Chapter Text
A strangled groan came out of the purple haired boy as he walked down the streets— loosening up the turquoise tie on his neck. He had skipped school for a few weeks ever since that incident with Yuma, and had only decided to go back after his duel with the council president.
Homura Aoi.
The name echoed in his mind. He was in deep thought, only to stop by a glass window pane of a small shop. There was a certain bright-colored poster that caught his eye.
ARE YOU THE NEXT CHAMPION?
National Duel Circuit
Sub-event: National Tag Duel Circuit
Qualifying rounds starts soon!
Oh.
Shark’s mood immediately turned sour, a usual frown on his face as he continued to walk. The memories from the past tournament a few years back clouded his mind that he didn’t even realize he had already reached their school.
As soon as he stepped through the gates, a loud voice called for him.
“Sharky!”
What on Earth was… that?
The boy whipped his head to the side, turning to face the direction where the voice came. A familiar girl rushes to his side, the golden SC pin on her blue uniform glimmering.
“Excuse me, Sharky..?” Ryoga asked, the name rolling off his tongue awkwardly.
“I called your name five times and that silly nickname was the one that caught your attention. Do you happen to like it?” Aoi asked, a smug grin on her face as she raised her eyebrow up-and-down in a playful manner.
He lets a low scoff, muttering ‘no’ before he walked to the second-year’s building. Aoi protested with a sigh, following him right after. “What’s with the sour mood?”
“Nothing much, except the fact that your face greets me the first thing in the morning.” He replied with a snort, his gaze fixed on the path.
“Aw. Sorry, didn’t know you don’t like pretty things.”
She was too friendly, too much to his liking.
“Can you just... please shut your annoying mouth up and leave me alone?” Shark stopped on his tracks, now finally facing him with a stoic expression. “Okay, okay! Jeez, I’m just checking up on my friend, you know. You looked so gloomy.” I mean, he always do, but— wait
Did she just call him her friend?
“Friend? Since when?” He scoffed. “Don’t give me that friend bullshit, stop talking like Yuma.”
“Language. You’ve got your first warning. Two more violations and you’d end up with community service.”
“For fuck’s sake.”
“Second.”
“…”
Aoi laughed heartily. “Just kidding. I’ll let this slide just this once, don’t worry.” She winked. “M’kay then, see you after school. Bye~!”
A soft sigh escaped Ryoga’s lips. Why must that girl be so… cheerful and all?
Despite finding it ‘annoying’, the boy found himself waiting at the gate as soon as classes ended. The sun was already setting, painting the skies dark orange, when Aoi came into view.
“You’re finally out.” He grumbled, his arms crossed as he kept the frown on his face. “Woah, you actually waited.” Shark avoided Aoi’s dumbfounded gaze with a small ‘hmp’.
“Do you plan on just standing there like an idiot?” Without uttering another phrase, he began walking away.
“So you do like my presence afterall, huh, friend?” She teased, her tone going slightly higher as in a teasing manner. This made the boy grumble something incoherent under his breath. “Oh please, give me a break.”
.
.
.
.
.
“SHAAAAAAAAAAAAAARKYYYYYYYYY!”
God, why has he made the mistake of talking to that girl days ago, again?
He grumbled a curse, facing the girl who ran towards him— and was now almost rubbing a piece of paper right onto his face. “Look, look. Have you seen this already?” She asked, the words immediately catching his attention, making his mood gloomier in an instant.
NATIONAL DUEL CIRCUIT
That ad again.
“I’ve seen this around the neighbourhood. They have another competition on-hand, look!” She pointed towards a certain section. “Tag Duel Circuit. Attend with your partner and be the next champions.” Shark’s eyes skimmed through the key phrases of the paragraph. As Aoi continued blabbing about, his lips curled into a frown— his eyes narrowing into a glare.
‘I heard he’s been banned from the competition for a lifetime or something.’
‘Ha. Serves him right.’
‘I know, right? He doesn’t deserve to be called a duelist with that attitude. Such a shame to the community.’
Anger bubbled up inside him, like magma threatening to erupt out of the crater of a volcano. Hatred towards no one else but himself— guilt and shame gnawing at him, as he remembered what happened that day.
In an instant, Ryoga swiftly grabbed the ad out of her hands— clenching it tightly and crumpling it up in the process. “So?” He bit back, his expression dark, visibly annoyed. “Do you expect me to team up with you or something? Because I won’t.” His voice was filled with conviction. “We’re complete opposites; our decks doesn’t even match and you’re too goddamn loud and annoying.”
He threw the paper as he began walking, and the breeze of the air carried it away. Aoi’s feet, however, were stuck onto same ground as she watched him leave. Ryoga was boiling in frustration, and yet her heart was thumping in anticipation. She smiled. He’s still the same as ever.
She reached for the crumpled paper, staring at the words again.
“You’ll come back to me.”
She muttered, a sad smile etched on her lips.
‘This time, I know you finally will.’
***
Ryoga stared at the rings on his ring and pinky finger, gently caressing them as his gaze returned towards her bed. He was reminded once again by his bitter past.
“I failed, didn’t I?”
There was only silence— well, at least except the constant beeping of the heartbeat monitor beside the patient’s bed.
~~~
“Whaaaat come on, we should try it sometime.”
“Tag dueling with you? You’ll just drag me down with your stupid play.”
“Rude! Why won’t you ever treat me like a normal brother would?”
~~~
The boy smiled. “Whatever. See you.” He longed to hear that voice again.
With a soft sigh, he closed his eyes and left the room begrudgingly.
‘Get well soon, Rio.’
He made his way out of the hospital, his thoughts jumbled up. As he walked around the plaza in the middle of the city, a certain dark-haired girl caught his attention. She holds a basket of flowers, although looking like a walking corpse— so gloomy that it wasn’t like her. Before Ryoga could even stop himself, his feet moved on its own accord and followed the girl’s trail.
His curiousity led him standing near a tree, quietly observing her as she reached a tomb.
“I can see you, you know?” Her sudden remark caught him off-guard. Goddamn, he didn’t want to look like a creep.
“Well, I don’t want to hide. I’m not doing anything wrong. Just..” He sighed in frustration, not really understanding why he has to explain his actions. “Forget it. Mind your own business, I won’t bother you.”
“Wait.”
Before he could even walk away, Aoi held his hand. She gave him a soft smile. “It’s been a while ever since my brother had anyone else besides me visit him. Could you stay for a few minutes?”
***
“I.. see.” His gaze fell towards the name engraved on the memorial as Aoi talked. “I didn’t know you had a brother.”
Homura Naoya.. huh?
“Mhm.” She nodded, arranging the flowers she had brought with her. “It has been.. a life-long dream of ours to join a competition together.” She narrated, her voice lowering down into a somber tone. “However…”
Despite being known as indifferent, Ryoga understood her feelings very well. “You still can’t convince me to join with you on the tournament, you know.” He spoke, not wanting to give her any hopes. “I’m… banned on the NDC.”
“Not the NTDC though.” She insisted, making him grumble.
“You’re too stubborn for your own good.” He complained.
“Thanks.”
“It’s not a goddamn compliment.”
There was a short minute of silence, with him awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck. He wouldn’t lie, the idea of joining the tournament was decent to him— it was a good way to remind people that he isn’t some kind of loser who cheats his way to win. He wanted to show them; show the whole world just how good he had become, and how he is the best.
“Banned or not,” Aoi began. “That doesn’t change the fact that I want you as a tag duel partner.” His expression softened after hearing those words.
“I may not be able to join with my brother, but I’m not going to stop just because of that. I made a promise with Naoya so…” She smiled. She really wasn’t the one who backs out that easily. He thought. A pain in the ass. A real one.
Ryoga was snapped out of his blank and judging gaze when the girl pointed at him with her index finger— time seemed to slow down as she smiled widely. “I'm going to use the first favor you owe me now, so you don’t really have that much of an option. ." She grinned, reminding him of the deal they had for their previous Ante Duel. "I choose you, Kamishiro Ryoga! I choose you as my partner and you can't refuse it."
He stood there silently, watching how her crimson eyes glimmered underneath the crystal clear lenses of her glasses. Those eyes… that smile…
He tore his gaze away by closing his eyes with a huff.
“I’m not a goddamn Pokemon, you know.”