Morning arrived far too soon for my liking.
We cannot rest peacefully for the night.
Yuto suddenly screaming in middle of the night and was about to hurt himself before we manage to snap him out of it. A truly horrible nightmare that must be feels like reality.
Not that I blame him.
I have nightmare of my own.
(Everyone is card.
Too late too late cannot be fast enough not strong enough
I was alone
Everyone I know and cherish are gone)
He cannot fall asleep until I agree to wake him up again if he did something like that.
Thankfully, it was one time thing and he seemingly forgot about his nightmares.
Keyword: seemingly.
He stares off at distance but put it aside if someone talks to him.
Must be holding it all inside. That bad habit of his. Shouldering all the problem until he can't take it anymore. There are reasons why I was quick to throw punch, and his habit of bottling up emotions is one of it.
(Other reason includes in how many boys hitting on my sister even when she explicitly said No.
Or bullying Yuto because he is the only boy who can get close to Ruri without I ready to break some bones)
It was little jarring for Yuzu to go into the bathroom and get out wearing one of Ruri's old outfit. One that survive the attacks at the old base, for whatever reason out there.
Her resemblance to Ruri is uncanny. I almost think she is Ruri, who just cut her hair short, dyed it pink, and put contact lenses on.
Then I focused with how she moves, how she talks and behaves, and realize, despite their similarities, Yuzu is not Ruri and will never be her.
She's too tomboy. Not as bad as Serena had been, but still boyish compares to Ruri's ladylike charm. Ruri would stare at you with disappointment palpable and never raises her voice (that's my role). Her anger is the cold sort. Yuzu has no qualms on using rolled up paper as makeshift blunt weapon and she can and will yell at you if you anger her enough.
Small quirks.
But helped me a lot in differentiating them.
Our day begin with breakfast.
Sayaka was the one who handed our rations. I make sure to thanking her for treating us fairly, since we get the same portion as others. Knowing the distrusted gaze towards us, that I can feel on my back, I know for sure, had it been anyone else, they might reduce the portion or even refused to serve us.
And if we try to raise a stink over it?
Might as well leave the place and going rogue.
(I'm sorry for leaving. I don't know it would happen. Had I known I would delay my departure. It was not my fault they choose that particular day to launch an assault. I don't have precognitive power!
I care dammit, I care a lot!)
Neither Shiunin or Yuzu complains about the rations.
Good. Because complains just going to make situation worse for us.
The first week after Invasion, everyone drop their social status. Those who are used to high class meal had to eat whatever everyone else eat. We don't accept picky eater. Either suck it up or don't eat and be liability. No in between. Any food you find must be shared with others. Hoarder get hostile treatment since everyone are struggling.
Once breakfast is over, there are various task to go.
There are Team Patrols. Keeping perimeter safe and making sure any Obelisk Soldier who came too close won't be able to informs it to the base. No need to be genius to know why.
Then there's checking our supplies. What we have, how much are left, what we need, where to procure those supplies. Food and medicine are counted on daily basis. Those, are not only in high demand, but also has expired date.
There are few of food supplies where we must hit one of Academia lesser bases to stole the supplies. No one is feeling guilty over it since they corner us to this thievery. Unlike us, they do have steady supply of food from their dimension, right? What's harm taking some?
Then there are fixing the base. Or building new adds on. Some people are still living on tents and those won't hold out for when storm comes. Or snow.
We'd likes to reclaims our home before Winter hit. But in case the war drags too long, we must prepare for room with heater on or there will be higher body count due low temperature.
There are tech specialist. I think Shiunin would benefit from that. I hate to admit it, but he has the best tech knowledge and experience. I had to ask him to teach me. Maybe after this? If he's good enough to hack system, maybe we can do collaboration to reverse engineer the carding device and uncard those people. That would raise morale by several magnitudes so he would be useful for something—
"Shun?"
I blinked.
"Yes, Sayaka."
"Kaito is not coming to breakfast."
"No he doesn't." I haven't see his hair.
She fiddles with the laden. "He didn't come for dinner yesterday."
Oh.
"He's in depressed state again. Always like that after... after he got beaten by him."
Back up.
Did she just imply that Kaito got beaten several times by exact same person? That yesterday was not just a fluke?
"Can you deliver this to him?"
"Why don't you do it yourself?" I ask her. "Not like I don't care what happens to him, but last time we talk, we punch each other. Literally."
"Shun?! What the heck?!"
"I tell you later." I waved Yuto's concern off. "So why me? I might trigger him. Not to mention you are much closer to him than I am."
"Because you can trigger him, is why I ask you." Pardon? "I've tried. Allen tried. Everyone tried. But Kaito refuses to eat. So... I hope you can help."
And that's how I found myself standing before Kaito's room. With a tray of food in my hands.
Dammit Sayaka. I never know you had it within you.
Sighing, I knocked Kaito's door.
No answer.
I knocked again.
Still no answer.
I feel my eye twitched.
Fine then. "I'm coming in." I turned in the doorknob.
It was fucking unlocked.
The inside was like what I expected, and nothing like what I imagined in the same time.
It is barely a step above spartan, with only small trinkets in form of picture frame on the desk, and a small robot sitting in the corner. Orbital number what was it? I forgot. Kaito sometimes makes robots he always names them all Orbital, then assign each one with different numbers to differentiate them.
But that robot is clearly haven't been functional for some time, if the layer of dust was anything to go by.
And I cannot believe there is a day I would see Kaito's room in messy state. With boots thrown without care and his coat thrown on chair. Papers cover the surface of desk and some spill to the floor.
It was so Not Kaito.
The guy in question was laying on the bed, with one arm slung across his eyes. He briefly lifted his arm to glance at me.
Those blue eyes are hollow.
(I wonder if my eyes were once like that.
When I notice Ruri went for supply run and never come back
It was like looking at mirror, at my past self
How funny)
"What?" He hissed. Or tried to. It came out as empty sigh. "What do you want now?"
I ignore him to put the tray on the desk and pick some papers. Huh. Strategy plan. Strength, weakness, combo ideas. I think this one contains base of that new card of his, one was unstable. Looking at the date... it must be recently manufactured and still on developing stage.
But the multitudes of plans...
(Déjà vu)
"How many times you crossed path with that Academia guy?"
"...too many times." Come the defeated growl. "What? Are you going to laugh at me?"
"Why would I?"
"Because I am screaming at you yet I can't do a fucking thing?" Uh, on one hand, glad you realize it, on the other hand, "Because unlike me you got fruit of your hard work or at least halfway to fulfill your goal?"
Is he talking about Yuzu?
"Because you always keep your composure and I lost my marbles?"
"Technically anyone would—"
"Because I bite more than I could chew?"
"I actually was about to—"
"Because I can only bark but can't follow up the threat?"
"Kaito you—"
"Because I swore to protect our home yet I cannot even keep my own cards sa—mmhhphh?!"
"Oh for fuck's sake!" I screamed, shoving a spoonful of porridge to his mouth. "Shut the fuck up for a fucking moment, Kaito!"
I glares at him.
"Stop cutting my words! As I about to say, anyone in your shoes would react the same! I know because I have been in your shoes!"
"Well, maybe the shoe size is a tad too little—"
I shoved another spoonful in.
He is not the only one who feel despair at losing family, dammit! Why he act like he's special?!
"I lost my sister like you lose your brother! At least you know where he is and who you should beat to get him back. Me? I still unsure of where is Ruri, whether she is a card or not. So stop with the pity party, you ass!"
"You got her doppelgänger!"
"If you build a robot that resemble Haruto down to last manner and habit, would it replace your brother?"
"Of fucking course not!"
"Then it's same with me! Yuzu is not Ruri! I still lost my sister, and Academia still invades our home. We have yet to reach our goal so we don't have time to waste with moping around and pity party!" I glare. "So, stop feeling sorry for yourself and eat the damn food! Sayaka made it and if I have to sit on you and feed it to you, down to the last spoon, I would!"
"What makes you think you can beat him?! Last I check, our duel record is more or less equal! If I can't do a damn thing, what about you?"
"One, I have more range of monsters to pick." Not counting hidden ace in form of Pendulum monsters. "Two, I am unknown factor. We can use that as advantage. Third, who said I am going to fighting alone?!"
Yuzu screamed at me for my habit of fighting on my own, and how it only going to trouble me down the road. She is not wrong.
Raidraptors based on swarming tactics to call for their strength. Revolution Falcon – Air Raid and Arsenal Falcon can call for another Xyz monster upon beaten. Passing the baton to comrades.
Raidraptor work in tandem with The Phantom Knights. Yuto and I would make good Tag-Team partner with our decks' synergy.
There's also others. Yuzu and I made decent team. I know how her deck works, and can based my strategy around it. Never try tag-team with Shiunin except for short time during Synchro Dimension chaos, so I can't rely on him just yet.
But, others?
Kaito?
I can make do.
"We are members of resistance." I tugged my scarf. Reminding him that no matter how long I went AWOL, I never abandons them. I'm just... indisposed in the meantime. "We have each other's back."
Kaito stares at me.
"You've changed."
"The other dimensions have many strong duelists," Floren Briar, Jack Atlas, Crow Hogan, Akaba Reiji, Yugo, Rua, Ren, Yuya... "I cannot be left behind. That's why."
Kaito stares a little more, before sighed.
Sayaka would be pleased to see him smirking, even a little.
"Then you better keep your words this time."
Of course, I am.
"Eat," I shoved the bowl and spoon to his hand. "If you want any hope helping me beating that smug asshole, you're going to need all energy you can spare."
(Don't be like me
Don't make same mistake as I do
Don't push people away. You're going to miss chance you need.
I was lucky I still have the chance to make amends and rectify my problem)