Hello everyone! This is the start of a new chapter! Chapter 13! I hope everyone will enjoy this chapter! Without further ado, let's start!
Normal POV
The day after Aichi's visit to Kai's apartment was another one of their training days. However, it was proving to be a little different as Miwa looked at the angry, pouting Aichi to the unexpected and unusually embarrassed face of Toshiki Kai and then to the stoic expression of Keijin as he looked at the two, completely disregarding Miwa's presence.
" ... Did I miss something...?" Miwa ask, scratching his cheek
Ophy appeared beside him to hiss a little before talking.
" A lot. Don't mind them. It'll resolve by itself." Ophy whispered
" Is that so...?" Miwa whispered
" Yeah."
- A few minutes earlier-
Aichi and Kai had arrived ahead of time to face the truth as they entered the doors of the mansion. It was unusually void of security other than the one at the gate as they entered the living room where Keijin usually waits. As they sat down in front of him, there was already a tray of teapot and cups ready for them as Kai inwardly gulped. Keijin poured the tea out for them and took a sip before starting.
" So I heard about something from one of my guards yesterday." Keijin said
" It was rude to not only spy on us but to also report to you! I need my own privacy too, Grandfather!" Aichi pouted
" If I'd left you alone without my guards, who knows what this guy would've done!" Keijin exclaimed
" Wha?! Kai-kun would never do anything else! What did you think he would do?!" Aichi ask
" Then ask him!" Keijin exclaimed
" I, uh... I really do like your grandson, but honestly, I won't do anything he doesn't want to. B... Besides, yesterday was just the first time we ever hung out alone." Kai explained
" Yeah! Jeez, we only kissed one time and you're already so hung up about it!" Aichi exclaimed
" Your mother will hear about this, you know." Keijin said
" She'll understand! I tend to talk about Kai-kun at the dining table, you know! She likes him too!" Aichi pouted before blushing after his unintentional confession
Wait... you talk about me at home?
Aichi blushed even redder after hearing that thought from Kai as he groaned inwardly before facing Keijin again.
" A-Anyway! I've chosen Kai-kun! I'm not changing my mind!" Aichi declared
" I'm not accepting it either!" Keijin countered
" ... I... Um, I...!" Kai raised his voice, trying to talk over them, " I really love Aichi! I really, really want to marry Aichi one day!"
At that, Aichi retreated onto the sofa in silence, holding down his blushes while glaring and pouting at Keijin while Keijin remained in a stoic expression. That was when Miwa entered to see what was happening as the situation now became awkward after Kai's declaration.
" Hmph. Let's continue training." Keijin said
" O-Okay..." Miwa muttered
The three continued their training under the inspection and guidance of Keijin as Miwa occasionally glances over to the three of them while they had a tension between them. During lunch break, Miwa decided to bring the topic into question.
" Hey... did something happen between you guys that I don't know about?" Miwa ask
" Nothing you should know." Kai replied
" Come on, Kai!" Miwa sweat dropped before turning to Aichi, " Aichi?"
" It's nothing."
" Haha... I'm so off the loop right now." Miwa muttered while crying before shaking it off and changing the topic, " Anyway, I'm surprised to hear that Leon Souryu had been the culprit of the disappearance of the three clans. He's even a Shaman, to boot!"
" A possibly powerful one too. Someone strong enough to control two different elements of nature. As far as history went, only Hao Asakura-sama could've done that. It must have taken intense training on Leon Souryu's part to have been able to do that." Keijin said
" On top of that, from everything I've read and researched so far, the spirit that he has is a God class spirit that's equivalent to Shamash's existence. The Water God Spirit, Poseidon, known to be able to control the seas. However the way he used it..." Kai trailed off
" Yeah, he wasn't really harnessing the strength of it... Maybe he had recently obtained it? But even so, it really is incredible to me that he could easily change elements that way." Aichi said
" You're incredible too. I heard you were burned so badly that you were charred! It's amazing you were able to hold yourself together after going through that, buddy. Shamash is sure a miracle worker too, you don't even seem like you went through that either." Miwa said
" Yeah."
" But it's really troubling... Void just merely withdrawn, right? Do you think it'll be back anytime soon?" Miwa ask
" I have a feeling that it might. It went as far as to manipulate Leon Souryu so who knows what else it has up its sleeves." Kai said
" Which is why you three must continue to train. An entity like that is dangerous and if we Shamans can do something to stop it, then we will. Don't slack off." Keijin said
" Right..."
They continued their training afterwards. When their training finally ended a few hours later, Keijin kept Aichi and Kai back while sending Miwa back home despite his curiosity.
" We're not going to talk about it again, Grandfather." Aichi said
" I don't want to, either. But I must set my boundaries." Keijin said
" What boundaries? I should be the one to have that since you're not respecting ours." Aichi said
" ... Fine. I'll leave you two be, for now. And you..." Keijin pointed towards Kai, " If I find our that you do anything to harm my grandson, you can forget about seeing him again."
" Grandfather!"
" Please be rest assured, Keijin-san. I'll definitely treat Aichi the way he deserves to be treated." Kai assured, bowing
Keijin nodded before dismissing them for the day as Kai sighed in relief.
" I'm sorry about him." Aichi said
" It's okay. I understand. Now I just need to convince your Mother too." Kai said
" You don't have to, really. I meant what I said, she really does like you from the stories I told her. She even wishes to meet you one day." Aichi said
" I see. Can we arrange it? Like,
next weekend?" Kai ask
" Sure. I'll give you directions to my house." Aichi replied
Kai nodded as they walked back to his apartment for dinner before Kai walked Aichi back to his home and the days passed. Soon, on the next weekend, Kai was now in front of the gates of the Sendou household as he gulped nervously. He hesitantly pressed the doorbell and the front door opened as Aichi smiled in greeting.
" Welcome, Kai-kun."
" Thanks for having me..." Kai greeted
Aichi opened the gate for him as he slowly entered it while Aichi closed it behind him and led Kai into the house, closing the front door.
" Oh my! Welcome, Kai-kun!" Shizuka greeted, peeking out from the living room
" H... Hello, Sendou-san." Kai greeted
" Come on in. It's just us three today. Emi is hanging out with her friend. It really is nice to finally meet you." Shizuka said
" Same here."
Kai then remembered that he brought a small gift for her as he handed her a box of chocolate.
" I didn't know what to bring, so... I hope this is okay with you." Kai said, handing the box to Shizuka
" Oh, thank you! You didn't have to! You're so humble!" Shizuka exclaimed, accepting the gift
" I... Uh..."
Shizuka smiled at him as he struggled to get words out.
" Aichi. Make him comfortable in your room. I'll bring some snacks up later." Shizuka said
" Okay."
Aichi led Kai up to his room after changing his shoes to guest slippers and they sat down beside each other on the edge of his bed.
" I... Sorry..." Kai muttered
" It's okay. I'm honestly nervous too. I mean, Mother might or might not have figured out that there's maybe something going on between us." Aichi said
" Aichi, I... really want to stay with you. But what if your Mother doesn't like us being together like Keijin-san?" Kai ask
" Oh, don't worry about Grandfather. Whatever he says doesn't really affect me that much anyway. So don't think too much about him." Aichi said
" Aichi..."
Aichi gripped Kai's hand in assurance as there was soon a knock on the door.
" Can I come in, Aichi?" Shizuka called from the other side of it
" Sure!"
Aichi noticed Kai's uncomfortable expression and let go of Kai's hand but Kai quickly grabbed his hand again as Shizuka opened the door to see it.
" Oh?"
" Sendou-san, I... I love Aichi. A lot. Maybe you might not believe me because of his past but I want to prove that I'm not like those people that tormented him in the past! I want to make him happy and see him smile too! So... I... Please let us be together!" Kai begged as he bowed his head forward
" Kai-kun..."
" ... Oh..." Shizuka muttered as Kai nervously waited for a response while staring at the floor, " I thought you two were together for a few months now."
" Huh?"
" Eh, what? W-W-What are you talking about...?!" Aichi exclaimed, blushing red
" I mean... you wouldn't stop talking about him after the tournament and all. I thought you were just too shy to speak about it." Shizuka said
" W-We just got together after the Circuit had ended..." Kai sputtered
" Oh... But I don't mind." Shizuka said
" Huh?"
Shizuka set the tray of snacks and drinks down on the floor before sitting across them.
" Kai-kun. It was because of you that I was able to hear Aichi's voice again. He would never speak to me or Emi again after his father left us all those years ago, shutting his heart out from us. When he started talking to us again, you don't know how overjoyed I was. That was when he started talking about you, and I instantly knew who brought up the change in him." Shizuka explained
Aichi blushed slightly again, tightening his hold on Kai's hand.
" I was so happy that my bright child had returned. I would never do anything to make him go back to that lonely self again or make him sad. He had suffered enough." Shizuka said
Kai nodded at her explanation.
" So if you're asking me, Kai-kun... Of course, you're most welcome to be with Aichi. As long as you two are being safe..." Shizuka said
" Safe?" Aichi repeated
" ... We are." Kai coughed out before pushing down his blush, " But Keijin-san is..."
" That father of mine? Oh, you don't have to worry about him. He can't do anything about it. It's Aichi's life and if he's not happy about it, then he can bother someone else's." Shizuka said
" Oh..."
" I'll leave you two be. I'm really happy for the both of you. And Kai-kun, drop by anytime, you're always welcome here." Shizuka said
" T-Thank you, Sendou-san..."
" That's Shizuka for you. I'll leave you boys alone now!" Shizuka said as she stood up and left the room
" ... Aichi, I... We can..." Kai exclaimed
" Yeah."
Kai finally let out a small smile and hugged Aichi tightly as Aichi returned it.
" I'm not dreaming..." Kai muttered
" You aren't." Aichi confirmed
" Yeah... Aichi..."
" What is it?" Aichi ask
" I love you." Kai said
" ... Me too."
They stayed that way for a little while longer before letting each other go and decided to have small talks while playing a few rounds of Vanguard.
A few months later, it was time for Aichi's first day in high school as he got himself ready for it.
" Aichi! Kai-kun's outside waiting!" Shizuka called
" Okay!"
Aichi went down the staircase after checking on his uniform again, wearing his shoes.
" Call me if you're coming back for dinner." Shizuka said
" Right." Aichi replied as he stood up and grabbed his bag, " I'll be off now!"
" Be safe out there!"
Aichi nodded as he opened the door, locking it behind him before going over to Kai, opening the gate and closing it behind him before greeting him.
" Good morning, Kai-kun!"
" Morning, Aichi."
Kai leaned in to give a small peck to Aichi's cheek before they walked together side by side.
" Had breakfast?" Kai ask
" Yeah."
" That's good." Kai said as he scanned Aichi's attire, " It looks good on you and that new haircut."
Aichi smiled as he brushed his hand on the breezy feeling on the back of his neck, after having the growing hair cut off.
" Thank you. I see you're wearing a tie now. I thought you'd never do that." Aichi said
" Because you're wearing it too, love. I would never pass an opportunity to try to match with you." Kai said
Noticing the nickname Kai had called him, Aichi blushed a little before giggling.
" You look good with it too, Kai-kun." Aichi said
It was now Kai's turn to blush as they continued walking together, soon arriving at the gates of Miyaji High.
" This is it." Aichi said
" I'll see you after school, okay? If you need me, just call or send one of your spirits. I'll be here as soon as I can." Kai said
" I'll be okay. I won't have breakdowns so easily again. Don't worry about me. See you later." Aichi said
" See you later, Aichi."
Kai waved to Aichi as he walked into the school and he left for his own school after seeing that Aichi had walked safely inside. Being used to the voices by now, Aichi just shut them out as background noises while going through and adapting to his new school life.
" This is what we call the age of globalization. In the age of globalization, what used to be common knowledge no longer applies. Um... How will you survive, Aichi Sendou?!" The Sensei called
" Age of globalization, huh? Such a boring topic, it's all I hear about in this school." Aichi thought, standing up
However, he belatedly realized that all eyes in the class was now on him as he tried to shake the feeling off.
" Well... Uh..."
Soon, the class broke out into murmurs while staring at him.
" What's he so nervous about?"
" It's probably just an act."
" I think this is the first time he's spoken since transferring to this high school."
" What's the problem, Sendou?" The Sensei ask
" I, uh... I guess I'd like to take good care of my hobby." Aichi finally replied
" Hobby? What is it?"
" Uh... Cardfight, for example..." Aichi muttered
" Cardfights? And that's how you live your life?" The Sensei continued
" N... No, never mind." Aichi pushed it off
" Cardfight is his hobby?"
" Does he think that'll help him survive the age of globalization?"
" Jeez, he already looks like a little kid. He doesn't have to act like one!"
" You could say he's pathetic on a global level!"
Aichi sighed inwardly at the taunts of his classmates, glancing briefly at the growling Onis by his side.
" Quiet! Our goal here at Miyaji Academy is to cultivate young people so that they thrive in the age of globalization. Certainly, the object of your devotion seems to be popular these days, but don't you think focusing on academics would be a better use of your time, Sendou?" The Sensei added as he pushed up his glasses
" ... Right, sorry about that."
Aichi settled back down on his seat afterwards. He ignored the taunting voices in his head as he continued looking at his textbook. Once school had ended, Aichi started packing his bag as the class monitor approached him.
" Sendou-kun, you haven't decided whay club you're going to join yet, have you? You have heard that it's mandatory for all students here to be in a club, right?" She ask
" Oh, right..."
" Is there something that you like to do?" She continued
" My hobby is..."
" Ah! That's right, you said it before. "Cardfight", I think. What is that?" She ask
" Well... It's a game where you fight each other with cards." Aichi responded, taking out his deck
" We don't have a Cardfight club..."
" I see."
Looking out of the window, he spotted Kai waiting by the gates and got up, keeping his deck.
" I'll be taking my leave now." Aichi said
" Make sure you decide on your club this week, Sendou-kun!" She called out as Aichi exited his classroom
He shook his head slightly and sighed as he made his way out of the gates where Kai was, unfortunately with some attention on them when they met.
" Kai-kun."
" ... Ignore them. Let's go." Kai said
Grabbing Aichi by his arm, Kai tugged him along before finally being comfortable enough to hold his hand firmly.
" Were you bothered in school?" Kai ask
" No, just some unexpected things. No one knows about Vanguard and all they talk about is the age of globalization." Aichi shrugged
" Oh... Well, we can head to Card Capital and have a few rounds of Cardfight. It'll all be better by then." Kai said
" Yeah!"
Suddenly, various voices entered his head again as he did the same thing to ignore the voices but a particular voice had peaked his curiosity. He quickly covered his ears, stopping as Kai looked over to him.
" Aichi?"
Aichi just pushed away the rest of the voices around them and focused on the one voice he wanted to hear before removing his hands.
" Are you okay?" Kai ask
" Yeah. Just that..." Aichi said, glancing behind, " I think someone's following us. But he doesn't mean any harm. Just a tad bit noisy though."
The two continued walking as Aichi continued listening in on their 'stalker's' thoughts.
It's like, the second school let out, his whole demeanor changed. Who's he with? Has he got somethin' going? Maybe he's actually an elite athlete with some sports club... Or maybe outside of school, he's a gang leader...
Aichi hid a snort of laughter at the last sentence as Kai raised an eyebrow in confusion. They soon arrived in front of the shop and entered it.
" Hello!"
" Oh, look who showed up!" A voice exclaimed
Aichi smiled a little in greeting after hearing the voice.
" Chris-kun, Lee-kun, Ali-kun. You three came to Japan?" Aichi ask
" Yeah. Why don't you sit down and we can have a chat?" Chris offered
" Sure."
Kai pulled a chair towards the table and sat beside Aichi as they started talking.
" It's really been awhile." Aichi said
" Yeah. We've come to research the card-playing population in Japan, since Japan still has the most Vanguard fighters." Chris said
" You might be right. So, how's Mitsusada-san doing?" Aichi ask
" He's doing well! He's making awesome strides." Chris said
" Well, not like us, though..." Lee added
" Oh? Remind me, who lost to him last time?" Chris ask, making Lee flinch
" More importantly, I wanna meet a Japanese maid while I'm here!" Ali said
Aichi just smiled a little in reply.
" There you go again with that!" Lee exclaimed
" What's the problem? Everybody looks forward to their own thing." Ali said
Wh-What the heck?! Those guys aren't Japanese!
" ... Are you interested?" Aichi ask, finally turning to the 'stalker'
The auburn haired boy flinched a little before quickly regaining his composure to approach.
" What's up, Sendou? You're like a totally different person here than at school! And you're buddies with some guys from another country? Talk about global! Anyway, how'd you get like this?" The boy ask
" This."
Aichi handed his deck over to the boy as he fanned the cards out, questioning about it.
" It's Vanguard. Don't tell me you've never heard of it? You fight each other with cards. It's a card game that's really popular worldwide." Chris said
" Vanguard? Worldwide?" The boy repeated
" That's right. A lot of countries hold international tournaments too. You really don't know about it? It's common knowledge!" Lee laughed
" Common knowledge, you say?" The boy repeated, slamming the deck on the table as Kai retrieved it immediately
" Oh, boy, you're a goner. Girls aren't gonna go for a know-nothing like you." Ali added
" What was that?!" The boy exclaimed, leaning forward towards Aichi
Aichi inwardly flinched at his sudden movement as Kai pushed him away.
" Hey, ever heard of giving space?" Kai ask
" ... So this is Vanguard?" The boy ask
" Yeah... You use the deck to fight." Aichi replied as he then glanced over to the deck, " Do you want to try it?"
" ... F-Fine, I'll play along once." The boy said
Shin then handed him a trial deck that was just delivered to the shop earlier in the day as the two engaged in a teaching fight, where Aichi taught Naoki Ishida, the auburn haired boy, that had introduced himself. After going through with the teaching fight and winning, Aichi tried to speak to Naoki again but he ran off before Aichi could talk, buying the deck on the way out.
" ... I, uh..."
" It's alright. You went plenty easy on him. He was just making lots of novice mistakes on his part." Kai shrugged
" I know, but... I wanted to help him, at least." Aichi said
" You did, by teaching him the basics. I think he should handle the rest himself." Chris said
" Yeah, I agree. Beginners learn from a bit of loss." Lee added
" Right..."
Kai watched on as Aichi continued to feel bad for Naoki. He then grabbed their bags and led Aichi out of the shop, saying their goodbyes to the boys and started walking.
" Where are we going?" Aichi ask
" To the place we like." Kai replied
Aichi blinked in slight confusion as they finally arrived at the park and settled down on the bench.
" This place calms you down, doesn't it?" Kai ask
" Yeah... I can gather my thoughts here more easily." Aichi said
" Listen, Aichi. That classmate of yours... I don't find him the type to start holding grudges or anything. If he did, he wouldn't have bought that deck on the way out." Kai said
" I know that..."
" Then why are you still sulking? Don't do that. It's not your fault. You did teach him the basics but he still called unneeded cards at unwanted times anyway. It's just a beginner's move. He'll learn eventually." Kai said
" ... Yeah, you're right." Aichi said, smiling before looking at the pond, " You know, when I rode Blaster Blade, he thought of me as cool. It's a little embarrassing."
" He probably got all that 'Strike, my avatar' thing because of you too. He'll be fine, but will probably continue that until there really is an avatar card out there for him." Kai said
" Yeah."
Kai then looked around a little, ignoring the spirit balls of their Guardian Spirits, before leaning forward to Aichi, who was deep in his thoughts.
" What are you thinking about, love?" Kai ask
" ... I... I want to help him. If he really is interested in Vanguard, then I want to continue teaching him and get him into it." Aichi said
" That's the Aichi I know. I'll cheer you on in my heart." Kai said
" Thank you, Kai-kun."
Kai just nodded a little and pecked Aichi's cheek.
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!