"Ughhh, where am I?" Inside the hospital, a blue hair boy wakes up from his sleep, he looks up at the unfamiliar ceiling. The memory of the previous car accident quickly floods his mind.
After he was able to process what has happened, the boy quickly sat up from the bed while searching for his family. "Dad, mom, Rio!"
But then, a voice of a tired woman cut him off. "Don't panic, we're fine. Reginald, you should really learn to control your emotion, yelling at morning like that can easily disrupt other sleep, yawn~"
Hearing the familiar voice, Reginald turn his head towards the source of the voice and see his mother lay on the bed next to him. On the bed next to her, his father was laying there with a cast on his legs.
After confirming that his parents are safe, he turns around to search for his sister. The moment he turns behind, he froze completely, dumfounded by the screen before him.
Good news: He did find his sister.
Bad news: Not only her was looking at him, but there're also another 6 pair of eyes were looking at him.
Ryuji, Dextra, Nistro, Kari, Yuma and Tori are present at the moment, surrounding Rio bed. Rio greet her brother politely. "Oh, hey onii-chan, you finally wake up."
She then opens her mouth and devours the apple piece Ryuji was feeding her. Ryuji silently cut another piece while winking at Kari.
Kari, understand Ryuji signal, immediately raise her camera. "Got it!"
*Click Click Click*
A series of sound wake Reginald from his trance, but it's already too late. They've got a picture of his dumfounded face. "Tch! Instead of asking about my health, you guys choose to take pictures to blackmail me!?"
"Nah~ As long as you didn't die, that's enough. As for whether you lost an arm or leg, who care? Having my cute Rio safe is far more important, isn't it?"
Ryuji nonchalant voice piece through Reginald heart, but he can't argue back, not when his beloved sister is right there. "Fine, I admit you're right, as long as Rio is safe, that's enough."
'... Siscon' X6
Reginald obviously didn't know what they're thinking. "By the way, shouldn't you guys at the school right now?"
"Isn't it because I hear that Rio is getting into a car accident, so I skip school to visit." If not because those two are not familiar with Riko, he would have bring her along.
Several black lines appear on Reginald face, he feels uncomfortable that Ryuji keep mentioning his sister. But before he can speak, the other girls already complain first.
Kari: "Ryuji, I understand that you want to tease Reginald, but there's no need to bring up Rio in every sentence."
Dextra: "I agree; Rio situation is not dangerous, so you don't need to take care of her that carefully."
Tori: "Ryuji-niisan, I also want to eat apples."
'...?' Rio doesn't understand what happened right now, but she feels that she better not speak. But she still eats the apple piece Ryuji give her, which earn her a glare from the girls.
"Is there really no one come here to visit me?" Reginald asks helplessly as everyone begin to ignore him.
"Stop dreaming, you are not that important for someone to waste their time to visit you." Although facing a small Shura field, Ryuji still doesn't miss the chance to mock Reginald.
Just as Reginald was about to argue back, he feels a hand resting on his shoulder. Curious, he turns his head and see Nistro stand beside him.
"Don't hear him, I come here today is purely to visit you. So, when something like this happen in the future, tell me I will right away." Nistro speak up to comfort him like a true bro.
"... Before I started feel moved by your words, promise me you're not saying it because you want to skip school."
Nistro: "..."
Reginald: "..."
Nistro: "... Are we still good bro after this?"
Reginald: "What do you think you mother-"
"Another word and you will have to lay on this bed for another month."
The room turn silent as everyone shut their mouth upon hearing the cold voice. Reginald slowly turns his head with fear in his eyes. Behind him, his mother was standing there menacingly.
Ryuji sense the dangerous aura come from the angry mother; he quickly stood up and move towards the door. "Since my homeroom teacher only allowed me to skip morning, I should go now and prepare for my afternoon class."
But then, a shaking hand took his arm, he turns back and see Rio looking at him with her water filled eyes.
Although she knows that her mother anger has nothing to do with her, she still scare and begging Ryuji to stay, she knows as long as there's a person not from her family inside the room, her mom won't release all her rage.
But Ryuji clearly don't want anything to do with their family matters, with apologies look towards Rio, he shrugged off her hand. The others seeing that also choose to follow him.
Rio look at them with disbelief, a gaze towards them now fills with disappointed. Especially towards Ryuji, it was like an innocent girl getting abandoned by a playboy after being used.
But before they can walk out of the room, Rio's mom gentle voice calls out for them. "By the way, the doctor says that since I, Rio and Reginald only have minor injury after the accident, we can be discharged from the hospital this afternoon. So, you guys can visit us after your school end."
Ryuji turn his head and answer back quickly before ran off. "Of course, we will pay a visit again this afternoon."
The mother nod satisfied before turn to her son. But before she can act, the weakly voice of her husband stops her. "Honey, don't... don't use your hand to hit him. Use my belt instead."
Reginald: '... Why is every man I know a bastard?'
________________________________________
"Pfft! What a good father you have there." Nistro doesn't hide his mockery as he hears Reginald confession.
Reginald looks at him like a traitor. "If not for my so-called good brother run away at the critical moment, I wouldn't have to experience the beating from my mom." He says while slam down his glass of orange juice. "Another plate of tempura please!"
He then turns towards Yuma, who was quickly devour everything on the table. "Actually, I will take 2 plates!"
"Right away!" The voice of Iwana, the owner of the Suship restaurant rang out from the kitchen. Since the twin say that they like sushi, Ryuji has decided to bring them to his favorite restaurant.
Because it only afternoon at the moment and today was Monday, not a single customers come into this restaurant for now. Ryuji's group of nine basically the only customer.
As for Rio's mother, she only gives them her card and let them go eating on their own and stay at the hospital to take care of her husband. You ask why she not worry? Either because of Ryuji's maturity or the 3 Lamborghini with personal driver he brings along.
You can say that having the most influent man in the city as your boss have it advantage. 'Is there anyone having 5 beautiful girls surrounded them at 8 like me?'
Ryuji smirk as he looks at Dextra, Kari, Tori, Rio and Riko, who he has bring along to introduce with everyone. Right now, five of them was watching the video of his duel on Kari phone. For some reason, she created two YouTube channels, one channel uploads all duel video she has records. The second channel she only uploads his duel.
Actually, there's no 'some reason' here, he knows clearly, it's because she loves him and want his video to be unique so she uploads it on a separate channel.
"Alright, stop watching YouTube, if you guys don't finish the food quickly, it'll get cold." Ryuji say while taking the newly brought tempura into his mouth.
"Hey that's mine!" Reginald roar angrily.
"Hahaha!" X7
After half an hour, the dinner was finished. The group now take a rest after the meal. They begin to share some interesting story in their daily life or at school.
"Woah! Riko-san is amazing, being the top scorer of Heartland academy entrance exam must be extremely different, yet you still manage to do it." Rio voice doesn't hide her admiral towards Riko.
Riko smile at the praise before glance at Ryuji. "I'm nothing special, if you want to praise someone then it has to be the boy next to me. Being able to beat the top scorer when he's several years younger is far more amazing, don't you think?"
"Hehe, I know that, but that didn't stop me from thinking you're an amazing person, just a little less than Ryuji-san. In the future, would all of you join Heartland academy?" Rio quickly change the subject.
"Is that even a question? As a duelist, who doesn't want to go to Heartland academy Ryuji, Dextra and me are all already decided to join." Nistro answer without hesitation.
"That's good, my brother and I also want to join, too bad at the time we join you all has already graduate." Rio say with a slight disappointed.
"Hey! Don't forget us! Me and Tori only 1 year younger than you two, you know?" Yuma say as he points at himself and Tori.
Soon, everyone begins to talk about their favorite duelist and share some tips in duel, mainly Riko, Nistro and Dextra since other doesn't have much experience. As for Ryuji, he like the role of a listener more.
Seeing everyone talk to each other happily, Ryuji let out a quiet smile from the depths of his heart. But he then notices there's a person that didn't utter a single word since the topic was bring up.
He moved beside her quietly. "Kari, what happened?"
"Ah! W-What?" Kari snaps out of her trance as Ryuji call out for her, but her panic voice attracts the attention of other.
"I ask why are you so quiet? Is something wrong?" Ryuji patiently ask her again, he has notice her bad mood and guess the reason behind it, but he still wants her to say it herself.
"It's nothing... I just don't know what to say with them, after all, I'm not plan to become a duelist, so I don't have much topic to share with everyone." To put it simply, she feels out of place when hear them talking about duel related topic. Like a non-football fan hearing people debate wether Ronaldo or Messi is better. They know but don't understand.
She doesn't want them to stop talking because of her, but that also make her unable to join them. "Don't mind me, if you guys stop now, I will feel really guilty, you know?" She trying to light up the mood with a joke.
Everyone looks at each other awkwardly, not knowing what to do at the moment. Ryuji message his temple, he silently thanks the God inside his mind for the gift he received before. 'Now, let test the skill I hasn't use once before. Card Scientist!'
At his command, a can of coke suddenly appear in front of him. Along with it, there's a user manual beneath it. He takes the manual to read.
[Step 1: Find a person with affection point towards you reach 80+
Step 2: Let them drink the coke after they know the effect and agree. After drink, their knowledge and ability in card research will increase to middle level
Step 3: You can upgrade her research ability of a single type, attribute or summon mechanic using duel skill points
Each person has 0 -> 100 duel skill points decided by their duel skill when drink the coke. After that, their duel skill will remain 0 until the rest of their life.
If the person doesn't have the ability to see spirit, they'll gain it. During duel, they can't connect with their deck or spirit in any ways.]
Having understand how it works, Ryuji push the coke towards Kari under her confused eyes. "This is something you guys must keep as a secret, got it?" Ryuji said while putting a finger in front of his lips.
The group seeing his serious expression, they all nod solemnly. Ryuji know that they'll not betrayed him, after all, the anime characters are very reliable when making promise. Maybe except for some villain.
Then, he begins to explain the effect of the coke to her and other at the table. At first everyone was excited when hearing about the coke effect, but when he mentioned the drawback, all of them lose interest except for Kari.
Having knowledge is cool. Having card research skill is amazing. But losing duel skill and connection with deck while duel is terrible! For a duelist, that's unacceptable.
But to someone like Kari, who doesn't even have a deck, that drawback is basically none exist. By the time Ryuji put down the user manual, she has already finished with the drink.
"Burp~ sorry, I drink a bit too fast." Although her word is apologized, her voice is full of happiness.
After Kari has drink the coke, a blue panel appear before Ryuji.
[Riko
Skill point: 7
Upgrade:
+ A type of choice: 30 points
+ An attribute of choice: 30 points
+ A summon mechanic of choice: 50 points]
A corner of Ryuji mouth twitching a little, Kari duel skill is so trash it doesn't enough to buy any upgrade. But he ultimately chooses to not say anything that can ruined the girl's mood.
"Now, let test out the effect of the coke, you guys! Continue your talk just now, let me see if I can understand it now!" Kari shout excitingly.
And under Kari demand, they talk together for another hour. By the time they decide to go home, Kari was still a bit unwilling.
Ryuji can only shake his head helplessly at the girl. Today he has achieved many things. He thinks as he looks at the blue panel before him.
[Dextra, Affection: 99/Corrupted: 99]
[Kari, Affection: 97/Corrupted: 88]
[Riko, Affection: 68/ Corrupted: 57
Age: 12, Body measurements: 73/45/62]
[Tori, Affection: 92/Corrupted: 92]
'Hmm... Tori raises in affection point is quite fast, many it's because of Tomoe emotion affect her. But the most surprised out of all of them is still Rio.'
[Rio/Marin, Affection: 62/Corrupted: 46]
He has already known that Marin soul has fuse with Rio when he first visits her at the hospital. Her soul is simply too strong, nearly match his reincarnator soul.
But he didn't expect that Rio and Marin appear on the same panel. 'Although their affection and corrupted point are the same, but they name appear separately, doesn't that mean I can have 2 of them at the same time in the future if I manage to somehow separate their soul? But I still need to wait 10 more years until Marin awake. You know what? It's time for the author to do the time skip.'
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I don't even know what I just write, it's fucking 4 a.m and I can't sleep. I feel like I just combine the content of 3 chapter into 1 so it can't be help if you feel the story is rush.