Enzo : Anji Arena - Stage
The crowd roars as Enzo lays the first blow. The spotlights illuminates Enzo and his opponent as opponent staggers backwards. He wipes the blood from his mouth with his bare hand. He races toward Enzo and leaps into the air to perform a roundhouse kick. Enzo blocks the attack with his forearm. He then follows through with his fist making an impact upon his opponent’s jaw. His opponent falls back onto the mat. Enzo stands over his opponent as the sweat trickles down his honey brown skin. A bell rings signaling the match over. Enzo lends his hand to his opponent. He knocks Enzo’s hand out of his way with the back of his hand and raises himself up.
“Enzo wins.” An automated woman’s voice announces through the speakers. The crowd cheers and Enzo leaves the stage.
Scorch & Anji : Anji Arena - Locker Room
A young woman slams her locker furiously. She then unties her long, red-orange hair which sweeps the arch of her back.
“Now, Scorch.” A woman says in a consoling tone as she leans upon the adjacent locker. “You know that you need more training.”
“More training?” Scorch questions sarcastically.
“Yeah, more training.”
“Anji, I’ve been losing so many fights in the last few weeks and what you’re telling me is that I have to train more?” Scorch allows her words to marinade into Anji before she continues, “I’m Brutalian, winning is in my blood.”
Anji stands facing Scorch lost for words.
“If it’s any consolation, I’m sure your new mascot is putting his earnings to good use.”
Enzo : Haji District - Welcome to Haji District
Enzo looks away from the setting sun. His life has become routine, day-to-day; waking before dawn and Mani in their apartment tenement in Akin, walking from the Akin in Haji District through Zutari Desert to Anji Arena by dawn, training alongside other fighters with Anji as their instructor, fight on and off through noon, and home by sunset.
“Enzo!” A small, young girl cries out off in the distance.
Enzo squints and recognizes the young girl.
“Pari, hey.” Enzo says as he waves.
“Hey, hey. Didja beat ‘em up?” She taunts shadow boxing.
“Not intentionally. Well, it’s getting late for me. I gotta head home and get some rest.” Enzo suggests.
“Well. Enzo, I was wonderin’—”
“Of course,” He interrupts as he places a bit of his earnings into her now cupped hands. “You know, us of the Akin must look out for each other.”
“Thanks, Enzo.” She looks to her feet as she places the Lukra into her pocket.
“How’s your mother?”
She looks up to him and says, “She’s getting better, but—”
“But...?”
“They're gonna fire her if she doesn’t come back by tomorrow.” She looks away.
“There’s no one to cover her shift?”
She looks back to him and says. “No, and mom doesn’t want me to do it because she says I gotta stay in school.”
“That’s right—”
“But if I could,” She interrupts. “I would.”
“Everything will be alright, Pari. Don’t worry yourself.” He reassures. “Everything will get better with time.” He then thought, But how?
Pari nods and thanks him again before returning home.