Shu Kurenai ~

"Okay, then let me search on (Y/n) and Sparyon," Toko told Valt, reaching for his iPad. He soon found something.

"Hear this, Valt," he paused and frowned at the written details, but continued anyway. "(Y/n) (L/n), the Champion of America, is an American-Japanese blader, holding the insanely famous title of The Golden Blader in Japan."

I thought everything was going pretty normal and I should've been chill about it but, clearly, no. I didn't even have time to register the details. The Champion of America. The Golden Blader in Japan. What if her statement to Rantaro earlier wasn't just bragging, afterall? But if she's so famous, how come I never heard about her?

Maybe because she came here just two weeks ago and she must be having the title way before that.

While I tried to comprehend the new mystery, Valt decided to focus on another piece of information. "American-Japanese?"

"American-Japanese," she replied.

"American-Japanese...?" Valt repeat his question.

"...American-Japanese," She repeated too, raising an eyebrow, challenging him to ask again. Taking another look at her face, Valt didn't.

"It means she's half Japanese and half American," I told him.

"That means she was born half in America and half in Japan? WHOA THAT'S SO COOL!" Valt said with practically shining eyes.

"No, Valt. That means – "

"Means my father is Japanese and my mother an American."

Valt's mind went blank. "...w..hat?"

She rolled her eyes and there was no point of discussion anymore. Explaining stuff to Valt was as difficult as trying to make dolphins talk. Toko continued, "Her bey, Stone Sparyon, is a strong and tricky balance type, holding the same position as The Supreme Four nationally."

I almost choked on the detail, even if I did a good job hiding my shock. As strong as The Supreme Four? I don't think there's any way... Okay, more serious training for the Districts from today. I don't feel like underestimating anybody with such an intimidating profile on the wbba website.

Valt and Rantaro were most amazed. I could imagine Valt planning to make me battle her (I wasn't so sure, though). He simply loved beybattles, and it didn't even matter who or when they're battling. Many times I've wanted to explain to him that everytime isn't the right time, but he never listened.

Toko had stopped reading and was staring at Nika, who was staring back in shock. For those twins, the Supreme Four have always been like heroes that can never be defeated; except if they fight each other. I could almost see the gears running in their heads.

"Continue," (Y/n) said, sounding bored. The short tension quickly faded and everyone was back to normal; or as normal as you can be after hearing information like that. "Finish fast. I can't wait to see Valtryek's moves."

"Hey! You can't ignore us like that!" Rantaro and Ken (Besu) protested.

"Yeah?" (Y/n) challenged. It was a simple gesture, but Valt and Ken had to hold back a very raging Rantaro from trying to hit her.

"The bey being very tricky and confusing, it's hard to figure out what move may come up next. It has the ability to change its direction in between the battle. It has crazy speed and special moves like the Flux Boost and Axe Counter. Sparyon hasn't given a single point to anyone in the Districts yet. It has won every battle in its first strike."

"First strike. That's cool!" Valt said.

"You must be superstrong," Rantaro noted suspiciously. I figured he permanently hated her.

"Oh hey (Y/n), where do you live?" Toko suddenly asked.

"Why should I share that?" She countered.

"But that's – "

"And why a little cute baby like you wants to know?" I didn't know if it wasn't meant to be rude, or 'little cute' was supposed to be a compliment – but it sounded sarcastic enough.

"Er, it won't hurt to say..." Toko murmured, unsure. (Y/n) stared at him for three good seconds. That would've been too intimidating even for me, but Toko held his groud, gripping his iPad hard.

"Yeah, smart," she simply said. Now that's just trying to hide from giving answers, but it was understandable. I wouldn't tell some random people about myself either.

Toko pouted, and that was the end of the conversation one way or the other. "Let's battle," she glanced briefly at the sky, and took out her launcher – a red LR launcher.

Then she showed us her bey.

It was red and black with six blades in all. Four were minor, meant for attacking opponent's stamina from what I figured out. The rest two of them were much bigger, black-lined, sharper, in the shape of wings. They were probably meant for some kind of special move. In the middle was an 'S' letter, carved in gold.

Wicked. Interesting. I'd wanna battle that one sometime soon. After I find out more about it.

"You got the same launcher as Shu," Valt awed, his eyes sparkling.

(Y/n) may or may not be on her last nerve by now. Not everyone in this world knows how annoying Valt can get. It's only me and Xander who have known him since kindergarten and have the ability to tolerate him. Our trio was quite mismatching and questionable even back then.

Ignoring Valt, everyone took their positions for the battle. Toko was the referee. I didn't volunteer. I wanted to analyse the details from far.

Ken, Valt and Rantaro were with their usual stance but (Y/n)'s stance was so interesting that I suddenly felt the need to watch her previous battles.

She stood a little away from the stadium and held the launcher in her right hand. Her left foot was a step towards the stadium and the ripcord was, surprisingly, in her left hand. Taking the launcher to her right side, in alignment to her waist, she leant slightly towards the stadium.

"Going with your left hand, huh," Rantaro noted. She didn't reply to that, which wasn't very surprising so far. Maybe she was too busy strategizing her moves. Maybe she just likes to be serious before jumping into battle. Either she's a lefty or an ambidexter. Who knows? But that stance looks daring. I wonder how that's gonna work.

She's gonna launch while standing. Maybe Sparyon will have wild momentum.

Or I'm thinking too much. But that'll just help me in analyzing the battle in more detail. If she's in the Districts, I better prepare myself to face her.

"Can't say anything about victory yet but the girl looks confident, that's for sure," Daigo said. He was standing beside me.

I nodded. "She must have a good enough reason for suggesting such a difficult challenge."

"First Battle," Toko said, "Ready, set!"

"Three... Two... One... LET IT RIP!"

Four beys were launched into the stadium. Rocktavor and Kerbeus took the centre first, doing Chain Launch and Rocktavor Zone simultaneously, creating a defence-stamina cover, while neutralizing each other's power so that they won't attack each other. Even for Ken and Rantaro, their beys' trajectories were pretty impressive.

Valtryek was not doing Rush Launch – clearly not wanting to attack Kerbeus and Rocktavor – but it was simply circling round the stadium. Sparyon was also circling round the stadium, just like Valtryek, but with insane speed and counter-clockwise spin? Wow what –

"What?" Rantaro exclaimed.

"Sure didn't see that coming," Ken (Keru) said, shocked.

"It spins counterclockwise, huh?" Daigo said rhetorically.

Despite the confusion, Valt was in his same never-ending enthusiasm. "Valtryek!" He called and activated his blue aura. A familiar blue horse appeared with a warrior sitting on it. His sword was shining brilliantly, just like his all six golden eyes.

"Right! Rocktavor!" Rantaro joined Valt, amber flames surrounding him. A black-winged fire demon, popularly known as Rocktavor, showed up.

"Kerbeus! Show the power of your Chain Launch!" Ken yelled. The Guard Dog of the Underworld joined them.

(Y/n) smirked slightly, and muttered with a voice barely audible. "They're absolutely weak. We can beat them very easily."

Maybe talking to her bey? But hey, is she so arrogant about her power now?

Personally, I hate such people. Those kind remind me of Lui. She's fighting three at a time and is holding onto such an attitude. She clearly isn't taking them seriously. I wish she gets defeated here and learn that lesson the hard way.

I glanced around to see everyone else. They were too focused on the battle to notice what she said. Okay, maybe I didn't like what I heard, but then again, I wasn't meant to hear it in the first place. It wasn't like she was boasting about her power to anyone. She was talking to her bey.

Yet, it wasn't a very nice gesture.

"Sparyon!" she called out and activated her red-golden aura.

A crimson beast appeared, that had sharp fangs and the appearance of a demon. He had a red body with black streaks on it and a golden double-bladed axe in his left hand. In the middle of that axe was a red gem, with an 'S' carved in gold, again. The same gem was also in the middle of the demon's chest. It had black and red wings, with yellow linings.

"Show your Flux Boost!"

I thought I'd seen enough of her, but Flux Boost's power exceeded my interpretations. Using it, Sparyon's already insane speed grew more – I think doubling of itself. Not like it was any slow before. It was already much faster than Valtryek.

"It's gonna gain more speed? You're cheating, I think," Rantaro complained.

"Go for Valtryek!" she said. And immediately, Valtryek somehow made contact with Sparyon and was torn into three pieces. It all happened so quickly that I had little time to process. I only got to decipher the attack once Valtryek had already lost.

So, this is how she's maintained such a record? Her profile wasn't kidding, afterall. She doesn't even let the opponent think about their next move. I was beginning to have an urge for battling her, though I was a little unsure about her ways.

I quickly recalled what I saw in my mind and attempted to understand it better, or, at all. Valtryek and Sparyon were circling around the centre, but they couldn't be zooming around in different loops forever. They had to meet at some point, if not on the slopes of the stadium, then eventually at the centre.

But they met due to the difference in their speed. Sparyon used Flux Boost and quickly rushed towards Valtryek to strike with it. And when that happened, Sparyon being counter-clockwise, took the advantage of opposite spin and attacked head-to-head. Of course, Valtryek also had this chance but in a battle like this, normally, the counter-clockwise one is able to take the advantage of such a situation unless the clockwise one is superstrong.

It so reminds me about my past battle with Lui. He also used to attack like this and take the advantage of Lúinor being counter-clockwise. Ugh, I hate him so much. That scar still hurts.

Sparyon's speed was somehow the same as it started. The battle hadn't ended, but Rantaro and Ken were distracted after witnessing what happened with Valtryek.

"Now aim towards the centre!" she ordered.

I swear I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen this myself. Sparyon, which was circling around the stadium, obeyed (Y/n) and suddenly changed its direction to head towards the centre.

Such a sharp change in momentum and I wonder how it worked so fine. Again, she didn't give any of them time to think before she attacked. Kerbeus and Rocktavor were split into six pieces in a flash.

"In-Incredible!" Valt muttered under his breath. Others couldn't even say that. We were practically speechless. The atmosphere was filled with deadly silence. I mean, what do you even expect? We don't daily get bladers beating three beys at a time.

This was probably a once-in-a-lifetime show she just gave us.

"St-Stone Sparyon with a burst finish. (Y/n) wins," Toko announced loudly, breaking the pause. "In a single strike, really," he muttered to himself. Another whole minute was swallowed in silence before anyone recovered enough to speak again.

"Th-That was so awesome!" Valt said with his eyes practically sparkling, though he was still stumbling upon his words.

"It was truly impressive," I nodded, putting aside my astonishment for homework.

"Yeah," Daigo smiled. "Bursting three beys in a single strike ain't that easy. You've got some serious talent."

(Y/n) said nothing. She just kept nodding at whoever talked.

"HEY, BATTLE ME AGAIN!" Valt yelled. All of us covered our precious ears but (Y/n) decided to just frown at him.

I figured she was gonna tell him something like: Why so loud about it?

Instead, she replied with, "Some other day. Training to do for now."

"What?" Rantaro said. "Training? You don't even need it!"

That....kinda sounded true. But she glared, sending a message, like: If ya don't wanna train, then don't. But let me train in peace or I'll strangle you to your death, or something like that.

Whatever it was, Rantaro silenced himself.

"Hey, wait! I'll ask only one thing. Promise! Are you in Beigoma?" Valt said.

"Yeah," she said, almost ending the talk. As I've noticed, most of her replies were subtle and boring – like the last statement of a conversation. You can easily end your meeting right there. Nothing over it.

Obviously, unless you're Valt.

"Uh... just guessed 'cause most of the transferred students come there. Besides, it's the best school around," Valt laughed sheepishly at his stupid attempt to make small talk. She just stared at him dumbfounded, wondering what the hell to do with that extra information.

"If you're in Beigoma, then how come I never saw you around?" Rantaro asked suspiciously. "Nobody has ever escaped the watchful eyes of the Head Honcho, Rantaro Kiyama! I notice everyone."

"I came only two weeks ago," she sighed, like it was obvious. "For some random reason, the Principal asked me to join later. That's why."

"So when're you joining?" Valt asked.

"The day after tomorrow."

(Y/n) (L/n) ~

"NOW I REMEMBER!" he suddenly screamed. Everyone had to cover their ears again. I cringed away from him.

Now what's so important? He sure screams a lot.

"I WAS TRYING TO REMEMBER SOMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT BUT IT DIDN'T COME TO ME UNTIL NOW," he pointed at me with wide, excited eyes. "The word joining reminded me. Will you join the beyclub? Of course you will!"

How the hell he is always so energetic? It's getting annoying. Even his friends sulked at his useless talk and sighed with disappointment.

"I'm going," I announced and thought he would get the hint that I'm not interested in his whatever club, but how could Valt possibly let me go while he still hasn't persuaded me to join? Some people really don't know when to quit.

He pulled me back again.

"What's with you so eager about leaving? We're not trying to kill you," he grumbled, then continued in his cheerful voice. "Please join my club!"

That's it. Lord of Cuteness, yes, but he's too clingy for someone I just met.

Taking two steps towards him, I put my index finger at his chest and stared into his eyes threateningly. "I can do whatever I want. You dragged me along, but I said nothing. Now don't do anything else that'll push my patience to its limits."

Valt stared, unable to comprehend the sudden change in my mood. I felt Rantaro and Daigo shift their positions, just when I realised what I had done.

I'm supposed to be nice. And totally not expected to threaten people like that, no matter how much I loved seeing those frightened expressions on their faces. If I keep doing this, I'll never learn to be a kind and friendly person!

Hesitantly, I took two quick steps back to maintain a boundary. I scanned everyone's faces quickly and finally landed my eyes on Valt. He was blinking hard and his expression was unreadable, as if he'd just seen something alien.

What would a nice, civilized person do here? Apologize?

With the intention of amending, I gave Valt a pointed look that said: Let's pretend nothing happened (or else).

I was actually surprised when he switched his mood as fast as light. One moment he was staring at me dumbfounded, and the other moment he's continuing his earlier annoying requests in his own way of stretching words.

"Pleeeeaaase."

"No. Actually, you can't tolerate a human like me daily."

"I can. Just pleeeeaassseee."

"No."

"Pretty please?"

"No."

"Valt special: cute please?"

"No."

Valt pouted. "But whyyyy?"

"I like to train alone and I believe one should train alone."

"I – That's bad. I thought you'll join but..." Valt pouted again. "Just my luck."

I'd never fall for his making-adorable-face type of tricks. Me, of all people. It may be hard for someone else to refuse, but for anyone as determined about the 'No-Team Principle' as me, he'll have to try better since it's having little to no effect.

Little because, you know, he's cute and the truth can't be denied.

"Got work to do. Talk later," I said, faking urgency so fake that it'd never get me admission in drama class. But if I hadn't made it look like I was busy with work, he'd never let me go. As preference, I really don't like to be dragged back.

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In 2955 words.

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