“Why are we even here, Dave?”

“The Network wants us to film the clean up.”

“Why? We haven’t even been able to broadcast since the arena came down.”

“I know, they’re working on it. The Network wants us to film the removal of the body when they uncover it. I think they want to do a special on the Fall of the Champ, or something like that, when they can broadcast again.”

“Real sensitive.”

“Come on Mike, I liked the guy too but, he was, kind of a loser.”

“What?”

“Think about it. Yeah, he had fans and we’d root for him, applaud when he won, but afterward, we go home. Everyone liked watching, because he could take a beating.”

“Dave, you’re a dick.”

“Come on Mike. If he was so great, why were there only fans watching? How come he was alone? How come no one was in his corner? Why? He was a loser, outside of the ring.”

“What’s the matter with you Dave? Guy has had a messed up life.”

“So, what? We supposed to feel sorry for him? He’s not the only one, that has had a messed up life. Shit happens Mike. Everyday, to a lot of people. He’s no different.”

“You sound bitter.”

“Maybe I am. I like him, I do, but you’ve seen him lately. The last couple of fights, he’s not there. He forgot how to move, his strikes are getting sloppy, and he doesn’t dodge as well as he used to. He’s tired Mike. He’s tired of fighting, and has lost the will to fight anymore.”

“Dave? Is that why you are angry? Because he’s tired of fighting?”

“Maybe.”

“Do you blame him? Every time he tries to improve his life, and make it better, Life comes over and kicks him down. Every time it looks like he might get a break, Life kicks him down. Every time he tries something, he does it alone, because no one is there with him, and Life kicks him down. I don’t blame him for being tired of fighting.”

“Yeah, but…”

“What?”

“He can’t alright! Everyone quits, but he doesn’t. He stands. He doesn’t know how to quit fighting. He stands, Mike. That’s what he does!”

“I know Dave, but a man can only take so much.”

“That’s the point! He is different, and this last match exploded into a war, and he didn’t fight hard enough. He didn’t stand anymore. And now, he can’t.”

“I didn’t know you liked him so much Dave.”

“It’s just… It’s just that, if you’re a fighter, you fight. He has been in a war with Life for as long as we have known him, and he stands. He stands because, he can’t let Life beat him. He can’t let Life beat him, because if he does, then all of the pain, all of the bullshit, meant nothing. He stands because he has to let those around him know, he is strong enough to take it, and so are they.”

“I know Dave. The crane is hooked up, and they just said that the broadcast should be live any moment, so let’s get over there.”

“You take it Mike. I don’t want to announce this.”

“Ready guys? In three, two, one. Hello sports fans! I am live at the ruined remains of what used to be Fuuka U Arena. Along side me is Disheartening Dave, and as you can see behind me, the crane is hooked up to the last of the rubble of where the Champ went down. As you may remember the grenade that Bad News dropped on the Champ, not only ended him, but it also brought what little remained of the wall section, down on top of the Champ’s body. In this, we are going to show our respect for the fallen, in this moment of silence, as the wall section is lifted.”

“What the hell?”

“Get the cameras in there!”

“Mike, where’s his body?”

“Holy shit! Uhm, Dave? What is that?”

“I knew it!”

“Ow, why’d you hit me? What’s gotten into you?”

“Sports fans, we have some breaking news. The body of the Champ is missing, but there was something carved into the stone slab that covered the place where he fell. I will read it to you now.”

“One last fight? No. I want Blood. I want War.”

Fuuka U Too. Enjoy what you do.