Gao was studying as hard as he could, knowing that his exams were beginning tomorrow. He felt tired and yawned as he stared at his book. When he started to doze up, his buddy gave him a shock and woke him up.

"Quit dazing up kid! There is no way you are going to fail those exams and miss the tournament!" Batzz yelled at the boy as he pointed his finger at him.

"I am not going to fail. I'm just tired," the boy replied as he kept studying, Why is Batzz acting as if he was commanding me?

He quickly got his answer, "If you dare fail this and we don't show up at the tournament… I already know what the other dragons are going to say about me," he grunted as his eyes lightly turned red, "I bet they will believe I am a coward and missed the tournament on purpose because of you! It's your fault!"

"The exams begin tomorrow! You are just assuming I'm going to fail!" Gao yelled back.

"You don't look like a bright kid Kid!" the gray dragon yelled back.

Meanwhile, Chibi Panda was just silently watching the two buddies arguing against each other's while wisely standing out of their way. He quietly sighed. He could still feel the pain from the shock he got from his boss yesterday when he tried to split them up.

Episode 4 Part 2: Until The Tournament

The next week, Gao was sitting on the bench outside of school with Gaito and their buddies. Both were exhausted as they sighed.

"Those damn exams are finally over," Gao joyfully said.

"With how you study kid, I doubt you pass," the gray dragon said in accusation.

"You can pass it Gao," Chibi Panda said.

"It wasn't that hard. I couldn't stop studying because of Batzz," the boy commented.

"One thing this dragon is useful for," Gaito commented.

"What you said?" Batzz grunted.

"What he means Batzz. You aren't useful to your buddy in anything else than the matches and helping Gao study," Abygale commented.

The gray dragon grunted even more, but crossed his arms and turned around. No matter how much he wanted to fight, he already knew how it would end.

"It wasn't as hard as I expected. Abygale also made sure I study everything," Gaito grumbled.

And you didn't pass a long time in the occult club. A little brake for me, Abygale secretly thought.

"I'm sure I passed. I wasn't struggling as much as last year and I really want to participate in the tournament," Gao said.

"It is my destiny to win the World Buddy Masters," Gaito replied.

"We will see that during the tournament," Gao replied with a smile, "I am preparing my deck with Baku and it's coming well."

Gaito smirked, "Looks like I have to step up my strategy," he wasn't planning on underestimating his friend.

"Looks like you finished too," Kanata said as he joined them.

Athora flew by his side, "I'm sure you are all going to pass. I can believe it."

"He better passes," Batzz grumbled about Gao.

"Soccer practice will begin soon," Kanata said with a small smile, "It is not obligatory to day, but I want to see how much better I am against you."

Gao replied, "Of course."

Athora smiled at the enthusiasm of his buddy as they went to the soccer field. Meanwhile, Batzz grunted as he followed them. Chibi Panda was enjoying their practice as other members of the team were also present.

As they practiced, Athora smiled even more when he saw the light of joy shining in the eyes of his buddy. Not only that, but since he was participating in the World Buddy Masters. The star in his eyes was shining back, just like before, No, Athora corrected himself, Even brighter than before. He has many friends now. Maybe he'll start once again to believe we are talking to him when someone wants a Buddyfight with him or anything related to that.

As the boys practiced soccer, Athora watched his buddy enjoying his match with nostalgia.

Three Years ago

Kanata and Athora watched the international tournament of buddyfight fight. They saw that Gao was currently having a match with his buddy Bal.

Athora gazed at his buddy and said, "You know we could have participated in the tournament if you wanted. I'm sure you would have meet powerful buddyfighters that can defeat you like Gao."

Kanata quietly nodded, "Yeah, but what if I beat everyone without losing a life. It would be pointless to show the entire world that I cannot lose. It's better if I stay out of it," he sighed.

Athora closed his eyes and also sighed. He was getting worried for his friend as his mood wasn't getting better. It even deteriorated a little with the WBC Cup currently on.

Kanata said nothing else as he watched the tournament. Athora could see that his buddy wanted to participate in the tournament, but the prospect of winning the same way as always wasn't motivating him to accept to participate when he was asked.

The next day, they went to school and it quickly passed by as always. The Star Dragon wasn't sure what he could do to help his buddy. He was also getting depressed just like him. He looked down as they were about to return home as usual.

When they were outside the school, Kanata saw a ball coming at him and someone yelling, "Look out!"

The boy got the ball on his cheeks and lost his balance. He felt on the ground and put his hand on his cheek as he painfully grumbled. He closed his eyes and quietly whined.

"Kanata!" his buddy worryingly asked as he flew by his side.

"I'm so sorry! Are you okay?" someone asked him.

The boy raised his head and looked at a boy showing his hands. He helped Kanata stand up and said, "Sorry. I kicked the ball too hard," he nervously gazed away.

Kanata grabbed the ball, "It's okay. I wasn't paying attention."

"No. It was my mistake," the other boy insisted before grabbing the ball and running towards the other boys.

Kanata sighed while his buddy asked, "Are you alright Kanata? You're hurt."

The boy nodded and replied, "Not that much. I'm fine," he watched them playing soccer together.

Athora noticed that his buddy was a little curious about it and tried something, "Maybe we can see what they are doing. You never did look what was going on at school."

The dragon wondered what would be the answer of his buddy. He nervously waited for the words to come out of his mouth. Eventually, Kanata replied, "Why not?" with little interest in it, but was curious enough to go and see what they were doing.

They went to the soccer field and watched the other students practicing together while listening to what their coach was saying. During a part of the afternoon, the boy was getting more excited as the players were practicing as if they were in a match and how they were moving was getting interesting for the boy. He watched it more carefully how they were playing and lightly smiled as some excitement came to him. Despise that, he wondered if he would be too good for that, just like buddyfight.

Athora gazed at his buddy and saw a small smile appearing on his face, but also noticed some apprehension on his face. He wondered if there was something he could say to push him forward. The Star Dragon said, "Kanata. Why don't we try this together at home? You have a soccer ball," once his question asked, he was nervous about his buddy replied.

The boy thought about it and nodded, "Sure."

The dragon felt like he could smile as he clearly heard some interest in the voice of his buddy.

Back home they tried to play together and Kanata quickly learned how to control the soccer ball efficiently while his buddy was playing as the goaler. With how quickly the boy learned how to play soccer, he managed to scores many points, but Athora managed to block a few shots. The Star Dragon smiled as they player together, until the ball popped because of the horn of the dragon.

Athora coughed a few times before shacking his head to get over the sound and arrange his mane, "That was really loud."

Kanata lightly chuckled after saying the mane cut of his friend before signing, "I'm already too good for this sport."

His buddy sighed when his friend mood was already dropping. He quickly thought of something and said, "I never played soccer before and I don't really have arms in this form. Maybe against other players in a real match might show… how good you really are," he tried, hoping it was a good answer.

The boy thought about it, Athora is really trying to cheer me up. I… I guess I should accept. It will make him happy, "Why not? It might be fun."

He's forcing himself to say that, his buddy thought. Despise that, he smiled back, "I'm sure you'll have fun."

The next day, Kanata was at the soccer field and watched the other's playing their game. He knew that their team was complete and could enter ever if he wanted. He realised that his answer wasn't the best when it came to the possibility to play soccer, but the year was also coming to an end and the competition was over. Most of the last years players of middle school weren't practicing anymore. There were a few players missing to make a complete team with the last year absent.

The players decided to split up into teams and they noticed that there was a player missing in one of the team. One of them sighed and checked around if they could find someone else to fill that spot and noticed Kanata. The player waved at Kanata and asked, "Hey! Do you want to help us practice?"

The boy looked elsewhere, wondered who he was talking too when Athora said, "He's talking to you Kanata."

The boy nodded a little nervously.

"Come on Kanata. This is your chance to try this up against another team," he whispered.

The player asked, "So?"

Kanata replied, "Sure. It will be fun," he climbed down and joined them on the field. One player gave him a shirt while a few others thought that they had a disadvantage to have Kanata on their team, but didn't complain too much since they were missing a few players.

"Do you know how to play soccer?" one of the player asked.

He nodded "Yes. I played a little before."

They all gave brief presentation between each other's and said a few things before one of the other team asked, "Shall we begin?"

The soccer player nodded, "Yes. Kanata. You will be in the defense. You make sure that no one pass you and score a goal."

"Got it," the boy replied.

One player put the ball at the middle and the two teams were ready.

"Fight Kanata!" his buddy encouraged him with a smile.

The match started and Kanata remained in his position as two teams tried to kick the balls towards the net to score a point. It wasn't long before one passed on of Kanata's teammate and the boy had to stand in the way. He managed to easily steal the ball and took a few steps forward. He passed around the players without many trouble and heard someone said, "Pass!"

Kanata saw the boy and passed the ball. The other player passed to another one and his team score the first point. Kanata felt excitement raised in him, but also apprehension as he wondered what would happen if he was too good like in anything else.

"Good job Kanata," one of his teammate said with a thumb up and a small smile.

"Keep it up Kanata!" his buddy kept encouraging him.

Kanata nodded as the match continued. The boy often easily managed to steal the ball and passed it to the offensive member of the team. The boy apprehension grew stronger as he blocked everyone who tried to pass him, but then something took him by surprise.

One of the player he was about to steal the ball suddenly stopped and passed to someone else. Their team managed to score a point and it was one to one.

Kanata remained there at the realisation that he was bested. For once in his life, someone managed to make a point, or beat him.

"Don't get discourage. You can't block their entire team," one of his teammate said with a small smile before tapping his back.

Kanata quickly realised what happened. Compared to everything he did before, this match wasn't like buddyfight or an exam. He wasn't a solo player or a student passing exam easily. It was a team against another team. The reason he passed him wasn't because he wasn't that good, but because his adversary had a team by his side, just like him. Right now, he might be really good, but by himself, it wouldn't be enough. Even if he was the best player, it wouldn't have been enough.

The boy smiled and replied, "I'll try harder."

"We're counting on you," another of his teammate replied.

Athora noticed the smile and how the mood of his buddy was better, I'm so glad you can smile again. Looks like your eyes are also shining like stars again, but not like when you played your first buddyfight match thought. I wish your eyes would shined even more like before. I don't care if it's not like before, I'm just glad you can smile again.

Athora didn't know back then, but his buddy awakened a passion for soccer and since then, he often played soccer and became one of the best player of the team and it continued.

Present Day

When practice was over, Athora flew by the side of his buddy and congratulated him, "You didn't let Gao get the best of you!"

The boy chuckled as he nodded before turning towards Gao, "He was really good. It's really difficult to pass him and score."

"You let them score points! You aren't that good kid," Batzz crossed his arms and turned around.

"No one is as great as you Batzz, so you cannot-" Chibi Panda started.

"I know," the gray dragon interrupted him. Despite that, it put the dragon in a less angry mood as he stopped crossing his arms.

Patting is ego is the best way to disarm his anger, but I don't think it'll work for me, Gao thought before sighing.

"Let's go. I'm hungry!" Batzz ordered as he walked away.

"H-hey!" Gao yelled, just before the dragon glared at him.

"I think you should go Gao. I hope you pass the exam. I want to fight you in a Buddyfight during the World Buddy Masters," Kanata said with excitement.

"You better pass kid!" his buddy yelled at him.

Gao sighed, "I really studied, so I'm sure I've passed."

The gray dragon grumbled doubtfully, but they walked away as they returned home.

Athora gazed at his buddy and was glad that he was smiling once again. Athora smiled and hoped that his buddy will enjoy the tournament just as, or even more than soccer.

A few days later, Gao was nervously standing near the billboard, where the results of the exams will appear. He was hesitating to check on his results, while his buddy was getting impatient and Chibi Panda was also nervous.

"Will you stop wasting my time kid and check your result already?" his buddy yelled at him as he prepared to shock him.

Gao gulped and took a step forward. He saw Gaito and his buddy walking pass him.

"How did it go?" Gaito asked Gao.

"I didn't check it yet," he nervously replied.

"You should hurry up, for your own health," Abygale pointed at Batzz who had a dark aura appearing around him.

Gao nodded and went to check his results. He found his name and saw that he passed with good grades, "Yes! I passed it!"

"Congratulation. Maybe we will fight against each other's at the tournament," Gaito said.

"You weren't that stupid after all kid," the gray dragon grumbled, relief that he would participated in the World Buddy Masters.

Gao checked who was the best and saw it was Kanata, "Kanata had a perfect score."

"What?" Gaito said as he also checked the results. He frowned, "He is really smart for a dofus."

That didn't interest Batzz as the bell rang. The two boys went to class.

Gao returned home at the end of the day and said, "I'm home!"

His mother was right there, waiting for him with her arms crossed, "Welcome back Gao. Did you pass the exams?"

Gao chuckled as he thought, Right to business, "Sure mom. I passed with good grades."

Suzumi smiled, "That's good. You can go to the tournament."

"I will make sure that Drum is proud of me," Gao replied.

Batzz grunted, "Better not make an embarrassment of me in front of every dragons Gao. I am the best and I won't tolerate to look weak in the World Buddy Masters by you!"

"You shouldn't say that to my brother!" Hanako said at the gray dragon, "He won every tournament he was in with Drum and Bal. He is one of the best in the world."

"But not the greatest," Gao's buddy corrected her as he walked in the kitchen, "I'm hungry."

Gao sighed while his mother replied, "Don't worry about it. It wasn't an easy start with Drum too."

"Yeah, but he wasn't that aggressive," Gao replied. He shook his head and lightly smiled, "I'm glad I'll participate in the tournament. I'll make Drum and the Dragon World proud."

Suzumi smiled, "I'm sure you will. Come. I'm sure Batzz is already getting impatient."

"I know," Gao replied. As he walked in the kitchen, he wondered who his first opponent might be. The simple thought made him excited, something that his buddy noticed, but said nothing about it.

AC: This is the end of this part. I ran out of idea in the end, so I left it that way.

Next episode will be the fourth one of the show. There will be a buddy fight.

Episode 5 Part 1: The World Buddy Masters Begins!