It was around that time of year when Spring and Summer can't decided between one or the other. It was warm some days, and cool on others; Namine, the alpaca, was carrying a baby.
Just when things had seemed to settle down, they were starting back up. Tenma, Luis's mother, had started having Harley and Ryuga do work around the farm, and they weren't accustomed to it; they'd come in from the barn with the backs of their shirts soaked while Luis would be asking whether they were starting yet. Even his little sisters could beat Ryuga at feeding the llamas.
So one day Tenma took pity on them and sent them to the nicely air-conditioned supermarket in town, to get her some groceries. Luis dropped them off at the store with his oranges; he'd come get them when he came back for the crates a few hours later.
Harley and Ryuga split up, like they always did. Harley grabbed the nearest pack of eggs and started skipping away with it when suddenly a hush fell over the grocery store; all eyes turned to the TV monitors above the refrigerated aisles, fixated on the news.
"Big news, big news, BIG NEWS!" The ecstatic DJ was whirling around in front of his cardboard stage. "The WBBA has declared that a new World Championship Tournament will be held over the summer to determine the strongest blader country in the world! Tournaments to decide the Japan team members will commence this Saturday afternoon in Metal City! If you want a shot at it...you better be there!"
Harley and Ryuga collided in the centre of the pizza aisle. "Did you just see that!?"
"Yes. I saw that."
"Ryuga, we have to enter!"
"Why?" For some reason her brother was being sceptical again.
"Because. Did you not hear? WORLD. CHAMPIONSHIPS. This is our chance to be number 1! We can show our stuff, finally!"
Ryuga looked down at the palm of his left hand, where there was burned forever a dragon in steel. He still - and always would - bear the mark of that last battle, if not on his palm then on his heart. Since then, Harley had noticed that he'd grown quieter and more resigned, like he was mostly off in some little world from which he would not fully return unless she found the path. She was sure that these championships could open him up again to be the friend she truly knew.
She tugged at his wrist. He was off again, his eyes going glazed and faraway..."Pleeeeeeeeaseeeee?"
"We can ask Tenma. But I don't know if she'll let us." Tenma was retaining her motherly form very well.
In truth, Ryuga was excited at the prospect of World Championships; but somehow his feelings refused to come up out of their bottle most of the time now. It was like he'd left part of his spirit back in that dark basement.