20XX A.D. The world fell into chaos due to an invasion from beings of outer space. With a metallic surface on their bodies and black red rings around their arms and legs, these so called "Iseijin" came and rob humanity of everything they have; their families, friends, and also their very own lives. Amidst this disaster, one person stood up and-
...Oh sorry, that was the wrong beginning.
The sky was clear with little hint of clouds floating around. It was one of those sunny yet cool days in the middle of April, petals of white Sakura dropping from its branches and flew along with the soft blowing breeze.
"Is it really alright, Onii-chan? You don't have to do it if you don't want to, you know."
On a certain path between the sakura trees, two people were walking together side by side. One was a teenage boy around 15 to 16 years old, while the other was a teenage girl who looked a year younger than the teenage boy.
"Don't worry, Kanade. Just believe in this Onii-chan of yours."
The boy with dark blue hair and eyes gave a reassuring smile to the blonde twin-tailed girl with emerald eyes. Like him, his sister was also wearing her school uniform; a combination of white and blue different from her brother who wore the traditional all black uniform.
"But if you were to lose-"
"Then I'll just have to take the exam against next year. It's not a bad idea if you think about it, since we get to take the exam together then."
No words came from the girl as she fell into silence. The two continued to walk along the road which was neither empty nor full of people in that moment of tranquillity.
"Anyway, just leave it to me. I'll definitely prove to you that this deck is not as weak as you thought it is."
The boy held the pink box he took out from his pocket earlier and raised it high in his right hand, showing it to the girl with a smile full of confidence. Seeing her brother's smile made a smile appear on the girl's face too, her heart filled with belief in the words of her brother.
The cheers coming from the huge dome-like building became louder and louder as the brother-sister pair approached it. The building is known as the USSS (United Sanctuary Sphere Stadium), a gigantic place known to have held many famous events in the past, including the one that the teenage boy had planned to participate.
"Take this! Ultimate Break, Vermillion Catastrophe!"
"Protect me, Shirayuki! Stealth Arts: Petal Snow Storm!"
The cheers inside the stadium exploded as the red lightning dragon and the white-skinned miko-like youkai clashed their powers together, leaving sparks of lightning and trails of snow to scatter vigorously all around them. Of course, these were only special effects created using VR (Virtual Reality) technology thus none within the crowd are affected by the raging power.
"This is boring. Why are we here again?"
Sitting on a seat at the most top row inside the stadium, the girl clearly showed her dissatisfaction after letting out a sigh neither heavy nor soft. White blonde hair tied into a ponytail which flowed all over her back, blood red eyes with cat-like irises and white skin skin as pure as snow itself. Her appearance along with the long purple coat truly gave her an impression of being the final boss of an RPG.
"It's our duty as the academy's representatives to observe fresh applicants of our glorious academy and to research their playstyles in order to improve our own, is what they told us I think."
Standing behind the seat to the girl's right was a teenager who just used a bad impression of an intellectual way of speech. The design was a bit different and the colour was blue, but he was also wearing the same long coat as the girl.
"What research? All I see is people attacking units using the wrong units and guarding against attacks at the wrong timing. They also use their Counterblasts and Soulblasts without a care in the world and got stuck in situations where they really need to use them but can no longer do so."
"Well, that's what I think they want us to research about, my dear sweet Akiye..."
"If you call me like that again, I'll rip off that Tetra Drive Dragon you cared so much in that deck of yours, Juchen."
"Urgh... P-Please spare me from that suffering... Just imagining it makes me want to kill myself."
"Good. Continue to do so and jump off a cliff or something. That would help me very much in researching my own play style like the academy told us to."
"Aren't you being a little bit too cruel here?! Isn't it suppose to be you comforting me who is broken-hearted for having the greatest card in the world ripped into pieces?!"
The cheers became louder once more when the fight between the two on the stage in the middle of the stadium ended, the winner being the instructor who used the red lightning dragon; Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion the Blood of Narukami.
"This is really boring... I should have gone to the theme park with the others if I knew just watching would be this boring."
"Why did you volunteer to come here as a student representative, anyway? Unlike me whose younger brother is taking part in today's entrance exam, you shouldn't have any reason to be here, Akiye-san."
"No idea. I just felt like coming here all of a sudden, that's all."
"Heh~ Well, if you think about it carefully, this can be considered as a date between the two of us!"
"Any more of your jokes in that disgusting playboy tone and I'll burn your entire room which is filled with those Aqua Force cards you love so much, Juchen."
"I'm sorry. Please forget everything that I've said just now."
Letting out another sigh, Akiye kept her eyes on the stage as she waited for the next round to begin.
"E-Excuse me..."
"Hmm?"
When Akiye looked to her side, a blonde twin-tailed girl was standing a bit away from her. There were signs of nervousness all over the young girl's face.
"Wow, aren't you a cute lady?"
Kanade paused for a while due to being called cute by Juchen.
"I-Is this seat taken?"
"No, it's free if you wish to sit on it."
"T-Then, excuse me... Fuh... And I thought that I would never find an open seat. It's really crowded today, isn't it?"
"Well, it is the practical exam for the Cardfight Gakuen Entrance Examination after all. Watching the fights of the instructors of the academy is something not to be missed."
"Hey, what's your name, Ojou-chan? How old are you? Do you play Vanguard too?"
"Eh? Err, I'm Kanade. I'm in my 3rd year of junior high and yes, I-I do play Vanguard a bit..."
"Heh~ Do you want to go and have tea with me after this? I can teach you lots of stuffs about using Aqua Force decks."
"Eh? Ah, no, t-that's a bit..."
"Stop it, Juchen. Can't you see that you're just making her feel troubled even more? Or do you want me to flush you deck down the toilet along with that head of yours?"
"...Fine, I'll stop. But it's not because I'm afraid that you're going to flush my head into the toilet. Oh no, I'm doing it in order to protect my Aqua Force."
"Sorry about that. This guy likes to hit on girls, especially those known to be younger than him. That's why he's known as a lolicon in our year."
"Hey! Don't just make up a lie like that! I'm not a lolicon!"
"Then can you explain why you have 4 Astreas in all of your Aqua Force decks?"
"T-That's because... S-She's cute and useful, p-plus I can put extra pressure on those fighting my Aqua Force, that's all."
"Hmph. That's why you're a lolicon."
"Like I said, I'm not a lolicon!"
As Akiye and Juchen quarreled, the awkward smile on Kanade's face continued while she looked at them.
"Ahaha... Are you two also joining the entrance exam today?"
"Nope. We've already taken the entrance exam last year. I did it here while Akiye-san took the exam at her home country."
"Eh? Then that means you two are students of Cardfight Gakuen?"
"Yep. I'm Juchen, a 2nd year of Sapphire Class."
"Akiye, the same year but of Amber Class."
"Eh... So the clothes you're wearing are the school uniform. It looks really cool."
"Ahaha, that's a bit incorrect, Kanade-san. The normal school uniform in Cardfight Gakuen is only a plain shirt coloured according what Class you are. There are six classes for your information: Amber, Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Amethyst and Fluorite. Everyone is divided into dorms according to those objects which represent the colours yellow, red, blue, green, purple and grey."
"The ones we're wearing are for those who are one of the best in their own Class, the so-called Class Reps. One of the privileges of being a Class Rep is that other than wearing this coat, we can also choose any kind of colour we want for it. That's why mine is purple although I belong to the Amber Class which shirt colour is yellow."
"I belong to the Sapphire Class, plus I love Aqua Force so I chose blue for my coat."
"Eh... So the both of you are really strong… That's amazing! I hope to be a Class Rep too after passing the exam next year."
"Well, good luck then. I'll come and give you my support if I can next year."
"T-Thank you, Akiye-Neesan!"
"C-Calling me Neesan is a bit..."
The crowd's cheers became louder while Akiye remained blushing. The next round of the entrance exam was about to begin as the dark-blue haired figure in black uniform all too familiar to Kanade was walking towards the stage with a smile on his face.
"Ah, it's Onii-chan. Good luck, Onii-chan!"
"Onii-chan? Is that person your brother, Kanade-chan?"
"Ah, yes. Although we don't look the same, he's my brother. I came here today because I want to give my support to him."
"Heh~ So your reason for coming here is also the same as mine, Kanade-san. What a coincidence. I also came here in order to cheer for my younger brother, although all that became a waste since he got grade-locked and failed the practical exam."
Another person appeared from the other side of the stadium as he too approached the stage in the middle. An even louder cheer rang inside the stadium when the examination instructor for Kanade's brother came into sight.
"No way, that's Gai-sensei isn't it?"
"Ouch, looks like that brother of yours is going to find himself in a bit of a pinch, Kanade-san."
"Eh? Why is that, Juchen-senpai?"
"Senpai... She called me senpai... That sounds really nice..."
"Eh? J-Juchen-senpai? Are you alright?"
"Never mind him, Kanade. Nobody has ever called him Senpai before, especially a younger girl like you. That's why he's an incurable lolicon."
"Again, stop saying that I'm a lolicon!"
Akiye let out a cough as she ignored Juchen's roar.
"Back to about Gai-sensei, he's a former member of a national-level team which once won the Nationals before a few years ago. Although he's the weakest of the three-man team, his performance and magnificent skills has earned him the title "Gladiator" of his team."
"Eh... EHHH?! I-Is my brother going to be alright against such an opponent?"
"...I don't know. You'll have to pray that he doesn't manage to use his finishing move on your brother."
"Hahaha, but that's impossible you know. He always managed to pull that one off whenever he fights with the other students. Although it's not perfect, it's enough to give even you or me trouble whenever we fight against him, Akiye-san."
"I-Is this finishing move of him really that strong?"
"Well, let's just say that even a perfect guard won't be of much help against such a move. It's that strong."
"No way... I-If Onii-chan loses, then it will be all my fault!"
Kanade looked at her brother who was standing on the stage together with the strong Gai-sensei Akiye and Juchen had told her about. Her heart was filled of worry and guilt.