The Write Stuff (The Writing Thread)

[CrystalMemoria]

I decided to finish an AichiXMisaki short story thing I started up a long time ago!

“Misaki would be… like a trapped princess.”


Aichi's mind has been stuck on how that thought crossed his mind for a while now. It was innocuous in meaning, but he really should have thought twice before saying it aloud.... Especially since he said it about Misaki of all people.


The context of the sentence in question?


It has been a rather normal day in Card Capital… although the cardfighting has sort of slowed down a bit. During the downtime, Aichi began musing to himself about how he wishes he could be like Blaster Blade. He has always tried very hard to imagine himself like that, and it definitely affects the way he fights… but he's not really there yet. He wishes he could be like Blaster Blade, and somehow the discussion shifted to…


...RPG classes?


Aichi didn't mind this whatsoever. In fact, it was a very fun subject! The idea of RPGs has always been a very exciting one to him, one that sets his imagination alight with ideas and images. Apparently Aichi wouldn't work as a swordsman like Blaster Blade, according to the others though… As disappointing as it is, Aichi has to admit that their recommendation for him felt nice as well. To be a mage like Marron… or perhaps a healer like Elaine!


His other friends were given classes and roles as well. Kamui would be the protagonist because his personality lines up with the role, Miwa would be a merchant that has plenty of wares and information for the party… and many more!


But one moment… one moment Aichi found himself musing when it was suggested that Kai and Misaki would be villains. He hadn't really agreed with it, and he tried to figure out what else would suit them…


He found himself trying to sort through some images of what role Kai would have in his head… the best he can envision is Kai being the extremely powerful ally, the one that can transcend all of the odds… but if you rely on him too much, then you won't get any stronger. It took a while, but he settled for that.


Then it came to thinking up something for Misaki.... It didn't take long for an image to come to mind. Although this one was a tad… different than Kai's. It escaped his lips without much thought, and he now feels that he should have known better than to speak it aloud (or perhaps to even think of it in the first place).


“Misaki would be… like a trapped princess.”


The idea of this stuck in his mind for a moment, and he could clearly picture Princess Misaki stuck in her tower, ready for a knight to save her… However, his thoughts were interrupted by Morikawa, who said she was nothing like that. That's very true… Misaki really isn't, is she…?


...But then Misaki spoke up:


“Wait!”


 That made Aichi freeze. Between Morikawa's comment and Misaki's sudden cutting in, Aichi grew rather fearful. What was he saying? Misaki wouldn't be like some damsel in distress… That's insulting, isn't it? It's not what he meant, but Misaki might have taken it the wrong way… Combined with how she is when she's angry, and…


Well, thankfully it wasn't the case. Misaki actually played along with the idea, in a moment of shockingly good humor. She claimed she would be willing to play the trapped princess… if she was given all the books she wanted, among other things. It was a moment of relief for Aichi, as he was safe from Misaki's wrath.


But now that conversation is long over, everyone's chatting about other subjects, and Aichi finds himself thinking back on it. What even prompted that? He knows better than to assume Misaki couldn't handle herself. He knows that.


He digs through his mind, trying to find something that prompted it… and he silently comes to a conclusion.


Back when he was just a child, not long after he got Blaster Blade from Kai… Aichi developed an interest in knights. He developed a fascination with them thanks to Kai and Blaster Blade, and he used some of his spare time that he couldn't spend playing Vanguard imagining Blaster Blade doing incredible feats, just as a legendary knight would.


Of course, that included rescuing trapped princesses.


“...”


He even tried to imagine himself like that, believe it or not. Mattering enough to someone and being strong enough to rescue a princess from an evil monster. It never worked out in his mind back then, but it was still something he wished he could do.


He wished he could be in that situation. To be someone's knight in shining armor. To make that difference in someone's life.


Aichi stays silent as all of this crosses his mind, and he turns his head to look towards Misaki as he does. He takes a really good look at her.


She wouldn't let herself be a trapped princess, but there had to be a reason he thought of it, right…? Maybe it was just that she was the only girl in his group? That felt a little silly though… Being a girl doesn't make someone a trapped princess, he knows that.


So what could it be?


Maybe, just maybe… Aichi wishes he could be a strong figure for her…? He's seen how tough she is, how she stands up for herself, how she doesn't let things get in her way without a fight. They're all traits he admires in her, even if he never said anything. Traits he wishes he could have as well, but he's just too soft to.


He wouldn't mind being like that for her, too. Someone she can rely on. Someone she can lean on. To be a knight in shining armor for her in her darkest hour...


He'd like this a lot, he feels…


So that's it. It's not that he thinks Misaki is a trapped princess, it's that he wants to be a hero for her. He wants to be someone supporting her just as she supports him.


...Is that strange? He feels a little strange as he thinks it to himself.


…


...Oh dear, has he been staring at Misaki for that long? He quickly turns his head away from her, feeling oddly warm. Just in time, too, as Misaki looks in his direction right after he does. He suddenly feels so awkward, it's difficult to explain.


To be someone for Misaki to rely on… Yes, that's an image he wants to achieve!


If only he didn't feel so odd when he thinks about it...