As a high schooler, we should be planning for our own future. Like what job are we going to do, how are we living out of our lives and build a new family and it goes beyond. That's what adults usually advise us. And also, to achieve our goals, must we get good results for our tests or exams? Must we master all the difficult subjects in school to ensure our own future?
If anyone somehow misses the first chapter I'll introduce myself again. I'm a high schooler already. A second year. The name is Jullian Fong, 17 years old. I moved to this new school at the city, away from where my parents live. So yes, I'm living alone now by myself. I rented a room in an apartment near the school. It's called GreenLife. There's a big park right in front of the apartment which I like to spend most of my time there.
In this country where I am, after taking the finals for our first year, we will be assigned to different classes next year according to the results we got. My results from that wasn't that promising and I ended up in the Art stream. That class is known for having students with the same situation as me. And most of them aren't actually interested in arts. There were placed in that stream because the subjects learnt will be easier for them. Most parents hoped their child/children entered the Science stream, as it's a more versatile stream, allowing you to further studies in any courses better. Honestly, I hoped I entered that stream too, but I failed due to my results. I ended up in Arts. Then I decided to switch schools and moved to this city. There's a lot of reasons...
It's after school and I walked back home as usual.
As I continued walking,a big truck passed by. Then, it stopped at the gates of the apartment. I walked closer to the truck out of curiosity. It's a house moving agency's truck. Ohhh, it's the new resident beside my unit, probably. I didn't stay any longer and head back home. I have to hurry, my shift is starting.
What shift you ask? It's a part time at a card shop near this area. It's a 10 minute cycle from here. I do have a hobby like everyone else too, I love cardfighting. Woah woah, not fighting people using cards, it's playing a game called Cardfight! Vanguard. Again, if anyone misses the first part, I'll do a simple summary. This is the most popular game around the world now. It's so well-known there's big tournaments all around the world. In other countries like Japan, they had even more advanced stuff for this game. My best friends Adrian and Ivan introduced me to this game. They are very strong and good players too.
As soon as I stepped into the shop, everyone was gathered around. What's going on?
"Oh! Jullian, perfect timing. We're about to start now."
A guy with black glasses called me. He's the manager of the shop. Everyone calls him Li.
"Manager? What is this?"
"Ahhhh, sorry I didn't tell you about this. We are having a tournament today."
Sometimes, the shop hold small tournaments for the game and this can attract other customers and everyone could have some fun.
"Oh ok, how can I help?"
He turned back to everyone. I looked closer at the crowd. There's a guy wearing a white shirt and grey vest. That getup looked familiar. Hey, it's Ivan. He uses a Genesis deck, using Fenrir as his main unit.
"Ivan, how did you know about this? Even I know nothing about this..."
"Haha, the manager told me before I left last time I visited here."
"Where's Adrian?"
"He busy with the group project our class is doing."
"Ohhhhhh, anyway, good luck to you!"
"Back to you." he winked.
"Huh?"
Why would he wished me luck? It's not like I'm joining the tournament.
The tournament started. They are going with the single elimination style, where you lose one match and you're out of the tournament. There's just too many players cramped in one place. I was there to be the judge. I make sure everyone was playing by the rules and helped certain players to resolve any problems they have. But slowly, people started dropping like flies. Must be Ivan wrecking havoc. After about an hour, the tournament came down to the top 4. Ivan made it too. The new card from the latest set helped him in his matches. He was up against a Dark Irregular player. Both decks specialize in soul charging and utilising the cards in the soul. Ivan defeated him spectacularly. He got so much stronger...
"Now everyone, congratulations to Ivan who topped the tournament!"
Everyone clapped for him.
"But, there's another challenge for him. Will he take the title of the strongest?"
Say what?
"Ivan here has the right to challenge our strongest player in the shop, Jullian. If he wins, he could take away any 10 packs from a booster set as a bonus. If he loses, he will still get the tournament prize. So Ivan, are you up for the challenge?"
"Wait, no one said about this too!?"
I had to stop this. If he wins, the shop will lose even more profit. Even with the new booster that was released last two weeks, the sales wasn't that promising.
"Why? You're not up for the challenge?" Ivan taunted.
I walked to Manager and whispered:
"Are you fine about this? It's too hard for me to win with that new stride unit he has."
"Don't worry I got you this. I'm just lending you only, for the sake of the shop. Good luck!"
He handed me two stride units. They are the same unit, Marine General of the Heavenly Silk, Lambros. Wow, that's one of the strongest Aqua Force stride unit! Oh ya, I used the clan Aqua Force, a clan of marine military units that specialises in multiple attacks and combos in one turn.
"Fine, I'll do it."
"Time for me to take my revenge from our previous fight, Jullian!"
"Good luck."
"Stand up, my Vanguard! Bubble Edge Dracokid!"
His starter was Fetter of Leather, Leyding. He got the first turn.
"I draw and ride Hati. Then, it's your turn."
"Stand and draw, then ride Tatics Sailor. Next, I call Kelpie Rider, Nicky. With his skill, I reveal a grade 3, which is Max, and search my deck for Thavas."
Yes, I got my ace into my hand now. After that, I attacked his vanguard twice and put him at two damage.
Ivan rode Camomile next and called Geleipnir to a rear guard circle. He went ahead with his assault. I guarded his first attack but in his drive check, he landed a critical trigger. With that, we were both tied for two damage.
"My turn. Stand and draw. I ride, Magnum Assault. Then I call another Magnum to the rear guard. My rear Magnum attacks."
He guarded it.
"My vanguard, take him out! Drive check... It's not a trigger.."
It's his turn now. This is where the real deal begins.
"Stand and draw. The one with the will of beast, reveal your fangs and break through the chains that bind you. Ride, Mystic Beast, Fenrir! I move on to my attack phase. Geleipnir, take out the rear guard."
"No, you're not touching that unit. It's important for my plays later. I guard."
"I knew you'll do that. Fenrir, attack the vanguard!"
I took a damage. His turn was over and now it's my turn.
"Leader of storms stand up! Lead your waves to victory! Ride, One Who Supasses the Storm, Thavas! Now, Generation Zone released! Sail through the path I desire in the future, Stride Generation! Tidal-bore Dragon. I call Battle Siren, Sustashia. Wave 1! Sustashia takes out Glenphir."
He guarded it. I attack his vangaurd next with Magnum and he stopped it too.
"Magnum's skill, it stands back up. Then, my vanguard attacks, the total power of this attack is 31000! Try stopping this."
"Ceh, it's a waste to guard now. No guard!"
"Drive check... One...two...and three. Got a stand trigger. I stand Nicky and give the power to Magnum."
He got a heal trigger during his damage check. Now he's back to three damage.
"Tidal-bore's skill. I draw a card and Magnum attack your vanguard again. Thavas's Stride skill activates, you need to chose one of your rear guard and retire it."
He didn't stop the attack and Gleipnir was retired.
"Good attack, but it's not as awesome as mine! Stride Generation! Great Angel, Doombrace. Fenrir's Stride skill, I soul charge three cards and my vanguard gains a skill. Then I call Hati."
He had set up his field. Now he going all out.
"Doombrace's skill activates. I soul blast three cards and add 5000 power to Leyding and Hati and soul charge another three cards. Hati gain 3000 from his skill. Next, I call Gleipnir from drop zone. Now, Gleipnir attacks with a boost from Hati. His skill activates. I soul charge three cards and draw one card."
I guarded that and let his vanguard's attack go through. When his turn ended, I was at four damage.
My turn started. I stride Tidal-bore again and called Max. I used Bubble Edge's skill to give Magnum another skill. Sustashia goes first, taking out the rear guard, then Max attacks. Continue, my vanguard attacks. He nullified it with a perfect guard. My assault went on with Magnum attacking the vanguard twice. I drew two cards with both of the attacks due to Bubble's skill. He let one through to preserve his hand cards. Here's where the real disaster begins..
"Stride Generation! Mythical deity rampage! Show me my glorious future with your divine powers! Mythical Beast Destroyer, Vanargardr!"
That stride unit came out. He soul charged another three cards and move Leyding into the soul. Then he called Jormungand.
"Vanargardr attacks! Skill activated. I soul blast six cards and gain a skill. Divine Judgment! I'm not done... Fenrir' Stride skill lets me call Hati to the field. I can call another unit with the skill given by Leyding. That will be Dreaming Dragon. And also, Camomile skill can call herself to the field. Hati and Jormungand skill activates and powers them up."
He replenish his rear guards and powered up like it's nothing! His vangaurd is stilling attacking. I had to nullify it.
"Vanargardr skill, I check the top four cards of my deck and rearrange it in any order I want. I put three cards on top of the deck and one at the bottom. Drive check! It's a heal trigger, alongside with two critical triggers.." He ended his sentence with a sarcastic tone. With that skill, he defined knows what he's drive checking! I had to guard every attack or else I will lose.
"Before my turn ends, I use Dreaming Dragon's skill. I reshuffle every card from the drop zone and this unit into the deck, and if I return ten or more cards I draw one card."
That's the card that prevented him from decking out during his game with the Dark Irregular player. Wow, that is one powerful combo play.
"You showed the deck's maximum potential. I have to say, it's awesome. Then, it's my turn. Let do this once and for all. Final turn!"
Everyone was shocked after I declared it. If they read the situation properly, it was my last turn. If he makes it out this turn, I'm done for.
"Generation Zone released! Sail through the path I desire in the future, Stride Generation! Marine General of the Heavenly Silk, Lambros!"
"What? That's the card Manager lend you?"
"Yup, and my relentless assault is coming for you, with eight waves!"
"Eight?"
I reset my field. On my left column, I have Max and High Tide Sniper. The rear guard behind Lambros is Sustashia. On the right column there's Magnum and Nicky.
1st attack: Sustashia took out Camomile.
Second: Magnum attacked Jormungand without boosting.
Third: Max attacked and swapped places with High Tide, giving him 2000 power at the same time.
Fourth: High Tide attacked, and his skill powered him up. Thavas skill activated too, retiring Hati.
Fifth: Lambros attacked. His skill stood Magnum and High Tide, giving them 10000 power respectively.
Sixth: Magnum attacked, boosted. That let him stood back up.
Seventh: Magnum attacked again.
Eight: High Tide attacked. With his skill again, another 10000. That makes him 36000 along with a trigger power up.
He took the last three attacks and lost the match. Phew, that was a close one.
"There is it! Our champion held on to his title. Ivan fought well too. Give a round applause everyone!"
Clapping sounds filled the small shop. Soon, everyone left. I stayed back a little while to clean up.
"You are already that powerful without using 4 Lambros, what if you have 4 copies of it? You could take over the world!"
"Please stop joking, Manager. I can't afford Lambros. His price is too high."
"I know I know..."
I stopped by a restaurant for dinner and head back home. I walked to my door, and found something interesting. It's a box shaped thing wrapped in a cloth. What is it?
I picked that up and entered the room. I opened it. It's a...bento? A Japanese lunch box? It's blue in colour and it's stacked in two. I opened the bento and found...
Rice balls?
Who sent this? Why he or she do this? Is this safe to eat?
I picked one up. It's still warm and soft. I took a small bite.
It's delicious!
Wow, who did this must be a very good cook. But again, why is it here?
A paper flew out of the cloth. It's a note, written in English.
"I am the new neighbour next door. Hope you could get along with my family."
So the new resident is really living in the next door? Okay... That letter made everything clear. I wonder who's the new neighbour.
Next day...
We are having our Art class. The teacher wanted us to draw a scenery. I drew a cliff with two people on it, watching the night sky full of stars and a full moon with seawater below the skies, reflecting the moon's radiance.
"Hey, the tone here is not bright enough. That can't display the moonlight shining on the sea."
"I see. Thanks for the correction, teacher."
She is one of the reasons I came here. She was a former artist for some video game's art. Don't ask me how I found that. The art she created was totally mesmerising.
Someone walked in. I could heard the footsteps walking into the class. I didn't brother to look up and continued drawing.
"Ok everyone, it's very sudden, but we have a new student for this new semester. Can you introduce yourself?"
A new student at this time? That's odd.
"O...ok... My...my name is Kazane Takahashi. Nice...to...meet everyone."
A soft but clear voice was heard. It's a girl.
Everyone cheered! They were all excited about the new student. There's chaos all over the class. Why are they so hyper about it?
Wait... Kazane Takahashi? Isn't that a Japanese name?
"You could take the seat next to that boy at the back row."
Wait back row? Is the teacher referring to me?
I looked up and saw a girl. A girl with spectacles, flushed cheeks, small lips and long, straight black hair until her hips. Overall, she was beautiful.
She's still standing there, staring at me while I stared at her.
"Ahh! Let me introduce myself. I'm Jullian Fong, nice to meet you."
"Ni...nice to mme...meet you!" She bowed down. What's with the formality?
Everyone turned around and looked at us. This is getting a little awkward. What are you people looking at?
"Okay everyone, please be seated and continue your work." the teacher calmed everyone.
After the mid-year school break, at the first day of the new semester, I met her. My fate changed since then...