Beyblade Burst Adventures

Wanna Battle?

In which Lui and Shu battle again and again, bonding through the sport they're passionate about and a quartet of Beys.

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"Wanna battle?"

I lift my head, surprised at the simple request but more so by who made it. Shu Kurenai stands on the other side of the Beydish, a flimsy, cheap-looking Beyblade held in loosely in his hand. I can tell right away there's no real bond, and the sickly green energy ring makes it obvious that it's not any version of Spryzen.

I blink a few times, too stunned to be snarky or smug. "Uh, sure."

He smiles a little, then pulls out his launcher and clips the Bey to it. I do the same, taking my stance as I ask, "What Bey is that?"

"Oh, uh, it's called Haunting Blight. It's a defense type."

Pfft, Haunting Blight is right. It looks like it's drained the life right out of Shu. "Where's Spryzen?"

"Well, I- I don't want to use the Requiem, and I still haven't found Legend Spryzen. My Dad lent his old Bey to me, until I do."

I hum in response and nod, then he shifts into his old launching stance. "Three! Two! One! LET IT RIIIP!"

Luinor flies into the dish with Blight, the former gliding around effortlessly while the latter wobbles unsteadily. "Failed launch?" I ask, looking to Shu.

"No, that's just how it works. It's kind of like Fafnir, but, um, not as strong." He swipes his hand through the air. "Go, Blight!"

"Luinor!"

The Beys collide and right away Blight Bursts, the pieces scattering around the stadium. Shu isn't very upset even as he bends down to collect the parts. "That was fun."

"I guess." I shrug, watching as he snaps Blight back together and looks to me with a little smile.

"Wanna go again?"

"... Yeah, let's do it."

To my surprise, this isn't a one time thing. Every single day of the following four weeks, Shu shows up to the Bey park and I'll battle him and his dad's crappy Beyblade. Sometimes Shu will even already be there, waiting for me. If I go to the WBBA instead, he still shows up.

I don't know why he's following me to intently, but I can't say I mind.

---

"That's my win, again, Shu." I say, watching as he bends to collect the pieces.

"Hmm, I wonder what I'm doing wrong? I thought that launch would help," He mumbles absently, then looks to me as I speak.

"You're a good Blader, yeah, but even the best Blader is nothing when they're battling with such a pathetic Bey. If you ever want to win, you need to evolve that Bey." I point at Haunting Blight.

"True. Dad did say it wasn't very good, even back in the day. That's why he quit Beyblading so soon." He covers Blight with his hands, looking to me. "Do you remember where were battling when my mask broke? It feels like that was ages ago, so I can't really remember."

"Well, of course."

He disappeared for three days after that. I remember thinking that he must've finally gotten sick of hanging around, and every time I felt a pang of- of something, in my chest. I told myself to get over it and move on.

Then the fourth day after that I come into the WBBA and he's there, practicing with Blight by himself. He's in his launch pose, but his eyes are closed, strangely.