Kei came back only to see Aiya be missing. [color=9C5F25][i]'Maybe she just went to the bathroom?'[/i][/color] he thought to himself, briefly, but then the store's owner called him over. When Kei saw him slide over [i]another damn note[/i] he wanted to slap his face and let out a groan, but the drinks in his hand prevented him from being too dramatic about things. Aiya [i]knows[/i] where the vending machines are- the least she could've done was drop by! Why did she insist on leaving notes all the time?!

"I wanted to tell her to be careful out, but she was out the door before I could get a word in," the middle-aged man behind the counter told Kei. He popped open one of the sodas(might as well, right?), took a swig and cast a sidelong glance at the owner.

[color=9C5F25]"Careful? Whaddaya talkin' about old man?"[/color] Kei asked.

"I've told you not to call me- ah, nevermind. It seems there's a lot more violent crimes happening lately... I just don't want to see kids like you two caught up in it, that's all."

Kei resisted the urge to tell the shop owner that, just because he was short and had a bit of a babyface, it didn't make him a 'kid'. [color=9C5F25]"Well, don't those types usually hang out in, like, shadier places? I think my route's pretty okay,"[/color] Kei dismissed the store owner's concerns. The man insisted, however, that these were no ordinary crimes. Suspects seemed to be out of their minds, acting different from how they usually were. [color=9C5F25]"Well, whatever you say..."[/color] the boy handwaved the warnings again.

Kei didn't stick around the shop for much longer after that. Nobody there had much of an interest in dueling him, and it wasn't as much fun without Aiya around anyway. Kei opened up his deck case without breaking pace and almost habitually pulled out a single card from his deck.

[b][color=f7941d]Silent Swordsman LV3[/color].[/b]

[color=9C5F25]"It kinda sucks I didn't get a chance to use you today, partner..."[/color] Kei talked to his card, pausing his walk back home after he said that. [color=9C5F25]"I really want to fight strong guys with you. I want to show the world what you can do."[/color] Kei raised his card up to the sky, towards the sun.  [color=9C5F25]"One day, us two are gonna reach even the heavens together! I'm gonna make sure of it!"[/color]

There was this...[i] connection[/i] with Kei and that card. He knew it from the moment he laid eyes on it all those years back. Kei couldn't explain it, of course, but... it's like he could feel a warm presence. A friend. Satisfied with having talked to his friend, Kei took a step forward and-

[i][b]*THUNK*[/b][/i]

-crashed right into some guy, again, the second time that day. [color=9C5F25]"Gah- what is with today?!"[/color] Kei complained as he rubbed his back in a futile attempt to relieve the pain felt in his rear end. He looked up and wanted to complain to the stranger, getting halfway through his sentence: [color=9C5F25]"Hey, can't you watch where you're-"[/color]. The reason Kei cut it short was because this was not the first time they'd met. [color=9C5F25]"You're... from back at the vending machines. Are you doing this on purpose?"[/color] Kei complained anyway.