Count
by BridgitKiido
Disclaimer: I don't own GX. I'm just a lowly college student borrowing the characters and setting for entertainment purposes.
Timeline: This takes place sometime between the end of episode 88 and the beginning of episode 93.
"Hey, Manjoume?"
"Thunder," he corrected nonchalantly without looking toward Judai, as had become habit. He didn't mind if most people left off the honorific these days, but he always had to correct Judai when he omitted it.
The other just continued, considering Manjoume's correction to be an affirmation that yes, he was paying attention. "You know the duel we had the other day, the one that didn't count toward Genex?"
"You're the one who said it wouldn't count," Manjoume replied. "If you're trying to go back on your word, it's too late for that."
Judai lifted his hands in a gesture of peaceful intent. "I'm not trying to go back on that. After all, you still don't remember the first part of the duel, right?"
A slight, terse nod. Much as he for the most part ignored it, he still couldn't actually remember all that much of what had happened during the last few months – it was all just one big blank in his memory. There were too many more important things to be worried about, though. Genex, for one.
"So there's no reason to even think of counting it." Judai smiled, but then tilted his head a little and looked thoughtful. "Though, when you changed uniforms in the middle there, how did you do it? One second you were in all white, and then you threw off that coat, and then the next second you were in all black. Even your shirt and pants, which I know you didn't take off."
Manjoume brought his hand to his forehead to nurse the headache beginning to form. Exactly why was Judai asking a stupid question like this? In a slow, deadpan tone dripping with sarcasm, he responded, "When I was a baby, I was visited by a fairy, who gave me magical clothes that can change color whenever I want them to. Is that a good answer for you?"
"Whoa, really?" That was Judai's excited tone – apparently, somehow, the sarcasm had been lost on him. "What was the fairy like?"
"Look, is there a point to this?" Manjoume asked, turning his head toward Judai snappishly. "Were you going to ask me something, or can I get back to peace and quiet?" The Ojamas were even leaving him alone and everything, for once.
"Well, yeah," Judai replied. "I was wondering, since that one didn't count, if you wanted to have a duel that will count toward Genex. After all, neither of us played at full strength in that duel, and I think it would be fun to really see how much better we've both gotten since the School Duel last year, don't you?"
So he wanted a duel? Manjoume smiled anticipatorily. If there was one thing that he could count on with Judai, it was that there was no one in the world who he'd rather have as a rival.
And, maybe, a friend, even if he could be irritating at times.
"All right, but don't be too disappointed when I win."
