Double

Gundam Build Fighters Origin [Open]

~After School~

As he walked toward where the Club was supposed to to be located, Sousuke unclipped his Gunpla carrier and flipped open the flap, "Huh? What's this?" there was a scribbled note stuffed in with the Crossbone Joker. Sousuke's eyes squinted a bit as he read the note, "Try.. the... Joker Star! What does that mean?" he stuffed the note in his pocket and then pulled out the Gunpla to look at it more closely. Specifically, Sousuke examined the Crossbars attached the Joker's back.

The crossbars - or Joker Star - could normally be detached and used as a melee or throwing weapon, reminiscent of a windmill shuriken popularized by ninja. That much Sousuke knew, but why did the note say he should try the Star today? Some kind of improvement? Modification? Or even an upgrade? It looked exactly the same as far as Sousuke could tell. Then again, he didn't exactly have an eye for little details like an actual builder would. So he just shrugged and put the Gunpla back in its carrier just in time for him to reach the entrance of the Club.

"Excuse me, but I need to go inside." Sousuke said, paying no real mind to the 1st Year crouched outside the door. Maybe he was interested in joining but was too nervous to go inside? Yeah, that surely had to be it. Well, either he'd word up the courage to go in or he'd chicken out and go home. Either way it was no concern of Sousuke's.

"Let's get this over with..." and he pushed open the door and entered.

Gundam Build Fighters Origin [Open]

Sousuke walked slowly toward the high school. He hated mornings, especially mornings without some kind of coffee. Unfortunately, today was one of those mornings. He was groggy, felt like he hadn't fully woken up yet. Oh, and he was kind of cranky too. He wasn't even wearing his hat straight.

"Is it Friday yet?" he grumbled as he dragged his feet along. Without warning he let out a loud and very audible yawn. He was in no mood to think about school or anything associated with the place. As he approached he saw that 2nd Year just standing around and waiting, "Oh right... forgot about that." Sousuke groggily muttered under his breath.

Had... had the 2nd Year just been waiting for him? For how long? How could anyone be that eager, even for Gunpla Battle Club? Without a morning cup of coffee, Sousuke could be told he won the lottery and he probably wouldn't notice, "Oh it's you." Sousuke grumbled when he got close enough, "Don't tell me you actually like spending time here?"

Gundam Build Fighters Origin [Open]

Okay, now you can move to the next day.

Gundam Build Fighters Origin [Open]

A little later that day, the voice of an excited boy could be heard from his hospital room. It made a nurse outside make a startled pause before continuing about her duties.

"You battled today?"

"Yep."

"Wish I could have been there. You won right? You totally kicked butt?"

"Of course."

"That's my big bro. Your skill with my Gunpla? Unstoppable!"

"You bet we are. By the way, um... I'll be battling a lot more in the coming weeks so-"

"You joined another club, didn't you? Don't worry, I'll keep it nice and fixed up. If you're planning to enter the Under 19, you better make sure and tell me when your matches are so I can catch the livestreams!"

"Like I'd forget to do something like that? We're still a team, even if only one of us can battle. It's you and me, got it?"

"Yeah!"

"Oh, um... that Master Gundam you gave me kind of-"

"Lemme see it!"

"Wait, don't-"

"Hey! It's still in pieces! Did you even try to build it?"

"Well..."

"Leave it here with me. I could use something to pass the time while I'm stuck in here."

Gundam Build Fighters Origin [Open]

"Don't misunderstand me." said Sousuke, retrieving his Crossbone Joker from the field and carefully sliding it back into the carrying case. He was notably more careful with handling the Joker than he ever was with the SD Master Gundam. Clearly it was a treasure for him, "I was just avenging my Master Gundam. That is all." with that he shouldered his book bag and started walking away again. His hand reached for the handle of the door but stopped.

Admittedly, what he had said was a lie. It wasn't about avenging his Gunpla. He just remembered a lesson that someone important to him to lived by, and he wanted to emulate that person in his own way. Still, his shoulders slumped as he made a decision that in any other situation would go against his every instinct, "Fine, I'll join your club..." he said without turning around. But before the 2nd Year could get too excited, Sousuke suddenly spun around and added, "...but not for free. I'll be charging you based on how much we battle. That match just now was your first and only freebie." he said nothing more and walked out the door.

It would have been polite to stay and get to know his new clubmates, but Sousuke had somewhere he needed to be.

Gundam Build Fighters Origin [Open]

Well... crap. That backstory is... actually, never mind, I don't wanna spoil it.

Gundam Build Fighters Origin [Open]

Sousuke didn't answer back. He was too focused on fighting. The Crossbone Joker deployed a second weapon, a high powered beam rifle that looked like it was taken from the Wing Gundam or Wing Gundam Zero. Sousuke called it the Joker Magnum. The Gunpla boosted foward, flying toward the Zam while firing off a short series of beams from the rifle. These beams alone wouldn't destroy the body, but they would put a crack in the shell that could be targeted for a finishing blow.

With only just enough time to do so, Sousuke discarded the rifle and thrust the Joker Blade forward in time for it to crash into the cracked spot on the Zam's armor. It went through... completely through. The Crossbone Joker may as well have drilled all the way through the Big Zam's body and out the other side. This was the clincher, and the remains of the Big Zam exploded.

"Battle: Ended."

Gundam Build Fighters Origin [Open]

"Gunpla: Set."

The computer announced a new player in the arena. Well, not actually a new player, but rather the return of a previous player. Sousuke returned to his position in the battle arena and replaced his terminal back in the slot, "You broke my Gunpla. It's only fair I return the favor." then he reached into his book bag. This time he did not retrieve the Master Gundam, it was broken to pieces anyway. No, this time he grabbed a second Gunpla carrier, one that looked a bit more worn than the one Sousuke's belt. From the case, Sousuke revealed a black Crossbone Gundam, or at least a heavily modified one. The difference between it and the SD Master Gundam was like night and day. Unlike the Master Gundam, this Crossbone model was extremely well built. Given a bit more time and tweaking, it could even reach World Level ability.

"Your luck's run out. In the end, I hold the trump card that will snatch victory from the jaws of despair." Sousuke spoke with an almost intentionally dramatic tone, almost like he was trying to be theatrical, "Crossbone Joker..." he said the name of the Gunpla, not in Japanese but English, "...steal the win!"

The Gunpla launched and found itself approaching the fight. That Mobile Armor was big, but those arms looked pretty thin compared to the rest of its body. Sousuke knew what he had to do. A blade extended from the Joker's right arm, then detached and formed a GN Sword nicknamed the Joker Blade, "Let's make this showy, Joker!" the Gunpla picked up speed as it went for the slash against one of the Zam's arms, then did so against it's other arm as well as one of the legs.

Gundam Build Fighters Origin [Open]

"So it lost, huh?" Sousuke muttered under his breath, "Guess I'm not cut out for this after all. I'm sorry..." he shouldered his bag and turned for the door. Right about this time, the 2nd Year from earlier rushed onto the scene, followed closely by a girl Sousuke hadn't seen before. It looked like they were going to battle that big plastic monstrosity. Fine, maybe they stood a better chance. As for Sousuke, he found himself no longer in the mood to battle. And so he began to leave. On his way, though, he overheard some voices.

"Aw, even the older guy lost! Those Tigers really are unbeatable..."

"We'll never get to play at this rate!"

This made Sousuke pause, but he just stood there, still undecided. Then he recalled a memory. It was some years ago, and he was reading a manga with someone else. The manga was about a hard-boiled detective who braved the dark streets to help his clients. And Sousuke remembered something else from the manga, a speech the main protagonist often made:

"A man who can't help others is either incompetent or needs help himself. But a man who won't help others... is the worst kind of scum."

Sousuke tightened his grip on the strap of his book bag. Was he unable to help... or just unwilling?

Gundam Build Fighters Origin [Open]

"Begin Plavsky Particle dispersal." the computerized voice of the Gunpla Battle terminal suddenly spoke up. The Yankee boy was startled by this, and he and his gang all spun around to see a new face about to launch his Gunpla.

"Okay, Master Gundam, let's see how handle in-"

"Hey! Hey! HEY!" the Yankee boy shouted, grabbing Sousuke by the collar, "Who do you think you are, using my terminal without permission?"

"Your terminal? I don't see your name on it anywhere. Now get out of my face, your breath stinks." said Sousuke, forcibly shoving the Yankee boy away from him and turning back toward the terminal.

"What's this? A tough guy? Or maybe you just don't know how things work around here?" the Yankee boy demanded, "You wanna use the terminal? Fine, but it'll be in a fight against me!"

That got Sousuke's attention. His ears seemed to perk up at the challenge, "Battle? Well, I was meaning to see how it performed in combat. Whatever, do what you want." Sousuke honestly had no idea who the Tiger Gang was. He hadn't lived in the area long enough to ever hear about them or see them for himself. Not that it would have deterred him in the slightest. Sousuke stepped up to the Terminal and inserted his Gunpla base. This registered him as a Pilot currently using the terminal. Then he placed the SD Master Gundam on the launching pad, "Okay, Master Gundam, let's see those specs of yours in action. Launch!"

The Gunpla shakily launched out into the simulated field, which happened to be an Open Field type. So no real cover or any terrain to take advantage of. But it wasn't long before the little SD Gunpla found itself standing in a massive shadow. Towering over it was a Mobile Armor, a Big Zam to be exact.

"What the hell?" Sousuke exclaimed, "That thing's huge!" unfortunately, this was the first time Sousuke had ever seen a Mobile Armor. He still didn't let that deter him, and the Master Gundam flew forward and put all its strength into a punch, "The bigger they are..." Sousuke started, but stopped when the Master Gundam's fist broke on the armor of the Big Zam. Then the Zam struck back, kicking Master Gundam square in the torso and sending the poor little Gunpla flying right out of the play area and smashing into a wall, where the model shattered into its individual parts.

"Battle: Over." the computer's voice announced and the simulation ended. Sousuke tipped his hat in disappointment as he knelt to gather the broken pieces of his Master Gundam.

The gang were all in stitches at this scene, "Ha! That had to be some kind of record, Boss! You smashed that piece of junk in just one hit!"