Aina

"Ah..." Aina flinches, a sharp migraine pulsing through her skull. Not now... she thinks, her senses momentarily unraveling.

Aina sits alone in the quiet venue, her mind consumed by tonight's hardcore deathmatch. Her colorful hair is tied back in a messy ponytail as she fidgets with the hem of her loose hoodie. "The fans want to see that pretty smile turn to tears," she murmurs, repeating the booker's cruel promise from before.

Just get through tonight, she tells herself as she stands up, ready to head to the locker room. One match at a time.

The door clicks shut behind Aina as she steps into her apartment. She drops her duffel bag with a heavy thud, kicking off her boots in the doorway. She pulls off her hoodie and tracks, then her wrestling gear, revealing a sports bra and shorts clinging to her lean, battered frame. Dark purple bruises and angry red welts crisscross her skin - her ribs, wrists, cheekbone, all bearing the marks of her brutal matches.

Aina spots the Bloody-chan keychain amidst the mess and grabs it, her fingers tightening around the cold metal. They'd make me quit, she thinks bitterly, try to protect me. But wrestling is all I have left, she takes a deep, shuddering breath, it's the only thing keeping me going.

The memory of tonight's locker room assault floods back - rough hands groping, lecherous laughter, the sting of fingers inside her without consent. Aina's head throbs and she stumbles to the fridge, grabbing two bottles of beer. She flops onto the couch with a pained grunt, cracking one open and chugging it down.

"One match at a time," Aina mutters to herself, "step by step." She takes another swig, the alcohol burning down her throat. "I just gotta keep moving."

I'm never going to be good enough, Aina thinks bitterly as she drags her aching body into the locker room. That match was a disaster. I'm so sorry, mom. I couldn't even do that right.

She starts to undress slowly, wincing as her bruised skin protests. Her colorful wrestling gear comes off in pieces, revealing a lean, scarred frame. Aina's hands shake as she peels off her sports bra, exposing her small breasts.

"Babe!" she texts, trying to keep her fingers steady. "Just finished tonight's match. I'm okay! Just a little sore. Love you! See you soon <3"

But the truth is, Aina is in agony. Her ribs are bruised, her wrists sprained. She touches her cheek gingerly, wincing at the pain. I can't give up, she tells herself firmly. This is my dream. I have to keep going, no matter how much it hurts.

Aina takes a deep breath and starts towards the showers, her naked body moving stiffly. She has to be strong. For her mother's memory. For the fans who believe in her. And for her partner, who loves and supports her unconditionally.

I'll get through this, she vows silently, one match at a time.

Aina jogs along the misty riverbank, her ragged breath fogging in the chill morning air and her injured knee throbbing with each step. "C'mon Aina," she grumbled, "you can do this."

As Aina catches her breath, a trio of adorable young girls run by in matching tracksuits, their giggles and chirpy conversations about idol activities and their Producer-san floating on the breeze. "Ohayo gozaimasu, Chiyoru-senpai!" they sing in unison, waving and smiling sweetly before scampering off in perfect sync.

"Oh, o-hayoo gozaimasu!" Aina replies, waving back and forcing a smile as the girls run ahead. Even those little idol trainees have more stamina than me sometimes, and all they do is sing and dance, she thinks enviously, No, no, that's unfair. Those girls work hard too.

Aina chugs some water and pushes herself to pick up the pace once more, wincing as her knee protests. But she ignores the pain, just like she's learned to ignore so many other aches. One step at a time. That's all I can do.

The rain patters on the pavement as Aina walks home from another show, her slight limp a reminder of the countless injuries she's endured over the years. Now 31 years old, she's proven herself as more than just a survivor in the cutthroat world of Joshi puroresu. She's become a star, the ace of her promotion.

Aina pauses beneath an LED streetlight, water dripping from her messy ponytail. She glances up at the towering holographic billboard across the street. There she is; the eternally optimistic, battle-scarred heroine who is a symbol of hope and determination for girls across Japan. Her late mother's star-shaped earring, now synonymous with her character archetype, has been referenced and homaged in countless media.

The billboard cycles through a montage of her most iconic moves and moments, her heart-pounding comebacks and triumphant victories. But even as she basks in the glow of her success, Aina can't shake the feeling that something is missing.

"I did it, Mom," Aina whispers, a wistful smile tugging at her battle-scarred lips. "I made it to the top, just like you always believed I would."

But there's no answer, only the distant hum of the city and the steady patter of raindrops.

Just a little longer, she tells herself, I'll make it to thirty-two, and then! And then...

"Thirty-three. One step at a time."

Aina slumps in her apartment, frustration simmering as she nurses a nagging injury. She’d insisted she could still wrestle, but certain people demanded she rest. At least the paychecks keep coming. A sudden clatter at the door interrupts her thoughts—mail? She wasn’t expecting anything, yet there’s a package… a video game?

The cover screams “Joshi Angel Trainer: Aina’s Big Break!” beside a saccharine anime rendition of Aina, all sparkling eyes and flawless charm.

Her cheeks flush with embarrassment, fingers trembling as she grips the case. This polished, perfect anime girl isn’t her—too idealized, too distant. A wave of self-doubt crashes over her. Is this how they see me? A marketable caricature, easily exploited and forgotten?

“Nobody told me about this,” she mumbles, “They just… sold my likeness. No warning, no consent.”

The back cover blurb reads: “Train your favorite Joshi Angels to become the ultimate wrestling idols! In Joshi Angel Trainer: Aina’s Big Break, you’ll guide Aina through her journey from small-time wrestler to superstar. Make choices that shape her career, her relationships, and her destiny!”

Features:

• Branching storylines with multiple endings
• Hundreds of unique dialogue options
• Deep character customization and progression
• Authentic wrestling gameplay mechanics
• Romantic subplots with diverse love interests
• A heartfelt coming-of-age tale of chasing dreams

“Help Aina triumph over adversity to become the Joshi Angel legend she’s destined to be! The future of wrestling rests in your hands!”

Each word stings, twisting the knife of her insecurities. It feels like a cruel mockery of her real struggles, as if her life’s been reduced to a gimmick. She can almost hear her colleagues’ taunts: “Hey, at least someone’s cashing in on you, unlike our promotion!”

“Real classy,” she mutters, voice hollow. “They sure know how to make a girl feel like a rising star.”

Her grip tightens, knuckles whitening around the case. Part of her wants to hurl it across the room, to scream at the injustice. But she doesn’t. Instead, she exhales shakily, steadying herself. With a reluctant resolve, she slides the disc into her media player which happens to also be a console. The machine hums to life, and the title screen blares cheerful music that grates on her nerves.

Aina pulls the manual from the case, “Wow. It’s in color,” she mutters. Flipping through, she finds vibrant cutesy slice-of-life illustrations of her anime alter-ego alongside the Joshi Angel Trainer cast:

• Browsing CDs at a record store with the idol-themed wrestler
• Lounging on the beach in a skimpy bikini beside the blonde American wrestler
• Helping the judo prodigy wrestler patch up the roof of her father’s dojo

Aina-chan’s chibi sprite flashes onto the screen, raising a tiny fist with a determined grin. “Let’s chase my dreams together!” she chirps, her voice dripping with cheesy enthusiasm that makes Aina wince.

The menus burst with color, filled with cute animations of chibi Aina-chan acting out each option; sparring, resting, or socializing. The tutorial’s bubbly voice chimes in: “Okay! So! Time to schedule Aina-chan’s day! Pick her activities—train hard, spar, play video games, eat ice cream, or hang out with friends to boost her mood after a big match!”

Aina quirks an eyebrow, scanning the options. “No guys in this, huh?”