#lightswearing

“Aichi, that’s not Kai.” was the first thing he heard walking into Card Capital that weekend.

He spied a head of brown hair. He tried to get a look, but, “Aichi. Kai is not here.”

“Huh?” The boy turned. The face was not Kai. Aichi walked in disappointment to greet Misaki. His head was bowed, eyes pinned to the counter. Or slightly below or above her chest area at all times. Misaki doesn’t know what to make of this, but this just makes the kid look gayer.

Shin just looks at her strangely each time she volunteers to take his place at the counter. Truthfully, she can relate in more ways than the man is fully aware of. 

They both need a friend.

Shin entered at that moment. He asked the gay why he wants to see Kai so bad, and the boy responded by saying that he wants Kai to take him seriously--to not hold back.

Misaki sighed. She already asked him that the other day, and the boy gave the exact same answer. She countered with, “You’re so gay, Aichi. I’m jealous.” 

Reasonably, he looked mildly insulted. If she were him, she would look mad while questioning whether that was an insult or a compliment. 

Shin invited Aichi over tomorrow after school for a surprise. Looking at the deck, she could imagine an idea at to what he’s scheming. 

Misaki reminded Aichi to give her one of whatever’s in the lunchbag. It was a mix of flavors of muffin. She picked the chocolate chip one and sent the boy on his way. 

She asked Shin about the “surprise,” he tripped and fell, and from the floor he said that she was going to train him in the Grade 3. 

Misaki thought back to her parent’s deck, the one she searched for and found shortly after meeting Emi. 

My parents would be proud, and Aichi would be my friend--although I’m sure he already considers us friends. She smiled fondly at the thought of the matriarch-in-training. 

Yes, he is a good confidante. I’d I’ll return the favor.

Misaki made a noise of approval to the shop manager. 

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Misaki put up a front of not knowing anything. As soon as she spoke, Aichi caught on and played along--gasping with the idiots when she said she never played.

Even Aichi can get bored. He would lean at the counter, and they’d whisper at undetectable decibels--the appearance of mouthing rather than conversation if you were more than two inches away. She even gave him her number in case he wanted to talk--and vice-versa.

Well, she also got his house number, but those calls are always and will always awkward. Emi is an awful little s**t, to be frank. 

It is not like they have regular communication, though. 

Misaki decided to use the new deck that Shin made.

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Miwa entered the shop, making noise, Kai not with him.

Aichi frowned, looked about to water when he didn’t hear a second set of footsteps. Misaki sighed and put on a hand on the bluenet’s shoulder. She squeezed it, sending vibes of her own worry and comfort to the boy. It’s ok. You will always have the simp vibes.  

Aichi lightened up a bit, never letting his eyes leave the placemat. 

Misaki elected to ignore the three morons in favor of sympathizing with her maybe-friend. He looked like he wanted to snicker and giggle, but today is not a day for that. 

Misaki has a better handle on the cards than in canon, truth be told. She watched Aichi cardfight more during her free-time, especially interested in watching Aichi making non-shota faces and twitches and movements and posturing. 

The free food also helped.

Back to the fight, she could tell that Aichi decided to not go easy on her. It would hurt both her pride and his. And, again, she has a nice, standard grip on the cards. 

...

“Lowzenge Mahjus.”

“Lozenge Maygus.” Aichi hissed not a millisecond later. 

A brief staring contest, then Misaki caved.

“Lozenge Magus.”

...

“I ride Little Sage Marron.” He called impassioned. Nobody else noticed. 

They saw Aichi in Marron’s garb, and he honestly looks adorable in that. He did say that he wants to impress Kai with that...

“Aichi, where’s the passion?” she whispered almost inaudibly.

He closes his eyes when attacking her with the Vanguard. But why?

They didn’t discuss or bring up any Vanguard stuff--they didn’t have to--in favor of the more comforting topic of shared secrets. Sometimes, if within reach, he would automatically move to help, never seeming to notice. It could be a symptom of his training, or arguing with his sibling, or a characteristic he developed as an immature waifu. So he had to be taught new functions of the game, like that there are cards you can’t guard against.

“Draw!” Aichi smirked almost villainously. It must be...

“Arise, my avatar!” He shouted in an attempt to mimic his senpai (Morikawa protested). “Blaster Blade!”

“Gaaaaay!” She whispered to themselves. Aichi briefly leered. 

...

“CEO Amaterasu!”

“CEO Amaterasu...” he repeated in reverence.

Indeed, they both recognize the importance of that figure. 

Luckily, Aichi quickly recognized the importance and implications of placing a card at the top or bottom of the deck.

He briefly forgot that the Heal Trigger only activates if your Damage Zone has an equal or greater number of cards than your opponent’s. 

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Aichi’s eyes darkened, hardened, desperate when she placed a card on top of the deck. He knows it could be a critical trigger.

Oh yes, the pranks, the creepy laughter, the maniacal cackling calling Morikawa a loser as he lost to his criticals. Aichi managed to keep the volume down to Astham-Attack Parseltongue. From a book he read in its Japanese translation.

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“If you don’t have any Grade 3s, you’re done for!”

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“If you ever need any help with Vanguard,  I’d be happy to teach you!”

“No, I will.” Misaki hissed to the man, eyes narrowed. Scared as s**t, he acquiesced. Aichi sweatdropped. He’s built up a tolerance to a female’s anger while acquiring it himself.  

Misaki could see the gay sparkling in his eyes, bright as Aurora Borealis, as inevitable as Polaris. He must be thinking about Kai now. Misaki let her lips upturn, satisfied that her friend is on the right track to getting stronger, better, happier to meet his crush and idol. “Misaki, you’re smiling!”

She bonked them on the head, acting the tsundere. So far, only Aichi has earned the honor of her positivity. 

She discreetly waved Aichi over, leaning in to draw him to whisper-range. Once there, in a position that looks like they might be kissing, eyes locked like vaults, she whispered, “Why do you look away from my boobs?”

Aichi’s eyes widened. Then settled down again, pleading. “I-I don’t like boobs. Never have. Only my mother’s and sister’s. I can only hope that she never--em, matures--or I’ll never be able to look at her completely straight again.”

Her breath hitches, stops for a moment, trying to adjust. A momentary silence, Aichi looking more scared--scared of losing his friend, losing Misaki, scaredofbeingabnormaldespitehisshamelesssexuality--and Misaki does the right, the lightest, the best thing for anyone imaginable. “It’s ok, Aichi. I’m fine with it--besides, it just makes you gayer!”

Aichi blushed, Misaki giggled, and once more they have no need to speak their minds. 

The eyes are the windows to the soul, they say.

It was the night right after Gaen was defeated. Tasuku Sendou went over to meet Rouga Aragami. He touched the older’s shoulder and said, “You look lonely. I know some people who would love to take you in.”

Rouga stopped. He looked at the bluenet, whose eyes shone brightly like diamonds. He looked so full of hope, of faith. It looked like he believed in Rouga. Tasuku smirked, “One of them reminds me of you.” The other gay looked so loving. Something stirred within Rouga. He accepted the invite. “Now, I have to meet up with Gao-kun. I’ll come find you later.”

Rouga looked back at the boy who flies on a dragon, rather than relying on a Buddy Skill. “Tch. Tasuku Sendou...”

15 minutes later, Rouga was standing in the same spot when Tasuku returned. “Let’s go!” He said gaily.

Another bluenet--a shota, by the looks of it--trailed behind him. All three of them rode the public bus. Mrs. Sendou--the older bluenet, he can’t complain--immediately tried to introduce himself to Rouga. Rouga just stayed silent. 

“Ano, just like Toshiki-kun.” He scratched his face. Rouga filed that name for later.

Tasuku also fell asleep on the half-hour bus trip. It was so crowded, Rouga sat on the floor, much to their protests.

Before he knew it, he was woken up with a snort, standing. In front of him was a store. The big sign atop the door read “Card Capital.” Both Sendous looked excited. It was sliding doors.

It was a small shop, only one floor, and a whole gang of adults were seated at tables, placemats in front, yelling names he vaguely remembers Tasuku calling out in almost all his matches. 

One cold-looking brunet was standing against the whole looking cool. His hair was flying to the right, just like Tasuku’s. Amost all the adults hurried over to greet the Sendous. Rouga stayed silent, vaguely annoyed, but then...

“Oh! Meet my friend, Rouga. He’s the lonely guy I told you about!” 

“Hn.” Rouga grunted.

A clamor ensued, but was silenced by the brunet asking, “Do you really want to be adopted?”

That took Rouga by surpise. Tasuku gently held his arm. It was cold yet warm. It came like a surprise to Rouga. Again, the younger bluenet looked so pleading. And lonely. He could see himself, strangely enough, in those eyes.

“Tch. Yes.”

“Ok, I have to call my husband.” A gray-eyes blond said. The other interrogated him, Tasuku answering for him. The lady behind the counter eyed him suspiciously. 

He couldn’t blame her.

Before long, he heard a vroom.

Through the door rode a buff man who looked like a gang boss.

“Yo! This the lonely kid?”

“Yes!” Tasuku called. He looked cheery for someone who was calling Rouga “gangsta.”

The brunet said. “Enough!” The clamor died down. “He have the papers ready.”

 The crime boss stared at him seriously and said, “Would you like your name changed? We understand that you don’t have one.”

What?...Well, this name was given to him by Kyoya. His friend is lost, but...

“Yes.”

“Do you have anything in mind?”

Tasuku rattled off a list of names. Rouga sighed. This was going to be a looong day.

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A week later, he woke up from the blackness on something cushy. He could smell breakfast across the hall. He followed it, despite squishing the very thick pillow onto his face.

He could hear two voices which he had gotten accustomed to over the past week. It was arguing over what they should have for breakfast. He still has a hard time processing that he’s adopted--and with a name change at that. He actually decided on his identity! Unbelievable. Instead of sitting at the table, he layed down on the floor, clutching his pillow, attempting to return to bed. They didn’t notice him yet.

A while later, the door rang. The arguing extended to who was getting the door. They argue too much, he’s noticed. Mr. Sendou said that they still have to work out the kinks, but this is ridiculous!

He opened the door instead. Two innocent faces stared back at him, two eyes blue, the others red. 

“Hey, Katsuki!”

Katsuki smiled slightly at that. They decided yesterday that his name was going to be Katsuki--for now. It doesn’t fit right, but it will do for now. He’s always wanted a name with started with K. 

It was small talk, then running to the bus. Mrs. Sendou said that this--the running--doesn’t happen often.

And then... “Is the bus always this crowded?” 

“Yes.” Tasuku replied. “At least the fangirls can’t follow me home!” Katsuki doesn’t reply to that.

Mrs. Sendou hugs them both in front of Aibo Academy, a tearful send-off given by the mother, then they all split for their own ways.

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The UFO b***h flew into their faces, screaming, “Nani?! Rouga Aragami is back at Aibo Academy? What are you doing here?”

“I am not Rouga Aragami anymore. You will refer to me as Mister Mutsuki.”

“Wha?”

Tasuku defended him with “He’s my new cousin. My first, infact. Please leave him alone! We all have school.” And proceeded to drag Katsuki to class--with directions from Katsuki, of course. The younger has a surprising amount of stamina for someone who doesn’t take Phys Ed or is in the Buddy Police. They managed to ourun her. Tasuku waved him off before speeding to his own class.

Katsuki spent class staring off into space, thinking about the boy, while still being able to be attentive. 

The teacher got his name right. His cousin said that he might have to correct the teachers. As if it was an unfortunate fact.

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Katsuki found his cousin at lunch, sleeping on a bench. He shook the boy awake. 

Slap! “Nooooo! Let me sleep, you twats!” he said grumpily. 

“Get up! You said I could find you here!”

The blunet was grumpy for the rest of the day.

“I said five minutes before class!” He glared at the older.

Both their brows were furrowed in frustatration. Which resulted in a staring contest. Then they has chit-chat about plans for after school.

Then a tiny brat ran over to them, panting. “Sendou-senpai! Time for class!”

“Auuuuugh! Go away, brat!” The bluenet snapped. The kid fled in tears, extremely noisy about it. It grated on Katsuki’s ears. Tasuku’s, too, by the looks of it.

From then on, he learned to not wake the younger up--ever--unless it was five minutes before the bell. Or it was an emergency. Like family or Mikado.

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The ride was even more crowded than this morning, if it was even possible! Katsuki rode on the floor this time, his cousin moping through it. His mother tried to cheer him up.

It barely worked.

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“So...how was school~?” The blond--mom, he decided to call him--teased. 

“Hn” Katsuki did NOT feel like talking today. 

But it was fine.

“Oi, Taishi! If he doesn’t wanna talk, he doesn’t wanna talk? Remember?”

Mom groaned.