A Different Vanguard

6

Aichi sat in his room, giving out a sigh. He turned his head and looked over at his closet. Hanging on the closet door was his Hitsue Middle School uniform. He was in middle school, but still as lonely and shy as back in Miyaji Elementary School. 

His tired blue eyes then glanced over to the desk next to his bed and eyed a small blue pocket book. A small book all the students received to have their school ID and other important notes in to carry around more easily. Grabbing the book, he opened it. The first thing he saw was the Vanguard card he had placed inside of it. The Blaster Blade he had gotten from Kai before he quit Vanguard. He just couldn't take it anymore, making him leave his friends to not burden them anymore with his useless presence.

But he gave a small smile, looking at the card. Having it reminded him of the few good times he could remember with Vanguard, but the terrible memories would always overcast those moments the second after.

Taking out Blaster Blade from his book, he read over the card again. A Royal Paladin of the United Sanctuary. Blaster Blade was a warrior who fought alongside his people and friends to defeat the enemies and go victorious together. 

Aichi recalled how Kai, Miwa and Ibuki wanted to help him, but he always refused their help. He never wanted to burden them, never wanted to worry them. But he came to realize that he was just being selfish... Shaking his head, he put the card back into his book and stood up.

He wanted to try and make up for everything he had done towards them. He felt that he needed to.

Walking out of his room, he went down the stairs then into the room under them. The small space was filled with unused objects and boxes filled with junk. Aichi looked around before walking over to the far corner, where the area was lowest and could only fit a few boxes under the stairs. Emi had told him where the box was, and now it was time for him to get to it himself again.

Emi had told him when he asked where it was to place his decks back a few years ago, but now he came to get them back. Taking off the things laying on top of it, he brushed off the dust and carefully opened it. 

His eyes scanned over the deck cases laying inside. He counted to 18. 

18 decks laid inside. 

Wondering for a second on where the last deck was, his mind made him recall where it was.

It was gone. Destroyed. The reason it had crossed the line. Why he couldn't take it anymore.

But even so, Aichi picked up the box and stood up. Carefully making his way back to his room, he made sure that his mother wouldn't notice him before closing the door behind him.

Walking over to his desk, he placed the box down. Picking out one by one, he spread them over his desk. With all the decks on display, he put the box down before studying them all. 

His eyes seemed to immediately focus on the one he recalled to be Kagero. The clan Miwa and Ibuki used to have. Picking the deck case up, he turned to take out his pocketbook again to take out Blaster Blade.

Looking between the Royal Paladin card and the Kagero deck, he narrowed his eyes and gave a determined nod. He wanted to do this. He needed to do this.

Placing them both down, he sat down on his chair and started to plan.

He was going to build a new Royal Paladin deck based around Blaster Blade, similar to how Kai's deck was back then.

"Imagine yourself as strong as Blaster Blade..." muttered Aichi, looking over the decks and cards. 

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Aichi sat in class, doodling in his book. His mind was thinking over the recent Royal Paladin he had just finished making. He had made it as best as he could with what he had got. He just needed to try it... But he couldn't bring himself to do it.