her friend at ease but she isn’t buying it.

“It is three against one with just the main three, not counting the fact they seem to have a bunch of people with them too.”

Getting heated, she realises she is about to lose control of her anger. So she takes a deep breath.

“You can take one of them. In a match, you’d have no problems. I believe in you that much. Two maybe with a good jump, but not all three. Not all of them in a beatdown. And you’re in the main event of Fallout. Steel Roulette for Golden Opportunity, literally something which makes you one of the most dangerous threats in the company if you win. Cash in whenever the fuck you want, can be champ. I don’t think they’d stop at the tag titles. You’d be in their way, and even if they keep away, there's still Jeremy and his cronies. One mistake, and you'll be a fox on fire.”

Cali places her hand on the table.

“Last time I checked, sure, you seem to ‘get along’ with Gabby and Cyrus well enough to be a decent tag team in a pinch. With a common enemy, one or two people may coexist with you to take them on, but they wouldn’t take a bullet for you. If you go down, they would not lose a wink of sleep. They wouldn’t have your back no matter what like us… and you’re likely to have a big target on it.”

Looking at Miyu and Ririko, Cali says in Japanese. “We are worried for our friend.”

Katsuki has never seen them like this, especially not Cali. Looking around the table, she feels slightly pissed. She’s been in FWA for a couple of years now, so she’s shown she can take care of herself.

But, she knows enough about her teammates that this concern is not coming from seeing her as less. Factions and units work differently in Japan as opposed to the US. Here, very few groups pull out ‘Western tactics’ and even then, they appear to have limits. Something like Jeremy's Friendship Wrestling Alliance and the arrival of NTR is something she hasn’t really experienced much.

“I understand. I was shocked by what I saw too. I’m thankful Kimmy is okay at least. But I also know how to take care of myself if needed. I have learned a lot there.”

Ririko looks at Katsuki and she takes a deep breath. “Well, if things are too much, you know we will be here if needed. If you want us to focus on the Comet GP, then we will. However, if you can, please avoid them. Please keep your distance from them. Do not get on their bad side or anything.”

“I am not going to suck up to the group of bullies…” Katsuki mutters, folding her arms.

“We are not saying that. Just keep their names out of your mouth. If you see them coming, go the other way. But if you are backed in a corner, then fight. Fight like only you can… Maybe with some weapons too if needed.” The Deathmatch specialist adds. Even if Katsuki is not a hardcore wrestler, that will likely be noted for later.

“Please be careful. That is all we want.” Ririko pleads with her friend.

Seeing she has little other choice, she nods her head.

“I will. NTR will not be a concern until they get involved in my business. I will try to keep out of their way, and I’ll be ‘smart’ around Jeremy’s group.”

“As far as I’m concerned, NTR has two strikes after just a week.” Cali says. “Strike one was intimidating Kimmy. Strike two was the whole hostile takeover. I don’t even like FTN or Bryan and I think that crossed a line. Then Jeremy, he's already struck out multiple times. As soon as they even think about laying a hand on you, that is strike three and I’m going to personally fly down to physically castrate each of them.”

The three girls blink… Yikes. Gamer rage indeed. Katsuki takes a deep breath.

“Until then, please stay calm and focus on the tournament. I know all of you are capable on your own. Since I can’t be in the Comet GP, I want everyone to know that YDS is a threat, any member, any division, any place.” She winks. “Kick some ass."

“And you get that briefcase. Nobody ‘deserves it’ more than you. We mean it.”

The words of encouragement from her team creates a small grin on her face. Holding up their drinks, they clang glasses and shout.

“Kanpai”

Before taking a sip back. Though they enjoy their meal in peace, not bringing up anything wrestling related again.

Back in their minds is not just the big opportunities for all of them-

But an ever present danger looming over them.