Promise

Johan, I always looked up to you. I remember the first time I saw you in person…the first time I entered North School.

"…I didn't know…I'm sorry. I can't return your feelings…because if I told you I loved you…it'd be a lie."

I immediately recognized you from the European tournament you won…I remember watching in awe as the legendary Gem Beasts cards began to glow brightly during your duel…they chose you as their respected master…

"And, and, it's better to know the truth no matter how much reality hurts—not to berate you or anything! I mean, I respect that you had the courage to tell me…but…"

…you're such an inspiration to me…with your bright smile and optimism…and all this determination, bright and bold, how can someone like me possibly be good enough for you?

"I can't give you something I don't have..."

I'm so ordinary. You're so...extraordinary.

He rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably. "Man, this is so awkward…" He frowned, lowering his eyes to the grass. "I'm sorry again."

Elisabeth shook her head, prompting strands of blonde hair to fly all over the place. "No, you're right."

Johan gave her a sad, crooked smile. He lifted his arms and shrugged helplessly, joints all loose and rickety-like. They were both lost on what to do in a situation like this.

"Will you…come with me?" the British girl asked, hardly bothering to conceal her surprise since it's been eons since she'd been able to look at him without blushing anyhow.

"Eh?"

"Come with me. Just for a short while. I want to show you something." She extended her hand.

Hesitance was scribbled all over his face. "Alright. Where do you want to go?"

She told him where she wanted to go. Then she secured her fingers around his wrist and broke out into a full-throttled sprint towards the destination. He yelped, and then scuttled awkwardly behind her, ordering me to 'be careful!' somewhere along the way—she, of course, ignored him. She ran out of the forest and back into civilization—Johan looked at the Obelisk boy dorms we rush pass by—she dragged him up a hill—Johan looked at the moon shining perfectly angled beams of light down on them—she dragged him across the dirt road—Johan looked at the sea turmoil—she dragged him by the pier—Johan looked at the lighthouse—and finally, finally they arrived at the main gates of the school.

"Here?"

She didn't reply. The double doors slide open automatically before us and she ran in with Johan's wrist still held hostage. She pondered whether to use the elevator but then opt for the stairs seeing as she didn't want to break the momentum of this energy rush—she made a beeline for the nearest flight of stairs—she felt the blood pounding in her ears—one foot after the other—flight after flight—her thighs burned—and she thought, she thought Johan was nearly out of breath—

—we're almost there—

When she burst through the doors, a gust of cold air nearly knocked her off her feet. Elisabeth stopped. Johan stopped. For five minutes, all that could be heard apart from the blustering winds was the huffing and puffing as the two caught their breath.

The view was gorgeous.

"Hmm," he said.

Elisabeth giggled to herself. She almost expected him to utter something really clichéd like, "Oh wow" or "It's beautiful". Thank god he didn't, because she might have just pushed him off if he did.

"You want to know why I duel, Johan-kun?" she suddenly shouted over the winds, turning to face him, her bright blue eyes sparkling in the night. "It's because I don't have anything else! I'm so ordinary! I didn't come from anywhere special—and I surely don't think I'm going to be famous in the future—so dueling is all I have—and I'm not even that good at it! But I'll try really hard so that I can be a great duelist one day, maybe as good as you are! Then I'll challenge you to a duel!"

Johan looked at her, and then laughed airily. "I'm sure you can do it! And when that time comes, I'll be looking forward to our duel!"

She smiled. "Promise you'll still be there when I reach you?" She stuck out her hand.

He grasped it and squeezed it tightly. "I'll meet you at the top!"

It was a promise.