Chapter 17

Finally, the time for the Football game is at hand. Well more like in a couple hours. In the past I stay after school and wait for the band call time of five thirty. Nothing is ever more relaxing than this time I have to myself. Until a few other people got the same idea.

"Wow Jack, you spent all those years just sitting here waiting for the game to start? You sound lonelier than Noire." That's harsh even by my standards. As I've told everyone before I hate it when people joke about that sort of stuff to other people. Noire has plenty of friends I'm sure of it.

"What?! I've told you before Neptune I do have friends."

"Is Uni the friend you were talking about?" I'm not sure that even counts as a friend. Older siblings aren't meant to be friends, they're meant to shape the younger sibling into shape for life. Noire seems to be doing that job very well with Uni. I don't believe she picked up the tomboy thing from Noire though.

In case you were wondering, Uni walked up to the trio of people that are us. Come to think of it, why is Neptune here? She's not in the band and she doesn't do anything to help as far as I know. Perhaps she's just staying with Nepgear so she doesn't get bored. I hate to admit it, but Neptune actually cares deeply for her little sister.

"No… Uni isn't the friend I was talking about. He's someone completely different." Her voce goes from disciplining to shy. It must be a rare treat to see Noire like this. But it could also be the calm before the storm for all I know. As for that friend, it must be the one she's going for tonight.

"Besides, Jack is a friend of mine."

"Silly Noire, Jack can't be your friend. You don't know him like I do." What?

I'm not sure how to take that. Sure we're neighbors but do we really know each other all that well? Nepgear knows the most about me, she must be passing it on to Neptune. Uni and I aren't that close now that I think about it.

"I'm wouldn't be good enough to be Noire's friend even if I weren't her sister." Uni finally speaks up to us all. I really don't like how Neptune can make a bad joke and this happens. It makes me sick to my stomach whenever I hear something like that.

The years I spent without these girls were the same. All day everyday people whispered thinking I couldn't hear them hurtful things. Saying I had no friends, which was true. That was the past and this is the present. I like how it is now, and I wouldn't change it for anything.

"Hello, am I interrupting anything?" A wild Blanc appears.

"No, you're just about to witness Neptune and Uni verbally assault each other."

"Oh, I could join in if you want." That would be the worst possible thing. Once Blanc gets into it, she'll yell her heart out. I've seen what she's done to Andrew, and he keeps coming back for more.

"No! I'm sure they will handle it themselves. Instead why don't we have a relaxing game of Magic?" That's all I can think of for now. It's better than listening to her traumatize everyone within a ten kilometer radius. "Sure, why not?"

She begins to walk to the band room. Neptune takes notice of this and leaves Uni and Noire in the dust, I guess she wants to play. Does she even have a deck of her own? Noire and Uni look confused until they see Neptune pull a deck box out of one of the hoodie pockets. Noire is response pulls out her deck, probably not going to let Neptune get away from her earlier remarks.

Uni stands saddened as her sister walks away, can't say I blame her. She tries so hard to get Noire to notice her it isn't funny. All she wants to do right now is play Magic with her big sister is what I guess. Oh wait, I forgot I built her a deck not too long ago. I just forgot to give it to her.

"Uni, remember how I said I'd build you a deck when we first met? Well here it is." Out of my messenger bag I pull out a brand new deck box containing her deck. The colors of it are red and green. Burn is the official term for its style of play. The red side is to deal direct damage, the green is for preventing damage being dealt to her. Pretty nice if I say so myself, I even went into my special collection for some of the cards she has.

"I… I thought you were joking. No one ever gives me gifts, especially Noire."

"I wouldn't joke that to a friend. And I'm sure Noire cares deeply about you."

"No, she doesn't even notice me half the time. Apparently she won't congratulate me unless I do better than her… and that's impossible." Wow, she sounds more downhearted about this than I do most days. What she needs is a hug right now. But I wonder if that would be weird at this point. I've only known her for a little over a week now, so it might be alright.

"Uni, older siblings are like that, they act like they don't notice you when deep inside all they want is you to be the best you. Noire just wants you to get strong and not have to deal with a lot of life problems."

I'm not sure what else I can offer her. Giving her that deck seemed like the perfect thing to cheer her up, instead I think I made it worse. I hate it when girls cry, it makes me want to cry my eyes out too.

"That… makes sense. Thanks Jack, I knew you were a true friend. Sorry I started a pity party though."

"It's alright, happy to help. Cheer up, let's join the others."

Uni's frown turns into an inspired smile at that. She knows how to play and if not I'll teach her. Now if we can get Nepgear to join in on the game we'll have six people in tow. I've never had a three on three or six way free for all before. Enough talk, it's time to duel!

"Alright! I bestow Chromanticore to my Gluttonous Cyclops!" As expected, Neptune's deck is loaded with things that are either mish mashed creatures. All colors mind you, so a wubrg deck. This will be… interesting to deal with.

The Cyclops she has played is monstrous and her only creature on her field. Other than that she has a shit ton of mana and a fiery spirit. I never thought she'd take anything seriously until now. The universe always proves me wrong on these matters.

Surprisingly, Neptune doesn't attack instead choosing a more defensive approach. This leaves her turn over and Noire's to begin. She casts knight exemplar, this makes all of her knights indestructible. Now Noire is in a good position to take us all out. She does attack as expected, but attacks Blanc.

Blanc's creatures are all tapped, leaving her wide open. Blanc's life goes to negative thirteen from the strike. This leaves five players left in our game. After Noire, it's Uni's turn to play.

Uni draws, a smile fills her face. Only one card in that deck could give off a smile like that. She taps all of her mana and lays down a card. "Read it and weep people!" The card she just played is worldfire. Now all of our creatures are gone and everyone is at one life.

My turn now and I have a plan for these girls. Drawing a new card, this one has haste. Tapping three mana, I play minotaur skull cleaver. I can take anyone I want out of the game now. So who's it going to be? I've got it!

"Sorry Neptune, you prove to be a threat to all of us."

"NO! My precious life!" Melodramatic much Neptune?

Four players left in this battlefield known as a Magic game. My turn is over now, Nepgear has the spotlight. After drawing, she plays a wall of frost. Not a bad card, great for defending. But not good enough for what I have planned.

Noire has a new turn afoot, but can't do anything since she drew a land and has no cards in hand. She is forced to pass the turn to her little sister Uni. Uni draws her card for the turn, another deviant glee fills her face. Tapping the most mana I've seen all game, the new card will ensure her victory.

"Fireball!"

All of us except her are dealt three damage apiece. Nothing any of us have will save us now. Uni… has beaten three opponents at once. I know it's a free for all, anything could happen. But that's impressive none the less. "Yeah! I won! Well Noire, did I do good?" Again with the whole my sister has to approve of it thing.

"I guess you did alright. You got lucky is all."

If Maurice ever said that to me I'd be furious. Uni on the other hand doesn't care. She likes the fact that her sister acknowledged her for once. So that deck did make things a little better for her. Granted I'm still a little pissed that I lost to her, I'm happy for her none the less.

"Looks like that game passed a lot of time, it's five thirty."

Looking at the clock Nepgear is right. Call time for the game practice. Guess that means I should get the Tenor Sax out. Practice begins shortly, and the game isn't too far away.

The band bus arrives at the football field with all the pep band members in tow. Walking off with my case and my stand takes some getting used to. Sure I've done it in the past but that was a summer ago. Now I have to do it all over again.

At least we are able to make it to the band section of the stands. There are a few little kids hanging around there that don't know the ropes but they go away one the director talks to them. Brings back old memories seeing this.

Setting down my case and stand, the director wants to talk to us. "Be back with ten minutes left on the clock." That's right, we got here extra early today. Well, time to go grab some dinner.

The band has a fish fry here every once in a while. They serve great food and it helps benefit the band. Guess I'm eating there tonight.

Noire walks up behind me and tugs on my shoulder a bit. When I turn around to see her face she looks conflicted about asking me a question. "Hey Jack… I sort of… forgot my wallet at home. Would it be alright if I bummed some food off of you?" thank goodness it isn't anything weird like before.

The food they serve is in ungodly high portions anyway, I can share half a clam strip basket with her. "Ok, don't be so shy about it next time though. I don't care if someone gets some food off of me."

"O… ok."

Walking up to the table they have set out a nice lady greets me. "Hello hun, what would you like?" Clam strips are what I'm going after, but what if Noire doesn't like clam? I'll have to ask her if that's alright.

"Noire, do you mind clam strips?"

"No, I for one enjoy them. If it wouldn't be any trouble, could I get a Dr. Pepper to drink?"

Damn girls are expensive, oh well. Can't have her starve now can we? There is still a lot of time before we have to be back so that means we can eat slowly if we want. There aren't any open benches, but I know a good place.

Behind the concession stand is a spot I am prone to going to. Noire follows me thinking I actually know what to do. That is partly true, the other part is I've never eaten with another person back here.

"This isn't what I would call good scenery for eating, but it's alright."

She sits right next to me with the clam strip basket in between us. Her hand is the first to attack the glorious seafood. As soon as it enters her mouth she smiles and closes her eyes. She must really like it. This time her hand goes down grabbing not one piece, but three.

And I thought Neptune was a glutton. I don't care either way, it warms my heart to see someone happy from my doing. I manage to get a clam strip or two and a couple fries while she savors the taste. Constantly assaulting the basket and gulping it down with a sip of the Dr. of flavor.

Before we knew it the basket was empty. Usually it takes me a while to eat the whole thing. This time I had a Noire to help me with the consumption. She did most of the eating however. I barely got any clam, or fries for that matter. I won't complain, I feel full from watching her face smile. Ok that just sounds weird.

"Ah, I am full. Oh… sorry I ate most of it." The word(s) of the day is over apologize.

People have been apologizing to me for the past few hours, it's starting to get a little weird. She seems satisfied with dinner so I really can't complain. "It's fine, I wasn't that hungry anyways."

"Hey Jack"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks again… for all your help that is. That boy… is sure to like me now."

I've said it twice I'll make it thrice. She doesn't seem like the kind of girl to fall head over heels for a guy. I thought she would resent the idea of a relationship with anyone that wasn't practical. So there is regular girl emotions in there. "Now? He probably liked you before."

"Well… you see… the guy is…"

"Hey!" Noire is cut off by the biggest idiot in the whole wide world. Andrew comes out of the shadows to reveal his most hated face. Did I say I hate him already? All he ever does is cause trouble for anyone who doesn't view him as cool… which is everyone.

"I've still got to give you payback for what you did to me. And that titless bitch isn't here to stop me!" He's finally lost it I thought. In what world does he think he can beat me up? Lord have mercy on his soul, and don't let me kill him finally.

He tries to look menacing but all he proves is that he's a bigger idiot than I thought. I can't stand it anymore, someone has to stand up to him other than Blanc. He'll be taught a lesson he won't soon forget.

Picking myself up off the concrete, I tilt my head to the right. So he's not as dumb as I thought. He picks up the signal and moves over to the grass area next to the concrete. I walk over there myself and pop my knuckles.

He knows what's coming next and prepares himself as well. His fists raise up into a fighting stance, or what he calls it. The left ribs of him are completely open, his head is uncovered, and he doesn't have an arm close to the groin for protection.

I'm not going to punch him there anyways. I see it as a dirty tactic and not to be used in combat. But if it comes down to it, I may have to. "Jack…" Noire calls out to me faintly.

"Don't interfere Noire, someone's got to teach this asshole a lesson."

Looking into his eyes for the last time, I get into a real fighting stance. Now I will show him social recluses are a force to be reckoned with.

A/N: Sorry if it is moving kind of fast in this chapter. I'm kind of going though something and I needed to write to clear my mind. So if you have any complaints leave it in the review section. Once I get back to normal I may rewrite the chapter. Thanks and happy reading fans.