Takumi is finally getting his grand finale night out. He's so excited, bless him. He says that everyone who helped us can come to the pre drinks, while only the real squad, read Team Liberation, can go to the club. Apparently, this also includes Shinji. It's his night out and he can what he wants, his exact words. The guys let us use the garage of Poppo Time for that, which is a godsend. Because having that many people in our house would give Kasumi a heart attack. I've counted fifteen people, do you know much food that is? Too much that I have to make.
There's a lot more talking in the garage now. People are starting to arrive. I pull another tray out of the oven full of snacks. I pour them onto another plate that I borrowed off Kasumi for the night. That should be the last of it. I go into the garage. Miguel and Felix just arrived. Apparently, they came sweeping in on Miguel's D-Wheel on the other side of the Daimon Arena to help out. That's what Kaoru told me anyway. That may explain why Felix knew about Team Satisfaction, given that Miguel is from the Satellite.
"How much food did you make?" Takumi asks as he stuffs tortilla chips into his mouth. He has a red cup in his hand, he's already starting drinking. "I think you made too much."
"It's Yuuka, she always makes too food." And so has Shinji apparently. "You got my lunchboxes, right?"
"You need to teach Reika how to cook, you know that?" I sigh.
"I burnt microwave popcorn yesterday. I shouldn't allowed near the kitchen." Reika butts in. She shakes her head, sighing.
"How are you doing, Yuuka?" Felix asks me. "Scared all of us when you came back covered in blood." Oh yeah, passing out due to blood loss and or exhaustion, couldn't tell you which though, is never fun.
"Once I rested, I was fine." I shrug my shoulders. "I got the increased healing factor so it's all good."
"And the ability to manipulate auras too, from what I've heard." He adds.
"What?" I raise an eyebrow.
"When you went berserk, you manipulated both Ben and Jasper's auras. That's what it's called. I'm surprised you didn't know you could do that." Felix raises a hand to his mouth.
"Oh really?"
"We actually have the same gift." He smiles. "If you want help in controlling it, just ask me. You're the only other person I know who can manipulate auras in that way. I remember Kenta said he can also manipulate auras? But he can only change their mood, is that right?"
"Something like that." I explain. "It's like once he lets go, they're closer to their original state, but obviously it depends."
"Interesting." He mutters. "Are Ben and Jasper showing up?" He asks.
"Nah." I answer. "Ben's working tonight, apparently."
"Shame. I've heard they're fun at parties."
"Yuuka!" Miguel comes up to me next, I swear I'm never getting a break. I've finally got a cup of rum and cola, Takumi was hoarding the vodka to himself so I settled for this. "Right." He starts. I notice how much of a baby face Miguel has despite his strong jawline. I think it's the bright blue eyes. "I thought I recognised you, y'know. I figured it was cause we're both from the Satellite." I nod, seems reasonable. Wait. No, that's not it. "Turns out, I may have kidnapped you before?"
"Fear Unit!" Crow butts in on the conversation, waggling his finger.
"That's the one! I wasn't actually the one who did it, but I was made stand outside of the room. Which is why I can claim that Jack Atlas has punched me in the face." I see Jack look over in our direction and squinting.
"Small world, isn't it?" I laugh.
"When you're in the gang circle, it is!" Miguel laughs as well, returning to his conversation with Kenta.
"Jack, you do realise you're drinking coffee at pre drinks?" I ask, pouring my second cup.
"Is there anything wrong with that?"
"Nothing wrong, just pointing it out." I shake my head.
"I'm pretty sure you've poured double the alcohol that's supposed to be in there." He gives the typical older brother look. I shush him.
"How's the instant coffee working out for you? You're almost done with your week of listening to whatever I say." That's literally the only thing I've asked him to do all week, and surprisingly, he's actually sticking to it.
"There are worse things." He says, plainly.
"Like having no coffee at all, exactly."
"Yuuka!" Emiko calls out to me next. "This food is so good, oh gods." She takes another little pie into her hands.
"I literally just stuck all of this into the oven like," I look at the time on my phone, "two hours ago."
"Give me the brand of these, they're so tasty." Emiko and Anako have stood together the entire night, looking like they're ready to go out too. Even though Emiko technically is old enough, she probably wouldn't be allowed in given the fact that she looks like she's fourteen.
"Going to a bar, actually." She corrects me when I ask. "They have lots of board games, we should all go sometime." She pulls Anako's arm who immediately turns bright red. Oh yeah, she told me she loved me in front of everyone only to find out that I'm dating Yusei. Boy, it sucks to be her right now. I'm struck speechless.
"I made this great joke earlier. We were talking about the cocktail sausages. Emiko said she's not really fan of sausage. Then, I went I like all kinds of sausages, except man sausage." I nearly spit out my drink laughing.
"I have screenshots which contradict that statement." Shinji butts in.
"I mean, relatable though." I laugh.
"I also have screenshots." Takumi leans in, not taking his arm off its spot around Kaoru's shoulders. I shake my head. I did not need to be reminded of my relationship with Raiden Kimura at this exact moment in my life. Kaoru has also started drinking. Honestly, I'm not surprised. He's with Takumi of all people, who is known to have a constant vodka supply.
"Yo." I greet Crow and Aki who have been talking the entire night. They've cracked the wine open between themselves, though I notice that both Emiko and Felix miraculously have glasses of it too.
"Hey! Great party we got going on here." There's a slight blush on Crow's cheeks.
"The food's actually pretty good for store bought stuff." I notice a range of food on Aki's paper plate.
"The party's only just started for me. I'm not drunk enough yet. Oh how I wish I had a low tolerance for alcohol." I sigh, finishing another drink.
"Have fun." They laugh.
"Shots!" I'm literally dragged by Shinji back over to the table as Takumi has managed to get his arm off Kaoru long enough to pour a line of vodka shots. Takumi forces the small plastic cup, which I'm pretty sure he brought himself, into my face. "One, two, three!" Nothing beats the refreshing burn of vodka. Kaoru's face starts scrunching up.
"Baby's first shot." Shinji pats Kaoru on the back, who is currently looking like he wants to die.
"Dude, seriously? How have you never had a shot?" I'm actually surprised at this point that Takumi isn't drunk.
"Help me." Kenta says to me.
"He's not drunk yet." I laugh.
"I know, but Kaoru's nearly there." He shakes his head. "I don't know what he's like drunk. You're not drunk thankfully."
"You first met me when I was drunk." I say.
"It wasn't a good first impression, though." Kenta sighs. "It was the time I went to a club with Takumi, it was literally just as we started dating. He's drunk, walks face first into a streetlamp. You and Shinji are also drunk. You lose your shit laughing and then walk into the same pole."
"Classic story." I laugh. "But we're friends now and that's what matters."
"Yeah, I guess."
"You consider us friends?" I put my hand on his shoulder. "I feel so blessed right now." I wipe away a fake tears from my eye. Kenta rolls his eyes and walks back to talk to Miguel. Wait. Has he even talked to Takumi all night?
"Hey Yuuka." Shinji knocks into me with his shoulder, I nearly go flying. "Shit, sorry." Which isn't a surprise given that I barely pass his shoulder and how broad and muscular he is. Impressive, in fact. That's why he has a large range of plain black shirts to show this off. "How you doing?"
"Not drunk."
"Yet is the keyword here." He laughs. "But no seriously, are you okay? You went through a rough patch a couple of months ago, and I want to know that you're not doing anything… y'know."
"Gods no." I answer. "I'm in a much better place." I meet Yusei's eyes across the room, he smiles at me. I smile. I think the alcohol is getting to me since my cheeks heat up.
"Speaking of…" Shinji trails off. He turns around. "Emiko! I won our bet!"
"Oh Yuuka, why couldn't you have waited a few months? Geez." Emiko sighs, handing Shinji a note. I don't get to see how much it is, shame.
"You're buying me a drink." I say as Shinji puts his wallet.
"Sure sure." He pats my back. "But I am glad you're doing okay. You deserve to be happy." He smiles.
"Thanks." I swear in that moment I could have cried. Not because I was sad. No, because I was so happy for it all to be over. I deserve happiness. I deserve the world and nothing less. Each and every one of us does.
"Except Raiden." Kaoru leans into our conversation. "Fuck that guy."
"Okay, pal, you're drunk." Shinji takes the drink, which I assume is rum, from him. "Listening to your thoughts again?" I nod, rolling my eyes. "In case you're wondering why I got invited on this night out, I was supposed to be the fourth member of Team Liberation." Wait what? "Takumi asked me the same time he asked you, just before the Fortune Cup. He didn't have a clear answer from you, but I said no. Once I left Black Flag, I knew I wanted to settle down." I see Reika tilt her head, looking in our direction. "He only let Kaoru join you because he needed a replacement for me." He glances over at Kaoru and Takumi, still talking. "I think it worked out in the end. He's a good kid, Kaoru."
"Yeah, he is." I answer. Shinji's a lot wiser than his years would claim. "So you knew the entire time?"
"Yeah, why else would Yusei and Aki been near the Red Serpents' territory that day?"
"And that's why I felt Raiden's aura, it was you." I waggle my finger, the pieces finally clicking in my head. "Did you tell Anako?"
"Nah, she figured it out by herself, Kaoru just confirmed it." He shakes his head. "Anyway, I think your boyfriend wants you." Shinji nods his head in Yusei's general direction.
"I have too many friends." I shake my head as I move to stand beside Yusei. "Sorry, we've taken over your garage. Once Takumi is drunk, we'll probably out of here."
"It's okay." He says. "We're celebrating." He knocks his coffee cup off my plastic cup. "Cheers."
"You're such a dork, I love you." I smile. "Cheers."
"I love you too." Yusei's face lights up in that split second, and I feel so lucky to be there in that moment.
I spend a good amount of time just talking with him. Crow calls us antisocial but I don't care. His face is so cute, I just can't help it. Bruno joins us for a while. We start talking about the WRGP since it's getting ever closer. Then, of course, they start talking about the engine which obviously makes me zone out for a while. I'm surprised how easy it is this time. Then again, it's probably the alcohol. Reika inevitably joins us when she hears the mention of an engine. She only ever talks this much if it involves D-Wheels in some regard.
"Hey Yuuka, do you know where Takumi's gone?" Kaoru asks me.
"Wasn't he with you?" I raise an eyebrow.
"Nah, he disappeared all of a sudden." Shinji explains.
"How do you lose Takumi, seriously?" Especially when he's like this. I look around the room. Miguel has gone back to talking to Felix. Kenta is… "Where's Kenta?"
"Well that explains that." Shinji sighs. I search for Kenta's aura. He's outside. Wait. Something's wrong. His aura… It's…
"Come on." I say to them, moving towards the open shutter door. It's dark outside already, which surprises me. The slightly cold breeze feels nice on my skin. We walk up the ramp into the square.
"X-Saber Souza attacks Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier!" Kenta just stands there as the attack hits and the duel ends.
"What's going on?" I ask.
"Nothing." Kenta says, not meeting my eye. An obvious lie if I ever saw one. Takumi says nothing. He just stares at Kenta.
"Kenta." I say with more urgency. He just looks up at the sky, not replying.
"Come on!" Takumi claps his hands together. "Are we going out or not?"
"I'm not going." Kenta immediately replies. My eyes widen. What's going on here?
"Sure, I'm already tipsy, why not?" Shinji answers.
"I'm not going if Kenta's not going." Everyone turns to look at me. Takumi grits his teeth.
"What about you, Kaoru?" Takumi turns to look at Kaoru.
"Uh." He looks between Takumi and I. "Sure, I guess."
"Look after it, will you?" Takumi throws his duel disk to Kenta, who catches it. He leaves without saying much of a goodbye. Shinji and Kaoru turn back to look at us. They look as confused as I must do right now.
"What's going on?" I ask Kenta once they're out of earshot. Kenta says nothing, walking away. He doesn't turn back to look at me. I get a sinking feeling in my stomach. Kenta's shoulders start shaking as he walks away.
A/N: Since this chapter helped us get reacquainted with some characters, I've decided that it's time to run a poll! Basically, on my profile page, you can vote for your original favourite character in this fic (excluding Yuuka because she's the main character), and the winner will get a spotlight chapter later on and some art dedicated to them! So, if you have a free moment, I'd love if you'd check it out, it really helps in getting more content out to you guys!