Beyblade Burst Adventures

The Book

In which Wakiya has a little trouble keeping his old spellbook secret. (Beyblade and Witchcraft continuation, Burst magic system. Rantaro x Wakiya.)

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"Okay, so you're all probably wondering why I called this meeting," I begin, leaning against the footboard of my bed. Rantaro lays beside me on his back looking up at me curiously. Shu, Daigo and Valt sit on the floor.

"Yeah, kind of." Valt shrugs.

"Well, I called it because of..." I reach under the bed, grabbing the old spellbook I bought and hefting it into my lap. "This old dust bunny."

I can't help but notice how Shu immediately focuses on the book with a furrowed brow, his eyes unreadable. Meanwhile Rantaro also reacts, becoming tense and turning his gaze away.

I wonder why they're always acting so squirrely when it comes to this book. They can't be that afraid of it, can they? I open it up, flipping through the pages and looking at them even though I have most of these spells dedicated to memory.

I stop at the Enthrallment Spell and look back to the others. "My parents almost found it the other day, and I nearly had a heart attack. I mean, how do I explain that I bought an old spellbook filled with witchcraft and junk just because I wanted to?"

"Like that," Shu answers with a soft snort, grinning.

"No, no, no! If they find this, they will- well, they'd be worried about me! They'll start thinking that I'm taking up the Dark Arts because they're never around or something!" I pinch the bridge of my nose. "Or they might start sending me to therapy or baptisms or something! You know?"

He pauses, considering it, and nods a little. "Yeah, I do."

"So then you'll understand when I suggest that one of you guys take the book for me."

"What?" Everyone questions in sync. I blink twice.

"Not forever, I mean. Just until my parents go on another trip, then I'll take it back! My bed doesn't have a lot of clutter underneath it, so if I hide it there they can see it. My closet isn't any better, and I don't have anywhere else to put it." I look at all of them, shrugging. "Any takers?"

"Sorry, Wakiya," Valt mumbles. "I wouldn't have anywhere to put it either. And if my Mom found it..." He grimaces and shakes his head quickly. "She would not be happy."

"I can't, either," Rantaro says as he pushes himself up. "Dad usually cleans up my room when I least expect it, so even if I hid it carefully enough, he'd still find it eventually. And my brother usually goes into my room to borrow stuff, so he might find it, too."

I look between Daigo and Shu. The former shrugs. "I could hang onto it. Ryota might find it, but I could just tell him it's for Dungeons and Dragons or something."

"I don't really trust it still, but if it keeps you out of trouble, I could hang onto it for a little while," Shu sighs.

I perk up. "Well, good! You wouldn't have to hide it from anyone, would you?"

"Mm-mm." He shakes his head and Daigo looks to me.

"Probably be best to let Shu hang onto it, then." We both nod in agreement.

"Okay, then. That solves that problem!" I sigh in relief, pretending to wipe sweat from my forehead. I look to the book, reading the spell in my mind. "I guess I'll get a bag for this."

I get up, going to my closet and pulling out a book bag. I put the spellbook in it and hand it to Shu. "Fair warning, it's heavy."

"I- I can tell," He groans, dropping the bag on the floor in front of him.