Draw 09 : The Conclusion

After Jaden went into the dorm, Blair didn't go in but she sent Alexis a message to meet up at the light house instead.

"Blair? Didn't expect you to call me out here at the middle of the night, what is it?"

Alexis is smiling happily, because Jaden looked really happy when he received her present.

"I only want to talk with you, are you bothered by it?"
"Why, of course not. What do you want to talk about?"
"Well, it's about Jaden, of course!"
"*Giggles* As expected, well… It's been 2 years since the opening ceremony."
"Yeah… You will soon be a 3rd year and I will be a 2nd year."
"Still, I never thought that you will be back in just 1 year!"
"*Chuckles* Well, it's the power of love!"

Blair puffs her chest proudly.

"Still, you really do love romance."
"It should be obvious, right? I'm a girl after all."
"R-Really?"

Alexis starts to think that she's weird for only thinking about duel since she's a kid.

"Of course! The saying; 'A maiden's true beauty is only seen when they're in love' is not just a saying!"
"Oh… Really?"

Alexis gives a wry smile.

"Say, Alexis?"
"Huh?"
"Why do you love Jaden?"
"Huh…"

Alexis never thought about it before.
Before she knows it, she is already in love with Jaden.
But things are different in Blair's case.

"In my case, I love him because he is true to his heart."
"True to his heart?"
"Yes, he will never do things that he doesn't want to do. He does what he like, that free soul of his is what made me fell in love to him."
"…"

Alexis was at loss of words.

She never thought that Blair could see that side of Jaden despite her young age.
And she thought that Blair's love to him is just like of a kid who felt attached to a person's kindness.

"You're more mature than what you look."
"W-What is that supposed to mean!?"
"*Chuckles* I mean it the way I say it."
"Hmph, how rude! … Huh?"

Blair felt a vibration from her pocket.
Then she noticed that it's a message, not to mention it's from Jaden.
Alexis also received one soon after.

'I've found my answer. Meet me at the place where the three of us met for the first time.'

"…"
"…"

None of them spoke a word.

They are thinking of what to say at this kind of situation.

"… Alexis? You received one, right?"
"Yeah… It seems like he reached a conclusion…"

Their hearts are beating real fast.
The nervousness that they never felt before attacked them mercilessly.

"I guess we need to head back now."
"I agree…"

Even though Alexis looked calm, she's only suggesting that because she needs to calm herself. Blair agreed with the same reason.

Thus, they part way and return to their own room.

…

"Jaden has come to a conclusion… I need to steel myself…"

Blair takes a deep breath.

"If it's his own choice… I will accept it, no matter how painful it is…"

Blair can already guess what his answer is, but she wants to hear it directly from his mouth.

"That way… I can give up and focus on my study…"

Blair closes her eyes, with tears still rolling down.

…

Alexis is sitting on her bed because she can't bring herself to sleep yet.

"… Jaden, I wonder how you will answer our feelings… Even if you don't choose me… At least…"

She can't finish her sentence.

"… I can't… I really love you… I want you to choose me…"

Alexis cried.

She cried for the first time not because she lost in a duel.

But because she's afraid that she won't be chosen by the one she love.

-The next day-

Jaden steeled himself.

Today, he will end everything.

He noticed that Blair is no longer in the dorm, because she woke up early to prepare herself for his answer.

"Where are you going, bro?"
"I will be out for a while, don't follow me, Syrus."
"… It seems like you've come to a conclusion."
"-Yeah, I did."
"Whatever you do, don't regret your decision, got it?"
"Of course, I need to get my game on after all."
"Go for it, bro!"

Syrus gave him a push.

"Thanks!"

Jaden starts running toward their meeting place; the forest near the Obelisk Blue Dorm.

…

Blair is on her way.

She couldn't stop her noisy heart.
If she could, she would want to stop her heart so that it won't keep on beating so loudly.

"Soon, everything will end. Then, a new leaf will be born."

She looks up to the sky.

"The sun… Is so warm…"

Blair felt the gentle breeze brushes past her skin.

"It's just 5 minutes, but it felt like eternity to me."
"Seems like you're finally here, Blair."

Alexis greeted Blair the moment she found her.

"You are so early, Alexis."
"I couldn't sleep well and I got nothing to do, so I can't help but come earlier than the appointed time."
"And here I thought I am the first one to come."

Both of the girls laugh heartily.

"He should be here at any moment."
"Yeah, it's only 1 minute left."

Speak of the devil, Jaden arrives after Alexis finished her sentence.

"Hey, I'm sorry. Did you guys wait for long?"
"Not really, I just arrived. I don't know about Alexis, tho."
"It's fine, I don't wait for too long."
"I see."

The three of them stopped talking.

The atmosphere grows heavier.

"… Alexis, Blair, I'm going to tell you two my answer."

"… I'm ready."

Blair nods her head.

"Me too."

Alexis follows.

Jaden takes a deep breath as he closes his eyes.

The moment he gave them the answer, it might end the harmony they are having until now.
But he needs to give an answer.

Because it would be too rude to accept every happiness thrown at him without properly returning their feelings.

And so, he opens his mouth.

"… I love Blair."

"…"

"…"

Both Alexis and Blair didn't say a word.

In Blair's case, she's processing the information that she just heard.
While in Alexis' case, she still can't believe what she heard.

"W-W-Wait a second! You said you love me!? Why!?"

Jaden can comprehend why Blair is so flustered and confused.
He didn't really show any sign of affection to her after all.
But he did think about it properly before arriving to this conclusion.

"I know you might think it's pretty weird, but I've thought about it properly. Alexis."
"Y-Yes?"

Alexis was surprised by his sudden call.

"I love you, your duels really captivated my heart. I really like seeing your duels."

"Then… Why?"

"… But."

Jaden looks at Blair.

"Blair is the one who is really close to my heart. I feel like I can tell many things to her, that's why I feel comfortable when I'm around her."

"Jaden…"

Blair's face turns even redder in embarrassment.

Alexis on the other hand smiles sadly.

"I see… I understand…"
"I'm sorry, Alexis…"
"Don't apologize, Jaden. If you apologize now… I'm not sure if I can hold these tears…"

Despite saying that, Alexis' tears are flowing unstoppably.

She didn't want to get her hopes high, but she can't help but wish too much for Jaden to accept her feelings. Now that he had chosen Blair, that means this is the end of her love.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to break down like this…"
"It's fine, I can totally understand…"
"… Say, Jaden?"
"What is it, Alex-"

Without letting Jaden finish his words, Alexis pulled Jaden's collar and kissed his lips.

"Aaaahh!" Blair screamed in surprise.

"A-Alexis!?"
"This is my punishment because you rejected my feelings! I will surely make you regret not choosing me! *giggles*"

After saying those words, Alexis left the scene leaving only Blair and Jaden behind.
Even without looking, both of them know that Alexis left because she wants to have a time alone.

It's also because of this that Blair can't bring herself to be angry for that kiss.
It's not the first time for Jaden after all.

"… Uhm, Blair?"
"Y-Yes?"
"Don't you have anything to say? It feels a little awkward with this silence…"
"U-Uh…"

It's not like Blair to be so flustered when she always tells Jaden how much she loves him.

"I-I'm really glad that you chose me, I still can't believe that you would really choose me…"
"I can't blame you for that, after all I did think that you're just my little sister up until not too long ago."
"Muu… Is it because I'm still too young?"
"That's one thing, Although in the end I still ended up attracted to your lively behavior."
"I see… My hard work is not in vain…"

Blair smiles.
But her smile only lasts for a short time.

"I feel bad for Alexis…"
"… Blair, when it comes to love, there is only one out of two chances. Either you will be happy to be together with the one you love, or you will be heartbroken because your love was rejected."
"I know, but…"
"-Don't tell me you came here with being rejected in your mind?"
"I-I can't help it, okay?! Since you looked like you really care about Alexis!"
"Well, I can't deny that."
"Then why did you choose me? Isn't Alexis prettier than me? She also got a nice body."
"I've told you before, didn't I?"
"I want to hear it again."
"*Sigh* There's no helping you, fine… I choose you, because I feel comfortable when I'm with you, Blair. I feel like I can tell anything to you. You could say I feel closer to you than to Alexis. That's why I want to be with you."
"… H-How can you say that so easily? It almost looked like you're proposing to me, you know!"
"Huh? Isn't that why you're dating?"
"Huh?"
"Huh?"

Blair and Jaden were at loss.

Then, it suddenly comes back to Blair.

"HUUUUH!?"
"Woah! You surprised me! Don't shout like that!"
"B-B-But! You want to marry me!?"
"What are you talking about? Isn't that why we're dating? Or are you telling me that you only want to say you love me without thinking about the future properly?"
"O-Of course I do, but… I didn't expect YOU to think that far ahead…"
"How rude, even I will at least think about my love life, you know."

Blair and Jaden laugh together.

"It's been a long time I don't laugh this satisfyingly."
"Me too… So, may I hear your answer?"
"Answer?"
"Don't play dumb, you know what I mean!"
"I-I know, okay!? *cough*…. Uhm… Wait, I need a little more time!"

Blair breathes in and out to calm herself down.
Then, she opens her mouth.

"I maybe inexperienced… But I hope you can bear with me for the rest of our lives…"

With those words, Jaden closes in and kissed Blair gently.

"Right back at you, I hope you can bear with me as well for the rest of our lives."

…

Fifteen years have passed.

Jaden and Blair are having a walk at the park.

"Are you sure about leaving our daughter behind?"
"It's okay, she's already 5 years old after all. It's not like we're going to take a lot of time out here anyway."
"If you say so."

Jaden smiles wryly at Blair's response.

Usually a mom will worry sick if they are leaving their children behind, but Blair seems to have a great trust in her daughter.

"It's been 15 years, isn't it?"
"Yeah, I still can't believe that Alexis will be marrying Zane. Well, they're both pro duelists after all. He is your ex-crush, right?"
"*Giggles* Indeed, but it's not like I still like him. After all, I already have you by my side."
"That's right, I would be jealous if only you said that you're still having a feeling towards him."
"Really? I guess I should've said so from the start."
"Give me a break, will ya?"

Blair giggles elegantly.

Blair has grown into a fine woman. It's hard to believe that she used to be a brat who is always clinging to Jaden.

Jaden had it tough for the first 2 years they are dating, because there's an issue that Jaden might be a lolicon to date an 11 years old girl despite his age which is older by 6 years.

But luckily there are some people who are helping them so that they won't get too much burden mentally.

"You know, I used to think that perhaps I will never be able to marry."
"Huh? Why did you think so?"
"You know how I was known as a duel maniac, right? I thought that even when I'm dating I would still think about duels."

Jaden turns toward Blair.

"But then you appeared, you changed my heart that I can no longer care about anything but you. Even if I'm no longer a duelist, so long you're by my side I believe that everything is gonna be alright."

"Jaden… I…"

"Wait, I know what are you going to say. How about if we say it together?"

"Just like usual? Sounds nice."

"Alright, on three-"

…

I always believed, that you're the I'm looking for all this time.

Fin

THANKS FOR READING! AND THANKS FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORTS! I HOPE YOU GUYS ENJOYED THIS STORY!