Work Text:
The day is Sunday. The time is 9:42 AM. Saori Fuchidaka has been laying in bed for half an hour, scrunching his face at the screen of his phone. He swipes through the same 3 apps: messenger, his calendar, and the weather. Everything is the same as he last checked it, but a part of him keeps telling him there's no way it's real. He tries to shake that feeling off, but he listens to it in spite of his own wishes. He buries the side of his face into his pillow, sighing. He clicks open the group chat again to reread the conversation and hopefully ease his worries.
[THE STRONGEST AND BEST TEAM! EVER!]
Saori smiles a little every time he reads the chat name. Hiroki jumped at the chance to name it and there were no objections from him or Taiyou. It was a little embarrassing, but if that's what Hiroki wants he can't argue against it.
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Taiyou (15:27): I'm sorry it's on such short notice, but would you guys like to attend the team event with me tomorrow? It'll be at the Dragon Empire branch. I understand if you can't though ><
HIRO! (15:30): OF COURSE I WILL!! you can't cardfight without your trump card, CAN YOU??
Taiyou (15:32): haha, you're right Hiroki! Thank you. Now we just have to wait for Saori.
saori (15:33): you're alright with me on your team?
HIRO! (15:33): um duh did you forget that i already declared us the STRONGEST and BEST team???
Taiyou (15:34): You're an important part of our team Saori. Please come with us!
saori (15:40): if you don't mind.. thank you for letting me join in ^__^
Taiyou (15:41): Hooray! Let's meet there at 11:30 am. Is that alright with you all?
saori (15:41): yes, thank you for inviting us
HIRO! (15:42): uuuuughhh that's early.. if i'm running late then don't be surprised! 💤
-
The conversation continues with Taiyou lightly scolding Hiroki and Hiroki whining, a common back and forth that Saori just watches. Taiyou always apologizes for the notifications and Saori has to insist that he doesn't mind for the politeness battle to end. In fact, the bickering makes Saori feel like they're comfortable with being themselves around him. It's something that comes with being friends, he thinks.
He clutched his phone tightly. They've been hanging out together for a while now. He could call them friends, right?
After checking the weather one last time (it's a sunny day with slight clouds), he gets out of bed. The time is now 9:55 AM. Waking up early wasn't fun, but being late was worse.
He brushed his teeth, had a light breakfast, and packed a few pieces of candy in his pocket (his personal life hack for distracting himself). The last thing he needed laid on his desk: his deck. Saori inhaled, and exhaled. Truth be told, it was sometimes difficult to face his cards now. But he wanted to be braver.
With a shaky hand, he flipped the deck over. The card that greeted him was Flare Trooper, Dumjid. Something within him expected this, and Saori bit his lip.
"We're heading out now. Please be by my side."
Crowds were starting to form at the Dragon Empire branch. Teams were quickly getting together and Saori felt like he stuck out too much for his liking, standing alone. The time is now 10:49 AM. He knew coming early meant that he would have to wait for the others, and he didn't mind that. But his mind couldn't stop thinking about how strange he must look, and how people probably think he's a loner, and what if he was at the wrong place despite the giant Dragonic Overlord statue there, and..
"Saori!"
He was lucky he didn't hurt his neck with how fast it turned. He fidgeted with his jacket sleeve as he watched Taiyou rush over to him.
"Sorry if I kept you waiting," Taiyou breathed, slightly winded. "I figured I should come early, but looks like you beat me to it, huh?"
"Oh, um, sorry.."
"For what? Just means we've got more time to talk about our strategies!"
Taiyou sighed, leaning back in his chair. He checked his phone again.
"It's already 11:40. I know Hiroki said he might be late, but with how often that happens he should just say he'll definitely be late."
Saori laughed awkwardly. "Well, it happens.. I'm sure he has a good reason."
Taiyou hummed. "I suppose even without a good reason it's fine. I set times like these on purpose anyways."
"Oh, so you take that into account too?"
"He's a little predictable, yeah."
"Really? I mean, he's.." Saori trailed off, noticing the man of the hour slowly approaching. It was hard to make out from the hordes of people, but Hiroki's way of carrying himself was unmistakable.
He quickly pointed out Hiroki from the crowd and Taiyou perked up. He got out of his chair to wave Hiroki over and Saori found himself doing the same.
"Here!"
Saori and Taiyou stare down at the makeshift badges Hiroki plopped onto the table. Saori's is colored red with two stars on it, one yellow and the other a sky blue. It's not centered quite right, and he can see the shades are darker towards the bottom, likely made when Hiroki overlapped in coloring. He glances across the table. Taiyou's follows a similar theme; the only differences being a yellow backing and the stars being red and blue.
He turns to Hiroki to ask about it before he notices the badge already on his shirt. It resembles theirs too, and that's when it clicked.
"Since it's a team event, I thought we should have some charms for good luck. Not that we need them, to be clear! It's just, well, you know.."
Hiroki bashfully turns away, leaving them stunned. Taiyou is only surprised for a second though. He laughs and enthusiastically gives his thanks in the form of a hug. Hiroki sputters incoherently, only adding to Taiyou's joy. He gestures to Saori, conveying a clear message:
"Join us!"
Saori sits there for a moment, looking back at the badge and then at his teammates. He can't help but to laugh along with them.
Hiroki starts to squirm under their clutches, protesting, and Taiyou just laughs harder. Saori finds himself unable to stop smiling at it all, as he realizes that this happiness was only made possible with his friends.