His blood was boiling. Taki’s blessings were upon him, and he answered with a nod and a thumb pointed up as he approached the ring. His opponent was approaching on the other side, so he, Mitsu and Taki all exited the tunnel with the most confidence that they could muster up in that moment. "Thanks, coh. I’ll bring da win home, trust meh,” he answered in full, though still with a smirk creeping up on his face. He’d be a fool to let a little sweat stop him now… especially when his entire team was present.
Mitsu-chan… and Uta! She was the damn ring announcer, he almost forgot about that! He really ought to catch up at home, because it was starting to get creepy just how much he was missing out on. Yet, Uta being close with the Okada was always a thing – he’d seen her around here way too much, otherwise.
And then, silence… and then, the music! His cue to enter!
At first, he’d put on his hood to cover his head and face, but upon reaching out halfway across the way to the ring, he took off the hood and revealed to the audience his face painted with fire and thunder. Yup, TNT-
Wait, TNT? When the hell was Mitsu-chan known as TNT? Was that because of her clan’s name, or- wait, wait, had she fought here before?! Damn, girl, you should’ve invited him to go see that! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand that was enough of goofy, unaware Sakuraba for today – he had a match to attend to. I’ll always do my best, he thought to himself, his face flaring up a bit at the trust Mitsu-chan relayed to him and him alone. He couldn’t afford to lose face today… and he wouldn’t.
He stepped into the ring, one heavy step at a time, and eyed his opponent on the other side, loud and mighty given by the music deafening the entire hall… and yet, something was off about the guy’s gaze at him. Did he have some sort of issue with him already? Sakuraba would be more than happy to give him more issues. Can’t just get cold feet now that you’d stepped into the ring, boy…
"Dun get cold feet, Kishi… ya ain’t in front o’a Jobber no mo’,” Sakuraba clarified for his opponent before the match would start, "Keep dat in mind, or ya’ll be in fo’ a ride.” This wasn’t the OWA, it was the SSWA – Sakuraba’s tendency to rely on Raiton would come in sublime handy today. Rubbing a thumb across his nose, a large spark jumped out and tapped the ring floor, then continued jumping to the side until it crashed into a wall and left a small, black ash mark as a witness of his strong attunement to Lightning Release.
The large cell deep within his body, a wound left by the previous resident of his body, had been filled up with chakra throughout the last few years. His fingers bent, stretched, and cracked. He was ready.
|