Starting Notes:
Welcome back! It's been a while. I won't promise consistent updates, but yeah, have a fluff chapter.
#10: Glinting Light
The duel was supposed to happen in a week. Naturally, this meant that many of the other You Show duelists, rather nervous about their own capabilities, started to practise and try and figure out if there were any additional cards that they could add to their decks at this late time.
And Keika… didn't really do that.
Why bother?
She'd just be unnecessarily stressing herself out more. She was confident in herself.
But well…
It was a learning experience for the rest. She didn't want to interfere with it.
So as the rest trained in the school, she simply decided to walk around the city.
("I wish I could be as calm as you," Yuya said as she announced that she was going out for a while. "I mean, everyone keeps asking me if I'm going to be okay, but this is LDS we're talking about—")
("You have no reason to be like me," Keika said. "You're doing fine as yourself.")
She heard some noise, and for a moment, she grimaced. She turned over towards the noise—as it turned out, it was a carnival. There were the usual events set up—a merry-go-round, a stage for performances, several stalls for games and food scattered around—filling up the park, as well as part of the plot of land next to it.
Hmm.
When was the last time that she had been to a carnival again?
… when she finally recalled it, the memory stung her slightly.
… right.
The last time that she had been to a carnival was when she was twelve. Funnily enough, it had been right here in the park nearby their Duel School as well. She had come here with her dad, who had hoisted her up on his shoulders and run through the carnival with her there. She had laughed, so had he, and they had bought every food item that they could get at the time. Yuya had been at a remedial class at the time, having failed an exam, and so, their mother had waited at home so that he wouldn't be alone when he got back.
But back then, it had just been her and her dad, smiling and laughing, enjoying all the games, with no worries in the world.
Someone bumped into her at that moment, and Keika snapped out of it. At the same time, she felt her wallet slip out of her pocket. She immediately turned around, ready to shout at the person who had stolen it—
And then, as the pickpocket ran—
Someone intercepted them, grabbing their arm.
Keika stopped in her tracks. The pickpocket struggled against the newcomer's grip for a while, but eventually went still, giving up.
"I believe that you have something that belongs to the girl there," the young man who had caught the pickpocket said. He was wearing sunglasses, along with a red and dark blue hooded sweatshirt. He had pulled the hood over his head, making him look slightly suspicious. Since he was taller than her though, Keika could see under the hood—grey hair spiked backwards. "Return it."
The pickpocket immediately raised their hand to their hoodie, pulling it tightly over their face as well. They then pushed the wallet towards Keika, who took it.
"Do you want them to be arrested?" The young man said to her. "We can call an officer over."
Keika stared at him blankly. "... it's fine" she muttered. She turned to the pickpocket. "You can go. Is the amount that you need just a small amount?"
The pickpocket's voice was muffled due to the hoodie. "500 yen."
"Ah." Keika handed a few coins over to the pickpocket, who went still with clear surprise. "That's it though."
"Thank you," the pickpocket murmured, and then they ran away.
"... why did you give them money?" The person who had helped her out said. His voice was slightly raspy—clearly deeper than most boys her age. "They tried to steal from you."
Keika glanced at him—genuinely confused. "Wasn't it obvious?"
"… I would like it explained to me," he replied. "I don't understand decisions that seem so… irrational."
… tch. Was he one of those people who would preach logic and look down on people who made emotional decisions?
"That person," Keika said. "Their clothing was fraying at the ends, and there was some dirt on most of it. Their shoes were completely worn out too—they nearly slipped when you caught them, so the soles of their shoes must have broken down."
He pushed his sunglasses up slightly. "I see. You're suggesting that they're a runaway."
Keika nodded. She closed her eyes for a moment.
I know what it's like to struggle. To fear for my family financially. Back when dad first left us, I learned to sew my own clothes back together, to adjust and modify them so that I could keep on using them when I was older.
So I know how to see those signs in people too.
People who desperately need money…
I don't need to wonder who that was though. I will likely never see them again.
But I'm in a better place now… so I do have a soft spot for people who struggle.
"Very well. You seem to be a generous person."
"... I guess I should thank you for stopping them," Keika said. She stopped, considering her words. "... I don't mean to be rude to you. And I'm not being sarcastic… thank you."
"... you haven't been very rude at all." The older boy gestured towards the carnival. "Before that happened, I spotted you staring at the carnival. Would you like to go?"
"... I was merely reminiscing." She shook her head. "Carnivals are a waste of time and money."
"Then perhaps I can help you waste less of the second."
… huh?
"This carnival is sponsored by the Leo Corporation." He raised an LDS badge. "And all LDS students get free admission to the carnival, along with a discount on all the games here. Food still needs to be paid for, but if you simply want to try things out…"
… the terrible truth was, Keika genuinely wanted to. There was a part of her—that pathetic girl from her past, long before she had become who she was today—that wanted to recapture that childhood nostalgia.
She didn't like that.
She had thought that she had grown beyond those feelings.
That feeling that having 'fun' was the most important thing of all… that was an idea that her child self had followed for a long time.
"That's an awful lot of thinking for a single choice."
"I always think through my choices carefully," Keika said.
(Far away, Yuya sneezed, as though he had sensed the blatant falsehood that had just been spoken.)
"I see. So do I." He looked at her. "Are you afraid that if LDS finds out that you're not an LDS student, something bad will happen to you?"
… oh.
He was essentially asking if she was scared of LDS.
Keika twitched, and thought about everyone in her school working hard to prepare for their duel against LDS. About LDS's threat.
I am not afraid of LDS.
She strode forward. The young man followed behind her, seeming somewhat curious about her actions.
"If they find out, they won't be able to do anything to me." Anything more, at least. She turned to him. "I suppose I'll be relying on your student badge. What's your name?"
The LDS student froze up. Then, after a moment, he confidently said, "Declan."
"De… clan?" What an odd name. "No last name?"
With a perfectly straight face—though she still couldn't see his eyes—he said, "yes. Declan Nolastname."
"... you know, if you don't want to introduce yourself, you can just say so." Keika turned to walk towards the nearest stall. "Anyway… fair's fair. I'm not going to bother with a fake name." She messed with her ponytail, glancing away from him. "I'm Keika Sakaki."
"I see. It is a pleasure to learn your name."
"... I can't say the same." Literally. She had never learned his name, for obvious reasons. She heard him let out a surprised snort though—one that he clearly tried to hide immediately afterwards.
The first game stall that they stumbled across was a simple game—a pyramid of ten steel bottles were arranged next to a wall of plushies. The sign next to it said it all—400 yen for three throws of balls. Four cans knocked down for a bronze prize, seven for a silver prize, and ten for a gold prize. Bronze prizes were a bunch of small keychains, silver prizes were smaller plushies, and gold prizes were the large ones—the ones that could actually be hugged properly.
"Those bottles are usually weighted," her current companion—she supposed that she'd have to call him that ridiculous fake name right now—commented from next to her. "They require a lot of strength to knock down—you'd be better off trying a different game."
Keika glanced towards him, calmly raising an eyebrow. She thought through her words several times, before she spoke. "I'm far stronger than you might think. Or are you simply saying that because I'm a girl?"
"I would not…" He seemed to lose his composure for a brief moment. "I would not look down on you for being a girl. I meant your height, more than anything."
"I can handle it," Keika said. She reached for her wallet to get the money, just so that she could prove him wrong—
Declan slapped 400 yen on the table in front of the vendor, who looked vaguely amused by their arguing.
"You're paying?" Keika said.
"I figured that it would motivate you."
More like you just want to stress me out… but whatever.
You might think that putting someone else's money on the line will make my aim worse. But you underestimate me—
I am entirely run by spite.
She lifted the first ball, testing its weight. She raised a single leg and flung it forward. It hit the left side of the pyramid, knocking down two bottles. A third wobbled—and then it fell down too.
… yeah. Definitely weighted.
Even if it was weighed against her though, it didn't matter, as long as she could throw hard enough.
She raised the second ball and flung it forward.
The metal bottles clanked to the ground—with the sheer force, a bottle was even flung towards the back of the stall, making a loud sound. As the bottles clanked against each other—
Only two were left. One on the far left, and one on the far right.
"Too bad!" The vendor said, unable to hide their smile. "You're not going to be able to get both of them."
"Watch me," Keika replied, and she tossed the ball through the air.
As the bottles fell, the sunlight that they reflected forced Keika to glance away for a moment—
But, with that perfectly curved shot, the two bottles fell to the ground.
Keika crossed her arms, turning over to the vendor, who was staring at her, mouth hanging open. "I would like my prize," she said. Then, she turned her head to look at Declan. However, the hoodie was masking most of his face, so it was hard to tell his expression.
Oh well.
She walked over to the wall, and she pulled a plushie off it—a red octopus. Then, after a moment, she raised it and flung it at Declan's chest. He raised his hands, catching it instinctively.
"Since you paid, you can keep it," Keika muttered. For some reason, she couldn't quite bring herself to look him in the eyes. "I think it fits you—not that I understand why."
The boy touched his neck for a moment—was something supposed to be there? He held up the octopus with a very neutral look on his face.
"Let's go to the next one," Keika said.
The truth was, Reiji had only happened to see her, because he was watching the carnival in secret—a carnival that he had helped to set up.
And then, he had seen her face, and Reiji had immediately understood.
Naturally—the reason that she'd had that strange expression on her face was because it had something to do with her father. And that thought had made him feel somewhat guilty, so he'd taken the pickpocketing incident as a chance to approach her.
Then, Keika Sakaki had turned to him with those hard red eyes and calmly thanked him for helping her, and Reiji had looked at her with some confusion.
… this girl was still too difficult to read.
Then, she asked for his name.
Internally, Reiji Akaba realised how bad of an idea this was. His paper thin disguise might fool a girl that he had never met before, but any student of LDS who saw his face would instantly know who he was.
Still though…
What was the harm of just following along with her for a while longer?
He followed her—
And then she flung a ball with such force that it rattled the table that it struck.
Reiji was very glad that she was not looking at him at that moment. The look of intense focus in her eyes… as though the only things in her world were herself and what she was aiming for.
It fit with his current assessment of her.
What an overly emotional person.
And to be out here on her own, when the duel between their schools was coming up…
It was a strange decision from her.
He'd have to observe her for a while longer.
And when she shoved the octopus in his hands, it was only with a lot of effort that he stopped himself from staring at her in shock.
What an odd girl—far more fierce than one might assume her to be. Like magma bubbling beneath the surface, ready to erupt.
"What about you?" Keika asked, after they conquered yet another carnival game. (Her strange companion was surprisingly good with a water gun.) They had already been there for about two hours—and to Keika's surprise, 'Declan' wasn't bad company in the slightest. He didn't talk too much, he didn't push when he shouldn't—he was more like a quiet voice over her shoulder. "Judging from how you're constantly hiding your face, you don't seem like a people person. Why are you here?"
"My father and I used to go to events like this together," he said distantly.
… ah. Now that was touching something that perhaps should not be talked about so openly.
Keika turned to him, about to say something—
Before his phone rang.
He picked up the phone, seeming somewhat annoyed. As he listened to the voice over the phone, his displeasure only seemed to grow.
"... alright. I'll be there." He hung up, and he turned to her. "I will take my leave now."
"That's unfortunate," Keika said, and she actually meant it. Then, she thought of something. "... are you one of the students coming to my school later in the week?"
He went silent, and that was enough of a response. Interesting.
"I'll learn your real name then," she said.
"... if you say so," he replied. "I'll see you there then—Sakaki-san."
Keika watched him walk off.
What a strange person…
Maybe he'd be her opponent?
… wait.
One more very important answer remained.
She chased after him in the crowd, barely catching up. He turned to look at her—
And she finally saw his eyes, under the sunglasses. Purple eyes.
"Is there something wrong?" He asked.
"One more question," she muttered, before she raised her voice. "Himika Akaba said that she was bringing the best students of each course in LDS to duel us. My question is—do you know if currently, Hokuto Shijima is one of them?"
"... that's oddly specific, but yes."
Keika nodded, letting go of him.
So. Masumi Kotsu was probably one of them. Hokuto Shijima was another. And… maybe this guy was a third? She didn't know. Five summoning methods, five courses…
She breathed out slowly.
… I'm getting greedy. I need to calm down.
I need to master what I already have before I even think about that impossible idea—of learning six summoning methods.
Strangely, the carnival didn't seem quite as interesting now that she was navigating it without company, even though she normally preferred being alone.
Maybe she'd head back…
As she headed towards the edge of the park though, she spotted the hooded pickpocket from earlier again. The person seemed to stir as he spotted her, and then, he walked over.
"... do you need something?"
"... I need help," the figure murmured. "Can you come with me?"
… and that was probably the dumbest idea that she'd ever heard. Going with a stranger who she couldn't see the face of to an unknown location…
"I'm sorry," she said. "I can help, but I don't think I can follow you to a—"
Her voice died in her throat as the figure reached a hand towards their hood, pulling it aside slightly—
Revealing her face.
"... you know," Keika said, keeping herself calm, "I am really tired of seeing my own face on other people. It's giving me an existential crisis at this point."
"Mmm, really?" The girl smiled cheerfully. It was an odd look to see on her own face—something playful and sweet. Keika would never have the light-heartedness to smile in that cute manner. Now that the hood was slightly off, even her voice seemed to be far more light-hearted. Most of her was still covered by the hood, except her face—still hiding her away from sight. Keika was fine with that—it meant that no one would question that she was talking to a girl with the same face as her. "It was a surprise for me too, you know~? When I first saw you and that other girl, I was so shocked!" With a wide-eyed look, she raised her hands in the air. "Never in my life have I seen my face look so… grumpy!"
"... never in my life have I seen my face smiling like that," Keika replied.
"Exactly! See? I'd never have believed it, but geez, it really is my face. I can't believe it." The girl winked. "So, have you ever seen a more trustworthy face in your life?"
"... I don't trust my own face," Keika replied.
"... geez. Moodkiller much?" The girl raised a hand. "Anyway… my brother is bleeding out in an alleyway right now, so if you could…"
… what.
Sometimes, Keika seriously questioned how her life had gotten to this point. Somehow, she couldn't go a single day without tripping over some new revelation.
"Fine," she said. "Lead the way."
The girl winked. "Thank you!"
End Notes:
I scrapped almost ten chapters worth of content (~80k in total) because I decided that I didn't like them. And then I realised that most of their problems came from the original Chapter 10. My friend said the very wise words of "if you don't like it, rewrite it". So that chapter has been scrapped, and you can all thank me that you never had to read that. So instead, while we are still in the LDS arc, we're… doing some nice set up.
The number of times, writing this chapter, that I just stopped and facepalmed at Reiji's—sorry, mysterious grey-haired boy's obvious lies. Writing his name as Declan the entire time made me cringe slightly though—I don't like the dub names, but I thought making that his alias would be funny.
The red octopus? Entirely a reference to the scarf Reiji wears.
Me writing the scene where Keika literally wins a carnival minigame out of spite: "Ok, but what if I make it plot-relevant—"
New K counterpart gets her actual appearance described later. For now, she is wearing a hood :3
To naminexriku2468, I never said that. :)
To Ben23ten, I will say that I did rewrite most of the LDS arc for... reasons. And yup, they're pretty sweet. :)
To T.V. 2000, I think everyone will definitely enjoy the duel with Midori, at least :D