Hello everyone! This is the start of a new chapter! Chapter 2 I hope everyone will enjoy this chapter! Without further ado, let's start!
Normal POV
Over the next few days, Aichi managed to gain new friends out of Misaki and Kamui, now he was faced with one of his bigger obstacles. He had joined the Card Capital tournament because Kai had applied to participate, but he didn't think about the crowd that was going to gather for it.
" Ah..."
He stared at the entrance of the shop behind a nearby tree as he nervously clenched his fist at the thought of going into a possibly crowded shop.
Huh? Isn't that...
As soon as he heard that voice, Aichi turned to see Kamui and his friends behind him.
" Oh, Kamui-kun."
" Why are you standing here? You're entering the Shop Tournament, aren't you? So what are you waiting for? Get in there already, Aichi onii-san!" Kamui said
With a slight push, Kamui had ushered Aichi into the shop doors before he could reject as he nervously gripped the hem of his shirt.
" Why would everyone just start staring...?" Aichi thought
He quickly moved to the side where everyone's attention would be turned away from him as Emi entered the doors.
" Aichi."
" Emi...?"
The day after their dinner, Emi had taken it upon herself to follow Aichi and find out what he had been up to and found out about Vanguard and the shop. Now she frequently stops by to see him.
" H-Hello, Emi-san!" Kamui greeted
Being able to read his mind, Aichi had already known that Kamui had a crush on his sister but seeing the naive girl she was, he never brought it up unless he actually started to feel sorry for Kamui. Soon, Kai and Miwa had arrived as Shin, the shop manager, started to explain the rules of the tournament. Once that was settled, he, or rather, Assistacat, revealed the matchups for the tournament and Aichi got ready to fight Izaki as his first opponent. They began the fight and as the fight went on, Aichi realized that something was different about Izaki.
So nervous... There's so many people watching us...
" I'm nervous too." Aichi said
" Huh? ... You don't look like it..." Izaki said
" I know. But if we know that we're both nervous, then it becomes like our normal fights. Vanguard is fun, isn't it?" Aichi ask
" Fun? ... Right. Vanguard fights are supposed to be fun!" Izaki said
Aichi nodded as they continued the fight as they normally do. Soon, Aichi won with the Alfred card that he had received from Suiko about two or three days ago at Cardshop PSY. After thanking Izaki for the match, he looked at the Alfred card and thought back to meeting the three girls, Kourin, Rekka and Suiko.
" They were mysterious people... Why did Kourin-san decide to fight me and persuade me to participate in a tournament...? Hearing their voices didn't help much either, no answers... I guess I'm thinking too much into it." Aichi thought
He sat down at a seat nearby Kai and Miwa while Kai had gone up for his match. Miwa looked over to him and waved as Aichi returned a quick one before skimming through his deck while occasionally glancing up to watch Kai's match. Once Kai had won his match, Aichi just continued looking at his cards when Morikawa and Izaki brought his attention to someone dressing up in ninja attire.
" ... Familiar..." Aichi muttered
" Oh, him... Twice a year he shows up, just for the Shop Tournaments. I don't know if he comes to the shop normally, since I can't tell what his face looks like." Misaki said, coming up to them
" Oh... So a mysterious identity." Aichi said
Shin went up to the board to draw the line of the winner to the semifinals as Aichi noted the name, 'Ninja Master M'. While Morikawa was shocked at how the ninja man had disappeared while Aichi looked at the weird protruding wall and saw the cat exposing his hiding place. As the Ninja Master approached them after confirming his next opponent, Aichi stood up to acknowledge him.
" So you're my next opponent-degozaru? Aichi Sendou-kun! Let us have a great fight-degozaru!" Ninja Master greeted
" So you know my name?" Aichi ask
" Uh... Um... Ninjas can see through all kinds of things, we can-degozaru." Ninja Master explained
Morikawa complimented him as Ninja Master acknowledged the compliment, causing Morikawa to continue to think that he was cool.
" ... Alright then, Mark-sensei. Let's have a good fight." Aichi said
" Huh? No! Who might that be?" Ninja Master ask as he moved and fidgeted around
They were interrupted by Shin, who called up all the first round winners to congratulate them before explaining the rules of the the next round and what will happen during the choosing of the lineups for the finals. Aichi went up again Ninja Master while taking glances at Kai's fight that was beside him before reminding himself to focus on his own fight, thankfully winning it and making it to the finals.
" Thankfully, the voices in my head are at least bearable for now... I just have to draw a number for the finals and maybe fight Kai-kun." Aichi thought
As Shin brought the four of them up to announce them as the four who are making it to the finals, Aichi just fidgeted with his shirt again as he averted his eyes from the crowd, not used to the attention he was getting. Afterwards, they were released for a lunch break before their next fights were decided as Aichi sighed in slight relief.
Aichi's definitely improved but he's still weak. If we match up later, he won't have a chance.
Aichi gave Kai a small side eye as he narrowed his eyes slightly at what he had heard as Kai averted his eyes.
He heard me...
" You can grab some lunch first before the tournament starts up again." Misaki said
" That sounds good to me..." Aichi said
Aichi then walked out of the shop to find a quiet place for lunch when Emi stepped out of the shop, a basket in tow.
" Aichi... I made some lunch, wanna have some? Misaki-san said that we can use the benches beside the shop." Emi said
" ... Sure. Thanks, Emi."
Emi smiled and led him to the bench as he sighed inwardly, thankful that he didn't have to face another crowd for awhile.
" Did you make this with Mother?" Aichi ask
" Yeah..."
" I see."
Kai and Miwa came out from the entrance and happened to spot them as Miwa waved to them. Aichi just turned his head away a little and continued eating the sandwich on his hand.
" Huh?"
Did something happen to him?
" Ask your friend." Aichi replied
Kai's shoulder seemed to jump a little at Aichi's slightly cold tone as Miwa dragged him away after hearing Aichi's reply.
" Aichi?"
" It's nothing, Emi." Aichi assured
They continued eating their lunch while Misaki had brought them tea as well before they went back inside for the finals. Unfortunately, Aichi was matched up against Kamui after a number draw and lost, leaving him to watch as Kai took the victory from Kamui after defeating Misaki.
" Now, since we've decided the winner of the Shop Tournament, I have a very important announcement to make!" Shin said as he made his way to the board, " The winner of the tournament today, Toshiki Kai-kun. The runner-up, Kamui Katsuragi-kun. The rest of the best four, Aichi Sendou-kun and Misaki Tokura-san... The four top finishers will enter here."
Shin said as he unfolded a rolled up poster.
" There was a bigger poster, actually... But the sub-manager kind of destroyed it..." Shin explained
As the people around them started congratulating them, they wondered what the poster was.
" These championships are the biggest Vanguard tournaments in all Japan! You four will be the representatives sent from Card Capital! First, you'll enter the Regional Tournament, and if you win that... At the next National Tournament, you'll enter with the best from around the country! Whoever wins there will truly be the Best Fighters in Japan! Although the teams consist of three people, so one of you will need to serve as a backup... But you've all earned the honor of being worthy to participate in this tournament. Everyone, please give these four a great big round of applause!" Shin announced
As the people around them clapped to congratulate them, Aichi thought about being in a stadium for the championship and slightly shivered. Once the shop cleared up for the day, Aichi sat at one of the tables after telling Emi to go home first to contemplate about the tournament.
" What? You're getting nervous already?" Morikawa ask
" Relax! You still have time to prepare." Izaki assured
" ... Okay..."
" I have no idea how many people will be at the venue but with how uncontrollable I hear things, I might..." Aichi thought as he clenched his fist under the table
" Aichi, we'll be there to cheer you guys on, so don't be like that." Miwa assured
We'll do something about it if anything happens, so don't worry.
" That's not just it..." Aichi thought
He thought back to his breakdowns as he imagined having to keep it in during fights.
" ... I have to go now. Excuse me." Aichi muttered
He stood up and left as he arrived at the park and sighed, relaxing a little. He then sat down by the pond and looked at his reflection, thinking about the tournament again.
" Maybe I should back out..." Aichi muttered
" But that'll mean that you'll be back to that lonely self, right?" A voice ask
Aichi gasped a little as he saw someone beside his reflection in the pond.
" You don't have to react to me. No one else can see me." It was the boy from last night
" Who are you?" Aichi ask
" You'll have that answer sooner or later. Anyway, you're worried about your Reishi, right? You don't want to accidentally summon the Onis in that giant stadium." The boy said
" That's why... That's why I have to back out no matter what... If I do, then I won't harm anyone." Aichi said
" But is that really okay with you? You just finally managed to crack your shell a little. Yet, you want that crack to mend itself?" The boy ask
Aichi stayed silent as he closed his eyes to think before opening them again to see Kai in the pond's reflection and the boy was gone. He turned behind and looked up at Kai before looking for the boy.
" What are you doing here alone?" Kai ask
" ... Nothing."
" Thinking about the tournament?"
" I can't join..." Aichi said
" Why not? Is it about that power?" Kai ask
" I just can't do it..." Aichi muttered
" But is that what your heart wants?" Kai ask
Aichi narrowed his eyes and stood up to leave the park.
You better show up. The other two will be disappointed if you didn't.
He continued walking away as he arrived back home to inform Shizuka about having dinner in his room again. He wanted time to think and contemplate before the day arrives.
After going through a few more fights and experiences, Aichi finally decided to join the tournament and got ready to head to the shop.
" Will you really be okay, Aichi?" Shizuka ask
" I guess... I can't back out now either. Misaki-san won't be able to join today's tournament until the final fight and the team will be lacking one member if I don't go." Aichi said
" I see. I'll be at home to cheer you. I'll also remind Emi to bring the lunch over." Shizuka said
" Thanks."
Aichi then left the house and arrived at the shop, getting up the van with Kamui and Kai as Shin drove the van to the stadium. Aichi started getting advice from Kamui on which cards he could put or remove in his deck while the van continued driving. Shin had also decided on their team name to be Quadrifoglio, a four-leaf clover, to represent them as a team. Once they arrived at the stadium, Aichi looked around to confirm the amount of people that will be in the block as he sighed in relief after knowing that it wasn't as much as 60 in total.
" Bearable... for now." Aichi thought
Kai glanced around to make sure no one was looking before pinning something on the inner collar of Aichi's jacket. Aichi pulled the flap a little to see a small bottle pin before looking up at Kai questionably.
A scent bottle pin. The scent used inside should calm yourself a little. It'll last until this thing ends.
" ... Thank you..." Aichi muttered
He looked away immediately after noticing their friends coming over as he walked over to Kamui to look at the Motion Figure System, the same system that he used when he fought Kourin. It was also revealed that the three girls he'd met were a part of an idol group, Ultra Rare. They then moved to the stadium as the first two fights were announced to be Team Quadrafolio vs Team Three Blacks.
" So we're squaring off against you first, huh?" A voice said
They turned behind to see three men in black cloaks.
" Wh-Who the heck are you guys?" Kamui exclaimed
" Ask and ye shall be answered! I'm Kurosawa!"
" I'm Kurosaki!"
" I'm Kuroda!"
" The three of us together..."
" You all have "kuro" in your names, which also means "black". That's why you're called Three Blacks." Aichi said
" I get it! And on top of that, they're wearing black cloaks!" Kamui added
They then looked at the three men as they were slouching with their backs turned towards them.
" W-We wanted to explain all that." They said
" Uh... Sorry."
" Well, it's kind of a name that begs for commentary! But aside from that, what's the getup for?!" Kamui ask
" I'm glad you asked! This is..." Kurosawa started
" Black magicians, right?" Aichi interrupted
" Eh? What did I say?!" Kurosawa exclaimed
" ... Sorry..."
After some more talk, they had to get ready for the fight as Aichi was the first to go up as Shin handed him a pair of blue gloves.
" What's this?" Aichi ask
" They're Vanguard fight gloves. Put it on when you fight using the Motion Figure System. The story goes that the crystal on the glove is from Planet Cray. When that crystal works with the system... you'll be invited to a world you've only known in your imagination up 'til now. That's how the person in charge of the machine described it to me." Shin explained as Aichi wore the gloves
" Thank you."
Kamui went over to Shin to get the orange gloves as the first fighters were called up to the console. Aichi walks until he saw a boxed line and stood within it, wondering what the console was. Suddenly, the line glowed and changed as a console stretched out in front of him. They got their fields ready and stood their Vanguards. Aichi then touched his collar as he took in the relaxing scent from the bottle pin to calm himself down. Thankfully, the match ended with his win and proceeded to Kai's fight, which he had won easily. As soon as the match was decided, the three men had removed their hoods to reveal their faces, brightly shining unlike how they'd named themselves.
" Who the hell are you guys?!" Kamui exclaimed
" How cruel! It's us! Look!" Kurosawa said as he put his hood back on, " Are you saying you've forgotten about us?"
" Huh?!"
" I've been wondering for awhile about the stark difference of their team name and their real names..." Aichi said
" Their names?"
They looked up at the board with their names.
" Hikaru Kurosawa... Laito Kurosaki... Akira Kuroda..."
" Ah..."
" Their last names all have 'dark' in them..." Izaki said
" ... but every one of their first names... is unbearably bright!" Kamui exclaimed
" So I had been wondering why they'd choose the 'dark' side when they have second common points." Aichi said
" Oh..."
The three men left as Kamui tried to get his fight too, but as the first two wins had already been decided, there would not be a third fight for him for that round. They went on to watch Team Handsome's matchup before proceeding with their second round with Kamui and Kai smoothly winning and proceeding to the final round to fight Team Handsome. But there was a break beforehand so they headed outside the stadium to eat their lunch, but...
" Whaaaat? You forgot to bring lunch?!" Kamui cried
" I'm sorry! Apparently, I got it mixed it up with Sub-manager's lunch, and brought this instead..." Shin said as he held up the can of cat food
" How could you get them mixed up...?" Aichi ask
" And I did my best to make them... Red and white fish paste, rolled omelet, mashed sweet potatoes with chestnuts..." Shin said
" New Year's food?!" Kamui exclaimed
" It's okay. Emi should be coming over by now." Aichi said
" Huh?"
" I made some lunch too and asked her to bring it over so that it's fresh from home. It's not much but it should suffice for us." Aichi said
" Really?!"
" Found you guys!" Emi exclaimed as she walked over to them with a basket in hand, " Here's the lunch."
" Thank you, Emi." Aichi said
" I also made some finger foods too since there's so many friends with us." Emi said
" That's great. Thank you."
She opened the basket and laid out the food, opening the lunch boxes afterwards. She also opened another basket with sandwiches and other finger foods.
" I made the sandwiches and other finger foods but Aichi made lunch boxes instead." Emi said
" I thought the tension might make everyone hungry..." Aichi muttered
" The lunch looks amazing! Thank you, Aichi-kun." Shin said
" ... N-No problem..."
They quickly started eating amidst the raid from Nagisa, Gouki's little sister and self proclaimed girlfriend of Kamui's, as she tried to force Kamui to eat her lunch instead of Emi's sandwiches. Both of which had somehow flew to Morikawa as he ranged from having eaten a delicious sandwich to an extra spicy lunchbox from Nagisa.
" It's really delicious!" Shin said
" Thank you..."
" You must've gotten up early to make this." Shin said
" No, not really... I'm used to it... When no one's at home, I cook up small meals by myself..." Aichi explained
" I see."
" ... It's okay." Kai commented
It's really good...
Aichi's eyes widened a little before going back to normal as he slightly blushed and continued eating his lunch. After carefully persuading and prying Kamui away from Nagisa, Aichi had him quickly eat before the announcement of the finals as an announcement came a few minutes later.
" The final fight of the Regional Tournament will begin shortly. All competitors, please meet at the designated area. All competitors, please meet at the designated area." The announcement rang
They gathered near the entrance again as Misaki arrived soon after. After a bit of persuading, Aichi decided to stay to fight until the end.
" At last, all that's left of this Regional Tournament is the final fight! But before that, let's warm up with the tournament's theme song!" MC Miya announced
Ultra Rare went up on stage to sing and dance as Aichi looked at them, remembering the first time they met and shrugged.
" Even if they're the same people, this is technically what idols have to do for their image as well... They really seem like different people on stage." Aichi thought
After the song ended, the lights came on.
" These two teams made it to the Regional Tournament finals! Making their debut, Team Quadrafolio! Q4, for short! Like the four-leaf clover from whence their name comes, will they be able to grasp the good fortune called "victory"?! Against them is the sure bet that you all know! The team that won last year's Regional Championship and did great at Nationals too... Gouki Daimonji and his Team Handsome! Alright! Both teams have won in a sweep! What kind of fight will they show us now?! Which one will win?!" MC Miya announced
The first matchup was between Kamui and Nagisa. Unfortunately, Kamui became distracted by Nagisa and her antics and lost the round as Aichi became nervous again, because he knew that he would have to face Gouki in the final round, an opponent he had lost to before when Kamui first brought him to Gouki's cardshop.
" But if I run away, I'll disappoint everyone... They are counting on me..." Aichi thought, clenching his fist on his lap
" But that'll mean that you'll be back to that lonely self, right?" He remembered the words of the boy
" That's right... I don't want to be alone again, not back to that time..." Aichi thought
Kai quickly won his match as they'd expected and Aichi took his gloves, wearing them to prepare for his fight with Gouki. After a few twists and turns, Aichi barely managed to clinch a win with Soul Saver Dragon as he sighed in relief but soon looked at his deck.
" It definitely sounded like the voice was from the cards... But how? Is there something about the cards...?" Aichi wondered
The team went up on stage to receive the prizes and trophies as they were congratulated while Suiko invited Aichi to the cardshop again.
And that's the end of this chapter! Thank you for reading! I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter and I'll see everyone in the next chapter!