"Okay! Let's win this Galux!"
"Not going to happen! Attack and finish this battle my bit beast!"
Makoto and Tai prayed that Gou has control over his bit beast. They didn't want to see him lose control again and let Black Dranzer loose. Since that Black Dranzer incident, Gou has never once released his bit beast for battle but this battle was really pushing it.
Gou was thinking the same thing. He took a deep breath and called forth his bit beast.
"I can do this…New attack! Heaven Hellfire!!"
Makoto and Tai held onto each other in case something happens. Wouldn't anyone panic knowing that Gou is calling forth his bit beast during a battle in a long time and then have their new attack debut into the same battle!?
The dish was surrounded by black fire and then right after a flash of light, the battle was over with Gou's blade just slowed down to a stop and Rin's black outside the dish.
The crowd gasped in surprise and amazement but then cheered for Gou's victory.
Gou sighed in relief and walked back to get a group hug from his two teammates,
"That was so cool!" said Tai in excitement,
"Awesome!" said Makoto happily and with excitement as well; though it didn't last long when it was Makoto's turn to battle. As Makoto got ready, Rin came up to them.
"Uh hello? This is our side? You're side is over there!" Tai pointed and Gou pulled Tai back but the shoulders,
"That's rude Tai. Is there something you need?" Gou asked Rin. Rin looked down, face red,
"Um, well, uh…w-will you…um…"
Minkah took a hold of Rin's hand,
"Come on Rin, the battle's going to start," said Minkah with a smile,
"B-But…"
"Minkah, how have you been?" Gou asked,
"Fine! You? You're not mistaking people as the wrong gender are you?" Minkah asked with a sense of teasing in his voice. Gou gave him a light glare; maybe things haven't changed much,
"Hey! Give me a break! You had your hair down!" Gou reminded,
"I'm kidding, Gou-Kun. You're a good guy and I know all about you since Rena won't stop talking about you. Now, go cheer on your friend," said Gou and gently pulled Rin with him, Rin was still too shy, blushing too hard, and was staring at Gou the whole time to do anything. Gou watched the Egyptian go, its funny how he's the only one not Chinese on the team. Gou would like to battle him someday.
"Makoto…"
"Rena…"
"This looks just like how we first met," said Rena,
"Yeah, I guess it kind of does. But the feelings definitely aren't the same," said Makoto and the two continued to stare as they reach for their launchers and blade.
"3-2-1-Go Shoot!"
And immediately, the blades clashed with each other.
"Phantom Twister!"
Since the blades were right next to each other, Driger was immediately sent flying up,
"I got ya!" said Makoto with a light smirk,
"Not yet! You think I wouldn't learn from our first battle?! Driger! Get yourself out of there! Tiger Slash!"
"Look out Makoto! Driger's speed can beat your Phantom Twister!" Gou warned.
Makoto scanned the dish but he couldn't see Driger. He can only see new slashes appearing here and there in the dish. Then he noticed that the slashes were forming the outside of the dish inwards which means…
"Dragoon!" he called but it was too late. As a similar memory of this event flashed before his mind as he watches his blade nearly getting ripped to shreds like it was really attacked by a tiger. The round was over and everyone gasped at the fast win by Rena.
"No way!" Tai exclaimed,
"Not good. Look at that blade, there's no way Makoto can battle another round with anybody!" said Gou as he watches Makoto pick up his blade and some broken pieces and then shamefully walks past him.
"I'm sorry guys…" he said in a voice just above a whisper.
"Makoto, it's alright," said Gou putting a hand on his friend's shoulder but he shrugs it off.
"Gou, if you don't beat Rena, we'll lose!" Tai reminded and that's when Gou remembered and walked towards the dish.
"We're in trouble…" Makoto mumbled,
"Why? Gou kicked Rin's butt, good!" said Tai reminding Makoto of their first victory.
"Yeah, but Gou was pretty tired. I'm really afraid of the outcome of this battle…"
"You sure are confident," said Tai, of course not really meaning it.
Rena and Gou got their blades and launchers ready,
"3-2-1-Go Shoot!"
Mark watched,
"What's wrong, Big Brother Markie?" Mary asked,
"Besides not knowing who to root for, I'm worried about Makoto. If he doesn't get that blade fixed soon, Gou has to team up with Tai," Mark replied as he watches Rena and Gou battle,
"Is that bad?" Mary asked,
"Well…Tai is stubborn, like Makoto, but he's more immature and will be hard to handle and to cooperate with. Plus, Makoto is the world champion. I want to be able to face him, not Gou or Tai. I hope he finds a way to fix his blade. Until then, I'll make sure his team won't leave this tournament," said Mark as he watches the match like a hawk.
Cam tightened her fist as she watches the battle on T.V. in her locker room.
"How will Makoto fix that blade without me?" she asked herself,
"Cam, you better not be thinking what I think you're thinking…are you?"
Cam looked at her new friend and teammate,
"What did you think I was thinking, Alana?" Cam asked the fiery red-head,
"Um…I don't remember," she said and Cam sweat drops,
"Well, I was thinking about fixing that blade for him but…" Cam's sentence trailed off when the door opens,
"Hey Big Bro!" Alana greeted when her brother and also Cam's tag-team partner came in with two paper bags,
"Staying out of trouble, Alana? Here, Cam, I got you and Alana lunch," said Nico handing the two their lunch,
"Thanks!"
"Thank you…" said Cam, not sure whether to be grateful or be sad for Makoto,
"Where are the others, Big Brother?" Alana asked,
"Out at the café, they're watching the remaining battles there. Apparently, they aren't very impressed with your friends…Cam," said Nico sitting down next to her.
"…" Cam sighed.
"Whoo! Girls rule!" Alana shouted when she saw Rena winning. Cam fidgeted, worried of the outcome.
Gou muttered under his breath for a moment and started thinking,
"I'm in trouble, my blade lost too much power when testing and winning my last battle with my new attack. I can't lose or my team will be one loss closer to losing the tournament! I can't let my team get a disadvantage so early in the tournament! What can I do?"
Rena watched Gou as she saw a sweat fall,
"Gou…I'm sorry but if you can't handle this then I have no choice but to finish this…"
"Go Driger! Attack and finish this battle!"
"Ugh! Dragix! Hang in there!"
"What are you doing Gou?! Do something and fight back!" Tai shouted,
"Why don't you get up here and do it yourself?!" Gou snapped back.
"Driger! Attack! Bai Hu Tzi Yao!"
"Dragix! Heaven Meteor Shower!"
Makoto, Tai, Mark, Cam, Rena, and Gou felt as if time stood still for that moment when the attacks collided. They all waited for the results in fear because one of them has to lose.
Kaiya walked into the stadium right as the attacks hit and watches for the results. But as soon as she came, she left because she wasn't happy with the results…
The crowd waited anxiously and then gasped along with other teams.
"…I'm sorry Gou," said Rena as she calls Driger back and walks away.
"Uh, and there you have it! This battle ends with the Bai Hu Tzi team walking away with the victory!" Daichi shouted and then the crowd explodes.
Gou walked over to the side to pick up his blade and kept his head down in shame.
"NO!" Tai exclaimed and went into a temper tantrum. Makoto pounded his fist onto the bench in anger and frustration. Jinsei sighed in disappointment.
"Here's the final battle for today! The Bladestoppers vs. the Battalion Soldiers!" Daichi announced and the crowd goes wild waiting to see another exciting battle.
Makoto was sulking in the hotel room along with his teammates and Jinsei. He was lying down on the bed looking up at the blank ceiling. Gou turns the T.V. off, not wanting to see anymore battles for the day and then joins Makoto on the bed to stare at nothing. Tai wasn't really sulking; he was just furious at their loss and started scolding, yelling actually, at his two older teammates who purposefully ignored him. Jinsei turned the T.V. back on to watch the battle to learn of their opponents' strategies.
Makoto sighed,
"What's wrong, Mako?" Gou asked,
"Gou, I don't think I can repair my blade in time for the next battle. And I feel so stupid! I lost to Rena the same way I lost to her when I first met her!" Makoto runs both his hands through his hair from his face towards the back causing his cap to fall off his head.
"It's not your fault, I could've been more careful in what I was doing. Even I can get reckless and it just had to be in this battle that I do," said Gou and sighed.
"Let's face it: It was both your faults!" Tai shouted at them.
"We know," the two replied in unison.
"Well it's been decided that if Makoto can't fix his blade by our next battle, Taichi-"
"TAI!"
"I'm sorry! I'll buy you candy later," Jinsei apologized,
"YAY!"
"Anyway, if Makoto can't get his blade fixed, then Gou, you'll have to battle with Tai," said Jinsei and Gou nodded and Tai stopped being happy about the candy and looked upset,
"But Jinsei! Of all the times we've practiced, never once, have I tag teamed with anybody but Mark, Cam, and Makoto!" Tai pointed out,
"Then I suggest we get you two to train a bit together," Jinsei advised and the two were forced to agree.
Back at stadium, a boy and his tag-team partner, also his younger sister, held up a fist to show his victory.
"And the Blade Stoppers win this round!"
"That was so cool! Right Lan?" the little pink-haired girl asked her older and spiky blue-haired brother.
"Yeah, I guess so. So Paula, want to get some ice cream?" Lan asked and puts his jacket back on.
"Okay! And that battle would've been perfect if they accepted our two-on-two battle! Because our blades are undefeatable together!" said Paula and looks at her pink blade.
"Yes I know, that's because our parents were a great match together," said Lan and looks at his blue and red blade and Paula nodded,
"Geminax and Cupid! Our bit beasts are awesome!"
Makoto started working on his blade but with no such luck as finishing it fast. Soon, they were on their way to Rome. Makoto might poke and eye out or throw up from looking down all the time if he tried to fix his blade on the plane so he didn't. Soon they reached Rome and right after they got to their hotel room, Makoto was back to fixing his blade again. If it was Cam fixing his blade, then she would be done within the day it was broken!
"Here are the match-ups for Rome! Take a look!" Daichi shouted and pointed at a screen.
OMEGA vs. BBA Evolution
Blitzkrieg Neoborgs vs. Battalion Soldiers
Blade Stoppers vs. Majestics
Bai Hu Tzi X vs. Shooting All Starz
"The Majestics are up against those…somewhat familiar bladers…" said Gou but he can't put his finger on it.
"Looks like Rena and Mark are battling next round," said Makoto who was not sure whether to worry or not care and turned his attention back to his blade.
"What about us?! We're battling Cam!" Tai reminded and that's when it hit Gou and Makoto.
"Hmm…by the way the match-ups went; they paired the winners against the losers. They also ordered the battles so that we don't go in the same order as before," said Jinsei staring the screen.
"Hey, you're right," said Gou,
"Well good thing we aren't fighting Kaiya because then I can't battle her at all," said Makoto and continues his repairs…he really wished Cam was here.
"Well until our battle, the first, begins, we have to you two ready," said Jinsei and Gou and Tai groaned. They just got off a plane and now he's making them train.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Tai! Stop it! You're getting in my way!" Gou shouted,
"No! You're getting in my way!"
Jinsei sighed, apparently, this training wasn't going to well the moment he made them try and work together. Their blades ended up fighting each other instead of their target.
"Stop it! You guys aren't going to win the next round this way!" Jinsei snapped and the two stopped fighting with each other.
Makoto sighed and puts his head down on the desk. He was alone in the hotel room, trying to repair his blade soon but he's not progressing well enough. To get his mind off things, Makoto left to explore.
He walked around looking at interesting things he's never seen in Japan.
"Hmm…Rome's pretty cool," Makoto said to himself as he stared at the sky.
"MAKOTO-CHAN!" Makoto looked forward again only to meet face to face with a girl that tackled-hugged him causing to fall backwards.
"……Who in blazing Dragoon are you?" Makoto asked, partially in fear and he wasn't sure what the other feeling was. He sat up and looked at the fiery light red-headed girl hugging his waist…rather tightly.
"ALANA!" two boys came running to him, one was African American and the other was tan with very light violet hair. Makoto didn't know them but they know the girl who someone knows him.
"We are so sorry! Alana! Come on!"
"No way! I finally get to meet Makoto-Chan!" Alana squealed,
"Okay…uh, nice to meet you too but…hey! You're on Cam's new team!" Makoto exclaimed when Alana looked at him with a big smile,
"Oh it's so nice to meet you! I don't know who I should marry! You or darling Gou-San!" Alana squealed and everyone sweat drops. Of course, she was ignoring everything Makoto said.
"Oh, so I'm 'chan' and Gou's 'san' huh?"
"Well yeah, can you please let me go now?" Makoto asked trying to stand up but Alana refused to let go even with her other two teammates trying to pull her off.
"Now I know exactly how much pain Gou goes through!"
It took a while but eventually, Alana was forced to let go.
"Oh! You're so handsome! I feel like I'm going to die! Unless I meet you and Gou-San, then I can't! Eeeeek! Gou Hiwatari-San! I can just picture it!" Alana squealed and now Makoto knows how dangerous fan girls can be.
"Um…I'll just go now," said Makoto and took one step only to be glomped by Alana again. Actually, he was pulled to the side rather roughly and Alana missed him,
"I'm borrowing him, okay little girl? Hello Kinomiya, we meet again! Now come with me!" said Tara and pulls Makoto away who wasn't sure what just happened.
When they were clear away from Alana, Tara released Makoto's arm.
"Ow! You have a very hard grip!" said Makoto, who was in slight pain, rubbing his arm,
"I saved your life so shut up!"
"…Yeah, um, thanks for that," said Makoto and continued to rub his arm.
"Actually, Kinomiya, I really did want to borrow you," said Tara and Makoto froze, not wanting to know what she wanted him for.
"NO!" Makoto repeated for probably the 20th time.
"Come on, Kinomiya! Why not?" Tara asked,
"Because I wouldn't want someone doing that to me!"
"You sure there's nothing you want that will make you do this?" Tara asked with a light smirk,
"Nothing! Nothing you can give me anyway," said Makoto and looked away with his arms crossed.
"How about…a victory? From us?" Tara asked standing a bit closer to him,
"No! That's not how I play! I want to win this tournament fair and square!"
"Okay then…how about…"
"There's nothing you can do to make me help you! And get away from me! I enjoy my little space!" Makoto exclaimed and backed away a bit when Tara was really intruding on his personal space.
"You sure?"
"YES! For the hundredth time! Yes!"
"Not even…Hiwatari? Kaiya?"
For a moment, Makoto didn't know what to answer,
"…NO!"
"Okay then, I could really help you. I can do a lot of things, Kinomiya," said Tara; once again, walking in on Makoto's little territory. Makoto started backing away slowly.
"If you can, find a different way because I'm not betraying Gou. I wouldn't want him doing this to me and also, if I do help you: Kaiya will kill me!"
"What she doesn't know, won't hurt her, or us," said Tara, continuing forward.
"Um, trust me, I'm pretty sure I know Kaiya well enough to know she isn't stupid enough not to find out who helped out you…Can you please back away from me?" Makoto asked when his back hit the wall.
"All I'm asking is to be with my best friend's little brother," said Tara innocently and her left hand hits the wall next to Makoto's face,
"Best friend? Yeah right! Maybe in the afterlife 2 centuries later!"
"That's where you'll be after my team wins this tournament!"
"My team is going to win!"
"In case you haven't noticed, Kinomiya: You were the best when you had your entire team. Where are they now? Is your team really the best without the team members? All of them?"
Makoto looked down and didn't reply. She proved a really good point as much as he hates to admit it.
"What the? Makoto?"
Makoto looked over to his left where Gou was standing with a confused expression on. Then Makoto realized why and shoved Tara away from him.
"Ah! Gou! What the heck are you doing here?!"
"…I should be asking you the same thing. Um, Jinsei is looking for you," said Gou and looked between Makoto and Tara.
"I'm just uh, taking a walk to have some fresh air," said Makoto.
"And I saved him from an obsessive fan girl. So Gou, remember me right?" Tara asked walking up to him,
"Well, yeah, not that hard to forget you," said Gou. Though it's really true considering what they've been through whenever they're near each other.
"Well, um…Look, Gou and I have to get going. Bye Tara! Say hi to Kaiya for me! Come on!" Makoto quickly tugged Gou along who wasn't sure what was going on. Tara sighed,
"Oh well, if Kinomiya won't help me and Gou get together, I guess I just have to get him myself." With that, Tara stretched and then walked around some more; she has plenty of time to spare until her battle arrives. Until then…
"Let's see, what else can I do to piss Kaiya off besides hit on her brother?"
"Makoto! Where have you been?!" Jinsei asked angrily when they got back to the hotel room,
"Sorry! But I really needed to get out of the room," said Makoto and sighed, kind of regretting doing that.
"Anyway, come on! Our battle is first tomorrow! And we thought you should see how Gou and Tai are doing…" said Jinsei and Makoto just looked at him,
"…They're not cooperating are they?" Makoto asked in a whisper since Gou and Tai are in the room as well, arguing with each other.
"No, they aren't," said Jinsei and looked over at the two who are fighting over the remote control now.
"Why?" Makoto asked,
"They can't agree on one style. I told them that double battles are possible and when that happens, these two need to be ready and they both dislike the other's style of battling," Jinsei explained and Makoto nodded in understanding.
"What do you suggest we do?" Jinsei asked,
"Easy, tell them to find a style they both like," said Makoto and Jinsei sighed in frustration,
"If it were that easy I'm sure that would be the first thing they would've done," said Jinsei and Makoto though a bit more.
"Well I'm sure you of all people could figure something out depending on what their styles are. Good luck my dear cousin," said Makoto and headed out again,
"Where are you going?" Gou asked when he noticed his friend leaving,
"Since I'm pretty much no use until a miracle comes along to fix my blade, but until then, I have to visit someone," said Makoto and left, closing the door behind him.
"Poor Mako, he can't even participate until he gets that blade fixed," said Gou with feeling of pity for his friend,
"Yeah and at the rate he's going, the tournament will be over before he even gets halfway repaired!" said Tai pointing at the test where Makoto's blade lies with almost no noticeable repairs done.
"Welcome everyone! Let's get this tournament going! Today, our first battle is between the BBA Evolution and OMEGA! Now both teams represent Japan but even so, there can only be one winner! Now let the battles begin!" Daichi shouted and the fans cheered for the first match of the day.
"I'll go first," said Gou but then Tai puts his foot in front of Gou and trips him,
"I'll go first! You went first last time!" said Tai and ran up towards the dish before Gou could stand up,
"Why you!" Gou was about to get him for that but Jinsei held him back to keep him from embarrassing the team and for Gou to save his energy for his round. Nico saw the little problem the two had and looked at Cam,
"Want us to be the first to call an official doubles match?" Nico asked and Cam looked at him in deep thought, and then nodded. They both walked up to the dish and told D.J. Daichi of their request.
"What? They actually want us to work together?!" Gou exclaimed,
"I knew something like this was going to happen," said Jinsei and slapped himself.
"Of course we accept!" Tai explained and his team anime falls,
"I didn't say yes!" Gou complained,
"Too late, sorry Gou, looks like you have to get up there. But hey, now you're going first too," said Jinsei and lightly pushes Gou. Makoto buried his face in his hands, a tad embarrassed of what's going on between his two teammates.
"TRAITOR!" was the first thing Tai shouted when he faced Cam.
"Oh yeah, Cam, Mako told me to tell you that he really doesn't want you to wear that," said Gou who feeling better about the team separating.
"Oh, um, tell him that I like it this way. But if he really doesn't like it then I might change it a little," said Cam looking at herself thinking that she looks perfectly fine.
"She's still a traitor! Traitor! Traitor! Traitor!" Tai shouted until Gou shuts his mouth with his hand,
"We get the idea," he said and everyone pulls their launchers and blades out.
"Ready everyone?!" Daichi shouted,
"3-2-1-GO SHOOT!"
And as soon as the battle started Tai shoved Gou both physically and with his blade,
"What the heck was that for?!"
"You were in the way! I didn't have enough room!"
"The world doesn't revolve around you, Taichi!"
"TAI! And in the beyblade world, it does!"
"Oh yeah? Well I would like to see you take them both on yourself!"
"Okay then! Because I can!"
"Will you two shut up and battle?! We might as well let them win if you two aren't even willing to at least try and work together!" Makoto interrupted as he shot up from the bench and scolded them both.
"…" The two didn't say anything, the last thing they needed was Makoto angry at them both and then things will be get even more frustrating,
"I'm willing to try if you are," Tai mumbled,
"Me too, just stay out of my way," said Gou and he looked at his opponents' movements.
"I will if you stay out of mine," said Tai and did the same thing as Gou.
"It doesn't matter what you do! Zeus! I call upon you!"
Cam took a few steps away from her partner, when Nico sounds like he wants to kill someone and grows red eyes because then he can be dangerous; and then, nobody makes fun of his name.
"Oh Big Brother! Try not to use your bit beast too much! Remember what happened last time?" Alana reminded and that's when Makoto noticed she was there on the other side and tried to stay hidden from her sight.
Gou and Tai were forced to withdraw when Zeus came between them.
"Attack! Zeus!"
"Alight let's help them out, Venus! Come on out!" Cam shouted and a beautiful bit beast rose,
"What the? When did she get a bit beast?!" Tai exclaimed,
"Bit beast?! To be more specific, where did she get Venus!?" Gou also exclaimed in surprise.
"Go Zeus! Black Cloud Thunder!"
"Venus! Attack with Venus Rhapsody!"
"I think the right question is more along the lines of how in the world Cam learned how to get so good in such a short time!" said Tai who was along the edge of panic.
"Tai! Move! Set up a defensive attack now!" Gou shouted and Tai snapped out of it,
"Gaia Dragoon! Use Mountain Wall!"
"Dragix! Counter with Scale Storm!"
"GOU!" Makoto shouted and Gou now knew why. His attack combined with Zeus's and he didn't want to help the opponent! But after a few seconds, the attacks only cancelled each other out and Tai was safety protected by sound so Venus's attack didn't get to neither of the two.
"I have an idea! Follow my lead! Go Gaia Dragoon! After Venus now!" Tai ordered and his blade started chasing after Cam's.
"Tai! We're supposed-"
"I know! Work together! Trust me!" said Tai confidently and Gou decided that's the only he can do at the moment.
"What am I supposed to do to help exactly?" Gou asked when he watches Tai and Cam's blades play tag for a while in the dish.
"Okay! Use your storm attack! Or whatever the name is!" Tai shouted and Gou just looked at him,
"Well…okay then. Dragix! Use Scale Storm!"
"Nicolas!" Cam exclaimed to her partner,
"Black Cloud Thunder!"
"Yes! Gaia Dragoon! Earth Spear attack!" From the ground a spear-like objects shot up and stops Venus in its tracks.
"Venus!" Cam exclaimed,
"Tai!" Gou shouted,
"It's okay! What's the highest object in the dish? My spears or your blade?" Tai asked and Gou looked at the dish and saw his little plan.
"Aah…nice," said Gou nodding. Thunder and lightning struck but the direction was changed and headed for Cam's blade instead when they hit the spears and then spreads downward and hits Venus.
"Yes! Gaia Dragoon! Earth Spear!" More spears shot up form the ground of the dish surprising their opponents,
"Gou! They're trapped! Get them! Attack with all your might and don't worry about my blade!"
"Okay! Dragix! Heaven Hellfire!" Starting in the center where Gou's blade was, a ring of white fire this time powerfully shoots outwards hitting all the blades in the dish sending them flying out. The crowd shouted with all their might with that attack and victory.
"Without resistance, they couldn't stay in the dish," said Tai and picked up his blade.
"Wow Tai, you're a pretty good strategist yourself!" Gou complimented and called his blade back,
"Yeah! I'm pretty good aren't I?" Tai gloated with a huge smile.
"And the BBA takes this round!" Daichi shouted and then pats Tai hard,
"That was awesome!" he complimented,
"Thanks Dad, but I really don't want anyone to know we're related at the moment…" said Tai and sighed.
Makoto and Jinsei sighed in relief, they actually pulled it off!
Later that day, the others stayed to watch the other battles but Makoto decided it's about time he went back to fixing his blade. He sat down at the desk and took a deep breath but when he was about to get back to work, a knock was heard on the door and he forced himself to get and get it.
Makoto opens the door and was surprised by his visitor,
"Hello Makoto," Cam greeted holding a toolbox.
"Uh, hi. What are you doing here?" Makoto asked and Cam smiled,
"I'm still your friend, Mako. I want to fix your blade for you. I always enjoy fixing the team's blades. But…even if we aren't a team now, we're still friends because that's what the team was made of. So, are you going to let me?" Cam asked and Makoto though about it.
"…Okay, thanks Cam. I trust you and only you from your new team. How did you know I was here?" Makoto asked,
"I saw you walking away when I tried to find you so I just followed you here," Cam replied and took a step into the room and towards Makoto's blade.
"Oh…okay. So, just how badly damaged is my blade?" Makoto asked, a bit nervous to know. Cam opened up the box and pulled some tools out and sat down on the desk.
"Pretty bad, Makoto. I don't know if you adjusted the blade yourself since I last looked at it but either way, Rena's blade just took a shot up in attack power and speed! So if you're going to stand a chance against her again, you too, have to gain more power and speed just to keep up with her. The problem is, if we only focus on speed and power, we won't have room to help your defense and endurance as well," Cam explained and Makoto just stared with a blank expression.
"Never mind," said Cam when she looked at Makoto.
"So…how long will this take?" Makoto asked,
"I have to come back again, I can't repair this today," Cam replied and started writing down notes,
"What?! It's that bad?!"
"Yeah, sorry Mako," said Cam and puts down the pen and touches the blade with her hands to examine the damage in more detail.
Makoto groaned and fell on the bed, then eventually, his eyelids closed completely and he drifted off to sleep.
"Makoto! Makoto! Wake up! Mako!"
Makoto groaned and curled himself up into a tighter ball.
"Makoto! Come on!"
"What is it, Cam?" Makoto asked in a tiring voice,
"I'm not Cam! Speaking of her, why is she here?! MAKOTOOOOOOOO!"
"WHAT?!" Makoto exclaimed and his head collides with Tai's when he shot up.
"OW!!"
"Are you guys okay?" Gou asked walking over to the two and looked at their heads.
"Just fine!" Tai answers and stomps off to the kitchen to get some ice.
"Ow…I'm okay Gou. Where's Cam?" Makoto asked and looked around the room and saw her and Jinsei discussing something at the corner of the room. Then he looked over at the desk and saw that his blade looked half repaired!
Cam walked over,
"Okay, this is kind of embarrassing to say, but…what does Mark like about girls…?" Cam asked and her face turned red.
Makoto and Gou blinked twice,
"I'm not Mark so I don't know," Gou answered,
"Are we supposed to know?" Makoto asked and Gou sweat drops.
"W-Well um, you see. Since Jinsei couldn't help me I, um, thought you guys would know more what goes on in a teenage boy's mind since well, you are teenage boys…" said Cam who was still embarrassed about her question.
"Um…" Makoto and Gou looked at each other with blank expressions.
"I'm speaking from experience: what goes on in a teenage boy's mind is usually nothing because they're minds are usually empty," said Jinsei coming from the kitchen with a teacup.
"HEY!" Makoto and Gou exclaimed,
"I said usually," said Jinsei defending himself,
"Why do you want to know anyway, Cam? Don't tell me you're thinking about boys at this age are you?" Gou asked and Cam gave him a glare,
"I'm that young anymore! It's common for girls to get crushes around my age!"
"Really?" Makoto asked tilting his head and everyone else groans.
"I guess being dense runs in the family. I was the same thing when I was younger," said Jinsei and sips his tea.
"Who's the guy?" Gou asked,
"…I thought I already said his name…" said Cam as she blushes more.
Next: Makoto learns of the results from the battles he missed. Not only that, he learns that Kaiya has been spending more time with Quennel! Of course, he's not even sure why he's so angry…
Cam asks for boy advice from Rena and hopefully Kaiya too; except Tara decides to help her out instead.
Gou runs into Lan, who happens to be someone he already knows…then he gets attacked by more fan girls.
