Introductions

[Johnny Karma]

May 30th, 9:27am

It’s the start of the day at the LDFC training facility and the Stage One trainees are being put through their paces with a series of training drills inside the ring. While this going on in the centre of the gym, elsewhere we see Shintaro Majima walk in and approaches a punch bag, his body language saying he is not messing around. Majima takes a moment to centre himself, before unleashing a vicious kick to the punch bag, then another, and another, and another, before he places a hand against the punch bag to stop it swinging on its rope as he centres himself once more – at which point the head trainer calls him over

Majima? Can I borrow you for a moment?

Majima gives a curt nod to the trainer before sliding into the ring, where the trainer is stood by a lanky 5'8" trainee

What do you need?

Matt here tells me he's learned enough from running the ropes, and he wants to learn some real wrestling. So, if you don't mind, how about you teach him what it feels like to get chopped?

Majima nods, so the trainer gestures for Matt to stand in the corner to learn the next stage of his training. Matt stands in the corner, looking smug that he's going to be "one of the boys" as Majima crosses the ring to stand in front of him. Majima looks at the trainer, who gives him the go-ahead - then unleashes a brutal knife-edge chop that echoes through the gym and brings the other trainees to a standstill, all except Matt who staggers out of the corner with a welt forming on his chest already...but Majima grabs him and pushes him back into the corner, before the trainer steps in

I think he's learned enough for today. Thanks.

Majima nods to the trainer, before he uses the hand he just chopped Matt senseless with to pat him on the shoulder, making sure the young boy learned his lesson

May 30th, 10:43am

Majima enters the trainer's office and is offered a seat, but he gives a slight shake of his head to decline the offer, which the trainer seems to have expected

I've got a simple question for you, Majima: what are you doing here?

Majima tilts his head slightly, giving the trainer a perplexed look

You asked me to be here.

Not here...

The trainer gestures around him, implying the whole training centre

...HERE.

Majima understands the question, now the pronoun has been made obvious

I was told to come here to stay in peak condition.

At least you didn't give me some crap about needing to "learn" how to work LDFC's style.

I don't need to learn their style, they need to learn how to deal with mine.

Quite. But that's why you're here, I've been told you're booked for the next LDFC show, where you're facing Katie Kensington.

There's the slightest flicker of happiness on Majima's face, but he just about manages to suppress it to maintain his stoic demeanour

Katie Kensington?

Majima takes a moment to consider his opponent, based on the information he's just been given

Is she sure she wants this match?

The trainer gives a dismissive wave of his hand

I'm sure you'll do fine.

It's not me I'm worried about, it's her.

Knowing that nothing more needs to be said Majima turns and walks out of the office before the trainer can respond, with his thoughts turning to the impact he needs to make on his debut - but that's for another time.