He messed up his launch.

How could he have been so distracted! Nothing should've been more important that the bey battle that was commencing! And what pray tell could've been more important that it made him lose his game?

Valt Aoi...

The ever enthusiastic Valtryek blader that's who. But why think of him now? He wasn't even anywhere near the bey battle - which was a bit unsettling seeing as Valt was never one to miss out on watching a bey battle. Especially if the one battling was Shu Kurenai...

Spryzen spun wildly around the bey stadium, ricocheting off the walls surrounding it.

The bey that had gotten a perfect launch, circled at the center threateningly. Its purple coloration glimmering under the schools lights.

"Messing up a launch isn't like you, Shu. Get your head out of the clouds and focus on the battle!"

Shu glanced up at his opponent for a split second. A silent glare being given in that brief moment.

"Who said anything about me being unfocused? Go now Spryzen!"

At being called upon by its partner, Spryzen regained its grip on the stadium floor and picked up speed. From there the bey circled its way around the stadium until it found an opening.

Shu smirked inwardly to himself, looking down to his gloved hand, making a tight fist.

"Spryzen, Upper Launch!"

"Oh no you don't! Wyvron, Shield Crash now!"

Without a moments hesitation Spryzen charged forward, its spirit coming alive as it clashed head on with Wyvron.

Both beys struggled against the others power. Neither side giving an inch.

"Do it Spryzen!"

With a final push Spryzen blazed through Wyvron, bursting it.

"That's two points for a burst finish! Shu Kurenai wins!"

Shu nodded in satisfaction, bringing his gloved hand up to brush sone hair away from his eye to reveal a scar.

The small crowd of students who had been watching the battle cheered at Shu's victory as he bent over the arena to retrieve his bey.

"Isn't he just the coolest!"

"Where are his other friends?"

"Nobody can beat you Shu!"

The crowd continued their uproar for several moments before they began to die down when Wakiya made his way around the arena to stand by Shu.

"You weren't even giving me your full strength out there! I want a rematch and if you give me another weak performance like that then we'll just keep battling until you give me a proper battle!" Wakiya spoke in a demanding voice. His eyes never once breaking contact with Shu's. There was no way he was not going to be denied.

Giving a blank stare in return, Shu answered softly.

"Spryzen needs a break... and so do I. We'll battle again later."

The blonde looked as if he were going protest but ended up keeping his mouth shut when a firm hand was placed on his shoulder.

"That sounds like a great idea! You shouldn't push yourselves too hard. Go rest up and Wakiya and I will catch up with you later." Hoji smiled sympathetically to the Spryzen blader then turned his attention to the blonde.

"Come on, let's practice together."

Wakiya gave a grunt but nodded a surrender, shaking the hand on his shoulder off. A small blush dusting his cheeks.

Shu sighed in relief as he walked away from the bey arena and towards an the crowded hallway. The crashing, clanging, and yelling of both beys and bladers faded into background noise as the silvery white haired male walked down a dimly lit hallway towards the schools gym.

His mind wandered off as he walked at a slow pace. So many things had happened in the past few weeks.

The Beigoma Academy Bey Club gaining 5 members to the team, the intense training the team had gone through together, the team matches, and individual matches. All in all the team had grown closer through their time spent together. And everything was all thanks to Valt.

The Valtryek blader really turned things around and brought everyone closer. Although the team wasn't very well in tune with each other at the beginning Valt had tried his hardest to keep everyone happy and balanced.

"Valt..." Shu breathed out in a whisper only audible to himself.

It was strange how every thought he had brought him back to thinking of Valt.

______________________________________

The hallway outside the gym was crowded with a variety of anxious students. All of which were either pushing one another to get closer to the closed gym doors or yelling over each other to be heard by their friends.

At the head of the crowd, standing stiffly infront of the closed off gym doors was Principal Shinoda.

The students closest to the principle appeared to be more tame then the ones in the back, but at the same time were still pretty anxious to get inside the gym.

Valt Aoi was one of many students located at the front of the crowd along with Rantaro Kiyama and Daigo Kurogami, who stood on either side of the excited bladee.

In all honesty Daigo really wished he was up on the rooftop blading. He'd rather take failing launches from Valt then have to be in a crowd of student who were yelling in his ears and shoving him. But he was doing this for Valt and Rantaro.

Why do this for them though? Why not simply abandon the two to go do something for himself instead?

Because deep down he really did enjoy their company, even though he always said he'd rather be alone.

It's silly to think about ever being alone again when he's constantly surrounded by the bey club.

But lately things had made his thoughts of being surrounded by his teammates change. Like how the team was slowly breaking in pairings...

The Doomscizor blader thought these changes at first were just in his imagination but later found them to actually be reality.

The first change in the bey club members started out with Wakiya. It was a small, unnoticeable change if one weren't paying close attention. But Daigo noticed it right away.

Wakiya had begun to 'style' his hair. The ends had been trimmed and fixed in place with hair spray. Gel coated the upper half of his hair, holding it in place to spike a little higher then it normally did.

Unknowingly to Daigo at the time, it had all been done for one person in particular.

Hoji Konda.

The Wyvron blader had developed a small sort of crush for his friend and was trying to get his attention. Whicj as a matter of fact ended up happening.

The second change was with Valt.

It started off mildly, just a natural profession.

The bluenette would be practicing his launches with whoever offered to be his opponent. Something he always did was talk during the practice sessions. Nothing out of the ordinary right? That is until he started bringing up Shu's name every other sentence.

At first the talking was harmless. Just Valt prattling on and on about his day, on wanting to get stronger through his current training, and other beyblade related things. But as the days progressed the Valtryek blader feel deeper in talking about Shu.

Like how the day before he just burst out so many irrelevant facts about Shu while trying to increase Valtryek's Rush Launch speed!

Heh! If only he could apply that focus on Shu to his Rush Launch instead. Daigo had mused to himself.

The changes in both Wakiya and Valt had gone unnoticed by the other members of the bey club, minus Hoji, so far... Only time could tell when Rantaro and Shu would notice themselves.

"So what should we do first when they let us in?

Daigo snapped his eyes towards Valt, who was staring at him with wonder.

"Uhhh..." Was the Doomscizor blader's response.

He had been so lost in thought that he failed to hear Principle Shinda announce the activities set up inside the gym.

Rantaro on the other hand looked like he had a few ideas on what to do in mind. L

"I'd personally like to try my hand at taking you boys down at a good old card game of Uno!"

"Uno? With only the three of us? Don't you think we should save that game for later when we have more people to play against.?" Valt questioned. If only the three of them played then there would be no doubt of the game going by quickly each time.

"No way! There's no rule against three people playing so it's fine. I understand if you're afraid of losing to the all powerful Honcho though, I get it little buddy."

At hearing this the bluenette stomped a foot down hard on the hallway floor. His back straightened and his hands curled into fists, trying to make himself look like a more powerful opponent.

Challenge Accepted. Daigo had to contain his laughter as Valt barked out his strategy of winning right to his opponents.

"And when I get the swap hands card I'm going to make sure my cards are overflowing with one color with no use of - oh look the doors are opening!"

While Valt had been talking the doors to the gym had begun to open.

Through the doors laid a colorfully decorated gym! Inside were many activities already set up. A small stage for acting, a movie station, ping pong, arts and crafts, a table in the farthest corner with Uno, you name it!

Just as Valt was getting ready to bolt into the gym a whistle blew.

Principle Shinoda held a hand above his head, waiting for the students to quite down. When little to no noise was audible he spoke.

"Remember to be respectful to each others activities inside. No pushing or shoving. Enjoy your day off from classes and you are free to leave the gym at any time to go participate in other activities around the school."

With saying that he stepped to his side and watched as the crowd ran into the gym. A smile escaped his lips as he watched Valt run straight to the table with Uno already set up.

"I hope his strategy works."