He wasn’t supposed to feel like this. Masafumi Satake had just competed in one of the most thrilling matches of his career, defeating Puck at the Deadly Habits PPV. After the three count, he was riding such a high. He felt unstoppable with the fans chanting his name, and then in an instant everything had changed.

Masa’ replayed the events over and over again in his mind as he paced through the empty locker room.

… the video footage of the car wreck

… the venue going pitch black

… the blinding light

… the charred leather jacket

… the bloodied yellow bandanna

It all felt so perplexing. So confusing. Someone or something from his past was haunting him, but it all just didn’t make sense. He looked deeply into the mirror, searching for answers.

Deep down, Satake knew there was only one person who could have done this. But, that scenario would be impossible. They were dead.

Was it possible instead that Jakucho Akechi was behind this, playing some kind of twisted game with him? Since her tenure with Project: Violence, she had made it her mission to pester and annoy the veteran. But this would be an incredibly disturbing joke to play, much more serious than their typical sparring. So many unknowns.

He needed to speak with her. He needed answers immediately, not a week from now at the next Uprising.

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. There seemed to be no solution in sight.