Okay, good! That's it for today. Good work, you two.
Chidori Kaname
Agh... I'm so exhausted...
Takatsuki Yayoi
Chidori-san, great job! It's so amazing how far you've come in just two weeks!
Chidori Kaname
Oh, come on. You're just saying that. Is it really that impressive?
Takatsuki Yayoi
Uh-huh! I've never seen anything like it. It took me way, way longer! Plus it's not just the dance routines, you've already memorized the song and everything!
And you didn't even need any vocal coaching, even though you said you've never really sang before! You must be some kind of super genius idol or something!
Chidori Kaname
O-Oh come on. Maybe I'm a quick learner, but "s-super genius idol"? That's too much.
Akiyama Shun
No, I think Yayoi-chan has a point.
Takatsuki Yayoi
Ah! Mr. Akiyama! How long have you been here?
Akiyama Shun
Long enough to agree with your assessment about Chidori-chan and her preternatural talents.
Chidori Kaname
P-Preternatural? I don't think I'm THAT good...
Akiyama Shun
Well, you are. It's like this is what you were born to do.
Takatsuki Yayoi
Uu-uu! I totally agree!
Chidori Kaname
You know I still haven't gotten over how embarrassing this is... And you two heaping praise on me like this is just making it worse!
Takatsuki Yayoi
Ehehe!
Akiyama Shun
Better get used to it. Because you're officially signed up for the upcoming Pretty Princess League.
Chidori Kaname
Wh-What!? There's... There's no way I'm ready for that yet! I've only been training to be an idol for two weeks!
Akiyama Shun
And, like we've been talking about, you've made astonishing progress in those two weeks.
Takatsuki Yayoi
Chidori-san, you'll be fine! You're way better than I was when I started the Pretty Princess League!
Akiyama Shun
You hear that? You've got the champion in your corner, so there's no way you can lose!
Chidori Kaname
Yeah, right...
Takatsuki Yayoi
Mr. Akiyama, um... I have a question.
Why are they having another Pretty Princess League so soon? The last one was only a couple of months ago.
Akiyama Shun
Yeah, I'm not too sure on that myself. Maybe they're trying to rehabilitate their image after everything that went down last time? Who knows.
It's good timing for us though. This will be the perfect launchpad for your meteoric rise, Chidori-chan.
Chidori Kaname
Wouldn't it be a better idea to have Yayoi represent Sky High Pro? I mean, she's the defending champion and everything!
Takatsuki Yayoi
Ah. Well I can't. The Pretty Princess League is for debuting idols, so since I debuted and won and stuff, um... They won't let me do it again, I think.
Akiyama Shun
Sorry, Chidori-chan. But you're not getting out of this one.
Chidori Kaname
AAAAAGGHHH! Okay, fine! I guess I just have to steel myself. Gird my loins and all that! So? When is this thing gonna start? Next week or something, right?
Akiyama Shun
Hahaha... Well. Uh... About that.
Chidori Kaname
...It's gonna be next week or something, right?
Akiyama Shun
Actually... Ya see, the thing is...
Chidori Kaname
...
Akiyama Shun
It's starting in a few hours.
Chidori Kaname
Wh-Wh-Wh...
Akiyama Shun
I know this is a bit last minute and all, but that's just the way this business goes sometimes. Please understand, and try not to be too upse—
Chidori Kaname
WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN IT'S STARTING IN A FEW HOURS!?!?!?!?
DON'T YOU THINK SOMETHING LIKE THIS WARRANTS SOME KIND OF ADVANCE NOTICE!?!??!
Akiyama Shun
Well yeah, that's why I'm telling you now. In advance.
Chidori Kaname
YOU CALL THIS "IN ADVANCE"????? YOU WORTHLESS PRODUCER!!! YOU IDIOTTTTTTTTTT!!!!
Takatsuki Yayoi
Chidori-san! There's no sense in making a fuss! We've gotta go get you ready!
Akiyama Shun
Don't worry Chidori-chan. I'm sure you'll be fine. You've got my utmost confidence.
Chidori Kaname
I... I won't forget thissssss!!!!
Akiyama Shun
...It's a good thing Yayoi is stronger than she looks. I'd better get ready myself.
(It is strange though that they restarted the Pretty Princess League so soon. I wonder what the deal is.)
(Speaking of strange... Normally I wouldn't try to railroad Chidori like this, but the opportunity was just too good to pass up.)
(And she really has made some crazy progress in every area. It's like she's some kind of prodigy.)
(Everything going on... It just feels a little too perfect.)
(Ah, well. I've never been one to look a gift horse in the mouth before. I'm not about to start.)
What?! Ya should've woke me up sooner, Yakou! We have a main quest to complete!
Uh, where's Arc and Chie-sensei?
Yakou Furio
They said they had to go and track down the lab, said they didn't need us slowing them down.
Which is fine by me, my poor body is aching! I could do with a little break from all the action.
Kasuga Ichiban
I get it, this'll give us a chance to do some side quests, and see all sorts of wacky characters!
I wonder if I'll see that diaper guy again... He's like 90 years old at this point!
Yakou Furio
Uh not sure what you're talking about but... Can't we just go relax? I want to try some good Japanese food.
Kasuga Ichiban
Ooh, that's a good idea too! I know some good spots, still gotta eat all the items on their menu's, too!
But uh.. Heheh, sorry... Could you cover my bill for me? I don't have a yen to my name right now.
Yakou Furio
And you think I have any cash? We came here last minute...
Kasuga Ichiban
Hmm, need some quick cash, huh...
Oh! I got it!
Yakou Furio
Hello Work? You want us to get jobs??
Kasuga Ichiban
Well how else are we gonna make some money? Besides, it'll be fun!
Yakou Furio
Surely we could do some detective work for someone, right? Get a cat out of a tree or something? Not getting some bottom of the barrel unemployment center job...
Kasuga Ichiban
Hey, be nice! Hello Work provides a good service to those in need of work! Now, let's look at some of the job listings...
Kasuga Ichiban
Hmm, ooh! How about this one, mercenary for hire!
Yakou Furio
Look, it says you need to bring your own gas mask.
Kasuga Ichiban
Oh, you're right... So that's out... What about this one? Pest extermination, a classic side quest!
Yakou Furio
Stompin'... Koopas? Ew, that just sounds gross... No thanks.
Kasuga Ichiban
Okay, ooh! This one sounds fun! We could become bartenders!
Yakou Furio
Hell no! I never want to bartend again!
Kasuga Ichiban
Oh, sounds personal, sorry!
Surely this will be good! "Chefs wanted", a nice restaurant gig, we could maybe even get free food out of it!
Yakou Furio
That doesn't sound bad... Screw it. Might as well give it a try, what's the worst that could happen?
They're in complete chaos, sir. They've had some sort of internal debacle. Something about their latest game failing catastrophically.
I've also heard rumors that the man who's been giving them trouble in Sindria has recently arrived in Japan.
Okonogi Tetsurou
And? How exactly is that relevant?
Kanai Kamon
We believe this man to be the same individual who infiltrated the lab in Sindria and fought Amalgam. Kasuga Ichiban. He's also looking for King Sinbad.
Okonogi Tetsurou
...
Whatever. Sony exists purely as a smokescreen for us to begin with. Let them handle him. And what about the illegal DualShocks?
Kanai Kamon
The situation with the Ryougi didn't end entirely in our favor, but Tamashiro was able to escape, along with most of his men.
Meanwhile the Ryougi have been more or less crippled for the time being.
As a result, Sony has been able to push their gamepads into the black market through the Tamashiro.
Okonogi Tetsurou
And what about those twins? We brought on professional arms dealers for a reason. Surely they've been able to successfully hawk their wares.
Kanai Kamon
Yes sir. To my knowledge they've been able to successfully penetrate the underground markets in both Coolsville and Sindria.
Okonogi Tetsurou
...Good. Then that just leaves the matter of the Whispered.
...Did you bring the prototype?
Kanai Kamon
Yes sir. She's ready.
The Machine Interface Knowledge Unit — MIKU.
Hatsune Miku
Hello~! Good evening! How are you! You can call me Miku!
Okonogi Tetsurou
Looks like Agnus proved himself useful. Is she operational?
Kanai Kamon
That's what I was told.
Okonogi Tetsurou
Great. Looks like I wasn't premature in pressuring them to reopen the Pretty Princess League.
We'll enter her immediately. She'll need a producer to manage her though. Guess that's you, Kanai.
Kanai Kamon
...
...Sir?
Okonogi Tetsurou
What, did I stutter? I'm entering her in the Pretty Princess League, as the representative idol of Okonogi Entertainment. And you'll be the producer.
Kanai Kamon
Sorry, sir. But I was under the impression that this... Girl... Was some sort of advanced device that was made to locate Whispered individuals.
Okonogi Tetsurou
I don't fully understand it either. The way it was explained to me was that these Whispered...
They have some sort of residual telepathy that allows them to communicate with each other to a limited degree.
This "girl" was designed to intercept the wavelength of these passive emissions.
Kanai Kamon
...Right. But why make her an idol?
Okonogi Tetsurou
Well if we want to accurately track down the signal from a Whispered, we need our receiver to be relatively close.
And if we're gonna find a needle in a haystack, we need the receiver exposed to as many people as possible.
The wrestling business has gone to shit in this country, but idol concerts still draw huge crowds. It's the best way to scan a large number of people at once.
Kanai Kamon
If you say so.
Okonogi Tetsurou
Satisfied? Then get moving. The Pretty Princess League starts later tonight. You don't have time to waste.
I've gotta make an appearance over at G1 and then Sony, so you're on your own.
Kanai Kamon
...Yes sir.
Hatsune Miku
I'm on top of the world~! Because of you~!
Bad to the Bone Championship: High Dosage of Justice[edit | edit source]
So... you don't know? Fufufu. 実に面白い。 Even if you haven't figure it out yet... I can see it in you eye.
You dream は... dangerous. Dangerous to プロレス. You dream and mine... cannot coexist.
Ushiromiya Battler
My... wrestle dream?
Antonio Inoki
Indeed. Your dream, your vision for what you want wrestling to be, and what you want to be within it.
Saten
I must say, that was quite the... "Interesting" meeting we had. I've seen enough to know a fair bit about your "mission". I'm quite "impressed".
The powers of the "Whispered" are indeed "fascinating". With those powers... The "world" is at your fingertips.
Tamashiro Tetsuo
Don't go dyin' on me you little prick! You're my golden ticket!
Ushiromiya Battler
...
(I know I should be more focused on this tournament. I've still got two more matches this weekend, tomorrow and the day after.)
(But something keeps nagging at me. It feels like something is happening. Bubbling beneath the surface.)
(Ever since I came to Japan, I've just been reacting to things as they happen. Going with the flow.)
(Even that mess with the Soprano family a few months back, it was just me following Shiki's lead.)
(Speaking of Shiki, he ran home today as soon as his match was over. He said something about preventing a world-ending catastrophe...)
(I guess that means his sister is mad at him about something.)
(Well, if I'm on my own... Maybe... Maybe it's time I was proactive for a change. Like what happened at Vesuvio. If I can just put my brain to use... )
(Now, what was it that's bothering me? What's sitting in the back of my mind, taunting me? There were two incidents in the past few weeks. The first was...)
Ushiromiya Battler
That's right. Saying that meeting was fishy would be an understatement. It didn't sound like they were talking about wrestling at all.
I guess the Board of Directors mostly deals with the business end of things, so maybe that's why I didn't recognize most of them.
Though I do think I had seen one of them before. ...Where was that?
I had that weird conversation with Mr. Okonogi... And then later, I got attacked by that masked ninja guy. Am I just being paranoid?
I guess there's still a hierarchy backstage even now that I'm not a Young Lion.
It doesn't matter where I've been, or what I've done. I've got no business acting like a hot-shot and big-leaguing a legend of this industry like Johnny Cage.
Hmm... I'm not too sure. At least as far as I can tell, the tournament isn't really involved with what's going on behind the scenes.
But maybe I should keep an eye out for anything suspicious...
Okay, so that meeting was the first incident. The second was...
Right. That whole situation was crazy. It was hard to notice the details of the situation with my adrenaline pumping the way it was.
But there was something strange there...
A bunch of lowlifes like the Tamashiro family wouldn't have been able to move on the Ryougi Group without some kind of outside support.
They wouldn't have even dreamt of making that play on their own. Someone had to have been behind it.
The G1 Board of Directors meeting and the raid on the Ryougi Estate by the Tamashiro family.
Ushiromiya Battler
That was really awkward... Having a conversation with your boss at the urinal. I... Don't think it's related though.
Ahh, after all the times I've gotten beaten up lately, nothing is more therapeutic. Makes me think I should learn how to block.
The idyllic waves of Okinawa... Home...
There's a common thread linking these two events... But what was it?
From the sound of things, they were working with them on... Something. It didn't sound good.
And then, at the Ryougi Estate... Before Shiki and I busted into Miss Ryougi's office, I overheard her bring up Sony too.
From the sound of things, Sony was the group behind Tamashiro. Something about... Illegal DualShock gamepads, I think.
Ushiromiya Battler
Dammit... Why do I keep thinking about that? It's like... It's haunting me for some reason.
Taunting me. Calling me... Calling me something that bald guy would... I've really got to let it go.
That's right... Sony got brought up by one of the guys in that meeting.
He really was so sugoi... I'm arigatouful to have fought such a kakkoii guy. But I don't think he has a major role in all of this.
(There's something else that points to Sony. Something blisteringly obvious.)
(That's right... The ring itself.)
(I've heard that there used to be a bunch of other sponsors. But right now, the only logo on the G1 ring is Sony's. Right smack dab on the apron.)
(There's no smoking gun here. Maybe this evidence is inconclusive and circumstantial at best. But it's all I've got to go on.)
(Call it a detective's hunch. But that hunch is telling me that something is happening. And Sony is involved.)
(Something about all this stinks, and I'm not just talking about Sony's fans.)
Okay then. What I'm lacking right now is information. I'm not even sure if I'm on to something, or just being paranoid.
What would a good detective do here? Follow my intuition, and gather more information.
The best way to do that right now, with the information I do have... Would be to stake out Sony HQ, and see who shows up.
Battler's Investigation ― Vs. Nakamura Shinsuke of the Three Musketeers[edit | edit source]
Antonio Inoki
...Unacceptable. The three of you are a disgrace.
Tanahashi Hiroshi
...
Shibata Katsuyori
...
Nakamura Shinsuke
...
Antonio Inoki
The sorry state of this once great promotion... It's because of this!
"The Three Musketeers".. None of you are deserving of that title.
Tanahashi Hiroshi
Mr. Inoki, please. We—
Antonio Inoki
Shut up! Mr. Sapp. Mr. Haku. See these ingrates out of my office.
King Haku
*menacing unfathomable aura*
Bob Sapp
OH YEAH! MINNA-TACHI, SAYONARA!
Ushiromiya Battler
...
Nakamura Shinsuke
…Ushiromiya? 怪しいな… どこに行くんだ, Battora?
Ushiromiya Battler
Huh? Wait a minute, is that?
Okonogi Tetsurou
...
Ushiromiya Battler
(...Could he be going the same way? I'd best keep my distance.)
Okonogi Tetsurou
...Hm?
Ushiromiya Battler
(Damn, that was close! He almost saw me already. Okay, I better not screw this up!)
Ushiromiya Battler
(...Here we are, Sony's Headquarters. I knew it. here was something shady about Okonogi, but I couldn't say for sure.)
(Looks like my intuition was spot on. So he must be involved with Sony.)
Nathan Drake
He was spotted in Chinatown, come on!
Kratos
We'll scope the place out then call in Freddy!
Ushiromiya Battler
(What the heck was that about? Well whatever, it didn't involve me, and it doesn't seem to involve Okonogi either.)
Okonogi Tetsurou
...
Ushiromiya Battler
(Damn. I can't follow him inside. All right, I'll find a good spot to stake the place out. Let's see...)
(Those bushes across the street should be good. I'll have a good view of the entrance from there.)
(Man... I should have brought binoculars or something.)
(Then again that would make me look really suspicious. People would think I was some kind of pervert.)
(Guess I've gotta wait. Hopefully he doesn't take too long.)
Ushiromiya battler
(Stake outs are rougher than I thought... Next time I try this, I'll be sure to have snacks or something. ...Ah! Someone's coming out!)
Okonogi Tetsurou
A private car? Man am I jealous of you two. I had to walk here.
Koko Hekmatyar
Both the car and the driver are mine actually. My brother would be joining you if I weren't in such a good mood.
Kasper Hekmatyar
See what I have to put up with?
Ushiromiya Battler
(Those two... They look and sound familiar. Yeah that's right. They were some of the people at the Board of Directors meeting.)
(Looks like I really struck the jackpot coming here. I wonder if there's anything else I can—)
???
Yew sho busy spyingu…
Nakamura Shinsuke
…Yew forget chu wash yew back. Battora.
Ushiromiya Battler
N-Nakamura! What the hell are you doing here!?
Nakamura Shinsuke
What I do hiru? いや。 What YEW do hiru, Battora?
Ushiromiya Battler
Why the hell would I tell you? I don't owe you any sort of explanation.
Nakamura Shinsuke
I forrow yew, yew know. I know yew forrow Okonogi.
Ushiromiya Battler
You... You followed me? Why the hell were you at G1?
Nakamura Shinsuke
Yew still no know. 俺は member ofu Suree Musketeersu. I wok directry under Inokiさん。
Ushiromiya Battler
You work directly for Inoki? Then why the hell did you attack me before?
Nakamura Shinsuke
Yew are outsaida. Yew do not have G1 besto interesto in 心。
Yew suppose chu resu in G1 Crimaxu tournamento, but yew spy on G1 Boardo ofu Directoru insteado.
No. No signs of him. He's blocked all of our numbers.
I managed to see the USS's social media, though, and it, uh, doesn't look good.
Some of the stuff Ghost and VECTOR posted on their Instagram stories looked like direct shots to AEW.
Sandro the Great
Wait, bro, can't we make an angle out of that, bro?
Like, using social media to blur the lines... You know, this is how you add stakes, bro, this is how you work the marks, bro.
Amakusa Juuza
No Sandro I don't think this is a shoot work or a work shoot this seems more like a shoot shoot
Oh so he's really gone then huh
Nero
...Afraid so.
Amakusa Juuza
Well wouldn't you look at that isn't that just fucking GREAT we're so fucked my Fauci we're so fucked there's gonna totally be a lawsuit or something and we're gonna have even more problems to deal with and our lawyers are gonna be busy so they won't be able to handle it if we try to get a case going against the Fed because of their clear contract tampering when they negotiated with Arisato now just where do we go from here I had already booked HUNK's title reign two years in advance and now I have to scrap all those plans and start all over again like come on this is SO not fair like this is against the entire culture we built here at all friends wrestling and now what who is our big megastar I mean we have Saihara I guess but having just him at the top is gonna get stale because he wrestles so many bangers we're gonna eventually run out of bangers and we can't run out of bangers we need infinite bangers maybe I should try getting that womens division plan rolling or something but even if we had womens on the card that would be like what five minutes of wrestling per show it doesn't compensate massive losses such as HUNK and Arisato are we gonna run out of toys eventually we can't run out of toys that's a nightmare and I'm not talking about the Fortuna Nightmare or the Asian Nightmare its a real nightmare everything just sucks right now and like you went out and had that match to patch the card and well it was a match but it was nothing compared to what HUNK had planned so did you really do your best to fix the card I don't know if you did Nero if I am to be frank with you maybe it would be better if someone else with more experience was in your place in fact I already have it lined up and I know the perfect man for this
Nero
...
Wait, slow down. Can you repeat that last part again?
Amakusa Juuza
You are to be relieved of your duties as AEW's Executive Vice President.
Nero
Huh? W-Why is that?
Amakusa Juuza
It seems to me you just lack the experience
I mean if you could manage the backstage morale properly maybe this entire incident wouldn't have happened
that's why I believe I now have the solution and the one guy capable of putting AEW back on track
But hey I know you helped start this company so of course I'm not just gonna discard you
Instead I hope you enjoy being the new secretary and uh I mean like the assistant to this guy
The ONE The ONLY Our DEAREST TALENT A SEASONED VETERAN A CHAMPION AND A LEGEND IN THIS BUSINESS....................................
THE LEARNING QLIPHOTH!
Dante
HEY GUYS!
Man I'm so excited to be here tonight, so excited to be contributing to the success of such a massive show.
I mean Nero, my little friend, you have done such a great job so far...
But we all have to take a step back sometimes, right guys? Get a new view on things...
Don't worry, you can sit down now.
Sit down and learn from Uncle Learning Qliphoth! I'll teach you a lot about the business! Hahaha!
Sandro the Great
Damn, bro, this guy just has talent. I can see it. He knows how to draw the ratings, bro.
That NDA angle is really over with the people, bro. I think we struck gold with that.
But don't worry, Nero, bro, we'll put you in a big angle, bro.
Listen here, we're gonna put you in a feud with "The Thunder King" and uhhh this one B-Movie star I'm talking with, bro.
I mean, the guy doesn't have much wrestling experience, bro, but he's gonna attract eyes, you know?
So like, it can all culminate with a "Contract on a Pole" match where the winner gets to be the star in one of our upcoming AEW Reality Shows, bro.
Nero
...
Sorry, Amakusa. I'm feeling a bit sick... I...
I think I'll go home for the night.
Dante
Don't push yourself too hard, lil' nephew!
You're one of my favorite saplings after all! Hahaha!
First, he rewound around, causing frays to flare up. Then... it was clear it was not TFR's world anymore... at one point, the ref started counting... and never stopped... but Tim let go at 28, just to show he has complete control.
Iconic Match
