Sorry this isn't my normal 2k chapter, but nothing like the last chapter happened. But it does move plot forward, so it is useful.

Yuma had no idea as to how a walk would help him – there was nothing to do but think – but he didn't want to come home. Akari could get lucky and guess that he was out dueling, and then punish him for doing so

But even Akari won't harm him as much as Shark had. Even if she was older, she was still his sister, and she had to protect him due to the disappearance of their dad.

And with Shark, there wasn't even a mutual bond of being classmates, like what Yuma had with Tetsuo. Therefore, nothing could stop him from doing anything to Yuma.

Well, when it came to physical violence, a teacher could step in when one was needed, but that's a rare case for they almost never step in when you need one. But for dueling, everything's fair there. Even playing for one's deck – you agreed to the terms, you carry them out.

"I would take your deck, but that'll only be doing you a favor."

It was obviously more mockery from Shark, but Yuma couldn't agree more. While his deck was his father's, it never won him a duel and it only allowed people the knowledge that he was a duelist. A duelist who couldn't duel his way out of a paper bag.

No, don't think like that!

It was like that time again. He had lost a duel and was upset that everyone made fun of him. But it only took one duel with his dad and a conversation about their dreams to get him smiling again.

Yet, his grandma or Akari couldn't do what his father had done, leaving Yuma lost when it came to what to do.

But there has to be something in the house that can cheer me up.

-0-0-0-

The window in his room was open, and there was an envelope on the floor when Yuma arrived.

He quickly shut the window, just in case someone else decided to break in that way, and picked up the envelope on the floor.

There wasn't anything written on it – no receiver, sender, or even topic. Just an envelope that weighed as much as a feather.

Maybe it's just an empty envelope I had lying around somewhere.

But Yuma still opened it, despite thinking it might not be anything. After all, it didn't hurt to try. And what if it did have something inside of it? The chance of him gaining whatever was in that envelope would've been gone.

He ripped open the envelope, revealing a card and a note.

Yuma went for the card first, since he realized that it was a duel monsters card. And while he had just lost a duel, he couldn't help but want to get back into the game right this second. Besides, how could improving his deck a little hurt?

It only took one tiny turn of the card to realize what it was – an XYZ monster.

Yuma never owned on XYZ monster, but he was still aware of their power. They were the best type of monsters, using a certain amount of monsters to tribute in order to summon them, and then using the souls of those monsters as overlay units, causing a special effect to take place. The cards resided in your extra deck and therefore they didn't count towards the amount of cards one could hold.

"Number Thirty-Nine: Aspiring Emperor, Hope…huh?"

While he did know everything about XYZ cards, this one was new. Of course, he didn't know about every XYZ card, but this one didn't ring a bell.

Though, he did hear 'Number' being used before…

Wait, wasn't a card like this used by Shark?

He had to think back a bit, but he did remember Shark calling out a number and Levice Dragon. Maybe that card was like this one?

Still, it was a card and therefore it was useful to Yuma. Besides, one XYZ card couldn't hurt, right?

Well, I better figure out what its summoning conditions and effects are.

It only required two level four monsters to summon it – something that was rather easy for Yuma to do. Gogogo Golem and Ganbara Knight were already level four, and he could change the level of Gagaga Magician to level four as well. That already took care of summoning the card.

Now for its monster effect…

It was the perfect card to pair with 'Double-Up Chance'.

Hope was able to negate any attack, even if it was its own. And pair that with 'Double-Up Chance', it'll be dealing five thousand points of damage, enough to beat almost any monster.

But I'll only have one chance with that combo.

Still, it was one of those combos. One where it'll take a well-placed trap to counter it.

Yuma took out the note that came with the card.

'Numbers can only be beaten by other Numbers' Was what was written on the card.

Numbers? It took him a couple of seconds to realize that the XYZ card he had in his hand was a 'Number'.

So is this a new card type? I've never seen anyone with a 'Number' before yesterday… Maybe they're prototypes?

Even though he was confused, Yuma still put Number Thirty-Nine in his deck, reasoning with himself that a little deck improvement couldn't hurt, even if the card type wasn't anything he heard of 'till yesterday.

-0-0-0-

So I had to give a piece of my memory to ensure the safety of the rest… Astral thought as he looked at Yuma, who was too absorbed in toying with his deck to notice anything.

Astral chuckled to himself. From his position in the tree, he could still hear Yuma's musings about the card he was gifted. He was definitely an interesting child.

Most children his age might just take the card and brag about its power. Yuma, on the other hand, was happy about the card…but was intrigued and confused by it as well.

Yuma would make a fine Number Hunter. He was not like the others.

Observation number one: Human beings are interesting and weird individuals.

He just then noticed the key that opened the lock was broken, and the child wasn't aware of his presence.

It seems like Number Hunter Yuma hasn't fully awakened yet.