Special thanks to Okazakisan and CitrusUnshiu who helped me out with this chapter, especially with the editing of Aki's lesson with Sherry of Duel Runners.
There will be lots of RoseKnightShipping scenes in this chapter, plus some Mei/Sakura. I've decided to name the pair CherryBudShipping.
The first part of this chapter begins around the time of Chapter 58: Synchro Solution.
The chapter begins in Aki's point of view.
Disclaimer: I do not own any Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's characters! I only own my OCs!
Chapter 71: The Blossoming Rose
The classes were done for the day, but not the studying itself. I had some homework to do along with the homework from the Turbo Duel classes. As a 12th grade student, I expected lots of homework, but this sure was a lot.
I had my nose down in a small manual about Duel Runners as I walked from the main building of Duel Academy with Sakura and Mei by my side. They partially acted as my eyes while I read the book, making sure I wouldn't trip or bump into someone.
"Aki, are you sure you want to concentrate on the Turbo Duels?" Sakura spoke up.
"What do you mean?" I asked, my eyes never leaving the manual.
"I mean, we've got lots of homework and things we need to memorize and you add one more thing on your to-do-list", Sakura explained. "I'm just worried it might be too much for you. You can take the Turbo Duel classes after the graduation."
"Leave her be, Sakura", Mei sighed. "If Aki feels like she can do everything at once, let her do it."
"Okay…", Sakura mumbled.
I looked up from the manual and gave her a smile. "I appreciate your concern, Sakura. But this is something I've decided to do. I want to see the world of Turbo Duels and what my friends feel when they're one with the wind."
"My cousin, Haruka, says it feels like freedom when she drives her Duel Runner", Mei mentioned. "I might take classes after graduation."
"I don't know if I want to yet…", Sakura mumbled.
"I'm sure you'll know in time", I said.
We were by the gate of the school property when I blinked in surprise. Sherry was leaning against the gate with one foot up against it and her arms crossed, dressed in casual clothes instead of her Turbo suit. Boys and girls alike looked at her in awe and wonder of her beauty. She ignored them, but her eyes shone up when she saw me.
"Aki", she called as I approached her.
"Sherry? What are you doing here?" I asked curiously.
"Someone you know, Aki?" Mei wondered.
"Whoa… She's pretty…", Sakura said in awe.
I swore I heard Mei grunt irritably at Sakura's comment.
"Bonjour (Hello), ladies", Sherry greeted. "I've come to speak with Aki, so may I ask for some privacy?"
"Speak with me…?" I mumbled confusedly.
"Sure!" Sakura nodded. "We'll leave right away. Let's go, Mei!"
"Wait, I-!" Mei said before the pinkette grabbed her arm and pulled her away from us. Sakura waved with a toothy smile and winked before they rounded a corner, leaving us alone.
"You've got some interesting friends", Sherry commented.
"Maybe, but I really enjoy their company", I smiled before turning to the blonde. "What did you want to talk about?"
Sherry looked around for a brief moment. "There are too many eyes and ears here. Do you mind we speak somewhere else?"
"Sure. There's a park close to school."
I led Sherry to a park where there were a few cherry trees. Some of them still had their flowers, but not as much as last week. We sat down on a bench in front of a fountain that looked like Sea Dragon Lord Gishilnodon.
"How have you been since last time we saw each other?" I asked.
"Good, thank you", Sherry nodded. "Mizoguchi and I have been practicing for the WRGP, and looking for information about Iliaster."
"I see", I replied.
"I heard from Yusei you've been taking Turbo Duel classes."
"Huh? When did you hear that?"
"In the cherry tree park last week, when you guys had that hanami."
I recalled the moment when Yusei left us. So that was why he went for a moment. "Did you try and persuade him to join your team again?" I asked, suddenly feeling a bit cautious.
"No", Sherry shook her head. "I came to get an answer from him."
"And…?"
"He declined the offer to join my team."
I let out a sigh of relief as my shoulders relaxed by the brief tension, but then I snapped my head up in realization. "Wait… Did you ask him about me?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Sherry chuckled softly. "I told you before, didn't I? I find you interesting, and not just because you're a psychic Duelist."
I couldn't help but blush slightly. Some have said I was interesting, but hearing it from Sherry felt different. I wonder why.
"Yusei told me you're currently studying to become a Turbo Duelist", Sherry continued.
"Y-Yes", I nodded, suddenly feeling a bit shy. "I was able to join the classes in time before they got full. Many got inspired to become Turbo Duelists because of the WRGP."
"I can imagine that", Sherry nodded before she got silent for a moment.
I could tell she was thinking deeply about something, so I waited until she was ready. "Are you asking your friends for help with the studying?"
"For the Turbo Duel classes? Yes, I've been asking Yusei, Jack, Crow and Estelle, but they're all busy now, so I try not to bother them so much."
"If you don't mind… Would you like my help?"
"What?" I blinked my eyes in slight disbelief.
Sherry stood up from the bench to stand in front of me. Her silhouette suddenly felt so powerful, but also gentle at the same time. She wasn't as intimidating as she was during the 2-VS.-1 Turbo Duel.
"I can tell you've got potential to reach the big leagues", Sherry smiled softly before she held out a hand. "I will teach you everything I know, and I'm certain Mizoguchi wouldn't mind helping out too."
I stared at her offering hand for a moment. Why was she being so kind to me? Did she want to use me to get close to Yusei and try persuading him again?
"Do you have any ulterior motives behind this offer?" I asked cautiously.
"Non (No.)", Sherry shook her head. "I merely wish to help and get to know you. But if you want to think about it, I'll give you my number."
I thought about it for a moment. Her voice sounded sincere and her eyes didn't show any signs of deception. Perhaps… I could trust her.
"I accept your offer", I nodded before I stood up and reached my hand out and grabbed hers for a handshake. "Thank you, Sherry."
"Excellent", Sherry smiled. "And you're welcome, mon ami. (My friend.)"
XXXXXXXXXX
After exchanging contact info and address, Sherry and Mizoguchi already showed up next day after school by my house. Mom was still a bit weary, since she didn't want me to get hurt, but she relaxed a bit when Sherry told her that we will only do some basic training. She put an outfit together for me, which consisted of a dark leather jacket, a white shirt, a pair of blue jeans and dark boots. Sherry looked at me, before telling me to exchange the leather jacket with one she brought with her, which was a white leather jacket that had dark blue protectors at the shoulder and elbow area on it. She guessed my size pretty well.
We were going to practice on the road outside the house as a start. Sherry adjusted the handlebar as well as the seat of her Runner before she got off and gave me a spare helmet. I was a little nervous to get onto the large horse-framed Runner. For some reason, it felt more like an animal instead of a machine.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" Sherry spoke up amusingly. "It's not going to bite you."
"I know that!" I retorted with a pout before putting on the helmet.
Mizoguchi chuckled softly in the background.
Sherry was now standing next to the Runner again, probably to make sure that I wouldn't lose balance once I sat down on it. I lifted one leg over the Runner and settled down on the seat. I realized already that I was a bit too small for Sherry's Runner, as my feet barely reached the ground underneath it.
Sherry must have noticed that too, as she held the Runner more firmly. "Try to lean forward and grab the handlebar", she said right next to me.
For some reason I was more nervous now than before, but I couldn't pinpoint why. I did as she instructed, however, it was difficult for me to grab the handlebar and rest my feet on the ground on the same time.
"Your posture is wrong", Sherry commented as she saw my futile try to keep my feet on the ground. I looked up to her questioningly. "You don't need to place both of your feet on the ground, just one of them. Try again" she explained with a reassuring smile.
I nodded before repositioning myself. It was easier to grab the handlebar and have one foot on the ground, but still not really comfortable.
"I know my Runner is a bit too large for you", Sherry commented. "I'm taller after all, but I think you can learn the basics with my Runner before you get a training Runner yourself."
"Y-You think so?" I asked nervously as I let go of the handlebar again to sit more comfortably.
"Of course", she insisted while still having that reassuring smile on her lips. "I'm sure there will be theoretical questions, so let's start with the compounds first."
She then moved even closer to me and leaned over a bit to show me some important parts of the Runner. She pointed to all of the different parts to make sure I knew where everything was. After that she switched the Runner on, making its engine purr in delight which startled me at the same time as I was too focused on the blonde woman.
"Now that you know those parts, let's try driving in slow speed. For that you need to get into the first gear. So, what compound do you think you need to do that?" she asked, probably wanting to check if I knew all the compounds names and functions.
"Uh…", I started, looking at that one handle one the left side trying to remember its name. It was difficult not to get confused by all those terms that the tall woman just told me in a very short time. "That handle there," I said, embarrassed that I couldn't remember the name.
"Exactly!" Sherry exclaimed happily, which seemed a bit uncharacteristic for her. "You're a fast learner." I felt my cheeks become warm as I muttered a small "thank you" to her. "So, to get into the first gear, you have to hold the clutch lever and push down the gear lever on the left side of the bike."
I did as she instructed, and saw that the small display now pointed out a small '1'.
"Now to get the Runner to move, you have to let slowly go of the clutch lever, but not too fast, otherwise you'll kill the motor", she said. "Don't worry, if you don't accelerate, you won't go fast by doing that."
She also added that I should always have the fingers of my right hand rest on the brake, in case the Runner drove too fast for me. She then moved back a bit to give me enough room to try it out, which made me realize how much she had been holding the Runner just now. It was a bit difficult for me to keep the Runner steady, but I managed to do so. However, I couldn't help but cold sweat due to my nervousness. I slowly let go of the lever and as I did, the Duel Runner moved a little forward. My body flinched by the sudden move, so I quickly held the brake, which caused the Runner to stop moving, and for some reason the motor also stopped.
"Ah", the blonde woman exclaimed suddenly, making me fear that I broke something. "I forgot to tell you that whenever you brake, you have to hold the clutch lever as well, otherwise you'll kill the motor." She scratched her temple while uncharacteristically smiling sheepishly at me.
I sighed a bit. "T-This is quite difficult…", I confessed, hearing my heartbeat in my ears, not sure whether it was from the fact that I messed up or the fact that Sherry was quite cute when she did that. I shook my head slightly to get those thoughts out of my head.
"I know. I felt the same when I tried a Duel Runner for the first time", Sherry nodded after she had composed herself again. "But don't worry; practice makes perfection. Try again and don't get frightened."
She started the motor again for me. I once again let go of the lever and rolled forward as I tried keeping my balance. After all, I didn't want to crash and damage Sherry's Runner. I kept my eyes on the road as I slowly drove until the end and parked in front of the house before I could run off the road. I sighed in relief as I had managed to drive in a straight line without losing my balance.
"Good job!" Sherry called as she walked to me. "Now… Reverse a bit so you can get some space to turn around. For this, you have to use the neutral gear. So hold the lever and use the small gear lever on the left side and push it up slightly from the first gear."
After getting those detailed instructions, I was able to put the Runner into the neutral gear to go backwards, which certainly was difficult due to my short height.
"Splendid! Now, stop, and once again switch to the first gear by pushing the gear shift down hard."
I stopped and switched to first gear again. I tried moving the Runner so it would turn around. The Runner was heavy to move, but I somehow managed to stay on the tires without leaning too much to the side.
"Good. Now, do these steps in a loop while adding speed with the throttle until you get the hangs of it", Sherry instructed me. "Once you get the basics done, we'll move on to next step."
"O-Okay…", I nodded nervously.
XXXXXXXXXX
I was taking baby steps for each day with the practice runs until I felt more confident to drive properly on Sherry's Runner. Driving in a straight line worked, but I had problems with the curves. I ended up crashing more than five times until I got it.
I passed the writing exam for the license with flying colors, so I was now moving on to the second part of the exam, which consisted of several practice runs with a Duel Runner for a couple of weeks. The second exam was meant to happen around the time Paradox tried altering our planet's history. It got delayed because of those events, but only for one week.
XXXXXXXXXX
Today was the first time I would start practicing on the Duel Academy's private course with four other people in my group, in which I was the only girl. I was dressed in a red riding suit while I sat on a bench and polished my helmet, waiting for the instructor to arrive.
"Here's our soon-to-be Turbo Duelist", a voice chuckled.
I looked up and saw Mei and Sakura standing in front of me with big smiles. I noticed right away Sakura had her arms wrapped around Mei's left arm and she rested her head against her shoulder.
"Hi, you two", I smiled.
Sakura let go of Mei's arm and sat down on my right. "Are you nervous to ride a Duel Runner?"
"No, not really", I shook my head. "I've practiced a lot with Sherry's Runner, so I feel ready for this."
"Sherry, huh…?" Mei mumbled with a soft grin.
"You've grown close to Sherry, right?" Sakura asked.
"Y-Yes", I nodded with a soft blush. "She's a really good friend. We not just practice riding the Duel Runner but also design different clothes. She's been a big help for Mom too."
"So she's interested in fashion?" Mei wondered.
"It looks like that", I nodded.
"Hi, Aki!"
I smiled as I saw Leo and Luna running to me while waving their hands in the air. "Leo, Luna!" I waved back.
"Thank God our last lesson was over before your first practice run!" Leo sighed in relief as he and his twin sister reached us.
"Does this mean you'll enter the WRGP too, Aki?" Luna asked before looking at my classmates. "Hi, Mei, Sakura."
"Hi, Leo, Luna", Mei nodded.
"Done with your classes for today?" Sakura wondered.
"Yep! Now I can finally rest!" Leo sighed in relief.
Luna giggled at her brother as she sat down on my left side. "So will you be Yusei, Jack and Crow's backup Turbo Duelist, Aki?"
"No", I shook my head. "Entering the WRGP isn't my intention. I want to ride with Sherry and the others. Even you two can now Turbo Duel with your Duel Boards. I want to feel the same wind, see the same things…"
"Meaning you want to expand your world and see what your friends see, right?" Mei asked.
"I'll do my best to cheer for you, Aki", Sakura said.
"I'm sure you'll be okay, Aki", Luna nodded.
"Yeah, and it's an amazing feeling Turbo Dueling!" Leo nodded. "I can't wait to grow up and ride my first Duel Runner! You think Yusei will build one for me?"
"If you ask him nicely, Leo", Luna giggled.
"Hey!" a new rude voice called.
We looked up and saw three young men approaching us with big smirks. They were dressed in riding suits like me, so they must've been students who were aiming to become Turbo Duelists. I could tell right away they were up to no good.
"You're one of the few gals who passed the first exam, right?" the man with dirty green hair asked.
"Yes", I nodded while keeping my poker face. "What about it?"
"This isn't a place for girls", the man replied.
"Turbo Duels are a man's world", the second man with black back-licked hair added. "You'd be better off playing with your dollies at home, missy."
"Hey!" Sakura exclaimed irritably as she stood up from the bench. "Don't talk like that to our friend!"
"Yeah, go and take your sexism somewhere else", Mei added as she kept her cool, but she still glared at the trio.
"Don't you have any shame?!" Luna growled at the men.
"Yeah, back off!" Leo added with a growl.
"Ooh, scary, scary", the dirty green-haired man said sarcastically, pretending to be scared of the twins.
"We're just giving you a warning", the third man with brown hair and red highlights spoke up. "Turbo Duels ain't as easy as you think, missy."
"I never thought they'd be easy", I responded with a monotone voice.
The trio looked stunned at my response, but then glared at me. I glared back in return, showing them I wasn't going to back down because of these morons. I had prepared myself for this, so I knew this wasn't going to be a child's play.
"Come on, move it! The course is starting!" our instructor called.
I hurried to the course where five standard Runners were waiting at the start line. The three morons who tried bullying me were part of my group, but I didn't pay attention to them. Now wasn't the time to start a war.
"The World Racing Grand Prix will be unlike anything before it, so the autopilots will be cut off!" the instructor told us. "Turbo Dueling depends solely on the Turbo Duelist's skills! Understood?! Begin!"
XXXXXXXXXX
My classmates and I failed the first sharp curve of the course on our first try. The reason why I failed was because I lost myself in the feeling of the wind and freedom that I couldn't help but have fun. I felt so embarrassed when I realized Sherry had arrived to watch my first lesson on the course, but it also motivated me to try even harder.
It took lots of practice and efforts to conquer the Duel Academy's course as I kept practicing every single day after school. Weirdly, I was the only one who was on the course during the little time I had left to pass the second exam. The three fools from before never showed up to practice. I was willing to share the course and take turns with them.
Both Sherry and Yusei showed up from time to time and gave me advice whenever I failed the damn sharp curve or did something wrong. It had cost me more than a dozen bruises until I got it. By the time I managed to conquer the sharp curve, both Yusei and Estelle left New Domino City for some kind of mission, so I only had Sherry left to assist me with the maneuvers.
In the end, I was the only one in my group who passed the second exam.
I had less than a week to prepare myself for the graduation-certification Duel, but that didn't mean I could get lazy now. Sherry brought her Runner to the course to show me a few tricks she had learned throughout the years as a Turbo Duelist.
"While you've been taught the basics of riding a Duel Runner, there are still many tricks left for you to learn", Sherry told me as she sat on her Runner. "I'll show you one of the tricks I consider essential."
She drove off to the end of the straight line and turned around before driving back to me. Around the half-way of the course, she turned her Runner around and made it go backwards.
"A turnback…?" I mumbled hesitantly.
Sherry braked and got off her Runner before removing her helmet. "It may look hard, but once you learn this maneuver, you'll be able to dodge obstacles even better. Now, you try it."
I was a bit hesitant at first, but if Sherry said this turnback was important to learn, then I was going to try it. I got on my borrowed Runner and drove off. I felt a little stiff as I prepared myself for the turnback. Once I reached the middle, I forcefully steered my Runner around. I instinctively pushed the brake lever at the same time and that caused me to lose control. I crashed on the course again while my Runner bounced onto the grass.
"This might be kind of tough…", I mumbled to myself as I laid on the concrete.
I heard running footsteps as I remained on the ground. Sherry appeared within my eye sight as she looked worried. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah…", I nodded before I pushed myself up with my elbows, hissing slightly due to the pain in my back. "Ow… This will take some time to learn."
"Yeah, the maneuver was something I had to sacrifice lots of blood, sweat and tears for", Sherry nodded before she grabbed my hands and helped me up on my feet. "And even a broken arm."
"You actually broke your arm?" I exclaimed in shock.
"Yes, but only once", Sherry nodded. "I had no time getting hurt while Mizoguchi and I were on the run and looking for Iliaster. We were once caught by a group of men sent by the rival company when my arm was broken, but we managed to beat them down without taking damage."
I couldn't help but get a little sad when I heard part of her life story. She had been on the run since she was a child and she and her guardian couldn't even take a break when one of them got hurt.
I shook my head to get rid of the sad thoughts before I walked to my fallen Runner. "I guess I have to practice a lot without trying breaking a bone or two."
Sherry helped me pick up the Runner. It had a few dents on its frame, but luckily it wasn't the aspirants' job to fix the wrecked Runners since they were Duel Academy's property.
"Just don't overdo it, Aki", the blonde told me. "The best idea is not forcing yourself. The feeling should come naturally; like you're one with the Runner."
"One with the Runner…?"
What did she mean by that? How could I become one with the Runner?
XXXXXXXXXX
There was still time before the final exam, but I kept failing on the turnback maneuver Sherry showed me. When I thought I got it, everything would end up the same with me crashing on the course.
Sherry tried coming up with different methods to conquer the turnback, but none of them worked so far. Her words of becoming one with the Duel Runner were still a big question mark to me. I still didn't know how I could become one with the Runner. After all, I couldn't connect to it like a computer.
What was I missing?
It was now just two days before the exam. I decided to take a break and rest my aching body that was covered with bruises. I rested on my bed while reading a book about proper maintenance of Duel Runners. I didn't have my own Runner yet, but I was going to get one someday and I wanted to be prepared.
The quiet moment was shattered when my smartphone rang. I picked it up from the nightstand and saw it was Sherry. She knew I was taking a day off, so I wondered why she was calling.
Leaving the thought aside, I answered the call. "Hello?"
"Hi, Aki. How do you feel today?" Sherry asked.
"A little sore. Why do you ask?"
"I think I came up with a method that could help you out with the turnback as I figured out what the issue could be."
"Really?"
"Yes. And this one doesn't require a Duel Runner."
"What is this method?" I asked, excited to hear her suggestion.
"Ballet."
My excitement turned into confusion. "Ballet…? As in the dance ballet?"
"Yes."
"Um… How does ballet get in the picture?"
"You'll see." I could partially hear the smile she must have had on her lips when she said that. "I found a place where you can rent a private dance studio for a couple of hours. Let's meet up there in an hour. I'll send you the address. Also, pack some clothes that feel comfortable to dance with."
I still didn't get it how dancing came into the picture, but if Sherry said it could be a method, maybe it was worth giving it a try.
"Okay. I'll see you soon."
XXXXXXXXXX
I have never been in a dance studio before, but I had seen documentaries about them on television. The studio was bigger than I thought it would be. There was an entire wall with mirrors and another wall had a railing from corner to corner with mirrors from floor to ceiling.
Both Sherry and I had changed into athletic outfits for the dance session. I was dressed in a relatively loose fitting black crop-top, dark blue (almost midnight-blue) leggings and a pair of running shoes. Sherry was mainly dressed in formfitting white clothes that had some accents of red on the side. Her hair was also tied up into a ponytail, which made her look like a different person. Mizoguchi was waiting outside of the studio, keeping guard.
Sherry held a two pairs of ballet slippers and handed the smaller pair to me. "Here. Put these on", she commanded while she leaned down to put her own pair on.
I switched shoes and got quite a surprise when I put on the slippers. "T-They seem to be too small."
"That's because they are pointe shoes", Sherry explained as she straightened herself up again, already wearing her pair, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "They are supposed to be small and tight by the toes."
"I-I don't think I can use these", I confessed hesitantly.
"Give it some time", Sherry said. "It will feel uncomfortable at first, but you'll get used to it. If it is too much, I'll ask Mizoguchi to fetch toe pads."
"Okay…", I nodded as I patted the tip of the shoes against the floor.
"Alright, first things first. We'll start with some stretching before getting into the dance itself."
"Ah, yes, just like in P.E. classes when we warm up our bodies", I nodded.
"Pretty much like that, yes", Sherry nodded. "I'll help you."
I sat down on the floor before Sherry helped me push my upper body forward as I stretched my arms forward to reach my feet. I grunted slightly as I still wasn't used to stretching, after all, it hasn't been that long since I've started to attend Duel Academy again.
I also got surprised when I saw how flexible Sherry's body was. She stretched it as if it was no big deal. She even stretched her legs wide open while resting on her stomach and stretched her arms forward!
"Doesn't that hurt?" I asked in surprise.
Sherry chuckled softly. "It did when I first started learning ballet back home, but the more I practiced the more I got used to it. I actually never stopped practicing when Mizoguchi and I were on the run. After all, it was the perfect way to make my body flexible to fight the enemy," she said, a smirk visible on her lips.
After a few minutes of stretching, Sherry led me to the wall with the railing. She demonstrated the different positions of the dance, for example the position with a 90-degree rotation of the leg from the hip joint while holding onto the railing for balance.
I tried doing some of the positions. I somewhat managed to do the first position. However, the second position caused pain to my twisted legs.
"O-Ow…", I hissed softly as I had no choice but to twist my legs back to normal.
"Don't overdo it", Sherry said as she stretched her right leg up in a straight line with the help of her right hand while using the other hand to hold onto the railing. "It takes many years of practice to achieve a flexible body."
"Okay, but I still don't know what ballet and Duel Runners have in common", I said as I massaged the right calf.
Sherry silently finished her stretch before she helped me with a movement. I held onto the railing as the blonde taught me how to rise, or to use the correct terminology: relevé. I lifted the heels high enough so I had my body weight on the balls of my feet.
"Make sure to not rest your weight on the tips of your toes", Sherry instructed me. "The pictures you might have seen are very deceiving. They're actually not balancing entirely on their toes."
"Really? I didn't know that."
"Now, try balancing on your left foot."
I stood next to the railing and did the relevé as Sherry instructed. She helped me push my upper body forward as much as I managed while holding onto the railing with my left hand. I lifted my right leg up behind me, but I couldn't make a straight line. The muscles in my body protested the more I forced myself.
Sherry held my right leg and helped me a little, but she stopped when I started grunting softly in discomfort. "Okay, I see your limit is around here. Not exactly the ideal, but it is a good start."
She lowered my leg down before I sighed in relief that the pain was over. "Let's take a short break here", she said.
I was sore by the stretching, so it felt nice with a break. I grabbed my water bottle and drank a little. However, I was still confused about this whole ordeal. "Sherry. Can you tell me what ballet and Duel Runners have in common? I still don't get it," I admitted, before taking a few more sips of the water.
Sherry wiped her neck with a towel before chuckling softly. "I've already given a few clues about it. It starts with 'B'."
"B…?" I mumbled confusedly as I rolled back my memories to figure out the b-word. "B…as in…balance?"
"Correct! One of the keys to drive a Runner is having a good sense of balance. It's the same with different kind of dances, but ballet is the best way to practice it. If you manage to find the correct balance between you and the Runner, you can do all kinds of maneuvers, including the turnback."
I think I was getting it now. I mentally face palmed myself for not getting it sooner. It was all about balance! How could I forget something so basic?
"I didn't realize that. I feel like a fool for forgetting that", I said and smiled sheepishly at the taller woman.
"It's okay", Sherry chuckled. "It's easy to forget it when you're in the moment."
Now that I had found the key, I had to keep working. "Let's continue! I won't give up until the very end!" I said determinedly.
"That's the spirit."
XXXXXXXXXX
Today was the day I was going to have my certification Duel. I was a little nervous that I could barely eat. I managed to get some omelet in me when Yusei called me and asked if I could show up at the garage. He had recently returned from Crash Town with Estelle and Kalin after it was revealed they had been on a stealth mission to free the town from tyranny.
I asked Sherry to drive me to the garage, since her Runner was big enough to carry two people. Actually, I've never driven together with her, but it felt really nice to just feel the wind and not having to focus on driving myself. I had a sports bag with me that contained my suit which I would change into at Duel Academy before the exam.
I pushed open the twin doors and stepped inside, getting greeted by the smell of oil. "Good morning", I called as Sherry walked behind me.
"Yo!" Crow waved with a big smile.
My eyes widened at the sight of this new burgundy-colored Runner in the middle of the garage. "What is this?"
"Yes, we expect some thanks", Jack said in a half-sarcastic voice.
"It's your personal Duel Runner, Aki", Yusei explained, nodding at the Runner.
There were still some wires connected to the Runner as Bruno worked on his computer to make sure the CPU was okay and there were no bugs. "It's almost done and then you can bring it to the course", the super-mechanic spoke up.
"For me…?" I mumbled in disbelief.
I was touched that Yusei and everyone else had built my very own Duel Runner. It looked like a sleek and magnificent beast.
"I worked on the brakes", Crow said while he wiped his oily hands with a rag.
"I painted the exterior", Jack added, which I now noticed he was wearing a dirty white shirt that was stained by the same color as my Runner.
"You guys…", I almost cried a tear, but I quickly wiped it off.
"Say… Is the Runner based off of Estelle's Runner?" Sherry asked. "The bladewings resembles a lot of hers."
"That's right", Yusei confessed. "I asked her for the blueprints of her Crimson Starlight to use it as a base to design Aki's Runner."
I couldn't help but cry a little bit in joy by everyone's kind gesture. They all have contributed on my Duel Runner and helped me with my studies and practice runs. I wiped my tears off as determination blossomed within me.
"I'll make sure to get my license!" I nodded.
That was a promise. I wasn't going to let my friends down after all the hard work they had put into my Duel Runner.
"All done!" Bruno called as he removed the wires from the Runner. "It's ready to go, Aki."
"Thank you", I smiled widely.
"Say, do you have a good name for your Runner, Aki?" Crow asked curiously.
"Huh?" I blinked confusedly, not expecting that question. "No, not yet…"
"There's no rush to name your Runner, Aki", Yusei said. "You can come up with something after the certification Duel."
"I will", I nodded as I gently caressed the front of my Runner, briefly imagining I was patting a baby version of my Black Rose Dragon. "And I will take good care of it."
Because I still didn't have my license to drive a Runner on the streets, I called a tow truck company to bring my Runner to the Duel Academy's course.
I arrived early before my final exam, so I was able to change into my riding suit and had some extra minutes to go through my Turbo Deck. By the time I walked out to the course with my Duel Runner, which was still busy with the Turbo Duel before mine. My friends and Ish were sitting in the gallery and waved to me when they saw me. Carly even had her camera set up to take pictures of me, which was actually a commission from my parents. I waved back as I noticed my former Turbo Duel classmates sitting by the corner of the gallery. They looked jealous that I was the only one who passed the last exam, so what were they doing here? Were they assuming I was going to fail the final exam and came here to laugh at me?
The student crashed by the sharp corner as the Security officer drove around the course before they parked by the gallery. They removed the helmet and revealed none other than Trudge himself.
"Geez, don't think a license-qualification Duel will be a piece of cake", he commented at the fallen Duelist.
"It's Trudge!" Crow exclaimed in surprise from the gallery.
"Well, aren't these a bunch of familiar faces!" Trudge smirked at my friends before he turned to me with a playful smirk. "Well, Aki, luck sure wasn't on your side. More and more people have been trying to get their license as soon as they announced the Grand Prix would be held, y'see. This test is to weed them out. You need to beat me to pass. And don't think I'll go easy on you just 'cause we're acquaintances."
I smirked in return. "I never once thought of that, Trudge. Show me your worst."
XXXXXXXXXX
I almost made a fool out of myself when I temporary forgot I couldn't activate Speed Spells on the very first turn of a Turbo Duel because I didn't have any Speed Counters. Besides that mistake, I won the Turbo Duel that almost ended in a disaster when large iron bars next to the course almost fell on top of me. Thanks to all the training and Sherry's words from before, my determination grew bigger as I refused to give up. I managed to dodge the bars and defeat Trudge.
While it was announced I had passed the final exam, I heard a commotion from the stands. Both Trudge and I turned our attention at the commotion and I saw the three idiots who failed the second exam and made fun of me. They were being cornered by Jack, Estelle, and Sherry who looked very angry.
Trudge's colleagues hurried to the scene and handcuffed the three men before leading them away. "I wonder if those three have something to do with that stunt…", he commented.
I received the paperwork I needed to receive my driving license before I hurried to my friends who were waiting for me. "What happened?"
"Those three buffoons set up a trap for you with those iron bars", Mei explained.
"I overheard them talking about you when the iron bars fell onto the course, so I knew they were behind of it", Jack added as he crossed his arms.
"When we confronted them they denied it all, but I told them I had everything recorded with my spy glasses and I got the part when they used a small device to detonate the bombs they had planted onto the iron bars support", Estelle said. "They will now shake bars for their actions."
I was quite disappointed at the men that they took such extreme actions to get revenge for me passing the second exam.
"Congratulations, Aki!" Sakura called, snapping me out of my trance.
"You did a great job out there", Mei nodded with a smile.
I giggled before my classmates and I shared a group hug. "Thank you, you two." I let go of them and straightened up as Sherry walked to me.
She held out a hand to me with a smile. "Congratulations, Aki. You're now officially a Turbo Duelist."
I blushed at the statement before I held out my hand to her. "And it's all thanks to you, Sherry. I remembered your words and they pushed me forward to not give up."
Sherry smiled before we shook hands. "You're welcome. I'm glad I was able to help you."
Sherry and I let go of each other's hands before Yusei walked to me and held out his hand. "Welcome to the world of Turbo Duels, Aki", he said.
"Thank you", I smiled and shook his hand.
"This means the Turbo team is finally complete!" Leo cheered. "We're ready for the World Racing Grand Prix!"
XXXXXXXXXX
Mom and Dad had prepared a large feast to celebrate my victory for passing the certification Duel, so I asked everyone to come and join the celebration in the evening. The ones who got happiest about it were Crow and Leo because they loved to eat.
It had been a while since my house was so lively, but I didn't mind that. I was glad to finally make some good memories instead of the lonely moments I had to endure when I was a child.
After mingling for a while, I felt a bit hot and had to step outside to get some fresh air. I walked out to the small garden to check the roses I took care of. I found the garden bench and sat down before releasing a soft sigh. I leaned back and looked at the night sky in solitude.
It still felt a bit unrealistic that I was now an official Turbo Duelist, but I was happy. Now, I could keep up with my friends and be part of their world. I felt more of an equal like this. Of course, I always felt like I was part of the group, but it still had hurt a little that I couldn't keep up with the same pace as the others. However, they stopped and reached out their hands to help me catch up to them.
"So this is where the hero of the day snuck out to."
I looked to my left and saw Sherry approach me with two glasses of iced tea. I giggled softly at her remark. "I just needed some fresh air", I explained as I took the glass Sherry held out to me. "Thank you."
Sherry sat down next to me before she took a gulp of her drink. "So…", she started slowly, "How does it feel to be a Turbo Duelist?"
"It still feels weird, but it's also a wonderful feeling at the same time", I replied as I looked at the sky. "I can't wait to challenge myself and sharpen my Dueling skills."
"We all saw how nervous you were at the beginning", Sherry commented. "Especially when you forgot about the Speed Counters", she added, teasing me a bit about my mistake with a small smile on her lips.
"Y-Yeah, I was so nervous to lose control if I let go of the handles that I fell into some kind of trance", I laughed sheepishly.
"That happens to the best of us. But you managed to recover and concentrate on the rest of the Turbo Duel. And you did a great job with the turnback."
"Thank you. The ballet sessions helped me out a lot…even though my muscles got sore."
She chuckled a bit at that. "It will get better if you keep practicing, but that is up to you whether you want to continue or not."
Both of us got silent as we looked up at the sky. I sipped my iced tea from time to time as I just enjoyed the nature and Sherry's company, even though there were some weak noises coming from downtown not far from home.
"Say, Aki…", Sherry spoke up after a while. "Have you even considered becoming a professional Duelist in the future?"
I got a bit caught off guard by the question. "No…? I actually haven't thought about it. Actually after joining Arcadia Movement, I never thought about my future again and even though this is all in the past now, I still didn't focus my thoughts on my future either," I confessed, slightly feeling unwell talking about my past again.
"I see," she nodded understandingly. Again after some silence she added, "Would you like to advance your Dueling skills by joining a team?"
I blinked confusedly. "A team? But I'm already part of Yusei's team for the World Racing Grand Prix."
Sherry didn't look too happy with my answer. "As a back-up Duelist or part of the pit crew?" she asked, averting her gaze.
"Pit crew… Why do you ask?" I wondered, not only because it was a weird question for her to ask, but also because she was acting a bit weird. She mumbled something in French that I didn't understand, before turning her head back to me, smiling softly.
"Would you like to join my team for the World Racing Grand Prix and be our third Turbo Duelist?" she asked with a certain tone that I couldn't pinpoint exactly. Was it hope? I wasn't so sure about it. Also, did she really just ask that?
"Uh… I… I don't know", I shook my head. "Wait… Why would you want to recruit me to your team? I've just become a Turbo Duelist and I don't want to betray my friends."
Her smile vanished yet again at my sentence, but Sherry tried to explain why I should join her team.
"You know, the best experience in Turbo Dueling comes from participating in tournaments", she said. "As for the part of you betraying your friends…" I swore I saw a small frown on her lips, but it soon was replaced by her perfect poker face. "Observe it from this point of view; you Signers and I have Iliaster as our common enemy. If more of us participates in the Grand Prix, we might be able to confront them in due time. It's like the saying; the more the merrier."
I guess Sherry had a good point with that, but there was still something I didn't get. "But why me?"
"Why not you?" Sherry retorted, chuckling a bit. "I told you before; you are an interesting character and I can see the potential within you. You managed to master one of the most advanced techniques in Turbo Dueling without having much time to do so. You should be very proud of how far you've come."
I couldn't help but blush at the compliment. "It's all thanks to you and everyone else that I've come the far as that", I looked away as I twirled some strands of my front bangs around my finger.
Sherry smiled a bit before standing up. "Take some time to consider my offer, but I want to hear your answer by the end of May. If you're uncertain, I can talk to Yusei and tell him why I want you to join my team."
I gave her a nod as answer, which was enough for her. She then grabbed her empty glass and walked back to the house whereas I remained on the bench and released a soft sigh.
So much happened today and now I got an offer to join Sherry's team and be their third Turbo Duelist. Should I accept it? Was I really that good I could keep up with Sherry and Mizoguchi?
Then again, she said I could get lots of experience if I participated in the World Racing Grand Prix as a Duelist and not as a sidekick. Would it be selfish of me if I wanted to ride my Duel Runner and fight together with my Duel Monsters and Black Rose Dragon?
I had to think about it before making a decision that I wouldn't regret.