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──Well, what should I do tomorrow?
Pentagon looked down blankly at one photo. In it, he and another man are shoulder to shoulder laughing. His name is Black Hole. He is Pentagon's cousin and tag team partner as the 4D killers.
They have been best friends since childhood and interacted with each other both professional and personal, regardless of their different attributes as justice and devil chojins. Some say that the more chojins who don't like each other, the better they can work together as a tag, but that didn't apply to them.
That's why Pentagon didn't take it a bit seriously when Black Hole said "I want to break up." a few months ago at his private gym.
"Oh, Black, that’s a really "black" comedy! "
Pentagon was sure that Black Hole would laugh along with him. But he just turned his face away, looking awkward. Something was wrong with him.
"...Black? You're kidding me, aren't you? "
Pentagon was still laughing, but he felt his fingertips getting cold all at once. Even though they had just finished sparring, he felt as if his body was already beginning to stiffen. Black Hole just stood there at ringside and didn't answer.
"Right? "
Pentagon walked up to the front of Black Hole and urged him to respond. There was only one answer he expected, and whatever the Black Hole's true intentions were, he wanted him to say that answer just then. Because then he would have been able to forgive him without any after-troubles.
"…I’m not kidding. I…I want to disband our tag."
Just as you can't scream when you're really scared, Pentagon was too shocked to react at that moment. After a few seconds, he was finally able to ask, "...why? " Black Hole took a sip of water and then began to speak haltingly. In summary, he had found someone else he wanted to pair.
"Who? "
His voice came out lower tone than usual. Black Hole told him the name of his boss in the devil chojin army.
"But why...did I do something to offend you?"
"No, you didn't do anything wrong."
"...So he is very stronger than I am? "
"No...."
"...Because I'm a justice chojin? "
"...Anyway, I can't deal with you anymore! "
Black Hole suddenly got mad and pounded the mat with his fist without answering. The plastic bottle he had left with the lid open made a small jump and fell over. The cap fell off, rolled noisily and went missing. He is not as calm or gentlemanly as Pentagon. However, this was the first time he had ever done such a violent thing against Pentagon.
Silence like a disconnected fell over them. Eventually, Black Hole covered the hand that must have been sore, as if to protect it, and then finally looked at Pentagon.
"…I'm so sorry to say like this out of the blue, but I've already made up my mind. So I'd like you to end the 4D Killers with the next match against the Blood Illusions."
Speaking quickly, he immediately began wiping the wet mat and floor. Staring at his back, Pentagon sadly recalled the incident that led to the formation of the tag team.
Five years earlier, Pentagon, who died in the 21st Chojin Olympics, was engaged in forced labor in a Chojin Graveyard where chojins who lost their lives in battle gathered. The daily grind of the huge millstones and the digging and hauling of the soil were so strenuous that even chojin wrestlers who trained daily felt it was hard work.
One day, some chojin joined the group. Just then, Pentagon was grinding a millstone. The chojin who had been before him had just been revived,so they was more burdened than usual.
While he was using his body, his mind was thinking about who he would tag team with. In his hometown, a tag team tournament is held every year at the same time (soon). For Pentagon, which has already collected two Lifeforce Spheres, resuscitation is not so far-fetched.
There were many chojins who had invited him to pair before his death, but he had no desire to tag with them. This was because, besides their abilities, values, and fighting style, he had a kind of intuition that "It’s not him.” Like "the one" in love, there is a best tag team partner in chojin wrestling. Pentagon wanted to meet that him. But he has to decide quickly because he is already running out of time.
Then a new chojin appeared on the scene. He looked at the man half-jokingly, somehow thinking, (Maybe that's him...)
The newcomer had an odd appearance. He had no eyes or mouth, just a large hole in his face. It offers a clear view, but it also seems to lead to a hell with no bottom. On the chest is a large letter "BH”. His pitch black body looked good with his blood colored gloves, pants, and boots.
“Look, so spooky….”
The one behind Pentagon spoke to him. He couldn't take his eyes off the man while responding to him.
"...Black Hole? "
He knew him. He called the name, and the hole captured him. The moment their faces met, Pentagon felt a shock like an electric current coursing through its body.
At the same time he thought (It's him). He doesn't know why but there are times in life when you have impulses that cannot be explained by logic. For Pentagon, this was that time.
They had been close cousins since childhood and knew each other as chojin wrestlers. However, they had never thought of forming a tag team and fighting together. It is darkest under the lamp post.
Black Hole began to grind a millstone in front of him, just as Pentagon wanted. The two men were happy to see each other again in secret.
"Good to see you again, Black. I didn't expect to see you here! "
"Me too.... Anyway, I'm glad to see you."
After that, they chatted without being noticed by graveyard demons. Then, one day, Pentagon finally offered.
"When we both come back to life, will you tag team with me? "
Black Hole stopped for a moment, then quickly began to move. This was because a graveyard demon glared at him.
"Thank you, but if you team up with me, a devil chojin, won't that bring a bad name to you? "
Black Hole was concerned with the difference in attributes. He said that if Pentagon, a young and promising justice chojin, teamed up with him, a devil chojin, bad rumors would be flying, which would hinder his career as a wrestler.
"Are you saying it for me? Not that you don't want to? "
Black Hole nodded.
"Thanks. But it's not a crime at all to pair up different attributes. Besides, in chojin wrestling, it's not the attributes that matter, but the real ability, right? I didn't call on you because you are a devil chojin. Whether you were a justice chojin or a perfect chojin, I might do the same as long as you were a chojin wrestler. Hey, Black, good right? "
The heroines of numerous classics do not realize this as soon as they meet the Prince Charming. But Pentagon took one look at Black Hole and was convinced that he could be his best tag-team partner. He definitely did not want to miss him.
When he later confided in him, Black Hole was surprised and said, "Me too. I wanted to team up with you, too, but I had given up on the idea because I had never heard of a tag team between a justice chojin and a devil chojin, so I thought it would be impossible. That's why I was glad you asked me to join you.”
Were those words not true? Even if they were true, are they so light that they can be overturned so easily?
"I've always felt that way about you're the one, my one and only tag-partner, and I could be your only man till death.... But not you? "
Pentagon's voice trembled slightly. Hearing this, Black Hole stopped moving.
"...Sorry."
That was all he said and he started wiping the floor again. He did not even look back.
──You apologize, but you don't want to take back your statement.
Pentagon knew it would be just a waste whatever he said today. Once he cooled off like that, he didn't want to be here any longer.
He looked at the clock on the wall and saw that it was past four o'clock in the afternoon. The sound of the second hand on the clock was very noisy. It had been ringing constantly since he came here, and now it was starting to bother him, was it because he was so excited and his nerves were so clear? Or was it because there was something else he wanted to hear and he couldn't give up hope?
"...I’ve got to get going."
With that, he grabbed his luggage and walked past behind Black Hole with along strides.
"...Take care."
Black Hole was still crouched on the floor even though it must not have been much of a spill.
Pentagon left the gym without responding and tried to fly home. But he soon gave up. Come to think of it, rain was forecast for this early evening. He didn't want to get wet and catch a cold.
He rifled through his bag to retrieve a folding umbrella. When something hard and thin touched his hand, he pulled it out, but it was not the handle of an umbrella.
It was a black acrylic stick key chain with "4D KILLER GYM" dug in red. It had a key on the end. The owner of this gym is undoubtedly Black Hole. It was he himself who gave Pentagon the key.
"Feel free to use it."
"Can I!? I-I only had a small investment...."
When Pentagon was puzzled, Black Hole laughed and said. The bottom part of his hole was slightly indented.
"Of course you can. Half of the reason I built this is for me, and the other half is for you. You are my friend...and my tag team partner. Let's be stronger together."
Pentagon cried.
After that, the two men had many discussions. It was always Pentagon that initiated the conversation. Also today, Black Hole endured Pentagon's verbal assaults with a difficult, even painful look on its face. What was unusual was that for the first time he was contradicted.
"...There are a lot of people who would like to tag team with you. And you're strong enough to do it without me."
The moment Pentagon heard those words, his eyes welled up. It was the last thing he wanted to be told. He himself knew this. There were many invitations, and most of them were because they recognized the strength of Pentagon.
And there is nothing in the tag-team norm that says they should stay with one partner for the rest of their life, like in a marriage. But Pentagon couldn't think about his career without Black Hole.
"It can’t be anyone else. It has to be you! "
The same thing was repeated during the conversation with Black Hole. Pentagon couldn't say it enough times, but Black Hole was probably tired of hearing it.
No matter what Pentagon said anymore, it was going to be difficult to convince Black Hole. But he did not want to back down and tried to show him how serious he was with his actions. But how?
Pentagon thought about it day or night. When people he knew worried about him and Black Hole, he would say things like, "Don't worry. I'm just trying to convince him," acting stout-heartedly, but inwardly he was going crazy.
──Black said, “You didn't do anything wrong”. That means that if I change anything about myself, it won't work. I need to get Black to change his mind.…But what the hell am I supposed to do? Something that could influence Black's feelings...? …I want to make him regret it, even if I can't stop him from dissolving the tag team at worst. I want him to know that he should not have abandoned me and that I am one and only for him, just as he is same for me....
The months passed as if to drive the impatient Pentagon into a corner, and at last it was the eve of the match against the Blood Illusions. Tomorrow would be the last time they would be able to stay together as the 4D killers.
The extreme lack of room, on the contrary, made Pentagon calm. He was as cool as water and thought about Black Hole staying in the next room.
What is he doing now? He may already be sleeping to make sure he is in perfect condition for tomorrow. He may be happy to be rid of his troublesome partner in just one more day.
"You're terrible. Dumping me and immediately tagged along with a new partner.... You should be alone, too. Just never tag team with anyone anymore…."
Having said all that, Pentagon gasped. It had finally hit him. A way to fully realize his own desires. It was like the mirage of an oasis the last sight of a thirsty person.
──Yes, I should have done this from the beginning. Why didn't I think of it earlier...? The answer was so much easier!
Starting with that, the arrangements for the plan came to his mind rapidly. Pentagon was so happy and wonderful that he even smiled. Then he turned to face the direction where Black Hole would be and muttered.
"Looking forward to fighting with you tomorrow, Black. I'll do my best to make it last."
◆
Pentagon gloated the moment he realized that everything had gone according to plan. It didn't matter that he was in severe pain, as if his brain had been destroyed, or that he felt sad that he had to go to such lengths to hold Black Hole together.
"Oh-Oh my God what the hell have I done!? "
When "Stop the Time" was released, Black Hole removed his hand from Pentagon's body and gasped at the devastation before him. Hearing his voice with his face dug into the floor, Pentagon could no longer even move his mouth. Instead, he muttered in his mind.
──No, Black, you didn't do it. But this is all your fault. You kill me, your partner, and I die because of you. You can't tag team with anyone anymore. No one will ask you to tag team with them because they are afraid of you, an ex-convict. Even devil chojins will run away. They all want to save their own lives. The only tag team you have formed is the 4D killers, and I'll be your one and only partner. You will be alone forever. You will live your life as a partner-killer, a backstabbing outsider. It serves you right. Poor you, I will hurt you to the last breath...but you've hurt me more, Black.
"He-Hey Pentagon, are you alright!? "
At the same time as Black Hole's plaintive voice, loud footsteps, probably more than one person’s, approach. It was probably the security guards who had heard the sound of the impact when the technique worked well. Whoever it was, it didn't matter for Pentagon. His plan will finally come to fruition when "someone else" finds his body.
"Damn...! "
Black Hole must have noticed, because right after he muttered, there was no sign of anyone in the room. If he was found by others, he would surely be falsely accused of murder. Therefore, he must have run away to give himself an alibi. However, there are enough elements to arouse suspicion, such as the closed room to which outsiders are not allowed, and the disagreements that have recently been making the rounds.
Everyone who has seen this room can imagine ── Black Hole became disgruntled about Pentagon's refusal to accept his request to dissolve the tag team, and killed him with a piledriver. The black 4D killer has no way out of his sin.
There was not the slightest hint of fear or regret in Pentagon's dulling consciousness. He was smiling to his last breath, thinking of his partner, whom he had finally been unable to be just his own during alive.
──I love you, Black. I'll always be your one and only tag-partner in life even though you dumped me...or death do us apart.