(GS3) Home Field: Espoir Mansion

[Jello]

Haruka wanted to hit him, so hard. The only thing Haruka had to hide was Sera, which was the reason he was so tired anyways. Having two hosts made the body easily drained.

Soon after Haruka had finally decided a course of action, a small confession on who Sera was and why he hadn't said it before, it went awry. Sera decided he had something to say.

Please, nothing dumb!

No promises, kid.

He walked towards Satoshi, pushing his hand out of the way. "I am the Seraphim that resides within this host. However, you may address me as Sera. And also-"

Sera... What are you doing... Stop!!!

"I feel quite threatened right now." The robotic gaze of Haruka quickly turned furious, as he threw a jab into the side of Satoshi's head. He was swift about it, however Haruka had absolutely no idea how hard he just hit Satoshi.

SERA! THE FUCK MAN!?

The instant Haruka took control of the body again, he backed up, looking at Satoshi. He couldn't tell if Satoshi was in any pain or not. Haruka never hit anybody before, so he was unsure of his own strength. However Satoshi seemed to be decently strong, so he could make the assumption that didn't do anything at all. He simply looked over in horror.

"H-Holy... Are you okay?!"

[Hope]

Yukino took a few bites so Hana was glad. Getting there and moving on, one step at time. She waited for her sister to finish chewing, using the time to herself to think about how she should make her approach. In particular, what she wanted was to reay know what has been keeping her sister down. Hana has been pretty dumb, making assumptions especially as someone whos so naive. Her assumptions were usually wrong anyways, even when she was actung seriously.

"Hey, nee-san, I want you to tell me what the problem is and what it has been." she nodded, and then she felt she should add the next but, for a fair exchange, and also so that her sister may know her state as well. "I'll also tell you what's been up with me as well."

[Beryl]

It all happened in an instant, but it felt like slow motion. Haruka...or, rather, "the Seraphim," as he called himself at that point...unleashed what was probably supposed a jab, a light punch. That's what he was expecting, at least. But the moment Haruka's knuckles collided with his head, it was a different story.

This was the punch of an experienced fighter. Someone who had done this before, maybe even fought in a war. This wasn't the strength of someone playfully trying to get Satoshi to refocus. This was almost murderous intent, all forced behind a single fist.

Holy shit did it hurt.

Satoshi slid across the floor. Despite his strong body, he wasn't ready to respond to such a sudden punch like that. He collided with the wall, slumping over. Blood oozed out of the side of his head where Haruka's knuckled had grazed. Staring at it, he suddenly didn't feel well, giving a slight groan before closing his eyes.

See? the voice said before it faded. Hope has already escaped this child...

[Jello]

"N-no no no oh my god." Haruka was almost in tears himself.

He was aiming to hurt you too, you understand?

"I don't give a damn right now, this is your fault! How hard did you hit him?"

65%. There isn't a lot of upper arm strength to work with, however-

Haruka was on running over to Satoshi to check on the hit on his head. It was a pretty tactical hit. Right at the temple.

"C'mon.... Satoshi.. Get up.." Haruka runs over to the sink and wets a rag, wrings it and dabs it on the hit. He grabs Satoshi's arm and uses his own body to prop Satoshi up. He starts to long trek to the guest room.

"These are the things I don't tell you..." Haruka explained who Sera, the Seraphim was, and how it all started from square 1. He was mostly done telling the story to the half-conscious Satoshi by the time they made it to the guest room.

[Cherry]

Mr. Espoir put his paper down. More than anyone was he tired of these kids' shit.

A bunch of servants rushed into the kitchen, horrified chefs gasping in awe, even Haruka's butler colleague was shocked enough to spill his good brew all on the floor. Great, he was more concerned for that than the man who just got clobbered. Do you know how expensive and precious this coffee is?


Yukino honestly didn't want to bother saddling Hana with her problems. They were just setbacks, minor things that could be ignored. They weren't really, but compared to everything else, they should stay that way. Still, having someone who could understand why she's in so much pain... Maybe it wouldn't leave her to isolated misery, a despair that'd eventually silence her own world. Taking small bites, she began thinking of how to ease into it. Or if it would even do anything for her... No, it doesn't have to. The queen wants to help Hana more, and this was the bargain.

"I'm a pretty awful Chosen Sword", she started. "I've failed at everything I was supposed to do, and I guess I'm finally breaking under the pressure. I only expect myself to keep messing up... Everyone's crumbling around me, and I'm supposed to stop that. I'm supposed to get us ready to get back what we lost... But... losing everything after I thought it was okay to mess up..."

Her headache grew worse. While trying to cry, she still hasn't had a good drink of anything, so tears barely weld up.

... She held back on saying she believed giving up her own happiness to focus would be better overall. Emotionally driven toward a goal turned her to darkness, so why bother sporting it?

"... Alright, your turn."

[Hope]

"Well you know, you were the first born, so its not like you had any say in it." Hana was silent for a bit, looking around for something she could look at, just as long as it would avoid eye contact with her sister. She lifted up her legs from the floor and placed her feet along the corner of the chair, laying back more and hugging her knees. "But you know, if you think I'm weak and break easily then I'll show you how strong I've become." She tightened her grip and frowned a little, "I'm always seen as the one who needs to be protected, always underestimated, always looked down on just because I was born after you. Heck, I wasn't even introduced Vanguard 'til I found it myself. I work so hard but I'm always behind." She thought back, "Cero challenged you first, called you his rival, meanwhile I'm the one who bashed his face in during the National finals, everyone praises you, and even when I'm around you're the prime target. I'm just so jealous..." Her eyes turned into stars once again, and she saw herself, the one that has gone beyond the skies and reached the stars.

"I don't even understand why you feel like its all just you, I thought you got over this egotistical act. I don't even understand what makes you think that you're the only one who has to get things back. I'm right here trying to do the same thing, and quite frankly you're the one who taught me the power of relying on others anyways. If Alfred were here he would slap you around until you got back into your senses..."  She realized that her sister hasn't drank anything yet, so she lifted up the glass of water to offer it to her. "Here.. "

"If failure is weighting down on you then let me take some of the weight," Hana held her sister's hand, "I'm strong now nee-san... and I'm going to lend you my strength"

"You failed to fulfill your destiny because it was never meant to be fulfilled alone in the first place. As powerful as Alfred was, he always fought with Blaster Blade by his side. Majesty Lord Blaster was two swords formed into one. Ezel and Garmore fight together and Garmore slacks off so Ezel is always having to make up for that but y'know, that's how their relationship is like ... It's not so much the Chosen Sword, but Chosen Swords, I don't think you should just keep thinking its all you...  and if you think its because of whatever happens with your eyes then I dare you to look into mine."

[Jello]

"Should've just talked to him."

Haruka's disappointment takes an even worse dive, as Satoshi becomes unresponsive.

"What do I do...." Haruka felt guilt pangs in his stomach and chest.

[Cherry]

Yukino took a drink of the water Hana handed to her, then spoke: "I'm sorry. I don't mean to take attention from you, or overshadow your effort, nor your life."

Now she was cursing her own birth, believing that it pushed out the princess'. The truth was Yukino cheered her on just because she's her sister, but it may have come across the wrong way. Placing the fork down with the glass, a sigh came out with closing eyes. Listening deeply to what Hana stated about the egotistical act. Perhaps, she was still the queen of old whom she came to despite. A tyrannical jerk who thought herself to be supreme because of her destiny - unwavering when it came to solving things with violence. Oh, how she wished someone would just beat her with a stick.

"I... did say prepare us to get back what we lost..."

A small correction, one she mumbled. Maybe Hana didn't hear it.

"I never doubted you were strong", she spoke up. "You're stronger than me, honestly."

Though the princess took the queen's hand, she gently pulled it back.

"You don't have to deal with how pathetic I am. I'm going to stop thinking about myself and focus on you, Haruka, Satoshi, and the others... I already know I can't do this alone... Which is why I want to help you all before anything."

The Chosen Sword still bit the bullet. This conversation put her in pain, but it had to be done to finally clear the air. All she wanted to do was get Hana to respond to her with the same enthusiasm as two months ago. Perhaps it's far beyond that point, though. Avoiding eye contact, bladed eyes stared downward.

[Hope]

"Okay its time for a cardfight." Hana ordered a worker to fetch the deck in her closet. She ordered another to clear the table.
"This again yeah I'm not taking no for an answer."

[Cherry]

"I didn't think I was going to be given a choice", another butler came in to give her Ezel's deck. Her lips curled into a small smile, feeling better with the lion around.

[Cherry]

Father Espoir came to check on the boys fighting in the kitchen and contained his fury... to the point of nearly overflowing. These people were not only messing with his daughters, but spilling blood and whacking each other in HIS household?! Anyone else, and they would've started with launching Haruka into the wall he punched Satoshi in. ... Then again, nobody else would have this manpower. The maids and butlers all scrambled to get cleaning while hastily tending to the farm boy's hopefully-not-cracked skull.

"You damn brats..."


For some reason, Hana kept having Yukino fight. Not bothering to resist, the queen continued on with a great losing streak, as she expected. To the Gold Paladin deck left behind Cero, no else, to make her feel even worse. Despite being on the verge of tears, the queen did all she could to hold them. Knowing Hana could see the growing misery, apologies were offered constantly. Every loss just extended the difference in power, and each time she didn't question what went wrong. She knew it wasn't her place to win anymore.

Despite believing in this downward spiral, she won a game. One game that didn't faze her, believing it to be a joke. Another one was played, Gold Paladin began sporting some forms of consistency. Not by their mechanic, but rearguards rushing to the fray, Sagramore's eldest form tearing the battlefield apart, the sheer volume of Ezel's voice leading the charge. While Pharmacy Witch doesn't cooperate as much, the Falcon Knights and Critical Triggers started to, surprisingly enough.

Surely, this is a running gag.

This couldn't be real.

The woman still fought the same way, and the clan stayed quiet when fighting with her except for when games were over. What changed? What was changing? There was no extra magic, nor was the secret promise with her and Ezel modified. Things just... began working.

Yugure found herself breaking into tears, finally winning games again. She didn't understand how... Was Hana just holding back...?

Still, finally having some bite back for her bark lightened up her heart some. It wasn't enough to kill the parasite of despair, yet, it was enough to finally get a small, genuine smile off of her. Hana kept trying to draw out a power that Yukino didn't comprehend, Ezel stated that he'd do everything within his power, and even Yunos silently approved of their forward momentum with a grin only an asshole could give, as described by Garmore.

Yugure thanked them and apologized to Hana again, having a little spirit restored.

Hana +5 Affinity
Gold Paladin +10 Affinity
Ezel +10 Affinity

[Hope]

A deck that was formerly Cero's that Hana turned into her own after her long days of practicing and testing. The power between her and her sister was initially obvious, far too great, and at one point, Hana winning before her sister had even ridden to grade 3. It was the result of hard work She not only increased her proficiency with Angel Feather, but Gold Paladin as well, with Garmore being the center of the deck. Each fight, Hana's disappointment grew, but despite that, she kept wanting to keep on trying again and again. She stayed expressionless, giving away nothing to her sister in an attempt to make her fight and keep on fighting. At one point she held back, and that was the game here she won with twelve cards in her hand. It all seemed hopeless, her sister was going to lose another game. Then a double critical.

Things were finally starting to turn around.

Eventually Hana was the one who had to catch up, riding Pellinore, adding its limit break on top of a Sleygal Dagger combo, the whole field basically powered up, just to be guarded by Yukino who even after all that still managed to keep a good amount of cards in hand. This was what she wanted to see all along. She felt a happiness inside her heart, she was glad, but she still kept her same expressionless presentation.

After all the games were done, things were starting to look up at least, so Hana let out a bit of her smile again, joking a little here and there. But really, she wanted to just let out her idol persona. It would be awkward though seeing as they were just sitting down and she couldn't dance.

Affinity:
Yukinee: +5

"I'm kind of curious, have you just been sleeping all day?"

[Cherry]

"Hmm...? Oh, yes... I've been trying to sleep", Yugure spoke, still a bit too shaken to make eye contact. "Trying" was the best way to put it. The woman got six to eight hours of sleep like everyone else... only in broken pieces since the same nightmare of the invasion continued waking her. In addition to almost being taken away as Exculpate twice.

Yukino kept quiet, not wanting to irritate Hana again.

[Hope]

At this point, Hana wasn't trying to think about the situation that they are in. It's time to take another break, some time for herself, or at least, time for her and her sister to just talk as if all things were ok. They really weren't, but it doesn't hurt to ignore things just for a moment. That's what Hana was doing right now, to her, everything was as it was two months ago. There's no need for her to be harsh or take action. All there is to this moment now is just a fun conversation with her sister about anything really.

"I see, well I guess you're like Yukinee's bf then because he drinks coffee all the time. Butler-san tells me that at least, and I think Mi-hime made him coffee at some point... I'm not sure."

[Cherry]

"His name is Haruka... and he's not my boyfriend, Hana", Yukino said. She doesn't know why seeing as Hana doesn't remember names all that well. With the way the queen yearns for the boy, "Yukinee's bf" was probably more accurate than she wanted to admit. "He does drink a lot of coffee, though..."

You know, maybe caffeine isn't a bad idea. Or, at least it wouldn't be if caffeine didn't make her sick to her stomach. The sheer smell of it makes her stomach churn - the sheer thought of it.

Unconsciously, a small bite of the eggs was taken. Still hungry.