(GS3) Field: Beach

[Kuro]

The fight ended in Neu's favor. A fun battle, although the shouting fighter may not have thought so when he charged off in anger. Neu went to talk to someone else too, so the young man of justice decided it was about time to pack his things and head home. He began to think to himself that its been a while since he's had a fun cardfight, or any cardfights for that matter. "Maybe I should get back into it sometime," he thought to himself. "After all, a fun cardfight is a good way to spread justice to the world." Haruki went home while thinking about where he should cardfight next.

[Hope]

"An offer to fight? Of course I'll take it yeah!" She switched out her deck and took another one from her purse, placing the starter onto the table.

"Fight now, eat later, let's go!" She was smiling, pumped up for another fight.

[Beryl]

Unlike the last fight, Satoshi had secured a much-needed advantage and pulled out ahead very early, putting Neu on five damage. Even with her newer units alongside Dragonic Lawkeeper's Limit Break, things Haruka would never have used before, it wasn't enough to fight the pressure. A lack of triggers at the right time allowed him to win, using Muse's Limit Break for good measure. All in all, a much better fight than last time, though it still raised some questions.

Where were these new units coming from? Were they always around? What new units did Shadow Paladin acquire due to being in Neu's hands?

He figured he'd let Yukino know about the units he saw when they hung around in the park later, perhaps ever so briefly. Maybe she---and Seph, who had been busy most of the day with Council of Cray meetings---would know something about it.

Requesting lunch, he motioned for Neu to come with him to the snack bar. "Food's on me," he said with a smile and a wink.

[Hope]

"Winks are weird but free food sounds nice." Neu was overjoyed that he had a fun fight. He seemed less serious and more relaxed than last time, that was good. Either way she put her deck back into her purse and carried it. She flipped her hair again and ran her fingers through it, tying her hair to a ponytail.

"Sure, a quick lunch then I then I gotta go."

[Beryl]

Satoshi frowned. "So soon? But I just got here..."

Ah, well. This likely didn't go the way Neu was expecting and she wanted to get out of here. Even though it was clear she had a pretty good time cardfighting at the beach. Hell, maybe they'd do it again sometime. Besides, she was still cute, even if she was up to something...

Satoshi ordered a hot dog, some fries and a beverage, leaving Neu to order whatever her little heart desired. He had a bit of a bonus this week, so what better thing to splurge it on then a friend?

[Hope]

"You guys have fish balls?"  She nodded, "You do? I'll get that, thanks."

Neu turned around and found a seat somewhere around the area. Removing her cardigan and putting it back into her bag, she put on a striped black shirt over her swimsuit. Then she placed her purse back onto the ground and looked at her phone and started texting a few people. She also checked the time as well. She would like to stay more, but unfortunately she cannot because someone was little late.

"Yeah you just got here, but you kept me waiting for hours man." She leaned back on her chair, clearly annoyed.

[Beryl]

Satoshi sat next to her and sighed. He had been a little late due to forgetting a towel somehow. Luckily, it was an easy buy, but the line took quite a while.

"I'm sorry. What if I promise you I won't be late again?" He got their food and handed her the fish balls, taking a sip of his drink. "I kind of want to make it up to you more than just free food."

[Hope]

She was sitting all day under an umbrella, and it was hot. Very hot. At least the fight lifted up her mood, she even went and swam around a bit, getting a bunch of guys to look her way even though she would never notice. She sighed deeply, it was a mostly uneventful day outside of the few fights that she was able to get. Though, on the bright side, she was able to get free fish balls. It was almost about time for her to go though, since it was getting dark and all.

"Er... sure but I guess I'll just bring a friend along or something so I don't have to wait by myself," with that she stood up and ate the fish balls, starting to walk off towards the parking lot.

[Beryl]

Satoshi sort of half-heartedly waved as she left. "See you..."

Maybe this was a bit of an unnecessary thing for him to do. Ah, well.

He whipped out his phone and popped Yukino a text:

Hey, I'm done early. Where are you?

[Jello]

It was dark. Well of course it was, it was two in the morning. Haruka was staring at the morning sky. It was a dark, dark shade of blue. Navy wasn't even a good enough way to describe it.

Haruka was eating ice cream, laying in the sand, and singing to himself. It was one of his favorite songs.

"... In a world so cold and empty, I could lie awake just to watch you breathe... In the dead of night, you went dark on me..."

The song wasn't particularly cheerful, but it was easy to remember and the demeanor of the song was fitting.

Haruka was sure at this point he had no strength to do anything more than what he was doing now. Sera was close to breaking him down and all he could do was sing and savor his favorite treat on the beach side.

The sounds of the waves provided a perfect symphony to guide Haruka's unnaturally strong singing voice. It was strange. He felt at home where he was. It felt something like a burial at sea.

"Maybe... Just maybe." Haruka looked at his cell. As he expected, no messages. He was sure Satoshi or something would want to meet, or maybe Yukino would check on him.

Can't ask for too much in these times. They're fighting their own battles. Haruka simply was fighting his now. He sang another song, for consolation.

"But you told me, if you love me, let it die..."

Still not super cheery. Haruka needs better music taste.

"I can't believe you're already giving up."

Haruka heard Vortimer's voice faintly. He didn't know what to say. Was this him giving up? No way. Haruka promised he never would. Yet he found himself once again unable to do anything at all.

"Vortimer. I'm sorry. Apologies won't fix the problem..."

"Shut up, fool. You're My Vanguard, listening to you apologize to me is part of the job. But also...," he paused, "you have loving people who would hate your guts if you just up and ended it here."

Haruka's guilt pangs returned. Vortimer was right. But that doesn't mean Haruka had an answer to give.

"I'm sorry." Was all he managed after all.

[Crystalia]

Miyuki paced around the beach, for the umpteenth time. She had returned home yesterday, after leaving the diner with Hana, as she sensed that siblings needed some alone time. 'At least I got proper sleep' she thought, smiling bitterly. She wasn't sure what to do now. Go over to the Espoir mansion to see if they were alright? That was an option, but she wasn't sure if the siblings needed more time alone.

On the other hand, if she didn't go, and there was actually a problem, that'd be bad. She was hesitant to even send a text however, they had seemed almost 'hostile' to each other yesterday, and she really wanted to give them time. Torn by this, she continued to pace around the beach, unsure of what to do. She both wanted to see Hana, and wanted the siblings to get more time together.

[Helios]

Hazama arrives at the beach, now with a soda in hand. Time to relax again after this busy day. He gets out his little, low to the ground, portable chair. He takes off his shirt as it was hot in the school building today and the breeze will feel good against his body. Last thing he does is gets out his headphones and resumes the song Classic Man by Jidenna.

I wonder what the rift looks like. According to Neo, it's something that defies space and time to transfer mortals into this portal. What I have gathered makes it seem like events can occur in that space and time warp. Thus leading to the conclusion maybe events that take hours or days in "The Rift" could only take seconds in the real world. But that's just a hypothesis. Well time to get a start on this to unseal the clans. Tsubasa, you are close to Neu right, then you will be the perfect person to start off unraveling the story behind "The Rift". Just wish there could be a simpler way.

[Crystalia]

'Back at the beach again huh' she thought. She really didn't seem to have much to do right now. Hana seemed to be really busy, and she didn't want to disturb her. 'Maybe I should check on her though' she thought. 'Hmm I'll give it a few hours, she was busy around this time yesterday I think, I'll check later'.

She sighed and sat down on one of the chairs at the beach. 'Pacing back and forth does eventually wear you out I guess'. She closed her eyes slightly, deciding to have a small rest.

[Lance Korilum]

  The day after his encounter with Yukino, Cero decided to go to the beach...  The place where he first encountered that woman.  With the rumours of Cray looking for a hero, Cero knew he had to find strength more than ever...  Maybe, just maybe, if he was selected, he'd be able to show not only that woman, but the entire world, his way of Vanguard, and that he is the one who will become the world's strongest Vanguard Fighter!  He was willing to do anything to gain the power he needed...  Just so he could face that woman again head on, and defeat her.  Cero clenched his fists at the thought of her...  The woman who believed Vanguard should be played only for "fun," and there should be no competition, no desire for strength...  But that's what made it 'fun.'  Without a goal, without a rival, without someone to surpass or to challenge you, there was no fun, only emptiness.  That's why he searched for strength...  So that Vanguard had meaning, no matter what. 

  Just like he had several days ago, Cero approached the fight table, shouting his usual challenge, and those that accepted being beaten with ease.  Doing just this wouldn't make him any stronger...  Fighting Yukino again would be pointless until she regained her courage and resolve...  There was no way for him to grow at this point...  In a fit of rage at this realization, Cero slammed his fist down and broke tone of the fight tables.  "No, there must be a way...  Some other way...  I have to be missing something!!!"  Cero refused to accept it, but was there really any way for him to go beyond what he was now?  Could he reach the height woman was at?

[Grimm]

Noah, feeling down after making Haruka feel so awkward, decided to relax at the beach. He went to a nearby restroom to change into his swimsuit. He was surprisingly, somewhat toned. When he got to the beach he laid out his navy themed beach towel under a tree, and put on his shades. He then laid down on the blanket and let his mind wander.

"I guess I need to just be myself, even with Maelstrom's request. If I don't I'll end up just making people around me uncomfortable. Even though myself is just a weak, shy boy with no friends..." Noah thought to himself.

"If you keep believing you're weak, you'll never become strong." Maelstrom's words filled Noah's mind. "To become strong you have to have the will to get stronger, you can't just be the weakling you think you are."

"But Maelstrom, I -am- weak, that's who I am." Noah thought back.

"That's only a false connotation you have. Throw away that weak self, and become the person you want to be!" Maelstrom's words echoed in Noah's head.

"Who do I want to be...." Noah thought to himself.