It's time for some more romance. Special thanks to FlowersHeart17 for the ideas of Estelle and Yusei's date, and special thanks to CitrusUnshiu for helping me with Aki and Sherry's clothes, and Okazakisan for beta-reading parts of the chapter together with Citrus.

The chapter begins in Estelle's point of view.

Disclaimer: I do not own any Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's characters! I only own my OCs!

Chapter 3: Summer Love

A couple of days have passed since the game night. It was nice just relaxing for once and not worry about any disastrous incidents. It was still a little surreal that we didn't have to stay precautious anymore. My body was still a little on the edge, ready to act if danger were to arise. It was going to take some time to let go of the stiffness.

I was currently in the garage studying with Yusei for the admission tests for our universities. It was a little hot outside, but that was just the forewarning of a heatwave the country was expecting in a week or so now in August. Good thing the Satellite Trio has a fan that had been constructed by Yusei sometime ago.

Crow was out doing deliveries and Jack was working at the café next door, so we had the place all for ourselves. I was going through some basics with Yusei when he all of the sudden brought up the topic that now lingered in the air.

"A date?" I repeated as I looked up from the textbook I was reading.

"Yes", Yusei replied while he put down the pencil in the middle of his textbook. "The Perseid Meteor Shower is active right now and its peak rate is around the 13th of this month. I sometimes watched it back on old Satellite when I was alone, but this time… I want to watch the meteor shower with you, Estelle."

My heart thumped fast in my chest by the thoughts of a romantic date. The two of us had a few dates before, but we weren't a couple back then and the only actual date we've been on so far was the day we confessed our feelings to each other. This was going to be our first outing and the idea thrilled me. I used to go on lots of outings with my parents when I was a child, so I had some experience about preparations.

"I'd love to watch the meteor shower with you too, Yusei", I smiled with blushing cheeks. "I've never watched this particular meteor shower before, so I'm looking forward to it."

Yusei got a relieved smile by my response. "Is it okay if I pick you up around 9 p.m. on the 13th?" he asked.

"It's perfect", I nodded. "I can prepare something to eat and drinks for the outing. I'm sure we'll get hungry at some point."

"Sounds good. I'll bring a blanket and lanterns so we won't be in complete darkness."

I held back the comment that tickled in my throat. This date started sounding even more romantic than it did initially. "I can't wait for the date now", I smiled. "But we better study hard so we can afford this little break."

"Good point", Yusei nodded before he eyed the textbook again. "I have to do my best to get a proper education."

I nodded as I grabbed my smartphone and set a timer for forty-five minutes. "We'll take a ten to fifteen minutes break when the timer's done", I informed my boyfriend. "It's important to take breaks between studies."

"I trust you", Yusei nodded before he took a sip of his iced milk.

XXXXXXXXXX

The days passed by with studies and preparations for the date and before I knew it, it was time for the night date. I had practiced some recipes and decided on the menu after reading the recipe book that Martha gave me. I just hoped Yusei was going to like the food. So far, he and the others have enjoyed the meals I made for them, so maybe I was in the clear.

I was waiting outside of Goodwin's mansion with my Duel Runner parked by the front door. The sun had gone down a while ago, so the sky was covered in a night blue sheet. I had packed the cooler and a small backpack in the seat compartment, so it was ready with the fresh food and a couple of thermoses with drinks, and some extra stuff. It took some time to choose what to wear for the date, but I finally decided on a simple black summer dress with a V-cut by the cleavage that had a white cover sewed onto the dress and a pair of black slip-ons. The only accessory I put on was my precious star necklace.

I was getting nervous for each passing second. I shouldn't be feeling like this, but I couldn't help it. This was going to be my first night date with my boyfriend. It was probably just nerves for still being a fresh couple, but I honestly couldn't tell. Yusei is literally my first boyfriend; I'm not that experienced with dating!

I quit my inner rant when I heard the noise of a Duel Runner and a pair of flashlights lit up the darkness. Yusei drove up to the front of the mansion, and parked right behind my Runner. He rolled up the visor on his helmet and greeted me. "Hi, Estelle", he nodded. "Did you wait long?"

"No, not at all", I shook my head before I inspected his clothes.

Yusei was dressed in a dark grey top, black pants with a matching leather jacket, and dark grey shoes. Simple, but the colors looked great on him. "You look great", I couldn't resist the temptation to compliment him.

"Thanks", Yusei replied before he scanned me from head to toe with a smile. "You look nice too."

I blushed by the compliment myself and twirled a few strands of my hair around my index finger before I snapped out of it. "Well, I'm ready to go", I informed my friend as I grabbed the helmet that rested on the seat of my Runner. "Show me the way, sir."

Yusei chuckled at my comment while I climbed onto the Runner and switched it on. "Alright. Follow me", he called before he drove ahead.

I followed Yusei through the slight empty streets before we made it out to the outskirts of the city. He drove toward the green mountains in the distance where Lester's stone tablet had crashed months ago. The crater had become a tourist attraction due to its odd shape created by said "meteorite".

We parked in a half-full parking lot on the mountain where there was a popular lookout point for visitors to watch the view of the city in the distance and even the open ocean, including Satellite. We got off the Runners and grabbed the stuff from the compartments and stored the helmets plus Yusei's jacket before we walked the rest of the way. My partner carried a rolled blanket under his arm while holding a medium-sized bag in the other hand that probably contained the lanterns. I carried the cooler in my right hand while the backpack rested on my back as I followed Yusei up the stairs to secured cliffs of lookout points.

We walked to the very top of the mountain which took some time, but it was worth it. The area was completely open and we could see the clear sky. There were other people who had come out for an evening picnic to watch the meteor shower, both couples and families alike. I was already in awe as I looked at the sky, now a lot clearer and with more stars visible compared to back in the city. Silver stars lit up the sky with a few streaks of shooting stars. The main part of the meteor shower could start any minute now.

"Wow…", I mumbled in awe. "It's so pretty."

"It's a fantastic view", Yusei agreed. "I actually looked around for a good spot where we can watch the meteor shower after you said yes to the date."

"You chose a great spot, Yusei", I smiled to my boyfriend while I walked next to him.

We soon found an opening in the grass where we spread out the blanket to have the picnic. I removed my shoes while Yusei picked up four rice lanterns from his bag which he unfolded and placed on the corners of the blanket. They immediately lit up by stored sunlight power. I opened the cooler while my boyfriend sat down after he took off his shoes. "I hope you'll like the food…", I said shyly as I gave him a wooden lunch box and a pair of chopsticks. "I thought long and hard about what to make."

Yusei took the lunch box from my hands. "I doubt you made anything inedible", he chuckled. "The meals you've made so far were great."

"I still have a lot to learn", I chuckled in response as I placed down my lunch box on the blanket. I then grabbed the two teacups and placed them next to the lunch boxes. "I brought water, green tea and rooibos tea; which one do you want?" I asked.

"Green tea, please."

I grabbed the thermos with the green tea and poured some in Yusei's cup. I decided to go with rooibos; green tea was too bitter for me. I have tried it multiple times, but I could never get used to it.

The picnic was set after I finished pouring the tea in the cups, so there was was one thing left to do.

"Itadakimasu (Let's eat.)", Yusei and I said simultaneously before we dug in.

I opened my lunch box and was greeted by the meal I had cooked up. It consisted of a couple of rice balls wrapped in dried seaweed filled with cooked eryngii and some picked cabbage on the side.

I grabbed one of the rice balls with my hand and took a bite of it. The sweetness of the rice and the umami flavor of the eryngii created a harmonious balance like I was actually eating a meat dish with rice. It was really good.

"It tastes great", Yusei complimented after he finished his first rice ball.

"I'm so glad to hear that", I smiled in relief. "I didn't know what filling to use for the rice balls, so I asked the chef in the mansion for advice. The rice was the tricky part; I had to cook it right so it got sticky enough to shape it."

"It's good", Yusei said. "I remember Martha used basmati rice to try making sushi, but that rice didn't stick together, so it often became a mess in the dining room. We ended up eating sushi as kaisendon instead."

"Kaisendon…", I repeated after I ate some of the picked vegetable. "That's a type of donburi, right? When you have rice in a bowl and different toppings like sashimi or pork cutlet?"

"Right. Whenever Martha got some rice, she often made different donburi for us during special occasions, like birthdays or 'graduations' when the kids got old enough to leave the orphanage to live on their own. Rice was expensive and rare to come across at the market, so that's why we only ate it during those occasions."

"Huh…"

It was interesting and a little fascinating to hear such details that were never revealed in the anime. I felt like I learned something new about the old times of Satellite every time I talked to Yusei and his foster siblings.

I took a sip of my tea to cleanse my taste buds before I continued eating the food. "Have you and the guys bought a birthday gift for Aki yet?" I asked after I swallowed the bite I took. Her birthday was just a few days away and she had invited us to her birthday party.

"Yeah, we picked out different gifts. What about you?"

"I found something too and I made a birthday card for her. I wanted to add something extra because this is going to be her last birthday before the graduation next year."

"You like being creative, don't you?"

"Well, I have to take every opportunity to improve my creativity if I want to become a card designer."

"Fair enough."

We finished eating the main course before I revealed the dessert; milk chocolate panna cotta. I knew for a long time that Yusei loved drinking milk. I've seen several milk bottles in the fridge at the garage, so no big surprise. If I have to make a tier list of Yusei's favorite beverages, milk dominates the first place. He said he doesn't really like coffee that much and he only drinks it whenever he needs a caffeine boost, like when he pulls all-nighters. And we both like chocolate, so we could both eat the dessert.

After we were done with the meal, we put away the utensils and lunch boxes in the picnic bag before we laid down on the blanket to stare up at the starry sky. The main show of the meteor shower hadn't started yet. Some picnickers had started leaving the mountain, especially the kid families, so there were less people around us. Some were quiet and some were talking to drive the time while waiting patiently.

Yusei and I were silent as we looked at the sky. Thin silver streaks of shooting stars flew across the sky every now and then, so the meteor shower could start any moment now. For a brief moment, I got a weird feeling in my heart. Looking at the stars reminded me of the name my parents gave me after I was born.

Estelle.

Star.

When I learned the meaning behind my name, I became obsessed with stars and I wanted to become a star, mainly so the kids would stop bullying me and respect me instead. It had taken a long time for me to realize I didn't have to become an actual star like famous singers or actors. I just have to become a star by being myself and I will one day find people who appreciate me.

I thought more about stars. They were created within nebulas that contained all kinds of particles, gas and dust. Yusei's name came from the Planetary Particle, so our names had a distinct connection to each other. Did this make us soulmates?

I giggled to myself by the last thought. I was letting my fantasy run wild. "What are you thinking about?" Yusei asked, his breath tickling my ear.

"Nothing…", I replied softly as I smiled at the soulmate topic. That term only existed in books, but who knows if it was real in another world or dimension.

I stretched my right hand up to imagine that I could touch the sky and grab the stars in my palm. I never noticed Yusei had stretched his left hand at the same time, so we bumped each other with the back of our hands. It didn't take long before we intertwined our fingers. It was rare of Yusei not wearing gloves, but I didn't mind that. I enjoyed the little skin contact.

I turned my head toward my boyfriend and saw he was staring at me. I felt a little embarrassed and turned my eyes away for a moment. His face was close to mine… It was like a dream come true, but I still wasn't used to being intimate with a partner. It was going to take some time getting used to it…or just not think too deeply about it.

I shifted my eyes back at Yusei with a nervous pounding heart. His eyes shone like the night sky above us. It was like I was staring in another universe that only existed within the man before me. Our heads had unconsciously moved closer to each other before we closed our eyes and shared a kiss. It was soft and sweet and it wasn't just because of the panna cotta.

"Look!" a voice called out and broke the romantic moment.

Yusei and I moved back and turned to the sky as it brightened up by the massive meteor shower. I gaped in awe at the sight. I have never seen anything like it before. Our hands were still intertwined, so I squeezed my boyfriend's hand to tell him I was enjoying the view.

"It's so beautiful…", I told him.

"Yeah… It was never this majestic back in Satellite because of the smog and the light from the city", Yusei replied.

"I'm so happy I could watch this with you, Yusei", I smiled before I planted a kiss on his cheek. "But my favorite shooting star…will always be you."

Yusei chuckled at my comment before he gently brushed my left cheek and tucked the hair behind my ear. "I'm happy I shared this moment with you too, Estelle", he smiled softly.

We smiled at each other before continuing watching the meteor shower. It was such a magical moment, almost surreal to me. I was still on cloud nine when Yusei escorted me home around midnight. We shared one last kiss before I went to bed and continued the romantic date in my dreams.

XXXXXXXXXX – Aki's POV

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous for my birthday party. This was going to be the last birthday before I graduate Duel Academy in March which was seven months away. Seven months may sound like a long time, but I knew the time was going to pass so quickly that before I know it I'll be holding my school diploma.

The birthday party was going to be outside in the garden, even though considering the hot weather I wasn't so sure if that was the best idea. I chose to get dressed in a purple loose summer dress with flower pattern paired with white sneakers. Purple has really grown on me over the years. In fact, it was one of my favorite colors now.

My friends came over for the party, all of them dressed in light and casual clothes to endure the heat. They congratulated me and gave me presents that I was going to open later. The last ones to arrive were Sherry and Mizoguchi. I spotted them by the crowd of Duel Runners parked in front of the house, so I excused myself to go and greet them.

My lips formed a big smile as I watched Sherry remove her helmet and gently twirl her head so the long blonde strands blew around her like a cape caught in the wind. She always made it look so pretty. I twirled some of my short hair strands around my finger. I've had short hair for as long as I could remember. There was one time my hair reached the nape of my neck, but that was back in my dark past. I cut my hair after I joined the Arcadia Movement and had kept it the same ever since.

Perhaps it was time for a change…

"Good afternoon, Aki", Sherry's greeting snapped me out of my thoughts. The tall blonde woman smiled slightly as she congratulated me for turning eighteen today. Mizoguchi just nodded slightly, while also wishing me a happy birthday.

"Thank you, Sherry, Mizoguchi", I smiled warmly at them. "And thank you for coming to my party", I added, since I knew that the tall blonde wasn't especially fond of big parties.

"I wouldn't want to miss the party of one of my close friends", Sherry said, the smile still on her face. "You look lovely in your purple dress", she complimented and I could practically feel my cheeks warm up.

"Thank you…", I mumbled a little shyly. I just now realized that Sherry herself wasn't dressed in her usual outfit. Instead, she was dressed in a white and loose long-sleeved blouse, navy blue dress pants and a pair of black flat shoes. It was a simple yet classic outfit that fit the tall woman really well. "You look nice too", I said hoping that my shyness wasn't so obvious for Sherry.

"Please, follow me", I told the duo before I led them to the garden party.

Greetings and handshakes were exchanged with the last arrivers and the party was on. The buffet table was full of food that was light and easy to eat, especially fresh fruits that got handpicked from the garden, and both cold drinks and tea to keep hydrated during this weather. The servants of the house had also set up parasols we could stay underneath to hide from the sunlight.

After a while in the heat, I actually felt quite exhausted so I sat down on a small bench under a parasol. I grabbed a cup of lukewarm tea that I slowly drank as I watched my friends talk and laugh at some jokes. I had to smile at that sight. I didn't have such a big birthday party last year because of the circumstances after the defeat of the Dark Signers. And birthdays before that, I wasn't really celebrating, especially the ones after I had joined Duel Academy in my early teen years.

"Taking a break, Aki?" I heard Sherry say in front of me. I was so lost in thought about my past that I haven't noticed her coming under the parasol. "Sorry I didn't want to scare you", Sherry apologized as she sat down next to me. She was holding a glass of water in her hand that she now placed on the small table in front of us.

"It's okay", I replied softly, a warm feeling in my chest spreading now that Sherry was sitting next to me. I decided to turn my attention to my tea cup. "The heat's a little stronger than I anticipated. How are you holding up?"

"Quite alright. I think I've already gotten used to this heat, during my time here", she explained while she grabbed her glass of water, which made me turn my attention back to her. Her usual stoic expression softened slightly. "Back in France it wasn't as hot, but as a child I still spent most of those days in the pool and nap under the shade of the plenty Mirabelle trees." A small smile decorated the French's face and I couldn't help but think about how pretty the woman in front of me is.

"Mirabelle trees?" I questioned as I didn't know what kind of tree that was.

"It's a fruit tree", Sherry explained looking at me. "I think they grow all over Europe, but the region I'm from is quite famous for Mirabelle tartes. I loved going to events involving the tartes with my mom", she said and even though Sherry was smiling, I could see the sadness in her eyes. She turned her attention to her water glass again. I placed a hand on hers, knowing how she must feel about losing all the things that were important to her.

"Do you miss France?" I questioned after a while, even though the answer to that was quite obvious.

Sherry remained silent, still staring at her glass. "I do sometimes", she replied before she got quiet again. She had a conflicted facial expression like she was holding back something, but she wanted to speak up about it. "Aki…", she sighed and turned her attention to me. "I wanted you to be the first to know", she spoke up, her green eyes meeting my brown ones making it hard for me not to get lost in her beauty again. "I'll be leaving Japan soon."

It took a few seconds for me to comprehend what the tall woman just told me. "W-What…?" I breathed out, looking confused. Sherry would leave? When? Why?

I was still holding onto Sherry's hand and I felt that she had placed her other hand on top of mine. "I need to investigate whether my parent's company is still existing or not", she explained, her voice barely above a whisper. "Iliaster has altered history," she explained further. "If my parent's company is in the wrong hands, I need to reclaim it as the heir of the LeBlanc family and rebuilt what was robbed from them."

What she said made sense, but I couldn't help feel sad about Sherry leaving Japan. I knew she was only here to get her revenge, so it was only a matter of time that she would return to her home country. It was only a matter of time she would want to rebuild her life. A life far away from mine. Of course I was happy that all the danger was gone now and that she had the possibility to do all of that, but I don't want to see her leave. If she leaves, will I ever see her again?

Sherry must have noticed the change in my emotions, as she softly squeezed my hand. "Don't worry, Aki", Sherry whispered softly. "I promise I'll come back for your graduation", she added and it actually helped me relax a little bit. "Also, we can still stay in touch via Line if you want to."

"Of course!" I exclaimed a little louder than I wanted which caught some of my friends and my mom's attention as she was walking by the parasol.

"Is everything okay, Aki?" My mom called, as she approached closer to the parasol. I quickly withdrew my hand from Sherry's, which felt so wrong.

"Yes, mom! I'm okay!" I shouted back, feeling my cheeks growing hot by embarrassment. Thankfully my mom went away with a slight shrug. "Kids these days," I heard her say.

Everyone returned to their activities while I covered my face with my hands. I felt like a small child getting caught in the middle of stealing cookies. Sherry chuckled humorously next to me, which didn't help the situation. "Stop it…", I muttered.

"Sorry, Aki", Sherry chuckled warmly. Seeing her laugh and smile was worth my embarrassment. "I've rarely seen you lose control like that."

I sighed deeply as I placed my hands on my lap. "Sorry… It was just…like an instinct", I replied as I looked down at my rolling thumbs. "I'm not gonna lie… I'll miss you," I said, to my own surprise without being all shy.

"I'll miss you too, Aki", Sherry confessed. Just like that, her words removed the heavy weight of sadness I felt in my heart a moment ago. How does she do that?

Before I knew it, she held a small rectangular gift in front of my eyes, wrapped in white paper and a gold ribbon. I blinked a couple of times to make sure I wasn't hallucinating. Where did she keep it hidden?

"This is my birthday present to you, Aki", Sherry said with a soft voice. "I hope…you will use it", she said and for the first time that I have known the tall woman, it felt as if she was being a bit shy.

My eyes softened as I accepted the present with both my hands. "Thank you, Sherry. I promise I'll use it well", I replied.

Sherry smiled before she stood up and stretched her arms. She then turned to me with the smile still pasted on her lips. "Shall we head back to the party?" she asked as she held out a hand to me. "The birthday child shouldn't stay hidden for so long."

I giggled at the comment before I took the offering hand and got up from the seat. "Then… May I ask you to escort me back to the party?" I asked, feeling a little playful.

Sherry smirked in response and gently squeezed my hand. "But of course, birthday princess", she acted perfectly for the brief roleplay.

XXXXXXXXXX – Normal POV

The moon had settled down in the night sky shortly after the guests left the party. The servants of the Izayoi mansion had packed away the leftovers and moved the furniture back indoors for the night. Aki had retired to her bedroom to open the presents she received from her friends. They were all from booster packs to a manual on how to properly maintain a Duel Runner, some discount coupons for Café la Geen, flower seeds of different roses with a slight clumsy homemade birthday card, and a couple more presents.

The teen had saved Sherry's present for the last. She gently removed the wrapped paper and ribbon and found herself holding a black velvet box. Did Sherry go and buy some jewelry for her? The only one who had done that, besides her family, was Sayer and it was that emerald medallion she wore out of habit. It didn't really hold any deep sentimental feelings anymore.

The redhead removed the lid and was greeted by a rose-gold necklace with a rose gem in the shape of a rose. She gently lifted it up by the chain and inspected the gemstone. It had been carefully carved into a rose with delicate details. Aki caressed one of the petals with the fingertip while her heat pounded and sent a warm feeling around her chest.

"Sherry's got great taste for fashion…", the teen mumbled before she put the necklace on and turned to the mirror of her makeup desk. The rose gem rested on her collarbone, its beauty almost being enhanced by Aki's own beauty. They were a perfect match.

The Signer sighed through her nose with a smile and saw herself blushing in the mirror by the thoughts of Sherry. The blonde was leaving, so instead of being sad about it, Aki decided it's best to create lots of memories together while they still had the chance.

XXXXXXXXXX

You can find the art of Estelle, Aki and Sherry's outfits on my DeviantArt account together with the necklace that Aki received.