#tasukuryuenjidoesnothavethenameryuenji

[johannepetereric]

“Avoiding one crisis for another Heart of the Card bulls**t” is what I imagined (at 8:40-something pm) Tasuku saying...I tried typing it out, but I can’t in one sentence.

So, in the Different Dimension Time Travel AU where this Tasuku (post-Buddyfight X) goes to canon!CFV (OG Anime) at around ep 1 and lives out the original 4 seasons. 

This is sometime in Season 1 and Kai is around. Since Tasuku has a hard-time finding the right Kagero units for his deck (Grade 4s don’t exist yet, so I have time recorrect his deck to only cards that exists at this time o_O), he tries his hand at the Royal Paladins of the time. No Psyqualia (or Winning Image at all) with what he had, but with this deck he challenges Aichi. Psyqualia immediately kicks in and gives him a final outcome (you know, like in-canon Psyqualia) of, say, the main Grade 3 dealing the final critical. In this time, the glowy-eyes is very-much visible and he gets a headache every time it’s used for a Final Turn outcome. This is noted of by everyone else.  

Near the end, that Grade 3 is taken out of play just before Tasuku could grab it, so he now has to find a different strategy. He steels himself, but he still finds a wa to win in the end.

He is questioned of if that was what Psyqualia has shown him, and he says no. What happened was, basically, what I wrote as the first sentence of this post. 

“Nope. Psyqualia had shown me a different strategy, but you managed to avert it in time. I had to find a different strategy. It happens sometimes, don’t worry.” And everyone looked like they had been physically struck; Psyqualia is supposed to be that Evil one-shot KO move, but they just discovered that it doesn’t work sometimes--in this case, Psyqualia was used, but it was averted yet the Psyqualia user still won. It’s unheard of!

Can we just give it nuance like this? Like, not “nerf” it, whatever that means (though I did ask and received the definition, but that’s not the point), but give it something like “Yes, it’s broken and OP, but it can backfire, you know. I have other skills in my arsenal, you know!” type things. K? 

In my dream, it was a Kagero deck makeshift mish-mash of Kagero units from different shops that vaguely resemble his strategy--plus some necessary kinks--but we need something different as an example.

It works because he’s also Aichi’s kid. Whether it’s red dragons or blue, shiny knights, he can One Punch with the best of ‘em his age. The Royal Paladins come as naturally as the Kagero Clans to Tasuku, and he can adapt as needed (plus Psyqualia (extra connection to the Units, to Cray, etc.) has the “the cards are talking to me” deal to literally lead him on to find them. Like, the units call him from their packs and he orders those specific packs!)

Really, nice artistry to work with, right???

[johannepetereric]

There's this Buddyfight x Vanguard (not G or V) one-shot which starts with an Author's note, and Author-San basically confirms that Author-san hopped onto the fandom headcanon that Kaichi gave birth to Tasuku (it implies that Buddyfight takes place a dozen years into the future). I even read a Shield Hero x Vanguard fic on ao3 that literally shows Aichi as nearing labor. And I stopped somewhere, but I know it's Tasuku and sometime after the giving-birth scene. This one explained it away with the red eyes being from Toshiki-senpai's side of the family. Honestly, in that AU, why would Tasuku be part of the Buddy Police? He has a doting mother (like Shizuka, who's not annoying about it like Emi is), a protective father the likes of Smaug and his hoard, both parents present all his life, a (doting) grandparent, a huge extended family consisting of the Vanguard-anything cast (and maybe the orphanages), a secure, love-saturated environment, experience in another cardgame which he can apply to Buddyfight, and, well, a perfect life.In the case of the doting/overprotective parents, they'd want him to be safe, and they know that police work is real dangerous. Tasuku, Kaichi or not, is generally too hype to do officework all day. Plus, without being a victim of that Disaster thing (I didn't catch that many backgrounds in the anime), he would be a happy, well-rounded person, allowed to act his age (though he's never stupid). For all we know, he would be more sociable with being around so many (trusted) people all his life. Pick up on cues better. be a more stable person. If it came to be part of the dark side, he'd be like that "f**k this s**t, I'm out!" vine. You know, since everyone was possessed by or encountered a dark-side person. Plus, both parents were possessed by an evil power, so he'd get all the emotional maturity he needs. He already has the affirmations, the affection, all the basic childhood experiences, anything he could want to stay in the light. Tasuku would be a stronger anything for it. Maybe even learn to crack a joke or dance or sing or something from the dozens of honorary family members available!

Also, you can totally have a different first meeting with Jack! That’s what I posted!

[johannepetereric]

Kazane introduces himself, but Tasuku forgets it not even a second in. So it’s “Nice to meet you, Kizuna.” And Kazane just rolls with it. Now it’s the keyword for weeding out Tasuku-fakes.

And they’re Dungeon World buddies, cuz Tasuku set himself off on an adventure through Dungeon World to GET THAT DECK! It lasts the weekend before Kazane’s debut, and Ren covered his absence, so everything’s cool.

And bruh, I made that deck WILD:

Like, 88-90% of the deck is Game of Chance;

Half of that are 50-50 chance;

The other half is “If this isn’t successful, I get a new defect.” (Ok, I just right now added that in);

Jack, of course, has his own two Dungeon World incarnation (including a Game of Chance skill);

He often just barely manages to save himself from defeat. Sometimes, he ends it with 4 life points; sometime’s it’s 1 or 2; sometimes it’s a do-or-die (“I’m about to take my last life point right this moment, and I’ll lose if I don’t use [x]”) move that snatches the Game End that turn; sometimes they both lose; sometimes, his own skill did him in.

And he still has tons of cartoon fun anyway.

Is anyone interested in “Kizuna vs. The Toaster” in his debut to the Sendou Household (in the form of a sleepover)?

[johannepetereric]

Somehow I woke up rn to THIS! Oh, the glory of detailed writing in (between) dialogue and internal monologues!

[johannepetereric]

Ok, for this Vanguard x Buddyfight gay tumblr series I talked about and posted for, Tasuku Sendou has two other siblings:

Renzou Sendou/Suzugamori, son of Aichi and Ren, redhead-blue eyes, age 11 at the start of Buddyfight canon. Shadow Paladin or Murakumo. Runs around Asteroid HQ all day, so he has quite the bit of muscle strength and stamina (to carry his little sis). Meme-er, mischievous.

Kasuka (decided that today, with the help of Pinterest and a daydream of Psyqualia transports all three to the start of the Vanguard reboot) Sendou, daughter of Kaichi, brown hair-blue eyes, age 6 at the start of Buddyfight canon. Kagero or Nova Grappler (extremely rare, for emotional reasons). Mostly mute (defense mechanism), uses JSL and ASL. Empath. Helps others hide from their emotions. All the CFV-anything cast learn JSL to understand her. Loves piggy-back rides. Best Secret-Keeper.

In this AU, the Sendou family, minus the Katsuragis and Shizuka, video call Toshiki almost every night or day while he’s away being an international Pro Cardfighter.

Uhhhhh, Pinterest failed me again. I can’t find any Kaichi kids other than chibi-Aichis and Tasuku, so...take a guess???

And all five have Psyqualia (yes, I’m giving Toshiki Psyqualia), overpowered via Author Powers, and Deadpool respects Kasuka for being about the break the 4th wall with Psyqualia and Narnia her way to almost anywhere.

Also, can someone make a (preferably colored) fan art of Toshiki and Ren looking at each other Aichi’s shoulders on opposite sides on him, using that lightning-wrath-stare on each other? They’re fighting over Aichi in it and Aichi’s just smiling at the camera.

Finally, I apologize to the reboot fans (which is just about everyone other than me), but I highly dislike the reboot so far. Too many reasons for that, but I have to admit that there are some good parts. That’s a relief. And I’m coming around to its opening. The ending is pretty Kaichi-gay, so I give a pass for cuteness and its lovely Melody of sunshine, hope, rainbows, bells, etc.

[johannepetereric]

Our Favorite Buddyfight Antagonist, Adopted

It was the night right after Gaen was defeated. Tasuku Sendou went over to meet Rouga Aragami. He touched the older’s shoulder and said, “You look lonely. I know some people who would love to take you in.”

Rouga stopped. He looked at the bluenet, whose eyes shone brightly like diamonds. He looked so full of hope, of faith. It looked like he believed in Rouga. Tasuku smirked, “One of them reminds me of you.” The other gay looked so loving. Something stirred within Rouga. He accepted the invite. “Now, I have to meet up with Gao-kun. I’ll come find you later.”

Rouga looked back at the boy who flies on a dragon, rather than relying on a Buddy Skill. “Tch. Tasuku Sendou...”

15 minutes later, Rouga was standing in the same spot when Tasuku returned. “Let’s go!” He said gaily.

Another bluenet--a shota, by the looks of it--trailed behind him. All three of them rode the public bus. Mrs. Sendou--the older bluenet, he can’t complain--immediately tried to introduce himself to Rouga. Rouga just stayed silent. 

“Ano, just like Toshiki-kun.” He scratched his face. Rouga filed that name for later.

Tasuku also fell asleep on the half-hour bus trip. It was so crowded, Rouga sat on the floor, much to their protests.

Before he knew it, he was woken up with a snort, standing. In front of him was a store. The big sign atop the door read “Card Capital.” Both Sendous looked excited. It was sliding doors.

It was a small shop, only one floor, and a whole gang of adults were seated at tables, placemats in front, yelling names he vaguely remembers Tasuku calling out in almost all his matches. 

One cold-looking brunet was standing against the whole looking cool. His hair was flying to the right, just like Tasuku’s. Amost all the adults hurried over to greet the Sendous. Rouga stayed silent, vaguely annoyed, but then...

“Oh! Meet my friend, Rouga. He’s the lonely guy I told you about!” 

“Hn.” Rouga grunted.

A clamor ensued, but was silenced by the brunet asking, “Do you really want to be adopted?”

That took Rouga by surpise. Tasuku gently held his arm. It was cold yet warm. It came like a surprise to Rouga. Again, the younger bluenet looked so pleading. And lonely. He could see himself, strangely enough, in those eyes.

“Tch. Yes.”

“Ok, I have to call my husband.” A gray-eyes blond said. The other interrogated him, Tasuku answering for him. The lady behind the counter eyed him suspiciously. 

He couldn’t blame her.

Before long, he heard a vroom.

Through the door rode a buff man who looked like a gang boss.

“Yo! This the lonely kid?”

“Yes!” Tasuku called. He looked cheery for someone who was calling Rouga “gangsta.”

The brunet said. “Enough!” The clamor died down. “He have the papers ready.”

 The crime boss stared at him seriously and said, “Would you like your name changed? We understand that you don’t have one.”

What?...Well, this name was given to him by Kyoya. His friend is lost, but...

“Yes.”

“Do you have anything in mind?”

Tasuku rattled off a list of names. Rouga sighed. This was going to be a looong day.

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A week later, he woke up from the blackness on something cushy. He could smell breakfast across the hall. He followed it, despite squishing the very thick pillow onto his face.

He could hear two voices which he had gotten accustomed to over the past week. It was arguing over what they should have for breakfast. He still has a hard time processing that he’s adopted--and with a name change at that. He actually decided on his identity! Unbelievable. Instead of sitting at the table, he layed down on the floor, clutching his pillow, attempting to return to bed. They didn’t notice him yet.

A while later, the door rang. The arguing extended to who was getting the door. They argue too much, he’s noticed. Mr. Sendou said that they still have to work out the kinks, but this is ridiculous!

He opened the door instead. Two innocent faces stared back at him, two eyes blue, the others red. 

“Hey, Katsuki!”

Katsuki smiled slightly at that. They decided yesterday that his name was going to be Katsuki--for now. It doesn’t fit right, but it will do for now. He’s always wanted a name with started with K. 

It was small talk, then running to the bus. Mrs. Sendou said that this--the running--doesn’t happen often.

And then... “Is the bus always this crowded?” 

“Yes.” Tasuku replied. “At least the fangirls can’t follow me home!” Katsuki doesn’t reply to that.

Mrs. Sendou hugs them both in front of Aibo Academy, a tearful send-off given by the mother, then they all split for their own ways.

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The UFO b***h flew into their faces, screaming, “Nani?! Rouga Aragami is back at Aibo Academy? What are you doing here?”

“I am not Rouga Aragami anymore. You will refer to me as Mister Mutsuki.”

“Wha?”

Tasuku defended him with “He’s my new cousin. My first, infact. Please leave him alone! We all have school.” And proceeded to drag Katsuki to class--with directions from Katsuki, of course. The younger has a surprising amount of stamina for someone who doesn’t take Phys Ed or is in the Buddy Police. They managed to ourun her. Tasuku waved him off before speeding to his own class.

Katsuki spent class staring off into space, thinking about the boy, while still being able to be attentive. 

The teacher got his name right. His cousin said that he might have to correct the teachers. As if it was an unfortunate fact.

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Katsuki found his cousin at lunch, sleeping on a bench. He shook the boy awake. 

Slap! “Nooooo! Let me sleep, you twats!” he said grumpily. 

“Get up! You said I could find you here!”

The blunet was grumpy for the rest of the day.

“I said five minutes before class!” He glared at the older.

Both their brows were furrowed in frustatration. Which resulted in a staring contest. Then they has chit-chat about plans for after school.

Then a tiny brat ran over to them, panting. “Sendou-senpai! Time for class!”

“Auuuuugh! Go away, brat!” The bluenet snapped. The kid fled in tears, extremely noisy about it. It grated on Katsuki’s ears. Tasuku’s, too, by the looks of it.

From then on, he learned to not wake the younger up--ever--unless it was five minutes before the bell. Or it was an emergency. Like family or Mikado.

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The ride was even more crowded than this morning, if it was even possible! Katsuki rode on the floor this time, his cousin moping through it. His mother tried to cheer him up.

It barely worked.

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“So...how was school~?” The blond--mom, he decided to call him--teased. 

“Hn” Katsuki did NOT feel like talking today. 

But it was fine.

“Oi, Taishi! If he doesn’t wanna talk, he doesn’t wanna talk? Remember?”

Mom groaned.

Katsuki could get used to be part of Tasuku’s family, even honorary ones. At least he’ll be around good gays.

[johannepetereric]

I’m having it that since Tasuku Sendou ain’t joinin’ the Buddy Police, bar blackmail or common goal (like temporary cooperation to defeat a certain enemy), he’ll be able to watch Gao’s fights and the school tournaments. AND Tetsuya and Zanya hang out at the Sendous, so Tasuku is in the loop. He’ll join the fight againt Sengoku Academy and BOY am I powering an’ canon-divergence-ing him! Also, he’ll be beating Gao at some stuff ;)

Anyway, since Tasuku will be in the audience for the cups n stuff, do you want me to have him react to the fights as a play-by-play like some fics do? Like, I repeat just about every line they play and Tasuku reacts. Heh, I wanna make him even more OP than in canon! 

Uh, I have some other such things in mind, and I haven’t updated it in a bit yet aside from plans and headcanons, but I’m watching Season 1 so that I can rewrite the damn timeline accordingly. 

Don’t worry, there’s fun adventures like going on FICA quests in between episodes, and hanging out with the CFV fam. And the other Sendous reacting to the plot. And going inside the fam, seeing their functions. I wanna make it LIT, and fellow peeps givin’ me prompts like Gacha requests is gonna be LIT! It’s Season 1 finish, then rewriting it into the series. Then I’ll do the same with Season 2 and so on. If any fellow writers and artists (not fellow. I don’t draw. It’s mostly stick figures and landscaping. I need to watch a Youtube tutorial and do redraws to get them right and that’ll take FOREVER, so the fans gotta draw fanart fer me, k? Tumblr has a PM system. Plz contact me through that if you don’t wanna PM me elsewhere! I’m good.

[johannepetereric]

How Tasuku Sendou Meets Buddyfight

Tasuku Sendou first found Buddyfight when he was 8 (Wikia says he is 13) He walked into this new card shop that opened up at his new school. He was wearing blue graphic t-shirt of Dragonic Overlord “The End,” denim shorts, and red-and-blue crocs. His two decks were stashed in his belt, ready at a cardfight’s notice.

Since you are wondering why he is alone, it’s because his parents, Toshiki and Aichi Sendou, are checking out Aibo Academy for his schooling. They told him--well, Dad Tou-san told him--to check out the campus. Aunt Emi and Uncle Kamui, because he can’t let his kami leave his sight, were there as chaperones. He saw the shop across the sideway, with students of various ages staining the windows with cheese sauce, on their way by, and gave his Aunt and Uncle the slip. They were too busy discussing ice cream flavors to be responsible guardians.

A ring sounded through him as he stepped through. “Ohayo.” He looked around for a cashier, but no one was up front.

“My Vern Killer, Igulu deals 2 damage. Take that, loser!” He heard a teen male in the back, a crowd of whomever cheering him on. He jogged on over.

“I discard a card and Strange Kiteman blocks your attack!” An less-than-10-year-old screamed back.

“Tch! Don’t get cocky, weakling!”

Tasuku yelled, “Oi! Stop harrassing him! That’s not cool!”

The two boys didn’t stop the cardfight. The crowd looked even on who they’re cheering for.

Once he got there, slightly winded, Tasuku saw that the board was different.

He murmured to himself, “I’ve never seen that game before.” Not to mention the few obviously-out-of-this-world creatures surrounding the two of them that nobody commented on. 

It’s probably because he inherited Psyqualia, “I gave it to them” be damned.

The dude next to him gasped, looking horrified. “Nani?! You’ve never heard of Buddyfight?!”

“E-eto...what’s Buddyfight? Is it another TCG?”

“Yeah, you dumbf**k!”

Slap!

“Don’t say that, you moron!” The red-eyed bluenet growled.

“What’s going on here?” An employee asked.

Tasuku responded, “this bozo cursed me!” pointing at the ugly moron.

The dude moves to punch him, but the employee, who is thicc (yes, Author-san means to say this. He basically looks like your stereotypical mechanic/lumberjack but without the gunk) muscles, stops it. The dude starts yelling garbage. “Language, gaki! Do you want to be banned from this shop?”

“...”

The dude stomped away in a war cry, leaving the shop.

“This skill adds plus-1 attack! I win!” The younger player cheerily announces.

“Aaaaaah! You brat, I’ll--” The employee drags away the teen, his deck left on the table. The younger had already moved off, presumably to his friends, reveling in his victory over the maybe-bully. His...unit...trailed behind him...what a tiny unit...

Tasuku studies the board as a new pair begin their own cardfight, the maybe-bully’s deck shoved onto the floor. Remembering cardfight etiquette, he picks up the cards and returns them to the cash register. “Lost and found, please.” 

Tasuku watches a few more “Buddyfights” until the thicc man pulls him over to the cash register.

“Hey, kid, you wanna Buddyfight?” Tasuku nods. “Ok. What World would you like to choose from?”

“The boys both had Dragon World flags, right?” 

“You got that right, kid. Hey, what’s your name?”

“E-Eto...Tasuku Sendou, sir.”

“Sendou, eh? Related to Toshiki Sendou?”

“Yes, sir. Tou-san is playing in Germany right now, moving to Bulgaria in a few days.”

“Gaki, he’ll have to lose eventually.”

“I watch his plays live when I can, sometimes with Kaa-san.”

“Aichi Sendou, the best Vanguard player in the world, right?”

“Hai.”

“Well, then, Dragon World would be a perfect fit!”

Tasuku bowed, sparkly-eyed. “Arigato.” 

He received a booster pack along with a starter deck, free of charge. “You probably don’t have any dough on you, after all.”

Then the employee, who introduced himself as the manager, insisted on seeing him unpack the booster. 

The package ripped open like badly-done denim stitches. And he’s seen horrid “craftmanship,” if you could call them that. “Card 1....Grade 1 Dragon.”

“You’ll do better.”

“...Card 2--nani?!” They both gasped.

Card 2 glowed and went flying all over! Tasuku followed it out the shop, all the way to an empty parking lot out back. It manifested in blinding light, from which the eight-year-old blocked his eyes, and finally settled down into a humongous monster the size of a building. It roared.

“Eh??Who are you?!” It was green, with humongous, heavy armor, a black...thing for a head covering, and elephantous wings that could protect him from a storm. 

“Oh? First thing out of your tiny, human mouth is not ‘Are you my Buddy?’‘“

“Eto, I haven’t even played yet. I just came here not even an hour ago!”

“And yet, you drew me. What is your name, gaki?”

He stared it straight in the eyes, like he does any protester. “Tasuku Sendou. I love anything card-related!” 

“Hmmph! I am Jackknife Dragon, and I will be your Buddy!” Jackknife slipped back into the package in card form. And suddenly a skinny dude who looks like space-age Mumen Rider ran up and said, “Kid! This is the Buddy Police!” He looked tired out.

“N-nani?! I didn’t do anything,” the boy squirmed like his Kaa-san to defend himself. “Is that a Buddyfight thing?!”

“You have a new Buddy, right?”

“H-hai!” Swoosh! Mumen Rider shoved a deck right in his face. It had a

“It’s your Core Deck case! Every person who gets a Buddy recieves one. Take it!” Tasuku complies. (I’m going to copy Tasuku’s intro of Gao’s case from S1E1 onto here because it’s been years since I last saw the show.) “It can be transformed into a core gadget, which will allow you to Luminize your deck.” 

“Luminise?” (Ok, end of copy-paste. Back to Original Content!)

“Hai. Luminize. It activates your deck for a Buddyfight.”

“Like in a 3D Hologram format?”

“This is real-life, gaki. The monsters--”

“Monsters! That’s a bit mean, don’t you think?!” The Psyqualia user raged.

“Eh, the Monsters are fine with that, gaki!”

“That’s no reason to--!”

“ANYWAY, this comes from the Buddy Card Office. They’re in charge of the Core Deck cases.”

“Eh? Can I at least learn how to play, first?!”

“Whatever, gaki. I gotta go!” And with that, Mumen Rider sped away like a coward.

Tasuku sweatdropped and headed back to the shop to learn how to play.

Manager-sensei taught him how to play--with the board, thank goodness. Tasuku still had fun, even though it was a swift defeat.

After that, he thanked Manager-sensei and left with his new Buddyfight deck in hand. 

As soon as Tasuku left the shop, the dragon came back from Card form on his own into a chibi-Jackknife Dragon. 

And proceeded to pester him about his home life, to which the boy learned how to pester the other into silence.

About a dozen minutes later, he found Auntie Emi and Uncle Kamui. They greeted him back as if it was just a potty break. 

Back home, during the discussion with his parents on his schooling, he slipped in, “Kaa-san, Tou-san? There’s this new card game called Buddyfight. And--” he proceeded to tell his parents about his adventure, leaving out the part that he snuck off for it. Jackknife Dragon had already disappeared into his desk just before the three humans met up with the parents to take the half-hour bus ride home.

Tou-san said that they should make a sue list, for each time that the Buddy Police tick them off. For blackmail ‘n stuff. It’s not the first sueing list they have, and it certainly won’t be the last.

Anyway, it’s Aibo Academy, Elementary Division, for Tasuku Sendou now! As a 3rd grader!

Since then, the newbie fought many players, grew stronger at Buddyfight, bonded well with Jackknife, and became...the number 1 target of the Buddy Police. They pestered him at least once a week to join their force, child labor laws aside.

But he could never quite say the names of Buddyfight’s functions as they are. He instead replaced them with Vanguard terminology, and got booed for that. 

That is, until he met Gao Mikado. 

It started off a regular day. The day before, he defeated someone targeted by the Buddy Police. The hooker (he looks like a hooker) challenged him for being “the boy wonder cop,” even though he clearly isn’t a cop, and got obliterated in a Buddyfight.

Of course, that was taken on camera, and the fangirls wouldn’t stop chasing him if it wasn’t for the fact that he lived out of town. 

Another addition to The Buddy Police Sue(ing) List. At least Tou-san wouldn’t leave until the morning.

The next day, the Buddy Police blackmailed him into helping them with something during school--again. It turned out to be just another kid getting their Core Deck case, this one also being a giant dragon--although only about half as big as Jackknife.

He ran onto the courtyard from class, ready with the red case, as soon as he saw the flying, glowing card along with some other classmates, and bumped into Gao Mikado. He let Drumbunker and Gao have their speech before butting in with the damn mission. Meanwhile, the whole school took the time to run out to see the “dreamy Tasuku Ryuenji.”

“Cool, cool. Anyway, the Buddy Police have forced me to give you this.” He handed Gao the red Core Deck case.

By this time, practically everyone at school is be watching, even ones as young as his sister. And Paruko Nanana, Her Walking Horniness. 

Nanana shouted something about “Buddy Police business” or “for me, Paruko Nanana” from her UFO.

Tasuku turned to her and said, “I’m sorry to disappoint, Nanana, but I’m gay.”

“NANI?!”

“You look conventionally attractive, a depiction of cute, but I’m only attracted to guys.”

“This just in! Tasuku Ryuenji is not interested in girls!”

“Excuse me! The name is Tasuku Sendou, you dimwits! Also, the school has known this since I was eight! My parents signed me up for Aibo Academy for 3rd grade, and it was as Tasuku Sendou! My debut in the papers was as a gay child!”

Nanana cried, and about half the crowds. The rest sounded like conspiratorial whispers. Some must be the some of the few Vanguard players the school has. They were forced to take on a Buddyfight deck, or they’d be isolated and marked as the wirdos losers who should be avoided.

“Anyway, Gao-kun. It’s your Core Deck case, which all persons with a Buddy have. It’ll allow you to Luminize to Buddyfight anywhere, at anytime, kinda like a holo-system. It’s magic stuff. It also makes you an official Buddyfighter and stuff. Now that I’ve said my piece, I really must get back to class.”

“Oi! Ryu--”Sendou glared! “I-I MEAN Sendou-senpai, “Gao stuttered. “You can’t just leave me like that! What if I challenge you to a Buddyfight to help train me?” Gao shouted, restored back to his previous confidence. Tasuku felt a little queasy.  

The whole school gasped. “Oh?” Tasuku smiled. “You want to challenge me? Tasuku Sendou? The strongest cardfighter in all of the Aibo Academy student cast?”

“Cardfighter?”

“Yeah, cardfighter. I mainly play Vanguard. It’s my affinity. I also play Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh, Hearthstone, and various other card-related games, but to a much lesser extent. Don’t worry, I’m almost the strongest in the student cast in Buddyfight, too.” He beamed, truly excited for a good match. Gao looks hot enough for a “stiffy.” Drumbunker sniffed the air, surprisingly being able to detect this “foreign fluid,” as people called it.

“Sugoi! That all sounds so cool,” Gao had his eyes furrowed as he asked this, the smile looking fake. “How is it, liking guys?”

Tasuku shrugged. “I find it hard to explain to a cisgender straight male under the age of eighteen.”

Gao looked a vaguely stoned (yes, druggie-stoned, too) for like a second before snapping back. “A-anyway! Do you accept my challenge?”

“Sure!” Tasuku extended his deck outward, attempting to officiate the deal. “I accept your challenge to a Buddyfight!”

Gao responded by pointing his own deck, now in the Core Deck case, outward, sealing the deal.

The adults then reminded them that they still have class. They all agree to do it after school. 

Tasuku informed Kaa-san about this during lunch before drifting off to nap on a bench. This time, an elementary schooler woke him up 5 minutes before the bell.

At the match, (Tasuku does the same speech as in the anime), Tasuku goes first.

“I call my dragon army. Dragonic Force, Luminize!” His Core Gadget takes the shape of a red Flogal with yellow hair. It was decently sized. 

Tasuku again feels queasy listening to Gao, his sun symbolism and his protector’s spirit. 

At the same time as that’s happening, Aichi Sendou is recording his son. Toshiki-kun has to see this! Tasuku spies his mother at the same time that Gao spies his sister. Mother and son wave to each other. Tasuku holds up to two fingers with a closed-eye grin.

Too-dles! It doesn’t matter whether he wins or loses. He’s going to have fun, anyway.

When they see the center being empty, they think that Gao Mikado must have a plan. 

They weren’t disappointed. 

Tasuku sighs in resignation, and thinks to himself that that was fun.

At the sign-out with Gao, he says, “Good match, Gao-kun. You are certainly worthy of being my rival.”

“Eh?!”

“Yeah. Here. I give you Gargantua Punisher.” He does.

“Nani?! But that’s--” 

Gao sees a darkness overcome him, dragon-like eyes forcing him into shock. His vision goes hazy, an image of the picture on Gargantua Punisher change from Tasuku-senpai’s visage to his own in a blurry takeover. As soon as that happens, this paralyzing feelings goes away and he snaps back to reality. 

“Oh, and Gao-kun?” Nani? 

And suddenly he feels his heart skip a beat. Tasuku-senpai is right up in his ear! “About me being gay,” he whispers, deep and husky and Gao suddenly can’tbreathe! One needle-sharp red eye is dominating his. He feels an extreme heat pooling in his cheeks faster than a judo-slam. “I think you’re incredibly cute.” He can feel Tasuku-senpai-oh-my-gosh-he’s-so-hot! dragon-breath at his ear. The older runs off in a direction, his Buddy flying right behind him. 

Gao runs over to the other. “W-wait!” Gao practically squeals, though he would forever deny it.

Tasuku-hottie--wait, what?!--stops and pivots at him, flashing a different grin that has Gao in a stuttering, queasy-all-over mess. What am I feeling? Gao stops at the halfway mark. He hears someone gasp. “Hai, Gao-kun.” 

Oh my gosh, say it again! Gao feels like vomiting, noican’timustn’tgivein! He stands up straighter, trying to keep his cool. “I-I mean, I fe-f-f-feel I-uh-mm-ust give ya-you suh-something!”

“Oh? What ever could it be?” Why is he in my face?? It’s not even two inches!

“So-so, I-I can give you my-my Dragob-br-brave! I-It’s what h-helped me w-win, after a-all!” OhmygoshthisissoembarrassingTasuku-senpaihasacreepylookthat’ssendingmynervesallcray-crayandIjustwannacrawldownonmykneesandbegfor mercy--mercyforwhat? Gao shoves it at the older, thankfully distancing them-whatwashedoing?

“That doesn’t even come near to a fair trade!” The girl protests. 

Tasuku-senpai flashes her a different smile--OMGJUSTLOOKATMENOTHER! “It’s perfectly fine, Nanana.” The UFO girl looks dizzy, too andGaowantstofaintbuthecan’tcuz--

“Whatever you say, Ryuenji-senpai.” And faints. The UFO goes away and she falls. He doesn’t have the heart to try to save her.

Tasuku-senpai looks real mad again. He takes Dragobrave, but their fingers brush, and he still looks at Gao, and he says finally, “Oh, my. Can you say my name, Gao-kun?” Gao’s already-persistent blush is flooding to the rest of his body, and it’shappeningdownthereagainohmygoshpleasestoplookatmesenpai!

Then Tasuku-senpai leaves. Everything is a blur from then on, a wet nightmare of red stuff that leaves Gao defenseless and queasy and he feels about to vomit but he can’t cuz thats’swrong! He can vaguely recall hearing Tasuku-senpai greet a male he calls and looks his “Kaa-san,” and Gao can’t takeitanymore and his consciousness faints and doesn’t wake up to awareness until morn.