#duelrisen

“It’s not every day I find you here.”

The tease was light, airy, perhaps even a bit nervous if he listened close, Sera slowly stepping around the bench to smile down at Takeru. Sure, they’d not had any too many chances to sit down and talk without Mako, Kiku, or Zack nearby, but that still wouldn’t make her gesture to the seat beside him in a silent May I sit here? stepping over a line... Would it? He wasn’t seeking out peace and quiet by the park’s playground, was he?

“...”

Soulburner did have a point. Maybe it’d be even stranger if he wasn’t pale from a dangerous call like that. So once letting out a small sigh from his nose, Moonphaser would offer a gentle back rub. Hopefully, that’d help calm his boyfriend’s nerves.

“Hmm. I should send a report about this. It wouldn’t be safe for users if these glitches keep happening- Unless... It was something else.”

It wasn't even like Nail was surprised by this outcome. No, he had expected it. After all it was his fault. He was causing this, always had caused this. Having people around never had been his strong suit to begin with. There always had been things that had gotten more important. Knowledge. Control. His duty. There had been a time where he had dared to hope that things could change. Teaming up with Yuuga and Roa had been because of a common goal at the beginning, but in the end there had been this moment where even he had been able to feel the trust from the younger one. A moment, where he had thought this forced team up had turned into some fragile friendship but... he never had been supposed to get things like that, hadn't he?

But their ways had separated after the tournament. Maybe he could have reached out, but it was something he wasn't familiar with. Probably hadn't thought about in that moment. And then those Goha siblings had shown up and things had went down, right? Cause this was his duty. Because he still had been a member of Goha Cooperation so he had to do this. Had tried to explain it as being impartial and hoped for the best.

This wasn't the best he had hoped for. And Kirishima Romin had been rather direct with how things had turned out.

You said you were neutral! You traitor.

If Nail was honest to himself, than he had to admit that those words probably had hurt more than he had expected. Surprisingly enough he still had enjoyed that duel. Even if he lost in the end. That...was somehow not that surprising. Sure he had his maximum cards but... with all the time he had spend with watching Yuuga and the others, he already realized that their friendship was making the impossible possible.

It was something that Goha Yuo wasn't capable to understand as it seems. With how fast that boy was with getting rid of his siblings after loosing, Nail had been rather sure that he would be thrown out next too. Maybe that was the reason why he resigned first.

That it would lead to losing Sebastian as well.... he had to admit he hadn't thought that far. Neither had he expected Sebastian would sacrifice himself like that.

You are absolutely not alone!

What a lie. There was no other words Nail could find for this. After all... what was he right now, if not alone? Letting out a deep breath, he looked back for another moment, looking back at the place that he had called his providence, his home for the last six years. With not being Goa's duel overseer any longer, there was no doubt that he wasn't welcome here any longer.

What he hadn't expected was that familiar face that stood in his path not even five minutes on his way. Maybe he should have. On the other side...someone like him didn't had friends right?

“Don’t be long - He’s been working. And not in a good mood.”

Aoi’s warning would fall on deaf ears as Mako made her way down the penthouse’s admittedly unfamiliar hallway. No matter how many times she visited the Zaizen household, she’d never be used to just how elaborate it was... But admiring the architecture wasn’t her goal this time around. She could do that at any time; this trip was far more personal, footsteps coming to a stop near the living room’s couch... And a friend she was sure didn’t want anything to do with her.

“...I didn’t ask him to set up that duel last night, Yusaku,” Mako started, picking her words carefully. He’d logged out so quickly after figuring out it’d been Ai to set them up, she couldn’t imagine he’d be any too pleased to hear her voice, let lone see her - But this was a topic that needed clearing up, and couldn’t wait. “He did it of his own free will. You know how Ai is, better than any of us. I was bound by a vow to not tell you.”

How bold of Yuuga to assume he’d ever get swayed by the likes of Romin! A small snigger paired with a shrug of his shoulders. Roa had obviously picked up on the joking tone, but it was only natural for him to mirror it back with a bit of sass. 

“Aww, don’t be like that. I know a box of Pocky isn’t much, but we did cause you guys some trouble the other day.”

Despite his words, Roa didn’t appear as though he felt any guilt from that. He had no regrets in cornering Yuuga’s group the way he did, even if he did come off as conniving. And that showed with that cheeky little grin he had up for show.

“Well, well. Aren’t you just a good boy?” 

Green and red hair. White jacket, thin frame... And a smile that never failed to make Aoi stop still, green-blue eyes widening in surprise. He’d vanished so suddenly and for so long, she’d thought the worst - What if he’d gotten hurt? In trouble? Needed help? He’d been nowhere on the island she could find, and now... Now he was standing there like he’d never left, a sight that had her feet moving before she could stop herself, strides quickening into a jog in his direction without another thought.