iii. three;
"Off fishing again?" Asuka inquires politely, pausing in the rinsing of her mug at the sink when she sees him trot past the hallway with his fishing rod.
Brightly, he beams and she thinks his grin is very sunlit today that is glowing with enthusiasm. The usual smile he gives her. "Yup! It's a sunny day, so I wanted to do something." Briefly pausing, Judai mockingly asks, "Are you coming along again?" From the look on his face, she can tell he's still amused from the time she went with him.
Asuka huffs, going back to her mug with indignance scribbled on her countenance. "I don't know. I just managed to wash out that fish and lake smell from my clothes this morning, and I don't want my hard work to be for nothing." The aforementioned clothes are now painstakingly drying out in the balcony, and she thinks she would need to find a new drawer to put them in just in case something is still lingering.
"You say it like it's my fault for everything," he chortles lightheartedly, keeping the rod steady over his shoulders. "I'm sorry that you caught a giant trout for your first time fishing."
"Apology accepted," she deadpans, not playing into his game.
Judai teases harmlessly, "You should still come along, though. Be my good luck charm instead, and give me your luck that you stole from me."
Mockingly serious, Asuka replies, "You almost tempted me until you mentioned that I'm a thief. How rude." Finished with her rinsing, she wipes her mug with a towel. She hears him scoff behind her.
"Okay," he dramatically sighs with deep enunciation. "You're no thief. Just reeeeally lucky. Now, last chance: are you coming or not?"
Asuka looks down and is relieved to remember that she is wearing a different set of blouse and pants that she could do without if she gets caught smelling like fish again. Maybe if she asserted that she would not go near his rod or hold it or cast another line, she'd be safe and it would be okay. She still does like to accompany him, and it would suck if she couldn't because of some fish mishaps. "Let me grab a book first."
"Another one?" murmurs Judai in mock-horror and mock-surprise. Still, he waits for her patiently, idly leaning against the wall.
She gives him a taunting smile, choosing her book with deliberate slowness, and he can only shake his head at her with a roll of his eyes. It takes time to choose a good book, after all. Not that he would know.
"You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?" she hears him ask, dully. It sounds like he already knows the answer. According to the patterns of Judai-nese, she expects a whine next.
With a smile, she casually inspects the spines of the books in front of her. "Doing what on purpose?" No, not this book. She finished this one last month. Not this one either; she had read this one during her lunch break two months ago. That explains the slight dust. Oh, this one has a bookmark sticking out, so she must've not finished this particular one—
Her hunch is right: "Being slow on purpose!" he whines on cue. Still, Judai does nothing about it as he keeps waiting by the wall and he's probably eyeing her with a mundane look, like she'd really spend the whole day picking books to read. (Consider it payback for laughing in her face when they caught the trout, she'd say.)
She stifles a laugh, humored. Fishing maniac. "All right," says Asuka indulgently, deciding on the book with the bookmark. "Good books take time to choose," she wisely replies as she approaches him by the wall and they start walking to the front door together.
His eyes roll, like he just can't comprehend the concept of reading anymore. It makes her smile wider. "How do you even know if it's good if you didn't read it yet?"
They slip on their shoes.
She hums, thoughtfulness in her eyes. She usually goes to the bookstore and likes going through some of the pages first before buying them, so it gives her an opportunity to assess the contents. "I wouldn't have it on my shelf if it wasn't." He hums halfheartedly in response. "Don't judge a book by its cover, after all. Give it a chance." She lifts up her own book to help emphasize her point, and she starts feigning annoyance. "And for your information, I was already reading this one until someone convinced me to try fishing."
He starts looking amused, not really offended in the slightest. "Hey, at least you caught a big one! Do we always have to go over this again, Asuka?" He tries to stifle a laugh. "You make it sound like it's the worst thing possible! Wasn't it fun, at least?"
Memories of it pop into her head—and it makes her fond when she realizes how that's the first time they ever fished together. It's the first time she's ever fished, period. She supposes he has a point, even if her catch apparently likes to splash her with water. It's something of a special memory now, because he had let her into his world a little by letting her touch his fishing rod and fish with it.
"Yes, it was," she eventually answers, shaking her head with a smile as he victoriously beams back at her.
"See?" he replies, a gleam in his eyes. "You didn't want to fish, but you did—" Judai grins broadly, a bit smug. "—and it was fun! Like what you said: don't judge a book by its cover!" Eyes rolling up thoughtfully, he offhandedly muses, "Or maybe I should've said 'don't judge a fish by its scales' instead?"
Did he really just use her own words against her? She almost laughs at the irony, but it makes sense. It really does. And he's actually acknowledging that for a joke! (The fish one was sorta lame, though. In a funny, good way because all of his jokes are like that.)
Lightly, she lifts up her book again to him and thumps her fingers against the cover. "Then one day, you'll learn to not judge this book by its cover and you'll actually look through it for me." He promised her, after all. He likes to keep his promises.
A simper, then: "Not this specific book, but other books I can look through." (She doubts he would've liked reading her current adventure-slash-light-romance book anyway.) He pauses and adds a teasing, "Probably."
'Probably' is better than 'never.' She nods, pleased.
They walk the rest of the way in peace, coated under sunshine.
.
.
Sagging against the tree, Asuka serenely props her book on her knees as she sits comfortably on the grass. Today's book is the same one she had brought last time when they came here. Since Judai promised (she had glared until he caved and promised her) that he wouldn't convince her to fish again, she is resolute to reading. Having only read four pages last time, it stung her pride and she feels like she would have accomplished a lot more had there not been distractions.
For the next thirty minutes, she finishes about two chapters. Chapter one focuses on the exposition and the setting of the plot, and she rather likes the direction it takes transitioning into chapter two's introduction of characters. The main character is a rather cheerful—
Asuka hears a sigh.
Looking up from her book and thoughts, she regards Judai with curiosity. "What's the matter?" she asks to his back a few feet away from her.
Legs criss-crossed on the grass, he throws his line back out while appearing disappointed. "Oh, nothing. Just wondering if you really did steal my luck. I haven't gotten a bite in a while."
She asks a blunt: "What would you like me to do about it then?" She flips a page and slips her bookmark at the beginning of chapter three because she knows she won't get reading done like this. She can hardly multitask anymore with him around. Her pride is stung again, but she thinks it could be excused for him. It's her summer vacation, after all. There is still tons of time left for her to read. Luckily, she reads fast.
He hums thoughtfully. "Fish for me?" Judai suggests, amused.
"No." She darkens immediately.
Snickering, he says instead, "Then sit closer. Maybe your good luck waves haven't reached me yet because you're too far." Not looking at her, his hand welcomingly pats an empty spot next to him.
Her face is warm. She highly doubts her 'good luck waves' are that good, and she doesn't know what to feel about sitting right next to him at the lake edge. Squaring her shoulders, she mumbles, "I-I like it here! The shade is refreshing." Her fingers absently tighten around the hardcover of her book.
"Asuka, you gotta bless me with something to give me luck over here!" he whines, eyeing his lifeless hook in the water. He rocks back and forth.
Folding her arms on her bent-up knees, Asuka musters, "Then how about we talk to pass time? Maybe it'll be faster that way." Idly, she closes her book and runs her fingers along the spine.
He seems to consider it, his head tilting back in thought. "Okay," he finally says, complying. Quietly, he thinks about something. "What's your favorite color?"
Musingly, she replies, "I used to like red because that's the color of the scarf my mother gave me for my birthday." It's still one of her treasures, deeply cherished and safely tucked away in a drawer in her apartment. Good thing Mitsuo gave it back. Though, she's still awkward about the reason why he stole it. She'd have a hard time trying to explain to Mitsuo about her feelings that aren't for him. "But thanks to our school uniforms, I really like blue."
(And yes, she is aware that he wears red. But that's not another reason why she has a soft spot for red. No. Red makes her think of apples, tomatoes, her mother's scarf, sunsets, his blazer—)
Nodding, Judai answers, "I liked green when I was younger. Don't remember why, though, but it's probably because I thought it was cool." She smiles as she listens. "I like red now, also because of school. Doesn't feel right without it." There's silence afterward. "It's your turn to ask something," he whispers helpfully, still looking at the lake.
Not remembering that she agreed to playing Twenty Questions with him, Asuka doesn't know what to ask. Awkwardly, she inquires rather generically because he started with asking about favorites: "Favorite foods?"
"Fried shrimp!" he exclaims immediately, dreamily. Her eyes roll fondly. Of course. She'd be pretty disappointed if he answered with anything else first. "The food at the Osiris dorm was really good in general, so I'd go with any of that too. Oh, and fish!"
Really? she thinks, incredulous that he actually likes the rice and dried sardines. She and everyone else had always complained about it, which is why Asuka tends to eat at the Obelisk cafeteria first before she visits the Osiris dorms. But in retrospect, Sho and Kenzan did warn her about Judai's black hole of a stomach.
"I like most foods as long as I can eat them." Being from the Obelisk Blue dorms, she had the luxury of eating grandly-prepared food. She doesn't think that it's really fair for each dorm to have different levels of food offered, so she modestly says nothing about it. He never once complained about the food in the Osiris dorms, but the other Osiris students did. It doesn't feel right to her that Osiris students didn't get as much. She stares at some stray leaves floating by, her book hanging by her fingers. "Nii-san told me, when I was little, that I should eat more to be healthy. So, I did." (Wistfully, she misses those days where she and Fubuki ate together as children.) Judai's quiet so she tells him, "It's your turn."
"Hm?" Stirring back, he muses, "Yeah, I know. I'm just thinking about that time you found the Golden Egg Bread at school. You were there pretty early before Taizan and I even showed up." Startled, her face is burning. She had forgotten that some time ago, a memory long buried and faded with time— "You jumped up and down, and you looked really happy. I thought that was your favorite food."
—And a memory that's also a bit embarrassing the more she listens to him recall it.
In some form of solace, she thinks she's lucky that he can't see her face right now. "It is… I-I heard it was really delicious, so I wanted to try it too!" It really did taste as good as the rumors have said—and it had been bliss. It's definitely one of her favorites, but alas, she rarely got to eat it. Defensively, Asuka thinks it was worth it to even eat it at all given its popularity. "I hadn't gotten it again after that time," she admits.
"If I had known, I could've shared with you." He sounds contemplative. "I remember I bought out most of Tome-san's supply with Sho because I really wanted it."
"No wonder I could never buy it again for a while..." Asuka doesn't tell him that she is slightly moved by his offer, even if it had been a passing thought. He had been very enthusiastic to draw for that bread too, considering his lucky streak with it back then. "We're straying from the conversation, though," she points out lightly.
"Right, it's my turn," distractedly says Judai. She sees him looking at the water for a moment. "Favorite place?"
Memories and Ryo's face pop up in her mind, and she nostalgically answers, "The lighthouse back at Duel Academia." Asuka wonders if her brother is annoying Ryo right now. "Ryo and I were always there when we had free time."
She knows that he can hear her since he hums. "My favorite place was the school roof or the clear spot near the cliffs."
"Because you liked skipping class?" she quips with a smile. (He and her sometimes talked at that particular cliff spot back in school. She hadn't known it was a spot that held some value to him.)
He corrects her, mildly humored, "Because I like fishing and taking naps. Johan and I sometimes hung out on the roof too." Judai offhandedly adds, "I also liked looking at the sky, and cloud watching." Asuka tries her best to remember his answers because contrary to what people think of him, he's actually pretty laid back and calm and likes quiet things. His hook finally twitches, making ripples in the water. When Judai reels it in, he releases the tiny fish and flings his hook back out and amends to her, "Sorry. Go ahead."
She concentrates on the words etched on the cover of her book. Many questions are in her head, but most of them are not about favorites anymore. Seeing her book in her hands while also seeing him hold his rod makes her ponder about herself. Eventually, she settles on a question and blurts: "Am I boring?"
She often reads nowadays if she isn't teaching or dueling or grading. While he's not exactly the biggest fan of reading, he still lets her bring along a book while they're here together and she wonders if she comes off as boring in that regard. Judai fishes and Asuka reads. Judai gets to fish while she just sits here drinking in words with her eyes in silence. It makes her a little self-conscious.
He cautiously perks up and gives her a look over his shoulder, appearing puzzled. "No," he answers slowly, trying to discern something as he turns back to peer at the lake. "Nobody's boring. You're you, Asuka. Not boring," he tells her, like he's saying a fact. (He had said this very simply, but she found comfort from these words nevertheless because it sounds like a sincere truth.) Softening his expression, Judai asks, "Am I boring? You gotta answer too since it's a part of the game."
Tenderly, Asuka answers, "You're never boring, Judai." She had always remarked how interesting he was when they met. He's never boring; that is a fact. She wouldn't feel this way for years if he was boring.
This silence seems like a meaningful one to her.
"My turn!" he abruptly chimes after a few seconds, catching another tiny fish. He inquires as he fixes his hook, "Favorite Duel Monster?" Now they're approaching his territory, one of his most beloved topics. "Mine is still Elemental HERO Flame Wingman, but Winged Kuriboh and Neos are close behind." He stops for a moment and then sighs dramatically, "And Yubel."
Amused that Yubel is listening, she answers, "Cyber Tutu for me." Cyber Tutu may have average stats, but Asuka thinks her special ability has saved her many times—it helps that she's also one of her oldest and treasured cards. In the midst of her childhood, she had a fairly randomized deck with various monster types until Asuka decided on making a Cyber Angel deck as she progressed past elementary school. Cyber Tutu stuck with her since.
"I thought it would be Cyber Blader," remarks Judai idly.
"You could say I have sentimental attachments to Cyber Tutu." Shrugging dismissively, she says, "I love Cyber Blader, but I also don't think a card is your favorite just because it's your strongest."
"Fair point," he concedes politely. "Your question?"
Favorite person? pops into her mind, and she doesn't ask because she thinks it's a pryful question. While she knows that she loves him, she also thinks it's not right to go prying like that. (Besides, he'd probably answer with Johan or Yubel because she knows he's close with them. She's glad that he can depend on them for company. His happiness matters to her.) Asuka shifts. "Favori—"
"Woah!" Looking up, she sees him being pulled forward, his hook snatched by something rather forcibly and he teeters closer to the edge of the lake with wide eyes. "I think your luck finally reached me, Asuka," he grunts, sounding strained, trying his best to reel in the monstrosity.
Quickly dropping her book, Asuka stands up and runs to kneel next to him so she can, hopefully, help out. Her hands reach out with intentions to lend her strength in holding down his rod, but he gives a sudden jerk of it and bumps his elbow at her on accident. Asuka feels déjà vu as she falls backward on the grass for the second time in this very same park.
She lands on her side, arms and hands shielding her face defensively, and then she feels something soft brush against the back of her knuckles. Thinking it's just grass, Asuka slowly lowers her arms and sees brown. She blinks.
Judai is facing up on his back, and Asuka belatedly sees that she's looking at his sidebangs that touched her hands. He is currently grimacing as he looks at the fish that landed on his lap during their collision.
He complains with dramatic dismay, "Hey! Isn't this the exact same trout you caught last time, Asuka?" The offending fish in question wriggles on his pants, and Judai sighs even more before letting himself plop back on the grass in defeat. "I think I know how you feel now, about the fish landing on you."
Mildly humored and smug, she smiles prettily while he lies there next to her with the fish on him. If she had no self-restraint, she could've taken a picture with her phone. It makes a fun memory. She hardly has fun memories anymore. "Doesn't feel good, hm?" (Maybe that'll teach him to laugh at her.)
Sarcastically, he looks up at the sky and deadpans: "It's fish-tastic. Trout-tacular."
Whimsically, Asuka laughs and the grass brush against her as she lies on her side. "I'll wash your clothes for you—" she offers, absently staring at his hair near her hands. "—since I won't forget to add detergent. I'll look for some extra clothes for you when we get back."
He rolls his eyes. "Thanks."
Judai sits up and Asuka finds herself looking at grass again. Absentmindedly, she brushes her fingers across the spot his head was at, picking at the grass strands. Meanwhile, Judai warily takes the fish and holds it near the water, letting it swim away.
"That fish sure likes us," she hears him utter.
Amused, she points out, "Remember last time we were here? I told you that you'd catch something big." He should really listen to her. "You wanted luck, so it came to you," she gently teases, wistfully sitting up. "At least it didn't splash your face like it did to me."
"Yeah, but my clothes are still soaked. Karma must hate us," he comments, looking exasperatedly at his clothes. Luckily, he came without the blazer this time, so at least something had been spared. (Only his pants seem soaked while the bottom half of his turtleneck appears mildly splashed at. That's much better than her experience.) Running his hand through his hair, Judai looks at her. "I guess this means we can head back now. I can't really fish like this."
"All right." She's pretty content with the progress she's spent reading as well. She stands up, brushing her clothes of grass and goes to fetch her book. He fetches his rod.
They start walking.
"By the way, what were you going to ask me earlier? I got distracted by the fish," he asks sheepishly, a finger scratching his cheek.
"I was going to ask about your favorite season," Asuka replies, deciding that her original question is still unsuitable for the conversation.
"Ah." Judai considers the question thoughtfully. "Summer! I can be lazier during summer," he laughs carefreely, grinning and thumping his fishing rod against his shoulder. "I don't have to worry about the lakes freezing up during summer, so I can fish a lot. And I guess it's easier to travel during warmer seasons too."
"I like winter since it's calmer during winter. Nii-san also used to bring me outside to play in the snow when we were younger," she admits. "I enjoy taking winter break off too, and I suppose hot chocolate is also a nice bonus."
He comments lightly while tapping his chin, "Summer and winter… So we're opposites?"
"Mhm."
"Day and night," he hums absently, seemingly playing with the idea of opposites some more. "We're like a duo then. I got you and you got me." Blithely, Judai smiles as they continue walking. He has a lazy stride while she rigidly walks.
She swallows a lump in her throat. "We do," she earnestly answers. "We have everyone," adds Asuka, because she hopes she isn't taking things out of context if this is what he is referring to.
Asuka feels something touch her hair as Judai says, "Yeah. We're lucky people." As she turns to see what had touched her hair, he is holding up a strand of grass with his fingers. Teasingly, he waves it at her face. "You have some stuck on you."
Calmly, she reaches up and takes a stray grass strand from his hair and mimics him with more eloquence. "So do you."
He gives the strand in her fingers a stare before he bursts laughing, heartily, shaking his hair of more accursed grass he can't see. "See? We're a duo, after all! Grass duo!" Grass duo. The name itself has a Judai charm to it. She doesn't mind it.
His cheerfulness must have rubbed off on her because Asuka also laughs with him, patting her hair of grass too. "We are!"
The rest of the way, they pleasantly walk back together and leave behind a trail of grass.
Asuka hardly got to experience grass in her hair and clothes before; she's always been an orderly girl. It makes her smile because it's due to him and his influence. It's always because of Judai that she finds herself experiencing new things in her life.
Not to mention, he is still planning to keep his promise to her about looking through books for her sake after she'd pointed it out. She'd like to think that she has an influence on him too since they're still friends after so long. That tag duel may be over a long time ago, but that semblance of partnership is never gone.
He's right: he really does have her and she really does have him.
A duo.
