[Immediately post-Wonder Quartet]

[grimgrimwar]

[Private Message to Reiji:]
I protected your Keystone, like you wanted. You can consider this the end of our arrangement.

[Private Message to Hibiki:]
Hey. I'm gonna do my own thing from here on out. Take care of yourself, okay?

[Event:]
[Alexandra is immediately approaching a few people after the climax of the Wonder Quartet and Yuya's duel with Reiji. Top of that list includes Yuya, Yuma and Labrys. Before, in between or after she's spoken to those people, she's open to be approached by anybody else who was present in the Quartet.]

Comments

[grimgrimwar]

Yeah...I had a lot of time to get better. [She looks a lot better than she did in the hospital bed, that's for sure.] ...how're you doing?

[kattobingore]

*Yuma gives out a sigh as he kinda leans against the wall of a building.*

Well, I guess I'm doing better than others are right now. There's a lot to take in though.

Heh, I guess overall, things have been kinda... eventful since I last saw you. There's been a lot going on.
The Super Junior League. This.
Kotori's been going through her own stuff too.

[grimgrimwar]

Yeah...I'd say that's an understatement. [She sighs.] Do you know what you're gonna do?

[kattobingore]

I don't want to have to fight, but, I also can't leave Academia doing the stuff that they're doing.
But I also don't want to set demons on them or anything. It's like I said to Reiji... that'd make us no better than them.

I'm angry with what Academia has done! But... seeking revenge on them isn't going to get me anywhere. I just want to make them realise that what they're doing is wrong. I want them to realise the hurt they've caused... before they do this to anyone else!

In the end I just...
... I just want to be able to protect my family, my friends and our home.
And there's a chance I'll have to fight for that.

[grimgrimwar]

... [She quietly swallows, thinking about the footage she saw of what happened in Heartland.] I'm sorry. I can't imagine what this feels like for you. ...I don't think they're gonna stop hurting people unless somebody stops them first, though.

[kattobingore]

*Yuma gives out a small sigh.*

Yeah. I know.
Right now that's what we need to do. We need to stop them.

[grimgrimwar]

... I'm going to try and find a way to save the people who have been turned into cards, too. For the people from Heartland. And the ones we lost today.

[kattobingore]

*Yuma smiles at that and gives her a nod.*

I'm sure there has to be a way to reverse it! And we'll definitely find it!

[grimgrimwar]

[That's Yuma for you. 100% unbridled enthusiasm in the face of adversity. It actually brings a small smile to her face.] ....y'know, you were talking about how strong I looked...I'm pretty sure you're the one who's gotten taller since we last talked.

[kattobingore]

*Yuma laughs at that.*

I think if I get any taller my sister will kill me! She's already suuuper salty that I'm taller than her now!!

[grimgrimwar]

... [Her smile fades after a second and her eyes fall.] I don't think Yuya was ready for all of this, though.

[kattobingore]

*Yuma's own smile fades when she brings that up.*

Yeah.

He's been having a rough time as it is, but... all this... and with Yuzu going missing too...

[grimgrimwar]

...he doesn't deserve this. But I dunno how to protect him from it.

[kattobingore]

I don't really think any of us can.
Especially now.

[grimgrimwar]

...he's gonna want to find Yuzu. And stop Academia. Because his own dueling won't let him just stand around while others are using dueling to hurt people. And the entire time, he's gonna get pulled in a million directions because of a power he doesn't understand, doesn't want and can't control. [Slowly, one of Alex's hands clenches into a fist.] ...did you notice it? During his duel?

[kattobingore]

You mean the power he has?

I've noticed it a few times now and I know it's something that keeps trying to... take him over. Shirou was able to sense that presence in him... as well as another.

I saw the aftermath of him being in that state when he took on three of those Academia guys. He was literally acting like a rabid animal when I got there... me and Gongenzaka had to hold him down until he passed out from it.

It's why I called out to him in his duel with Reiji, to try and calm him down. I saw it happening.

[grimgrimwar]

...it looks like it happens when his emotions overwhelm him.

[Her eyes narrow and she looks down.]

Akaba Reiji was needling him on purpose. To try and bring that power out.

[kattobingore]

He probably wanted to bring it out in him in the duel so he had an excuse to use those demon cards of his or something. He said they were to use against both Academia... and Yuya.

[grimgrimwar]

It's not right.

He made a weapon and then abused Yuya at his lowest point until he could justify using it and make an example of Yuya in front of everybody.

[kattobingore]

Yeah, I agree. It really wasn't right that he did that to him!

Yuya really didn't deserve that! He'd just gone through some super heavy stuff and the person he's most closest to is missing, of course he'd be angry! But to jab at him like that, to make him even angrier so that he'd snap and give Reiji the excuse to use those... things...
...just...

*Yuma shakes his head slowly.*

All of this is super messed up.

[grimgrimwar]

It's super messed up. [She rubs her arm.] ...I'm not gonna do it. I'll fight Academia my own way. But I'm not gonna be a Lancer.

[kattobingore]

*Yuma looks curiously at her.*

How do you plan to fight them?
Even if you do your own thing, you're gonna need some others to back you up.

[grimgrimwar]

[And she lets out a breath and you can see her deflate.]

Still workin' on that part. [She scratches her head.]

...maybe I'll just. Go on the network and say hey this guy sucks and his scarf is dumb, let's do our own thing instead.

[kattobingore]

*Yuma goes silent for a moment as he thinks things through to himself. He wants to help Yuya find Yuzu, but, he also doesn't want Alex to face things on her own.
Despite how much he usually trusts people, he didn't really trust Reiji.
Reiji was too calculated and too cold. Yuma felt that he might not mix too well with that, when he'd rather do what his own heart says and not what someone else tells him.

Looking around at those still gathered, he figured it might make sense to split into two groups. Maybe they could gather more allies or information that way.

No matter what... he wanted to walk his own path to stopping Academia too. Not Reiji's path.

Looking back at Alex determinedly, he gives her a nod.*

Then... I'll stand with you and we'll gather those who might want to walk their own path towards Academia. Besides, I have the airship, so as long as I have co-ordinates, we can go whatever path we please.

I want to help Yuya, but, I also want to do my own thing. He won't be on his own, though. I know Gongenzaka will at least go with him, so he'll help Yuya when he needs it.

[grimgrimwar]

[Alexandra blinks a couple times, her eyes opening wider. She didn't expect Yuma to say that and she's kind of not sure how to react...until he brings up Yuya. She looks over at Yuzu. Given what was said at the end of the duel, it sounded like Yuzu was in the Synchro Dimension and that's where the Lancers were going to be headed. If they were really gonna do this, it didn't make sense to go to the same place...basically...it means if she wants to do this, they have to take a separate path from Yuya.] ... We're gonna have to leave him. [She wants to be grateful to Yuma for standing by her and supporting her but all she can think about is how, if they do this, neither of them are gonna be there for him.]