You can't help but let out a soft groan as you slowly awaken, feeling something bouncing up and down on your chest. Blurrily opening your eyes, you behold Brownie hopping energetically on you, his little body vibrating with excitement. His brothers are nearby, bouncing from wall to wall in your small apartment with their usual derpy, blank expressions.
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You sigh and gently place a hand on Brownie—whether it's his head or body doesn't really matter—to hold him steady and stop the relentless bouncing. It had been a few days since you won the Duelist Kingdom tournament and had been crowned King of Games. During that time, you had taken it easy, doing a few interviews here and there but mostly relaxing at home. All the while, you were starting to notice some of the side-effects from becoming one with Hades.
One of those effects was the source of your current predicament. Even though most of Agesander's power had faded, it had fundamentally changed you. From what Ruby said, you were now just stronger spiritually than before, which meant you could fully see duel-spirits—no longer just Ruby and Hades.
...Though even with how annoying these little shits could be, as you look down at Brownie's adorable face, practically vibrating in your palm, you couldn't say you hated the result.
Your train of thought is suddenly interrupted as Ruby manifests at your side. She reaches down, carefully scooping up Brownie from your hand and cradling him against her chest while glaring down at him.
"What did I tell you about bouncing around 'Kotos room when he's asleep?! Bad boy! Bad!" Ruby scolds, her voice sharp but affectionate. You slowly get up, a light chuckle escaping you as Brownie continues his perpetual blank expression.
"Heh, I suppose the timing wasn't the worst. My alarm was going to go off in half an hour anyway," you comment lazily, heading toward the kitchen. Ruby follows behind, still clutching Brownie as the rest of the boys continue bouncing around your apartment, completely unconcerned.
As you start preparing coffee and breakfast, a faint weight manifests on your shoulder. Looking over, you see Ray—your faithful Ritual Raven—nuzzling her face against your cheek. You chuckle softly, reaching up to scratch her under her chin as she coos happily.
"Ha, but you'd never wake me up early, would you, Ray? You're a good girl," you praise softly. She responds by nuzzling into you even harder.
Your attention shifts to Ruby, who hops up onto the counter next to you, kicking her feet idly as she pets Brownie. "So, what's the plan for today, 'Koto? Another lazy day practicing magic?" she asks, curiosity evident in her voice.
You've been trying to get a handle on your newfound abilities but, honestly, progress has been slow. Without Hades or Samara's help, you can barely muster a faint purple aura around your hand. You'd hoped Samara might have some useful advice, but when you asked, she just shrugged and said you merely needed to "Want it." Whatever that meant.
"Nah, I think it's about time to get back to it," you reply, buttering your toast. "Thinking of visiting Yugi and the rest—make sure everything's okay with his grandpa and all that."
Ruby's eyes perk up instantly. "Oooh! Does that mean we get to visit Bestie?!" she squealed, bouncing with excitement.
You chuckle, knowing Ruby enjoyed tormenting Tea. And considering how Tea couldn't even look at you without completely flushing red you had a pretty good idea of her particular brand of torment. "Probably. Given how tight they are, I doubt they're far from Yugi's game shop," you say as you settle in to eat your breakfast.
Ruby cheers again, playfully tossing Brownie into the air. The little spirit begins bouncing around the kitchen like a pinball, Ruby giggling at her antics. "Yes! I can't wait to see her! I've already thought up like a dozen things to show her!"
Heh, you're looking forward to it too. As you pull out your phone and call your personal driver—you'd hired one with the money Kaiba paid you—you can't help but reflect on the unexpected windfall.
And hadn't that been a surprise? The moment you returned, your bank called about an enormous deposit from KaibaCorp. Guess Kaiba's pride wouldn't let you go unrewarded. To be honest, with the amount of money he'd left you, you could live in luxury for the rest of your life— and have enough for your great-grandkids to do the same.
It was a comforting thought, knowing you'd never have to worry about money again. You'd earned every bit of it. If not for you, Pegasus would have beaten Kaiba—this was the least he could do to thank you for letting him touch your cards.
Finishing your breakfast, you stand and go to get dressed before heading outside. Ray still perches on your shoulder, Ruby floats behind you, eager to get moving. Together, you head out toward Yugi's place, ready for whatever the day might bring.
-x-X-x-
You step out of your driver's car and gaze up at the modest storefront of the Kame Game Shop.
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For a moment, you blink in confusion—your expectations had been a little more… opulent, considering Yugi's rare cards and the fact he had a Millennium Item. But no, this was a humble little store, completely unassuming.
Then again, most people probably felt the same when they saw your apartment. So you had no room to judge.
You wave off your driver, telling him you'll shoot him a text when you need a pickup. He nods silently and drives off without question, leaving you alone in front of the store.
…Man, this whole being rich thing is going to take some getting used to.
Still, you have a job to do. Better get inside.
The "Open" sign glints in the door's window as you push it open, stepping into the store's quiet, familiar atmosphere. The walls are lined with shelves and display cases filled with cards, games, and various merchandise. Behind the counter, a familiar old man looks up from where he's tidying some cards, his eyes lighting up the moment he sees you.
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The old man's face breaks into a warm, welcoming smile. His voice is friendly and familiar, carrying a tone of genuine kindness. "Ah, a customer! What can I help you with today, young man?"
You pause inside, then shake your head at his question, offering a simple smile in return. "Actually, I'm not here to buy anything today. Just here to check on you—not sure how much Yugi told you about everything that happened, but I knew about your…" You trail off trying to think of how to phrase this. "…Situation, so thought I'd make sure everything turned out okay."
The old man's eyes brighten at your words. "Ah, you're the nice young man Yugi mentioned! Yugi told me what you did—and I've got to thank you. Thanks to you, my old soul is still around to see another day!" He chuckles warmly, and you can't help but smile back.
"Don't mention it," you reply casually, a cocky grin creeping onto your face. "Did what anyone else would've done—just happened to be the one talented enough to pull it off."
He laughs heartily, nodding in agreement. "Well, I'll be sure to tell Yugi that. And as a token of my appreciation, I'd like to offer you some packs—on the house. Just ten, but it's the least I can do."
He gestures warmly behind him toward the display of booster packs lined up on the shelves. Your eyes light up at the prospect of more cards—more tools for your deck.
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After opening your gifted packs and revealing some pretty damn impressive cards, you carefully place your newfound treasures into your deck box. As you do, your attention is suddenly drawn to the entrance of the store—the bell above the door jingles as someone steps inside.
"Grandpa! I'm back!" Yugi calls out happily as he enters, followed by his friends. His eyes immediately sweep over you, and they widen slightly in surprise.
Before you can even lift a hand in greeting, Ruby manifests beside you with a flash, then quickly launches herself toward Tea—whose eyes barely have time to widen before she's engulfed in a massive bear hug.
"BESTIE!!!" Ruby squeals, tackling Tea with enough force to nearly knock her over. Tea instinctively takes a cautious step back, her expression a mix of surprise and mild embarrassment.
You chuckle softly at their interaction, watching as Joey and Tristan exchange amused glances at Tea, who now rubs Ruby's back awkwardly—used to Ruby's exuberance after their cruise back to the mainland.
"...Is it the redhead spirit again?" Tristan asks, raising an eyebrow. Tea nods, her cheeks flushing slightly as Ruby continues to nuzzle her affectionately before leaning up and beginning to whisper something in her ear, immediately causing her to go red.
You decide to ignore the scene for now, instead focusing on Yugi. Whose watching Ruby and Tea with a mix of curiosity and fondness.
Walking up to him, you clap a hand on his shoulder to get his attention. "How's it been, man? I finally had some free time, so I thought I'd drop by and see if everything's good with your grandpa. Looks like everything turned out the way we hoped," you say, nodding toward the old man reading the newspaper peacefully.
A small smile touches Yugi's face. "Yeah, I couldn't have done it without you, Makoto. You're a true friend," he replies sincerely.
You chuckle awkwardly, feeling a little uncomfortable with such genuine gratitude. "Heh, I just did what anyone would do. Don't mention it, dude."
Yugi seems about to insist, but you cut him off quickly before things can get mushy.
"Well, I should get going," you say, feigning nonchalance. "Being the King of Games keeps a guy busy, ya know?" You glance at your watch, planning to head back to your apartment, maybe call your manager about upcoming tournaments worth a damn, or even check in with Mai—though you've been waiting for her to call, and she still hasn't, you didn't want to seem clingy or desperate by reaching out first.
Ruby pouts at your abrupt departure but hops off Tea and floats behind you as you head toward the door. The others call out farewell as you reach for the handle.
Suddenly, the door swings open with force, and a figure steps inside—his glare burning into you with obvious hostility.
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You raise an eyebrow, curious about what his problem is. He straightens up, smirking smarmily.
"Well, well, well," he drawls. "I gotta admit, I didn't think I'd manage to find you this easily, Makoto Yuzuki. But I guess today's my lucky day." His hands are shoved in his pockets, ignoring everyone else, his eyes locked onto yours.
You copy his stance, slipping your hands into your pockets and raising an unimpressed brow. "Oh? Who are you then? Never seen your ugly mug before," you reply with a bored tone.
"Hey now! Duke's not ugly—" a voice cuts in from behind him, but stops abruptly as you notice three girls in cheerleader outfits standing nearby. One of them, who had been reprimanding you earlier, now turns red as she catches sight of you.
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... This guy better not be stealing your shtick before you even get the chance to start.
You shoot them a smirk and a wink, then turn your focus back to Duke.
"Well? I'm waiting. If you've got nothing to say, then get out of my way and stop wasting my time," you say firmly, narrowing your eyes. Duke matches your glare, both of you locked in a tense standoff.
"Hmph. I suppose I should get on with it, quicker I deal with you the better" he snaps, his glare turning frostier. "I challenge you to a duel. I don't buy that you beat Pegasus fair-and-square. No way an egotistical windbag like you managed that without cheating, especially with all the 'tech issues' during the match," he sneers, implying you staged the victory.
"So, watching you strut around, chest puffed out like the world's ugliest peacock, really gets on my nerves. I want to prove to everyone that you're a fraud," he finishes, voice thick with anger.
You feel your hackles rise at his bullshit accusations, but you keep your cool—barely.
"Heh, a Pegasus fanboy, are you? Upset that I kicked your hero's ass to the curb?" you taunt, smirking insufferably.
Duke's face flushes deep red, but he glares even harder. "Tch! Keep your playground taunts to yourself. Are you gonna accept my challenge, or are you just gonna run away like the coward you are?" he snaps.
Honestly, you don't have any reason to accept. There's no real benefit—win or lose, it doesn't matter to you. Besides, nobody would believe him if he tried to claim you ran away.
But the thought of this smug little bastard feeling so self-satisfied from "proving" himself right… well, that just irked you enough to consider it.
Plus…
Your eyes flicker, dropping to the three girls behind Duke—eyes that seem to flicker between you and him, like a tennis match.
You'd hate to disappoint some future fans.
With a sigh, you shrug, feigning nonchalance.
"Haaa… I suppose it'd be rude of me to say no, considering how worked up you look," you say, smirking again. "I get it. With Pegasus MIA, you're probably not getting the "attention" you're used to. And while I can't do what Pegasus did, I'll gladly give you a taste of what I gave him."
Duke's face reddens further from anger, but he turns and waves a hand for you to follow him with a fierce glare.
Heh. You could get used to crushing little upstarts who think they can step to the King.
-x-X-x-
You follow behind Duke, your future fangirls trailing eagerly, along with Yugi and the gang, their curiosity piqued by the unexpected turn of events.
Your gaze shifts from Duke's confident stride to the shop he leads you into—Black Clown, a new gameshop perched just across the street from Kame Game. The storefront is freshly painted, a bright banner proclaiming its grand opening fluttering in the breeze. The windows display a variety of upcoming releases and special offers, but what catches your eye is the sign announcing the store's opening date—soon.
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Duke pulls out a key and unlocks the door, stepping inside with a flourish. You follow, the scent of fresh cardboard and ink filling the air. But suddenly, Duke comes to a halt, turning to face you with a note of frustration shadowing his confident facade.
"...I had hoped to take you on in another game entirely, if I'm being honest," he admits, voice tinged with annoyance. "But the arena for that still has some kinks to work out. And I'm not the type to let opportunities like this pass me by." His gaze narrows as he gestures toward the shelves lined with packs.
"So how about this—let's do a sealed match instead. Fifty packs from any of the shelves to build our decks. And as a little bonus—if you manage to beat me—I'll let you keep the cards you pull," he offers, a sly smile curling on his lips.
You raise an eyebrow, surprised by the proposal. It's been years since you last played a sealed game.
Yugi steps up beside you, his expression cautious but supportive. "Are you sure about this, Makoto? Playing with cards you don't have a connection with can be tricky," he warns, his voice serious.
You smirk down at him, giving his shoulder a reassuring pat. "Heh, no need to worry, Yugi. I wouldn't be the King of Games if a little thing like this could throw me off." You turn your gaze to Duke with a confident glint. "Sure thing! If you're offering free cards, who am I to say no?"
Your eyes scan the shelves of packs—what to choose? Duelist packs, special editions, booster boxes? The options are vast.
Now, what to pick?
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You decide to go with the Dragon pack as your primary lineup—pretty much a safe bet. There's hardly a bad dragon card out there, so your odds of pulling something useful are pretty good.
As you walk over to grab the packs, suddenly Ruby appears beside you, her mischievous smile widening as she reaches out and grabs your wrist.
You glance at her questioningly, wary of saying anything aloud—better not to look schizophrenic in front of Duke and his cheerleaders.
Ruby just grins slyly and nods toward the shelf holding the Arcane Might packs.
"Hmm, trust me, 'Koto," she purrs. "Grab some of those instead. I have a *REALLY* good feeling about it~." Her confidence is so genuine that it makes you seriously consider it.
…What the hell—she hadn't led you wrong yet.
You abandon your original plan to pick dragon packs and head toward the Arcane Might shelf, grabbing a few packs. Meanwhile, Duke's eyes narrow as he watches your move, clearly suspicious.
"...I'm surprised to see you going for the Spellcaster packs," he comments, reaching for some generic spells and traps. "They've got strong stuff on the high end, but most of the commons and rares are pretty trash."
You follow swiftly, grabbing some generic spell and trap packs of your own, as Duke grabs some LIGHT and DARK megaboxes, obviously knowing they're versatile enough for a variety of decks.
"Guess I'm just feeling lucky," you say cockily, flashing a grin as you snatch the last of your packs. Duke begins heading toward a nearby elevator, and you all follow behind him.
Inside the elevator, Duke begins tearing into his packs with methodical precision, flipping through his cards as if he's analyzing every one.
You turn to Tea with a flirtatious grin, holding out a few packs. "Mind helping me open a few? Always good luck to have a pretty girl open a pack," you say, giving her a wink.
Tea blushes, but she reaches out and takes the packs, her fingers trembling slightly as she begins to open them. You quickly follow suit, tearing into your own packs and going through your pulls.
Unfortunately, nothing too insane—Witch of the Black Forest was nice, and Magical Dimension could be useful. Injection Fairy Lily? Not so much under the Duelist Kingdom format, and Ruby hissed in your ear the moment you pulled a Time Wizard, urging you to put him away. Instead, she transformed an Old Vindictive Magician you pulled into a Young Petty Magician.
Not exactly the dream pulls, but you figure you can make something work.
Suddenly, your focus shifts as Tea gasps, leaning forward with excitement, clearly captivated by her pulls.
Everyone turns to her, curious, but she seems lost in her own world for a moment.
"Hey Makoto," she whispers, showing you her pulls with a bright, excited smile. "These are pretty good, aren't they?"
You stare at the cards—
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. ....You were going to fucking kiss this girl when this was all over.
Barely holding back the urge to shove your tongue down Tea's throat right then and there, you instead focus on assembling your deck with a grin stretching from ear to ear. You're practically vibrating with excitement—like a kid on Christmas morning. Honestly, you're pretty damn happy with what you managed to put together. Sure, there are some cards you'd tweak, but for a sealed duel? This was more than enough.
Once finished, you and Duke step out of the elevator—into a makeshift duel room that still looks like it's under construction. Leftover equipment and scattered stands give the place an unfinished vibe, but as Duke notices your gaze drifting, he quickly speaks up.
"Ah, don't worry. Like I said, I'm having it modified for a different game. Still a work-in-progress, but it'll do for dueling," he assures with a smirk, heading over to one of the duel pods. You follow suit, placing your deck onto the pod.
As the arena lights flicker on, Duke smirks again, raising his hand high and snapping his fingers. Instantly, the room is illuminated brightly, revealing a nearby camera recording the arena—an impromptu broadcast.
"Heh, can't exactly prove you're a fraud to the world if we keep this private, right?" he says with a sly grin. "I'd have liked more time to turn this into a proper spectacle, but I'll make do with this."
He draws his opening hand, eyes gleaming with anticipation. You follow suit, a confident smirk creeping onto your face.
"Ha! If you want to turn this little humiliation session into a public spectacle, be my guest," you taunt, voice dripping with amusement. "Though I didn't think you'd be into this kind of play~." The challenge in your tone makes his scowl deepen, clearly annoyed you're not giving him the reaction he was hoping for.
"Tch. We'll see how long you keep that attitude when I knock you into the dirt," he grunts, beginning his turn. He draws and inspects his hand before slamming down his first card.
"Let's kick things off with Curse of Dragon in attack mode!" Duke declares, slamming the card onto the field. A majestic, golden dragon with 2000 ATK materializes, wings spread wide. "Next, I set two cards face-down and end my turn!"
His cheerleaders erupt into cheers at his move, clapping and shouting support. But your focus sharply shifts as Ruby suddenly manifests right beside Tea and the others—startling her and Yugi.
Ruby turns to Tea, grabbing her hand and lifting it into the air with a bright smile. "Come on, Bestie! We can't let those ugly sluts beat us! We gotta cheer for 'Koto!" she squeals, bouncing with excitement.
Her outfit suddenly morphs into a cheerleader uniform—short skirt, pom-poms, the whole nine yards.
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---------->
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…Damn, you wonder if you should pause the duel just so Tea can get a matching cheerleader outfit, though judging by how crimson her face is turning, maybe that's not such a good idea.
With Ruby dragging her into the cheer, Tea hesitantly joins in, her voice barely above a whisper. "G-Go Makoto!"
Ruby squeals happily, bouncing again, her cheerleading outfit bouncing in sync. "Yeah! Go, go Makoto!"
Yugi quickly buries his beet redface in his hands, obviously embarassed and not trusting his eyes not to wander to the spectacle going on right besides him, even as Joey and Tristan ask whats up.
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Unfortunately for the moment you have to look away as your turn begins, drawing and getting Card Destruction, though as you inspect your hand you highly doubt you'll be using it.
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"For now," you say with a smirk, "I think I'll just set two cards face-down and end my turn. Looks like you've got me on the ropes, Duke—I'm happy for you~." Your tone is playful, almost condescending, as you lean into the teasing edge, hoping to frustrate him into overextending.
You meet his glare with a calm, confident expression, your eyes gleaming with amusement. The game has only just begun, and you're deliberately baiting him, waiting for him to make a mistake.
Behind your smirk, your mind races—this is about baiting out his resources, forcing him to go all-in before you strike back with everything you've got. You're holding back, playing the long game, knowing that patience and misdirection are your best weapons.
Duke's eyes narrow, clearly annoyed at your taunt, but he quickly shifts into a more aggressive stance. He draws his next card, eyes flickering with determination, ready to press his advantage.
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Unfortunately, it seems Duke is experienced enough to not fall for your bait. He takes a deep breath, carefully inspecting his hand instead of rushing into a reckless move. After a few tense seconds, he narrows his eyes, a hint of a smirk forming as he commits.
"Go, Curse of Dragon! Destroy his monster—Molten Cinders!" Duke roars, throwing his arm forward with confidence.
The Curse of Dragon leans back, flames swirling around its maw as it unleashes a blazing fireball directly at your set card—Witch of the Black Forest. The flames engulf her, and she's destroyed in a flash.
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Duke's eyes narrow in frustration, clearly aware of what's about to happen next.
"Ha! Looks like you know what her effect does," you declare dramatically, voice full of theatrical flair. "But I'll explain for our captive audience at home! When Witch of the Black Forest leaves the field, I get to add one monster with 1500 or less DEF from my deck to my hand!"
Ruby squeals excitedly in the background, waving her pom-poms wildly. Tea blushes but smiles softly, even if she's a little embarrassed by Ruby's enthusiasm.
Now, what to grab?
Heh, was that really even a question? You swiftly grab your deck, shuffling with practiced ease until you find your Silent Magician. You reveal her confidently to Duke, who just scowls—his annoyance clear as day, knowing exactly what she does.
Adding her to your hand, you smirk smugly at Duke, not even bothering to hide your amusement. You're not trying to rattle him—just unable to resist the urge to show off a little.
Duke inspects his hand for a moment, frustration flickering across his face. Without hesitation, he picks up one of his cards and slams it onto the field.
"I activate my Swords of Revealing Light! Making it so you're unable to attack for three turns!" he declares proudly, ending his turn.
"Eh? Why's Duke activating that now, Yuge? Makoto's got no monsters on the field!" Joey asks, scratching his head in confusion as he watches the move.
Yugi leans in, thoughtful. Obviously choosing to ignore Ruby bouncing besides him. "Hmm, maybe the monster Makoto added to his hand has more attack points than Curse of Dragon? But even then, using Swords so early does seem a bit premature…" he trails off, clearly trying to analyze the situation.
Heh, you suppose you should expect as much from a card shop owner. Duke's familiar with Silent Magician's effect—if he didn't use Swords now, he might never get the chance. Her negation ability is powerful, and this was a smart move on his part.
...Not that you'd ever admit that aloud.
You lean back slightly, a confident grin on your face, eyes gleaming with anticipation as the game unfolds further.
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You draw and get your second Sword of Deep Seated.
…Okay not the best, but considering Silent Magicians effect, just having more cards in your hand was never bad.
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Deciding it's probably best to keep Silent Magician in reserve for now—don't want to leave her open on the field doing nothing while Swords is up—you opt for a different approach. You reach out and set your Dark Magician on your side of the field with a confident smirk.
"Man, Duke, you really do have me on the total defensive here," you say dramatically, sighing as if the entire situation is a huge burden. "Maybe I should just forfeit…"
Duke's eyes narrow, and he scowls sharply, clearly annoyed by your teasing. He's already getting heated, his frustration bubbling just beneath the surface.
"Tsk, you'll wish you had once I'm through with you," he growls, voice thick with determination. His hands tighten into fists, readying himself for what's next.
Your audience, however, looks a little confused at the back-and-forth—unsure why Duke seems to on-edge even though by all accounts he was in total control of the duel right now.
Heh, they'll learn soon enough~
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Duke draws, biting his lip as he considers his hand, frustration flickering across his face. After a tense moment, he huffs in annoyance.
"Tsk! Curse of Dragon! Attack his set monster—Molten Cinders!" he yells, slamming his hand forward again.
But this time, luck isn't on his side.
As the fireball hurtles toward your set card, it flips unexpectedly—revealing your latest ace: the Dark Magician. With a casual flick of his staff, your Dark Magician annihilates the fiery attack, the embers raining down harmlessly on Duke, dealing 100 damage to his Life Points as he flinches.
Gasps ripple through the stands. Yugi, Joey, Tristan—all of them stare in disbelief as your new monster commands the field.
"Hold on a sec—" Tristan exclaims, pointing. "Ain't that the Dark Magician?"
"Yeah! But he's got a different color scheme than Yugis, just like with the Black Luster Soldier!" Joey adds, eyes wide.
Yugi just stares, surprised but impressed. You turn to them with a smug grin. "What can I say? Owe it all to Tea," you say, flashing a wink toward her. "Thanks again, beautiful. You really are my lucky charm~." You blow her a kiss, and she blushes ever so prettily, as she freezes up.
Ruby pouts from the side, throwing her pom-pom-filled hands in the air. "Hey! What about me?! If it weren't for me, you'd be stuck with that dragon pack, stupid!"
You wink at her and blow her a kiss too, confident that the crowd watching will just assume you're teasing Tea once again.
Your attention is ripped back to the duel as Duke suddenly pipes up, voice full of fire.
"We're not done here! It doesn't matter if you got some lucky pulls—once I beat you, I'm taking those cards right back!" he snaps, setting one card facedown and ending his turn with a scowl.
You turn your smirk back on him, eyes gleaming with amusement. "Aww, how cute. You still think you stand a chance… That's adorable~." You coo, watching his face turn red with frustration. Before he can blow up in anger, he takes a deep breath, trying to compose himself.
Duke narrows his eyes and suddenly offers a new challenge. "...How about this then? Let's up the stakes. If you somehow manage to beat me, I'll let you take one card from my deck. I pulled two Secret Rares, by the way. But when I beat you, then you have to be my slave for a week—doing whatever I say."
The words hang in the air, thick with tension.
You smirk, your confidence unwavering. "I'm game. Though, unfortunately for you—and whatever depraved things you had in mind—I won't be your slave," you say with a shrug, shooting him a teasing wink. "Though I can't fault your taste."
Duke scowls at that, obviously frustrated that nothing he did seemed to come even close to cracking your composure.
Ahh, this was it, this was what you lived for, grinding cocky little shits like him into the dirt as all they could do was grit their teeth and desperately try to stop you.
But it was time to teach him, that would never happen.
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You draw your card, and a sly smirk spreads across your face as your eyes lock onto Magical Dimension in your hand.
Sometimes, you almost felt a little bad for your opponents. Almost. But honestly, it was their fault for daring to challenge you in the first place. If they didn't want to get burned, they shouldn't have stepped into the ring.
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You smirk confidently as you place Magical Dimension face-up before launching into your big move.
"Heh, unfortunately for my Dark Magician, he won't be sticking around for long," you yell out, eyes gleaming with excitement. "I'm sure you know what's coming next, Duke!"
Without hesitation, you reach into your hand and grab your Silent Magician. Her presence slowly appearing on the field is almost hypnotic—her aura glowing with pure white energy as your Dark Magician is enveloped in a radiant cocoon.
"By tributing one Spellcaster monster on my side of the field, I summon my Silent Magician—come forth!" you declare, throwing your hand forward dramatically.
In a flash, the cocoon shatters, and your Silent Magician bursts onto the field in a swirl of shimmering light. Her graceful figure stands tall, ready for battle.
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Your grin turns almost feral as her ATK surges to 3000, matching the might of Kaiba's Blue-Eyes.
"As you can see, my Silent Magician has quite the effect," you boast proudly. "She gains 500 ATK for each card in my hand, and with four in my hand—well, that's a total of 3000!"
The audience reacts with awe—whispered exclamations and wide-eyed amazement ripple through Yugi and the others, along with Duke's cheerleaders. All except one.
"Oh hey! It's Silent! Look over here, bitch! It's me! Look, look!" Ruby shouts, bouncing up and down wildly—doing amazing things to her body—and waving her arms and doing her best to catch your monster's attention.
Unfortunately, Silent Magician remains unmoved—her gaze fixed forward, her expression serene. No response, no flicker of recognition.
…Looks like Silent didn't possess a spirit.
Shame. You could always use more cute girls around.
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You turn your focus back to Duke, a sly smirk playing across your lips as you prepare to savor his frustration.
But—wait. You notice something odd. Duke's expression isn't the angry, annoyed scowl you expected. Instead, it's a strange smirk.
…Oh you'd enjoy wiping the smug look off his face.
Duke draws his card with a quick, decisive motion, not even bothering to consider it. Without hesitation, he slams another card from his hand onto the field.
"We'll see how long your magician lasts when faced with this! Come on out, Starry Night, Starry Dragon!" he roars, voice filled with confidence.
On his side of the field, a radiant, almost blindingly white dragon materializes, towering over everything else. Its shimmering scales and majestic wings cast a glow that eclipses even the Curse of Dragon, its presence overwhelming.
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--------->
.
.....Well, you knew what card you'd be taking from him when you won~
Duke, oblivious to your mood, smirks back, clearly believing he's gained the upper hand.
"My Starry Night has an effect of its own," Duke announces, voice full of pride. "When it's summoned, I can destroy one card on the field—and I choose your Silent Magician!"
He points triumphantly at your silent sorceress. "Go, Starry Night! Destroy her with StarBurst Barrage!"
The sparkling aura surrounding his dragon intensifies, glowing brighter as it channels its energy into its attack. The beam of radiant light erupts from Starry Night, hurtling straight toward your Silent Magician.
.
---------->
.
You decide to do nothing, merely smirking as the stars collide with your Silent Magician, destroying her in a flash. Smoke billows across your field as she disappears, and you take 1500 damage.
"Ha!" Duke bursts out with a triumphant laugh, clearly pleased to have rid himself of your boss monster. "I told you, Yuzuki! You're nothing but a fraud and a joke! There's no way someone like you could beat Pegasus!"
You keep your smirk steady, letting him have his moment. But then, almost casually, you pipe up: "Oh? You're talking like you've already won, Duke. But I assure you, me and Silent aren't done with you yet~." Your voice is smooth, almost purring with delight.
Duke scowls through the smoke, voice dripping with derision. "Get real! Your monster is dead and gone! And she can only be special summoned by her own effect—so if you were planning to revive her, you're out of luck!"
"Oh-ho? You really know her effects well, don't you, Duke?" you reply, a teasing lilt to your voice. "Well, then you should know she has one more effect—the one that activates when she's destroyed…"
Duke's eyes widen as the smoke begins to dissipate, revealing your field. Your far from empty field.
His hands slam onto his duel pod, voice rising in shock and fury. "T-There's no way! You already pulled a Dark Magician and your Silent Magician—there's no way you managed to get another Ultra!"
You chuckle softly, cocky as ever. "Heh. Looks like having a pretty girl open packs for you really does bring good luck, huh?" You shoot Tea a wink before turning your attention to your monster. "Allow me to introduce my Silent Magician LV8!"
As you get your first good look at her, your slightly surprised. She looks much the same—robes, hip-window—though whoever designed her clearly thought that, being level 8, she should have some greater assets.
.
-------------->
.
..... Fuck, you really were disappointed she didn't have a spirit now.
(+1 Ego Counter)
.
-------------->
.
Duke's jaw clenches so tightly you'd swear you can hear the creaking of his teeth. He closes his eyes, takes a deep, calming breath, and finally exhales slowly.
"...Whatever. I don't care how absurd your luck is," he grits out through clenched teeth. "It takes more than powerful cards to make a good duelist. And I'll prove that right here—by beating you, right now!"
He sets one card facedown and ends his turn, glaring fiercely across the table. The tension is thick, but you're already savoring the moment. This is what you live for—the thrill of the duel, the mind games, the chaos.
And this? This is just the beginning.
.
--------------->
.
You simply grin smugly at Duke in response to his heated words, your eyes gleaming with confidence. "We'll have to see about that, Duke! But for now… it's my turn!" you declare, voice full of playful determination.
You reach out and draw the top card of your deck, your anticipation building with every second. Your eyes widen slightly as you see what you've pulled—your second Dark Magician Girl. A broad smile spreads across your face.
"God, I love being me," you mutter with a satisfied chuckle, clutching the card in your hand. You add her to your hand along with her sister, already contemplating your next move.
.
----------->
.
You grin, deciding to keep things straightforward for now, aiming to bait out whatever response Duke has hidden with his three backrow.
"To start with, I'll equip my Silent Magician LV8 with my set Sword of Deep Seated!" you declare dramatically, as a massive, dark blade materializes in her hands. The weapon gleams with ominous power, and her ATK surges all the way to 4000.
"And since you're so familiar with my cards, you should know her effect, Duke! She's completely unaffected by all your spell cards—so your Swords of Revealing Light's pathetic defense means nothing to her!" you shout, voice full of confidence. "Go, Silent Magician! Destroy his Curse of Dragon and wipe out the rest of his Life Points—Magical Deep Slash!"
Silent Magician narrows her eyes, the sword glowing with deadly energy. She darts forward, the blade wound up high, ready to cut through her opponent's monster in a flash.
.
------------>
.
But just as the attack is about to land, Duke's voice cuts through the tension.
"Not so fast, Yuzuki!" he snaps, flipping over one of his set cards. "I activate Shadow Spell! And contrary to the name, it's a trap card—so it can affect your Silent Magician just fine!"
With a sinister hiss, the card flips up and unleashes a dozen chains that shoot forward, spiraling through the air to try and ensnare your Silent Magician.
.
-------------->
.
Ultimately, this doesn't do much for Duke beyond halting your Silent Magician—she's still on the field, and all you'd need is to draw a backrow removal card, and she'd be back in play. No need to waste Magical Dimension here.
As the chains slowly coil around her, binding her in place and stopping her from moving, a part of you can't deny the view is another benefit…
.
-------------->
.
Silent Magician strains against her bonds, her expression almost seeming vaguely embarassed. The sound of Ruby letting out a loud wolf whistle in the background briefly catches your attention, but you ignore her, instead focusing on Duke with a smug grin.
"Heh, is this the kind of thing you're into, Duke?" you sing teasingly, eyes glinting. "I really have to win now—unless I want to fall into your depraved hands~."
Duke's face immediately flushes crimson—clearly embarrassed, his cheeks burning. "L-Like hell it is! Shut up before you ruin my reputation!" he yells, voice full of flustered rage.
You just click your tongue, shrugging with exaggerated nonchalance.
"Ahh, and here I thought I was about to earn some respect for your good taste," you mock, voice dripping with sarcasm as Duke's face turns even redder.
"In any case," you say, voice calm but triumphant, "I'll end my turn here. Let's see what you can do, Duke."
With your words, the last of Duke's Swords of Revealing Light finally fades away, leaving him wide open to attack once more. Well—if you can get past his dragons.
.
------------>
.
Duke draws, and his expression twists into an ugly mask of frustration and anger. His jaw clenches so tightly that you almost expect him to grind his teeth.
"I—I end my turn…" he manages through gritted teeth, voice strained with barely contained fury.
You throw your head back and let out a loud bark of laughter, the sound echoing through the duel arena.
"Oh, come on, Duke!" you tease, voice full of amusement. "And after all that big talk! What was it you said?" You tap your chin mockingly, pretending to ponder. "Ah, yes—'It takes more than powerful cards to make a good duelist. And I'll prove that right here—by beating you, right now!'" You emphasize each word with exaggerated seriousness.
Letting out a snort, you add, "Right now must have a different meaning for you," taunting him as his face flushes even deeper with rage.
Finally, Duke's patience snaps. His voice erupts like a volcano. "KEEP TALKING! Once I crush you next turn, we'll see who's laughing!"
He grips his duel pod tightly, trying to regain his composure, but the veins in his neck are bulging, and his eyes burn with fiery determination.
You just smirk, raising an eyebrow in mock innocence, eyes glinting with mischief.
"...And who said you'd be getting another turn, Duke?"
.
------------->
.
The arena seems to freeze at your words, everyone holding their breath, unsure if you're serious or just blowing hot air. But you know better—sometimes, actions speak louder than words.
Well, it's best to show them then, isn't it?
Reaching to the top of your deck, you focus all your willpower, commanding your cards to give you exactly what you need. Your hand inches closer, and with a smooth, deliberate motion, you pick up the top card—Fissure.
A dark smirk spreads across your face as you look at it. Even if they're new cards, it's clear they still recognize who the king is.
Heh. Its good to see you hadn't lost your touch since Duelist Kingdom. But enough talk. It's time to end this.
.
------------->
.
You lock eyes with Duke, your gaze unwavering and full of unwavering confidence. For a moment, it looks like he might buckle under the pressure, his expression twisting in frustration and disbelief. But he quickly steadies himself, gripping his duel pod tightly to keep himself upright.
You smirk at his reaction, savoring every second as you prepare to deliver the final blow.
"To start," you roar, voice ringing with authority, "how about I finally get rid of that eyesore of a dragon?" You slam your card down on the field. "My Fissure destroys the monster on your side with the lowest ATK! Say goodbye to your Curse of Dragon, and half your Life Points!"
Spectral hands erupt from the ground beneath his monster, clutching and dragging Curse of Dragon down into the abyss as the gap closes behind them. The monster vanishes in a puff of smoke, and Duke's Life Points plummet by 1000, his scowl growing deeper.
"So what?! You still have no way of getting past my Starry Night! Its effect prevents it from being destroyed by DARK monsters—even by their effects—and besides, most of your powerful Spellcaster monsters are DARK," he snaps, trying to keep his composure.
.
---------------->
.
You chuckle softly, eyes gleaming with confidence. "God, you make this too easy, Duke. But rather than just telling you, I think I'll show you."
Grinning mischievously, you reach into your hand and reveal your newest ace: Dark Magician Girl.
"Let me introduce you to someone special," you say dramatically, slamming her onto the field. She appears twirling gracefully before striking a cute pose, her confident smirk matching yours.
.
----------->>
.
Duke's eyes nearly pop out of his head. "D-Dark Magician Girl?! But she's a Secret Rare! There's no way you pulled her along with everything else!"
Your grin widens, almost feral now, as you revel in his surprise. You can see your audience reacting with gasps even Duke's cheerleaders whispering excitedly.
"Ha! You haven't seen anything yet, Duke!" you declare, voice booming. "Next, I activate Magical Dimension! If I control a Spellcaster, I can tribute a monster to summon another from my hand!"
Duke's eyes widen in panic, obviously knowing what's coming. But you don't let him interrupt your show.
"Come on, Dark Magician Girl! Put on a show!" you command, and she winks in response, gliding over to Silent Magician, who's still bound in her chains, blushing slightly.
A coffin encases Silent Magician in shimmering metal, and with a flick of Dark Magician Girls staff, it shoots open. Your second Dark Magician Girl makes her grand entrance, striking a confident pose beside her sister.
.
----------->
.
(IMAGE OF EITHER DMG 2 APPEARING FROM THE COFFIN OR THEM HITTING A POST TOGETHER, PROB BACK TO BACK HANDS UP IN A PEACE SIGN WINKING)
Your audience gasps and cheers as even Duke's own cheerleaders begin to cheer for you instead. "That's right, folks! Meet the incredible Dark Magician Girl sisters!" you declare proudly. "And don't blink—because this duel is about to end! This is the final move!"
"The second effect of my Magical Dimension activates! When I successfully summon a monster by its effect I'm then allowed to destroy one monster my opponent controls, and I think I'll choose Duke's Starry Night, Starry Dragon!" You cry out.
You wave your hand dramatically. The two sisters point their staffs behind them, summoning a crackling, glowing magical circle that pulses with energy. The arena seems to tremble as the power builds.
.
------------>
.
"Finish this!" you roar. "Twin Burning Climax!"
The circle erupts in a blinding flash of energy. The two Magician Girls unleash a colossal beam of radiant power straight toward Duke's Starry Night. The blaze engulfs it completely, reducing it to ash, and the blast then turns outward—impacting Duke himself.
He's flung back from his duel pod, crashing onto the arena floor as his Life Points vanish into nothingness. The roar of victory echoes across the arena as silence falls, and you stand panting, heart pounding with adrenaline and triumph.
…Goddamn, you love your life.
.
----------->
.
Duel Won!
(200 DP from beating Duke)
(300 DP from "Twin Burning Climax" Achievement)
Dukes Traits Revealed:
Lucky Die Master: If using a gamble card it is a bo3, but if it uses a dice then instead it is a bo5.
-x-X-x-
After taking a few seconds to compose yourself, you draw in a deep breath, relaxing just enough to straighten up and begin to stalk your way over to Duke. As you approach, a jolt of satisfaction shoots down your spine—the sight of him sprawled on the floor, eyes blank and uncomprehending, is almost too perfect.
You look down on him, your smirk still plastered across your face, feeling the thrill of victory.
"Ah, that was fun, Duke," you purr, voice smooth and teasing. "I'd say let's do it again sometime, but… unfortunately, you're just not worth my time. I can't afford to slum it with the likes of you too often now~."
Duke's gaze remains fixed on the ceiling, his expression vacant, barely registering your words. Seems he's still in shock, unable to process what just happened.
That's… honestly a little annoying. Trust him to rob you of your fun at the final hurdle.
Rolling your eyes with a huff, you turn away from him, purpose in your step as you stride over to his duel pod. You casually pick up his deck, beginning to shuffle through it, eyes scanning the cards.
Hmm. Not the worst, but he could have used more backrow support rather than going all-in on those DARK and LIGHT megaboxes.
.
-------------->
.
Oh well. His mistake is your fortune. Especially now, you get to take any of the cards in there.
A part of you is tempted by the Graverobber or even the lower rarity cards—Ruby would definitely pout if you didn't snag her original, after all. But ultimately, the decision's been made the moment Duke summoned your Starry Night.
With a smirk, you pluck that very monster from his deck, holding it up briefly before placing his deck back on the duel pod. Then, you turn and begin making your way toward the others, stepping over Duke with a casual swagger.
As you pass his cheerleaders, you shoot them a teasing wink. They seem conflicted—whether to go check on Duke or follow you. A few words of encouragement, and they'd probably be eating out of your palm. But right now, you have more pressing matters.
As soon as Tea notices your determined approach, she seems to freeze. Ruby, quick as ever, squeals and jumps onto Tea's back, whispering something in her ear. Instantly, Tea's face flushes bright red, her lips seeming to almost pucker instinctively.
You watch her reaction, and instinct takes over—you step closer, tilting her chin up with your finger. Without hesitation, you lean down and press your lips to hers in a deliberate, yet surprisingly chaste kiss. Though part of you wanted to shove your tongue down her throat, you kept it restrained, aware that this might be her first kiss and having SOME tact.
For a few lingering seconds, you hold the kiss, feeling the subtle softness of her lips as she responds quietly, moaning softly, her face flushed and breathless. When you finally pull back, a smirk curls across your face as Tea's face remains pink, her chest rising and falling slightly.
Ruby squeals in excitement from her perch on Tea's back, practically squirming with joy—almost moaning from her own thrill.
"What did I tell you, Bestie?!" Ruby chirps, her voice bubbling with excitement. "You should've done this back on the island! But hey—better late than never. Now we can start having some real fun—"
Before she can go TOO far, you cut her off with a quick, teasing smile having noticing Ruby's hand starting to inch down to Tea's chest. You gently run your thumb across Tea's cheek, capturing her attention again.
"Sorry about that," you say softly, "but I couldn't let my good luck charm go unappreciated, now could I?"
You pause for a moment, considering her, then add with a playful tone, "But honestly, even that feels like too little after everything you did for me. So—what do you think I should do next?"
You tap your chin thoughtfully, then snap your fingers as if something just clicked.
"I know!" you declare, reaching into your pocket and pulling out your newly acquired Starry Night. You hold it out to Tea. "Since I've been running a bit high on big boss monsters lately—especially with all the cards you snagged for me—why don't I return the favor?"
Her eyes widen as she takes the card, gazing at it with a mix of surprise and reverence.
"Isn't this a really rare and powerful card? Are you sure it's okay for me to have this? I mean… I don't even really duel," she trails off, clearly embarrassed by her own admission.
You grin wider, your eyes gleaming with pride. "Remember what I told you back on the island? I genuinely believe you have the potential to be one of the best. Even if you decide not to duel seriously, just keep it as a keepsake—something to remember me by."
With a final wink, you lean in and give her one last quick, light peck on the lips. Then, turning back to the others, you note Joey and Tristan watching Yugi with some concern, while Yugi's face twists in a subtle expression of envy. But then he sighs and offers a genuine smile.
"That was an incredible duel, Makoto. I'm really impressed—you used your new strategy so masterfully, even though it was your first time dueling with those cards," Yugi says sincerely, ignoring any lingering feelings he might have about the kiss.
…Welp, he was certainly a better man than you.
You give a modest shrug. "Thanks. Honestly, I wouldn't have been able to pull it off without watching you duel. It really hammered home how tricky you have to be with Spellcasters."
Yugi's smile softens. "Even still, your talent is obvious. You picked it up quickly."
After a few more moments of friendly chatter, Duke's cheerleaders finally decide to check on him, leaving the scene. Feeling it's about time to make a move before he gets up and kicks you out, you turn toward the elevator with the others.
But just as the doors slide shut, Joey suddenly slams his fist into his palm, eyes widening with realization.
"That's right!" he says, a mix of seriousness and nervousness in his voice. "Makoto, my mom and Serenity want to meet you—they wanna thank you for paying for her surgery. I've been meaning to get in contact with you, but I totally forgot. When's a good time for you to visit?"
You consider for a moment. You didn't have anything planned right now, and honestly, it'd be nice to get some praise for doing something genuinely kind—a change of pace from the typical praise about how great you are.
You shrug. "We can go right now if that's cool. I wanted to double-check everything went fine with the transfer anyway."
Joey nods eagerly, and as you all step out of the Black Clown, you and Joey part ways from the others, heading toward the hospital where his sister is waiting.
-x-X-x-
As you and Joey make your way to the hospital in your sleek private car, he can't help but glance around in awe, visibly impressed.
"Maaan," Joey whistles, running his hands over your leather seats. "I didn't know you had money like THIS. No wonder you could just give away the prize money!"
You grin, shrugging casually. "Heh, I wish. I definitely wasn't poor before Duelist Kingdom, but when we all got back, I found an absurd amount of cash in my account. Looks like Kaiba left me a little present to show his gratitude for saving his ass."
Joey's eyes widen, and he whistled again. "Man, I shoulda thrown him one of my cards if this is what I'd get outta it."
The two of you continue chatting as the car pulls up in front of the hospital, and the driver steps out to open the door.
"Here we are, sir—Yonezato Hospital," the driver announces, rolling down the window connecting to the back.
You nod, stepping out. Joey follows close behind, and you both head inside, telling your driver you'll call when you need a pickup.
"So, when's your sister scheduled for her operation?" you ask as you walk down the hospital corridor, heading toward her room.
"Not exactly sure, but probably in a few weeks," Joey replies. "The doc's gotta set everything up first and all."
Finally, you arrive at the door. Joey raises his hand and softly knocks before you both step inside. The room is warm and quiet, greeted by an older woman and a girl lying in a hospital bed.
.
---------->>
.
"Oh dear! Are you the young man who offered to pay for my daughter's operation? I can't thank you enough!"
In an instant, she's up and rushing to you, wrapping you in a heartfelt hug. For a moment, you're caught off guard—usually, you'd try to crack a joke or charm your way out of the emotional moment. But seeing the tears welling in her eyes, you instinctively wrap your arms around her, patting her gently on the back.
After a few seconds, she pulls back, wiping her eyes with her sleeve, her expression full of gratitude.
"I'm so grateful for what you've done. Please, sit down—Serenity would love to see you."
You take a seat, and your gaze falls on Serenity. You give what you hope is a sincere smile.
"Hey there, I'm Makoto Yuzuki. Nice to meet you," you say softly. Praying you don't sound as awkward as you feel.
Serenity's face lights up. "You're Joey's friend, right?! He's told me all about you!"
"Good things only, I hope?" you tease, trying to get back into your usual rhytm, earning a bright grin from her.
"Yeah! He said you won a really important tournament, but he nearly managed to beat you," she says cheerfully, sitting up a little.
"Oh-ho? Nearly beat me?" you smirk, casting a playful glance at Joey, who suddenly looks panicked.
"Joey—" you tease with a grin, "Is that how you remember it going?"
Serenity giggles, clearly enjoying the playful banter between you and her brother.
"I'm happy to see my brother has some friends," Serenity says with a calm smile, and Joey's eyes widen again.
"Hey! If you say it like that, it makes it sound like I'm some lonely loser! I've got plenty of pals!" Joey protests, but he's clearly amused.
The hour passes quickly with jokes, teasing, and relaxed chatter. Even with Joey's occasional fist-shaking at you jokingly(?) flirting with his mom and sister.
…It was surprisingly nice.
But eventually, you realize it's time to head out. You stand up, stretching.
"Welp, I think I'll let you guys get back to it. Probably sick of me by now, huh?" You joke with a grin.
Before you can move, Serenity's hand suddenly shoots out, wrapping around your wrist in a surprisingly firm grip.
"Wait!" she blurts out, a hint of panic in her voice.
You blink, surprised. She blushes fiercely, quickly pulling her hand back and clutching her blanket.
"I-I was wondering if you could do me a favor…?" she squeaks, clearly embarrassed, the confident girl from earlier momentarily gone.
You raise an eyebrow. "Sure, I don't mind helping if I can."
She squirms awkwardly, then finally speaks. "With my operation coming up, I'll be stuck in here for a while. And even after, who knows how long it'll be until I can take these bandages off. I wanted to ask you… will you please take me on a date?"
Your eyes widen in surprise. She's blushing furiously now.
The room falls silent for a beat. Joey's mom steps forward, concern flickering across her face. "Sweetheart, I'd be happy to take you out—"
But Serenity cuts her off quickly. "I know! But I want to do one last normal thing before I'm stuck here for who knows how long!"
Her voice wavers slightly, as Joey and his mom quickly rush to reassure her it won't be so bad.
You shrug your shoulders and decide to pipe up. "Sure thing, I haven't got an issue taking you on a day out, if that's fine with your mom and all." You say looking to Joey's mom while Serenity's eyes light up.
"Really?!" Serenity turns to her mom, clasping her hands together. "Please mom! I swear I just want this one thing, that's all!" She practically pleaded.
Joey's mom bites her lip for a second, looking over at you before letting out a sigh.
"…Fine," she says softly. "If Makoto's okay with it, I see no reason to say no."
Serenity squeals happily, rushing forward to hug her mom tightly.
You glance at Joey, who looks utterly deadpan, clearly exhausted by your antics.
You just shrug and give him a sheepish grin, trying to keep your expression innocent.
Turning back to Serenity, her eyes sparkle with excitement.
"Oh! Oh! Where are you gonna take me?" she asks eagerly.
Now, that's the real question—what's your move?
-x-X-x-
Your 15 DARK Megaboxes ------>
And your 15 from the LIGHT Megabox --------->
-x-X-x-
Ultimately, you decide to keep it relatively simple. The nearby mall was a classic spot for dates for a reason—plenty of good stores, a killer dessert place, an in-built movie theater, and an arcade.
With that decided, Serenity and her mom both left to return home so Serenity could change, after you promised to come pick her up in an hour. In the meantime, you and Joey were left alone as you left the hospital.
As you both stepped out, you turned to Joey, who had been glaring daggers at your back ever since Serenity had left.
You looked at him with a raised eyebrow but couldn't stop a cheeky grin from spreading across your face.
"What? Is this the part where you give me the shovel talk about how you'll kill me if I upset her?" you teased lightheartedly, as Joey just sighed.
"...Well, that was the plan, but I guess there's no point now," he said suddenly, looking up with a serious expression. "Look, man, just don't lead her on or anything, okay? I have no clue what's up with your love life. I thought you were with Mai, but then you just kissed Tea and everything. Its nonna my business, whatever's going on with you, just don't involve Serenity in it, okay? She doesn't need that kind of drama right now." Joey asked sincerely.
You shrugged your shoulders but changed your teasing grin to what you hoped was a more sincere smile, trying to reassure him that everything would be fine.
"No worries, dude. I think this is mostly about her not wanting to think about the surgery or whatever. God knows it must be stressing her out. Unfortunately, I don't think even I'm charming enough to make a girl fall in love at first sight," you reassured him before allowing your grin to turn teasing again. "But if she ends up hanging a poster of me on her wall like I'm some boy band heartthrob after this, well, there's only so much I can do."
Joey scoffed at that, throwing out his fist and punching your arm. "Whatever, dude. That ego of yours is gonna bite you in the ass someday," he said, seeming more at ease now.
"Heh, it's only a problem if I'm deluding myself. But I assure you, I can back up all my talk~," you chimed in as you and Joey fell into familiar, lighthearted banter. Eventually, you parted ways—Joey heading back to Yugi and the others, while you called your driver to take you to Serenity's house.
Sitting in the back of the car, the boys manifested and began bouncing around. You idly swatted at them while you thought.
You certainly hadn't expected to go on a date today when you woke up this morning, but helping to cheer up a cute girl who was obviously stressed out was far from a bad way to spend your day. Now, it was just a matter of making sure she had so much fun that all her worries would fade away—a task you were more than capable of fulfilling.
-x-X-x-
As your driver pulls up to Serenity's house, it's not long before the door flings open, and Serenity sprints out, stars practically dancing in her eyes. You take her in—wearing a cute white sundress instead of the pajamas she had been wearing at the hospital.
.
---------->
.
She really was adorable—honestly, it would be a crime if she were to go blind and no longer be able to appreciate herself.
Opening your door, you shoot her a casual smile and wave to her mom walking behind her.
"Yo! I thought I was supposed to be doing you a favor by taking you out. With you looking as good as you do, I feel like it's the other way around!" you joke as Serenity approaches, a blush lighting up her face along with a shy smile.
"You- You think I look nice?" she questions bashfully, doing a little spin that flares her dress up slightly.
"Yup, you look great. If I'm not careful, you might just leave me and run off with someone else," you chuckle. Serenity's face brightens even more as she slides into the car, sitting next to you.
As she does, her mother leans down behind her, smiling warmly—obviously happy to see Serenity so joyful.
"In any case, remember to be back before the sun goes down, Serenity. But other than that, have a good time," she says, then turns her gaze to you. "Thank you again for doing this, young man. I don't think I've seen Serenity this excited in years." There's a hint of melancholy in her voice, making Serenity's face burn red.
"Mom!" she whines, clearly not a fan of her mother embarrassing her.
You lean back and chuckle. "Heh, it's fine—really. Taking a cute girl out on a nice date is far from a hassle for me," you reassure her with a grin.
With one final goodbye, you and Serenity head toward your impromptu date. She runs her hands along the leather seats as you finally arrive.
You get out and hold the door open for her, giving an overly dramatic bow.
"Appears we have arrived, my lady. Would you be so kind as to join me?" you ask with an exaggerated, posh accent, as if you're some old-time nobleman escorting his lady.
Serenity giggles, her cheeks flushed, and reaches out to take your hand as she steps out.
"It'd be my pleasure, sir," she responds, matching your tone.
You wave your driver off and step into the mall.
Still holding hands, you turn to her with a smile on your face.
"So, is there anything in particular you want to do first?" you ask.
-x-X-x-
You and Serenity spend the first couple of hours of your date at the arcade. Apparently, video games were something Joey used to play with her all the time when they were younger so she had a soft spot for them.
After that, you both decide to catch a movie—some typical rom-com that Serenity seemed excited about. Having a cute girl to wrap your arm around as she leans her head on your shoulder made the movie bearable, and it seemed like she enjoyed it, so that was the most important thing.
As you walk out of the theater, you still have your arm wrapped around her. Serenity hums peacefully, eyes closed as she allows you to guide her.
"So, what's next on the agenda? Feel like doing a little shopping? It'd be a shame to come to the mall and not get anything," you ask casually as you continue walking.
Serenity bites her lip, looking a bit unsure. "I don't know. Today's already been so amazing. I'd feel bad asking you to spend any more money," she says shyly.
You just grin at that, squeezing her shoulder lightly. "Serenity, I can assure you it's fine. I don't mean to brag or anything, but I probably have enough money to buy out several stores and not even notice a dent. Besides, seeing a cute girl like you dress up some more would be more than enough reason for me to go into debt," you tease with a wink.
Serenity still looks a little unsure, but your confidence seems to win her over. "If you're sure, then I guess it's fine..." she trails off as you both step into several stores, allowing her to try on anything that catches her eye. Any outfits you think look particularly good on her, you end up paying for.
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— Which is to say, you ended up buying a lot of outfits for her.
When you step out of the final store, you can feel your arms beginning to strain under the weight of the eight shopping bags you're carrying. But the delighted smile across Serenity's face, one she's trying to hide but clearly can't, makes everything more than worth it.
Carefully avoiding showing any strain on your face, you guide Serenity to a nearby dessert place you always stop by when you're here.
Turning to her, you nod toward the counter. "Feel free to get whatever you want. I'll go find us a nice table in the meantime," you say with a wink, heading to a spot just outside. You place the bags down beside the table and rub your arms, already feeling the strain.
…You wonder if you could use magic to strengthen your muscles or something. It would've been pretty embarrassing if you had to set the bags down for a moment in front of Serenity.
Soon, Serenity follows you, carrying a tray with a few strawberry cakes and ice creams. She places it on the table and sits down.
"Heh, I see a sweet girl like you has a sweet tooth," you tease with a grin. Serenity blushes slightly before pouting.
"It's your fault—you left a girl all alone in a dessert shop and told her to buy whatever she wanted. You're lucky I only got this much," she says with a fake huff, cutting a slice of cake and placing it on a plate in front of her.
You chuckle at her adorable reaction. "Fair enough. Besides, I can't fault your taste," you reply, taking a slice for yourself and savoring the sweet flavor of strawberries with your first bite.
Hmm, since when did you develop such a taste for strawberries? Did Ruby manage to Pavlov you with her natural flavor during your little session at Pegasus' castle?
In any case, you're far from unhappy with the result.
You and Serenity continue nibbling on your treats, getting into casual topics. You learn that her favorite food is strawberries—just like you now—and that she's surprisingly athletic, having been part of the swim team and also doing track in her spare time.
You share a bit about yourself, which naturally leads to the topic of Duel Monsters.
"So, it was a Duel Monsters tournament where you won the money you gave to my brother?" she asks, taking a sip of the hot chocolate you both ordered.
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"Yup. It was the biggest tournament to date for the game—invite-only, that kind of thing. I managed to get an invite after winning the National Championship, and after two days on some billionaire's private island, I came out on top, beating your brother and one of his friends," you reply, taking a sip of your own hot chocolate.
Serenity pouts. "Aww, I wish Joey had told me. I would've loved to watch it live," she laments.
You shrug. "I think you can still watch the finals online. There were some technical issues during the actual match, so I'm not sure of the quality," you explain. Of course, that's a lie—Joey wouldn't be thrilled if you told his sister the real story of what happened at Duelist Kingdom, especially that magic is real.
"So, how do you play?" Serenity suddenly asks, catching you off guard.
"Excuse me?" you blink.
"Duel Monsters. How do you play? I'd probably be better off knowing how the game works before I watch it on TV," she says, twirling her spoon in her hot chocolate.
When was the last time someone asked you to teach them Duel Monsters? Takeshi? Back in elementary school, probably. Of course, it didn't last long—soon enough, you were berating him for being a dumbass who didn't understand the game and he promptly stopped speaking to you.
…Man, you really did have issues.
But you're more mature and patient now—plus, it's a cute girl, not a nine-year-old, so that should help.
"Want me to show you? We could go to Kaiba Land, and I can show you a few duels. I'll explain the basics on the way there, too," you offer, finishing the last bite of your cake.
Serenity's eyes light up. "You will?! Oh, I'd love to!" she cheers, clasping her hands excitedly.
"Heh, let's get a move on then. I'll call my driver to come pick us up," you say, finishing your hot chocolate as you stand.
Serenity bounces up beside you, clasping your arm.
"Ooh, I'm so excited! Joey told me all about the holograms and everything—I can't wait to see it!" she chirps as you reach down, grab the bags, and keep a casual grin on your face making sure not to show the strain as you make your way to the entrance.
…Your driver better get here quick, or you're docking his pay.
-x-X-x-
Thankfully, for your driver's sake, he made good time and was already waiting outside by the time you arrived. You quickly placed all of Serenity's bags in the trunk before you even began to feel the strain.
As you got in, you started explaining the rules of Duel Monsters to Serenity on the way to Kaiba Land.
Normally, you'd need to make an appointment to use the Duel Arenas there, but with your new King of Games title, you figured you could probably grease some elbows and get in without issue.
Just as you finished explaining the basics of the game to Serenity, the car stopped.
"Ah, looks like we're here. Just in time, too. Those are the fundamentals. Now, it's just a matter of watching a few games so it all clicks," you say, getting out of the car and looking up at Kaiba Land.
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..... God, you hated Kaiba. Who'd be so egocentric they'd try to build a theme park and name it after themselves? Talk about arrogance.
Still, it gave you the opportunity to show off here, so you suppose you could thank him for that—though, honestly, you never would.
Suddenly, your attention is pulled as a teenager runs out of the building, tears streaming down his face.
You hold out a hand and catch him by the shoulder as Serenity walks up behind you, looking worried.
"Yo, there. Everything good, dude?" you ask with faux concern. Normally, you wouldn't bother, but it's probably a good idea to find out what's happening—and Serenity would probably appreciate it too.
The teen blinks the tears out of his eyes, then his eyes widen in shock as he recognizes you.
"Y-y-you're Makoto Yuzuki! The King of Games!" he exclaims, voice trembling with a notable warble.
God, you didn't think you'd ever get tired of hearing that.
You give him a confident grin and squeeze his shoulder lightly. "Yup, that's me. So, what's got you so upset, my man? Anything I can do to help?"
His eyes widen even further, as if he just realized something.
"Y-yeah! You totally can! If there's anyone who can beat that little yankee bitch, it's gotta be you!" he cheers suddenly, then turns and marches straight back into the Kaiba Land stadium.
You glance over at Serenity, raising an eyebrow in confusion, wondering if she got more out of that exchange than you did, but she looks just as puzzled.
Deciding there's no other option, you turn and follow the teen, curious about what the hell is happening.
As you step inside, you immediately spot the end of a duel. The stands are packed, booing loudly as a little blonde girl unleashes her final move.
"Now, go! Shadow Strike!" she yells as her Shadow Ghoul enlarges, looming over her trembling opponent like a shadow, then descends and tears apart his Gagagigo, prompting groans from the crowd.
The girl cheers triumphantly, hugging a teddy bear of all things.
"We did it, Teddy! Another pathetic loser falls before the mighty Rebecca!" she exclaims, tossing her stuffed animal into the air and catching it.
…Rebecca? If so, you're starting to get a pretty good idea of what's going on here.
The girl turns to the audience, dramatically pointing a finger.
"Now! Who shall be the next to fall to the American Champion?" she bellows, daring anyone to step up.
Judging by the murmurs from the crowd, it sounds like she's completely shattered their spirits.
After a few moments of silence, Rebecca scoffs and turns up her nose.
"Hmph! No one brave enough to challenge me? Fine, I'm done here—"
She's abruptly cut off as the teen you ran into outside steps forward dramatically.
"Not so fast, you yank! I know just the man to challenge you!" he barks confidently, capturing the entire arena's—and Rebecca's—attention.
Rebecca shoots him a deadpan look.
"You again? What did I tell you? I have no time for losers, no rematches," she sighs as if talking to an idiot. Meanwhile, the teen's face reddens in embarrassment and fury.
"I-I don't mean me! I mean the only man capable of taking you down and showing you your place—our King of Games, Makoto Yuzuki!" he proclaims dramatically, gesturing to you and Serenity, who are still standing at the entrance.
…Well, you guessed that was your cue.
You step forward, a cocky smirk stretching across your face as you place your hands in your pockets.
"Heh, I gotta admit I'm surprised. When I woke up this morning, I certainly didn't expect to run into the American Champ in my neck of the woods—especially when she's causing trouble and being such a bad girl. Does someone need a timeout and a juice box?" you taunt as you step up to the duel platform opposite Rebecca.
The crowd erupts, cheering wildly and throwing their arms around each other. They seem reinvigorated after what they've been put through all day—demolished by a twelve-year-old.
Rebecca smirks at you, seemingly unimpressed by your words.
"Hah! I knew these lot were a bunch of losers, but to think they had to bring in the Japanese National Champion to fight their battle for them. I almost feel bad for wrecking their hopes and dreams—unless you're too scared to duel," she taunts, leaning against her duel platform and wagging her finger at you.
You click your tongue and shrug as if this is all some great bother.
"Man, you really are hyper, huh? I guess I'll have to tire you out and send you and your teddy bear back home. I can assure you—there's no gold star coming your way today," you say, reaching down to take your deck out of your deck box and placing it on the duel platform. The arena lights up as it senses your deck.
Rebecca smirks at you. "Don't come crying to me when you lose. Though, if you get on your knees and beg, I might give you a few pointers on how to actually duel from someone who actually knows the difference between attack and defense position," she says, shuffling her deck before placing it on her platform, which also lights up.
And with that, your duel against another National Champion begins!
-x-X-x-
"Hmph! Since you're the challenger, it's only fair that I get to go first!" Rebecca declares confidently, pulling a card from the top of her deck with a smirk.
"To start, I'll activate my Pot of Greed, letting me draw two cards!" she says smugly, drawing two additional cards.
God, you really need to get your hands on a Pot—it was embarrassing that your deck is missing something so vital to consistency.
"Next, I'll set one monster face-down and end my turn! Let's see if you can back up any of your big talk when you're playing against someone who actually knows how to play," Rebecca jeers, glancing at the audience, who respond with boos.
Heh, she really is a mouthy brat, isn't she? Good. You won't feel so bad when you crush her into the dirt then.
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You draw and get Giant Germ, then inspect your hand.
Hmm, nothing too insane. Your only real offensive card was Advanced Ritual Art, but it wasn't bad at all. With Morphing Jar in your hand, digging into more of your deck should be easy enough.
Now, it was just a matter of deciding how to start this slaughter.
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"Heh, what's the rush, 'Becca? Gotta get home in time for supper? I'm more than willing to take my time here," you taunt, setting down your Giant Germ and Advanced Ritual Art.
"Now, let's see if you actually deserve that American Champ title—or if the rest of your country just sucks," you add with a smirk hoping to bait her into getting aggressive and destroying your Germ as you end your turn.
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Rebecca hums as she draws, seemingly ignoring your taunt. She brings her finger to her chin, beginning to tap thoughtfully, all the while letting out a long, exaggerated hum.
"I don't know," she says with thick sarcasm you can practically taste, "I'm just a little girl. How could I possibly ever defeat the great King of Games?" She sighs dramatically.
"Ahh, I guess for now I can only do this, can't I, Teddy?" she says, looking at the teddy bear cuddled in her arms before placing a card on the field.
"I activate my Hidden Armory. By sending the top card of my deck to the Graveyard, I can add one Equip Spell from my deck to my hand." She explains, a smirk spreading across her face as a ghostly Millennium Shield appears momentarily on her field before vanishing. She then shuffles through her deck, eventually adding Ring of Magnetism to her hand.
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For some reason, the audience begins to panic as they witness her move.
"Watch out, Makoto! She's gonna—!" the guy who started all this yells, clearly about to reveal her strategy.
Do you want to let him finish?
"STOP!" you suddenly yell, startling the audience as you raise your hand, but your gaze remains fixed solely on Rebecca.
"I appreciate the sentiment and all, but it's not needed, I assure you. If I need help to beat a little twerp, then I deserve to lose here," you say with a confident smirk, locking eyes with Rebecca.
Rebecca pouts in response, and a wave of whispers ripples through the audience.
"Hmph! We'll see if you can keep up that cool guy attitude after I wipe the floor with you! By the time this is over, I'll leave you crying like I did all these other losers!" she declares with a huff, setting two cards face-down and ending her turn.
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"Heh, I guess we'll see then, won't we?" you say with a grin, drawing your card—revealing Mirror Force.
Normally, you'd be pretty happy with this draw, but given what you know, it doesn't seem like Rebecca's strategy focuses much on attacking, especially since shes running Millennium Shield and Ring of Magnetism.
Though you also knew she also has a Shadow Ghoul.
Maybe her plan involves stalling and setting up her Graveyard, then going for an OTK with Shadow Ghoul?
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You needed more information, and luckily enough, you had just the card for that—plus it would give you even more resources.
"I set one monster face-down, then set three more backrow cards face-down," you say with a smirk, watching Rebecca let out a huff, clearly annoyed that you're not going on the offensive.
Hmm, was her strategy really just to bait her opponent into running into her incredibly high-defense monsters? Maybe if you were dueling anyone else, you could buy that, but for all your taunting, you knew they didn't hand out National Champion titles for free. Her strategy had to be more complex than that.
Time to see if you could bait some info out of her...
"You know, it looks like we've got ourselves a little Mexican standoff here, huh, 'Becca'? Didn't you say before that you knew the difference between attack and defense position? It's okay if you don't, sweetheart—we all start somewhere. What you need to do now is flip that card over and place it vertically," you say, speaking as if to a particularly slow toddler, knowing full well that kids hate being treated like they're a kid.
.. ---------->
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Rebecca's face reddens with frustration from your words, and you can practically hear the grinding of her teeth even from across the arena. She closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, and then draws.
Even as she inspects her hand, it's clear she can't resist responding to your taunts.
"Shouldn't I be saying that to you? I actually employ some real strategy when I duel, but the only thing you care about is if your cards have bigger numbers or fat tits. Are you really that afraid to attack my monster?" she says with a sickeningly sweet smile.
"Heh, I wonder how far you had to take Pegasus down your throat to win Duelist Kingdom if you're this much of a pussy," she practically spits out.
…Geez, what were they teaching kids in America?
"In any case, I set one monster and one other card face-down, and end my turn!" she announces with a huff.
Not quite the info you'd hoped for, but at least you confirmed she's working toward something here and isn't just bricking atrociously.
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You draw and get Mystical Space Typhoon. To be honest, you'd have preferred something with a bit more Oomph right now, but it's far from a bad draw.
Now it's just a matter of what to do with it.
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You shake your head and let out a sigh, realizing it's probably about time to make some moves. She's right—your deck leans heavily toward aggressive plays, and sitting around doing nothing is starting to grind on you. Plus, her taunts may have gotten to you a little, but you'd never admit that aloud.
You gather your resolve and respond to her words with a determined tone. "Haaa, I guess since you asked so nicely, I can indulge you a bit. First off, I activate my Mystical Space Typhoon! Targeting your center card!" You declare, slapping down your spell card. A giant tornado spirals over to her side of the field, revealing her set Ring of Magnetism and promptly destroying it.
"But that's not all! Next up, I flip my set Morphing Jar!" you shout, revealing your set monster as Rebecca's eyes widen.
"Heh, guessing by that reaction, you know what's coming next! When Morphing Jar is flipped face-up, we both discard our entire hands and then draw five new cards!" You announce, watching as Rebecca is forced to discard her Shadow Ghoul, her second Hidden Armory, and her last two Rings of Magnetism before drawing five new cards.
Ha! Whatever plan she had involving those is now dead in the water!
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Your smirk widens as you inspect your new hand, eyes drawn to your Cerberus specifically, while Rebecca mutters something to her teddy bear across from you that you can't hear, but you instinctively know shouldn't be coming from a kid.
You smirk confidently as you slam down Cerberus onto the field. "Heh, how about I show you some of those big number cards you were talking about, 'Becca?!"
Cerberus appears snarling and drooling, a fierce presence on your side. Rebecca keeps a blank face, but your eyes automatically dart down to her two set traps. You're not entirely sure what her strategy is yet, but with those Rings of Magnetism and the Millennium Shield she had earlier, your instincts tell you she relies more on monsters with big asses rather than on backrow plays. Those could be either bluffs or need to be combined with other cards.
"Go on, Cerberus! Attack and destroy both her monsters! Hell Howling!" you shout, as Cerberus rears up and lets out a deafening howl, sonic waves flying toward Rebecca's field.
Suddenly, Rebecca's expression shifts from blank to a smirk. "Heh, looks like you and that dumb mutt share a brain cell—can't stop yourself from jumping on the first juicy bone you see. With your attack, you've activated my Mirror Force!" she declares, as the trap card flips up.
Fuck! Of course the little bitch had it...
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As Cerberus's attack collides with the glass-like barrier of Mirror Force, it shatters instantly, unleashing a wave of energy that blasts back at your monster. Cerberus is destroyed in a flash, and you lose more than half your Life Points.
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Rebecca can't contain herself, laughing as she brings her hand to her mouth, tears of laughter streaming from her eyes.
...Oh, you're going to enjoy beating her.
You click your tongue dismissively. "Tsk, enjoy it while you can, 'Becca. I end my turn."
Rebecca just smirks your words, obviously enjoying finally getting an upper hand in the duel. "Oh don't worry about that, I can assure you I will."
She draws, eyes gleaming as she does. "Hmm, well I think I'll get us back on track, I set one monster and another card face-down and end my turn." She says, smugness practically permeating her tone as you heard the crowd murmur, obviously worried.
Well, that just wouldn't do, it almost sounds like they're afraid you'll lose.
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