~With Michael~

I can't really call this a date, only because it's just Azumi and I talking and just wanting to get to know each other, even though it wasn't exactly planned.

However, I did managed to find a place that's not a diner, but it more than made up for it with some food that I could smell all the way from my bike.

And when we finally arrived, I knew this was the place to go.

Smokehouse is probably one of the best joints for American style BBQ in Tokyo, and there were stories of the owner taking inspiration from American BBQ and adding his own twist to the recipes.

From what I know, there are ribs, chicken quarters, brisket, hell, even the good ol' pulled pork, and they're smoked as well, which makes it even better!

Luckily, today's my cheat meal, so I'm allowed to go all out, but I still have to include Azumi.

After I parked the bike, we got off and the both of us went inside to find a table. Luckily, it was a table for two people, so it worked out for both of us.

~With Azumi~

As we sat down, I looked to get the conversation started.

I want to act dumb and even though I already know some stuff about him, I want to see how he reacts to my reactions, and there may be some things about Michael that I probably don't know, so we'll see.

Me: それで、最初はあなたのことをほとんど知らなかったけど、もう一度やり直しましょうか？ (So, I barely got to know you the first time, but let's start fresh, right?)

Michael: はい、できますよ。 (Yeah, we can do that.)

Me: よろしければ、私が先に行かせてください。 (Let me go first, if that's okay?)

Michael: もちろんです。どうぞ。 (Of course. Go ahead.)

Me: そうですね、私はワールドワンダーリングスターダム所属のレスラー、クイーンズクエスト所属のあずみです。 (Well, my name is Azumi and a wrestler for World Wonder Ring Stardom, and a member of Queen's Quest.)

Michael: 名字はありませんか？ (No last name?)

Me: 私には苗字があるのですが、それを教えるのは気が進みません。 (I do have a last name, but I just don't feel comfortable sharing it.)

(A/N: The last name bit mainly has to do with AZM's last name not being public knowledge. I only vowed to keep the name as is, just out of respect and not push it that far, so I'm keeping it as Azumi because if I used another last name it could be her last in real life.)

Michael: それは理解できます。責めることはできません。 (That's understandable. I can't blame you for it.)

Me: あなたはどうですか？ (What about you?)

Michael: 私はマイケル・ジェームス・シッチ、二代目プロレスラーです。 (I'm Michael James Sytch, second generation professional wrestler.)

I knew he was hiding his identity and he stopped himself from there. I also knew I had him, so why not push him slightly, but not too hard?

I mean, I don't wanna be a bitch and start pressuring him into answering with a forced jab, so I smiled in a friendly manner and asked this instead...

Me: えっと、それだけですか？つまり、第二世代のプロレスラー、文字通りそれだけですか？ (Well, is that it? Like, second generation pro wrestler, and that's literally all that you are?)

Michael: 家族のことは話したくないんです。恥ずかしいことなんです。 (I'd just rather not talk about my family. It's just something I'm ashamed of.)

Me: マイケルちゃん、私に話してもいいよ。私を信頼してもいいよ。 (You can talk to me, Michael-chan. You can trust me.)

He seemed conflicted about it, but he had his hand on the table, so I grabbed it and rubbed my thumb on it, letting him know that he can trust me.

Michael: わかりました。私はクリス・キャンディドというレスラーとタミー・シッチという元マネージャーの二代目です。 (Okay. I'm second generation to a wrestler named Chris Candido and a former manager named Tammy Sytch.)

Me: ああ、すごい。 (Oh wow.)

My reactions are basically sarcastic because I already know that about him, but I didn't want to reveal that.

I just wanted to make him feel comfortable and be happy while I'm here.

Michael: 私の父は信頼できる人でした。WWE を含む多くの団体で、とても頼りになる働き者だったので、多くのレスラーが父を尊敬していました。そして、私の母と父と母はとても愛し合っていましたが、1998 年に私を産むまで、彼らはドラッグなどに手を染めていました。 (My dad was someone you could trust. Many of the wrestlers respected him because he was that reliable and a very hard worker, in many companies including WWE. And my mom, my dad and her were very much in love, all until they got into drugs and whatnot until they had me in 1998.)

Me: それについては知りませんでした。ただの質問です。 (I never knew about that. Just a question.)

Michael: もちろん。 (Of course.)

Me: 将来的にWWEと契約するつもりですか、それとも興味がないのですか? (Would you sign with WWE in the future, or is it something you're not interested in?)

Michael: いいえ、将来WWEと契約するつもりだとは言えません。それは無理なんです。 (No, I can't say I'm going to sign with WWE in the future. I just can't do it.)

Me: なぜですか？あなたのお父さんはそこで競​​技していました。 (Why not? Your father competed there.)

Michael: そうだね、でも何よりも、おそらく自分の母親以上に私が嫌っている人がいて、それはポール・ヘイマンだ。 (Yeah, but there's someone I despise more than anything, probably more than my own mom and that's Paul Heyman.)

Me: 彼は誰ですか？ (Who is he?)

Michael: ポール・ヘイマンはエクストリーム・チャンピオンシップ・レスリングという会社のマッドサイエンティストで、現在はWWEチャンピオンのロマン・レインズの支持者、つまりマネージャーです。とにかく、彼はECWのドキュメンタリーで視聴率を上げるために私の父の麻薬とアルコール中毒を利用したことがありました。 (Paul Heyman was the mad scientist for a company named Extreme Championship Wrestling and is now an advocate, or manager, for Roman Reigns, the WWE Champion right now. Anyway, he exploited my dad's drug and alcohol addiction in a documentary for ECW, for ratings, at one point.)

Me: 何？！ (What?!)

Michael: 冗談だったらよかったのに。当時私はまだ幼すぎたが、今思い返してみると、ヘイマンが父にあんなことをしたから殺したい。今でも、このことを話すと腹が立つ。確かに父は麻薬とアルコール中毒で、数年後には治ったが、ポールは父にあんなことをする必要はなかった。 (I wish I was kidding. I was too young at the time it took place, but looking back on it, I want to kill Heyman for doing that to my dad. To this day, I get pissed off when talking about it. Sure, he was on drugs and addicted to alcohol and he got clean after a few years, but Paul didn't have to do that to him.)

Me: あなたを責めません。少なくともあなたは自分が何をしたいのか分かっています。 (I don't blame you. At least you know what you want to do.)

Michael: そうですね。つまり、私は道端で二匹の犬が交尾しているのを見るでしょうが、父親が強制的に薬物中毒に陥るドキュメンタリーをテレビで観たいとは思わないでしょう。 (Right. I mean, I'd watch two dogs fucking on the side of the road, but I wouldn't want my dad's forced drug addiction documentary on my television.)

She giggled from that joke and I chuckled a little bit, knowing that I probably made her uncomfortable.

Michael: すみません、そんなことを言ってしまいました。ただ、振り返るのが嫌なんです。 (Sorry I said that. I just hate looking back on it.)

Me: 大丈夫です。あなたの気持ちはわかりますが、あなたのお母さんはそのドキュメンタリーに出演していましたか？ (It's okay. I understand where you're coming from, but was your mother a part of that documentary?)

Michael: 彼女はそうだった。しかし、それが彼女の評判とキャリアが台無しになった多くの理由の 1 つだ。彼女は非常に多くの犯罪を犯し、大量の薬物を使用し、非常に多くの酒を飲んだため、私は今日に至るまで彼女のおかげで酒を 1 杯も瓶も飲んだことがない。そして彼女は無罪を主張することで罪を免れた。つまり、この 2 人を比べると、ハルク・ホーガンの息子が天使のように見えるのだ。 (She was, but that's one of the many reasons her reputation and career is destroyed, because she committed so many crimes, did a lot of drugs, drank so much booze that I will never touch a glass or bottle of it to this very day thanks to her, and she got away with it by pleading not guilty. I mean, it made Hulk Hogan's son look like an angel when you compare the two.)

Me: くそ。 (Damn.)

Our food came and just as Michael was about to take a bite of the mac n cheese...

Me: あなたのお母さんはどうですか？彼女との関係はどうですか？ (What about your mom? What about your relationship with her?)

Then, Michael dropped the fork, covered his mouth and teared up, and I knew I crossed a line and I had to apologize for that.

I backed off that question immediately because I knew a struck something in him and it wasn't my intention. I had to apologize.

Me: 申し訳ありません。そんなことを言うつもりはなかったんです。 (I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to bring that up.)

Michael: いいえ、それはあなたのせいではありません。私はただ彼女のことを話すのが好きではないだけです。 (No, it's not your fault. I just don't like talking about her.)

Me: 二度とその質問には煩わされませんが、それでも申し訳ありません。 (I won't bother with the question again, and still, I'm sorry.)

Michael: ありがとう。 (Thank you.)

We decided to talk about other things wrestling related but not his mom.

I already knew some stuff about her thanks to Rina, but I knew it's too soon to talk about it and hear it from him, so I kept my mouth shut about that until Michael feels ready.

Other than the little scare, we managed to have a good time. The food was really good, and I might go here again with some friends, but with Michael, I think that deep down, inside his heart, he's a really nice boy.

He just seems to have trouble with his relationship to people. If Rina said is true about him having trouble finding friends, then I have my work cut out for me.

To keep it going, I decided to ask why he likes motorcycles.

Me: あなたのバイク、なぜそれを所有したいと思ったのですか? (Your motorcycle, what made you want to own one?)

Michael: 大人になるにつれて、ずっとバイクがカッコいいと思うようになり、ずっとバイクが欲しかったんです。だから、デートや副業で稼いだお金を貯めて、日本で免許を取り、スポーツスターを買ったんです。 (I always thought they were cooler as I grew older, knowing that I've been wanting one for a while. So, after I saved up with the amount of money I got after wrestling so many dates and some side jobs, I managed to get my license here in Japan and buy the Sportster out there.)

Me: ああ、すごい。 (Oh wow.)

Michael: 私はバイカーギャングなどには決して参加しませんでした。ただ悪い仲間に入りたくなかったからです。 (I never bothered to join any biker gangs or whatever, only because I just didn't wanna join the wrong crowd of people.)

~With Michael~

Azumi's a very sweet girl and I really think I like her company. I might get to know her a bit more later, but we'll have to see.

After the dinner, we paid for our meals and I rode Azumi back to her apartment.

On the way back, I felt comfortable around her. I mean, I thought I felt her purring like a cat as she had her arms around my waist.

She gave me the address as well so I can remember where to ride her back, so it works out well for both of us.

As I finally arrived to her place, I helped her get off as I had to walk her up.

Azumi: 家まで送っていただいてありがとうございました。 (I appreciate you for the ride home.)

Me: 問題ありません。車を運転しますか？ (No problem. You drive a car or no?)

Azumi: 普段はタクシーを利用します。運転するのは怖いんです。 (I usually take a cab. I'm scared of driving.)

Me: 責めませんよ。運転は誰にでもできるものではありません。 (I don't blame you. Driving's not for everyone.)

Azumi: ところで、休暇はどうですか？Xで発表したのを見ました。 (And what about your break? I saw you announce it on X.)

Me: ああ、私はただ、すべてのくだらないことからの休息が必要だった。私の母は、昨年、老人を飲酒運転で死なせてしまった件について、先日無罪を主張した。私は本当に混乱してしまい、日本に帰りたくなるまでは、しばらくアメリカにいる祖父を訪ねようと思った。 (Ah, I just needed a break from all the bullshit. My mom pled not guilty the other day for a fatal DUI on an old man from last year. It messed me up real bad, and I thought I might visit my grandpa in the states for a while until I felt like coming back to Japan.)

Azumi: わかります。休息が必要だったのです。ところで、あなたのおじいさんは誰ですか？ (Understandable. You needed the rest. And who's your grandpa?)

Me: 他でもないジム・コーネットです。両親がショーに出演したり競技に参加したりしなくてはならないときは、私を彼の家に泊めてくれて、ケンタッキー州ルイビルでショーがあるときは、そこで一泊しました。 (None other than Jim Cornette. When my parents had to appear or compete at a show, they'd send me to his house where I'd stay at and I'd spend the night if a have a show in Louisville, in Kentucky.)

Azumi: 彼は里穂を女子高生と呼んだことがありませんか？ (Didn't he call Riho a schoolgirl at one point?)

Me: 彼はそう言ったが、繰り返しになるが、それは彼が日本のプロレスについてどう感じているかということだ。彼はプロレスの昔を懐かしむ気難しい老人なので、個人的に受け止めないでほしいとみんなに勧めている。 (He did, but again, it's just how he feels about Japanese pro wrestling. I try to urge everyone to not take it personally since he's a cranky old man reminiscing on the old days of wrestling.)

Azumi: あなたがやっているレスリングのことを彼に話したとき、彼はどう受け止めましたか？ (How did he take it when you told him about the wrestling you're doing?)

Me: 父はそれを嫌がっていたことは認めますが、父をとても尊敬していたことと、私が自分のやり方で父の遺産を引き継ぎたいと思っていたことから、私を例外として認めてくれたのです。 (He didn't like it, I'll admit that, but he made me an exception because of how much respect he had for my father and how I wanted to carry on the legacy in my own way.)

Azumi: 少なくとも彼は自分が何を好むかを知っている。 (At least he knows what he likes.)

Me: うん。 (Yeah.)

After a bit, we made it to Azumi's apartment and I had to say goodnight to her.

Me: さて、ここに来ました。 (Well, here we are.)

Azumi: アパートまで送ってくれてありがとう。 (Thank you for walking me up to my apartment.)

Me: 問題ありません。良い夜をお過ごしください。 (No problem. You have a good night, you hear?)

Azumi: あなたも。 (You too.)

Before I could walk down the steps, I felt Azumi hug me from behind, kiss my cheek, and run back into her apartment before I could say a word.

I was surprised by that, and I guess she's called "High-Speed" for a reason.

As soon as I walked back down, I got onto my bike and rode off to my apartment, but on the way over, I felt where Azumi kissed me.

I was a bit shocked by how soft her lips were. I mean, she probably likes me, but I don't know about her.

Maybe I feel the same, but only time will tell.