Chapter 15: Nagisa’s Broken Heart
About one passed since the incident at Shizuma’s villa. Jaden continued his search for the Wicked Gods, though it was somewhat halfhearted. He knew that finding the cards was important, but he couldn’t really focus on them. He was too worried about Nagisa. Chikaru, Kizuna, Remon, and Kagome were the same way, for Nagisa was their friend too. Outwardly, Nagisa seemed like her usual enthusiastic and cheerful self, but they all had to wonder if it was just an act. That afternoon, Jaden and the God Hunter Club were passing by Miator, talking about where they should search next, when they suddenly came across Nagisa.
“Oh, hi guys!” Nagisa greeted in an enthusiastic tone that seemed somewhat insincere. “What are all of you doing here?”
“Hi Nagisa.” Jaden greeted back. “We’re just passing through. How’ve you been?”
“Just great!” Nigisa replied with a grin. “Well, I better get going. I have a lot to duel today. See you guys later!”
With that, Nagisa ran off. Jaden and the others looked on with worried expressions.
“She seemed okay.” Kizuna said, trying to be positive.
“She did seem okay, but I don’t think that she is.” Jaden replied.
A moment later, Tamao walked by, and Jaden decided to take the opportunity to ask the blue haired girl how she thought Nagisa was doing.
“Hey, Tamao!” Jaden called out as he ran up to Tamao. Chikaru and the others were close behind. “You got a minute?”
“Oh, hello Jaden.” Tamao greeted back. “Actually, I’m busy looking for Nagisa.”
“We just saw her.” Chikaru told Tamao. “Though we don’t know where she was going.”
“I see…” Tamao replied with a worried expression.
“How has Nagisa been doing?” Jaden asked.
“Well, she seems happy, but I don’t know.” Tamao replied. “Lately, she’s been throwing herself into her studies. She’s also been challenging every Spica student she sees to a duel, and a few Miator students as well.”
“This isn’t good.” Yubel said as she suddenly appeared behind Jaden.
“I’m actually very worried.” Tamao continued. “I mean, she acts like there’s nothing wrong, but I can’t believe that after what Shizuma did to her.”
Jaden silently agreed. Chikaru nodded at the statement. Kizuna and Remon weren’t entirely sure what to think. There were only two people there who knew for sure that Nagisa was putting on an act. One of them was Yubel. The other was Kagome, though she said nothing. Kagome was usually silent however. The few times that she did speak, it was to claim that her teddy bear, Percival, had told her something. Aside from also being able to see Duel Monster spirits and other supernatural phenomenon, Kagome also had an insight into people as well.
* * *
Later that night, Nagisa was leaving the Miator cafeteria. She had stayed there to do some homework and lost all track of time. On her way out, Nagisa glanced over at the piano in the corner of the room, and remembered the few times that she and Shizuma had played it together. It seemed that almost everything reminded her of Shizuma. She had to forget those times though. It was clear to Nagisa that Shizuma never loved her. All she wanted was a replacement for Kaori, and Nagisa just couldn’t be that. Nagisa shook the memory from her mind and continued out of the room. Just as she was leaving though, Nagisa felt a tug on her arm. She turned and saw that it was Kagome, holding her bear as usual.
“Oh, hello Kagome.” Nagisa greeted. “What are you doing here?”
“…Percival says that you’re really sad.” Kagome replied.
“What’re you talking about? I’m fine.” Nagisa insisted. Kagome only looked at Nagisa with her usual expressionless face. “Really I’m…”
Nagisa couldn’t finish her sentence though. She couldn’t hold it in any longer. Nagisa suddenly broke down and fell to her knees crying. A moment later, Tamao came into the room looking for Nagisa. Once she found her, Tamao managed to calm Nagisa down enough to take her back to their room. Once there, Tamao helped Nagisa get changed for bed.
* * *
The next day, Chikaru had called an emergency meeting of sorts in the classroom that was usually used by the God Hunter Club. Along with Kizuna, Remon, and Kagome, Hikari, Yaya, and Tsubomi were there too. Tamao was also there of course, and so was Chiyo Tsukidate, a shy Miator first-year student that Nagisa and Tamao had befriended at the beginning of the year. All of them were sitting around the room informally, and had gathered to discuss how they could help Nagisa.
“Mind if I join this meeting?” a voice from the doorway asked. Everyone looked to see that it was Jaden.
“You’re more than welcome to join us.” Chikaru replied. “Nagisa is your friend too.”
Jaden entered the room and took a seat between Tsubomi and Tamao. At that point, the meeting resumed.
“Okay, we need to come up with something that will cheer up Nagisa.” Chikaru continued. “Any suggestions?”
The room was silent for a moment. After all, it was hard to come up with something that could cheer up something with a broken heart.
“Um, I have an idea.” Chiyo said nervously, breaking the silence. All eyes were suddenly on the girl with short navy-blue hair. “Nagisa really likes sweets, so why don’t we make her all of her favorite desserts?”
There was a pause over the room for a moment. Chiyo started to think that her suggestion was a bad one.
“That’s a pretty good idea.” Yaya said, breaking the silence.
“I agree!” Tsubomi added enthusiastically.
The rest of the room was also in agreement and all of them, including Jaden, set to work on making Nagisa her favorite sweets. By the end of the day, they had made two cakes, several cookies, and a few brownies. That night, all of them, except for Jaden as he wasn’t really allowed, all went to Nagisa’s room. Nagisa hadn’t felt up to attending classes that day, understandably due to exhaustion. Despite her lack of energy and depressed mode, Nagisa was happy to see her friends, and she did eat a few of the treats that they had made for her. After awhile, everyone except for Tamao had left, and Nagisa once again started to cry.
“What is it?” a concerned Tamao asked.
“I wish I never came here!” Nagisa tearfully answered. “If I hadn’t started attending Miator, I never would’ve met Shizuma and had my heart broken.”
Tamao looked at the sobbing redhead before her for a moment, then smiled as she came up with an idea that might cheer her up.
“Let me tell you a story.” Tamao began. “Once upon a time, there was a girl here at Miator who was usually all alone. Every year she wanted a roommate, but never got one. Then one day a new girl transferred to the school, a very cute and energetic redhead. And that girl became the roommate that the lonely girl had been wishing for. From that moment on, the lonely girl had found happiness.”
“Tamao… are you that girl in the story?” Nagisa asked. Tamao smiled and nodded.
“I know that you’ve had your heart broken by Shizuma, but I’m very happy that you came here.” Tamao added. Nagisa broke down again and hugged Tamao.
* * *
Back at the head mistress’ mansion, Jaden was looking out the window of his guestroom thoughtfully. He glanced over at a mirror hanging on the wall to his right and saw Yubel in place of his own reflection. The Duel Monster had a troubled expression on her face.
“What’s bugging you?” Jaden asked as he turned to the mirror.
“Am I being that obvious?” Yubel asked, turning in the mirror to face Jaden.
“You usually don’t appear in the mirror like that unless something’s bothering you.” Jaden replied.
“I’m a little worried about something.” Yubel responded.
“About Nagisa?” Jaden asked.
“Partly…” Yubel answered. “What I’m worried about most is what might happen if Nagisa finds one of the Wicked Gods. She’s suffering from a bad breakup, and if she finds one of those cards, she might go into a rage and destroy everything and everyone around her.”
“You think it’d be that bad?” Jaden asked, shocked by Yubel’s theory.
“Look at how I acted when you rejected me.” Yubel replied. “I know that our relationship is a bit different, but I kind of know where Nagisa is at right now.”
Jaden looked back out the window and thought about what Yubel had said. It had never occurred to him that one of his friends on the island might come across one of the Wicked Gods, or how they might corrupt them. It made finding the cards much more urgent.
* * *
A little later that night, back in Nagisa and Tamao’s room, Nagisa had fallen asleep. Tamao was getting ready to go to bed herself. She looked over at her sleeping roommate, quietly walked over to her bed, and kneeled down beside it.
“There’s something else I wanted to tell you tonight my Nagisa.” Tamao whispered. “I… love you.”
