Event Post

[strongyuzu]

[A couple days after their respective duels and the necessary evacuation it spurred, Yuzu has been released from the infirmary. Like Yuya and Yuma, she's gotten the same news that they're being put through the expulsion procedure, which involves a duel against a Player Killer-level opponent and that they're suspended from classes until then.

Unlike Yuma, she hasn't called her father yet. She's not facing it like he is. Right now she's just on empty.

She hasn't spoken to anybody much since the duels, not even Yuya or Yuma, too ashamed to even see if they're okay - it was her idea to get Hayate to confess on tape. It was her idea to duel him after hours. Why had she done it? Was it really because she thought it was the best way to get evidence against him to go to the teachers with? Or had she just been trying to avenge her own ego?

Had she really let herself get so twisted up about a few stupid damn comments about coming from the "boonies" that she had ruined her and her friends' futures over it? Not to mention all the horrible things that had almost happened as a result of that Darkness Game. It's because of her - it was her stupid plan. It's her fault.

She's currently in her dorm room, sat on her bed, knees hugged up against her chest. Her Duel Disk is on the nightstand next to her. Every so often, it rings, another call from her father. She ignores it like she has the rest up until this point - she can't bear to face him, either.]

Comments

[kattobingore]

*This same day, Yuma had woken up in his dorm room to find Yuya missing. Wondering where he had gone, he wondered if he'd gone over to Yuzu's dorm. After all, neither of them had been able to speak with her since the duels... though Yuya had also been very silent and non-talkative to him as well.

Walking over to Yuzu's dorm, Yuma lifted his hand up to knock, but he paused momentarily, before going ahead and knocking.*

Hey, Yuzu. It's Yuma!

[strongyuzu]

[Yuzu looks up at the door but doesn't say anything. Her roommate is less willing to indulge her enforced solitude however and approaches the door, opening it and poking her head out.]

"What is it, Tsukumo?"

[kattobingore]

Oh, er...!

I-I was just wondering if Yuya had come around here to see Yuzu, or if she'd seen him at all. He's not at our dorm and he's not answering my attempts to call him.
He's barely been talking to me these last few days, so I'm kinda worried.

We've been worried about Yuzu too so... I thought that he might of come around here to see her now she's out of the infirmary.

[strongyuzu]

[Her roommate turns and looks back at Yuzu.]

"He says Sakaki's not at their dorm. D'you know where he is?"

[She respond in a small, quiet voice:] I haven't talked to him. [The roommate turns her head back and grimaces. She has some sense of empathy for Yuma right now.]

"We haven't seen him. Sorry."

[kattobingore]

I... see.

*Yuma lowers his head a little before looking away down the pathway from the dorms. He seems to be contemplating looking for Yuya but... it seems Yuzu is just as depressed right now.
... he looks back at Yuzu's roommate.*

Is... Yuzu okay in there? Can I speak to her?

[strongyuzu]

"...you can try. She's..." [She rubs her head.] "She hasn't been in a talking mood. Maybe you'll have some better luck, though."

[She's trying to sound hopeful of that as she opens the door to allow Yuma in. Yuzu's eyes rise up slightly as she sees him in the doorway. The roommate steps outside as she lets Yuma in.]

"I'll, uh, let you guys talk." [She leaves the room with that. Yuzu briefly makes eye contact with Yuma, then quickly looks away, not saying anything.]

[kattobingore]

*Yuma looks at Yuzu for a moment before he quietly grabs a chair from their desk in the room and pulls it over to the side of her bed, before sitting down. He sits there for a moment, looking down, wringing his hands together awkwardly. He isn't really sure what to say or do to help make her feel better, or to get her to talk to him.
He figures the best way to start was to at least try and say something.*

Guess... we've really landed ourselves in hot water this time, huh?

[strongyuzu]

...

[Yuzu still can't bring herself to look at Yuma, feeling a little twinge when he speaks, again feeling guilt for getting them into this situation in the first place.

All she manages is a small half-nod.]

...nnn.

[kattobingore]

B-But I'm sure thing'll work out, right? I mean, we just gotta defeat a duelist each, then we can stay...!

*He was trying to put his best Kattobingu positive face on for her, but deep down, he felt like that wasn't going to work.*

[strongyuzu]

[At the very least, it gets her to look at him. Her mouth starts to open and she starts to say something...

Then she just loudly sniffs and puts her head in her hands. Yeah - yeah, it sounds like she's crying now.]

[kattobingore]

H-Hey! Yuzu! I - I didn't mean to -

*Yuma falls quiet as he watches Yuzu break down in front of him. He hated seeing his friends like this, they didn't deserve this at all. He knew that they had much more riding on this than he did. Sure, he wanted to become a duel champion, but he wasn't carrying the reputation of an entire dueling style on his back like they were.
If only he'd been the mature one. If only he'd seen the holes in their plan. Then this would of never of happened to them. But no, he agreed with the idea and went along with it blindly when he really should of been the one who was looking out for them, being the eldest.

Clenching his teeth, his face began to screw up with emotion as he looked down at his hands that were resting on his legs. He tightened them into fists as tears began forming in his own eyes.*

... I'm sorry, Yuzu.

[strongyuzu]

I...

[She looks up at him, sniffling again - there are tears streaming down her face. On some level, she hates that she's breaking down like this in front of her friend, but she's pretty much totally unable to keep it together.]

I'm s-sorry, Yuma...

This...th-this whole stupid thing...i-it's all my fault!

[kattobingore]

*Yuma shook his head.*

We agreed on that plan together...! We carried it out together...! We're carrying this equally on our shoulders...!

I just... I just wish I'd been able to see this! I wish I'd been able to see how it could backfire and stopped us! Then neither of you would be going through this at all.

You guys are my best friends here and neither of should be suffering like this right now!

[strongyuzu]

I shouldn't have... [She sniffles, loudly.] I was...s-so obsessed with Hayate, I cared more about beating him than actually helping you guys...! A-and now we might get exp-pelled...

I don't want to get expelled...I don't want us to have to split up...!

[She doesn't say it outright, but it's pretty clear - she feels like Yuma, along with Yuya, is her best friend as well. The idea of having to part ways with him like this is tearing her apart.]

[kattobingore]

*Yuma had known that the possibility of them being expelled would mean that he would be split up from Yuya and Yuzu, but hearing those words come out of Yuzu's mouth, coupled with how heartbroken she sounded, made Yuma's heart tear in two.

He clasped a hand over his face and let out some strained sobs.*

I don't want that either...! I want us to be able to stay together...! I want the three of us to be able to keep hanging out...! I want us all to grow together here as duelists...!! I...!

*He broke off as he let out another strained sob. He clenched his teeth and tightened the grip of the hand clasping his face.
Then, suddenly, he removed the hand and looked directly at Yuzu. Tears streaming down his face.*

None of us can change what happened! And dwelling in it or blaming ourselves won't help us at all! We need to fight this! We need to show them we won't ever give up! We need to show them our strength as duelists and our bond as friends!!

*Clenching his fists, he stood up quickly from where he was sat, raising his head to the ceiling.*

I WON'T LET THEM TEAR THE THREE OF US APART! NOT EVER!!

[strongyuzu]

[Yuzu stares at Yuma, her eyes slowly widening. Tears keep streaming down her face, but her sniffling slowly comes to a stop. She blinks a few times - and the truth of Yuma's words start getting through to her. Whatever happened, what they did wrong, they can't afford to dwell on it now. She has to find a way to dig deep and win her duel. And she has to help Yuya and Yuma do the same - or they really will get split up.

She gulps. Then, without saying anything, she reaches out and wraps her arms around Yuma.]

[kattobingore]

*Yuma wraps his arms around her in response and silently holds her in a hug for as long as she needs it.

Once the hug breaks. Yuma smiles at her and places a hand on her shoulder.*

We should go and find Yuya. He'll need us both right now too.

[strongyuzu]

[Yuzu stays there for a while, her head buried in Yuma's shoulder. Eventually, her sniffling comes to a stop and she pulls away, rubbing her eyes clear with her sleeve.

She remembers that Yuma came here looking for Yuya - wherever he is, he must feel every bit as bad as they do, if not worse. After a second, she nods.]

Y-yeah, just let me...

Lemme get changed and then let's go find him.

[A small smile creeps on to her face. She still feels a pit in her stomach, but, somehow, she feels a little more like they can all deal with it, together.]

...thank you, Yuma.

[kattobingore]

*Yuma, still smiling, gives her a gentle nod.*

No problem, Yuzu.

*With that, he removes his hand from her shoulder and points towards the door.*

I'll meet you outside once you're ready.