"The Festival will start in 15 minutes, please gather near the main building for the celebrations. Also, wear your costume or you will be expelled permanently from the school. Thank you."

"I apologise for taking your time..." I walked down the steps to the entrance, with my Officer Cadet, Erikk costume.

"It is cool" Koutei said.

I almost couldn't recognise him. In his Blaster Dark Revenger costume, I could have sworn that he looks like the real deal.

"Aww, I thought you are also going to wear a Shadow Paladin costume" Kat said.

"Nah, I am not gonna waste any more money on costumes for now." I said.

"Let's go!" Koutei acted as Commander as we walked to the main building where the festivals are going to be held.

To be honest, I am quite surprised with this year's planning. For once they actually made it grand enough, with fireworks and all. I still wish I could find her... though. That could make my life in Cardfight Academy complete.

"Yo! Delta-nii-sama-hime-kyun-chan-tan-chii-dono-senpai -san!" Shio said as she walked by from another lane.

"Hey Shio-chan, wanna join us?" I asked.

All of a sudden I noticed what she actually said in that long string of lines.

"Wait! I am no "hime"!" I almost yelled at my sworn sister.

"You are a princes... I mean noble!" Shio said, trying to divert the situation.

I was somewhat reminded of my sister in real life, who is now studying in another school that obviously does not teach the game. Somehow because of that I wish I could go back home for a while.

Anyways. Kuro was beside her. Shio was wearing an Akane suit while Kuro was wearing a Seiran one. Ah a High Beast Tamer couple. How befitting.

"Kuro, wanna join them?" Shio asked Kuro.

"Well since you asked, why not?" Kuro smiled back.

We introduced ourselves to each other and continued the walk. Kat was happily talking to Shiori while Kuro is basically discussing battle tactics with Koutei. Soon we reached the area of assembly (which honestly isn't really an assembly), which was near the Bermuda Triangle concert hall. We grabbed a few seats at the middle and sat down there.

Everyone was chatting with each other very happily as they waiting for Principal Spike Seyfried's speech. At the meantime I was trying to find that girl, and of course I failed. I decided to head back to the gang when I knocked onto something hard.

"Ow, that suit is hard..." The guy wearing that "shell" turned back.

"Hey dude, you ok?"

"Ah just a small bump, that's all." I replied.

"Oh well, I just love this Ahkbara suit. It just makes it feel like I am at home." He explained.

"Oh... right..." I am trying very hard not to facepalm at this insanity.

"Anyways, sorry for the trouble."

"See you!"

I managed to get back to the gang just as Mr Spike decide to start the speech.

"Good evening students and teachers. I am here to bring you this year's anniversary speech..."

It dragged for 10 minutes, even a speech-tolerant person like me almost fell asleep.

"... and thus I will hand the microphone over to Mr Neonriser to explain today's event."

"Ok, firstly we will have 2 songs performed by our Bermuda Triangle band, followed by a play done by the Pale Moon and Oracle Think Tank classes. Then, Delta from class Etranger will present a speech on his journey to the World Championships..."

Everyone stared at me.

"What? I don't even remember that I have to do a speech here?!" I said, trying to defend myself. All of a sudden, my mind took back 2 months ago when I attended a staff meeting because I was invited."

"So are you innocent?" Mr Hikari asked.

"Yes, I was." I said. "I know I am framed on this one."

"We believe you. We have seen your performance in the World Championships. In fact, I am surprised at the clean mix of cards you used for the tournament." Sol Kage said.

"Anyways, during the Anniversary, you will be doing a speech on your may want to name the person who framed you there." Spike said.

"Sure I would, but wouldn't that make my speech sound like a threat?" I asked

"Just do what you want. The time then is all yours." Spike replied.

"So that's what happened..." I muttered to myself.

"What happened?" Shio asked.

"Uh... nothing. Looks like I gotta prepare for the speech." I answered.

To be honest I had not even started on planning the speech, looks like I am gonna have this speech on the fly.

Half an hour passed and it is almost the ending of the play. I decided to leave the gang for a while and head for the stage to prepare my heart for the speech I just thought of. Just then, I bumped into MaelstromS while deep in thought.

"Ow!" MaelstromS said.

"Eh aren't you MaelstromS?" I asked.

"Uh yeah. Why?"

"Delta's delivery is here." I handed the deck over.

"Oh and sorry for bumping."

"So you are Delta? My brother is in the same class as you" MaelstromS said.

"Really? Who?" I asked.

"Hey Delta, it is your turn." Mr Hikari said in his Mihikarihime costume. I almost forgot he liked to crossdress.

"Yes Miss... I mean Mr Hikari." I said.

"I could kick you to Mars for that, but I forgive you this time." Mr Hikari said with a tone which sounded like he will flip a table.

"And now, Delta will present to you his speech." Mr Neon said.

Everyone was applausing and I believe I heard Shiori's voice of "Go go go! Delta-nii-sama-hime-kyun-chan-tan-chii-dono-senpai -san!"

I walked up on stage and got to the podium where I could place my imaginary slip of paper (which is obviously not there because I didn't even write a script for it) I took a deep breath and finally, I began my speech which I don't really know if it was good.

"Thank you Mr Neon, Mr Spike and Mr Sol for allowing me to speak for today's speech. Many of you would have seen me on TV, where I went back to my hometown, Singapore, to contest for the Regional Qualifiers. It was a remarkable point in my life, because at that time, I didn't even know my calibre. Now I stand today as one of the Top 8 Cardfighters in the world."

I could hear some applause from the crowd, I didn't expect that.

"Anyways, the route to World Championships was tough. I defeated 7 other players in the block with a Tri-stinger and Dragonic Overlord hybrid, proving to everyone in Singapore that the term "meta" does not exist here. Then, I used a Vermillion-Dungaree mix from the preliminary rounds of the World Championships, losing only at the quarter finals. From that alone, I beat another 12 people in matches."

Some people was talking to themselves. I guessed I bragged too much and I tried to not state the numbers.

"This is not what I am going to say in general, because winning is not everything. From this journey, I realised that whatever you do, the deck is what you are. I lost to fellow cardfighter and Vice-Principal Sol, because his image of victory was far greater than mine. He found his identity in his deck and proceeded. Although he lost the very next round. I would consider him as another fellow rival, and friend."

I heard a loud applause. I guess I did it right.

"Next. from my journey I realised that everyone is human and they do make mistakes. If you have flawed, it is best that you admit that mistake, learn from it and carry on. This applies not only to Cardfighting but in life too. I have seen many people making the same mistake over and over again, yet they held their belief that they were right. This is the worst mistake I would ever see as a fellow student of this Academy. Mistakes are tolerable here, but not admitting them will be the last thing anyone would tolerate."

I saw a few people, particularly people I know from the Great Nature class, leaving the place. I guess my message hit them hard.

"And thus I shall end my speech. Thank you for spending your time and I hope you have a great time for today's anniversary celebrations." I passed the microphone back to Mr Neon as applause continued to fill the emptiness of the area.

"Thank you, Delta, and now for the next segment..."

I went down the steps of the stage. I don't know if what I had done it right, but at least I finished the speech.

"Well Delta, you said what you had to said, isn't it?" Mr Hikari asked.

"I did what I could there." I replied as I walked back.

As I returned to my seat, I almost got bashed by the gang.

"You were awesome, Delta!" Kat said.

"Ok... that wasn't expected." I replied, trying to say something about it being unprepared and along the lines of it being not good.

"Well, I would have thought that you had prepared this speech for some time. Looks like you got a talent for public speeking." Koutei punched my shoulder.

Ok this is getting a little too weird. I didn't expect my 10 minute speech that was created on the fly within 20 minutes to become an excellent one.

"It could have been better, I believe you Delta-nii-sama-hime-kyun-chan-tan-chii-dono-senpai -san!" Shiori said.

"Ok don't call me "hime" anymore..." I said.

"But you are a pr... noble!" Shio said.

When on earth was I a noble?!

Just then, I saw her. I swear my eyes wasn't wrong. She was in a Doreen the Thruster costume. She was talking to a teacher, and suddenly she left running in the direction of the classrooms.

"I need to go to the washroom. Make sure no one takes my seat." I told the gang.

Picking up my hat, I took off in the direction where she was going...

CLIFFHANGER (You didn't expect that right?)

NEXT: The Full Moon.