After me and Nora returned the books, we headed back to class. By the time we returned, I noticed Demiza had broken off from our group. I'm not sure why she did, but I still had to talk to her about the plan, since she would play an important role as someone who used two decks.

"Yukina, could you lead the training session for a bit? I need to talk to Demiza-san."

"Sure thing. Come back soon."

I nodded, running off to go find her. If I was Demiza, where would I go after lunch? I decided to try going outside, since she was a riajuu. A lot of people were playing and talking on the field, so this was like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

I started to scour the field myself to try and find her. After awhile, I caught a glimpse of her walking down the grass bank by herself. She seemed to be mulling over something because of her blank-minded expression. I caught up to Demiza, gently calling out to her.

"Hey, Demiza-san, is it alright if we talk for a sec? I have a favour to ask you."

Demiza looked over her shoulder, looking surprised to see me. Then, she pretended to make a shocked face, put her hands on her butt, and smoothed down the hem of her skirt. She giggled with a sultry smile, as if challenging me to take a look down there now.

"Kya, Takanori-san! Were you just staring at my butt right now? I know you're into younger girls, but please, I don't like when guys are so forward!~"

No, no, you're being the forward one here. Me asking you for a favour isn't sexual at all. Please don't make me look like a pervert in front of everyone else on the field.

Just like her father, Demiza was unabashedly flirtatious to guys. While it wasn't as egregious as Yogen's teasing, she could easily seduce any man she wanted to through her innocent face, cute speech pattern, and alluring winks.

And... her large butt, if you're into that sort of stuff, I guess.

"Uh... I wasn't looking down there..."

"You totally were! Your gaze was so hot, it reminded me of an animal in heat. Takanori-san, what are you hiding in that tent?"

I quickly checked my crotch to see if something bad had happened. Luckily, there was no tent. It was flat as Demiza's chest. (Ah, it felt good to roast her.)

"Well, don't just stand there. Come on, take a seat next to me and tell me what this "favour" is. I might do it, you know?"

Demiza winked at me with a laugh as she said that. I stared at her dumbfounded. She sat down on the grass, so I cautiously took a seat besides her.

"I-it's not what you think... really..."

"I know, I'm just pulling your leg. You need to work on your phrasing."

Demiza laughed, slapping my thigh playfully. I think this is the first time a girl has ever touched my thigh.

"All that for a joke? Really?"

"People's reactions are amusing. Sorry if I led you on a little."

She stuck out her tongue, before returning to a serious face. Well, it was fine if she was being flirtatious. I didn't feel anything for it. Demiza wasn't my type anyways.

"It's okay. I did notice though, you do have a big butt..."

"Aha, so you were looking after all!"

"I couldn't look properly since your hands were covering it."

"By doing that, I was pressing down on my skirt, so you could see it's bubble shape easier."

"...I guess that's true."

By this point, I'd determined that her flirtatious personality only came out when she was talking one on one with another guy. All the other times I talked to her, it was when other people were around, so she probably held back.

However, since it was just the two of us right now, Demiza could be as flirty as she wants. I suppose it was quite intimate for a girl to talk to a boy alone, so a romantic mood is fitting. It'll be troublesome if she keeps it up... I might have to call for back-up.

"Demiza-san, can I ask you a few questions first?"

"Sure thing. If it's about what kind of kiss I like most, it's definitely a smooch on the cheek."

"It's nothing weird like that... I kind of wanted to know why you sided with me back then. We haven't really talked that much, so I thought it was strange."

"Are you saying that, because we weren't friends, you didn't expect me to say you were innocent this morning? I'm kind of offended."

"Uh... yeah... basically. Our parents know each other, but that's about it."

"Mhm, that's true. We sang karaoke once though, with Natsumi-chan, that was fun!"

"It was. Though, once you left, it became kind of awkward..."

"Aww, did you lose all your composure because you were in a room all alone with one of the hottest girls in our year? You poor thing~."

Demiza used a mocking tone as she said that.

"I mean, you're not wrong..."

"I don't blame ya, if I was a boy and left alone with Natsumi-chan, I might have a heart attack over what to do in that situation."

"Would you go lesbian for Ichinose-san?"

"Oho, even you can be a little raunchy, huh? Of course I would!"

I'm not sure what compelled me to ask that question, but I was completely wrapped up in Demiza's super casual aura. It felt like I could say anything to her and it'd be chill. I gently steered us back on topic.

"Sorry, that was a rude question. Going back to what happened this morning..."

"Well, I'll admit, I believed in the rumours at first. I thought you were capable of doing that."

"...seriously? Do I give off that impression?"

"A little bit~. It's hard to read what you're thinking since you never show any facial expressions. It's kinda scary how calm you are. When you do though, I've noticed that it's always anger."

Demiza peered into my face cutely as she said that. She pointed out something I never noticed before. I thought I had a perfect poker face. Did anger really leak out of my face that often?

"So, you punching someone isn't out of the realm of possibility. Plus, you're a guy and all, so if you got in a fight, it's expected."

"What changed your mind then?"

"Oh, it was that video the A Class girl posted. You were trying to help Shimizu-san, not hit her. I felt pretty stupid when I realised what had happened, but I'm glad it's all cleared up now."

So my plan did work. Demiza was able to deduce what really happened thanks to the footage me and Yogen bought. It was a well-made investment after all.

"Thanks. I'm glad to have you on my side."

Demiza hesitated a little, before nodding.

"Yeah. Maybe it was a good thing I stood up for you this morning..."

Her face turned a little sad. The only reason I could think of why is because of the fight she had with Sakigamiya today. I'm guessing it involved what happened in the morning.

"Did you want to be on my side, originally?"

Demiza was much closer to Sakigamiya than she was with me. It's only natural that she would want to be on her friend's side rather than mine.

"Mmm... to be truthful, not really. I was kind of swept up in the split and forced to join your side..."

I had automatically included her into my group under the assumption that those who were standing in my defence were now my allies. It seems Demiza had been roped into joining my side and didn't get a chance to switch before things were finalised.

"If I had the choice, I'd rather be in Alice-chan's group. I tried to explain what happened during lunch time, but Alice-chan wasn't having any of it. We argued for a bit before she called me a traitor and kicked me off the table..."

"That's harsh."

I patted her back in consolation.

"Yeah... though, to be honest, eating lunch with everyone in your group is probably the most fun I've had in a long time since enrolling here. Alice-chan and her friends usually talk about things like gossip, which I don't really like. But, when I talked to everyone in your group, it felt a lot more down to earth, if that makes sense."

"I'm glad to hear."

Demiza giggled slightly, flopping onto the soft grass floor. Turning her head to look at me, she sighed blissfully.

"So about that favour of yours, what is it?"

"Oh... well, you main two decks, right?"

"Yep! Might is right and weakness is a sin!"

In other words, Demiza used her father's decks: Claret Sword Dragon and Spectral Duke Dragon.

"Alright, here's what happened."

I explained to her about the plan to deceive D Class by switching our decks to make it different from the information Akari was giving them.

"Makes sense. So, since I used Claret in the last war, you want me to use Spectral in this war?"

"Yeah. Since no one knows that you dual wield two decks, we can use that to our advantage."

"I'm kind of disappointed this is your favour, but I can do it no prob!"

"What were you expecting?"

"A proposal for..."

Demiza pinched her thumb and finger together to create a hole that she slid her other index finger in and out of.

"...you know?"

"I... what do you take me for?"

"A huge pervert~!"

"I'm definitely not that!"

Demiza started to roll around the grass, laughing loudly into the sky.

"You didn't find that funny?"

She was wiping the tears in her eyes from laughing so hard. I shook my head.

"I don't think anyone would find being called a pervert funny..."

"Aww, come on, lighten up a little. You always look so serious."

Demiza closed the distance between us, pinching my cheeks.

"Where's your smile?!"

I wanted to reply, but nothing would come out of my mouth but gibberish since Demiza was still holding onto my face. She started to laugh like a child as she pulled my cheeks up and down, forcing my mouth into a smile.

"Huh... maybe it's for the best you don't smile."

With a slightly disgusted face, Demiza let go of my cheeks. I rubbed off the grass her fingers left on my face.

"...does it look that bad?"

"Mhm, just a little."

"I see..."

I massaged my face gently since Demiza had really shaken it up. I got up, about to return to class to help out with the training.

"Waaaaaaaait!"

"H-hey...!"

Demiza grabbed my arm, pulling me to the ground next to her. We laid on the grass, side by side, centimetres away from each other. My heart started racing a little, I won't lie. Being this close to a girl was scary. She laughed, flicking my forehead.

"You were really gonna leave a lady all alone, huh?"

"I thought you wanted space since you looked so depressed while walking..."

I wriggled myself free from her soft hands.

"Huh? Oh, I guess I was a little bit depressed earlier, but I'm not anymore."

"That's a relief."

"Can't you stay just a little bit longer? Please?"

"While it'd be fun to talk to you some more, I have to help out Yukina and the others prepare for the war. I know you can take it easy since you're already good at Vanguard, but... those guys need all the help they can get."

"Aw... I see. I guess I shouldn't keep them waiting then..."

I noticed Demiza's face grew a little bit sad.

"You should come join us. Flex a bit of your Vanguard knowledge. Show them why you're the daughter of Backlion."

"Eh?"

"I'm being serious. To improve, they need to fight strong cardfighters. You'd be perfect for the job."

"Oh, so you want me to beat the crap out of them, is that it?"

"When you put it that way... yeah."

Demiza sat up, pumping her little fists. She pointed at me with a fierce grin.

"Alright! Because you've been so nice to me, I'll teach them that might is right!"

"Please don't be too harsh... I don't want to crush their spirits."

"Ku ku, I'll try my best."

She could even laugh like her father... terrifying.

"By the way, Takanori-san, I know it's a bit soon, but... umm, can we call each other by our first names?"

"Do as you like. I don't really mind either way."

"Ku ku, thanks Yuuto-san!"

Slowly, bit by bit, I was getting closer to Taiga as well. Together, we returned to class.