Caesar's Moon

Chapter 44: Chapter 43: Friends

While Caesar and AJ stared at Cedric in confusion of his words, Caesar spoke out.

"What do you mean you won’t be around for months? Is something wrong?"

"Well, yeah." Cedric answered, "Remember when I said earlier that I had just finished taking care of some issues? Well, years ago when I opened this gym, I made some mistakes with the land purchases, and it’s now I’m seeing them.

The guys I finished speaking with... They said I’ll have to close the gym for some months till the whole thing is resolved."

"On top of that, my son is getting married and he invited me to come to the wedding." Cedric continued as he rubbed the side of his head while smiling, "Usually my ex doesn’t want me around because of me being an ero-wrestler (though I’m about to retire) but my son believes it’s important for his father to be there.

So, yeah, I won’t be around for months until everything is done."

"Oh." Caesar said.

Caesar brought her head down as her ears flattened.

"Well, it could be a couple of months or a full year. I don’t know." Cedric said as AJ glanced at Caesar, "But I will definitely return and reopen the gym.

You two can still train in another gym or give yourselves more home trainings in the meantime."

"Right now, I wanna go out and get some things and since you two are still suffering from the aftermath of your ero-training, I’ll let you stay in the ring for some time until your body fully recovers." Cedric continued as he tilted his head, "However, I got a few things I want to say to you two about your paths in EBW."

"Zero, take care of yourself." Cedric said to AJ as AJ shifted his sight to him, "You may be odd but you’re talented and you have a good heart; the way you handled the situation with Caesar showed it.

However you have to be more careful in ring. It is predatory and believe me, someone like you gives off a strong predator magnet vibes. Just hope you don’t attract the wrong opponent in your career."

"Uh... Okay." AJ said with an unsure smile.

Cedric then moved his eyes towards Caesar.

"You, Caesar. I’d also ask you to be careful as well. Not really of your future opponents but of yourself." Cedric said as Caesar gazed at him, "You’re not perfect but you are tenacious. You’ve have shown a strong analytic mind and the hunger to push higher.

However, your biggest issue seems to be wrath and the lack of limit on how you behave.

When you are angry or your pride seems to be hurt, you tend to go overboard in situations that never required it."

"I know I have adviced you on becoming a monster to survive since you seem to have a target on your back for how you got in, but you are walking a fine line of making the same mistake I and many have made, and that is not separating the gimmick from the person." Cedric continued as he narrowed his eyes, "I told you this before that many became monsters to increase their marketability, right? However many of them become lost in the person they put in the ero-ring and tend to forget who they were before joining: The desperate... The ones who joined to look after someone or put food on their tables."

"That is one of the many chains and curses that I have fallen into, and ’that’ is where you seem to be headed." Cedric said as AJ glanced at Caesar once more, "Whether you will be among the few that avoids that path, among those that fell but recovered themselves or those that have been completely lost is up to you.

Be a monster but let it be the mask you can take off."

"Got it?" Cedric asked.

Caesar nodded her head in response which led Cedric to smile.

"You know, though I will be gone for a while, I will be keeping tabs on your performance in the ring. Looking at you two, I can’t help but wonder how things will turn out.

Obviously you will meet again in the ring as rivals and possibly partners, but... Never mind."

"Just get your rest." Cedric said as he turned his back to walk away while smiling.

As soon as Cedric had stepped out of the ring, AJ and Caesar turned their gazes at each other.

"Oh, and protect your genitals!!!" Cedric’s voice broke through.

"Wait-what?" AJ and Caesar unanimously in shock and confusion as they turned towards Cedric’s direction.

The loud laughter of Cedric then followed before the door slammed shut.

Hours later, Caesar and AJ were walking on the road beside each other. While walking, there was an awkward silence between them.

After staying quiet for a time, AJ cleared his throat and nervously spoke.

"So... Uh ... How was it?"

"Hm?" Caesar said as she turned her sights to him.

"I-I-I mean the uh... Training...! Uh... Like how did the training go?" AJ asked as he quickly stepped back a little while shaking.

"I mean... Thanks for helping me out with the training!" AJ continued as Caesar stared at him with an arched brow, "I mean you didn’t really have to, but uh... I uh..."

"You know... I’m uh... Grateful! Yeah! Grateful." AJ said as Caesar’s expression changed into a blank face, "Yeah! Very very grateful!"

"Sure. You’re welcome." Caesar replied.

AJ tilted his head down for a few seconds before he rushed towards Caesar.

"So... Uh... Now Cedric is gone, what do you plan on doing?" AJ asked as he was walking as he resumed Caesar’s side.

"Why are you asking?" Caesar asked.

"I... I’m just curious." AJ answered.

"Well, then, it’s none of your business." Caesar replied, "Besides, the only reason you’re walking beside me now is because the road to our destination is the same."

"Well... Yeah... But I was wondering if... We could be friends." AJ said with a nervous grin.

"Friends?" Caesar asked.

"Yeah, friends." AJ responded, "You helped me with my training, even when you didn’t need to."

"First of all, I joined you to help myself.

When I decided to make it up to you by suggesting spots to help sharpen your skills, it was because I felt awful for how I behaved; it was overboard and uncalled for. ’But’ that doesn’t make us friends." Caesar replied, "This was a one time thing. Besides, we will meet again and it will be in the ring with both of us as rivals.

Not to mention, you hate me just like the others in the company for how I got in."

"Huh? What are you talking about? Friends can still be rivals, and no, I don’t hate you at all for how you got in or who you are affiliated with." AJ said as he turned to Caesar with both eyes closed while grinning.

"You don’t say." Caesar sarcastically replied.

"No, I’m serious. I really don’t hate you." AJ said, "Sure with your connections you were able to skip the line and get everything easy, but it’s not enough for me to hate someone."

"Mhmm." Caesar said, "So why are you trying to be my friend? For some clout or perhaps you’re hoping by becoming my friend so you can gain something from the Mizukais?"

"Does one really need clout or a rich family to gain something just to become friends?" AJ asked, "I just want us to be friends, that’s all."

Caesar’s eyes rolled towards AJ before she resumed facing forward.

Silence stayed for a time until Caesar started speaking.

"You said you don’t hate me like the others, but I heard from Cedric that you called me the nickname of other ero-wrestlers call me behind my back and that is ’The usurper’.

Since you claim not to hate me I want to ask, what were your thoughts when you heard how I got in?"

AJ stayed quiet for a moment before he tilted his head down.

"I’m not going to lie, I did think it was unfair." AJ answered while rubbing the back of his neck, "I felt it was a spit on the face of everyone who worked hard to make it past the crazy trainings of tough enough only to learn someone because they were affiliated with the Mizukais, skipped the line and got everything easy.

But as I said earlier, it’s still not enough for me to hate someone."

"Besides, the usurper name is what I heard after my third match in the locker room, and it sounded cool." AJ continued as he glanced at Caesar with a smile, "Not sure why they gave you that nickname but it’s fire."

"Third match, huh." Caesar said.

"Yeah, I’ve wrestled three matches. I’m still kinda new." AJ replied as he closed his eyes while grinning, "Funny, isn’t it? A nineteen year old participating in ero-wrestling?"

"Nineteen?" Caesar asked in shock and confusion as she turned to AJ.

"Yeah, I’m nineteen." AJ said.

"He’s a year younger than me." Caesar said in her mind, "But why would a nineteen year old enter such a company? Is it because of the ero stuffs he sees? I know why I entered, but what’s his reason?"

Caesar stayed silent for some seconds and resumed speaking.

"May I ask what business a nineteen year old has with ero-wrestling?"

"Huh?" AJ said.

"Does your family know about this? Are they supportive or something?" Caesar asked.

"Actually... My parents are in the coma." AJ answered as he brought his head down.

Hearing those words, Caesar slightly stiffened.

"I have a father and a beastfolk stepmother. Both were involved in a horrific accident." AJ continued, "I’m working hard to pay for their medical bills. Very hard.

Plus I got two little beastfolk stepsisters. They are cute by the way.

So now I’m the one providing for them while paying the bills."

"It’s kinda hard, you know." AJ said as he turned towards Caesar, "I’m working multiple jobs but EBW is the one that pays more."

"That’s... Sad." Caesar said.

"Yeah, it is." AJ replied as he slightly rubbed his arm, "It’s kinda exhausting but hey, it’s for the family, right?"

"You’re nineteen..." Caesar said softly, "As much as I understand your reasons for doing this, but ero-wrestling... Are you sure this is what you want to be? An ero-wrestler?

Society isn’t kind to ero-wrestlers, be it male or female.

There are still a lot of options, you know?"

"Still got a lot of time to choose something different." Caesar continued as she turned towards AJ.

AJ turned his face away from Caesar and stayed quiet for a time.

"I am aware of how ero-wrestlers are seen. I am aware of the backlashes that comes with the profession." AJ said, "But it’s not like it matters to me.

My parents have done a lot for me, so if my body and dignity is what I have to give to help in this dire situation of theirs, then that is a small price to pay."

"It’s not like I’m even worth anything to begin with." AJ muttered.

"Not worth anything?" Caesar asked within with narrowed eyes.

The duo stayed silent until Caesar talked.

"So what was that about?"

"Hm?" AJ said as he turned to her direction.

"Back there in the gym when we chose to help Cedric pack some of his stuff, you said something your opponent tomorrow being Magoi and Cedric froze up." Caesar said.

Hours earlier within the gym, Cedric was staring at AJ with widened eyes while carrying a box.

Suddenly, the box subconsciously dropped from Cedric’s arm, leaving it give a loud thud.

"Say what now?" Cedric asked.

"From the times I’ve spent training under him, for him to react like that, that means the person is extremely dangerous." Caesar said after the remembrance, "And I know since EBW is usually intergender, the opponent is obviously a she.

So tell me, who is this ’Magoi’?"

"Well.... I don’t know much. But I have seen some of her clips and how scary she is." AJ answered as he nervously scratched chin while smiling, "I know she is called ’The loan shark’ and is one of the most brutal performers in EBW.

A lot of her matches ends up with her opponents in a bloody mess."

"You said something about fighting her in an unsanctioned match?" Caesar asked.

"Y-yeah. It’s a match where anything goes." AJ answered, "No count-outs, no disqualifications, and whatever happens, the authorities wash their hands."

"Hold up, aren’t you supposed to be new? Why are they putting you in this kind of match with that ’kind’ of opponent?" Caesar asked, "Isn’t that too early?"

"I... I don’t know. I think it is an EBW thing." AJ responded with an arched brow and a nervous grin, "Kind of like... Uh... When they booked you against Nero... Rogue... And Damien... Bane?"

"And knowing what kind of opponent you’re going up against, you chose to do ero-training rather than combat?" Caesar asked.

"Well... I needed to make sure everything is prepared before I entered the match..." AJ answered.

Seeing Caesar’s blank stare, AJ chuckled with fear before she turned her face away.

"Well, can’t say I’m in any position to judge." Caesar said.

As silence stayed once again for a time, AJ opened to talk.

"So... Uh... How did you get affiliated with the Mizukais?"

"That’s none of your business." Caesar answered.

"Uh... But I told you my past, right?" AJ asked with a small grin.

"Did I ask for it, though?" Caesar asked.

"In a way... I guess." AJ replied, "But are we now friends?"

"Sure, sure, whatever." Caesar answered.

"Really?" AJ asked.

"A word of advice: Have some confidence." Caesar said, "It may not be in my place to say this, but if you keep up this behavior, you’re gonna end up a dead man in the ring.

Kinda what Cedric said to you in the gym."

"Uh... Sure! Sure, I will!" AJ said with a smile.

AJ then turned his face away and his smile grew brighter.

"Wow. I have a friend."

Caesar hearing this, rolled her eyes away.

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