notes: rei and asuka are friends, and this is the hill i die on. the story takes place in the time passing between episodes 162-163, season 4. it was never specified how much time/how many days were in between those two episodes, so i've decided to work with that. since i've always written with asuka's pov, i am experimenting with rei!
posted for my friend's birthday; HAPPY BIRTHDAY! (ˆ⌣ˆԅ)
disclaimer: i do not own yugioh gx.
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pair of maidens
rei & asuka
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i.
"Rei-chan," Kenzan begins, smiling weakly. He walks along with her through the semi-crowded corridors of the school, helping her carry her camera while Rei's hands are occupied with stacks of newly-processed photos they both picked up this morning. "You're sighing again-saurus."
Purposefully, Rei sighs again, loud enough for him to realize that, newsflash, she doesn't care because who in the name of love does Kenzan think he is? "Are you keeping track, Kenzan-kun?" she replies, dryly giving him a look. As they walk, she flips through the photo stack one by one to make sure that each picture is ready to be compiled into the yearbook for the third years.
Kenzan returns the look, but appears more consoling than Rei's lovely sarcastic one. "I know you're sad about losing the tag duel yesterday, but—"
Something in her snaps, and she sighs even more loudly.
Rei flawlessly ignores each stare they get from passersby because she only cares about the opinion of one person, and he isn't here in this corridor or building right now. Oh, woe is her! "Judai-sama!" she wails, helplessly. (Kenzan worriedly cringes at the photos in her hands that she accidentally crunched.) "Are you trying to open up old wounds, Kenzan-kun?!" And to think, she thought today would be relatively all right. Ugh, 'all right' her butt!
Using her camera as a (pathetic) shield, he squares his shoulders and scrambles for words, "It's not old if it was just yesterday, Rei-chan!"
She quietly glares at him, flames in her eyes.
"Er— I wasn't trying to do any of that-saurus! I just want you to know that it's not good to mope-don!"
"How could I not mope?!" she responds dramatically, both of them turning a corner into a more secluded hallway to the student council room. Rei looks at her hands and lifts up a photo of her prince she coincidentally flipped to for Kenzan to see just how sore her heart is. Just think… She could've won his heart yesterday! "I almost had it! You saw me, Kenzan-kun! Everyone saw! I was so close!"
Kenzan nods along. "And that's when Asuka-senpai destroyed your card with her own-don." He nods again, approvingly. "Cyclone, huh… I didn't get to check her set cards since it was still her turn, but it was a good tactic—"
"Whose side are you on?!" Rei whines, gazing wistfully at the photo she holds of Judai-sama, her, and Asuka-senpai. Ah, what she would give to have a photo of just her and her prince—
"Nobody's!" answers Kenzan quickly, placatingly. "But y'know, as scared as I was of Asuka-senpai, I think you made a good move with that card. She seemed happier when it was over-saurus."
She perks, piqued. Kenzan speaks as if the drift between Judai and Asuka several days ago meant deeper than just a small argument. Rei doesn't have much memories of what happened after the whole trapped-in-another-dimension-with-zombies thing, and even then, her abnormal fever around that time deterred her to remember more. For those two to be so… serious and solemn, she wonders what issue it was about. Hm, awfully suspicious...
She's about to ask Kenzan about it, but Rei accidentally collides with someone and drops half of her photos to the ground.
"Oh no!" She immediately knees down to gather some of the photos as Kenzan helpfully does the same. "I'm sorry—I wasn't looking!"
The other person also knees down and gently lifts up the remaining photos to her after collecting them. When Rei looks at the pile, she sees a blue fingerless glove. "It's okay, Rei-chan. It's also my fault for standing in the hallway."
This voice—! Rei immediately looks up, startled. "Asuka-senpai!"
Asuka merely smiles back as she patiently lets Rei recompose herself and accepts the photos gathered.
Clumsily, Rei stumbles up from the floor and accepts the photos Kenzan also picked up for her. "Why are you here? Isn't your classroom the other way?"
Kenzan quietly, and awkwardly, lets them talk as Asuka replies, "I was discussing something with Chronos-sensei and Samejima." A pause, then she resumes, looking eager, "I decided that I'm going to study abroad after graduation!"
Rei barely processes the words into her head. Study abroad? "W-Where?"
"America," Asuka replies, looking excited. Rei rarely sees her this enthusiastic before, usually associating her upperclassman with poise and calmness. She must be really passionate about her studies. America, huh… Sounds nice. "I was told there was a spot in the North American Duel College for me!"
"That's great, Asuka-senpai!" congratulates Kenzan, cheerfully. But immediately, he also starts looking teary-eyed and sad. "Wait a minute—this means you won't be in Japan anymore-don! It won't be the same! I don't like that-saurus!"
And just like that, the waterworks begin. (Luckily, Rei is used to this every time Kenzan needs to work on his speech for graduation day.)
Oh, not again… Knowing that he's actually a pretty sensitive guy, Rei sympathetically pats his shoulder as Asuka smiles apologetically and says, "Sorry, Kenzan-kun, but I decided that I was going to challenge myself for the future. To do that, I need to push myself and make it happen with my own power."
"It seems like you really thought this through, Asuka-senpai," observes Rei.
"That's because I did, Rei-chan." This smile that Asuka wears seems a bit more secretive. "At first, I honestly didn't know what I wanted to do, or where I wanted to go. I thought I'd be satisfied by staying here as a research student, but..." Asuka cradles her right hand, as if she had held something precious with it. "But I guess yesterday's tag duel helped guide me to what I really wanted to do. I want to be out there and make a future for myself. Times are going to change, and I want good changes to happen to me. I want to know what my limits are, and if I can handle them by myself."
Kenzan becomes a bit teary-eyed again at their upperclassman's earnest words, but Rei continues to quietly stare at her and the hand she is cradling.
She never knew what exactly happened between Judai and Asuka yesterday, but a part of Rei knew it must've had something to do with that conversation those two tried to have on the day when she and Asuka went to take his photos in the forest. Their business was none of her business, so she assumed it was nothing too bad and thought giving her Judai-sama an invitation to the tag duel competition would cheer him up. Because Judai-sama loves dueling and that's when he's happiest.
But lately, he doesn't really seem happy anymore. And as much as she hates to admit it, he did seem happier after the tag duel finished up.
He was happier after getting Asuka back for his partner.
While she was relieved that Judai and Asuka managed to reconcile over… whatever they were arguing about, it also greatly irritated Rei to know that yesterday was the closest she'll ever achieve with her prince. She worked so hard just to prepare that Partner Change card, and it was destroyed by a simple Cyclone spell card that was conveniently set! That's just unfair! And it's even more unfair because it's Asuka!
Begrudgingly, she thinks that it's absolutely unfair for Asuka to be her love rival, because she's too nice for Rei to even hate. She could remember herself two days ago, trying to take a photo of Asuka in the classroom for the yearbook photos, but Asuka always looked depressed in each retake to a point that it genuinely frustrated Rei a bit.
And yet, here is Asuka right now, easily giving her a real, true smile. Oh, Rei definitely picked up those signs correctly alright.
At times like these, she can't exactly be mad at Asuka when Asuka clearly has good tastes in men like her. Rei may be a maiden in love, but she would like to think that she's a mature maiden in love. Maturity is always a good selling point when it comes to love. (She's not perfect at it, but hey, she's trying. For Judai-sama, of course.)
Rei looks down at the photo of her, Judai, and Asuka that she still holds. Fighting back a sigh, she (maturely) extends her hand and offers the photo to her love rival. All's fair in love and war after all. Besides, she did try to antagonize Asuka for a while during that tag duel, so this would also be like a peace offering.
Curious, Asuka stares at it. "Rei-chan…?"
Casually, she replies, "Keep it. I think this photo would be better off staying with you, Asuka-senpai." She doesn't recall seeing any photos of just Judai and Asuka together in this whole stack she has, which makes Rei want to snicker at her presence in the photo being a third wheel, but decides not to because maturity doesn't condone that. (But at least she's still free to think about it. Ha.) "Think of it as a keepsake to remember us with when you go to America, 'kay? I'm sure we already have enough photos here for the yearbook anyway."
Asuka looks touched, gingerly accepting Rei's gift. "Thank you. I'll treasure it then."
Just to let her know that there are no hard feelings between them as rivals in love, Rei beckons for her to lean closer. As Asuka curiously does so, Rei grins and whispers behind her hand, "I think Judai-sama will be very happy knowing that this photo won't end up being published, so you're doing him a big favor by keeping it."
She smiles as Asuka laughs. "We'll let him figure that out on his own!" Nodding along, Rei watches as her senior smiles at the photo before walking past her and Kenzan slightly. "Well, I'm going to get ready for class! Chronos-sensei asked me to stop by to check with you about the photos, but it seems like you two already have it under control. See you later!"
Rei waves at her as Asuka walks past them down the corridor. Once her love rival makes a turn into the hallway she and Kenzan were at earlier, Rei resumes walking to the student council room.
Kenzan follows her, looking like he's out of the loop, which is obviously true. What a slowpoke. "What was that-don?"
"What was what, Kenzan-kun?" she asks, casually.
"Rei-chan…" He starts looking incredulous, like she somehow grew an ugly third eye on her forehead. "You just gave away a photo with Judai-aniki in it-saurus! Are you feverish, by any chance? The nurse's office should be nearby—"
Why is he so dramatic? Rei rolls her eyes because mature maidens in love shouldn't smack people, despite the strong urge to. "Kenzan-kun," she begins, like she is telling him old, wise wisdom. "As a maiden in love, I have to be supportive of other maidens in love because we're all in the same boat. It wouldn't be good if that boat starts sinking, y'know." And while she doesn't admit it much in public, Asuka is also her friend.
"Same boat-saurus?" he mutters, looking confused.
"You'll understand when you fall in love," she says, seriously.
Kenzan defeatedly shakes his head, like an idiot. "But I'm not a maiden-don!"
On some days, she wishes that she had a smarter assistant. Today is one of those days. "Nevermind."
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ii.
Today is another day, another day of student council work. This confuses Rei, simply because seeing Asuka outside the door of the student council office on a Saturday is not something from her agenda today.
"Asuka-senpai… Did you need something?" Rei inquires politely, shifting a copy of the sample yearbook template the council will use for this year. She is supposed to use it to figure out which photos should definitely be in the actual yearbook and figure out the layouts before they can start making digital labels and captions. She also needs to make sure there is at least one photo of every student at school, which is probably a sign that Rei has her work cut out for her, given her lack of helpers today.
Asuka actually looks a little awkward as she stands there, clutching at her arm. "I wanted to ask… Rei-chan, are you mad at me? For the tag duel outcome, I mean."
Eyebrow arching up, Rei averts her eyes.
Well… She's a bit annoyed that her plan was ruined, but she wouldn't really say she's mad…
Okay, maybe she might've been a teensy, itsy bit mad—but she was also frustrated and confused too! She was mad that Asuka destroyed her Partner Change card, she was frustrated that her whole plan was destroyed because of Asuka, and she was confused because didn't Judai and Asuka have a fight during that duel? It just didn't make much sense to Rei that those two were able to have a fight and reconcile with each other not even two hours after they fought.
Their fight wasn't in her plans or predictions at all, but she saw the opportunity and tried to exploit it in her favor. For a while, it did end up working… But after reflecting back on it, Rei feels like that might've been too petty, even for herself. Is that why Asuka thinks she's mad at her?
"No…" she answers, sounding equally awkward. "What makes you think that, Asuka-senpai?"
Smiling sheepishly, Asuka replies, "You didn't look that happy when Judai and I won…"
Since everyone knows of her fondness for her Judai-sama, it doesn't surprise her that Asuka thinks he had something to do with this, which is honestly true in this case, but her good conscience tells her that there's no need to make Asuka feel even guiltier. To quell some of her senior's concerns, Rei tries to smile. "I was just in the heat of the moment, Asuka-senpai. It was a great duel!" Kenzan-kun wouldn't stop saying how great of a pair you two were.
As she walks forward to the student council room, Asuka politely steps aside to let her enter before following behind. "I'm glad," her senior says, relieved. "I was also in the heat of the moment, so I just wanted to make sure there are no hard feelings between us."
A little touched by Asuka's thoughtfulness, Rei smiles more genuinely. "No hard feelings at all, I promise! Besides…" She winks playfully, giving a dreamy sigh. "No matter how short the moment was, I got to duel alongside my beloved Judai-sama! I thank you, Asuka-senpai!"
Asuka looks like she just ate a sour lemon, but is trying pretty hard to hide it. "O-Oh… I'm… glad to have helped you, Rei-chan."
Rei politely restrains a laugh. She is definitely picking up more signs from Asuka. Obvious ones.
Sitting down at her usual chair, Rei lays the yearbook template on the table before grabbing the pile of photos she and Kenzan brought over from the other day. Even the mere lighting in photos will affect the overall presentation, and the presentation must be pretty! Photography's not her passion, but her parents sometimes enjoyed taking photos during their family trips, so she's remembered a thing or two to help her. Not only that, but there is another thing she wants to do with these photos—
Before she can start fully immersing herself in her work, she sees Asuka still awkwardly standing in the room.
It's a weekend, so there shouldn't be any classes right now. Maybe she doesn't have any plans today? "Would you like to take a seat?" Rei politely offers, tilting her head and gesturing to a chair next to her. "You can help me sort photos! It's pretty fun."
Her hesitation obvious, Asuka accepts the offer and slowly situates herself on the chair. "Will I be in the way when the others come?"
Blithely, Rei starts sliding half of the photo stack to her with a friendly grin. Asuka's gloves are missing, so she must be here to simply spend her weekend off. "No, because it'll just be me and you here! Everyone got the day off, but I, being the leader of the council, decided to be productive today. No time to waste!"
Rei assumes that her cheeriness managed to shake off Asuka's reluctance, because Asuka starts looking relaxed enough to look comfortable in her seat. "All right then. What do I do first, Rei-chan?"
Her finger points to her own piles of photos for an example. "Well... I wanted to separate the piles by everyone's years, but since there'll be a focus on you third years, I was thinking of making piles of what activity everyone is doing. Activities like dueling, studying, or just socializing. There are also some taken from last year's summer vacations. I already laid out the piles, so you can just find more photos from your end to add on, Asuka-senpai."
"What about that?" Asuka gestures to a stack of papers and some scrolls nearby the pile of photos.
Rei fights back an unladylike snort. "Oh, that's Kenzan-kun's speech. He's been… having some trouble writing it. He insisted on writing it by himself, so you don't have to worry about it."
Understandingly, Asuka quietly nods and starts going through her half of the photos, looking determined. Gee, if only Kenzan was this tenacious about work, Rei wouldn't have so much to do. Maybe he'll finally pick up the slack when he realizes that graduation is less than six months away.
With Asuka looking like she no longer needs help, Rei goes back to her pile… and starts subtly looking for a few specific photos she really wants to categorize for the third years. It's been on her mind ever since she first took these photos—
But maybe she wasn't being subtle enough, because Asuka casually clears her throat before sliding a few photos over to her, like it's perfectly normal. "These are the ones with Judai in it, if you want them."
Yes, she wants them. She really wants them.
Rei says nothing for a bit, feeling her face intensely burn as she accepts the pile. Believing that she picked up some of the signs, she honestly didn't think Asuka would actually find and offer these photos to her. "Thank you…" she manages, meekly.
In this silence, Asuka makes a small noise in response before she quietly continues to go through the other photos in peace. Still a bit embarrassed, Rei resumes her own work as well, looking through the photos that contain Judai's presence.
They work like this for a while, and Rei thinks it's not bad hanging out with Asuka like this. She's still a bit annoyed—not mad—about the tag duel, but maybe she can let it slide this time because Judai-sama finally smiled yesterday and it was because of Asuka.
And to Rei, Judai-sama's happiness is her happiness.
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iii.
"Kenzan-kun isn't with you this time?" Asuka asks her, standing at the entrance of 'Rei's' dorm, leaning against the frame of the open door. (Rei left it open so that she didn't have to open it with her hands full later.)
"No, he isn't." Opening a drawer, Rei resumes checking for anything she might have missed packing. Since the third years' graduation is so close, she was told that she'd be able to move into the Obelisk Blue girls dormitory. She agreed because it's pointless to stay if her Judai-sama is going to be graduating this same year anyway. (She also feels like he would appreciate the extra privacy.) "Why do you ask, Asuka-senpai?"
Taking out a shirt of hers buried in the drawer, Rei neatly folds it before putting it into her bag. She listens as her friend replies amusedly, "Because I thought he was your pack mule."
"He is!" Rei smugly agrees, zipping her bag up. She'd be lying if she said that bossing Kenzan around wasn't fun. "But he said he was going fishing with Judai-sama today." Disappointedly, she scowls. "I was about to join, but Kenzan-kun had the nerve to tell me that it was boys only! Doesn't that frustrate you too, Asuka-senpai?" To think that a 'boys only' rule is the one thing keeping her away from her prince! Gah!
Humored, Asuka nods. "Definitely. It sometimes feels like I'm on a different planet."
To showcase her disappointment, Rei shakes her head as if she is ashamed of the world. "There are too many boys on this island."
Stifling a laugh, Asuka offers, "When you officially move into the girls dorm, you're more than welcome to join me if you feel like having a girl around. I'm sure Junko and Momoe won't mind either. In fact, they would love it if you did!"
Rei never personally interacted with Junko and Momoe, but it's nice knowing that they would welcome her if she did. Since she's the only girl living in the Osiris Red dorms up until now, she never really got to make female friends aside from the ones who are in the student council, along with Asuka. She regularly talks with Kenzan—and also Martin before he formally resigned from the school with his father—so Rei's never minded a lack of female friends since her tomboy streak is quite high anyway. (But she's trying to change that! For Judai-sama!)
She smiles, earnest. "I'd like that, Asuka-senpai. I only have less than six months to take you up on the offer, after all. The sooner, the better!"
Asuka carefully gives her a look, scrutinizing. "Are you sure?"
Knowingly, Rei smiles brightly. "Of course! It's not like I can't visit whenever I want, you know. Besides—" She taps her chin thoughtfully. "—even if I move out of this dorm, I don't have to worry about anything since Judai-sama is the only one still living here. Less competition is good."
The moment Asuka's eyebrow twitches, Rei feels the urge to snicker. If Asuka thought she was being discreet about it, she is sadly mistaken. But today is a day where Rei is packing up and preparing for her dorm switch, not a day where she can be with Judai-sama and make Asuka jealous. That's for when Kenzan isn't being an unfair prince hogger by asserting stupid gender rules.
"Do you need help, Rei-chan?" Asuka asks, probably to change topics, eyeing the small bags Rei left on the couch. She only has one proper bag that zips up, so Rei resorted to plastic bags for the rest of her things.
She never kept much in this room in general, considering that she 'borrowed' this room from Manjoume, but she remembers packing a fair amount of spare clothing and necessities that would last a few months if she used it wisely. "Sure, Asuka-senpai. Thank you!" She thoughtfully stares at her two bags on the couch, gesturing to the one that holds her duel disk, various small accessories she brought from home, and necessities. It should be the lightest. "Could you carry that one for me? I'll take the leftover one so we don't have to worry about it later."
Nodding, Asuka complies. "Got it." Holding it by the handles, she smiles. "If you're done with that one, we can walk to the dorms together. It'll save us the trip."
Seeing the logic in that, Rei agrees with a resigned nod. If Judai was not out fishing right this very moment today, she would've rejected the offer and made the second trip back, to be honest. Grabbing the zipped bag on her lap that carries her shirts, she stands up to walk to the couch and takes the second bag that holds her collection of pants and sleep wear.
After setting out on the path to the girls dormitory, the two girls walk in a peaceful silence.
After they make it past the cliff with a view of the lighthouse, Asuka comments, "I'm glad you're full of energy again. I realized I never asked how you were doing after your fever passed a while back."
Rei knows what she's referring to, smiling reassuringly at the concern. "You don't have to worry anymore, Asuka-senpai!" To help emphasize her perfect health, she confidently lifts both of her bags above her head briefly. "That medicine Judai-sama brought back did wonders on me!"
"I think he and Johan tried really hard to bring it to you," Asuka recalls, thoughtful. "So did the other transfer students, but I think it was Judai and Johan who made it to Ayukawa-sensei's office where you were at. At least, that was what Judai told me."
Rei hums, remembering that she sometimes awoke to Judai and Johan worriedly hovering over her bedside after she took the medicine. Judai occasionally helped change the wet towel on her forehead for her fever, and Johan always accompanied him. He let her play with his spirit, that cute little carbuncle. "Now that you mention it, I never got to personally thank Johan-san for his help," she realizes, feeling a bit guilty.
She remembered constantly worrying over Martin and whoever possessed his body. If she wasn't fretting over Martin, then she was bedridden and sleeping to regain her energy. That had been her at her weakest, she thinks. It makes her feel a little sad that she couldn't have done more to help. She wishes she could've done more to help Judai rather than making him go through who-knows-what just to find medicine for her. She wishes she could've done more to help Martin rather than making him a target for body possession by being too shy to ask him to accompany her to the ladies room. And to top it off, Johan and several people she never even knew all risked their lives to make sure she got her medicine.
Sometimes, Rei forgets that a lot of people care for her. Just simply because she's an ordinary girl. An ordinary girl in love, but still ordinary and just… a girl.
But maybe, just simply being here at Duel Academia is what makes her special. Just because it made her meet all these people who are special. Despite being her unofficial love rival, Rei thinks Asuka is also pretty special too.
"I'm sure Johan already knows that you're grateful," smiles Asuka reassuringly. "And if not, then I can tell him for you myself if he ever comes by again."
"You won't even ask Judai-sama to tell him for me?" Rei jokes, lightheartedly.
Asuka smiles and shrugs. "Given his track record lately with hiding, I wouldn't really trust him with that important of a task."
"But we both found him last time," she points out, giggling at the memory.
"Yes, while he was being a big baby." Asuka shakes her head, sighing exasperatedly.
A part of her wants to defend her prince, but Rei's not blind to the way Judai's behavior affected Asuka lately.
To keep the lighthearted atmosphere, she smiles. "Oh, but you handled it pretty well if you ask me. I still have the pictures I took of it. I didn't show them to Kenzan-kun or the council, though." Truthfully, Rei never had the heart to show those pictures to anyone since she didn't want people making fun of her Judai-sama being lifted by a girl. She honestly had no idea her upperclassman had so much arm strength.
Asuka starts looking embarrassed. "Why do you still have them, Rei-chan…?"
With a simper, Rei hums, "Bold of you to assume that I wouldn't, Asuka-senpai." Of course she would keep them. Her prince is in them! "If you wanted one too, you could've just ask—"
"Keep them!" insists her love rival, sounding hushed as they walk past the Ra Yellow dorms. "I don't want them."
Rei gives her a fake serious look, raising an eyebrow. "Are you implying that Judai-sama is not photogenic enough for you—"
"I'm just not interested!" Asuka sighs, tiredly putting a hand to her face. "Besides, you already gave me a photo last time, Rei-chan."
"I was just kidding, Asuka-senpai!" Rei teasingly pokes her tongue out. "Take care of that picture, okay?" Because I really liked that picture. It was one of those pictures where she could stand directly next to Judai-sama and he'd let her. Granted, he wasn't very happy in that photo and Asuka was flanking his other side—but to Rei, that picture still means a lot to her.
Now it's Asuka's turn to raise her eyebrow. "I've been meaning to ask… Why did you choose that photo specifically?"
Rei quietly looks down.
While she is a maiden in love and she considers everyone her love rival at some point, Asuka is no exception. But Rei doesn't want to tell her why—because based on what she saw during that tag duel, she feels like she might lose Judai-sama if she tells Asuka her reasons. Despite what she tells herself, she actually doesn't know for sure if Asuka is in love with him, but Rei thinks she's onto something. If her good friend Asuka is also in love with her prince by any chance, then Rei supposes that she has tough competition to beat. You can't really control who you love, after all. It doesn't work that way.
As a love rival, she doesn't want to tell Asuka anything.
But as her friend, she can at least provide a hint.
Mature maidens in love know when to be mature. Mature, mature, mature. She's mature. She'll be mature. She'll be mature because she is serious about Judai-sama, and her biggest rival right now is her good friend, even if Asuka doesn't know it herself.
I gave it to you because it's one of the few photos I have of you two together.
"Oh, no reason," Rei ends up saying, looking forward to the Obelisk Blue dorm building they're slowly approaching. The girls' dorm should be pretty close once they pass the main building. "I just thought it was a nice picture for you to keep. The other ones sorta turned out weird when I sorted through them. The light was hitting our faces funny in some of them!"
She wasn't kidding when she offered the photo as a gift to Asuka for when she goes abroad, but Rei also thinks maybe seeing Judai in it would make her happy. It makes Rei happy if she has pictures of Judai. And besides, she has extras anyway.
She's not the same Saotome Rei who first snuck into Duel Academia as a boy for Ryo-sama. She's the Saotome Rei who is a maiden in love and is ready to fight for her happy ending if she must—for Judai-sama. She's a more mature Saotome Rei. She's a maiden.
Mature. Be mature. "If you ever get lonely, now you'll have me and Judai-sama with you!"
Slowly nodding, Asuka considers her answer. "You're right. I'd feel a lot better to have you two there in spirit with me. I assume I won't know anyone in America…" Eyebrows scrunching, Asuka starts looking a bit sad.
"It's a big decision you're making," Rei agrees, trying to be reassuring. "But at least you're trying your best, Asuka-senpai! I think that matters more. Maidens like us are always trying our hardest." (Both in life and love.) "Of course, you'll always have this—" Rei sticks her nose up in the air for emphasis. "—maiden's support with you!" She beams brightly at her upperclassman, her friend. "Because we're friends, right?"
Asuka softens her eyes and nods with a smile. "Right."
Friends. Friends with Asuka-senpai.
Back when they first met, Rei remembered her hostility towards her senior—because she really thought Asuka was out to steal Ryo-sama's heart before Rei switched to Judai-sama. It's really odd to her how Asuka is close with both her former and current crushes. Yikes… What does she need to do to have extremely good luck like Asuka?
Still, for all the luck Rei seemed to lack, she and Asuka became friends. Talking about Johan earlier reminded her that Asuka also took care of her when she was still bedridden. Sometimes, it was Asuka who came over to check her temperature. Sometimes, it was Asuka who came to give her food. Sometimes, it was Asuka who came to readjust her pillow or blankets. They also cooked together once too, when they both made bento boxes for Judai. Asuka is not a bad person, Rei's learned. Maybe having a friendship with a love rival isn't so bad after all.
Come to think of it, she never got to thank Asuka either. Maybe this can be her repayment. A repayment in the form of friendship.
So, Rei musters up a bright smile on her face as she hops up the steps leading to the entrance of the girls' dorm. Once at the top, she turns to Asuka, bows her head, and cheerfully says, "Well, we're finally here! I never really got to explore this place, so please take care of me, Asuka-senpai!"
Asuka observes her for a moment before she smiles and starts ascending the stairs as well. "It'd be my pleasure, Rei-chan."
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fin