Post by Merlot Ayano on Jul 1, 2017 23:35:54 GMT
“What are you afraid of, Ayano?”
Merlot stared upward at Natsuko Aimi with fatigued eyes. That day’s training had been ferocious, to say the least. It started off with powerlighting (like usual), thirty minutes of running around the facility, then forty-five minutes of striking on the heavy bag. After that, Merlot had to endure a rotating sparring session. Merlot tangled with with her girl Carly for about fifteen minutes. Carly would then rotate with Natsuko and Merlot would work with her. Rinse and repeat for about an hour and a half or so. Needless to say, Merlot was a bit tired.
It had been a been a long time since she’d practiced with her sensei. Merlot had forgotten how stiff and unforgiving her trainer had been in the ring—
“I asked you a question. What are you afraid of, Ayano?”
She didn’t answer right away as she rested in the corner. Her chest heaved up and down as she tried to catch her breath—a couple of shoot kicks and well placed chops made it a bit difficult.
“Merlot no afraid,” the young woman replied after a while.
Her answer wasn’t satisfactory. Katsuko shook her head as peered down at the younger woman.
“Did you forget that I know you well, Ayano?” She shook her head once more. “Your movements are crisp, yes indeed. Your emotion is high and passion is abound. However, you are a step or two slow.” She wiped a bit of sweat from her forehead. “There is something on your mind, something that is holding you back in training. And if you are going to succeed, then we must address it now.”
Natsuko let out a small grunt. “So tell, me what are you afraid of Ayano? Speak now!”
It took Merlot a second to respond. “Failure.” Her voice was low and almost as quiet as a mouse.
“Hmm?” Natsuko cupped her hand over her ears. “What was that? Speak up, Ayano.”
“Failure.”
“Louder!”
“Merlot afraid to fail!” the young woman screamed out.
Her shouting caused Carly to look up, who’d been sitting on the outside to rest and readjust her gear. Her initial instinct was the enter the ring and check on Merlot, however, Natsuko gave her a dismissive look.
The older woman walked over to the corner turnbuckle where Merlot was sitting. She gingerly bent down and took a seat in front of her student. Her stoic features faded; they were replaced by a look of concern.
“I believe I know what this is about. However, you’ve got to say it, Merlot. You’ve got to let it out. If you don’t, it will be difficult to move forward.”
Merlot’s eyes lowered to the floor. “Sensei, Merlot afraid will fail again, like when held GFP Junior Championship.”
“I see.” Natsuko laid a hand on Merlot’s shoulder. “Go on. Let it out.”
Once again, Merlot was slow to speak. “Was excited to win GFP Junior Championship. But, but Merlot was no good champion. Merlot was terrible champion. Supposed to be able to believe in champion, but fans couldn’t believe in Merlot. Fought heart out each and every night, but kept coming up short.” She shook her head. “Goal was to bring more honor and pride to belt and company—Merlot failed.” Tears slowly began to fall from her eyes. “Wanted to make family proud. Wanted to make friends proud. Wanted to make you proud, but wasn’t able to.”
The water really began to flow. “Never even defended championship. Just—”
“Shhh. I’ve heard enough.”
Natsuko wrapped her arms around Merlot to comfort her. “Hey hey, it’s almost Merlot. It’s alright.” For a moment her crying got a bit worse. “Let it all out. Let it all out. It’s essential.”
After a bit of time Merlot was able to calm down. Her tears stopped and her breathing went back to normal. Natsuko used her left hand to dry Merlot’s face a bit.
“Merlot, it might seem like I did all this to be harsh and remind you of old wounds. That was never my intent. However, I knew said event was something that has been eating away at you for a very long time. I don’t want your mind to be tortured and tormented by the past, alright.”
“Hai…” Merlot said between sniffles.
“Will you allow me to give you a bit of perspective?”
Merlot didn’t answer verbally. She merely nodded her head as she rubbed her eyes.
“Good.” Natsuko let out small sigh. “Think about things in this manner, Merlot. Were you able to accomplish all the goals you wanted to with that belt? No, you were not; that is a fact. However, I know you quite well. I know that you gave it your all each time you stepped out there. So, while things did not go your way, you should be proud.” Merlot slowly nodded her head, but the look on her face indicated she wasn’t fully convinced yet.
“There’s also another silver lining—you’ve used that experience to motivate you.” Natsuko let out a small laugh. “I’ve watched your Valor Championship match, in addition to your XWF World Championship match. And, do you know what I saw out there in the ring?”
“No,” Merlot said as she shook her head.
“I saw desire. I saw a woman yearning for more. I saw urgency, not desperation; that is a good thing. You’ve used that a event to propel you forward—and that is why you are the wrestler you are today. As professionals we must make the best and the most out of each situation. And that is what you’ve done.”
“Hai…”
“Now, what you also have to remember was that said event happened in the past. We are living beings. We change and grow everyday. You are not the same person you were back then. And you are not the same wrestler you were back then. You’ve grown, a lot. Do you understand?”
“Hai,” Merlot said as she finally looked up at Natsuko. “Hai, sensei.”
“No matter what happens after this Valor Championship match, you must hold your head up high. You must remember that you always have the ability to succeed. You must remember that you always have the ability to bounce back. Alright?”
“Good.” Natsuko patted Merlot on the shoulder. “Are you ready to continue.”
“Hai.”
“Good. First, take five minutes to go freshen up and clean your face. We’ll do some chain wrestling when you get back.”
Merlot stared upward at Natsuko Aimi with fatigued eyes. That day’s training had been ferocious, to say the least. It started off with powerlighting (like usual), thirty minutes of running around the facility, then forty-five minutes of striking on the heavy bag. After that, Merlot had to endure a rotating sparring session. Merlot tangled with with her girl Carly for about fifteen minutes. Carly would then rotate with Natsuko and Merlot would work with her. Rinse and repeat for about an hour and a half or so. Needless to say, Merlot was a bit tired.
It had been a been a long time since she’d practiced with her sensei. Merlot had forgotten how stiff and unforgiving her trainer had been in the ring—
“I asked you a question. What are you afraid of, Ayano?”
She didn’t answer right away as she rested in the corner. Her chest heaved up and down as she tried to catch her breath—a couple of shoot kicks and well placed chops made it a bit difficult.
“Merlot no afraid,” the young woman replied after a while.
Her answer wasn’t satisfactory. Katsuko shook her head as peered down at the younger woman.
“Did you forget that I know you well, Ayano?” She shook her head once more. “Your movements are crisp, yes indeed. Your emotion is high and passion is abound. However, you are a step or two slow.” She wiped a bit of sweat from her forehead. “There is something on your mind, something that is holding you back in training. And if you are going to succeed, then we must address it now.”
Natsuko let out a small grunt. “So tell, me what are you afraid of Ayano? Speak now!”
It took Merlot a second to respond. “Failure.” Her voice was low and almost as quiet as a mouse.
“Hmm?” Natsuko cupped her hand over her ears. “What was that? Speak up, Ayano.”
“Failure.”
“Louder!”
“Merlot afraid to fail!” the young woman screamed out.
Her shouting caused Carly to look up, who’d been sitting on the outside to rest and readjust her gear. Her initial instinct was the enter the ring and check on Merlot, however, Natsuko gave her a dismissive look.
The older woman walked over to the corner turnbuckle where Merlot was sitting. She gingerly bent down and took a seat in front of her student. Her stoic features faded; they were replaced by a look of concern.
“I believe I know what this is about. However, you’ve got to say it, Merlot. You’ve got to let it out. If you don’t, it will be difficult to move forward.”
Merlot’s eyes lowered to the floor. “Sensei, Merlot afraid will fail again, like when held GFP Junior Championship.”
“I see.” Natsuko laid a hand on Merlot’s shoulder. “Go on. Let it out.”
Once again, Merlot was slow to speak. “Was excited to win GFP Junior Championship. But, but Merlot was no good champion. Merlot was terrible champion. Supposed to be able to believe in champion, but fans couldn’t believe in Merlot. Fought heart out each and every night, but kept coming up short.” She shook her head. “Goal was to bring more honor and pride to belt and company—Merlot failed.” Tears slowly began to fall from her eyes. “Wanted to make family proud. Wanted to make friends proud. Wanted to make you proud, but wasn’t able to.”
The water really began to flow. “Never even defended championship. Just—”
“Shhh. I’ve heard enough.”
Natsuko wrapped her arms around Merlot to comfort her. “Hey hey, it’s almost Merlot. It’s alright.” For a moment her crying got a bit worse. “Let it all out. Let it all out. It’s essential.”
After a bit of time Merlot was able to calm down. Her tears stopped and her breathing went back to normal. Natsuko used her left hand to dry Merlot’s face a bit.
“Merlot, it might seem like I did all this to be harsh and remind you of old wounds. That was never my intent. However, I knew said event was something that has been eating away at you for a very long time. I don’t want your mind to be tortured and tormented by the past, alright.”
“Hai…” Merlot said between sniffles.
“Will you allow me to give you a bit of perspective?”
Merlot didn’t answer verbally. She merely nodded her head as she rubbed her eyes.
“Good.” Natsuko let out small sigh. “Think about things in this manner, Merlot. Were you able to accomplish all the goals you wanted to with that belt? No, you were not; that is a fact. However, I know you quite well. I know that you gave it your all each time you stepped out there. So, while things did not go your way, you should be proud.” Merlot slowly nodded her head, but the look on her face indicated she wasn’t fully convinced yet.
“There’s also another silver lining—you’ve used that experience to motivate you.” Natsuko let out a small laugh. “I’ve watched your Valor Championship match, in addition to your XWF World Championship match. And, do you know what I saw out there in the ring?”
“No,” Merlot said as she shook her head.
“I saw desire. I saw a woman yearning for more. I saw urgency, not desperation; that is a good thing. You’ve used that a event to propel you forward—and that is why you are the wrestler you are today. As professionals we must make the best and the most out of each situation. And that is what you’ve done.”
“Hai…”
“Now, what you also have to remember was that said event happened in the past. We are living beings. We change and grow everyday. You are not the same person you were back then. And you are not the same wrestler you were back then. You’ve grown, a lot. Do you understand?”
“Hai,” Merlot said as she finally looked up at Natsuko. “Hai, sensei.”
“No matter what happens after this Valor Championship match, you must hold your head up high. You must remember that you always have the ability to succeed. You must remember that you always have the ability to bounce back. Alright?”
“Good.” Natsuko patted Merlot on the shoulder. “Are you ready to continue.”
“Hai.”
“Good. First, take five minutes to go freshen up and clean your face. We’ll do some chain wrestling when you get back.”