As Aoi stepped closer, Yusaku didn’t move as his eyes were trained rather lazily on their classmate as he grumbled stuff under his breath about his attitude, and how it bothered him. But, as always, Yusaku was sure he’d come back. Because as he first deduced when meeting him, he was kind at heart – and would never leave someone as often secluded as Yusaku alone. That applied double for when Aoi was around, because as it turns out, she was the same as him in that sense.
And that was why the enjoyment of silent, yet still present company, was very much mutual. Even as his gaze was upon the other… “friend” he had, he accepted, acknowledge, and kept Aoi’s presence close, taking it in without giving her the attention Naoki tended to need in direct social settings. Her presence was always something he enjoyed feeling, even when there were no words between them.
… And yeah. He still enjoyed it when there were words… and even still as those words were about Playmaker… there was just a tired annoyance and stress he kept to himself. As he always did when asked about his secret identity.
That was the one thing Aoi was not an exception to. And never would be, as long as he had anything to say about it.
“Dueling altogether doesn’t hold my interest.” He lied. And acted. And covered up. “Playmaker isn’t exclusive.”
“You’re probably the first person I’ve ever met to say that.” Aoi let out a soft laugh, not that she wasn’t entirely surprised by the statement. As far as she could tell, Yusaku had always seemed to lack interest whenever someone brought the topic up. His facade was working; Aoi didn’t have a clue that it was nothing but a lie.
“I don’t mind duelling. I find it rather enjoyable.” She shrugged lightly, keeping her arms folded as she gently rested her back against the wall, her eyes still focused on her classmate. “I just don’t have the time. I’m... usually quite busy after classes.”
Of course Yusaku wasn’t the only liar. Aoi was always duelling, putting on entertainment shows for her fans as the cover girl for Link VRAINS. It wasn’t an easy task, as it often left her with little time to herself. She spent her school time completing all her homework so she could spend the night putting on the best shows she possibly could. Sure she could take a break every now and again, but this was what she had signed up for. Blue Angel was a star and she had to live up to that.
If only people knew the quiet girl in the back of the classroom was the charisma duelist they all talked about, but Aoi preferred it if they didn’t. She liked this side to her – quiet and unnoticeable; she was happy to leave the spotlight to her VRAINS personality.
Blue Angel was what the fans wanted anyway. Not Aoi.
“Playmaker is quite the mystery though, isn’t he?” Aoi continued, lowering her gaze to the ground as she thought about the famous duelist. “I’ve only ever seen his face once, back when he–...” Golden eyes widened as she quickly realized what she was about to say, cutting herself off before revealing her secret.
“–Back when he saved Blue Angel. I saw it on screen in the city center.” Aoi let out a soft sigh as she lifted her gaze to Yusaku once more, hoping that he didn’t notice her little stuff up. She couldn’t afford to let anyone know who she really was; if people found out, it could ruin everything – Blue Angel’s reputation, her own quiet life, and even her own already-rocky relationship with her brother. No one could know.
“But that’s how Playmaker wants to be, I suppose – a mystery. As much as I would love to know who he is, I can happily respect his need for privacy.”
