(Y/n) (L/n) ~

Today's the day when I'll join the school. Yesterday was a gap after I met the Beyclub, and honestly, even though I'm a bit skeptical about those people having an effect on my life, yet I'd like to rule out the possibility of them remembering me till now.

Right now, I was just a few blocks away from the Beigoma Academy, walking casually and enjoying the morning freshness. Oh, how I loved to be in Japan! Natural peace is something that, unfortunately, America couldn't offer me over these years.

It's 7:36 in the morning and the school won't start till 8:00, so I wasn't really in a hurry and actually enjoyed every little detail of my surroundings.

The morning sun was shining a brilliant golden.

It is said that the sun symbolizes strength, but despite his power and glory, I could only wonder about his freedom and captivity.

The sky was like his territory, and him, the ruler of all the lands beneath it. Yet he was not free to move around. He could only stay where he was. Like he was captured or restrained. All the freedom spread around him in the form of open sky – others only see that. But he knows better to stay in one place and only gaze at his endless domain.

How pathetic. But the walk to school was beautiful just like that.

Oh, spoke too soon.

"(Y/N)! (Y/N)! (Y/N)!" an eardrum breaking voice shouted behind me. At first, I hoped that voice was calling somebody else, but no, who am I fooling? I doubt there's another (Y/n) around here and also, the voice suspiciously sounded like... I hesitantly turned around to see Valt running towards me. Of course.

"Hi, Valt," I greeted.

"You know what? I came early today, especially to meet you!" he stated, proud of himself.

"Does that mean you come late daily?" I asked the most natural thing somebody would.

Valt clutched a hand over his heart and dropped to his knees, faking pain. "I'm hurt! Why do you think I can't be early?"

I sweatdropped at his dramatic reaction. "No, uh, sure you can be."

"Guess what!" Valt jumped up again and continued smugly. "I'm even earlier than the twins today. They must be still sleeping!"

"We don't think so," the twins spoke from behind. They're so cute for no reason...

"WHAT?!" Valt exclaimed.

"You fell for it. There's no way you could ever be earlier than us!"

Valt looked crestfallen. Huge tears streamed down his eyes. I didn't really know what to do, but I bluntly patted his shoulder. "Next time, next time," though I wasn't sure if he could actually pull it off or not.

From two blocks away, I spotted Shu coming in this direction from behind. I figured he saw us just as I noticed him. Valt was facing this side so he couldn't see, or else he would've started shouting really loud.

Shu quickened his pace and came to join our party. "Morning, (Y/n). Morning... Valt? Hey, you're early!" he said with surprise.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN? I can be early too!" Valt pouted sadly.

"Morning, Shu," I greeted back normally. Shu snapped his head at me like I'd cursed his grandfather or something, but then smiled after a split second.

Uh, what the hell? Did I sound rude back there?

"WHO WANTS TO RACE TO SCHOOL?!" Valt said enthusiastically. Shu and I shook our heads together. Like I said already, he was smart and civilised, unlike Valt.

"Well, I want to! Chase me, Toko!" He said and took off.

Quickly, Toko started running behind him. Nika looked conflicted for a second but soon joined them. There was hardly any traffic on the road at this time of morning, and even lesser people on the footpaths, but the Aoi siblings easily managed to gain attention. Soon they were out of sight, leaving Shu alone with me.

He sighed and we continued walking again. The wind was light and the sun was warm. Chirping birds, rustling leaves, and occasional sounds of people living their life. I found that silence between us peaceful.

"So, about your battle that day..." Shu started but then paused without finishing his sentence. Confused, I turned to look at him, wondering why he stopped talking in the middle. He, too, looked at me at the same time. Our red eyes collided for a moment before Shu averted his gaze as if he had come eye to eye with the devil himself.

I rolled my eyes and decided to say something to save him from the nervousness or unsurety or fear or whatever I was making him feel.

"Go on. You've got an interesting voice."

"What?" Shu snapped his head and looked at me weirdly. He certainly did not expect this. Is he thinking this is some kind of a trap?

"I didn't hear you talking much," I answered, actually creating a trap now. "That day when we met."

The truth was, that 'I should know him!' feeling was still there. Shu Kurenai... I still couldn't put my head around where I've heard his name before. I definitely can't speak first but if he's making the first move, maybe I can make him talk about himself more.

"Actually I – "

"You were saying about the battle?"

"No, um... " he said and paused again for some reason. Why the hell am I making him trip like that? It's not that I don't enjoy people being intimidated by my presence, but at least they should have a proper reason for it? I haven't even defeated him in battle yet and – oh wait, maybe not direct battle but he's definitely seen what I can do.

And it's making him feel unsure? Who even is he? Once again, I feel like I should know...

Shu sighed and settled the conversation with, "I don't wanna talk about the battle anymore."

"No? Okay," I shrugged and let him drop the topic, not wanting to make him even more uncomfortable and ultimately killing him with nervousness (I already have enough murder charges upon me).

After we reached school, I'd expected Valt's energy to probably be drained out by now. But no. Valt was still very much as enthusiastic as before.

"You wanna battle at the club?" He asked me. I knit my eyebrows, trying to figure out why he's targeting me with a beybattle.

"But I assume you have a class to attend and I have a Principal's Office to go to?" I placed a finger at my chin and asked innocently. Time was running out and this conversation was pointless. A couple of boys passed beside us and I caught the timing when Valt blinked.

It wasn't that hard disappearing from right in front of someone when people were around. I'd picked up a few ninja tricks from those visits at my grandparents' traditional village. Using those two random boys to hide, and with the help of fast movements...

"Yeah, but – " before Valt could think of how to end the sentence, I was gone.

"SHE LITERALLY DISAPPEARED!" I heard Valt scream behind somewhere.

"A ninja," Nika exclaimed.

"No, a samurai!" Toko fascinated.

"Ninja."

"Samurai!"

"What's the difference anyway?" Valt said. They sighed at his stupidness.

-------------

I went inside the class with my new Science teacher. I looked around to see my new classmates, only with the intention to at least see the faces of the jerks with whom I was supposed to spend the boring school time. Then I saw Valt. My eyes lit up.

Valt is in my class. And yeah, Shu also. Who can forget that red-eyed blader? They are in my class. Now classes won't be that boring. Not like I appreciated their presence too much but something is always better than nothing.

"Okay, students. This is (Y/n) (l/n), your new classmate. Be nice to her and..." blah blah blah. He went on. I actually imagined something like―

Okay, students. This is (Y/n) (l/n) to begin with. She is yet another unfortunate child that is being forced to come to this horrible place, named 'School'. Be nice to her because she will not spare you if you won't. She has real time experiences of punching people to death.

Coming back to reality, there was an awkward silence. Wonder what happened. Did they hear my thoughts?

"Huh? (Y/n)? Come on, say something! Greet them," he said quickly. Then I realised what was wrong. I tried my best and managed a, "Hey."

They sweatdropped. Was that rude?

"Well...that was not very friendly," the teacher said.

'Hey!' I wanted to protest. Give me some credit. I tried.

I sighed. Screw trying. I won't just try to be nice for some random crappy classmates. Today morning, this 'Be-nice' thing had already drained my power. I tried so hard in front of Valt and Shu. I almost lost it so I quickly went away from them.

"So...(Y/n), you go sit there, the last second seat in the last row," he said, pointing towards the seat. So, Valt would sit just behind me? He would surely bug me. Then I noticed Shu, sitting on the seat adjacent to Valt. So, his seat would be diagonal to mine... Good! I walked to my seat in peace but that peace stayed only till Valt started talking.

"Hey, (Y/n)! Nice thing you are sitting before me," he whispered from behind.

"Valt! Keep quiet," teacher scolded. I laughed at him silently. Uh...actually, in mind. Not really laughed or I could be the next one getting scolded.

The teacher started with his lesson while Valt still focussed on me.

"Hey!" he whispered. I ignored.

"Hey (Y/n)?" he tried again. Maybe if I keep ignoring, he will eventually give up.

"Here, listen at least," he kept talking, I kept ignoring. I was stubborn, but I yet didn't know that he was even more.

"(Y/n)? (Y/N)?" he yell-whispered.

"What is it, Valt? Can't you see I'm pretending to study here?" I scolded him, "You also focus on pretending if you don't want to stand in punishment."

"Oh sorry, but I was just wondering if you'd come to the club today and have a battle with me? After the school."

"VALT!!" the teacher warned him again.

"Sorry, sir," he said aloud and then softened his voice again, "What do you say? Battle?"

"No," I simply replied.

"Why?"

"Tch."

"Pleeeeeeassse...." he pleaded.

"Stop stretching words. And no, I said."

"Please, I said," he replied, copying me.

"Valt! (Y/n)! Stop talking," again the teacher yelled. Why doesn't this stupid teacher keep quiet and shut up his freaking mouth?

"Stop talking else we both will have to clean the class after school," I said.

"But, please!" he didn't give up yet.

"Okay," I sighed and admitted defeat 'cuz I was sure that the teacher was on his last nerve. Even I was. "I'm in."

"YESSS!!!" He shouted. I facepalmed and the next thing I knew was the teacher scolding us.

So here we were, in the corridor, with buckets full of water, one on the head and one in each hand. I am so embarrassed, not by the passing students laughing at us and not by the class that laughed at me, but because of what would Shu be thinking.

I got punishment on my first day, and with whom? I took a glance from Valt. Who else than the Great Valt Aoi?

Speaking of him, I think he's having a really hard time holding the buckets.

"Yeah! First by your greatness, we are standing in the corridor and then we have to clean the classroom also, after school and―"

"Hey, (Y/n)―We are...Well, I'm s-sorry!" he said, struggling hard to maintain his balance. I didn't had to face much trouble because I had trained for two freakin' years, just to get physically stronger. We need that for launching beys. These were just one of those many times when other than blading, my training paid off somewhere else.

"B-But how could you-Like-How come you can-able to do it so easil―" He tried to say and fell. Ladies and gentlemen, here we have it. The Buckets of Water win against the Wonder Boy, Valt Aoi with a score of three-to-zero.

The water splashed in the corridor, over me also and of course, Valt was all wet.

"Awesome," was only I could say.

------------

"Got punishment on your first day?" Shu teased while putting stuff in his bag.

"Great, isn't it?" I replied sarcastically. He just smiled at me. "I'll meet you in the club after you both will be done," he said and then left. I turned to Valt.

"Listen. We'll―rather you'll―quickly clean the class and head to the club! Okay?" I ordered him.

"But why?" he asked sadly.

"Because you were the one that got us into punishment."

"Oh! But you'll battle, right?"

I nodded.

He quickly cleaned the class and then we went to the club. I felt a little bad for him but let it go anyway. I'm not known for my cruelty for nothing. Anyone would've melted seeing such a cute little innocent Valt cleaning the classroom alone, but it would still prove rather good for his launching power.

Shu Kurenai ~

(Y/n) and Valt reached the club talking. Actually, it was only Valt speaking and (Y/n) not even bothering. Rantaro spotted them from far. He was standing at the doorway of the Basketball club.

"There are you two!" he said as they came closer and finally reached.

"We heard you got punishment on your first day," Ken (Besu) said.

"Not good, dude. Now, did you even apologize?" Rantaro asked Valt.

"What was the matter?" Daigo asked. It looked like he knew nothing.

"It's like... I asked her for a battle and when she agreed I said 'Yes' a little too loud and the teacher scolded us," Valt explained while making an innocent face.

"No surprise," Daigo sighed.

"Leave that stuff," Valt cheered. "It's the time for our battle."

Everyone started getting ready for the battle. Rantaro muttered something like, "Why ain't I so lucky? I should get to battle her."

Valt took his stance. But (Y/n) didn't go with the Flux Boost's stance this time. Instead, her right foot was ahead of left. She knelt down on her left knee, held the launcher in her left hand and the ripcord in the right hand.

She looked careful this time though she was fighting Valt, an average blader (at least now). But Valt seemed a bit careless, though he was about to face the Golden Blader.

For my part, I was watching and calculating the outcomes of (Y/n)'s right-handed launch.

"Right-handed launch..." Daigo wondered. I watched closely.

"Everyone knows that the dominant hand's grip is stable. So as we witnessed that day, the left-handed launch showed the calmer side of her bey, while the right-handed launch would probably unleash the craziest moves ever," I explained. Daigo nodded in agreement.

"First Battle," Rantaro announced. "Ready, set!"

"Three...Two...One..."

Valt tilted his launcher right at that moment. Clever. But (Y/n) already noticed so she straightened hers to make it parallel to the stadium. She caught him. Crap!

"LET IT....RIP!"

Both beys were launched into the stadium. Valtryek went with a flawless hyper-speed Rush Launch, leaving behind sparkes, while Sparyon was just spinning around the centre with really slow speed. It felt like this'd go with a survivor finish.

"What's that?!" Rantaro asked in confusion, watching carefully.

"What is she planning? Is that a mislaunch...?" Valt muttered to himself.

"No, Valt. Focus on the game!" Daigo yelled at him, making him realize that he needed to focus just now.

"Yeah. Look, she is dodging Rush Launch," I said to Valt. Valtryek's very fast Rush Launch was being dodged by Sparyon's slow movements. (Y/n) watched her bey circle in confidence while Valt, on the other hand was thinking hard what to do because Rush Launch had failed.

"Valtryek! Keep attacking," he yelled. But of course it didn't work. Valtryek's movements were fast but it was of no use if it didn't hit.

"Speed up!" (Y/n) ordered and within the blink of an eye, Sparyon sped up. By that time, Valtryek had gotten slow. You can see sparkles flying in the stadium due to Sparyon's movements now. Again the same problem―Valtryek was slow but Sparyon fast, so Valtryek wasn't able to hit now either.

"Okay, Sparyon!" she ordered and got engulfed in her red aura, "End this."

Sparyon immediately reacted, changing its direction and whirled in the stadium, going through the centre acting like a short-looped Rush Launch. Both beys collided and burst.

Three pieces were lying in the stadium. Valtryek had lost again.

"Stone Sparyon with a burst finish. (Y/n) wins," Rantaro announced loudly, "In a single strike again."

"Woah, awesome!" Ken (Besu) said.

"Yeah. The way Sparyon sped up or when it changed its direction just when you demanded. It was amazing. This shows that you both share a strong bond," Daigo praised her.

"A good bey always hears to its blader," (Y/n) said straightly. It's been two days. I should've gotten used to her way of talking. But why? Why ain't I still ain't used to that emotionless voice?

"Don't tell me―You also do that childish thing? Y-You talk to your bey?" Rantaro stammered.

"Don't we all do?" she asked. We all started talking together.

"Yeah, we do," Daigo.
"Of course we do," Valt.
"Yep, It's true," Ken (Keru).
"Sure," Me.

"I suddenly feel so lonely," Rantaro sighed sadly.

"Don't worry, Honcho. You'll too learn it," Valt tried to cheer him up. Suddenly he snapped and turned to (Y/n). I was almost startled by that sudden movement. "I FORGOT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING! You missed it 'cuz you weren't there yesterday. I was practising Rush Launch because I was a little off my game-" the whole Beyclub glared at Valt for 'a little'. Valt sweatdropped.

"Okay. Okay. Not a little. I was completely off of my game. And just when I was about to launch, a basketball came flying and hit me. And guess what? My launch got messed up in a good way. It was supposed to be like zzhuuum, brrhuum, then frizzz and then, like fisssh, fusssh and at last shoom, krooom-Just like Rush Launch. But it actually turned out to be like frumm, shtooon...wooonn, and then something like phhshunnn and then frusssh and daaaasshhh and then-"

Cutting off Valt, (Y/n) said, "That was awesome. I completely understood whatever you are trying to tell me. Now, did you master that fisssssh-fruumm move?"

"You are saying it wrong! It isn't fisssssh-fruumm, it is frumm-frusssh."

I thought she will kill him for this, but (Y/n) just stared at him. Like anyone else, she didn't have to yell at Valt to shut up or tell him that he's stupid. It was like her eyes knew she wouldn't bother to speak so they conveyed the message for her. Her expression was blank but somehow it showed what she wants.

After five-six seconds of staring, I could see Valt get tempted to reply without showing any stupidness.

"No, I didn't," Valt said. Even I was surprised how calm he sounded. Did she use a magic spell on him?

"Did you name it?" She asked.

"Flash Launch," he simply answered.

"Good," she said, trying to smile. But then she just sighed and turned to me, "Well then?"

I don't know how, but I understood what she was asking. "It's simple. Valt's just making it appear complicated. Actually, while launching, the launcher is supposed to be slightly titled towards the stadium for Rush Launch. When the basketball hit him, the launcher titled even more and to take it back to the correct Rush Launch's position, Valt twisted his wrist but unknowingly it became parallel to the stadium."

"I see," she said, ending it right there, like always. I sighed.

"You won't tell about Valtryek's movements after that launch?" Rantaro asked me.

"No, it's understood," I replied. She must be intelligent enough.

(Y/n) (l/n) ~

Of course.

"I should get going," I nodded at Valt. He nodded back in reply and that was my cue. I turned around to leave. For the first time, I was getting away from them in a single attempt. Even Valt Aoi didn't stop me this time.

Uh-oh. Spoke too soon.

Principal Shinoda came in just as I was exiting the club. Just greet him Good Afternoon and leave. That's the plan. Of course he won't stop me. What reason would he have?

"Afternoon, Principal," I said.

"Good afternoon, (Y/n)," he said smiling.

I wasn't able to smile back but considering there's no need for me to stay here anymore, I simply tried to leave again but dare I leave even once without getting stopped by someone, as long as I'm a part of this book. I just can't figure out why does this writer do that.

"Are you in a hurry? Where are you going?" the Principal asked.

"Home." And yeah I am in hurry. Please let me leave peacefully.

"Oh! You may leave later. Just now I need to tell you all something."

I sighed. I guess I should just give up on leaving.

Principal Shinoda walked upto the bey stadium and stopped with a serious expression on his face. "I've been seeing you children put a lot of effort and hardwork in blading and it's good, too, as Districts are up. But I ain't here to just appreciate you all. There's some big news," then turning to Valt, he smiled. "Valt Aoi, I see you have found six bladers for your beyclub, as needed to make it official. Haven't you?"

Valt quickly reacted to his statement and looked around. He saw me already standing away from all of them, so he pushed Shu by his arm, brought him near me and then tossed him. His left shoulder bumped into my right one. We both backed away a little by what the heck just happened. I was just a little shocked because that was sudden, nothing more. But Shu was sorry like he just killed me or something.

"S-Sorry for that!" he stuttered out and tried to smile. Okay, I got to know one more thing about him, and that's that he is not into bumping into people. And if that happens, he will bother them by apologizing for the rest of his life.

I just nodded 'cuz it wasn't a big deal.

"Sir, you see, Shu and (Y/n) are not in the club so we still―" Valt said to the Principal but Rantaro quickly covered his mouth with his hands.

"He is so innocent," Shu said, to no one in particular. Well, maybe to me but I didn't try to reply or something. That isn't so necessary, you know. It wasn't like he asked me a question so I had to answer.

"Yes, Principal. We have all six bladers," Rantaro said.

"Well done, Aoi. Your Beyclub is now official," Principal Shinoda said.

"YESSS!!" the four of them screamed and jumped with excitement.

"But remember to work hard for finding more members for your club," Principal said.

"Of course! And thanks, Principal," Valt said and the Principal left.

"Con-gra-tu-la-tions," I said, while walking up to him. I had tried my best to take that word outta my mouth, saying each syllable with care. First, it is a nice word so I ain't used to saying it. And second, HELL WHY THIS WORD GOTTA TO HAVE 15 LETTERS?!

"Yeah. It was possible only because of your hard work. Great job," Shu also appreciated him while approaching towards the group.

"(Y/n), why don't you join the club? Pretty please?" he pleaded, making a cute face which, let me tell you, I found very easy to resist. He kept staring at me like that and I also stood there staring at him with my arms crossed, while others kept quiet and stayed where they were.

Man, he's so cute and he's trying so hard. It's so sad that I will eventually deny and all his efforts will go to waste. I mentally frowned at the thought.

Wait, why am I feeling pity?

No, why am I even feeling?

That's new. I've never felt any emotion for a long time. I blinked at what the heck is happening to me and after some more seconds of keeping him under false hope, I finally said "No."

"Whyyyy?" he whined.

"I think I already made it quite clear that I'm not joining the club," I said blankly. Then turning around, I walked towards the exit of the club.

"Wait-" was the last thing I heard from Valt that day.

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In 3797 words.

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