It's time for one of the chapters I've been dying to write; it's Estelle's birthday!
This will be packed with romance, laughter, an unexpected Duel, and romance… Oh wait! I already said that. You can find two new outfits for Estelle on my DA account.
I want to say thank you to FlowerHeart17 who wrote a short scene that is featured at the beginning of the chapter.
I changed the chapter by adding more scenes at the end of it that were originally written for the second part. However, that chapter got too long, so I moved them to this part.
The chapter begins in Estelle's point of view.
Disclaimer: I do not own any Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's characters! I only own my OCs!
Chapter 82: A Memorable Birthday – Part 1
I was in the garage maintaining my Duel Runner. I wanted to clean it up and make sure everything was perfect. I was in a good mood because my birthday was just a few days away. I was also a little nervous that I was going to celebrate my day with friends. Back in my world, I had only been celebrating with my tiny family for more than a decade, so I was excited to celebrate with my friends. I told them they didn't have to give me any birthday gifts because I already had everything I needed, but I had a feeling some of them would go against my words.
Not just the Signers were invited, but also Rally and the others, Carly, Misty and Sly, Miyuki, Kalin, Cassandra, Klaus, Sherry, Mizoguchi, Tanner, Yanagi, Trudge, Mina, and even the Kaiba brothers. It was going to be a large party for sure. When was the last time I had so many friends coming for my birthday? That must have been on my tenth birthday when I had invited my whole class for the party. Back then, when I was a child, I had hoped I could get closer to my classmates afterward, but they turned to be as ugly as they were before the party, especially the bullies.
But this time, it was different. I was an adult now, not a child, and I was inviting people I could trust and I loved them.
I closed my eyes as I heard the next song playing from my smartphone. It was "Waikyō Shénshòujìng" by Iguchi Yuka from the five-season anime "Senki Zesshō Symphogear". I got very attached to the anime with its plot and the unique type of magical girls. They used armor that could only be powered up by songs, so they had many songs in different genres.
This one was particular my favorite as it was a love song. Several parts felt like it was me singing my love for Yusei.
I couldn't help but sing along.
XXXXXXXXXX – Normal POV
What Estelle didn't know was Yusei, Jack, and Crow were heading to the Goodwin mansion with their Runners. Ish had called them earlier to ask them for some help with the preparations of Estelle's birthday. They braked next to the front door before they removed their helmets and got off the Runners.
"I wonder why Ish called us to meet up with her", Crow said.
"It better be good or else it's just a waste of time", Jack muttered.
Yusei sighed loudly. "Calm down, Jack."
He pressed the doorbell and seconds later, the twin doors were opened by the head butler, Mr. Stewart. "Mr. Fudo, Mr. Hogan, Mr. Atlas. Madam Garcia is expecting you. Please come inside."
The Satellite Trio stepped inside the mansion just as Itsuki and Ryuga ran to them with happy faces. "Uncle Yusei! Uncle Jack! Uncle Crow!" Itsuki called.
"Hey, little guys!" Crow chuckled as he crouched down to pat the boys' heads. "You two look happy today."
"Because you're here!" Itsuki giggled.
"Play! Play!" Ryuga called.
Ish and Bruno walked out from a room when they heard the commotion in the large hallway. The elderly woman giggled softly at the sight as Itsuki and Ryuga greeted the young adults. Yusei had picked up Ryuga and held him in his arms while Jack looked uncomfortable as Itsuki almost tried to climb up on him.
"Hi, guys!" Bruno waved his hand.
"Welcome, Yusei, Jack, Crow", Ish greeted.
"Hello, Ish, Bruno!" Crow waved. "How are you?"
"Very well, thank you", Ish smiled. "Itsuki, I don't think Jack wants to play with you right now. I invited your uncles to talk about something very important."
"Aww! Everyone is busy today!" Itsuki whined as he let go of Jack's coat.
"Is Estelle busy too?" Yusei asked.
"Garage…", Ryuga whined sadly.
"Estelle is in the garage cleaning her Runner", Bruno explained. "She told Itsuki and Ryuga to stay away because she's removing the frame and she has things organized. She doesn't want them touch the stuff and mix them up."
Yusei hummed before he gently put down Ryuga on the floor. "I'll go and see if she needs help."
"Are you sure it's just that, hmm?" Crow said teasingly.
Yusei blushed a bit as he looked away. "Y-Yeah."
"Just don't do anything immoral, Yusei", Jack joined the fun and smirked at the blushing adult.
"I-I won't do anything!" Yusei blushed harder before he quickly walked out of the mansion, leaving his chuckling foster brothers behind with Ish and the Miura brothers.
Yusei closed the twin doors behind him and released a defeated sigh. Ever since he had come forward to Crow and Jack that he loved Estelle, they would sometimes tease him about it. He knew it was just harmless teasing, but that didn't exactly help him to contain himself. It almost pushed him to step up and confess to Estelle, but he held himself back.
He had already decided to confess to the Priestess after the World Racing Grand Prix and he was going to keep it that way.
Yusei released the brake on his Runner and moved it towards the garage where the garage door was open. Music was pouring out along with a singing voice and the soft sounds of tinkering. He stopped by the open garage and peeked inside.
(Insert: "Waikyō Shénshòujìng" by Iguchi Yuka)
Estelle was down on one knee as she was fixing some wires on the now frameless Runner. She was dressed in a tank spaghetti-strapped top, a crimson overall with the long sleeves tied around her waist, and a pair of brown boots that were worn and stained by oil. She also had her hair tied up in a half ponytail so the strands wouldn't block her view.
It was a hot day, so Estelle's body was covered in sweat, making her white skin glisten under the light from the ceiling lamp. She was singing at the same time as she was working, never missing a note.
Yusei had never seen a beautiful sight before. It didn't make things better when he heard part of the lyrics, realizing it was a love song.
"Konna ni suki da yo nē…daisuki da yo"
Was Estelle singing while thinking about someone special? Who was the lucky guy?
Yusei almost turned a bit depressed by the thoughts of Estelle liking someone, but he brushed it off. While the instrumental part kept playing, he knocked loudly on the garage frame.
Estelle had gotten so lost in the song that she flinched a bit when she heard the sudden knock. She looked up and sighed in relief when she saw it was Yusei.
"Oh, hi, Yusei", Estelle waved as she straightened up and grabbed a rag to wipe her hands clean.
"Hey", Yusei waved softly. "I see you're fixing your Runner."
Estelle reached for her smartphone and lowered the sound before responding. "Yeah, I wanted to clean it as a birthday present to myself. And I got a bit over my head when I started looking around for loose parts."
"Do you mind if I join you?" Yusei asked. "I just remembered I also need to check my Runner."
"Sure", Estelle nodded before she faked a deadly serious expression. "I don't mind some company…as long as you don't touch the screws and bolts on the floor."
Yusei chuckled softly. "Don't worry; I won't."
He rolled his Runner into the garage before he removed his jacket and gloves. No matter how many times Estelle had already seen him without his jacket; she could never stop herself from sneaking a peek at Yusei's arms.
XXXXXXXXXX
The duo had their backs facing each other as they worked on their Duel Runners. They had a toolbox between them as soft music was playing from Estelle's smartphone. The duo had no idea for how long they had been working, but Estelle was about to be done by placing the frame back onto her Runner. Yusei helped her out by holding the frame in place while she grabbed the bolts and wrench.
Estelle tightened the bolts one by one, making sure the frame wouldn't accidently fly off. She was on the last one which gave her a little struggle. The hex bolt wouldn't move no matter how hard but careful she tried to tighten it.
Yusei had returned to his Runner when he heard the soft irritable grunts from Estelle. He turned around and saw her struggling with the bolt while being down on one knee. "Do you need help?"
Estelle sighed irritably before she lowered her arms. "Yes please. This hex bolt just won't budge. Did I accidently put wet cement there or what?"
Yusei chuckled softly at her remark before he got down on one knee behind her. Estelle froze when she felt the Signer's breath on the back of her neck. It caused a tingling feeling across her skin which made her blush. The red cheeks turned even brighter when Yusei snuck his arms around her and grabbed both her hands.
"You just have to be patient, relax, and good things come back to you", he said as he lifted up Estelle's hands.
He showed her how to gently move the hex bolt with the wrench when the bolt wouldn't go as one would. The bolt finally followed the tool's movement.
"There. That should do it", Yusei said when they were done.
"Thank you…", Estelle mumbled softly
Yusei let go of the brunette and stood up to take one step back, but he missed the toolbox was right behind him. "Whoa!"
Estelle stood up just as Yusei had moved back, but she quickly turned around when she heard the young man's gasp. She saw how he was falling backwards and sprinted into action. "Watch out!"
She grabbed Yusei's left arm and pulled him towards her. However, she used too much force that he collapsed on top of her. Both of them closed their eyes shortly before impact. They grunted in pain as they fell on top of Estelle's Runner.
Estelle slowly opened her eyes and held back a gasp when she saw Yusei's face was only centimeters from hers. She had fallen onto the seat of her Runner on her back while Yusei held himself up on his elbows that rested next to both sides of her head. It was a good thing the bladewings had been shifted upward so none of them got seriously hurt.
The brunette had both her arms close to her chest and her hands clenched into fists while she blushed at the very close contact. She couldn't believe they got into an embarrassing position, but at the same time they couldn't look away from each other. It was like they fell into a trance and were unable to move.
Yusei's eyes had widened too before he relaxed and couldn't help but stare at Estelle's sky blue eyes. They shone like light blue topaz; a huge contrast with his navy blue eyes. Both of them breathed with their mouths open and felt some kind heat between them; the desire to get much closer.
The smartphone had reached the end of the playlist so the garage got silent, but the two star-crossed lovers heard a smooth melody in their heads. Yusei moved his left hand to gently cup Estelle's cheek and used his thumb to caress her soft skin. The brunette gasped softly at the contact while staring at the Signer.
"Yusei…", she whispered, her red cheeks getting an intense color.
Yusei smiled softly as he leant closer to the Priestess, his face also colored in a pink blush. "Estelle… I-"
"Hey, guys! You done yet?!" Crow called from outside of the garage.
Estelle and Yusei snapped out of the trance and hurried to get up before getting caught in an embarrassing position and get teased about it. Estelle pretended to fix her overall and untied the long sleeves to tie them again. Yusei knelt down to put back the tools in the toolbox that got knocked over.
Crow appeared by the open garage with Itsuki and Ryuga. "Sorry to interrupt your work, but the kids are getting restless."
"Are you done, Mom?" Itsuki asked as he looked around.
Estelle finished tying the overall and walked to her children. Her cheeks still had a hint of red blush, but it was fading away.
"Yes, I'm pretty much done for the day", Estelle got down on one knee and hugged her foster son. "Uncle Yusei helped me out a lot." She looked over her shoulder with a shy smile. "Thank you, Yusei."
"You're welcome", Yusei replied while his eyes stayed on the toolbox in his hands.
"Play now…?" Ryuga asked.
"Sure. I just need to change my clothes and then we can play", Estelle nodded.
"Yay!" the children cheered.
Estelle and the children hurried to the mansion while Crow stepped inside the garage to look around. Yusei straightened up after closing the toolbox and put it on the desk. He sighed both in relief and disappointment that the moment he had with Estelle got broken. Then again, he was thankful Crow came and interrupted them. He had almost gone against the promise he had set up for himself.
"Did something happen, Yusei?" Crow asked, noticing his foster brother's behavior.
"No. Nothing", Yusei grumbled softly before he walked out of the garage.
Crow stared at the Signer with the Head Mark for a second before he got a light bulb expression. "Oooh, I think I get it", he smirked.
XXXXXXXXXX – Estelle's POV
I still couldn't believe Yusei and I ended up in an embarrassing position when he fell on top of me. Back then, it almost felt like my heart was going to leap out of my chest. The way Yusei had caressed my cheek and the look he had in his eyes was like he had been holding himself back and was about to break, but then everything went downhill when Crow snapped us out of the romantic trance. Perhaps it was a good thing he did because who knew what else could have happened.
After that little accident, I had some wet dreams about me and Yusei making love. Gosh, was I turning into a pervert now?! But… I couldn't help it. When you loved someone, you would dream about them in different ways, right?
This was the first time in my life I actually loved someone. I had many crushes in a few real boys and many cartoon characters, but the feelings I had for Yusei was way stronger than anything I had ever felt.
This made me more determined to confess to him after the World Racing Grand Prix. I needed to know and hear the truth from his mouth. And if my feelings were, miraculously, reciprocated, I was going to talk to the Crimson Dragon and ask him to let me stay in this world permanently.
XXXXXXXXXX
I overslept a little in the morning of my birthday and got greeted by Hilda bringing a tray of breakfast to me. It was quite a fancy treat with some fluffy pancakes with whipped cream, a small bowl of fresh strawberries, and a cup of hot tea. Itsuki and Ryuga snuck into my room while I was eating to give me birthday kisses on my cheeks. I returned their kisses and shared my strawberries with them. After breakfast, I wanted to go down to the living room and start making preparations for my birthday party, but Ish told me to stay in my bedroom. I was confused why I had to stay in my room. This was my birthday so I had to fix everything for the party in the evening, and that included decorations, food, and activities.
Even so, I did what I was told and spent a few hours in my room doing different things including my hobbies. When the clock was ticking over 12 p.m., Ish stepped into my room with two maids. They all looked excited over something.
"Estelle, there has been some change of plans", Ish announced.
I looked up from the book I was reading on the couch. "What do you mean?"
"You will go on a blind date."
"Va?! (What?!)" I exclaimed in shock, almost dropping my book.
"Your date has been arranged to eat lunch with you", Ish explained as the maids walked over to my large wardrobe. "That's less than an hour, so we need to hurry."
"Wait wait wait!" I called as I stood up from the couch. "I've never agreed to a blind date! And I've already told Goodwin I refuse to go on dates with strangers!"
"Don't worry about it", Ish giggled at my reaction. "This gentleman is very nice and he just would like to spend a few hours with you."
"Uh…", I grunted in defeat.
Ish clapped her hands twice. "Okay, let's make haste! Did you take a shower, Estelle?"
"After breakfast", I nodded slowly.
"Good! Leave the rest to me and the girls."
It took a few attempts before Ish managed to pick out an outfit for me for this lunch blind date. It consisted of a magenta spaghetti-strapped top, black and dark plum jacket, jeans, brown belt, and a pair of black and brown shoes. It felt formal yet casual at the same time.
I was literally pushed out from the mansion by Ish who kept smiling. "Your date will meet you outside of the restaurant, so make sure to wait for him, okay?"
"Wait, Ish, who am I meeting anyway?" I asked as I held my black purse with necessaries, like my smartphone, keys, my two Decks (one for Ground Duel and one for Turbo Duel), and other stuff.
"You'll know when you see him", Ish smiled. "Don't worry about the preparations for the party. I'll take care of it with the staff and the little boys."
"But-"
The double door shut in front of my face before I could finish my sentence. I sighed in defeat and rubbed my forehead. What was this secretiveness today? I didn't like it when people forged plans behind my back.
I guess there was nothing I could do but roll with it. I had the address on a note Ish gave me, so I went to the garage to use my Runner as transport.
XXXXXXXXXX – Yusei's POV
Today was Estelle's birthday. It had taken some time, but I finally had a birthday gift for her. I knew she wrote on her invitation card for the party that she didn't want any presents, but I wanted to give her something special.
I spent the first few hours after breakfast on the Duel Runners in the garage before I took a shower to clean myself. I went back to my room wearing nothing but a pair of black boxer shorts while drying the back of my head with a towel wrapped around my shoulders. I was about to put on my clothes when Crow and Jack barged in without knocking on the door.
"Yusei! We've got some news for you!" Crow grinned.
"What news?" I raised an eyebrow while I grabbed my shirt from the bed.
"We got a call from someone who's a big fan of yours and she wants to meet you on a lunch date!" Crow replied with a huge grin.
I had just pulled the shirt over my shoulders when I froze in my movement. "A lunch date?"
"Yep!" Crow nodded.
"Does it have to be today? And who is this fan?"
"You'll find that out when you see her", Jack said before he walked to my wardrobe and opened it. "You need to wear something appropriate than your usual stuff, Yusei. I'll show you how to dress up like a real man."
I got forced to wear a grey shirt, black pants, black jacket, and dark grey shoes. Jack tried to make me wear his strong cologne which he barely used to save it, but I refused. I didn't like the smell of it, so Crow suggested I should wear the cologne the two of us shared for different occasions.
When my foster brothers thought I was ready, they literally forced me down to the garage and out of the house. My Duel Runner was already parked outside waiting for me. Jack pushed a note in my hand with the address of the restaurant where I was going to meet my fan.
"Go and have fun!" Crow called happily while the shutter to the garage was slowly going down.
"And don't worry about the secret preparations at the mansion", Jack added.
"Wait, what is going-", I started, but stopped when the shutter entirely blocked the entrance to the garage.
I was very confused to say the least. They both knew I had feelings for Estelle and now they were forcing me to go on a date with some fan of mine. Unless…
No, the idea was ridiculous. Estelle mentioned once, while she, Aki, and Carly had been in the garage, that she refused to go on blind dates or be set up to meet a man from a rich family now that she was the daughter of Goodwin. She couldn't possibly be my date, especially after the awkward situation we got ourselves into the other day.
I sighed in defeat and got on my Duel Runner. Better get this over with.
XXXXXXXXXX – Estelle's POV
I found the restaurant within a short time and parked my Runner in a parking spot before I stood in a corner and waited for my date. The restaurant looked fancy from the outside, but after I looked it up on my smartphone, I saw it was actually a decent place and not something extra fancy.
Did my date choose this place because he didn't want to make me feel uncomfortable with all the fanciness or was he not able to afford a table at an expensive restaurant? Whatever the reason was, I just wanted to get it over with so I could go home.
I was waiting in the shadows, but the heat was getting on me, so I removed my jacket and held it in my arms, revealing my pale skin. I could sense eyes on me when people walked past me, but I ignored them. I had my eyes on my smartphone, reading the latest news about New Domino City and the final preparations for the World Racing Grand Prix.
"Estelle?" a familiar voice spoke up.
I looked up to see Yusei standing in front of me. He had a confused expression just as me. "Yusei…?" I mumbled confusedly.
I trailed off as I comprehended the situation. One; what was Yusei doing here? Two; he wasn't dressed in his usual outfit. He wore an outfit similar to the one he had in one of the last episodes when the Signers had a barbeque at the clock shop.
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
"Jack and Crow said there was someone who wanted to meet me here", Yusei replied. "I didn't want to go, but they forced me to get dressed and kicked me out of the house."
"That's literally the same thing Ish did to me, forcing me to go on a blind date…"
I stopped speaking as the gears began moving in my head. Had this been a setup by Ish and my friends? Was Yusei my blind date?! This was just too much for my brain to handle!
"A blind date?" Yusei said in surprise before chuckling. "I guess we were both set up."
"Yeah…", I blushed as I twirled some strands of my hair. "Still… I'm glad it's someone I know. I wouldn't feel comfortable with a stranger."
"Same", Yusei nodded as he scratched his right cheek. "So, since we're both here… Shall we head inside?"
I nodded before I got an idea. "Wait! Before we go, Yusei… Can we change the name of this date? I don't really want to call this a blind date since we know each other. It feels…a little awkward to me."
Yusei blinked confusedly before he smiled warmly. "Sure, if it makes you feel better. What did you have in mind?"
"How about we call this a practice date?" I suggested.
"Practice date?"
"Yeah. I've never dated before, so I really don't know much what a date is supposed to be like, except reading some books and manga, and I have a feeling you're in the same situation, so let's use this as a practice tool."
Yusei thought about it before nodding. "Okay. You're right about the no dating part, so let's do it."
I smiled softly. "Thank you."
XXXXXXXXXX
Yusei and I ate lunch together and split the bill before I suggested we should visit a game arcade. I had never visited one before, so I was curious to see what the arcades in Japan looked like. We found one nearby, so we went there. It was way bigger than I had first imagined.
There were different arcade games in every corner. I recognized a few of them, like the claw crane. I had used one of those a long time ago and got a stuffed Pichu, which I kept for a long time before I had to say goodbye to most of my childhood.
"Wow… This is so cool", I said in awe as I looked around like a child in a candy store.
"It reminds me of the very few functioning arcade games we had back in old Satellite", Yusei said as we walked around. "Before Jack, Crow, Kalin, and I created the Enforcers, I found a pinball arcade game that was in good shape, but not functional. I fixed it up and let everyone play with it without using coins."
"That's amazing. You were just a teen and already so talented? You've got some magic hands there", I giggled as I softly elbowed him.
Yusei blushed softly and rubbed the back of his head. "Y-Yeah. What do you want to try first?"
We spent quite some time in the arcade playing different games. I tried one of the popular Whac-A-Mole, which was way difficult than I first anticipated. We teamed up for some games, like a shooting game where you had to shoot zombies. I got a bit disturbed by it, but I had always wanted to try a shooting game. We managed to beat the game with a great score.
There was also a dance floor for a dance game, so we challenged each other in front of a small crowd. I had never been the dancing person, but once I got into the music, my body moved on its own. I was still a little clumsy and missed a few steps, so I lost to Yusei who didn't even break a sweat. He got loud applauds from fangirls who shrieked in joy. Their cries were like screeches in my ears.
I had to visit the restroom after the dance competition to refresh myself a little. I finished everything in the stall and was about to walk out and wash my hands when I heard a couple of girls giggling.
"Did you see that handsome guy?"
"The one with black hair and gold streaks? I sure did!"
"He was rocking the dance floor so hard!"
"Oooh, that sounded so dirty! Go, girl!"
Oh… Some fangirl of Yusei's.
"You think he's on a date with that girl he danced with. I saw them playing a few games together."
"Probably, but I don't think they're a serious couple. That girl looks plain next to him, even though she's all dressed up."
That comment hurt me a little. I knew my looks were on the plain side when I wasn't dressed up or wearing makeup, but I could still attract a few eyes, just like what happened a few hours ago.
"Shall we convince him to dump his girl and hang out with us instead?"
"Yeah, let's go! My makeup is spot on, so there's no way he'll say no to us."
As soon as it got quiet, I stepped out of the stall and went to the washbowls. I opened the tap and washed my hands as the words I just heard repeated in my head. There was no way Yusei would leave me alone for those girls who talked trash behind my back. He wasn't that type. He was loyal to his friends and that was another quality I liked about him.
I wiped my hands dry and grabbed my purse before leaving the woman restroom. My mood had gotten a bit sour by those bullies, so I wanted to leave the arcade. I looked around for Yusei and found him waiting by the entrance. He was holding a 40 centimeter tall Blue-Eyes White Dragon stuffed toy while two high school girls flirted with him. They must be the ones I heard in the restroom.
I could hear how they tried coaxing him to leave me for them, but he politely said no. The fangirls were persistent and tried using dirty tricks like revealing their cleavage and press their large busts against his arms, but Yusei dropped the stuffed toy and grabbed their shoulders before pushing them back with a stern no. The girls growled irritably at their failed approach and then noticed me walking towards them. They snorted loudly and walked out of the arcade with their noses in the air. Yusei glared at the high school girls before he picked up the stuffed dragon and brushed the dirt off.
"Is everything okay?" I asked.
Yusei looked up and saw my concerned expression. "Yeah. Those girls wanted me to go with them and leave you alone, but I said no. They were quite persistent, so it took a few attempts to make them understand I wasn't going."
"Yeah, I saw that", I nodded, trying to keep my cool. "I want to leave the arcade and get some fresh air. What do you say?"
"I'm okay with that…", Yusei said slowly before holding out the Duel Monster toy. "Here. I got this for you."
I blinked for a second as I stared at the stuffed dragon. "Really? For me?"
Yusei nodded while his cheeks turned a little pink. "Yeah. I saw it in one of the claw cranes and decided to get it for you. It only took one try."
My heart picked up its pace while I tried holding back my big goofy smile. No one in my age had ever done something so sweet for me. I gently grabbed the stuffed dragon and hugged it close to me. "Thank you. I really like it."
"I had a feeling you would", Yusei smiled.
I giggled softly. "Is there anywhere you want to go, Yusei? Like a last-minute shopping for the World Racing Grand Prix?"
"There is something I need to look up at a shop that's a few blocks away. Bruno asked me if I could get the stuff for the Runners."
"Then let's go. Better take the chance now while we're near the area."
XXXXXXXXXX
Yusei showed me around in the shop and explained some parts of Duel Runners to me so I could keep it in mind for my own Runner if I ever needed to change or add a new part. After the little shopping, we drove to a park by the coast to watch the ships and listen to the seagulls and just enjoy the environment. The wind was fresh but strong, so I put my jacket on and rolled up the sleeves.
We sat on a bench and watched the ships coming and going, all from cargo to luxurious ships that were bringing tourists to New Domino City and foreign teams for the WRGP.
"It's getting more nerve-wracking now that the World Racing Grand Prix is just around the corner", I spoke up after a moment of silence.
"Yes, but I try to think about the tournament as a usual competition", Yusei nodded. "I heard many good teams will participate, so I'm curious to see their strategies."
"Yeah, teams from so many different countries and cultures", I added. "And the World Racing Grand Prix Premium Event party takes place a few days after my birthday. Quite a hectic week."
"Have you been working on the preparations for the party? You said you contributed with Goodwin's birthday party last year."
"No, not this time. The others insisted I should only concentrate on my birthday party and not overwhelm myself with two big responsibilities. But Ish thought it was a good idea to kick me out of the mansion and go on a 'blind' date. I feel bad for letting the others handle the last preparations for the party tonight."
"Maybe Ish just wanted you to relax a little."
"Maybe…"
I looked at the sky and saw a group of seagulls flying after one another. Some of them had fish in their mouths and were trying to dodge the others from taking its food.
"You know…", I spoke up. "It's almost been a whole year since I came to this world. The Crimson Dragon brought me here just a few days after my last birthday."
Yusei was quiet for a second. "Yeah, that's right. You showed up out of nowhere at the end of May last year. It almost feels like it happened a while ago."
"Yeah, a lot happened in a whole year. All from our time in old Satellite, the escape to the city, the Fortune Cup, the war with the Dark Signers, the union of New Domino City and Satellite with the Daedalus Bridge, and much more. I never had so many things happen to me in a year back in my world. Every day here feels like a new adventure."
Yusei chuckled softly. "I haven't gone through so much since the Enforcers. Back when I was a teen, I never thought I would get involved with a battle against evil powers and possess a Mark. The day I found Stardust Dragon feels more like it was meant to happen. I don't regret my decision accepting the fact I was chosen to become a Signer. If something ever happens to Satellite and New Domino City again, I'll fight to protect my home."
"And so will the other Signers and I", I added. "Remember you're never alone, Yusei. You've got us and our other friends who would do everything in their power to fight alongside you."
"Thank you", Yusei smiled.
I smiled in return before the two of us looked at the ocean, unaware of three people who were spying on us.
XXXXXXXXXX – Normal POV
"Aww, just look at those two lovebirds!" Lester said sarcastically as he, Primo, and Jakob watched the duo through a screen that had temporary replaced the Circuit. "They're so sweet it gives me cavity! Oh wait! I can't get cavities 'cause I'm an android! Hahahahaha!"
Jakob was silent as he watched the interaction between the Signer and the Priestess. Seeing the two young lovers reminded him of the love of his life who he tragically lost to the Meklord Emperors during the genocide in his timeline.
"The Priestess and the Signer with the Mark of the Head… Those two are the strongest among the Signers", Primo commented. "If we can make them Duel and produce more Ener-D, we can complete the Circuit sooner than expected. I could proceed with my original plan, but the time is not right."
"I still don't like your idea with the Riding Roids, Primo", Jakob said strictly. "We cannot activate the Circuit with brute force. But… If you send one Riding Roid to Duel the lovers… It might help us complete the Circuit and bring the Ark Cradle to this era."
Primo smirked maliciously. "Then I shall proceed. I have constructed the perfect Deck to immobilize the Priestess and her Blue-Eyes."
XXXXXXXXXX – Estelle's POV
Yusei and I stayed at the harbor for a while and had some ice cream until I got a call from Ish. She said I could come home now. I decided to do that so I could prepare myself for the birthday party in the evening. Yusei followed me as we would split up by a fork.
Everything seemed to be calm until I looked at the dashboard and saw a Duel Runner approaching us from behind. The rider flashed the highlights as if he was attempting to challenge one of us.
I zoomed in with the back camera and saw it was a Riding Roid! "What?! It's a Riding Roid!"
"Riding Roid? Like the one I Dueled months ago?" Yusei asked through the intercom.
"Yes! What is it doing here?"
"Priestess", the droid's mechanical voice spoke up. "My masters have asked me to bring you to them."
"Masters?!" Yusei exclaimed in disbelief.
"If it's Iliaster, then the answer is no!" I told the android.
"Wrong answer! Now I have to Turbo Duel you and drag you to my masters!"
"I accept the challenge!" I shouted.
"No, Estelle! Don't do it!" Yusei yelled. "He might use the Meklord Emperors!"
"Stay out of it, Signer!" the android hissed angrily.
I watched the live-feed on the dashboard in horror as the Riding Roid rammed Yusei's Runner from behind. Yusei's Runner wobbled by the sudden tackle and tried to regain control, but he then got rammed on the side. The force of the tackle caused him to lose control, which made him crash on the road.
"YUSEI!" I yelled in despair.
I wanted to turn around and help him, but the Riding Roid was right behind me and blocked my way. "Duel me or end up like your lover!"
I hissed angrily through my teeth while glaring at the droid. "Fine then! Field Spell, Speed World 2, set on!"
"Duel Mode, on – Autopilot, standby."
The Field Spell appeared on the dashboard for a second before preparations were being made for the Turbo Duel. The Riding Roid and I were guided to a course off the main road so no one else could get involved. I noticed a white light appeared around my Runner for a second before it faded away. I figured it was the infinity symbol that made the attacks and damage real. This was going to be dangerous, but I believed in my Deck.
XXXXXXXXXX
The song featured in the chapter might be replaced later when I make the audiobook version. It depends on whether YouTube allows the song to be remained in the file or not, even though I will only add a tiny part of the Japanese song.
XXXXXXXXXX
Inoue Miyuki belongs to Springflowerangel.