Yes, even by now, Chinai occasionally still has "affection points UP."
As for how high her affection points have reached...
Youyu doesn't know either.
Because just from looking at the panel, Chinai's affection meter has long since maxed out.
Even if "+1+1" occasionally pops up above her head, the meter shows no signs of changing.
Simply put, it may have already overflowed beyond the maximum limit, and it shows no sign of stopping...
At the moment, the player forum is fervently discussing the recent duel.
Though the KC Grand Prix is a fairly large tournament in scale, its essence is still a chapter in the "main storyline," not an officially hosted competition.
The game's official side does host proper competitions. However, those competitions are entirely PvP with no NPCs involved. Such tournaments are fully broadcasted in the official live streaming channel.
As for the KC Cup, which can only be considered a "main storyline with player participation," the only way for players to follow the event is through streams by unofficial broadcasters.
...Such as the renowned streamer Miss Yue Hua from the Linked World region.
Similar to the previous Duel City event, this time the KC Cup has brought Miss Yue Hua's streaming channel back to a peak of popularity, with a flood of viewers constantly coming and going, keeping this little gadget who's always trailing behind Mr. Youyu in an almost perpetually high-strung state, ready to break down at any time.
In fact, Youyu never really cared about how much skill this gadget streamer girl could improve.
To say the least, Miss Yue Hua doesn't have much innate talent when it comes to cards either. Her operations are so-so, her game sense is so-so, her psychological tactics are a mess with her thoughts almost entirely visible on her face, and her deck-building is just copying forum decks to barely sustain herself...
In short, she's so mediocre that it's unremarkable, with no particular strengths–every aspect is just about equally subpar.
However, for Youyu, she is a useful tool who knows when to act without needing instructions.
Whether she's skilled or not actually doesn't matter at all. Just bring her along to the raids, let her hang out in the back row doing nothing.
Moreover, one thing Youyu appreciates is that she knows when to hold her tongue, when not to ask anything, moving when she should.
She takes the game storyline seriously and is not the type to skip the cutscenes, seeing any story as being in a fully immersive Otherworld.
She's better at this point than people who are all about smooth-talking and trying to flatter endlessly...
...
Until the helicopter from the International Fantasy Society descended with the roar of engines and a transparent whirlwind, Youyu knew that this tournament actually invited President Pegasus over.
After all, the tournament is entirely managed by Kaiba's side, while Youyu, being a bystander, besides specifically banning player Jie Ke from participating, had no other involvement, being completely unaware of the event's procedures.
Before the helicopter could land, Pegasus was waving from a distance with his plastic English: "Long time no see~ Youyu Boy~"
President Pegasus was standing in a "Kaiba-style" pose at the open helicopter door, his long bangs waving in the whirlwind stirred by the rotor blades, with a face full of enthusiasm.
With such a warm tone and attitude, those unknowing might think they were family.
As the helicopter landed, President Pegasus jumped down first.
Youyu warmly greeted him while inwardly thinking: Meh, boring, didn't bring any presents...
"Mr. Youyu."
Although Tenma Yako's voice isn't as loud or as resonant as Pegasus', it clearly carries a hint of excitement.
Youyu helplessly replied, "I've already said, you don't need to call me Mr.…..."
"Yes, Mr. Youyu."
Youyu: "..."
Yako thought there was nothing wrong with calling him that.
The so-called teacher imparts, instructs, and dispels doubts.
Youyu not only unlocked his emotional knots, pointed out the direction for his progress, and taught him many valuable qualities over these days.
As the saying goes, being a teacher for one day makes you a father for life.
He felt that even calling Youyu his second father wouldn't be too much!
(Pegasus: I...)
Of course, although Youyu himself seemed not too happy with the title, it didn't matter.
After such many days of interaction, Yako felt he had already found the correct way to communicate with Mr. Youyu.
"By the way, Mr. Youyu," Tenma Yako pulled out a card, "The 'Elemental Hero Airman' you asked me to help replicate last time, after persistent efforts from our technical team, we've finally succeeded in reproducing the first finished copy.
If you're satisfied, you can have it first."
Youyu's eyes lit up.
The second Airman!
Because Airman was too difficult to obtain in the system card pool, after acquiring the first one, Youyu sent it over hoping the Fantasy Society could replicate it using their technology.
The International Fantasy Society is almost equivalent to the K Consortium in this world. While Kaiba Group might be more professional with black technologies like holographic projections and duel discs, when it comes to card creation, the International Fantasy Society holds absolute authority.
But even the International Fantasy Society can't replicate every card. Cards like Blue-Eyes White Dragon, Dark Magician, Dark Magician Girl, among others, are particularly challenging even for their technology.
Previously, Youyu tested with Airman at the Fantasy Society and discovered that replicating this gold-standard Hero was quite difficult, which wasn't much easier than those legendary cards, with several attempts failing consecutively.
He was considering giving up on this idea, but unexpectedly, Yako continually had the tech team conduct tests which eventually successfully replicated a second Airman for him.
And it was a shiny gold-lettered version!
It can be imagined how much resources and cost Yako must have invested to recreate this Airman.
Seeing the card with its golden embossed "Elemental Hero Airman" label and its radiant card face, Youyu couldn't help but feel delighted.
He even considered accepting this disciple, letting him call "teacher" a few more times wouldn't be bad.
He couldn't help it, a disciple too considerate brings too many benefits.
Pegasus was watching from the side, having a bit of thinking "I hadn't heard of this," but decided not to speak up, maintaining his affable smile.
Yako realized his prediction was correct, with Mr. Youyu accepting the card, his mood visibly brightened.
He was happy about it as well.
No doubt about it, Mr. Youyu is just such a straightforward and genuine person, totally different from those fake "upper class" contacts he typically deals with!
Only someone so genuine could ever reach such heights!
Youyu chatted politely with them while continually keeping an eye out.
Previously, he already pondered that, according to the movie's original storyline, Paradox should be targeting President Pegasus. Though for some reason, it suddenly seemed like it wanted to cause trouble at the KC Grand Prix.
Now seeing President Pegasus attending personally, he couldn't help but be quickly alert.
Could it be that Paradox knew Pegasus was coming, hence decided to attack the Grand Prix?
Perhaps their target... might still be President Pegasus?