I had gotten better at talking to the Bladebreakers after the match against Tyson. My mind reviewed carefully over the last round and for the first time in a while, I actually found a reason to smile. I looked back at the Bladebreakers, captivated by the way their unique personalities somehow interlocked to form a team.
"I'll beat you next time, Tyson," I called. Tyson glanced up with a self-confident expression.
"You can try," he said, his tone cheerful. The Bladebreakers and I reached the bottom of the steps of the stadium building.
"I guess we'll see you later, then," Max said. My mouth dropped into a soft 'oh.' I had forgotten that I would soon be back on my own. Max seemed to notice my expression. "Is something wrong?"
"No…don't worry about it," I replied, feeling cold seep into me. My arms began to sting and I was surprised to see drops of scarlet, before I remembered the incident with my attack ring. I forced a smile onto my face and unclipped the attack ring I had borrowed.
"Thanks for letting me borrow it," I said, holding it out to them. Kenny shook his head and smiled.
"You keep it, Sandy. We don't really need it anymore," he said.
"Are you sure?" I asked. I studied their expressions and several of them nodded. "Thank you, this means a lot." My stomach felt hollow, almost as if it had evaporated suddenly.
"Sandy." I looked over as Hiro and Mr. D joined the group. Hiro gave me a stern, calculating look before continuing. "Your launches are sloppy and you could improve on speed and power; but you did well on strategy and I think you would do well on the team."
"What?" I blinked, failing to register the meaning of his words.
"I talked to Hiro about letting you join the Bladebreakers. He wanted to understand your skill level before agreeing to let you in, but we both agree that you have great potential. Are you willing to accept the offer?" Mr. D asked. I stepped back, overwhelmed by the unexpected information. The opening match, Mr. D and Hiro's agreement at the house… Pieces clicked together in my mind.
"Sandy?" Mr. D said. I glanced at him in puzzlement, before realizing he was still waiting for a reply.
"I…yes! O-of course," I stammered. My brain was finally catching up to the conversation and a thrill ran through me.
"Then it's settled. Welcome to the Bladebreakers, Sandy," Mr. D said.
I walked beside the world-famous Bladebreakers, but waited anxiously for myself to wake up. I didn't dare hope that this could be anything more than a dream. Any moment now, my alarm would ring and I would be hurtled into reality. My stomach clenched at the thought and I studied each of the Bladebreakers' faces, listening carefully to their words, knowing it was all going to vanish shortly. It would all be replaced by the stark, red numbers on my alarm clock.
I flinched as a passerby bumped into my arm and Daichi remarked that I jumped easily. I laughed, but less at his words and more at the confirmation that this wasn't a hallucination. This was real.
We reached my new team's house and it was if I was seeing it for the first time, my eyes picking up little details I had missed. Then flames flickered on the edge of my vision. My excitement dulled and the smile on my lips became strained. It would be better if I didn't let myself get used to this.
"We'll be starting training out in the yard soon. After you get settled in, you can join us," Max called over his shoulder. I shrugged the backpack I was carrying onto the floor. Done. The Bladebreakers split up, moving to various parts of the house to collect equipment, get a drink, and so forth. I grabbed my beyblade and launcher and walked out to the yard.
I was a bit shocked to find Kai already there. He leaned against one of the support beams with his arms crossed, saying nothing.
"Hi," I murmured, not really expecting a response. I didn't get one. I sat awkwardly on the steps, relieved when another person finally arrived.
"Any idea what we'll be working on today?" I asked as Rei stood next to us.
"Probably maneuvering," he answered. "But you can never be completely sure." I waited for him to say more, but was rather disappointed. The conversation sank back into silence. I sighed and took out my beyblade.
On my first launch, Nyclix sputtered and spun to a halt. The same thing happened with the second. And the third. I grew overly conscious on the eyes on the back of my head, my cheeks flushing a deeper red with each failed attempt. After my fourth failure, a cold, deep voice called out.
"You're angling too far to the right. Your beyblade will never keep spinning if you continue to shoot like that." I whipped around, but neither of the Bladebreakers said anything else. I tried to take the voice's advice, but quickly realized I was always leaning to the right or the left, no matter what I did. My jaw clenched in frustration and I yanked the ripcord off my belt. I would succeed this launch.
In one move, I switched hands; loading and pulling the ripcord with my left hand, gripping the launcher in my right. I gasped as pain shot through my arm and I doubled over, clutching my hand. My launcher clattered to the floor.
A whirring sound caught my attention and I noticed Nyclix rotating steadily on the stone pathway. The victory was short-lived, however, as I felt something wet seep through the bandages in my glove. I had re-opened the wound.
"You okay, Sandy?" Kenny asked. He and the rest of the Bladebreakers filed onto the porch.
"Fine," I managed through gritted teeth, scooping up my finally spinning 'blade. Waves of pain still crashed through my fingers. Coach Hiro walked to stand in front of the group.
"All of you need to improve on agility and power. We'll start by doing twenty push-ups, after that we'll continue last time's practice with soda cans. Sandy, I want you working on launching," Hiro said, before adding, "Left hand only." I cringed with the information that Hiro had been watching my failures, but nodded gloomily. The only thing I could do was try to make it up to him.