Chapter 11: Yielding Romance
Kuroki woke up in a dazed stance as he peered around his room. While wiping his eyes with one arm, his other searched for his phone and telepad. Feeling nothing on his nightstand next to his bed, he squinted over at said nightstand slightly annoyed that he may have lost his tech items. Kuroki jumped out of bed in a hurry and searched his room for his missing stuff. Yet, everywhere he looked, nothing was found. Kuroki slumped down, and dragged his feet across the carpet floor to his bedroom door, whining about something among the likes of his sleep and time. Then he realized. Today was tomorrow from yesterday, which meant he had a duel against the popular second year, Kishiki Okimura. He turned around to his desk and blinked. His deck was missing.
'Where are all my things?!' Kuroki thought to himself angrily. He slammed his bedroom door open in pursuit of whomever had taken his stuff. He entered the small living room looking to the right. Kuroki blinked. And once again, he blinked. And yet, once again, he blinked. He could not believe his eyes. Maya was in his assigned dorm room, dueling Ryuta on the table in a small scale board with Ryuta using Kuroki's deck. The boy could not be more furious than he already was. Slamming on the table, he poked Ryuta out of the way and grabbed his cards forcefully from the table and Ryuta's hand.
"Don't go through my shit!" Kuroki gritted his teeth, seething in fury. He spun around and ran into his bedroom. Holding his cards preciously, he mumbled to himself. Ryuta knocked on the door quietly, as Maya took her stuff and slowly walked out the front door.
"You okay in there, kouhai?" Ryuta whispered, knowing full well that Kuroki was just on the other side of the door.
Kuroki smacked the door in response, not caring what impression he gave. "You took my deck without my permission! Now where are my other stuff?!" Screamed Kuroki. Ryuta jumped back at the disheartened noise.
"Is that deck something personal to you?"
Kuroki scrunched his nose and looked in a different direction, needing to focus on another thing. "Just give me my phone and telepad…"
After some shuffling from Ryuta, he slipped the phone and telepad under the door. Kuroki grabbed them and turned the phone on inspecting the time listed. It was 9:23 AM. Then Ryuta spoke up. "I didn't take your phone. You just forgot it on the table last night after we ate dinner together."
Kuroki faced the door. He was slightly confused. So he had knocked out yesterday after they ate. Kuroki thought about it for a moment. 'Was I that tired?'
"You seemed really fatigued yesterday night," Ryuta said.
"S-so I did, huh," Kuroki unlocked the door and brought it opened, looking straight up at Ryuta. "M-my duel i-is in an hour. Come see me…" Kuroki walked past Ryuta with his deck and duel disk in hand.
"You're gonna walk out in that though? You're kind of bold." Not knowing what Ryuta meant, Kuroki looked down on himself, as he was still in boxers and a white tee. He cleared his throat and scuffled back into his room, closing it behind him to get dressed. "Hahaha, I'll meet you over there then. See ya!"
"Yeah, see you there." Kuroki opened drawers and took out navy blue socks and his school attire alongside a white jacket. "This'll do." He muttered to himself.
Running out of the dorm, he armed himself with his duel disk heading towards the academy building. Not seeing a sight of Ryuta and Maya from earlier, he thought they must've been at the stadium already. So Kuroki scurried on over. As he opened the entrance door into the building, he came upon a majestic looking boy dancing around the center of the main hall alone. Kuroki rubbed his eyes, checking if he was dreaming. And suddenly, the mysterious dancing male went down on his knees while magically springing flowers from his hand. The boy graciously proposed to Kuroki.
Kuroki, shocked at the suggestion, froze unable to speak. "Would you care to marry me?"
"W-what?!" Kuroki cried.
"Oh wait, you're a guy," The boy said. "My mistake. I'll be on my way now."
Kuroki hesitantly stared at the boy walking away into a hall on the right. Shaking his head in confusion, he continued his way into the building by going to the hall on his left. Kuroki intensely inspected each door for the "Stadium Hall" sign. "No… no… no… oh yes!" Kuroki clapped as he found the sign and the two large doors that was beside it. He opened the doors inwards and proceeded. Lights blinded him as he entered. There were voices cheering everywhere. But those weren't the cheers for him. It was for the popular second-year, Kishiki.
"Students! To honor the newest assets to the academy, let's begin our very first official duel of the year in this stadium. Welcome our second year, Kishiki Okimura!" Professor Portman smirked. More girls cried their hearts out for Kishiki as he walked in waving at each corner of the room, even stopping to wink at one girl in particular. He eyed Kuroki who was still standing by the second entrance of the Stadium Hall. "And, let's also welcome our first year, Kuroki Kudou." The cheers died down as it turned into screeches of threats and groans.
"That should have been me out there!"
"No fair! I wanted to duel Kishiki!"
Kuroki frowned as he was being called many names while he tread the steps up the stage. He inspected his opponent closely, from feet to head. It clicked in him. It was the guy from the Entrance Lobby, but he was wearing a different set of apparel than the one he had before. The two came face to face on the stage with Professor Portman using a microphone to speak to the whole academy. Kuroki looked around for his friends, and even Ryuta. But he couldn't see anyone. As he was about to turn back to Portman, he caught someone at the corner of his eye. Kuroki quickly looked over at that someone. No one around that person noticed he was there.
"Gungnir!" Kuroki quietly mumbled.
"Now, let us begin!" Portman announced, hopping off the stage leaving the two to duel.
"Hey, ready up!" Kishiki shouted, grabbing Kuroki's attention.
"Huh?! Oh, right!" Kuroki turned on his duel disk and so did Kishiki.
"Let's…"
"Duel!"
Kuroki vs Kishiki
LP: 4000
Rules: New Era Playstyle
"I shall start us off," said Kishiki. "I activate my monster effect in my hand. 'Romanticdere Tenkousei'. If it is in my hand, I can add 1 'Dokidoki Scene' Spell or Trap from my Deck to my hand."
"What is this? A love story?!" Kuroki asked.
"Are you not interested in love?" Kishiki inquired.
"U-uh… I wouldn't say I am not…," Kuroki replied.
"Then, allow me to show you the essence of romance. It will shock you to see its true power. I add the Spell Card 'Dokidoki Scene - First Meeting'. Also, Tenkousei (LIGHT/Zombie/Level 1/500/800) is Special Summoned to your field." Kuroki was confused on the play. All he could see was a high school boy yawning his eyes out in front of him. He then looked up at the area he saw Gungnir standing. The cloaked man was still there looking down on the two. "Hey, pay attention will you?" Kishiki stated. "I now activate the Field Spell, 'Dokidoki Setting - Koukou'! As long as it is active, Set Spells and Traps cannot be destroyed by any card effects." A school building warped behind Kishiki while transforming the area around with cherry blossoms. "I set 1 card face-down, and also activate it!"
"Wait, what?! You can't just-" Kuroki scrambled for words, but came up empty.
"Yes I can. I can activate the Continuous Trap 'Dokidoki Scene - Confrontation' if I control a 'Dokidoki Scene' Field Spell. You choose an effect for me to use."
"Wait, what?! I don't get it. You're giving me a choice in your own effects?"
"Of course. That is how romance is born, through the choices of both parties."
"Huh? I still don't get it. Isn't it usually only one person to take the opportunity to pursue their love?"
"Hahaha, but if both sides do not comply with each other, then romance cannot bloom. Don't you see? This is why I am giving you the choice. To see how well you will accept my attempts at love." Kishiki's eyes gleamed with a vision of mutual romance.
"Whatever, I choose Level 1." Kuroki frowned.
"Oh, you have chosen the scene that will mark our first confrontation with each other. I Special Summon from my hand, the Level 1 'Romanticdere Ichinensei' (LIGHT/Zombie/500/800). Ichinensei effect. We each can search our Decks for 1 Level 1 or 2 monster and add it to our hands." Kuroki chose his card through the screen of the Duel Disk and added 'Young Sora'(LIGHT/Warrior/Level 2/400/0) to his hand. Kishiki added his 'Romanticdere Ninnensei'. (LIGHT/Zombie/Level 2/1000/800) "As with a confrontation, comes our first meeting!"
Kuroki stared at the newly activated Spell Card on Kishiki's field. "I choose 1 of the 3 effects available…"
"Yes, our first meeting has so many possibilities. Now, show me what you would do for me in our first meeting."
Kuroki remembered that this was the guy when he entered the entrance hall. Kishiki had mistaken him for a girl. And he wasn't sure what Kishiki wanted out of him since the 3 effects would all benefit him in some way. So he decided to answer with his own card in hand.
"I would gladly refuse to partake in any of your shenanigans right now. I activate the monster effect in my hand! The Level 4 monster 'Keyblade's Partner - Mulan'! (FIRE/Warrior/1400/800)"
"Of course you would deny me," Kishiki denounced Kuroki's choice.
I have to end this fast so I can follow Gungnir. Even so, Kishiki may prove to be a difficult opponent. At least, I am stopping one of his plays. Kuroki sent Mulan to the GY to use her effect. "If you activate a card or effect that involves adding a card from your Deck to your hand: I can send this card to the GY and banish 1 LIGHT monster I control to negate that effect and destroy it." Tenkousei vanished within a void as the Spell Card Kishiki played faded.
Kishiki frowned. "Why would you deny love?!"
"I am not denying it! I am simply counterplaying you! So can you stop referencing love into Duel Monsters."
"Tch, I Normal Summon 'Ninnensei' from my hand. Now I perform a Link Summon using 'Ninnensei' and 'Ichinensei'! O heavens bring down the gift of love, shine above all with your brightness and sheer emotions. Link Summon! Link 2, 'Dramaticdere Shounensei'!" (LIGHT/Zombie/1900) Kishiki smirked, as he then tapped his Duel Disk, confirming another effect activation.
Maya, Itou, Vance, and Kintaro were watching from the sides together lined up in a row. "He doesn't seem to notice us," Maya said. "We've been calling out to him but Kuroki won't turn to us." She pouted. Itou tapped his foot sensing an ominous presence. He couldn't quite think of what could have been causing this inner feeling.
"Oh, what?! Again?" Maya shouted, disrupting Itou's focus.
"What is it?" He asked.
"Look, Kishiki is taking back his cards from the GY," answered Maya. Itou stared intently.
"With Ninnensei's effect in my GY, I can add 1 'Romanticdere' monster and 1 'Dokidoki Scene' Spell/Trap from my GY to my hand, except itself. And you know what I'll take. Ichinensei and First Meeting!" Kishiki caught the cards as they quickly flew out of his GY. "Activate!" The Spell Card 'Dokidoki Scene - First Meeting' reappeared on Kishiki's field. "I'll also chain my Field Spell Koukou to it! If a 'Dokidoki Scene' Spell or Trap is activated, I can return 1 other 'Dokidoki Scene' Spell or Trap on the field to the hand. I now return Confrontation! Also, choose for First Meeting! Just think about what we can have together, a blooming romance! What else can you ever want?"
"Ngh, okay then. I choose to let you Special Summon." Kuroki felt his mouth twitching as he suddenly felt a little irritated about the situation. "Romance huh? Never really given it much thought."
Deeper inside Kuroki, he did yearn something. Was it to accomplish his dreams? To meet the love of his life? What did it even mean to him in the end? Or was it to have a taste for adventure?
"I will Special Summon Tenkousei in Defense! Here's another thing you need to know. Whenever a 'Dokidoki Scene' Spell or Trap is returned to the hand, it activates an effect. However, because Confrontation makes each of our LP 4000, there is no change in our current LP. (Kuroki's LP: 4000, Kishiki's LP: 4000) I then activate it again! Come Ninnensei, in Defense! And I set 1 card face-down and end my turn!"
Turn 2
Kuroki
LP: 4000
Hand: 5
Field: 0
GY: 1
Kishiki
LP: 4000
Hand: 1
Field: 6
GY: 2
"Draw!" Kuroki inspected the card he drew. His whole hand consisted of 'Sora - The Keyblade Bearer', 'Drive Form', 'Drive Recovery', 'Mystical Space Typhoon', 'Reinforcement of the Army', and 'Young Sora'. "I'll try to finish this quickly." He muttered to himself. He took a deep breath as he took his 'Reinforcement of the Army' and activated it. "I activate this! With it, I get 1 Level 4 or lower Warrior monster from my Deck to my hand. I add Goofy!"
"Going for your Drive Fusion Summon?" Kishiki laughed. "If you do, you can't attack with your Valor Sora, if he activates his effect. So then, what are you going to do?"
Kuroki chuckled. "Who said I only had Fusions in my Extra Deck?"
Kishiki was astounded. "But the reports read…!"
"Reports? Ah, you mean the files that the school makes on every student. As romantic as you are, you're just like someone I know. They like to pry into my privacy." Kuroki sighed. He was suspecting that many of the academy probably knew what he played by now. However, his Deck had variances.
"Hmph, whatever! You cannot win in this turn. Am I right? Romance doesn't just end-"
Kuroki then played another Spell Card, interrupting Kishiki mid sentence. "The Spell Card, 'Drive Form', activate! With Sora as the catalyst and Goofy as the power, he can reach a new hope that marks the midpoint of the journey! Drive… Synchro Summon! (4 + 4 = 8) Level 8, 'Drive Form - Sora the Keyblade of Limits' (LIGHT/Warrior/Level 8/3000/2100)."
"What?! He can use another Summoming style? That's… that's rare!" Kishiki screamed.
"He can use Fusions and use Synchros?!" Maya shouted.
"It seems his Deck has more than meets the eyes. Interesting…" Itou's eyes glittered with interest. "I've never seen him play anything other than the Fusions so far."
"Maybe, he's serious about ending this quick?" Maya pondered, waiting for the next move to happen.
"Are you trying to end this as soon as possible?" Kishiki directly asked Kuroki.
"Yeah, I'm trying to end this quick!" Kuroki gritted his teeth. He was annoyed with Kishiki for the romance references and the fact that he needed to catch up to Gungnir, who was just up on the bleachers. "Battle! Limit Sora, attack Shounensei! Zantetsuken!"
"Not so fast! I activate-"
"Limit Sora's effect stops you from using effects during the Damage Step when a Keyblade monster attacks!" Sora flipped his Keyblade around and sliced through Shounensei in the blink of an eye. Shounensei fell to the ground dissipating away.
(Kishiki's LP: 4000 - 2900)
"Since I destroyed a monster by battle with Limit Sora, he lets me gain LP equal to half the destroyed monster's ATK." Kuroki smirked as if he had won the duel already. (Shounensei's ATK: 1900 / 2 = 950. Kuroki's LP: 4000 - 4950) "I Set 1 card face-down and end my turn."
"You'll pay!" Kishiki growled angrily. "You'll pay for hurting my characters I have!"
Kuroki was surprised at the change in atmosphere around Kishiki. Still, he had 'Mystical Space Typhoon' Set which would allow him to stop 1 of the Spells and Traps Kishiki plays. And he needed to find Gungnir who had left. "Come at me, you little!" Kuroki taunted.
Turn 3
Kishiki
LP: 2900
Hand: 1
Field: 5
GY: 3
Kuroki
LP: 4950
Hand: 2
Field: 2
GY: 5
