It was a time ago that he had felt less than himself.

Though he held this constant feeling in his heart that, yes he could do this, yes he was going to get there somehow!

There was always that hint of doubt deep within him.

But looking down at his anchor, the last memento from his father, Yuma knew there was a way to succead.

It was his key. His father had gotten back from his expedition. It wasn't just a simple little necklace, but something that was a constant reminder that he had his father rooting for him.

No matter where he was. He was rooting for him.

The weeks following his parent's dissapearance, Yuma felt himself lose contact with everyone around him.

Akari was more stressed than ever, working between school and yelling at him to do his homework….he didn't want to listen to her.

He missed his mother's kind sterness, and how she would gently guide him through difficult problems or bullies at school.

Akari just didn't have time for that.

Granny was a God send. She raised them better than any orphanage or foster home could. It was thanks to her guidance the Tsukumo family could stay together.

She took a great load off of Akari's plate, and even though she still had to grow up faster than she should have, she at least could get through school with decent enough grades.

Yuma didn't want to be too much of a bother to either of them, and looked to his fathers—his key, for solace when he was down.

Other students felt weird talking to him, as if he carried some foriegn kind of disease. Some kind of unhappiness or irregularity that made him differnt.

They were scared to talk to him. To be around him. But his key was there, his fathers spirit was with him!

It was rough adjusting to school and regular day life after their disapearance.

Mathmatics, language, and all these basic things felt so mundane. Akari would be sure to yell at him about needing it in the future, but he wanted to be a duelist.

He devoted himself to trying to become the best all on his own. He didn't have anyone really by his side to help, even his teachers told him he wouldn't get anywhere without the basics.

Akari for some odd reason had even forbidden him from dueling all together! And for a time he listened to her; but that was not to last too long.

Gradually he started trying to become better as fast as he could. He was tired of feeling sorry for himself and just sitting around waiting for his parents to come back.

He even made a few friends in the process! He dueled one boy continuously, and even though he never won, it was still the best feeling in the world to know someone was willing to give him a chance!

Another girl, Kotori, one he had considered one of his best friends for as long as he could remember, was always by his side. She would give him the hard truth more often than not, but never looked down on him for dreaming.

But he still wasn't good enough to win even a single duel.

And then Astral came along.

He was infuriating and absoultely obnoxious! Like he knew everything, and Yuma knew nothing.

At least that was how it started out.

With the others constant presence, Yuma stopped feeling so lonely. He was given someone who he had to protect, someone who even helped him out when he was consumed by his own emotions.

Astral quickly became his best friend. He was someone who was connected to his father, and connected him to all his new friends.

He never would have defeated Shark without him. Or have met Kaito, Fuuya, or the Arclights. So many different people and experiances that really helped him grow as a duelist and become the person he had always dreamed of being.

He would do anything to help Astral. Anything to help his friend.

Even if he knew Astral was to leave him someday, he'd always have the spirirt of the others embedded inc his heart.