[color=#ffbae8]"Uhm..."[/color]

To say Rui was taken aback by the sudden abrasiveness of the stranger that had stopped her would be an understatement. She didn't really know what to do; Rui had barely come through the library's front door and she was already accosted by a commander wanting to do battle. Lumia hadn't warned Rui about it ahead of time either; though it's not like she had any time to ponder on whether or not that was on purpose. After all, the strange and overwhelming girl who'd stopped Rui didn't give her that. She'd asked to battle, explained how she didn't care about Rui in the slightest and then proceeded to blow Rui off all within the span of about a minute. The other commander was about to walk right past, thinking Rui wasn't up for the fight, so Rui had to act quickly and on instinct. [color=#ffbae8]"...Wait!"[/color] she said and quickly grabbed the other girl's arm.

Of course, the dead expression in her eyes even as she looked back to Rui didn't give much away. The stranger just yanked her arm loose, but didn't move a muscle otherwise. Rui took a deep breath and tried explaining herself: [color=#ffbae8]"Sorry... you were just so overwhelming. Why don't we go to a café or something and talk about it there?"[/color]

And, by some miracle, Rui actually [i]did[/i] manage to drag the new Commander to a café. It was a reasonably spacious and popular spot, one which Rui's classmates sometimes tried to invite her to. The reason she came there, though, was because the two of them would vanish in the crowd. Two teenage girls coming for drinks or a parfait was nothing unusual, so Rui was certain they wouldn't be bothered. Seated at a table in the corner, the server going around had just taken their orders and left to go prepare. Rui turned her attention back to her adversary.

[color=#ffbae8]"Katsuki and... Sunako, right?"[/color] she asked, trying to memorize the names she'd been told a few moments prior. Rui took out Lumia and slid her onto the table. She put on a smile to try and ease Katsuki, saying: [color=#ffbae8]"I know you said you didn't care, but we have a little time until we get our drinks. I don't think anyone will bother us after that. I'm Rui; this is Lumia."[/color]

[color=#FFF83B]"H-hi..."[/color] Lumia muttered, visibly a lot less at ease than Rui. She was actively trying to [i]not[/i] look at Katsuki.

Rui rummaged around in her bag for a little bit, then took out her deck case and put it on the table. [color=#ffbae8]"I'm sure people won't get suspicious as long as it looks like we're playing,"[/color] she explained. Rui didn't bring a game mat with her or anything, but she figured it didn't matter much. She picked up a few cards, put them down in front of her and then grabbed Lumia again. She said: [color=#ffbae8]"Hey, how about we add a wager? If you win, I'll leave you alone and will pay for both of us. If I win, you'll stick around for a bit and tell me about yourself."[/color]

[color=#FFF83B]"Nee-chan?!"[/color] Lumia blurted out in disbelief. Why on earth would Rui want to [i]talk[/i] to this person?! Rui clearly took notice, glancing briefly at Lumia. Deciding silence was the best response, she quickly turned her attention back at her opponent.

[color=#ffbae8]"I'll explain myself in the battle. For now... do we have a deal?"[/color][hr][color=chocolate]"You and... Rui?"[/color] Natsuko whispered, her grip on Sora's arm tightening ever so subtly as he rambled on about his day. She closed her eyes and patiently listened, a fury bubbling inside her. [color=chocolate]"That sounds nice,"[/color] she said in response to Sora's invitation to take the two of them out, but the fury and jealousy bubbling inside her made Natsuko focus far more on the 'Rui' part. All she heard lately was Rui this, Rui that.

Ema lazily eyed up her Commander and then back at Wolf. At first she didn't really get why a guy like Wolf was paired up with someone like Sora, but with how [i]dense[/i] the two of them were, they might've actually been a perfect fit after all. [color=rosybrown]"Who knows, nya~? Maybe she thinks battling Sora will make that wish of hers come true,"[/color] she vaguely told Wolf. [color=rosybrown]"Not that she'll be the one to suffer the consequences of it..."[/color] Ema sighed. She didn't [i]entirely[/i] look like she was up for granting it, but if her Commander willed it...

[color=chocolate]"Hey, Sora-kun? Remember what I said the other day?"[/color] Natsuko tried swerving the conversation. She gently pushed herself off from him and opened the palm of her hand, showing six golden coins and a single black one. [color=chocolate]"Six coins, but two losses. This could be my final battle, ever,"[/color] she explained, a pleading look in her eyes. [color=chocolate]"I think the final memory must be really important to me... and there's something I really have to tell you."[/color]

[color=rosybrown]"Nyaaa~!"[/color] Ema meowed in delight as she heard those words from Natsuko. [color=rosybrown]"So you're finally going to do it, Natsuko?"[/color] she asked. Natsuko looked down and gave her a nod.

[color=chocolate]"I can only tell you on the battlefield, Sora-kun,"[/color] she said while looking straight into his eyes. [color=chocolate]"So please... battle me!"[/color]