(GS3) Field: Regional Hall

[Jello]

"Call it a trip down memory lane?" His smile switched to a casual neutral expression.

"Mind if I return the question? I mean, everyone is training for the National Circuit, you know?"

Haruka finds himself in a conversation with somebody he has never met, yet he finds an odd aura around the boy. Eccentric at best, co siderong they've never talked before.

[Grimm]

"Even if I told you, I'm not sure if you'd believe me." Noah giggled slightly. He was training for the national circuit, was he trying to find something there to unseal the clans? No, he could be just a regular strong cardfighter.
 
"Do not doubt yourself, he's trying to unseal the clans." The words of Maelstrom echoed in Noah's mind.

"Oh, if you don't mind me asking, why are you trying to unseal the lost clans?" Noah asked, cheerfully.

[Jello]

Well that's mostly-

Wait. What?

"Er, so you know about them?" Haruka scratched his head looking behind the boy. There wasn't anything in particular behind him, but eye contact was one of Haruka's weaknesses. He bit his lip and sighed, as if in defeat. Although he didn't lose much, as he was simply explaining the situation.

"I lost a friend in there. Someone took him away from me, and I intend to get him back." Haruka answers casually, as he responds to a text from Yukino.

"No problem, sweetheart, glad you're feeling better. And it's good to have you back! We should talk later. beach sounds good. see you then ^w^! -haru"

Flipping his phone shut, he returns his attention to the eerily cheerful boy standing a few meters in front of him. He gave Haruka the major creeps.

[Grimm]

Noah's expression got darker with the mention of the word "friend."

"Friend, you say?" Noah asked.

"You're being too happy, just be yourself. I think you're scaring him." Maelstrom's words echoed in Noah's head.

"Maelstrom had a point, the boy was clearly trying to avoid eye contact. I guess I would just have to be myself to some extent, even with Maelstrom's request of destroying the rift before the clans are unsealed. Wait, but I'm a pushover with no friends. Well, I guess I'll just have to try my best, even with my horrid personality!" Noah thought to himself.

"Oh, well I'm going to have to ask you to stop trying to unseal those clans." Noah said calmly.

[Jello]

"Yeah, a friend-" The boy notably got annoyed. Something snapped? Haruka was mostly unsure of how to take this anymore. He wanted to leave, but he also had a point to prove. Without a deck or a viable way to prove it at the moment though, he played along for a bit. Not simply instigating the boy, but just differentiating his view on the whole scenario.

"What's wrong with unsealing the clans? I mean, wouldn't it be unfair if you were enjoying life and one day were suddenly locked in solitary confinement? Sort of whack, huh?" Haruka was going to reason with the boy, considering it his only way out at this point. Unless he wanted to leave the awkward impression of simply storming out of the hall, but that was a bit childish of him, so he refrained from the option altogether.

[Grimm]

"But those clans weren't just enjoying a normal every day life. They were starting a civil war, and I'm sure, even on Cray, that's not normal." Noah replied.

"I messed up badly, he clearly wants to leave. Ugh, I'm awful...." Noah thought to himself. "Well, it is pretty weird to just come up to a stranger in an empty place and strike up a conversation, I should probably stick to card shops for trying to make friends. But for now, I need to find out what he knows about unsealing the clans."

[Jello]

"Right. That is weird. But why would those who were simply defending those they loved from hell, be villains? Weird kinda twist... Anyways, I'm off. I have to meet up with people later, and this wasn't meant to be a long stay. Another day, maybe-er, I never got your name?" Haruka walks out the front door, standing in the entrance way awaiting an answer.

"I'm Haruka, by the way. If you ever need a name to call out or something." He grins, hands pocketed, walking out into the afternoon glow.

[Grimm]

"I'm Noah" Noah said "It's nice to meet you."

"I'm sure we'll be seeing more of him very soon." Maelstrom's words floated around Noah's mind.

"Later!" Noah said as the scarfed boy walked away.

[[R.T] SpiderHunterMD]

Kurai decided he had heard enough of the situation and decided to leave. Whilst eavesdropping on the conversation he learn some information behind some sealing of clans, which he still did not fully understand, A civil War? He decided to leave unseen pondering what to do next.

[Jello]

Today was the day of the cultural festival. Or at least Day 1, anyways. The Vanguard Club didn't really come to a unanimous decision before the event and the planning period was sort of short to begin with, so they last second decided on a Vanguard Cafe; all the workers dressed up as their favorite units or avatars, and you served people who came in. If they requested a fight, you gave them one. Service with a smile.

Haruka's specialty.

He promptly made his way over to the area the Vanguard Club had to set up.

Nobody was here yet. Where were they?! The festival was starting really soon and if they weren't ready when customers showed up, Haruka would get a repeat of last night, but in a costume. Costumes... Right, Haruka had yet to pick a unit to dress up as. Awkward.

"guise, where r u? event starts soon at the regional hall. need u here to halp me out. kthx hurry -haruu"

That text was sent to everybody in his contacts list.

Tsubasa, Seifer, Noel, Rose, Sky, Hana, Yukino, Butler-san, Uncle Toshi, Darren, Hikaru, Alex, Miyuki, Neo, Shiki, and a few other people who didn't actually live in this country.

Hoh boy.

[Golden Sage NovaRaizer]

Darren yawned as he walked into the Regional Hall. He had spent most of the night trying to figure out what happened last night. Neo disappeared and never came back. Eventually, he just gave up as fatigue set in and he went home to sleep. He got a text reminder about the Cultural Festival telling him that it was today, so he didn't know if he was late or not. Instead of replying, he went directly to the Regional Hall to do what he could.

Darren walked towards the area that was meant for them as he was moving in a bit of a rush. He stopped when he finally saw Haruka. He waved lightly and said, "Sorry I'm late... Last night was weird." He didn't know if he should mention that he saw Neo for a moment and then he just disappeared. It was so hard to believe that even he couldn't believe it. "Anyway, where do you want me to start?"

[Jello]

At least somebody showed up. The event was nearly starting so it looks like two would be all they had for now.

Uh oh.

"Hey, good timing. I already made a few pots of coffee and the tea will be ready soon. My work let me borrow a lot of breads and cookies so we should be fine in that department. Head in the back and get changed. I'll be changing in a few also, but I'm sticking out front for now in case anybody else shows up and need to know where to go."

Haruka nodded to Darren, waving him off to the back. Haruka spent a few minutes checking things off on the checklist as people started to line-up around the event. A few people were already at the cafe line-up  before it was even open and they only had three people on staff, Haruka, Darren and Uncle Toshi. He actually showed up. He was dressed as his ace unit, Masked Police, Grander. God he looked so weird in that getup....

"C'mon guys... where are you?" Haruka was getting restless.

[Golden Sage NovaRaizer]

Darren nodded as he went into the back. He looked at all the different costumes. He didn't really know which to take since he needed one that wouldn't get in the way of what he was doing but he also wanted to look cool. He would have went as one of his Dimensional Robo units but they weren't there, for good reason. Their bulky bodies would make things difficult.

He decided to dress as a Knight. Wolf Fang Liberator, Garmore. Of all the Gold Paladin units, he liked this one the most even though he could never find the clan itself. He had to do without the claws though. Hopefully that didn't make much difference. The wig was difficult enough when it got in the eyes.

Darren came out after he was dressed, looking around as he said, "Okay, how many are here?" He was hoping the number wasn't low. He still wasn't completely sure what he could do for the event, but he would have to do his best until others arrived.

[Hope]

Isabella just arrived from a big meeting, but then suddenly she ended up finding herself as the victim in the "sink the idol" booth that one of the clubs held. The proceeds did go to the Umano fund, but her memory is blurry how she ended up here, then she saw him. Drake. This was his idea. No doubt. Drowning like this probably reminded him of the nights where he drowned in his own tears.

The club executives had Isabella dress up as a mermaid with Pacifica's dress and fins, everything. She even had penguin plushies. She was just about ready to scream with how awkward this all was, but before she could someone would often throw the ball at the button which would cause her to fall into the water, and the rest was history.

Drake was clapping as he watched like some proud girlfriend. Isabella was ready to slap him with her tail fin.

[Jello]

"We have..." Haruka looked at the line. Got on his tippy toes. Jumped.

"A lot." Haruka looked back at the, er, Garmore. Haruka honestly expected Dimension Police or something, but most of the cool ace units like Daikaiser and stuff weren't back there due to being too clunky or unable to effectively handle the equipment. Fair enough.

He pinched his nose, taking a look around the event... Hana was here it seemed. Constantly being dunked into a tank it seemed. Drake was having a blast for once so Haruka was glad he wasn't just crying his eyes out like usual. Hana might just have to endure. He waved over to her with a nod.

"Good luck." Is what he mouthed to her.

"Anyways, people are heading in about five minutes so I'm gonna go get changed."

Haruka handed Darren the checklist, with the only thing left unchecked being the attendance list. Most people who said they would be at the event haven't showed up yet, so Haruka was a bit impatient.

He ran back to find a lot of, well, more or less revealing costumes... Why were all them either succubus costumes from Dark Irregulars, or Bermuda Triangle Idols? The amount of guy costumes was scarcely limited, meaning Haruka had to pick something either Paladin related, or be a furry from Great Nature. Or a bug.

Haruka found himself walking out dressed in azure armor adorned with a crimson cape, and a lance. He was Dorint! The only unit Haruka found particularly interesting of the Revenger clan, since everyone else looked really edgy. If this were his main clan, Dorint would be best girl. Avatar for life. Haruka ended up using the lance for show, but put it away after a moment of realizing he can't handle plates and stuff with it. Maybe if there were photo opportunities he would bring it back out.

"Okay, anyone else show up?" Haruka asked, patting Darren on the shoulder.