No One's POV
Not far from BC Sol, Sunbat United was hard at training, which was no real surprise. With Wakiya Muraski as the captain, everyday was both an arm and a leg day. Though for some reason, he seemed to be even more irritating than usual that day - which, to be honest, was a feat no one thought possible.
          
Right now, he was busy having Wyvron grind into the bey of his teammate Dust Rukane, with no sign of having the battle end anytime soon. Both bladers were gasping for breath and sweating,but Wakiya refused any prospect of a break - this was their 150th battle.
           
The club's Bey Trainer Ataru was standing next to the stadium trying miserably to record the data, but no matter how fast he typed on his BeyPad, something else was already happening. His light blue eyes were dry as he kep t flipping his gaze from the battle to his screen, numbers blurring in his vision, but he still couldn't keep up. His fingers were starting to cramp up, though that was mostly because he kept crossing his fingers that Wakiya would end the battle sooner than later. It was quickly proving useless.
            
All around them, the other members of Sunbat United were either lifting weights or running on treadmills, though they were constantly throwing concerned looks towards the ongoing battle. Winces flashed across all of their faces with the sound of each clash. It sounded as if Wyvron was trying to demolish its opponent, even though each attack had an underlying tone that sounded like the purple bey was exhausted. It was obvious that both blader and bey were tired, though they still battled. What their teammates couldn't figure out was why.

"Now, Wyvron!" Wakiya yelled suddenly. "Super Tempest Attack!" Soon afterwards, the metallic sound of a bey Bursting came from the stadium, and Dust dropped to his knees. His ragged breathing filled the air, which lead to his teammates quickly coming to his aid, but all Wakiya did was take Wyvron out of the stadium and fix Dust with a disappointed glare. "When I let you onto the team," He said slowly, breathing heavily after every other word. "I thought you would at least give me a challenge. I thought you would at least put up a decent fight against me this time around... but this is just pathetic! Ataru, relay to me the statistics of the battle." Shaking his head and mumbling under his breath, he walked (no, stomped) away. Ataru glanced at the pitiful image of Dust heaving on the floor, then reluctantly followed the captain.

The two remaining teammates were left to help poor Dust to his feet, which was a struggle, since he was a little overweight. Django Del Toro grit his teeth to keep from running after Wakiya and slapping him across the face. "What is his deal today?" He asked bitterly. "I get that he's the captain and all, but seriously!"

Guy Spear sighed as he struggled to keep Dust on his feet. "The guy's always been a huge pain, so don't take it too personal," He assured the lilac haired blader.

"I know, but today he's annoying on a whole other level!" Django protested.

Dust finally spoke up from where he was balanced between his teammates' arms: "I agree with Django; I think Wakiya is acting different today, but I'd be concerned rather than angry. Whatever's going on with him, it's making him push himself too hard. Who knows what's going to happen if he pushes himself past his limit?"

Guy listened to his teammate's theory, then looked at Django across Dust's shoulders. "He's right, you know," He told him. "We have to do something before he pushes himself too far; for his sake as much as ours."

Lime eyes stared at sea green before Django finally sighed. "Fine," He huffed. "Let's do this before he gets bored and chooses one of us to battle." The two carefully set Dust down on a nearby bench, then cautiously approached the captain. Unbeknownst to any of them, while they had been talking, one of the bey stadiums in the training area had vanished...

Ataru had been showing Wakiya the information he had gathered from the battle when the other teammates approached them; his ragged breathing had stopped, but he was still sweating up a storm. When they noticed the pair suddenly standing next to them, Ataru lowered his BeyPad to gaze at them with a confused look while the captain fixed them with an annoyed glare. "What do you two want?" He asked condescendingly. "Don't you have training to do? I'm battling one of you next, in case you've forgotten."

Django grimaced while Guy barely blinked. He had been with Sunbat United a little longer than the former, so he was somewhat more used to the captain's irritating ways. "Wakiya," He said slowly. "We've been talking, and we've all noticed that you seem especially on edge today. Something is bothering you, and whatever is seems to be causing you to push yourself, and us, really hard."

Wakiya's glare turned to daggers. "I don't know what you're talking about," He bit out through his teeth. "In my opinion, you should always push yourself when you train."

"Yes, and we respect that motto," Django said soothingly, trying to appear supporting to the captain. "But this is different. We're your teammates - you can talk to us about anything!" He approached Wakiya cautiously. "Maybe we can help."

Unfortunately, Wakiya was never one for sentimental moments. He took one look at his teammates and stormed away from them. "It's nothing!" He yelled over his shoulder. "Nothing is wrong, and even if something was wrong, I don't need your help!" He stopped next to one of the stadiums. "Who wants to battle me first?"

"Wakiya, they're right," Ataru spoke up, causing the blonde blader to reel on him. "You've been pushing yourself way too hard today; it's not healthy! You have to stop before you hurt yourself!"

All that did was incest Wakiya further. His entire face turned the color of a tomato and veins stood out in his neck. "For the last time, I'm fine!" He seethed. His fists clenched, and he looked as if he wanted to punch something - or someone, if they came too close. "Nothing is wrong with me, and I wouldn't want your input even if something was wrong! I do what I want to do, and what I want to do now is train!" He kicked the stadium stubbornly. "Now come on, who's up?"

Django shared a look with Guy, who in turn shared a look with Ataru. A silent agreement passed between the three of them and the trio nodded. Wakiya stared agitatedly at the three of them, trying to understand what they were thinking, until Guy said suddenly: "You two grab his arms; I'll get his legs."

In the blink of an eye, Ataru had set down his BeyPad and grabbed Wakiya's right arm while Django grabbed his left, and Guy hoisted both of his legs off of the ground. Together, they began forcibly moving their captain out of the training room while Dust looked on in shock. This was nothing he had anticipated.

With Wakiya, this was definitely something he had not foreseen his teammates doing to him. "WHAT ARE YOU IDIOTS DOING??!!" He screamed, kicking and thrashing in their hold. He almost dislodged his right arm from Ataru's grasp, but the younger blader soon got the appendage securely in his grasp. "PUT ME DOWN!! I'M PRETTY SURE THIS COUNTS AS A MUTINY!! YOU CAN GO TO JAIL FOR THIS!!"

"You would call the police on your teammates, when they're just trying to help out?" Guy asked contemptuously, slightly garbled on account of Wakiya's feet flailing around his face. "I'll believe that when it actually happens."

"HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU, I DON'T NEED HELP!!" Wakiya yelled, becoming tired from all his thrashing. "BESIDES, HOW IS THIS HELPING??!!"

Instead of answering, Django simply said, "Check his pockets." Ataru complied and the two rooted through his pockets until the lilac haired blader triumphantly removed a metal key. When Wakiya saw what they had taken, his eyes widened even more.

"YOU'RE GONNA LOCK ME IN MY OFFICE??!!" He screamed, his thrashing intensifying. "WHY??!!"

"You've been pushing yourself way too hard today," Ataru told him, struggling to keep his grip. "You need to calm down before you hurt yourself, and us!"

"Yeah, it's for your sake as much as ours," Guy added. By that point, they had reached the main office of Sunbat United, and they relinquished their hold on Wakiya long enough to push him inside. Once he was in, they slammed the door behind him and, using the key they had taken from his pocket, locked him in. Pounding immediately ensued from the other side, but everyone took a collective breath.

"I feel kind of bad for doing this to him," Ataru admitted. "He has a point: this is kind of like mutiny."

Guy wiped the sweat off his brow and tenderly rubbed the bruises on his shoulders and arms from Wakiya's feet. "He'll thank us for this later," He said bluntly. "For now, let's take a break so we can be fully charged for when he does come out."

The other two nodded and the trio headed back to the training room. In the doorway, they found Dust on his feet, staring down at an empty spot on the floor. When he sensed their presence, he turned around and gave them an inquisitive look. "Hey, guys," He asked. "Didn't there used to be a stadium here?"

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To say Wakiya was angry was an understatement. No, he was furious, and his fists made sure everyone who heard know exactly how he felt. First his so-called teammates refused to leave him alone, then they had the nerve to lock him in his own office? With his own key, oh the irony! Oh, when he got out of here, he was going to make them sorry they ever crossed him...

"Your door is going to break if you keep hitting it like that," A voice interrupted his mental rant. "And it looks like a very expensive door."

Startled, Wakiya spun around. He had not seen anyone in his office when he came in - and surely Ataru would have told him if he had a meeting. Yet low and behold, there was a cloaked stranger sitting at his desk, a hood and a mask obscuring their face. His desk.

Biting back a retort, as this stranger was obviously new to how things worked at Sunbat United and he didn't want to give his team a bad name, Wakiya faced his guest. "I'm sorry, but did you have an appointment?" He inquired. "I'm afraid my Bey Trainer didn't inform me that I had anyone coming in today. And even if you did schedule a meeting, now is not a really good time." He gestured towards the door. "As you can see, the bladers and I are having a little disagreement."
            
"They locked you in here because you were pushing yourself?" They asked. At Wakiya's stunned silence, they nodded. "Yeah, I overheard. I was also in the training room when they were discussing their concerns about your behavior. And I have to admit, they had some very good points."
            
Wakiya's mouth opened and closed in a spot-on representation of a fish before his vocal chords finally started to work: "You... were in... the training room? How did I not see you... ?"
            
A content hm came from behind the mask. "I'm a ninja," They said simply. "Hiding in plain sight is literally what I do."
           
Wakiya snapped out of his shock and fixed the stranger with a glare. "You somehow managed to break into my club without anyone seeing you," He told them. "And you eavesdropped on a private conversation between my teammates. Furthermore, you have broken the number one rule of the club: NO SITTING IN THE CAPTAIN'S CHAIR." He added that last bit with a heated point towards the chair his rude intruder was currently sitting in. "Congratulations: you have broken enough laws to be put in jail for at least six years. Better clear your schedule." His hand went to his pocket for his phone, but he grasped air. Becoming frantic, he checked his other pocket, but it wasn't there either.
           
"Looking for this?" The stranger spoke up. Wakiya's head snapped up to discover his phone - in the hand of his intruder. Taking in his awed expression, they waved the phone like a magic wand. "Yeah, I swiped this from you when they shoved you in here. Stealth 101."
           
"So all ninjas are irritating pick pockets? Good to know," Wakiya seethed. "All you're doing is adding onto your list of charges. Might as well call the police and get your trial over with." He thrust his hand forward palm up and wiggled his fingers meaningfully.
           
Unfortunately, his controlling actions didn't work on everyone. The stranger only showed him their own waggling pointer finger. "Ah ah ah..." They said condescendingly. "That's not how leverage works, Mr. I-Get-Everything-I-Want-Just-By-Asking-Rudely."
           
Now Wakiya's interest was peaked. "Leverage? What do you need leverage against me for?"
           
"Let's put it this way: you don't want to relax, and I want to battle you," They explained. "You want the phone that is currently in my hand, and I want to know why you're so on edge today."
           
"PFFT. Get in line, pal; it ain't happening, especially for you," Wakiya growled, rolling his blue eyes.
           
"So I have a proposition," They continued, sounding slightly annoyed. "We have a battle, which will satisfy both of our needs. If you win, you get your phone back, and I leave. Simple as that. If I win, I will become your therapist; you'll have to tell me what's going on with you then."
           
Their offer was tempting, but there was something missing from his future prize. "If I win," He stated firmly. "I get my phone back, you leave, BUT... you tell me who you are before you leave. If I'm going to have a battle, I'm going to at least know who my opponent is."
            
The stranger was quiet for a moment, giving the illusion of heavy thinking. When they spoke again, though, their answer sounded planned: "Very well. It's a deal."
            
Wakiya nodded, making it official. Then something occurred to him, and he groaned loudly. "Only one problem," He grumbled, running a hand through his bangs. "We're locked in here. So unless you have the skills of a lock picker along with your skills of pickpocketing, or you have a spare stadium somewhere in that cloak of yours-" Which wasn't that hard to believe; it was a very large cloak. "You're going to have to wait on that battle."
           
A garbled sound that may have been a chuckle came from the mask. "It's sad that you doubt my skills," They admonished him, shaking their covered head. "Look down at your feet."
          
Confused, Wakiya did as he was told and to his shock, he saw a bey stadium right in front of his boots. "Wha- I don't remember having a stadium in here! When did you get this?"
          
"Right now, your teammates are probably in the same state of shock, only they're wondering where a certain bey stadium that originally was in the training room went."
          
A vein popped in Wakiya's neck as his hands shook with rage. "You stole this from the training room?" He threw his hands up in the air with an exasperated sigh. "Duh-duh-duh-duh-duh-duh, and we have law violation number four! So when did you possibly have time to steal this?"
          
"When you were talking with that Ataru kid and your teammates were discussing your behavior," The stranger informed him, swinging their legs off of the desk in an almost brisk manner. "You'll find that I'm full of surprises, especially during our battle."
          
"Which I'm starting to look forward to more and more," Wakiya said through gritted teeth. He reached into his pocket and pulled out Wyvron, which his irritating guest fortunately decided not to take from him. "It'll be worth it to drain that smug tone out of your voice."
          
But all the stranger did was shrug as they moved around the desk. "We'll see."
          
Soon both bladers were on either side of the stadium. "Let's do introductions," Wakiya told his opponent. "I want to test just how much you know about me." He held up the purple bey. "My bey?"
          
"Tempest Wyvron, Defense Type," They said, almost as a reflex. "One of the strongest of its kind, too." Impressive, but what came next was scary:
           
"Back in your home country, Japan, it won nearly every battle it was in during the District Tournament - until you went against a certain newcomer blader. Right before the Finals, so that meant you couldn't go up against one of the only bladers you considered a rival: Shu Kurenai. Because of your remarkable skills, though, you were accepted into the Regional Tournament. You won during the finals against Yugo Nansui, and were accepted into the Nationals. But you wanted to have a little fun before the Tournament, so you joined the Beigoma Academy Bey Club, which gave them the numbers they needed to enter the Team Battles. You won every battle during such, except against Xander Shakadera. The Bey Club didn't win, though you made friends along the way. Though friendship was apparently a new concept to you - you left the club shortly after the Nationals started. Fortunately, they made a lasting impression on you, for you rejoined after you lost  against Shu in the Quarter Finals. But you wanted more, as do all bladers who lose. So you left Japan, and started your own international bey club: Sunbat United."
          
They waved their arms around them. "Which brings us here. Want to test my knowledge more?"
          
Wakiya was shaken beyond his wits, though he tried not to let it show. How did this person know so much about him? Sure, their story of him had its holes - they didn't mention Hoji, his original club members, or any of the Beigoma Academy Bey Club members besides Shu. But what they did say about him was shockingly accurate. Almost as if they knew him, or was a stalker... that last bit made him shudder. Whoever this was, however they had gotten that information, they knew too much about him, and that couldn't be good. He'd have to tread carefully in this battle.
          
"That will be all," He said, finding his voice again. "Now your turn. What's your bey, and what's it's type? If I'm going to battle you, I should at least know what I'm dealing with."
           
"Fair," They relented, nodding slightly. A gloved hand reached into their coat and withdrew a bright blue bey with jagged edges. "Meet Electric Raijin. It's more of an 'everything' type. And something that you must know is that it has been in four battles before I came to you... and it won in every single one."
           
Another shudder ripped down Wakiya's spine, but he suppressed it before the stranger could see. "Impressive, but those bladers probably weren't as good as me," He mused, his shoulders up in a lazy shrug.
          
"I wouldn't be so sure - Free de la Hoya was in my last battle. He lost, just like the rest."
          
That really made Wakiya pause. This person went up against the #1 blader? And won? He had witnessed the great Free de la Hoya battle in person, and it had seemed like the black-eyed blonde was invincible. Well, except against Lui Shirosagi... But now that he was about to go up against the second person who beat him, he started to feel a little queasy.
          
He mentally slapped himself. What was he thinking? He couldn't start to lose his cool, not now. He needed to focus.
          
"Well, now that we've gotten the formalities out of the way, we can get started," He said, wanting to move this along. "Lock in your bey." He took out his launcher and locked in Wyvron, while his opponent took out their own launcher and locked in Raijin. He lowered himself into his launching position with one arm raised behind his head, and his opponent lowered into a crouch with their launcher between their legs. No one else was there, so the two yelled out in unison:
           
"3... 2... 1... LET IT RIP!!!"
           
The blue and purple beys fell into the stadium. Surprisingly, Wyvron didn't go for the middle like Defense Types are known to do. Instead, it zipped around the outside of the stadium, with Raijin missing its target by a few centimeters. At this, Wakiya smirked. "Thought I'd go for the center, huh?" He asked smugly. "Luckily I have a move that works perfectly against those kinds of ideals." He thrusted his fist towards his bey. "Let's go, Wyvron! Super Tempest Attack!" The purple bey immediately zipped up to the top of the stadium and started riding the wall. It soon gathered enough friction to actually hover above the stadium!
           
"Aah, the old gravity-defying move," The stranger mused, and Wakiya stilled in anxiety. They knew this move? "I thought you learned your lesson about using this move after your battle with Xander Shakadera during the World League."
           
Yeah... the battles in which he lost were the ones he preferred to forget. "You saw that battle?"
          
"Yep. And I took my notes. Which is why I have the perfect move to counterattack it."
          
Wyvron took that moment to launch off of the stadium wall, at the exact same time Raijin took up position in the center. "It's time, Raijin," The stranger said in monotone. Their arms raised beside them with their palms open. "Master's Decree." The blue bey suddenly zipped out from the center to meet Wyvron in a no-hold clash. There was a flash of blue, and when it cleared, Wyvron was in three pieces on the stadium floor. Just like Wakiya's pride was in three pieces on the office floor.
           
As the blonde blader gawked, his opponent picked up Raijin and tsked. "That was disappointing, Wakiya. Only a 30 second battle? I was expecting more from the captain of Sunbat United." They released Raijin into the folds of their cloak, then faced Wakiya with what he guessed was a serious glare. "Something is definitely up with you. Spill it."
           
Wakiya hurriedly gathered the pieces of Wyvron and fixed the stranger with his own glare. "I already told you, it ain't happening," He seethed, crossing his arms and stepping back from the stadium.
           
"Did you already forget our deal?" The stranger inquired, stepping around the stadium towards him. "If I won, I became your therapist and you told me what's up with you. So, come on." They  stopped in front of him with their own arms crossed in front of them. "I'm waiting."
          
At first Wakiya was silent, thinking that he could wait them out. But that quickly proved fruitless as his opponent didn't budge and only gazed at him with an eerie patience. They looked as though they would wait all day. And he wouldn't be surprised if they did.
          
"FINE," He relented with a sigh, though his arms remained stubbornly in front of him. "If you must know, today is an anniversary. Not a pleasant one though." His blue eyes turned downcast. "Four months ago, one of my... acquaintances went missing. The fact that he's gone has been nagging at me all day, and I keep battling to drown it out. Though I'm not sure why - with him gone, I'm don't have as many rivals to worry about, which is fine with me. Less battles to watch, less strategies to plan, less headaches as a result of listening to his annoying, ridiculously upbeat voice..." His voice started to trail off, and though he tried to fight it, tears gathered in his eyes. "I don't need him, so why am I thinking about him?"
          
The stranger was quiet for a while, so much so that Wakiya thought that they had left without him noticing. Not that he blamed them. He would have left, too. But then he heard them speak in a tone that was only a little above a whisper: "Was he only an acquaintance to you?"
           
His mouth opened to say yes, that he was only an acquaintance, that all he ever was to him was another rival. But deep down, he knew it wasn't the truth. He knew the truth as clearly as he heard the echo of a laugh in his head. A laugh clear of stress, a laugh he envied.

"No," He finally muttered, a few tears escaping his eyes. "He was one of my best friends."

Silence once again filled the air. This time Wakiya was sure the stranger had gone, and then they surprised him once again. But it wasn't the garbled noise that he had come to expect from them: "Wakiya..."

His head snapped up. He knew that voice. He also knew it was impossible. The person who that voice belonged to had disappeared.

The mask had been pulled down, as well as the hood. Underneath was a face topped with ragged blue hair, which used to be accented with ridiculous baby fat. Dull brown eyes stared at him, with a red birthmark accenting the bags under the left eye. A sad smile edged with tears stretched across the thin cheeks. "You caught me," The voice said again, cracking. "Right in the feels."

Wakiya stared at the face, which was familiar yet different at the same time. It was the face of the acquaintance that he had just talked about, just battled. Tears rolled down his face freely; he made no move to wipe them. "Valt... ?"

His friend/rival didn't answer. He simply held open his arms and waited. After a moment, Wakiya felt sure enough to step into the arms and just stay there, letting his tears soak Valt's hair. He felt something wet soaking his own jacket, but for the first time he didn't mind. "Why?" He asked, muffled by Valt's hair. "Why do all this?"
         
A sigh came from his normally hyperactive friend, one that sounded like it came from the very depths of his soul. "I've been gone for a long time," He replied tiredly. "The least I could do was see you again on my birthday."
         
Today was his birthday? Huh... "Why did you leave? I'm down a rival now because of you."

"Family problems... you wouldn't understand," He answered, even softer than before.

"I barely know my mother and I can count all the days my father stays home per year on one hand," Wakiya informed him bluntly, pulling back to face him properly. "Surprise me."

Valt stared at him for a minute before his gaze dropped. "My mom failed to mention a little family business, which apparently I have to carry on," He said bitterly. "But because she didn't tell me, that family business took me by surprise and I went crazy."

Wakiya squinted at him and shook his head. "You sound like you are crazy, Valt," He told him, then reconsidered. "Actually, that's nothing new. But... family business? Isn't your mom a baker?"

"Not that family business," Valt growled, which surprised Wakiya. First, he can't remember the last time he heard Valt growl, especially towards his mother. He practically worshipped the ground she walked on! Second, what other family business could he possibly be referring to? "Something a little scarier then a baker." He must've sensed Wakiya's confusion, because he stepped back and held his hands in front of him. Blue electricity arched between his palms, highlighting the tired features of his face. But what was really thrown into contrast was the horrified look on Wakiya's face.

It remained there long after Valt lowered his hands, causing the electricity to fade. It didn't budge when Ataru knocked on the door and called, "Are you ready to come out, Wakiya?" It didn't fade when Valt sighed and moved to stand in front of him again.

"I can tell you're shocked, Wakiya," He told him sadly. "Can't say I blame you, after everything I've been through. But now you know why I left, and why I have to stay away. While I'm gone, I need you to do something for me." Wakiya didn't respond, so he kept talking: "Instead of talking over everyone and thinking that you always know what's best, listen to those around you. They might say something that surprises you - maybe even something that you like better than your own idea." A small laugh escaped his sad smile. "Though I wonder if I'll be dead before that happens."
          
"Wakiya? Is someone in there with you?" Ataru's worried voice came again. Rapid pounding ensued. Wakiya's horrified expression remained unchanged.
          
Valt, on the other hand, glanced at the door with a knowing expression. "It looks like my time here is up," He whispered solemnly. Turning back to Wakiya, he reached out and hugged him again, resting his head along his chest. "It's funny," He told him. "You would never let me get this close to you if you weren't in shock. I like this quiet version of you." He pulled back, staring at his blonde friend with his dull brown eyes. "I have to go now - remember what I said, okay?" When Wakiya remained silent, Valt sighed and pulled up his disguise.
         
Wakiya saw none of it. He didn't see the door burst open and his teammates rush in, yelling in surprise as they took in a disguised Valt and a stolen stadium. He didn't see Valt flash his teammates a little salute, then run to the window and leap into the city outside. He didn't see his teammates surround him, asking if he was okay, asking if he knew the stranger, asking if they should call the police.
          
All he saw was the afterimage of the lightning that arched between Valt's hands as if it belonged there.
          
What in the fresh hell was that?

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5057 words...

I was in quarantine when I wrote most of this...

I have Finals tomorrow...

LORD, TAKE ME NOW!!!