[color=#E38436]"Welcome,"[/color] the store clerk greeted Rui as she pushed open the card shop's door. She looked around a bit and then walked up to him, noticing [url=https://i.imgur.com/LUhbrvz.jpg]the guy behind the counter[/url] wasn't much older than her. He also had a [i]really[/i] angry-looking face. [color=#E38436]"Ah, I haven't seen you here before,[/color] he noted before asking [color=#E38436]Can I help you with something?"[/color] of Rui.

[color=#ffbae8]"Ah... well..."[/color] Rui hesitated a bit before explaining her situation. The store clerk attentively nodded and started looking through stock.

[color=#E38436]"Yellow and green, huh...? If you're looking for a quick power-up, you probably want..."[/color] he trailed off a bit, before coming up with a few varied products. [color=#E38436]"Normally you'd want singles, but since you're still building your collection, buying packs is the way to go. You can either go for boxes or..."[/color] he began to ramble off, admittedly going quicker than Rui could keep up with. The clerk explained the differences in each set, what cards she could expect to get and what those cards would do for a deck. Rui looked over all of them, nibbling her thumb a little as she considered her pocket money.

[color=#ffbae8][i]'I don't have that much money, but if it's for Sora...'[/i][/color] she thought to herself. After a few seconds longer of such deliberations, Rui steeled herself and looked up at the clerk. [color=#ffbae8]"I'll take one booster box of both of these,"[/color] she told him. After checkout Rui seated herself at one of the tables to open her collection, tearing open one pack after the other. She read each card carefully, even off-colour ones, to see if they were any help. Most weren't of much use to her, but one stuck out in particular. [color=#ffbae8]"Colour boost..."[/color] she muttered to herself, taking out her own deck and sorting through her cards. If she coupled that with some of the other cards she'd gotten so far, then maybe...

Her thoughts were disturbed as she heard the store clerk yell [color=#E38436]"Welcome!"[/color] to someone new who'd stepped in. Rui looked up to see who it was, a little surprised at who it was. That person, in turn, seemed to notice Rui.

[color=#038a34]"So we meet again."[/color] the masked boy from the day prior said to her.
[color=#E38436]"Oh? You're friends with her, Nanashi?"[/color] the clerk chimed in again. Rui looked back at them.
[color=#ffbae8]"Nanashi...? Like 'No name'?"[/color] she asked.
[color=#E38436]"Something like that. He comes by often, but never told anyone his real name,"[/color] he answered back. The clerk looked up at Nanashi. [color=#E38436]"Hey, why don't you play with our new customer a bit? She's recently gotten into Nexus, just like you."[/color]

Nanashi turned his head to Rui. [color=#038a34]"I see... so you too, then."[/color] the boy said. He walked into the store and took the seat opposite of Rui's.

Lumia looked up to her partner. [color=#FFF83B]"He's not a Commander, Nee-chan. It's okay."[/color] she reassured her. After Lumia opened her mouth, though, Nanashi's gaze shifted to her. It made both Commander and Avatar tense up for a moment, thinking he could her Lumia.

[color=#038a34]"Is that your Avatar?"[/color] he asked. Rui nodded. A mysterious [color=#038a34]"I see."[/color] was all the reply she got after that. The mask made it hard for Rui to know what the boy was thinking. Could he hear Lumia, or was she just imagining it? He unnerved her, even more when she thought back to yesterday. Nanashi had talked to her about memories, after which Lumia and Rui met. It's almost as if he [i]knew[/i] this would happen, but without being a commander himself...

Lumia, being the empath she was, could feel the tension coming off Rui. [color=#FFF83B]"You wanted to test your new deck, right? Battle him. I'm sure it'll work out!"[/color] Lumia reassured her. Rui closed her eyes for a bit in thought. When she opened them again, Rui gave Nanashi a smile.

[color=#ffbae8]"I hope you don't mind that I'm just a beginner,"[/color] Rui told him.

After cleaning up her mess and laying a play mat on the table, both Rui and Nanashi played against one-another. Nanashi's Avatar was Green, which reminded Rui of Sora. Unlike Sora, however, his deck was much slower. It didn't lay out many attackers and Nanashi spent most of his time blocking and gathering cards. Rui had the upper hand for most of it.

[color=#ffbae8]"Seraph and Gleipnir,"[/color] Rui said with focus. Nanashi countered her Attackers. She didn't stop pressing her advantage, but Rui could feel the game slipping away from her.

[color=#038a34]"I place Divine Knight Yggdrasil on the field. Diana, my avatar, evolves at no cost."[/color]
[color=#ffbae8]"A level three attacker..."[/color] Rui muttered in awe. She moved her own cards into the trash due to Diana's effect. Once her turn came around, Rui knew she had nothing left. Rui put down her cards. [color=#ffbae8]"I lose,"[/color] she plainly told Nanashi. [color=#ffbae8]"I guess my deck still needs more work..."[/color] Rui mused to herself.

[color=#038a34]"Are you that quick to give up?"[/color] her opponent asked. Rui narrowed her eyes. Nanashi spoke up again: [color=#038a34]"If you're only doing this half-heartedly, then stop it. In order to win... in order to keep winning... you need to have the resolve to see things through to the end. Until the bitter end..."[/color] Nanashi's voice trailed off as he, looked up at the roof.

[color=#ffbae8]"...Aren't you being a bit dramatic? Nexus is just a game,"[/color] she retaliated.
[color=#038a34]"It's more than just a game to me. I thought it would be the same for you, but... I guess you're different from her after all,"[/color] Nanashi countered. He gathered his cards, got up from his seat and turned back to the clerk. [color=#038a34]"I'll drop in again later. I didn't have much time today,"[/color] he told them before walking out of the store. Rui sighed.

[color=#E38436]"Strange guy, huh? Don't feel too bad at losing. He's the store's number one player,"[/color] the older boy told Rui.

[color=#ffbae8]"No joke..."[/color] Rui replied with exhaustion. She leaned back in the chair, looking down at her cards still strewn about. 

[color=#FFF83B]"...What do you think, Nee-chan?"[/color] asked Lumia. [color=#FFF83B]"Do you think you could win against another Commander now?"[/color]

Rui picked up Lumia's card and held it in front of her face. [color=#ffbae8]"I wonder about that...? Let's try to find one together."[/color]

[color=#FFF83B]"...!"[/color] Lumia was surprised at first, muttering [color=#FFF83B]"So you really..."[/color] before giving Rui a determined nod. [color=#FFF83B]"Leave it to me, Nee-chan!"[/color]

Rui cleaned up her table and left the store. She first looked up at the sky. It was grey, but no rain had fallen yet. Then, Rui looked down at her hand. She opened her palm, two shining coins among a pile of black ones.

[color=#ffbae8][i]'...Sora only has one of these now. It's time to get to work.'[/i][/color]