Chapter Text
Music could be heard from all corners of the festival grounds. All different types of duel monsters costumes were worn as Yusaku and Aoi walked passed. Yusaku could only feel strange as both of them walked through the crowds of people. Aoi held onto his arm causing her to blush though she was leading so he wouldn't notice. She quickly shook her head as Aoi knew that she had to focus on finding her brother. That's the reason she had to go into the festival in the first place. Even overlooking the promise she had made to Yusaku and her duties as the festival's goddess. People had to know about Satoshi and what he was planning too. Aoi only feared that no one would believe her words.
"Does everyone not realize how ridiculous they look?" Yusaku nonchalantly addresses as they continued to walk together. He had placed both his hands in his pockets as he looks around with an emotionless expression on his face. Despite the lack of emotion and body language, Aoi could tell that how he was feeling. And it was namely because of how close they were and the fact she could tolerate his honest personality that most people were put off by. "You don't need to wear costumes to have a celebration."
"Yusaku, are you saying you don't like my goddess costume?" Aoi points out as she looked down at her outfit before she stopped and crossed her arms. "Because that means you were lying to me. And I know you're not the type to say things like that." Aoi weepily let's out as tears start to form in her eyes. She tried to her best to keep herself from crying. "I mean you did say I was pretty before."
"That's not what I was talking about you Aoi that I was referring too-" Yusaku quickly defended his statement-maybe a little too fast- as he was rather taken aback. He was never great with dealing with people to begin with, it was even worse with his best friend. He always maintained a calm demeanor on the outside. "You're beautiful-"Yusaku turns around as he realized what he had just said. "I mean you look better than normal." He fumbles with his words as tried to cover himself getting rather bashful when he was trying to make Aoi feel better. "That's not what I meant either."
"I get what you mean Yusaku." Aoi started to giggle as she enjoyed seeing Yusaku attempting to give her compliment. She knew it wasn't something he had trouble expressing but she just couldn't help but enjoy getting reaction out of him. "Now come on let's go find my brother. That's the reason we came here, right." She shyly as they continued to walk again.
"Yes, let's go." Yusaku answers as he nodded his head and looked around while they were walking. He was more in relief that no one had notice the incident that went between them. Knowing if they were whispering people around them would see it as a lover's quarrel. Yusaku was more at ease because of Aoi's smile. It certainly made everything much better even getting through the worst times.
"I think I should call my brother. Just so we can find out where he is. Can I borrow your phone Yusaku? Satoshi destroyed mine." Aoi asked him as she put her hand out as a gesture to put the phone in her hand. There was little to no doubt that he would let her since they were so close and he knew how important the situation was that Akira had to know.
"Sure." Yusaku agrees as he takes his phone out of his pocket and placed it gently in Aoi's hands. It remained like that for several seconds as they stared into each other's eyes before he let go. As Aoi began to dial Akira's number and pressed accept as she waited for a response. They only could hear the dial tone for several minutes as Aoi waited for a video message for her brother to answer. She knew he was too busy to respond because of the festival as SOL Technologies higher ups were trying to keep him occupied. Along with the fact that she was using Yusaku's phone probably didn't help.
As they both were waiting a faint yell could be heard from the distance as Yusaku could hear his last name. "FUJIKI!" Yusaku turned around to see a young teenage that was the same age as him and Aoi. He had long dark green hair slicked back that went past his shoulders and was rather pudgy and odd looking appearance. Yusaku always forgot his name because he really didn't care much for him despite the fact he always seemed to remember his name. "Glad I was able to catch up with you and Miss Zaizen." He said rather out of breath as he bends down to rest his hands on his knees.
"And who are you, again?" Yusaku questioned as if he really knows who was and it appeared to be a question he asked him. It was more because he didn't really care about the guy that much. The guy talked to him when he didn't want it and 'claimed' to want to be his friend when it was the last thing he wanted.
"Don't tell me you forgotten. We only saw each other in school this morning. It's Naoki Shima!" He yelled out him in frustration as he raised his arms in the air and slightly flailed them a bit.
"Oh right." Yusaku answers with little emotion in his voice as he pondered for a moment.
"I couldn't reach my brother. The SOL leaders must be keeping him busy." Aoi responds as she took notice of Naoki Shima and like Yusaku had a rather annoyed expression on her face. "Oh Mr. Shima, you're here." Naoki didn't appear to be paying attention to her but Yusaku went over to Aoi when Naoki had turned around.
"Fujiki, I don't understand-"He stops as he looks up he sees that Yusaku had already walked away from him as he started talking to Aoi once again. He quickly calmed down as a smirk comes across his face. That's when Naoki realized that the two of them had to be on a date. He always knew the two of them had something for each other.
"Miss Zaizen, are you on a date with Fujiki?" Naoki teased as he gently whacked Yusaku in the back with a grin and raised brow. "I always knew the two of you loved each other. And frankly it's about time."
"We're not on a date." Aoi blushed uncontrollably as her face turned several shades of red. She could feel her heart pacing as tried to defend her actions. Even though her intent was for it to be a date and finally confess her feelings for him. The fact that everyone seemed to know, only made this seem harder and loose her nerve to tell Yusaku. And with all that was happening, it would be much harder or impossible to do.
"The only reason I came is she wanted to hang out." Yusaku informed Naoki as Aoi turned her head to hide her frown when he said that.
"Then why are you in that lovely dress Miss Zaizen?" Naoki pointed out as he takes notice to her goddess apparel. Apparently not even aware on the fact she was chosen as the 'goddess' for the Duel Festival. Aoi wouldn't tell someone like Naoki as she wasn't really that fond of him. It was something that both Yusaku and she agreed on. Aoi knew the reason like most other people was only nice to her or wanted to be her friend because of her brother's job.
"I was selected as this year's goddess, Mr. Shima." Aoi angrily points out as she put a hand on her hip. This startled Naoki as he was rather a bit frightened. After all she was basically a princess due to her brother's status as head of security for SOL Technologies. She had a lot of power in and all the influence and wealth that all the islands. "Mostly due to the fact that SOL Technologies wanted me to be, it's not like I made the choice myself." Aoi admitted as she wondered why the company wanted her particularly for her to be the goddess.
"Oh right. It's based on that legend. Wasn't there a hero in the story too? "Naoki addressed as he crossed his arms as he pondered in his thoughts. "I mean it's an old mythical tale. How did the story go again?" He closed his eyes and stroked his chin as he pondered over how to put the story into words. "The legend goes that there was a goddess said to able to bring the cards to life if you will. It's how she created her armies to serve her. Of course not all were Duel Monsters that were brought to life and vanished. There were humans like us that served under her and one in particular she had chosen as her hero. "
"You forgot to mention that no one knew who this chosen hero was but he aided the goddess to stop some great evil. And after the battle she had formed our islands in the sky. Then she vanished." Aoi continued to add more about the mythical tale. "I believe Go Onizuka is here. He is the champion of the island because of his fighting style. He usually represents the hero of the tale. But that doesn't exactly mean he is like the savior in the story. As we don't know who the goddess wanted-"
"Miss Zaizen, there you are." Go Onizuka interrupted as all of them turned around to look behind them to notice the Island's champion. Go was a tan-skinned man with a muscular built and bulky body. He has dark hair and chin beard and wears a gold hat with red-striped designs. He wears a greenish-grey jacket with a separate collar and a gold, animal-head-shaped necklace. He also was shirtless with only dark pants and a golden belt with a red stone in the center. His boots are buckled with gold plates. On his arms and abdomen he also wears the gold plates and dark, finger-less gloves. "I was looking over for you. You're this year's goddess you need to be on stage. We have to get everything ready for the ceremony. You know your part in the story right?"
"Of course I do Mr. Onizuka. Everyone knows the story of the goddess. I am supposed to get the newest technology that SOL developed to make it look like I am bringing the monsters to life." Aoi expressed in both enthusiasm and displeasure because that would mean that everyone would want the newest form technology that SOL Technologies had created. It was bad enough that people already used her or created false friendships and the latest gadgets. Yusaku noticed the gloomy expression on her face so he gently placed a hand her shoulder.
"You'll be okay. Right Aoi." Yusaku asked with an emotionless expression on his face. Aoi just wanted to rest her head on this chest but knew she couldn't do it with everyone watching them. So she just simply patted Yusaku's hand that was resting on her shoulder.
"Don't worry I will be fine." She assured Yusaku as nervousness began to overwhelm her. "I am just a bit nervous. Not really great at being in front of people. I just don't think I can do this." Aoi took a deep breath as she put her hands together. "Is my brother over there? I need to talk to him, Mr. Onizuka."
"I haven't seen Miss Zaizen. I am sure the he will be here soon. Come with me and we'll take a look." Go took Aoi's hand as they started to head for the stage. For a second, Yusaku's hand slips off her shoulder as it hanging there as he watched them walk away, Naoki teasing him again.
"But I promise I would go with my friend to find my brother."Aoi weakly addressed as she looked back at Yusaku. She didn't even get a chance to say goodbye to him as she quickly gives him a wave but is pulled even harder.
"You mean your boyfriend. Don't worry he will be amazed when he sees you on stage." Go points out to her in a teasing manner. "Just like the orphan children always adore watching me be the hero in the story." Part of her wished that it was Yusaku but she knew that he would never go through with something like this. I mean the only reason he was even at the festival in the first place was because she asked him. Otherwise he would be sitting at home like normal.
"Yusaku's not my boyfriend. He's just my childhood friend." Aoi defensively states as she blushes as she began to wonder if everyone assumed they were already a couple.
"Yeah Suuuuurree he is. Perhaps you can dance with him during the performance" Go remarks with a laugh as he winks at her; he clearly didn't believe her words as they disappeared backstage, and her blush darkening at his comment didn't help her case.