When in America, do as the Americans expect you to.

>>1057056
No, no. Not Viva Ohio.

VIVA LUCHA!! LET'S GO!

Jump down and go "¡Hola, Ohio! You ready for some high fly luchaaaaa?"

1/2 Nacha 2023/03/02(Thu)19:03 No. 1057260 ID: a85df9
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I don’t need my sister to translate for me. I can do this! I grab the microphone and give a winning smile.

“¡Hola, Ohio!” I say, giving the crowd a winning smile. “¡Viva Ohio!”

Wait. People are laughing at me. Why are they laughing?

Wait. This isn’t a microphone. It’s a bottle of sugary soda!

Trisha is standing ringside, and she motions for me to take a drink of the soda, mouthing the words Viva Chickadee Red!

But… but… my promo!

Trisha motions again, more insistently.

Well, when in America, I will do as the Americans expect me to. I pop the cap and take a deep drink. “¡Viva Chickadee Red!” is my microphone-less battle cry fueled by high-fructose corporate sponsorship.

The cheers are not cheering any more. I am sad.

2/2 Nacha 2023/03/02(Thu)19:03 No. 1057261 ID: a85df9
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Rose, who’s already in the ring, approves of my “promo.” I’m glad she’s happy.

“Are you strong enough for Ohio, Nacha?” Rose asks me, her voice raised. “Ready to prove yourself?”

“Ready!” I shout back.

The bell rings and my test begins!

I know Rose is a grounded, solid fighter who likes to use moves targeting her opponent’s lower back. She can also strike the neck with a few clotheslines- she’s slippery and can find openings when she needs to. I need to try and knock her off balance before she can use her most devastating moves on me, or I’m done for.

I spring forward, using all my power and speed to try and knock Rose off her feet with a spear tackle. But she’s been around the block a few times, and she sees it coming a mile away. She slips downwards, squares her feet and gets me into a headlock. ¡Ay! I should have known she would know my most predictable move, no matter how fast it is.

I use my sugary soda-fueled energy to shove Rose as hard as I can and break the headlock. Rose takes the momentum I just handed to her and bounces off the ropes, coming right back at me, low and close to the ground for a shoulder tackle and I barely have enough time to dodge by powering over her in a spring-loaded leapfrog.

Once again, Rose carries her momentum into the opposite ropes and comes back to tackle me again, aiming straight for my back. This time I’m the one who sees it coming, and I slip under her shoulder, grab her hip and flip up to catch her head in my legs. It’s a devastating headscissors takedown!

Crash!

Rose is on the mat. What move should I use now?

1. Put her in a hold and drain her strength
2. Strike her quickly with an elbow or leg drop to get a guaranteed hit in
3. Use this time to set up a devastating high-flying move

2. It's too early in the match, so she's most likely still has enough energy to get back up as you set up your high flying move with 3, or break out of your hold easily with 1. So hit her with a fast garanteed hit.

we'll do those fancy shmancy high flying moves towards the middle to end of the match after she takes more hits and gets tired enough to have trouble dodging or getting back up from getting knocked down.

2.

>>1057261
2. Got her down, keep her down so she can't immediately try to ruin you.

Nacha 2023/03/05(Sun)20:33 No. 1057604 ID: 13740c
File 167807722519.png - (147.65KB , 500x500 , p25.png )

Rose is trying to do a kip-up to recover quickly. There’s no time to wait. I can’t let Rose build any momentum. I have to get my hits in fast and hard!

I leap skyward and drop my elbow straight into Rose’s stomach, driving the air from her chest in a gasp the crowd can hear even over my crash into the mat. I roll nimbly to my feet, with Rose climbing back up much slower than she would have otherwise. I definitely made the right call not trying anything fancy here.

Rose falls back to the ropes to try and catch her breath after that devastating elbow drop. Bad move: the ropes are where I am queen! I lunge at her with a spring-powered running knee smash right to head. It’s a devastating hit, and she’s stunned from the blow, reeling to one side. I grab her by the collar and force her against the post in the corner of the ring. There’s no escape now.

I climb the post and seat myself atop her, hitching my knees around her head and locking my legs into her arms. Ready or not, Rose, here it comes!

“It’s a Poison Rana!” the announcers shout. “Nacha’s gonna flip Alleycat’s lid like a dumpster!”

I fall backward and gracefully come to rest next to the post, but Rose isn’t so lucky. She’s on the outside of the Poison Rana, and the force of me launching her has the exact same effect as a catapult being let go.

BAM!

Rose slams into the mat with a deafening crash!

“GO NACHA!” a very familiar voice calls out.

I can hear Coco cheering for me in the crowd. Do I give her a wave and make her day, or do I ignore her for now and focus on the match?

1. Be a big sister and make Coco feel special
2. Be a professional and keep the pressure on Rose uninterrupted

>>1057604
2. Be a professional and keep the pressure on Rose uninterrupted

Keep it going!

>>1057609 Actually, I'll change my vote to 1. I think it'll make the fight more tense that way for the audience if we give Rose a chance to recover a bit and potentially let her get a free hit on us as we wave to our sis, And we get to be a little dorky too.

Can't have the match too one sided after all.

>>1057604
>>1057608
To elaborate, she's prone- you could go for a ground and pound strategy to keep her discombobulated and hurting. It keeps her down and keeps you in the spotlight.

1.

Put her in a chokehold, boop her nose and wave to your sister. She will be too embarrased to react.

>>1057604
1

You may not have let her speak for you, but the least you can do is wave at her.

Nacha 2023/03/06(Mon)19:26 No. 1057725 ID: 2081ed
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I landed that Poison Rana perfectly, and it was such a physical move. Everything is going my way. This is great! I should share that feeling with Coco. I spring to my feet and look for her in the crowd. It’s easy, because she’s the only one standing and cheering, and I wave at her eagerly, and she’s so excited I did it and she’s screaming even louder,, and…

And…

She’s the only one standing or cheering.

My stomach flip-flops. I feel like I’ve had a bucket of ice water dumped on my head. The fans aren’t cheering, and it looks like none have been since I did the rope entrance. Have… have I failed them?

Ya valió. My match is a dud. No one likes it. They’re bored. I’m boring. It’s even worse than my dream, and I’m frozen in stage fright. Who was I fooling? I’m not ready for America. I don’t know the audience. I don’t know the fans. I don’t even know the language! How could I expect to-

WHAM!

Rose catches me in a vicious clothesline and I hit the floor hard. The world is spinning and my adrenaline is pumping hard. I stagger to my feet and Rose immediately puts me in a vicious headlock.

“You want to know how we do things in Ohio?” Rose says. “Lesson one: never take your eyes off your opponent!”

“That’s it!” Coco laughs in glee. “That’s what it feels like!”

Me caga. Is this how I go down? To my own weapon of choice? Not likely.

I struggle against the headlock as hard as I can. I have to break free. I have to, I have to, I have to…

No, I’m not going to win with brute strength. Rose is bigger and tougher than me. I need to use my training. Rose hasn’t ever faced a true luchadora like me. I have to prove myself with my skill and showcase the true art of lucha libre! I just have to find… the strength… to suplex her all the way to China!

I slip my arm around her waist and use my powerful legs to pick her up off her feet. Rose lets out a yowl and I drop her straight on her back, bringing us both down but breaking the hold.

“A back suplex!” the announcers call out. “What a counter!”

We both rise up. Rose goads me into rushing her, and I accept. She goes low to try and sweep me off my feet, but I jump over her cleanly. We both hit the ropes and come together for another clash, but we each dodge each other’s strikes a second time.

I’ve got to prove myself to Rose and to America that I’m worthy of all things Ohio. Do I:

1. Goad rose into charging me for a third time, charge out to meet her and bring her to the ground with a Jumping Leg Lariat. A solid move that I’m sure will put me ahead in the match, and set up for a HIGH-FLYING move.
2. Goad her into charging me, but stay on the ropes and try a Low Bridge to launch Rose out of the ring. Riskier, but more fun to watch. Still lets me set up a HIGH-FLYING move, but Rose might sense I’m trying something tricky and turn the Low Bridge around on me.

2, we have to make audience POP

2. Time to put on a show

1. It’s a safer move but well- you already took one risk with the sister wave.

Remember the advice you got, Nacha! People get investes when you give them something to care about, and right now the story is that your opponent is the homwtown hero standing up against an invader that doesnt respect the local style. Nobody wants to cheer for that invader!

3: instead of a leg lariat, give Rose a big ohio-style leaping clothesline of your own to set up your big spot!

2. You got some hits in already, you can afford the risk.

1. You may have misjudged the audience reaction.

1/4 Nacha 2023/03/07(Tue)20:23 No. 1057841 ID: 40aa69
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I’m not sure whose advice to take. Trisha told me before this match that wrestling is about personalities as well as spots, but Rose told me before my first match to believe in myself and just nail my spots.

I don’t trust my personality, but I do trust my skill. I am the greatest luchadora in Ohio, and I want everyone to know it. I’ll earn their respect with my awesome moves!

I bait rose into charging me a third time, easy enough because she loves to go low and go for my back. But this time, instead of meeting her, I twist out of the way at the last minute, pull the top rope down, and use it to trip Rose and all of her precious backbreaking momentum. She flips right out of the ring.

Ha! I said it once, and I’ll say it again: I am the QUEEN of the ropes.

Rose is dazed on the ground outside the ring, and this is it: the moment where I show the Americans what I’m really capable of. I climb the post and prepare for an amazing HIGH-FLYING finisher that I actually remember. This is nothing like my dream. I can visualize every second of how I’ll leap down onto the rising Rose like a flying angel of justice. I stand tall atop the post, letting everyone anticipate the setup.

I hear my sister yelling at me. I push her out of my mind- I can’t let her distract me from my HIGH-FLYING FINISHER I’ve spent so much practice on.

“¡NACHA, CUIDADO!”

2/4 Nacha 2023/03/07(Tue)20:24 No. 1057842 ID: 40aa69
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My feet are swept out from under me.

¿Qué?

KRAK

My shin hits the side of the ring.

Hard.

3/4 Nacha 2023/03/07(Tue)20:26 No. 1057843 ID: 40aa69
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At first there’s just pain. Then, terror.

I’m hurt. How bad am I hurt? Oh, Dios.

There’s a high, haughty laugh.

“Ohohohoho!” says the ninja from earlier. She peels her own half-mask off and tosses it aside in disdainful mockery of my art. “So much for this mighty luchadora’s skills. Ohio, see what happens to the foolish girl who refuses to join with the mighty Kazama Inarizaki and the WAN!”

“What’s going on?!” Rose roars, climbing to her feet and staggering around the edge of the ring. She spots Tsuki and her eyes go wide. “Who is this? Ref! Get over here and see this!”

Coco frantically forces her way forward past the gates keeping the crowd back.

“¡Isa… Nachal! ¡Nacha! ¿Nacha, estás bien? Por favor, no…”

“La pierna,” I gasp.

Coco hugs me tight and puts herself between me and Tsuki.

“How brave!” Tsuki laughs. “You would make a fine minion for Kazama.”

“Never!” Coco shouts. “Get away from my big sister, or else!”

“Or else what, little girl?”

4/4 Nacha 2023/03/07(Tue)20:26 No. 1057845 ID: 40aa69
File 167824958299.png - (133.60KB , 500x500 , p30.png )

“Or else this!”

Rose, coming with all the force of an avenging spirit, swings a mighty punch at Tsuki, who parries with her umbrella. Rose keeps pressuring her with punch after punch, and Tsuki is forced back a few steps. The crowd is erupting at this point, and it’s hard to hear or see what happens next. I think Rose is chasing her and trying to bring her to justice, but everything is just so hard to focus on over the pain and the noise.

Coco keeps hugging me. My shin hurts a lot, but the pain is a little more manageable.

“¿Dónde está?” I ask Coco. “La ninja.”

I have to get Tsuki. I have to go follow Rose and help bring the ninja to justice. I have to…

Coco looks at me with big, worried eyes, and she’s tearing up.

Or maybe I should just stay here, with Coco.

Finally, the ref shows up on my side of the ring. He looks around, confused at where Rose went.

“Where’d Alleycat go?” the ref asks, barely able to be heard over the crowd. “Ah, crud. I lost her. Look, I’m sorry, but I gotta start counting you both out unless somebody gets back in that ring. So! One!”

The ring is right there in front of me. I can claim victory if I can just climb back inside.

“Two!”

Rose and Tsuki are out of sight. The crowd is deafening.

“Three!”

“Nacha?” Coco asks, her voice wavering. “What do we do?”

“Four!”

Do I go for the win?
1. Yes
2. No

No, RAN the WAN out of OWO.

2. No

Remember Lucha Libre step #5, and go find and rescue your friend!

uh, but make sure to bring a camera man with you, this will make for good drama that the fans of OWO will love to see.

2. Get that ninja out of here!
If you had the English I would call out the ninja for acting dishonorably-interfering with another’s match, and across organization lines at that? Even if she has a point this is just rude!

No, this match is a wash. Sorry Donut, no heel Nacha today.

1/3 Nacha 2023/03/18(Sat)14:06 No. 1058971 ID: ff9cef
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My leg hurts a lot, and when I test it, something feels off. It’s not broken, but the pain is sharp, stabbing, and warns me not to try it again.

“Five!”

The ref is counting down. The win is right there, and the crowd is getting confused. If I get back inside, I can give them an end to the match. I want to hear those cheers again. I want them to like me.

“Six!”

Would they cheer, though? Or would I just be an oddball outsider who seized a win that came out of nowhere? It would be a tainted win without Rose here to put up a fight… even though I was robbed of my chance to have a fair one.

“Seven!”

Worse than a tainted win, though, is forgetting the rules of Lucha Libre. I have to look out for my friends, and they’ll look out for me. I can’t let Rose chase that ninja all by herself.

“Eight!”

More than that… I want to be the one to pay the ninja back. She’s the one who interfered. I needs to deal with her. Personally.

“Nine!”

“Nacha?” my sister asks again, even more worried over my silence.

“Estoy bien,” I say, and grit my teeth. ”Vamonos. La ninja.”

Coco helps me stagger out to the exit.

“Ten! Both wrestlers have been disqualified!”

The crowd is confused. Those that were chanting at me to get back in the ring have fallen silent. Trisha, however, comes to the rescue and seizes the microphone.

“Go get ‘er, Nacha!” she booms. “Ladies and gentlemen, what a stunning turn of events. What could that mysterious ninja Tsuki possibly have meant when she said Nacha turned down her offer? What nefarious plot is brewing in Japan? Maybe we’ll see next time!”

I leave the gymnasium, still aided by my sister, and we’re moving a bit faster now. She’s struggling to keep up, and… and…

Who am I kidding? I can’t catch up to Rose and Tsuki when they’re running away and I’m limping. I sigh and ask Coco to let me down.

“I can help! I can!” Coco says, but she’s kidding herself. There’s no way for me to catch up.

Unless…

2/3 Nacha 2023/03/18(Sat)14:07 No. 1058972 ID: ff9cef
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“Need a lift?”

“¡Jimmy!” I exclaim.

“Rose just took off thataway, and I think she might have caught somebody,” Jimmy says. “She just yelled at me to come get you.”

“Gracias a Dios,” I say, and let him pick me up. Coco watches as I’m lifted all the way up into the stratosphere. “Quédate aquí, Coco. It is not safe where I go.”

“No,” Coco says. “I want to come with. I don’t want you to get hurt again.”

“It would hurt me to see you hurt too,” I say. “Stay. I will be safe with Jimmy. Lo prometo. Go back to Trisha, okay?”

Coco is upset, but stays put for the first time in her life. For now, at least.

3/3 Nacha 2023/03/18(Sat)14:07 No. 1058973 ID: ff9cef
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At first I won wonder how Jimmy is so fast, but then I remember he’s an ice cream man, and melting ice cream waits for no one. We zoom into the parking lot where Jimmy saw Rose chasing Tsuki, and there’s a telltale silhouette atop the football field bleachers.

“¡Mira allí! There she is!” I say. “Where is Rose?”

We arrive on the scene, and Rose is trying to get through a high-schooler-proof entrance to the football field. They must have a serious problem with people sneaking into the bleachers who don’t have tickets; the fence isn’t even climbable. Only a ninja could have gotten through.

“You have no chance to catch me!” Tsuki gives her infuriating laugh yet again. “I’m surprised, little rabbit. Are you so eager to fight me, even injured?”

“What are you doing here?” Rose asks, surprised. “Nacha, your leg! You’re swelling up!”

“I don’t care,” I say. “That ninja stole my fight. She is a pox on Lucha Libre. I am here for justice.”

“You are in no shape to demand anything!” Tsuki guffaws. “I have no need to fight you.”

What?! Is she really turning me down? I have to fight her! She’s everything I hate: sneaky, low-down, slinking in shadows, and backstabbing. She’s right, though. I’m in no condition for a regular match. My leg is probably hurt badly enough that I might need a cast to heal up, and that enrages me even further.

I need a way to get her to accept a match against me, and a stipulation that doesn’t put too much stress on my leg that will let me win. And ideally, the match will let me put that smug ninja in her place.

Hmm… with what Trisha said to me earlier about being a centerfold…

I think I have an idea.

With Tsuki’s speech about dignity and debasement, I know exactly the kind of match stipulation she would go for, but… can I really go through with it?

Do I challenge Tsuki to an Evening Gown Match?

1. Yes! This is war!
2. Um, maybe I should reconsider…

1! do it, no guts no glory!

1 You gotta throw down with the gown!

>>1058973
1, obviously.

>>1058973
2. Counteroffer. You want something thag threatens her dignity (and yours) without needing you to move around TOO much that you could win? An evening gown match wouldn't help with that, that isn't lucha! That isn't YOU.

NO, what you want is something dynamic uet static, something dangerous yet secure, something thrilling and yet with honor.

INFERNO MATCH. I mean, if she goes for it.

Indeed!

2. no. She wants the show, the chance to humiliate and stain you, and the gown…

You said yourself-you’re spring-loaded, a precision machine. You fight in that leotard for a reason.
With her figure, with her wardrobe? The gown is probably no great change, but forcing you into it, that will give her yet another weapon to beat you down with, on top of her no doubt doing SOMETHING heel-like during and mid-match.

mainly 2, but a little bit of 1.

remember lucha rule number 2: stay healthy. Fighting with a possible broken leg is NOT healthy. BUT we can still challenge her to that match for a later date when you're fully healed right now.

but we can have Jimmy go after her for now.

That's a bad idea. 2.

She's a sneaky bitch, and fighting her on terms favorable to her will just give her more chances to screw with you. Don't give her the opportunity.

You'll fight her, she's 100% going down. When you do though, it's going to be a real match. Not an exhibition.

Nacha 2023/03/19(Sun)17:30 No. 1059059 ID: 51801a
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I would like nothing more than the chance to get Tsuki in a ring, face-to-face, with no fences or bleachers between me and justice. She’s a low-down, dishonorable wretch who doesn’t respect me, my art, or my match with Rose. She looks down on me with a smug grin that needs to be wiped off her face.

An Evening Gown Match would for sure get her into the ring with me at a later date, and I could even do it with my leg in a cast to protect it if it’s injured as bad as it feels, but my instincts are telling me that she’d use the Evening Gown stipulation to her advantage. There are too many ways it could go wrong and stain my pride as an honorable Luchadora. I can’t give her that power. I should fight her my way, not hers.

“No need to wrestle me?” I shout up at her. “You would run and hide from justice? Ha! I will track you down and drag you into the ring no matter where you lie your head. You and I will fight, and you will pay for interrupting my honorable match with Rose!”

“What match?” Tsuki laughs that high, haughty laugh yet again. “That was no match. Your mentor Rose should have told you, Nacha, that Americans love an underdog. Who was the underdog tonight? It was her. Not you. She set everything up so no matter what happened in that match, you would look bad.”

“That’s nothing but lies!” Rose says, shaking the fence and trying in vain to get the lock off the gate. “Nacha, you know that’s not true.”

“Ha! Nacha, you can see for yourself. All these wrestling ‘fans’ saw was their hometown undercat struggling against the tumbling, twirling tricks of a silly costumed foreigner. No one was cheering before I saved them from that topsy-turvy travesty. What you call honor is a tired gimmick that no one wants to see. ”

“You’re wrong!” I snipe back at Tsuki. ”Lucha Libre is for everyone! They may not see now, but they will see later!”

“Yeah!” Jimmy says. “Nacha’s the best!”

“If you insist.” Tsuki turns to leave.

Nacha 2023/03/19(Sun)17:31 No. 1059060 ID: 51801a
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“Fight me, Tsuki!” I scream. “Are you a coward?!”

“Why?” Tsuki sighs. “I’ve already accomplished my goal here. You are now no threat to Kazama-san’s plans.”

“You’re wrong there, too!” Rose says. “Even injured, she’s still a threat to whatever your master has planned. Ohio will see Nacha’s fighting spirit and rally behind her against you!”

“My leg is hurt, but my fighting spirit still burns!” I shout. “Fight me, Tsuki, and you will feel it!”

“Did you not hear me?” Tsuki says. “I have nothing to gain from wrestling a masked jester.”

“It will be an Inferno Match!” I spit back at her. “We will settle this in flames!”

“Do you take me for a fool? There is nothing to settle. An Inferno Match is such vapid theater to glamorize the silly dumpster fire that you are, Ignacia. No, if we are to wrestle, it will be an Evening Gown Match. Otherwise, I see no reason to continue to humor you.”

“We haven’t done an Evening Gown Match in our company,” Rose whispers. “Trisha’s dad said he would let us have one if it was an emergency... It’s an option, if there’s no other way.”

Is this an emergency? No. I can stay true to my art without giving in!

“No!” I object to Tsuki. “I won’t fall for your tricks. Accept my challenge! You can not run, Tsuki!”

“Actually, I can, which is more than you can say right now.”

“You can’t just ignore Nacha,” Rose calls out. “What happened to your sense of Japanese honor? Everyone in Ohio will see you and the WAN to be cowards!”

“How droll,” Tsuki says. “Yes, I’m sure Ohio cares so much about of honor, justice and… whatever this fat man’s cause is.”

“Ice cream!” Jimmy says helpfully.

“Honor, justice and ice cream,” Tsuki scoffs. “Nacha, you are a joke to these Americans. No one here will ever take you or Lucha Libre seriously. You are the queen of empty seats and silence. Go home.”

Tsuki turns away.

My anger ignites into white-hot rage. I don’t care what it takes to get my hands on her. I need it more than I need air. And when I do…

I’m going to snap this bitch like a bamboo shoot.

“You want a match with cheers and screaming?!” I shout. “Then fine! I accept!”

“Very well,” Tsuki smiles. “We will settle this one month from now, when Kazama-san arrives to grace us with his presence.”

Tsuki fades into the evening, and I’m left quivering in barely-contained rage. I’ve crossed a line. I accepted the match in the moment, and it felt like the right decision a few seconds ago when Tsuki was saying those horrible things about how my matches will never be liked, and Rose said it was an emergency tool to be used when needed…

Trisha’s dad, Mr. Harding, will support the match. Rose will support me no matter what. I might need to explain things to Trisha, but she’ll support me too, especially if it’s something the fans will like.

But… how can I explain this to Coco? Am I still a Luchadora?

You're a luchadora until the mask comes off. And the mask shall never come off! But the evening gown might.

Your honor is in your mask staying on.
Also-Coco doesn’t need to feel bad about the distraction mid-match- Tsuki didn’t even take that particular opening to nail your leg.

There isn't really a good way to tell your sister you're in a risqué match like an evening gown match, she will never let that down and even more so if you lose. Best plan is to find a way for her not to show up and not know about it.

You had to convince the poor attempt of a yakuza to duel you somehow, we just need to find the means to win with our honour intact.

1/3 Nacha 2023/03/25(Sat)18:27 No. 1059511 ID: ff9cef
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My doubts trouble me, but I keep my eyes on the prize: bringing Tsuki to justice. Some matches may be more dignified than others, but as long as my mask stays on, I’ll keep my honor as a luchadora.

“Jimmy,” I say, leg throbbing, “Could you help me back to my sister, ¿por favor? She is worried for me.”

“No problemo, Señorita.”

“And also… if my little sister finds out I’m going to be in an Evening Gown Match, she will never stop talking about it,” I tell Rose and Jimmy. “SHE MUST NEVER KNOW.”

“I get it,” Jimmy says.

“My lips are sealed,” Rose agrees.

Jimmy carries me back to the front of the high school gym, where Coco is waiting for me. She runs forward, clearly wanting to hug me, but gives my leg lots of room.

“Nacha!”

“We’ve gotta get that leg looked at,” Rose says. “She’ll be fine, Coco. We’re going to take her to a local medical facility.”

“I’m coming too,” Coco insists.

“You are going to miss Uncle Slam and his fireworks,” I say, but I don’t stop her from climbing in the ice cream truck with us.

2/3 Nacha 2023/03/25(Sat)18:28 No. 1059512 ID: ff9cef
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Jimmy drives us to a local clinic that quickly determines I have a minor bone injury from when I hit the ring edge. They set my leg and say I’ll be fine with a cast, and I can continue wrestling on it as long as I don’t do any aerials.

No aerials? But… that was supposed to be my finisher. I can’t use it on Tsuki! What is lucha without high-flying action?

Coco holds out an ice cream cone she swiped from Jimmy’s truck.

“It’s after your match,” she says. “That means you don’t have to worry about messing up your system, right? Jimmy says it has lots of calcium for strong bones.”

I take the ice cream.

“Are you going to be okay?” Coco asks.

“Estoy bien,” I say. “Thank you for looking out for me.”

I’m grateful for Coco’s help, but my real worries are ones that she will never understand. How can I get fans when I’m injured? Will I ever fit in in America? My match tonight was confusing and didn’t have a clear winner. How will I get people excited to see another showdown with me in it?

Rose sees my solemn ice cream snacking and leans down next to me.

“I know this next match isn’t what you wanted,” she says, “But I believe in you. You’ll have the crowd going wild, I promise.”

I want to believe her, but… will they be going wild for the reasons I want them to? Am I really going to be understood and respected for the art of Lucha Libre?

I have to trust Rose. There’s no other choice.

3/3 Nacha 2023/03/25(Sat)18:28 No. 1059513 ID: ff9cef
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Tune in next issue for the GRUDGE EVENING GOWN MATCH: NACHA VS. TSUKI!

Thank you for reading!