(GS3) Home Field: Espoir Mansion

[Hope]

"Its a concert coordinated with the officials of the New York Stage and U.S National Tournaments. I'll be the center. It's celebration for the end of the War of Liberation. Good luck with the thirsty guy. ~ <3 BELLA"

[Cherry]

"Yes! Congratulations on making it to the center for your worldwide debut! I'll be heading back up to New York soon once I'm finished with everything here. Do you want to go around sightseeing? If you haven't already."

[Hope]

"I have with Mi-hime, but I wouldn't mind going around again. ~ <3 BELLA"

[Cherry]

"I'll see you tomorrow at Times Square then.

Thank you."

[Beryl]

Satoshi nodded to her and gave her once last hug.

"Good luck. See you when I see you, right?" He gave a smile and a wink.

[Cherry]

A limousine parks a little ways from the manor's gate. Within the passenger's compartment is a woman radiating an aura of impatience, and a golden, caped warrior next to her who felt the same, but did not give off the same hostility. Hearing "we've arrived" alerted the pair, and white gloves gripped onto the bar, forcing the door open. The girl winced, the sunlight greatly beaming down, unexposed to it directly for quite a long time. A hand reached her shoulder, getting the male knight her attention. Red eyes scanned over the area, recognizing the mansion. Saying this was the place, his partner responded with: "We've work to do." Walking toward the gate together, the caped hero transformed into light, and entered her hand as a card. A key card in a separate hand slid through a device for approval, opening the golden gate.

"Let me in", she commanded the servants, approaching the entrance to the residence. They were rather surprised this stranger got through the gate.

"My apologies, but this is private territory-" The guard stopped mid-sentence, the soldier's lightly colored eyes had pupils that morphed into twin swords. Servants immediately bowed, acknowledging this proof of heritage - Yukino Espoir had returned. "Welcome back, young mistress."

Wasting no time, the heiress entered her home when the door opened. While more of the lowly employees were bowing, several walked in with her.

"Where is father?"

"In his study."

"Tell him his eldest daughter has returned, we have plans to formulate. Get him coffee and get me tea. In addition to those, get my phone from my room, as it was taken from me when I left."

The queen barked orders, and the Espoir attendants dutifully carried them out without hesitation nor question. While notably happy about one of their mistresses returning, seeing as Isabella had assumed another living quarters for the year, many of them were whispering about how this one is drastically different. She sure wasn't happy to be home judging by her expression. Yugure gave them no mind, and stood in a hallway, waiting for Dad Espoir to come out. Eventually, her original cellphone was placed in hand. Thanking the servant, a text was quickly conjured up to a number of people who were likely to have concerns of her disappearance, then forwarded.

"My apologies for a silent departure."

That was it, having no desire to add anything pretentious or unnecessary. The device was placed in pocket, then arms were folded, the woman focusing on her thoughts.

[Hope]

"wb. how you been? ISA Hope :3c"

[Jello]

Staring at his phone, Haruka was back at school sitting in class. He just stared at the message. A rock in his chest suddenly cracked and all he felt was spiny pain all over. His head even hurt now.

He almost didn't want to say anything back. Haruka was close to breaking the small mechanism he was so angry. Anger. That's what was welling in him.

Anger at her. Both of them. Hana, for pulling him into this lovey dovey bit when they were both obviously in love with other people, betraying the trust of those who promised to love them in return. Yukino, for disappearing without as much as a word until only now, and leaving with what... This?! Himself... For letting those things get to him. He was enraged. He was boiling.

But he wasn't able to confront the problem. He didn't want to say anything to provoke her. He simply responded... As he would've if she had never left.

"yahelloo. glad you're back!! -haru"

That text was a blatant lie but all he could do was quell the flame for now.  The fire he's been feeling. The subtle heat only rising was all over. Haruka was actually sweating now. He had business to take care of after school sadly. Meeting with Yukino anytime soon might have to wait.

[Beryl]

Satoshi grumbled. His phone vibrating had rudely awaken his spread-out slumber on his bed. It was early in the afternoon, did they seriously need him to come in for a gig right away? He had told them his hours, and---

He stared at the phone. It was from Yukino. He opened the message and read the brief line. Well, for him, the departure hadn't been silent. Yukino had at least attempted to reconcile with him as a broken shell of a man, reminding him she still cared somewhat. And it wasn't like she missed much by not sending a message, either, considering no one else had texted him until his return to Japan after the acquisition of the very apartment he was sleeping in right now.

Satoshi thought about what to say in response, then typed it out quickly before rolling over.

No big deal. Hope you had a good year.

[Cherry]

To Hana: "I've been better."

To Haruka: "I'm glad you're glad."

To Satoshi: "I hope you have as well."

Yugure fiddled around with her cell phone, changing numerous settings while replying to other texts. Eventually, the man she had been waiting for came out to greet her. Sharing a quick reunion hug, exchanging "Welcome home", and "Thank you", they got down to business.

"You're three months late", Father Espoir noted.

"That isn't my fault", his daughter retorted, walking into the office with him. Coffee and tea - as requested - were delivered to the pair. The butler heard them discussion that they're "almost out of time", and was completely confused. It seems the two of them were lost in unknown matters. The girl, for better or worse, looked stable enough, but was clearly stressed out by the topic as much as her parent. A meeting took place in a metaphorical hushed tone, not being leaked to the staff.

"I'll try to get something together", the lion of a man stated.

"We need to do more than try."

"I know that. I still can't solve it with just a few minutes. We're both - and everyone else - are going to need time."

Yugure's expressed darkened, showing fury born of impatience. He was right, but she didn't have to like it. He suggested she relax some for the moment as he attempts some form of preparation. The woman stated that she'd instead survey the city, adjusting to it after being gone for a year. Possibly find more soldiers to assist, including her friends. With a bow, the Espoir scion walked out. The man pinched the bridge of his nose in irritation.

Several maids tried to stop and have her sit down for a minute, but she simply responded with "no time", and left through the house gateway.

[OverDrive]

Tsubasa had just finished his last lectures for the day, he planned to stop by some areas around the town that were on his mind such as the Cardfight Training Area before eventually heading to the hospital to visit Neu. He had a surprise in store for her, in a bag he was carrying that had the brand name Calvin Klein imprinted on it.

"..I hope she'll like this, it took me a while before I found the right one.." he thought, as he continued walking.

Continuing on his way he passes by a large mansion, he had not noticed it's existence before now. He continues walking eventually ending up near the gate of the mansion, upon hearing the sounds of the gate opening, he turns around to see who this mansion may belong to.

"..No way.. Is that Yukino?" he thought. "..Hey! Is that actually you?" he said, calling out to her with a wave.

[Cherry]

At the call of one passing by, her head turned to see Tsubasa. Gold Paladin's Vanguard would be an amazing help, thinking on it. Besides the thought of fighting, it was good to see him. The woman's stoic expression didn't seem to convey that well, however.

"Tsubasa..." She addressed him. "If you're looking for the Sword, then yes, it's me."

[OverDrive]

Meeting with Yukino once again was a cheerful aspect of the day in Tsubasa's opinion, she's a person he respects and thinks of as a true friend, based on the way she treats her comrades. Regardless of her stoic expression as of now, he still wanted to act friendly rather than hostile, though something she said really bothered him.

"It's good to see you again Yukino.." he said, before hearing her say her last statement. "How many times am I gonna have to tell you this, I'm not looking for Yugure right now, the one i'm talking to right now is Yukino not the sword."

Regaining his composure, "Anyway how was the year long trip?" he asked, with a slight smile. He could tell that something was bothering her or rather something is not right but he reserved his judgement.

[Cherry]

"I'd prefer it if you called me Yugure", the Sword responded, finding solace in her destined name more than birth name. It was very reassuring to hear him say that, however. Him speaking with "Yukino" was a reminder of how much a friend she could consider him as. Lips curled into a small smile, breaking the tensity in her heart for a moment. Though, in the instance of relief, it immediately turned back into stress. The subject of what went on or how she was doing for her year of absence was an unavoidable one, but one she'd rather not talk about regardless.

"Not all too pleasant", Yugure answered honestly. There was little point in lying if she was going to ask him for help.

"I assume the year has been better to you?"

[OverDrive]

At this point it was clear that something was definitely not right, it was clear that something happened or rather she was worried about something. He nevertheless so no reason not to tell her what he was doing for the past year.

"..Let me worry about what I call you." he said, giving her a slight smile. "The year for me was rather successful not gonna lie,...I went back home and rebuilt my parent's house with my friends, it was tough considering that we did it by ourselves but it helped me spend some time with them aside from doing what I went for."

He was unsure how he can get her to tell him what was bothering her, without causing her trouble or any kind of worry so instead he chose to say it to her in a different way.

"..You know thinking back, I remember how the War of Liberation ended...it ended because everyone united their strength as they created their own future...you helped make that possible...I may be called the Hero of that War but the real heroes are the people who helped me finish it." he said, trying to get his thoughts together."What i'm trying to say is, if something is bothering you, or if you need my help with something, just let me know."

Unlike the last time he told her this, he actually had no idea what he was gonna do since the problem itself remained a mystery to him, for now he hopes she would let him help rather than try to shoulder the problems by herself like before.