[The scene opens to a lounge style area, clearly set up to look fancy and professional. Across the bottom of the screen a title plate reads "recorded in July exclusively for Revolutionary Wars 6". The lights are dimmed low, a luxurious red carpet goes across the length of the floor, and there are a few potted plants dotted on fine mahogany tables and desks to add life to the room. In the centre of the room are two leather chairs, facing each other. In one is Ted Cedar, XWA's lead announcer and, right now, part time interviewer. Being a consummate professional, Ted is of course wearing a perfectly fitting suit. Across from him in the other sofa sits XWA newcomer Akira Kobayashi, who like Cedar is wearing a black suit. Akira is more slouched down in his chair, looking a mix of bored and disinterested by the idea of having an interview. Behind Akira stands a man who, keeping with the obvious theme, is also wearing a suit. He's middle aged, quite average in height and build, pale, with thinning black hair and unlike Akira seems far more accustomed to the situation. He whispers something into Akira's ear, causing Akira to nod at Cedar, who then starts the interview.]

Cedar: Mr Kobayashi, it's a pleasure to finally get an interview with you after my last few attempts were unsuccessful.

[Akira gives a friendly nod but remains silent, drumming his fingers on the arm of his chair.]

Ted Cedar: It's fair to say you've been quite successful so far in XWA, what would you put this down to so far? Skill? Drive? Luck?

[Akira sits up slightly and pauses for a second before answering.]

Akira: All three. I'm skilled. I'm driven. They were skilled. They were driven. They weren't lucky, maybe.

[Akira speaks in short bursts, either due to being unused to an interview in this style or simply due to talking in his second language.]

Cedar: We've seen your skills in the ring, where did you learn to fight? You clearly know what you're doing, but you're a lot less flashy than others in XWA, don't you think?

Akira: I got things from here, things from there. I learnt wherever I went. Sambo in Russia, pit fights in Brazil, bar fights in New Jersey.

[The man behind Akira leans in and whispers something in his ear.]

Akira: Skills for those situations, I mean.

mewhat confused but battles on.

[color=#0000FF]Cedar: You've mentioned you started fighting at just fourteen, what discipline was this in?

Akira: Kickboxing, first. Then wrestling. Then whatever else I could find.

Cedar: How many fights do you estimate you've won? Any you're particularly proud of?

[Akira looks over his shoulder at his associate, who leans in and mutters something to him. The two exchange words for a few seconds before Akira turns back to Cedar.]

Akira: I never kept track. I beat good opponents, tough opponents, maybe not lucky opponents.

[Akira stares directly at Cedar with his mouth shut, leaving a few seconds of dead air as Cedar tries to work out if Akira is just pausing to think or if he's avoiding the last part of his question.]

Cedar: Do you have any particular ambitions in XWA?

Akira: I still fight for why I always have - money. I don't fight because I want to, I do it because I need to.

Cedar: What about titles? You have a bout for the intercontinental title coming up on the 8th of August, are you glad to get such a chance so early in your EWA career?

Akira: I win, I get more money. I lose, I get less money, I have less, my family has less. This is a good opportunity, yes.

Cedar: What about the prestige of the title? Surely that plays some part in your motivation leading up to this match. Some would say it'd be the best way of proving yourself to the XWA fans and the rest of the guys in the locker room.

[Akira cocks his head slightly, looking slightly bemused, as though the idea of winning a title for something more than money is a new concept to him.]

Akira: Many good fighters hold titles here. I respect them for that, I respect what that means. Money is number one, but being respected is good. Respected by people who matter, people who fight well

Cedar: What about your opponents at Revolutionary Wars? Do they "fight well"?

Akira: Pirate, yes. He's funny, but he's good. He looks like a fool. He acts like a fool. And that's how he fools us. He may not be the same Tyler Lawson he used to be, but he is Tyler Lawson. He has a family. He fights for them, I understand that. Rob Chapman? I don't understand. He can fight, he's athletic. He's...not ugly. So why does he not embrace this? He wishes to be a lone wolf. I understand that. But leaving matches? Not winning to prove a point? I can't understand.

When I was seventeen, I first left Japan. I was fighting in Vietnam, making...a few thousand dong a night. Not much, but I had to fight for it. I...

[Once again the man behind Akira whispers into his ear. This time it's for a few seconds, after which Akira nods.]

Akira: I cannot be too detailed, about what I did. But about what I saw. People with nothing, fighting men three times their size for less than you'll make doing this. People with no business fighting, but doing it because they have to. They knew they'd lose, but they knew they were getting paid. So they fought. And I fought them. Because if I didn't, I didn't get paid. I would't make enough money to get home. Rob Chapman? He has everything. He has fans. He was medical care. He has ability. But he doesn't fight? I can't respect that.

Cedar: What if he doesn't want to fight you, come Revolutionary Raws?

Akira: He won't fight me? It will make it easier for me to fight him. Rob Chapman is lucky. Rob Chapman is skilled. Rob Chapman is not driven. Rob Chapman is a coward.

[With Akira's last answer Cedar stretches out his hand to shake Akira's, which he does, as we fade away to our next segment.]