The only presence is HWA Head Coach, Red Dragon. He’s attired in his usual training attire as he shuttle sprints up down and the running track. Every time he stops, he drops down and does ten push-ups before leaping back to his feet and sprinting as fast as he can for 10 seconds. After a few minutes, he ceases his workout, leaning forward, his fingers splayed and the palms of his hands resting on the tops of his thighs. He reaches down and grabs a bottle of water by his feet, standing back up to a vertical base. He unscrews the cap and takes a long drink, draining half the bottle’s contents in one glug. A satisfied noise escapes his lips before he removes the excess sweat from his forehead and face with the back of his hand.
As he catches his breath, he notices the camera crew making their way onto the track. Red Dragon notices them in his peripheral vision. He rolls his eyes.
(Red Dragon): Look, I know you like to get the all the gossip, but I’m not an active roster member and I’m not interested in getting involved in childish verbal exchanges.
(Camera Crew Member): We just thought you might want to let Maniac know your thoughts on what he said, have you heard what he said?
Red Dragon rolls his eyes as he finishes off the bottle of water.
(Red Dragon): Hai, I heard what he had to say and as much as you’ll be disappointed, I’m not interested in helping you get clicks and likes. I have a busy schedule with students to train and I have my first wrestling match in fifteen years in a month’s time. Do you think I would waste my breath on giving that meiwaku na hito anymore attention than he deserves? Besides, Hans-San has already given him enough of a verbal beatdown already if you have not seen it.
Red Dragon goes back to his workout, adopting a stretching pose, focusing on his calves. The camera crew member still tries to shoot his shot though.
(Camera Crew Member): He said some pretty antagonising things about you though, do you really not have anything to say? Do you not care Maniac might think you’re a coward?
Red Dragon rolls his eyes again before pressing his tongue against the inside of his cheek and reassuming a vertical base. He turns and looks at the crew member.
(Red Dragon): Really? You’re really pushing for this, aren’t you?
Red Dragon shakes his head, almost annoyed. His stone cold impression even makes the camera crew member avert his gaze.
(Red Dragon): Fine. Maniac, for someone who spends most of his airtime claiming other people attempt to play fruitless mind games with you, you are quite guilty of it yourself, no? Twisting Hans-San’s words about him not wanting a match with you to Butch-San feeding him to you and giving him something he doesn’t want? Me doing everything in my power not to face you? You know, I am not going to even signify that with a response. You are nothing but a bully, Maniac. Bullies are leeches. They feed off negativity, sucking it up like their lives depend on it. You crave responses like this because it makes you feel relevant, like you have accomplished something.
The truth is Maniac, I don’t need to face you. Allow me, if you will, to give the Maestro a lesson of his own. In my culture, the concept of honor, what we call “budo no seishin” or “the spirit of martial arts,” holds great importance to us. As martial artists, we represent the last remnants of samurai warrior class and the code of bushido. This emphasizes honor, loyalty, and integrity. These principles have been passed down through generations and continue to shape the ethos of what we do and why we do what we do.
We place a strong emphasis on respect, both towards our teachers, fellow practitioners and our opponents and we demonstrate an honorable attitude.
Our training cultivates discipline, self-control, and self-improvement. We strive to maintain composure and avoid using our skills inappropriately. Honor extends to treating opponents with dignity and controlling one’s actions, even in high-pressure situations.
We emphasize the pursuit of personal growth and character development. We believe in striving to strengthen one’s moral fiber, promoting virtues such as humility, perseverance, and integrity. We aim to embody these qualities both inside and outside the ring and our homes.
Whilst we are skilled in physical combat, the focus is not solely on winning. Honorable competition emphasizes respect for opponents, and demonstrating sportsmanship. Showing grace in victory and dignity in defeat are considered honorable attributes. Upholding these traditions and traits is of the utmost importance. So fighting for the right reasons is something we take seriously, as well as who we fight.
Maniac, you have been baiting me, dishonoring my name, my legacy, my teachings, my students, my friends for the past seven months and for what? Because my students, bar one, did not want anything to do with your mindless machinations? Because Matt-Kun stood up to you? You will not bait me into a fight, Maniac. My retirement matches are opponents who mean a great deal to me.
Nakamura-San and I looked out for each as Young Lions when we were teenagers. He paid for food for me when I had no money to my name.
Hans-San wishes to cleanse his soul of mistakes past made. He ist mein bester Freund. Irrespective of what happened all those years ago, he has worked tirelessly to atone for what happened. He is a man of honor.
Butch-San is my oldest friend, he is my ani…my brother. He is the reason I am in the position I am in, he is the reason I was able to find work when I did my Young Lion Excursion in America. He is the reason I will not have to depend on GoFundMe pages to pay for my medical bills or to help put food on my table. I owe Butch Parker a debt of gratitude I cannot ever dream of being able to repay. He is a man of honor.
Sean-Kun…Matt-Kun…Jeremy-Kun… they are my best students. You call them pups like are they young, defenceless animals only interested in chasing their tails. They are not pups, Maniac. They are courageous young men, with more backbone than you could dream of. They are dragons. They are willing to put their friendship, their brotherhood aside to face each other in combat for the chance to fight me because of how much they respect and revere the teachings I have instilled in them. Each of one them represents the best of Butch, Hans and myself. I am proud to be their Sensei and I would be privileged to face of any them …because they are men of honor.
A rogue tear drips down one of Red Dragon’s cheeks.
(Red Dragon): You, Maniac, are nothing. You have no honor, no courage, no moral fiber, no integrity. So why would I waste my time on someone like you? You call me Captain Cosplay because I used to wear a mask to the ring that embodies my nature, my spirit. A dragon, the purest creature in my culture, a moniker that was bestowed upon me by the Great Muta. You? You are a man in his forties who wears face paint like a child at the County Fair, begging his father to let him have some cotton candy. Captain Cosplay? Look in the mirror. You are a pathetic excuse of a man, Maniac and I pity you. I am actually annoyed at myself for indulging your equally pathetic cravings of verbal sparring. But the simple fact is, you do not deserve to stand in the same ring as me. You have nothing to give me, nothing to entice me with, no carrot to dangle other than the joy of kicking you in the face and I’ve had that joy already. No, Maniac, I will get all the gratification I need when Hans-San humbles you and when Matt-Kun closes that coffin lid shut on you and sets fire to it at Art of War.
Red Dragon stops. The camera crew are staring at him, wide-eyed, mouths ajar. Red Dragon hasn’t noticed that the first batch of students have came out for their track warm-up, transfixed by his words. He didn’t know how long they’d listening and watching him. His eyes glance at the throng of young faces, captivate by his words. He looks back the camera crew.
(Red Dragon): Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a class to teach.
The camera crew about turn, scuttling off back inside the training facility as Red Dragon motions to his class to fall in line as the scene fades to black.
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