Into the World of Beyblade

Chapter Three

     I woke up from my nap, lazily gazing at my clock.  My eyes went wide as I saw what time it was.  3:15.   I sprung out of bed, pulling on my pants and grabbing Dark Leone before heading out the door.  I was still buttoning my pants as I shut the door to Madoka's shop.  I ran down the street.  Hyoma was walking out of the Bey Park as I ran up, panting.

     "Sorry I am late, I-," you began, but Hyoma cut you off.

     "It doesn't matter.  Let's just get some practice in before your battle," he said, heading back to the Bey Park.

*timeskip*

Dark Leone erupted in a burst of dark, shadowy power as he knocked Rock Aries out of the stadium. I caught Dark Leone, a wide smile plastered over my face. I chuckled while whispering excitedly to him.

"Don't get too cocky now, Aiyana. Kyoya is a lot stronger than I am now,". Hyoma said, bursting my bubble.

"Speaking of, where is he?" I looked around. It was almost dark, and the Bey Park was nearly empty. A few people here and there, but Kyoya was nowhere to be found.

I let out a long sigh. Have I been stood up? Of course, there wasn't anything between us, but for Kyoya not to show up to a battle he himself initiated... was unheard of. I couldn't help but feel dejected. I was really excited to battle him. I really only wanted to see him again, I suppose. Where is he? I felt my face turn red as I finally admitted to myself that revelation.

"Hey, are you okay?" Hyoma's voice broke me out of my reverie.

"Huh?" I looked at him, shaking away from my thoughts.

"You're all red," Hyoma said as he walked over to me, placing a gentle hand on my forehead, "you're burning up, Aiyana!"

"I... I'm fine," I said, backing away slightly. I turned to walk away.

"You should probably sit down..." Hyoma's voice trailed off as I broke into a run.

I heard him calling after me, but took no action to turn back. I was mad, a little hurt, but mostly confused. He didn't show up, but why? He may have been there earlier... I reached Madoka's shop in no time and walked in just as Mari was heading downstairs.

"Aiyana... what's wrong?" She said, her face and voice emitting concern.

During my run to the shop, I hadn't noticed that tears had made their way down my cheeks. In fact, I was sobbing. Mari didn't wait for me to respond before she pulled me down the stairs to where the living space was.

"Go change into something more comfortable and come back out. We can talk then," she said.

A few hours later, after pigging out on some ice cream and watching Riverdale on Netflix, I was back to my old self. Joking, laughing, and having a good time with Mari.

"I think you should give him a piece of your mind," Mari said, and I stopped laughing at the joke I had just made.

"Why? It's not like he'll take the time to listen," I said.

"Just hear me out," Mari said, and I motioned for her to continue, "I bet he isn't used to anyone telling him off. If I had my guess, it would draw him closer to you. Make him curious about you. Get him interested, you know?"

I mulled over this as Madoka came downstairs.

"What happened here? Having a girl's night without inviting me?" Madoka joked.

"Somewhat," Mari laughed.

We spent the rest of the night having a good time.

The next morning, I woke up on the couch, a blanket draped over me. I groggily rose up, noticing that Madoka and Mari weren't there. A note was left on the coffee table.

We're at the Bey Park when you wake up.

I could tell Mari had written the note by the way some words were in cursive and others not. I smiled and got ready to go to the Bey Park.

When I arrived, Gingka, Madoka, Mari, Benkei, Yuu, Tsubasa, and Hyoma were there. I walked up quietly. Mari noticed me first.

"It's alive!" Mari shouted over the battle.

"Glad you could join us, sleepy head!" Madoka said. I scratched the back of my head.

Once the battle ended, Yuu ran up to me, shouting excitedly that I was there. He hugged me, telling me all about the battle. But his words faded into the background as I watched a certain green-haired blader walk into the Bey Park. Benkei ran over excitedly, praising Kyoya all the way.

"Get. Off. Of. Me." Kyoya grunted, his command falling on deaf ears.

     A dark aura surrounded me and a low growl emitted from the depths of my chest.  Mari put her hand on my shoulder with a knowing look.  She was trying not to smirk when I strutted up to Kyoya like a diva and pushed Benkei to the side.

     "Ugh.  What do you want?"  Kyoya asked, his curiosity sarcastic and his eyes bored.

     "I know you do not have that attitude with me!  Not today!"  I said, my eyes swirling with anger.

     "Excuse me?"  Kyoya said, as if I'd just called his mother something.

     "Where the hell were you yesterday?"  I seethed, my eyes narrowing.

     "What's it to you?"  Kyoya nonchalantly replied.  His air of aloofness disappeared when I stepped within inches of our noses touching (although I had to look up at him; he was at least half a foot, if not more, taller than me).  Instead, he took on an air of defensiveness along with anger.

     "Listen here, 'Kyoyo', I don't know who you think you're messing with or what game you think you're playing.  But you do NOT want to mess with me, boy.  Where I come from, a no show is a sign of a weak heart and a lack of pride.  So before making challenges that you won't reciprocate, I suggest you choose wisely.  T'would be a shame if anything gnarly happed to that beautiful face of yours," I snarled, poking him harshly in the chest before turning on my heel and walking away.

     What I didn't realize, though, is that Kyoya stared after me, shocked.  He was intrigued and fascinated with me.  He wouldn't admit it to himself, but...

     He had a crush.