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In the last AVCV chapter

HInagiku started acting " Master Ren. We should definitely go. Headquarters are calling."

So they seperate ways, but before they were too far, Hime decided to spoke up

"...At least he wasn't a weakling like you who uses powers."

This stopped Ren in his tracks.

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"NE-SAN C'MON!!!" Ayumi was about to sound the new horn but then she noticed her sister moving. She quickly jumped back.Using her acrobatic skills, she tumbled out of her sister's reach "Hah! you won't get me with your punches sis ."

"C'mon Ayumi. Nationals are over... There's no point in waking up early you know. "

"Are you kidding me? Don't tell me you forgot!?" now Ayumi is on rage. "We promised to practice with Azami today!!"

Hime grunted and covered herself with a blanket. "She'll understand ..."

Ayumi thought otherwise. So she pulled the blanket. "Well I wont!" then she grabbed Hime's deck "If you don't come down. You wont know what I'll do with your deck!" then she stormed out of her room.

Hime doesn't need to communicate with Arrow Blade to know that they're in trouble.

She quickly followed Ayumi. "Dang it Ayumi! Give that back!"

"Make me!" That's all she heard before she went downstairs.

A while later.

Both of them are ready to go. As they were walkin- "Still, I can't believe you gave your precious juice box to Kamui."

"There's nothing really deep to it really."

Hime thought of an idea "Oh really?" she smirked

Ayumi stopped walking and before looking at her sister, she closed her eyes and stared at her completely serious "Really."

Hime felt a cold sensation in her neck "I-I din't expect that.Fine, I believe you."

"Joining a love triangle is the last thing I want to do."

Now Hime's confused "A love what now?" then she stopped at her tracks once she saw a familiar figure in the distance. "Is that?"

Ayumi knew who it was. "...Morikawa, and Izaki"

"Yo Hime-chan!" as Morikawa came closer Hime , Ayumi and Izaki wore the same face.

-_- "What's he doing here?"

"Sup, Morikawa..."

Morikawa greeted Hime by clinging on her and patted her head "Don't be like that Hime-chan!"

"Chan?!"

"We're the best of friends right??"

Ayumi avioded eye contact, an instead she spoke to Izaki "What's his problem?"

"Well, remember when Morikawa saw Kourin and saying she's his destiny or something?"

"Yah."

"Apparently, he wants Hime to join his team and win the regionals so Kourin could give him at least the trophy, a medal, or a bonquet. As long as it's Kourin, it's fine by him."

Ayumi smiled. "Even though it's a garbage bag?"

Izaki laughed at the joke "Yah, I think so."

Once Hime heard the proposal, she quickly hit Morikawa's stomach to make his arm go away "No thanks Morikawa. Besides, i already belong in PQ4."

"Oh man! You were my last chance..."

"Last chance?"

Izaki noticed the confusion "Well before coming here, he went to the other 4 and ask if the could have their assistance. And since you were the only one missing, he decided to go to your house."

"Well, we wouldn't be THIS late, if it wasn't for a certain somebody " Ayumi aimed her glare to her sister.

"S-sorry."

"Since we're together how about we go to card capital." Izaki pulled Morikwa with him "Then at least we can train with you guys. That's where you two are going right?"

"Yah."

That's what their day supposed to be.

But somebody has other plans.

Once the 4 of them passed an intersection, Hime felt a presence by their side. And she wasn't the only one.

Morikawa posed into a ninja "Wh-Who was that?!"

Behind them was a cloaked figure.Like the one in card capital.

"Y-You are!"

"Hi." the girl in the cloak, said awkwardly .

Izaki pointed his finge towards the girl "Y-You're from-!!"

But sadly he's interrupted when Morikawa hit right passed them. "Yo, my lady."

The gang was surprised by his sudden change in attitude. The girl couldn't do anything except stare at the stranger before her, who was kneeling and touching he hand. Like a man courting a girl.

"I have never seen anything like you. Lovely as the flowers of spring, eyes sparkling like the diamond."

Hime was so speechless she didn't have enough strength to be disgusted, she was pulled back to reality when she heard a voice beside her.

"W-what happened to Kourin..?" Ayumi's eyes were wide.

Even Morikawa's bestfriend was speechless "Who knows..."

But the girl wasn't a bit disgusted by the events, in fact she gave a warm smile to them . "I see you have good weird friends as always, -" she looked at her childhood friend "Princess."

"...Hina."

Hinagiku slowly pulled her hand away, and smiled again at Morikawa. Who is now spellbounded by her beauty. "Could you please call Azami for me? And I wouldn't mind if you brought some of her new friends along too. "

Morikawa quickly stood up and saluted to the cloaked girl "U-understood ma'm!!" he sped off to the road, leaving Izaki behind.

Izaki reached out his hand to where Morikawa just dissappeared "M-Morikawa..?"

"You should let him be." Hinagiku turned to Izaki "He doesn't know where we're going. He'll call you sooner or later. "

Hime stepped forward "What do you want Hina?" she didn't forget about the things her friend said to her in the national tournament "Is that one of masks again?! Cause I don't want a fight here."

Hinagiku ,emotionless, turned to Hime "You should know, of all people, when I'm wearing a mask."

Hime lowered down her guard "Then I hope I wasn't mistaken, you were just acting in that tournament, huh?"

"It's a good thing you know."

"Why? Were you acting in front of Team Asteriod."

"So I was right. She's a member of team asteriod" Izaki looked at Ayumi. "But what's Hime got to do with her?"

"I'll explain later."

"Sadly, I have to act in front them. And they love nothing more than looking down on fellow cardfight players."

"...Why are you here?" it was Ayumi's turn to ask.

"Well, I never got the chance-" she brought out her deck "-to fight you guys right?"

Hime, Ayumi, and Izaki smiled . This is exactly what they were looking for. A practice fight, to defeat Team Asteriod. And what's better, than fighting one of their teammates?

Aichi was staring at himself in the pond. He can't help but remember what happened in the nationals

"Stil Vampir replaces Llew as your Vanguard."

"Nii-saan!!"

"You don't belong in this team."

Ofcourse he should agree . " I'm no good in Vanguard at all..." he hugged his knees in desperation "Why did I even joined their team? Maybe I just got lucky. I even barely passed the shop tournament. Ofcourse I wouldn't stand a chance against a national player.." he closed his eyes "Maybe...Maybe I should just quit the team. Yah, that should be that best choice. They're strong enough on their own. And maybe this time with Kamui in the team, and me out they'll have more chance to defeat Asteriod. "

Aichi made his final decision...

But then-

"Stop! Look at me Aichi!!"

Aichi's eyes popped open. He saw Hime's figure right in front of him.

" Listen to me! you are much stronger than you thought, and you're gonna let that guy walk over you! Stop accepting everyone's opinions like they're right!! They don't even know you. He doesn't know all of your fights! He just saw you fight in the nationals! Heck maybe he doesn't even know you beat KAI!!"

"Hime-san..."

A small smile appeared on his face "Maybe...Just maybe, if my teammates are there to cheer me on. I have a chance to beat just about anyone. As long as they're there."

"Aichi??? "

"Morikawa-kun!"

"What are you smiling about?"

"H-huh?"

"You were smiling to your reflection in the pond earlier, like you just got a free food or something."

"Y-you must've mistaken!"

"Huh?" Morikawa tilted his head " Anyways, follow me . Hime just found a gorgeous beauty, and she's a strong cardfighter too! She's our ticket in winning the nationals."

"Ticket?" Aichi was now confused, but decided to follow Morikawa.

Hime looked at the place Hinagiku choose to fight...

"...The fields." she suddenly felt nostalgic. "This is where-."

"Yah."

Wind passed by them

"This is where the three of us first met."

Izaki poked Ayumi "Would you mind telling me now?"

"Fine." she looked at the two girls as they searched for there starters "Both of them, plus Azami are childhood friends."

"Ch-childhod friends?!"

"Pipe it down. Don't be that surprise. The three of them were classmates on the same school. And it was inevitable not to be friends with a fellow cardfighter, especially when you're classmates."

Hime looked to her friend "Meeting you was mysterious...And so was your past. I don' t know what happened before the three of us met. But meeting you was like yesterday"

"Rise! Bow!"

It was another day in that school, and just like any other day.Hime can't wait for school to end, and play Vanguard in a cardshop together with he best friend Azami.She looked outside and smiled to herself "Maybe this time I'll get that royal paladin card. And maybe I'll have a chance to-" but she was interrupted by a poke in her shoulder from behind.

"I was always fascinated by Azami's glow. Yellow as the sun, but I say that she'll just call me nuts. What is it?" she pointed at the girl in the front.

"Class, this our new transfer student. Now, why don't you introduce yourself?"

The girl step forward. "Hinagiku Shimazaki..."she bowed "Nice to meet you all." no expression at all.

"This girl also has no glow like the others....Probably she doesn't play Vanguard."

But surprisingly Azami said otherwise "Hime-chan!! I think she plays Vanguard like us? Don't you think so?"

"Huh? How can you tell?" Hime began to doubt her.

But Azami held her chin and was lost in her own thoughts. "Just a hunch." then she winked at Hime.

"Fine..."

"Why don't we follow her and talk to her when she's alone?"

"Azami... I don't want to be a stalker you know."

"NO! That's different Hime-chan! Different I say!"

"Whatever."

The two ended up following the girl. " I wonder what clan she plays huh?! You think she plays oracle think tank?"

Hime rolled her eyes "I think she doesn't play at all."

Azami pouted, as we didn't notice that we entered the forest. "What are you talking about Hime-chan!! Utter nonsense."

"How do you even know she plays??"

"I told you, a hunch!"

"Hunches are always wrong."

"Hmph!" she crossed her arms and walked straight ahead.

"What is she, 5??" she laughed "Alrigh, alright let's give her chance."

Suddenly Azami stopped."Woah..."

Hime was also captivated by the view "..."

A field full of flowers was right in front of them.

"Wh-where is she?"

Azami caught a glimpse of the girl "There!"

The girl was eating peacefully as she stared at the open field. Her movements were really graceful enough to be a princess .

"Hello!!" Azami jumped out of nowhere. "My name's Azami! And here is my best friend, Hime-chan!!"

"Hello."

The girl stopped eating, then she murmured to herself ."Bestfriend, huh?" then she smiled. But this was no happy smile. Rather, it was a sinister smile. "There's no such thing."

"What?" Hime was mad.

"So? Why are you guys here?"

"U-uh.." Azami looked back and forth between Hinagiku and Hime. "W-well we-"

"Whatever." she placed her lunch in the floor and revealed something else."I'm guessing you guys are here because of this." she showed her deck "right?"

"Glad you're a fast one."

Hinagiku stood up and started to search for a flat surface. Hime was totally annoyed by how she acted, but Azami pulled her back " I told you she plays Vanguard."

"Oh, haha you were right. That's weird though. I see no glow from her."

The two followed Hinagiku , and soon enough they found a place. Azami suddenly raised her hand "Ok! Me first!!"

"Haha, alright."

The two of them prepared their starters and shuffled their decks "Ne, Hina-chan."

"Hina-chan?! What?"

"Why don't we make a bet?"

"A bet?"

"Yah, playing Vanguard must be boring enough for you already right?"

"...What's the bet?"

"When I win, I want you to accept that there is real friendship in this world."

Hime started working her mind "Now that she mentions it, she laughed at the word bestfriend earlier"

"Heh, alright. You don't even have a chance against me."

Azami smiled "We'll see"

"Attack!"

"aw..."

"Azami... That was the 7th lose you had."

But Azami was nowhere near done. "Again!"

"Again?"Hinagiku was surprised at this point "Look, we already skipped class. Maybe we should-"

"AGAIN!"

...

So they fought for countless, but as expected Azami didn't won a single match. But as their fights increased, Hime could feel something changing in Hinagiku.

"She's wearing a smile now. It's not that obvious, but I can see it....Huh?" Hime's eyes went wide once she saw Hinagiku's glow as their fight ended. "N-no way.." it was there for a second but it's gone. Hime, however was sure it was there.

"Man! I didn't even won a single game.."

"I'd like to go home now if you would please-"

"Wait." Hime stepped forward.

"What is it?"

"Bring your deck again tomorrow. I'll fight you."

"...I see. Well then I'll be looking forward to it." the girl fixed her things, and left. Hime stared at her long before her presence was gone.

"Hime-chan? Is something wrong?" Azami asked.

"Her glow.."

"Huh? "

"...It's camouflaged along with the sorroundings."

"...And what does that mean??"

"...she was wearing a mask up until now."

"Like she's not herelf..? and just pretending...That's...sad."

"yah." hime looked at Azami and smiled wih determination "Tomorrow I probably won't win."

"Eh?!Why did you challenge her anyways?!"

"Because you will."

...

Well atleast that was the plan. But-

Hime had her arms crossed"Azami...What subject is it?"

"...English."

Hime punched the tree beside her."That's three subject after lunch!!"

"C-calm down Hime-chan. Maybe she had to go potty."

"Potty!? For four hours?!"

"Diarrhea?" Azami smiled

"Ugh!! This is unbelievable. I go all the way to challenge her and then-"

Azami stood up"Hime...That's"

It's rare for Azami to call Hime without chan. It's a serious call, even for Hime.

"Kaichou!" the vice president came running.

"What is it? Fuku Kaichou?"

"The transfer student. Hinagiku, she's been missing since yesterday!"

Hime gasped at the news, and Azami immediately stood up. "Hime..We have to find her!"

"Any leads?"

"Well, we suspect the bullies from class 3-D. Maybe-"

The two of them dashed out the forest.

*grunt...* the last man fell on the floor. And finally Azami untied Hinagiku. "Both of you... Why did you came after me?! You guys could've hurt yourselves!"

The two looked at each other "Well..." they scratched their heads.

"Look, you should avoid me guys from now on. It's seems I cause trouble whenever I'm around. You guys could get something worse than that-" she pointed at the open wound at Hime's foot, it was bleeding. "-if you stick around." Hinagiku made her escape

"Eh? What's that? You're too scared to fight us?" Azami started

"Well it's understandable that you'll be scared of us." Hime crossed her arms

"After all you're just a transfer student."

Hinagiku clenched her fists. "What's that?! Who'll be scared of you guys?! Let's fight right now Hime!" she grabbed her deck

"Haha!! "

Hime grabbed hers "Fine by me. "

"Stand up

my

Vanguard!"

"...complete defeat"Hime was so exhausted that she fell on the floor.

"That's it! Hina-chan! I know how to defeat you now!" Azami faced Hina "Fight me again?"

"Sure..." Hinagiku doesn't know what she's talking about but she agreed anyway.

"Yay!! I won! I won!!"

"it seems you have. Nice game."

"No! Don't forget our promise!"

"Promise?Oh, do you mean the friendship thing...? " she looked at both of them. They're both covered in bruises and wounds after beating the bad guys from earlier. "Aren't you guys gonna leave me? I caused you this trouble, and I'm weaker than you now." She looked at Azami.

"Who cares about that! We're friends since the day we met!"

"Friends look out for each other. On bad and good times."

"And we did both ya know!" Azami smiled "Nice to meet you best friend!" she gestured for a handshake.

"Same here, best friend." Hime did the same.

"...Well if you say so." she both shook hands.

Her glow it up the abandoned building. It was pure white, like an Angel.

As they were going home Hina looked at sky "Kai, Ren, Tetsu. I finally found another set of bestfriends...I guess I'm doing ok now."

"Hina!!" Hime called

"Coming!"

After that Hime never saw that camouflaged glow ever again. Except the time at nationals.

Hime looked at her opponent. "And now, I can see it perfectly. That with glow. Ready Hina?"

"Ready whenever you are."

Aichi, Misaki, Kamui, Morikawa, and Azami were just in time to witness the start of the fight

"Hina-chan" Azami whispered

"That's the girl from team Asteriod!" Aichi panicked

"Don't worry... She didn't come here to argue with us." Azami stared at her two bestfriends. "She came here to help us."

The members of PQ4 were confused but they listened and watched as the fight unraveled itself.

"Stand up!

my!

Vanguard!"

~To be continued~