Cardfight!! Vanguard: Generations Volume 4 [Ryouta Rival]

- Part 7

With today's challenge now over, everyone gathered in the hall to hear the results of the Creative Auction.

"Good job today guys."

Zyriot praised Ryouta and Satou as they joined our group from the auction hall.

"Thank you, and you too! Good work today."

Ryouta bowed to each of us personally. Machida glared at him.

"I heard what you spent our 249k on."

"Oh, do you mean the piece of tinfoil with three toothpicks sticking out of it?"

Ryouta gulped and shrunk back as Machida cracked his knuckles.

"What else could I be referring to? You better provide a good reason for your dumbass decision, or else I'm socking you in the face."

"I-I can explain, so please put down your fist!"

Just as Shimada had predicted, Ryouta was trying to protect Yukada and Nakajima from his wrath by spending all of our group's auction fund on their group's item, which was the tinfoil ball. After learning of the situation, Machida sighed.

"...so that's why, huh?"

"Yeah. After seeing what happened to Kawaguchi-san on day one... I didn't want to see anyone else in that group get hurt."

"Fair enough. Thanks for protecting Yukada-san, at the very least."

"E-eh?"

Ryouta perked his head, blushing slightly, as Machida showed a rare moment of gratitude towards him.

"What? Don't look so surprised."

"N-no, it's just... I never thought you'd say something like that to me..."

"What are you getting so embarrassed for? Does a simple "thank you" really get you that flustered? Grow a backbone."

"A-ah, yessir!"

Ryouta nodded, laughing a little while scratching his cheek. Ikeda smiled as he watched them.

"It's nice to see them getting along."

"...it's weird. I don't like it." Satou said.

"It gives me a little faith that Machida-san can actually cooperate with us."

"Did he actually do anything today?"

"Surprisingly, yeah! You know those mugs that were on auction? He was the one who made them!"

Satou looked creeped out.

"...huh? No way."

"Yes way! I couldn't believe it either, but he's amazing at handling wood!"

Machida clicked his tongue.

"Oi, phrasing."

"But it's true! You were so skilled at carving out the shapes and everything!"

"He's also a surprisingly good teacher. I got the hang of it after two tries." Zyriot said.

"Zyriot-san, you also made the mugs?" Satou said.

"Sort of. I was more of an assistant, helping Machida-san out."

"Ah. How about you, Ikeda-san?"

"Ha ha, um, about that..."

"Never let that man near a chainsaw ever again."

There was a grave seriousness in Machida's voice that made us shiver and heed his warning. Even Zyriot fell into a depressed slump thinking back on it. Ikeda scratched the back of his head, laughing awkwardly.