Chapter 3.

A few steps closer

No matter how much Setsuna was anticipating it, Matsui didn't go to school, and on the following day, and even on friday. She got so upset about that, that she locked herself up in her room. Chiaki just shook his head at that.

"This is nuts... She can't be this serious about it can she?"

Though even so, he didn't bother her, because he swore to support his sister with everything whatever may come. Setsuna wasn't expecting much from the monday to come, but still she was there in school. Still she was a bit upset and just staring out of the window, when the classroom door slid open and In came Matsui along with the bell and their Maths teacher.

"Good morning class! Let's start with everyone handing over their homeworks!"

Setsuna noticed that Matsui had a keychain with house and other kinds of keys, and he was probably running late, so he came by bike after leaving as last. To her even greater surprise, he now handed his homework forth, which meant, even if he wasn't there, he was ready for the day. During the entire day, Setsuna tried to avoid Matsui's stare, but once their eyes met, and for a change, instead of being grumpy, Matsui's stare was rather clear and calm, like looking into her very soul.

"Is he trying to look into my mind or something?"

That was what she could ponder about all day. During breaks Matsui went out of class, but returned after the bell, so he wasn't trying to escape. After the day was done, Setsuna was outside of the main building, and arguing with her brother.

"Are you sure about this?"
"Of course I am! It's a one time only chance! I'll try this once, and if it's still no, I'll leave him be!"

Chiaki just pulled his shoulders.

"If you insist! Do be careful though!"
"Alright, just get going already!"

She pushed Chiaki a bit, and he finally left, waving goodbye. Setsuna now hid herself around the building's corner, and waited for Matsui to appear. As suspected, Matsui came out, took his bike out from among the others and instead of getting on and riding away he just started pushing it, with his right hand steering and his left in his pocket, his bag hanging from the handlebar. For a While she just followed him but Matsui suddenly stopped. Setsuna had no time to think as Matsui suddenly called out.

"Why don't you join me instead of sneaking up behind me all the time?"

That he said out loud enough to make her clear it was meant for her. She really felt ashamed by the way he said that and slowly skipped forth to line up with him. for quite some while they were just walking but suddenly stopped at a soccer field on the riverbank. Matsui put the bike down and sat down on the slope leading down to the field. It was a bright and sunny day, and there was a bunch of kids playing even now. Laughing and fooling around, all the time, and they were having great fun. There was about 15 of them, running around, kicking the ball whereever they found it, never even minding if it was on target or not. Matsui just pulled his legs up and rest his head on them.

"Tell me honestly, why do you keep following me around?"
"Well... To tell you the honest..."

Matsui just shook his head.

"You want to know where I live, huh?"
"Well something like that... And..."

Setsuna finally had an idea, and pulled the old deck box out of her bag.

"Here! I think you forgot this the day before!"

Matsui just stared at her for a bit, but he just pushed her hand away.

"I thought you'd understand by now... I don't want that!"

Setsuna let her head hang for a second.

"Why do you even want to force this one me?"

Matsui now laid back onto the ground and stared at the sky. Not even she understood, but Setsuna followed him in that and for a while they just lay there like that.

"I thought I'd finally get away from it... I thought I could rid myself of it... ! And yet it keeps following me all around..."

Matsui was all serious at that moment. Setsuna really felt a dark undertone in what he said.

"So... Is this about him? Your Borther?"
"How would you even know?"
"I know a bit about you you know!"

Matsui now looked at the girl who was lying right next to her, with her arms under her head.

"You know... I used to look up to you greatly when I was small... I even used a Royal Paladin deck like you have!"
"The funny thing is... I used to have a Kagero Deck actually!"

Setsuna did renember that exactly, she was just testing him, on how he'd react.

"But at the national finals... You were using a Royal deck! Or was that your brother's?"
"It was his! I suppose You've seen the deck, right?"

Setsuna nodded.

"That card... What happened to the Blaster Blade you had?"

Matsui now sat back up again and for a bit stared at the kids, but didn't answer.

"I was there you know! That match you had against Tenma, I saw every moment of it! I was participating in the tournament too, but dropped out early. What went down between you was like a war... A War of emotions and incredible powers... You thought viciously and... And even in the last second you held out..."
"Yet I lost..."

Setsuna nodded in silence. Matsui finally looked at her with tears in his eyes.

"I lost and I lost my brother in the process..."
"I don't know what you lost, but just because of losing a card, you shouldn't have given up your dreams as a cardfighter!"
"I never lost my dreams, but I lost my bonds with my brother that day, and with them my need for the cardgame too!"

Matsui now held his arms out towards Setsuna, which the girl didn't understand the faintest.

"What do you mean?"
"Do I need to explain it?"
"I won't understand unless you tell me!"

Matsui took a deep breath and went on into his explanation: Accorning to what he told, he and his brother were like the musketeers in the old days. Fighting alongside all the time, protecting eachother and their sister, Kari. Tenma was the best fighter of his age, even compared to what a deck he had at that time. Almost like a miracle he always had a way out of all the worst of situations. Matsui at the time was just 10 years old and putting his own brother aside, officially noone has ever beaten him in a total of 113 official games. In the U-13 league, he was the greatest prodigy and the number one championship title attendant. They were both competing for the national championship and noone had any doubt they'd win with ease. However a couple days before the championship began, he disappeared from the face of the Earth. After three days however he returned...

"And, what happened?"
"He got into a really bad fight with our mother, and ended up even hurting Kari... Not to mention me, then threw his cards at me and left us, without any more words. I only saw him the nationals next."

After that the whole thing was already clear. After he won the championship, searing his way to victory using his borther's deck, which he did use on quite a few occasions in the past, so he knew it inside and out. This time however it was different.

"I used all the tactics I learned from Tenma, I used all the tricks I learned from him, and I even went: "Tachiagare, Boku no Bunshin!" Just like he always did when he played the deck... I tried my best to get him back to normal, but nothing seemed to work..."
"It was like he was under some spell... ?"
"Exactly... Those images he terrorized me with, the cold stare in his eyes... Not to mention the way he was talking to me... It creeped me out. When he beat me... No.. He humiliated me... He tore our favourite card apart..."
"Blaster Blade..."
"Yeah. It was the one card that we shared a common passion for. He even promised me to give me the deck when he retired from cardfighting one day. It would be after the nationals when that happened, as he wanted to go to college... It was all thrown out of the window."
"And after that?"
"We moved to the US and I lived and studied there for 6 years, before we moved back about 3 weeks ago. The rest you already know."

Setsuna nodded slowly and she slowly snuck closer to him.

"I don't know exactly what you feel, that's where you're right! But I want to understand!"
"What would that help me with? I mean you're not someone I know since long now... You can't really hope to understand me..."

Setsuna suddenly hugged Matsui, which made him blsuh really hard.

"I can understand anything if you tell me!"
"How would you understand... You're not..."
"Your friend?"
"Yes that!"

Setsuna now let him go.

"I would be our friend if you wanted me to be one! But apparently you don't!"
"It's because I don't have any friends!"
"Nonsense!"

Setsuna was now yelling.

"Everyone needs friends. If you want I can be your friend from now on! Even Chiaki!"
"Your brother? He hates my guts!"

Setsuna now burst into laughter.

"No-no! He's actually a great guy, who likes strange people such as yourself! I'm sure you'll be fine!"
"If... You say so... !"

Matsui now tried to smile, which was kind of unusual from him. Setsuna returned that smile.

"So... Are we friends then?"
"I..."

For a second he pondered, but finally nodded.

"Alright! A friend it is!"

Setsuna now stood and took the dek out again, and now handed it straight into his hand.

"Let's start with you accepting this from me!"
"But..."
"No more buts mister! You keep it! Take it as a present from me!"

With that, Setsuna up and left and just waved back at him. Matsui waved back just mumbling:

"This girl is incredible..."

He just smiled and stood to finally go home after being delayed for quite a bit by this. On his way, he met Kari, who was just coming home from a friend of hers after studying.

"And where have you been?"
"With a friend!"

Matsui was still slightly blushing, and the sharp little mind of Kari's was quick to know, what was going on about.

"A girl, huh?"
"And what if it is?"

Kari was giggling at that.

"And her name is?"
"Setsuna! But that's non of your concern anyway!"

Kari just pulled her shoulders. She was just a lively little girl, and if her brother said it was non of her business, it was fine by her. Matsui helped her up on the bike and they went home riding instead of just walking.

"We're home!"
"Welcome you two!"

Their mother, Shizuka came out of the kitchen to greet them.

"And where were you Matsui? I was kind of worried about you!"
"I was with a friend of mine!"
"A Girl to be exact!"
"Cut it out!"

Kari laughed and hid behind her mother.

"It's aklright! I'm glad to see you made some friends already! Dinner's ready, would you like to eat?"
"Would it be too much to ask to get to eat in my room?"
"No-no! I'll prepare a plate for you in an instant!"

With the plate Matsui went upstairs where his room was. They lived in a neat two story building, with a nice little yard and a garage. It was actually empty, but it was good for the gardening supplies and the bike Matsui just threw in. After he was done eating his dinner, which was delicious as always, he quickly did his homework, and instead of getting a move on with his evening chores, he just stared at the deck box in front of him.

"Jeez this Setsuna is forceful... Then again..."

He took a sheet of paper and a 2B pencil out, and started drawing, which became a hobby of his back in the days in the US. Kari was already done in the bath and she was already in her favourite pajamas, which had a flower pattern. She snuck up behind her brother and watched him from behind. A young girl started taking form on the paper. Kari's eyes widened at how detailed the whole picture started becoming. The young girl was holding something out towards obviously Matsui, and smiling.

"Is that her? Is that Setsuna?"

Matsui didn't answer for a bit, just kept working.

"Come on, tell me already!"
"It is her! But I think I told you not to sneak in here all the time!"
"Yeah, but I wanted to see what you were so busy with."
"Fine, just keep it down!"

Kari spotted the deck on the table, and took it up instead. She sat down on Matsui's bed, that was right next to them and took the cards out. Already on the first look she was shocked.

"But this..."
"I told you to keep it down!"
"Okay, I'm sorry..."

Kari put the cards back in their place and put the deck back in its place on the table. Matsui was working hard on putting more and more detail into the face, the clothing and all, the shadows and the other minor details before finally being done. By the time he was done, Kari had already fallen asleep, so he picked her up and carried her over to her room. After that, he went downstairs with the drawing to her mother and put it down right in front of her. Shizuka turned the TV off and picked the drawing up.

"Sooo... this is Setsuna, right?"
"Yeah... At least this is what I see her as!"

Shizuka nodded smiling.

"I see! Quite the beautiful young girl now is she? Do you like her?"
"I only know her since a few days! She's just a friend that's all!"

Shizuka smiled the most at the way how Matsui said Friend.

"Why don't you invite this friend of yours over tomorrow?"
"What? Already tomorrow? Don't you think it's kind of early just yet?"

Shizuka shook her head. By her it was almost natural to do so. Matsui wasn't really the one to get any friends so soon. Afterwards they both went to bed, but Matsui wasn't really ready to sleep yet, but instead he instead started reorganising his belongings. He still wasn't done with unpacking and his drawings and posters covered most of his room. Suddenly the deck ended up in his hand.

"Take it as a gift from me!"

That was what Setsuna said. He now took the cards out, but along with them a small note dropped out of the box.

"What the?"

"Sorry, but I made some changes to your deck. I hope you'll like it!

XoXo

Setsuna"

"Great... She doesn't give in does she? It's like I'd ever..."

He now started laying the cards out one by one. A few of them were the same old, but some others... For starters the first vanguard: Wingal Brave. Then there were some Pongals, Margal, Starcall Trumpeter, High-Dog Breeder Akane...

"Whaaaaa?! What's Blaster Dark doing in here?!"

It was that card... The fearsome card that took his brother from him... The one card that he dreaded the most of the fearsome Shadow Paladin Clan.

"The very same card as that day..."

His memories drifted away into the past where his brother used this card against him:

"Subete Sekai wa Yami ni Yakitsukosu! Senmetsu seyo ore no Bunshin! Blaster Dark!"

Matsui gasped hard at the bare thought, but now that he held 3 of those cards he wasn't feeling the same intimidation anymore.

"This... This is actually kind of a cool card... Though... I should give them back to her..."

He only now took a sniff at the cards and they were scented.

"Could this be her smell? Wow... !"

It was actually a really nics smell, and he couldn't help, but start smiling.

"Crazy girl... But still cute..."

The next morning Setsuna was wlking to school alone. Chiaki caught a nasty cold, and had to stay at home. All of a sudden someone put their heavy hand on her shoulder. When she turned that way, she saw Matsui, who was unusually smiling.

"Morning!"
"Err... Yeah... Good morning..."

The whole day went by, and Matsui was really friendly with everyone, and for a change he even went to the Cafeteria with her, and sat with her at the same table. Even though they didn't say a thing all day, Setsuna still enjoyed this bit of time together. Every single time a break came, Matsui went outside, but he returned with the bell. Even though Setsuna thought he was up to something, she didn't try to spy on him. That afternoon however he walked up t her and took her by the hand.

"Come on, we need to talk!"

With that he lead her to the top of the School's main building, which was usually off limits for everyone, but he just ignored the chain.

"So... Why did we come here again?"
"I just wanted to ask you... "

Matsui was flushing red.

"Well... Would you come over to my place today?"
"You mean like... As a guest... ?"

Matsui slowly nodded.

"Yeah... I... Well my mom wanted to meet you..."

Setsuna opened her eyes pretty wide.

"Your mom... ? How come?"
"Look it's just that... Well I never had too many friends... And mom usually wants to know all of them in person. She's still not going to work yet until monday... So would it be okay with you... ?"

Setsuna now started delightfully smiling.

"Sure! I'd gladly meet your mom!"

Matsui finally calmed down a bit and started smiling. That afternoon Setsuna did have a few more things to take care of, but when she reached the main gate, Matsui was there, bent against the wall, waiting for her.

"So, shall we?"
"Sure!"

They slowly walked their way down some streets, took at least two turns left and one right, and within the next ten minutes they reached a nice little two story house with a stone wall surrounding it. Matsui now entered the gate and as Setsuna followed, she saw a small girl run inside and shout:

"They're here!"

As they now entered, the pleasant smell of fresh food filled the entire house. Shizuka now came out of the kitchen to greet them.

"We're here mom!"
"Welcome both of you!"

She now looked Setsuna from top to bottom.

"Dinner is almost ready, go on and take a seat in the living room!"
"This way!"

Kari now grabbed Setsuna's hand and lead her inside. Here they sat down and Kari also observed her closely.

"Wow, you're even more beautiful than he drew you!"
"Wha... ? What did he ... Draw me... ?"

Matsui just whispered to her, that he'd explain later on. After some time Shizuka joined in, and Kari and her questioned Setsuna about everything possible, except the colour of her panties. Matsui was just facepalming at this, clearly a sign of how bad this situation was getting out of hand.

"Please forgive them, okay? I swear it'll only get better!"
"Don't worry, I'm actually enjoying this!"

Setsuna was really having fun, often smiling, or even giggling at how Shizuka and Kari often kept arguing over some things. Soon enough they went over to the dining room and as the dinner went on, Setsuna was glad to see, how much this lovely looking family was geting along just as lovely as they looked. Matsui was often smiling, and even laughing at times, which was a rare sight from him, even if he was a lot nicer that day. She also loved Kari. A typical little sister, cute and really lively she was, and her beautiful, incredibly long brown hair... And those sparkling blue eyes... She was also astonished about how she considered herself equal to the elder people, and her philosophy of fun things first was also lovely. Oddly enough however she wasn't really fond of the cardgame. After dinner was done, Matsui finally lead Setsuna into his own room. As much as she was expecting from Matsio, she was stunned as she entered, greeted by millions of posters, and drawings. Posters of Great torunaments of the past years, and there were also the invitations pinned onto them.

"So many... Wow..."
"39 posters and 44 invitations in total."
"Wow! I see they didn't forget about you at all..."
"No, they found me somehow, wherever I went."

Now Setsuna went over to the drawings, which basically covered the entire wall. 99% of them were all about Vanguard units, which were incredibly detailed.

"These drawings... Wow... You must have quite the Fantasy you know!"
"I developped skill in this while in the US. My art teacher made me realise, that I actually had talent... And helped me further my skills."

Setsuna now stopped in front of a drawing, which was simply awe inspiring. It depicted the duel between Blaster Blade and Blaster Dark. Blaster Blade looked a lot like Matsui.

"Is this you and Tenma?"
"Yeah... At least how I imagibe Tenma as nowadays, as I haven't met him in years."
"True!"

Matsui now took the latest drawing out and handed it to Setsuna, who sat down on his bed and now observed the drawing in awe.

"Are you kidding? Is this what Kari meant when she said that I'm prettier than on the drawing?"
"Yeah! I guess she's right actually... I haven't seen enough of you yet..."

Matsui now proceeded to tell Setsuna about how he tried to get away from Cardfighting in the US. He got himself a ton of hobbies, including drawing and even participating in a drama club for a while, where he developped his Poker Face further by playing cold and sinister characters on some occasions.

"Anything else I don't know of you yet?"
"Well I speak English, German, and Spanish fluently, and I played Soccer for a few years too."
"I would've thought you'd rather play Football!"
"Nah, not my style!"

Setsuna just kept staring at the drawing.

"So... Can I keep this?"
"Are you kidding? It was meant for you! Go on and take it if you like! And these too!"

Matsui now took the three Blaster Dark cards out and handed them to Setsuna, who just shook her head smiling.

"No-no! These are needed for the deck to work right!"
"But..."
"What did I tell you about buts?"

Matsui just nodded and put the cards away.

"Alright! But I do want my old cards back!"
"Ooooh, you just said "My" cards! Does that mean you reconsidered it?"

Matsui let out a big sigh.

"I did... About a million times in the past 6 years. The answer is still no!"
"So... No chance?"
"Chance maybe, but only a bit of it... Maybe some day!"
"So, there is some chance after all?"

Setsuna's eyes were glittering in joy.

"Yeah, maybe some day! I will drop by at the Playcorner some times, and try to keep up with you guys too! I just hope I can get along with Chiaki too."

Unknowingly, but Matsui and Setsuna were really close to each other by now, almost feeling each other's breathing as they were half lying on the bed. Setsuna suddenly caught herself together and sat back up.

"Err.. I should probably get going home now!"
"Ye... Yeah... I guess so! Tomorrow there's still school right?"
"Yeah... "

Matsui joined Setsuna outside and waved her goodbyes, while the girl just walked past the corner and out of sight.

"I like your girlfriend!"
"She's not my girlfriend!"

Kari giggled at the way Matsui was blushing when he said that, and as he went upstairs and in his room, she just shook her head.

"Yeah right!"

Meanwhile, Setsuna was walking home slowly, when suddenly her phone rang.

"What is it Chiaki?"
"Where the hell are you?"
"I was at Matsui's place! I really enjoyed myself!"

Chiaki took a few seconds before carrying on.

"Did you tell him?"
"No, not yet! I'll hold it for a bit. I'll see you at home! Cheers!"
"Yeah, Bye!"

Setsuna hung up and she looked up at the stars pondering out loud.

"Mom... What if he finds out who I really am? Will he still like me for who I am?"