After a crushing defeat, Yumi has lost her motivation to continue the tournament. She resigns herself to one last duel before leaving, but will something in her opponent help a light a fire inside her once again?
"I'll kick his ass!" Kazuhiko shouted, looking all around to try and spot Yumi's opponent.
Sakuya held him back. "That's just going to get you thrown out. It won't do any good."
"But there has to be something we can do about that guy!" His fists shook with rage as he tried to come up with a plan. "None of that sounded fair. Did he break some kind of rule? He had to!" Hideo confirmed that everything he did was legal. The only thing they might be able to report him for would be unsportsmanlike conduct, but the worst consequence of that would be a verbal warning.
"It's okay," Yumi said sounding anything but okay. "I just...wasn't good enough." She shrugged off her grandmother who'd been rubbing her shoulder. "I think I should just go. I wasn't ready for this."
Kazuhiko was the first to break out of their collective astonishment. "But you're not even out of the tournament. You've still got a chance to make it to the finals." She shrugged in response. "You're just going to quit like this?"
Sakuya took Yumi's hands. "If you really don't want to continue, then I'll support your decision, but I hope you think about it first. I understand how you feel, so I won't stop you. I think you still want to try, though."
"No you don't," she muttered.
"What did you say?" Sakuya asked, taken aback by Yumi's uncharacteristic reply.
She pushed away Sakuya's hands, saying, "You don't understand. How could you? You never fail at anything. Everything comes easy to you, so how can you stand there and say you know what it feels like to let everyone down?"
"But you haven't let anyone down," her grandmother told her.
"Yes I have!" she screamed, pulling at her hair. "Everyone else is so talented, but I have nothing. The only thing I can do is play Duel Monsters, but after all this time, all that training, I just...I'm not good enough." She inhaled sharply and tried her best not to make a scene in the middle of all these people. "You tried to teach me, but it didn't work. You were right about me from the start. I'm pathetic."
Without another word, she pushed past Sakuya and ran into the crowd. Yumi ignored them as they called her name, hoping to find a bathroom to cry in and forget the world for a little bit before dropping out of the tournament. In truth, her reaction wasn't so much that she lost. Not on its own, anyway. It was more so what that loss represented to her.
She was beaten like it was nothing in a single turn. All the effort she put into trying to improve felt wasted. If she lost like that against the first opponent she met here, what hope did she have against anyone else? What hope did she have of becoming the World Champion? What hope did she have that she'd ever be good enough for her parents to notice her?
She'd convinced herself long ago that if she could just become good enough, just win enough, that they'd finally be proud of her. After that, they'd have no choice but to come home and congratulate her. But from the way things were going now, that would never happen.
Everyone was dumbfounded as to what they could do to help Yumi, standing in silence after she disappeared among the players shuffling about in the room. Hideo took out a green rubber pendulum worn around their neck to chew on, telling Kazuhiko they would go look for Yumi now that the next round was about to start. Sakuya went in the opposite direction to cover more ground.
Sachi tugged on her brother's sleeve as she sucked on a third Popsicle. "Mitsu, is she okay?"
"Yeah, Miss Yumi just needs some time to cool off." He took Sachi by the hand, turning to Yumi's grandmother. "I'll hang onto my sister for right now so you can go look for her. I've got everyone else on my phone." She thanked him and went off to look, as well. "Hey, you want to watch me beat some guy at Duel Monsters?" he asked Sachi.
"Not really," she answered, lacking any real interest in the game.
"Too bad," he said with a twinge of annoyance. The next round started, Kazuhiko finding his opponent and sitting Sachi down next to him. His opponent was thankfully an actual pushover this time, so it was easy for him to split his attention between the duel and trying to catch a glimpse of Yumi. He'd handed his phone off to his sister, telling her she could play with it as long as she told him if any of their friends said something about Yumi.
After watching all that Detective Conan as a kid, Hideo liked to consider themselves an investigator. Putting together the clues, they figured Yumi would probably find a secluded place to cry, and the most obvious and closest location for that would be the bathroom. They walked into the women's restroom and began listening for any unusual sounds.
As expected, quiet whimpers could be heard from one of the stalls. They knocked on the door. "S-sorry. I'll be out in a minute." They knocked again, only to receive no answer. Frustrated at a lack of vocals, they pulled themselves over the top of the door and pointed to the outside with their thumb, nearly giving Yumi a heart attack.
Even so, she did as she was asked, lifting her goggles to let the tears drop onto the floor. "I don't want to duel anymore," she said as they walked out together. Hideo wasn't trying to make her, only wishing to talk about things. As they informed Sakuya and Kazuhiko (Sachi) that they'd found Yumi, she continued to speak. "It's just a waste of time. I won't win. There's just no point in trying."
While they understood her decision, they also pointed out the round had started. Quitting now might leave her opponent disappointed the same as she was previously. If she still didn't care, then that wouldn't be an issue, but they figured it was something to consider all the same. After a few moments, she stomped her foot and started walking. "Fine, I'll just give someone else an easy win. Where am I seated?"
The two traveled to where she would be dueling, seeing her opponent had already arrived. He was a tall, round man with dark hair almost resembling a Teddy bear. A friendly smile spread across his face when she pulled out her seat. "Hello. I was starting to get worried you wouldn't show up. In a couple minutes, you would have been marked as forfeiting."
"I thought about it," she replied dryly as she set up her side of the table. He chuckled in response, assuming it to be a joke. Hideo went off to find Yumi's grandmother since she was the only one without a phone and wasn't yet aware of what was happening. Sakuya would be there soon, anyway, so their absence for a few minutes wouldn't make much of a difference.
"It's nice to meet you. My name's Inoue Iichiro."
"Takano Yumi," she said quietly, taking his enthusiastic handshake as they began their duel.
Yumi couldn't care less who took the first turn, passing it off to Iichiro. "Okay, then. I'll start things off this time." He spoke softly, but his enthusiasm for the game showed through regardless. "I think I'll summon Madolche Magileine first." Yumi took notice of the pink haired witch her opponent had just played, not expecting his deck to be full of cutesy cards like that.
"I'll use her effect on summon, which lets me add another Madolche to my hand." He looked through his deck, considering what would be of most use right now. "I'll pick Madolche Butlerusk." He shuffled his deck, then placed two cards face-down and ended his turn.
She drew a card, looking over her hand. It looked like a pretty good start, but she knew what she'd get for making that assumption again. "I summon Rusty Swordsman in Attack Mode, then equip it with Rusty Sword."
"Wow, that's a good combo." He chose not to respond as Yumi attacked, inflicting 1100 damage right from the start and destroying his monster. "Madolche Magileine's effect activates when you destroy her. If she's sent to the Graveyard, I shuffle her back into my deck to use her again."
"I'll set a card and end my turn." Sakuya appeared after that, standing a ways away to observe as she was unable to get to the center of the table where Yumi was dueling. The fact she'd agreed to duel seemed like a good sign, but she was still concerned. Yumi didn't look to be having any fun and likely wasn't firing on all cylinders. She wasn't sure what another loss might do to her.
Iichiro started his turn. "You destroyed Magileine, so I guess Butlerusk is going to have to wait. In that case, I'll just summon Madolche Mewfeuille." The cat in the picture was almost cute enough to get a reaction from Yumi. "I'll use its effect to Special Summon another Madolche from my hand. My choice is Madolche Anjelly."
He was beginning his real strategy now. "I activate Madolche Ticket, too. From now on, when a Madolche card goes back to my hand or deck from my field or Graveyard, I can add a new Madolche monster from my deck to my hand once per turn." He smiled, confident in his next move. "Now, I release Madolche Anjelly to use her effect, summoning a new Madolche from my deck."
"I activate God's Providence," Yumi declared, discarding Tasukeleton. "This negates the same kind of card as what I just discarded and destroys it."
"That was a good move," he complemented, though he flipped over a Trap Card of his own in response. "But I activate Seven Tools of the Bandit, negating God's Providence and letting Anjelly's effect through." While he may get to summon a monster, his Life Points were starting to get dangerously low for only a few turns having passed. With only 1900 left, he'd have to start playing more carefully.
Through the effect, he selected Madolche Messengelato. "When I Special Summon Messengelato while I have a Beast-Type Madolche on the field, I can add a Madolche Magic or Trap Card from my deck to my hand. It's about time for a change of scenery." The card he added was a Field Magic, Madolche Chateau. Taking a closer look at his game mat, the card's picture was used as the background. It seemed like the obvious choice.
"Now, I'll activate Chateau. In addition to giving all my Madolches 500 more ATK and DEF, I get to shuffle all my Madolche monsters from my Graveyard into my deck. And, when Anjelly returns to my deck, Madolche Ticket gets to activate." His strategy was planned flawlessly, rapidly summoning monsters to grab his Field Magic, then searching with Ticket. The only question remaining was how he planned to overcome Rusty Swordsman. "I'll choose Madolche Mehple."
He revealed his final face-down card. "I activate Madolche Happy Festa, which lets me summon all the Madolches in my hand." Both Mehple and Butlerusk appeared on the field in Attack Position. "I target Madolche Mehple and Rusty Swordsman to activate its effect, which turns them both to Defense Mode." After that, it was only a matter of attacking. Butlerusk destroyed Yumi's Swordsman, with Messengelato and Mewfeuille striking her directly for a combined 3100 damage.
"You really caught me off guard there," Yumi said, a tiny smile on her lips. She couldn't place why, but this duel felt different. Even though a loss here would disqualify her from the finals decisively, there was much less pressure. Her opponent was having a good time and, somehow, it was forcing her to do so, too.
"Then just watch this. I'll overlay my Level 4 Madolche Messengelato and Madolche Butlerusk. Xyz Summon my Rank 4 Queen Madolche Tiaramisu." Despite his low and slightly monotone speaking voice, his excitement at summoning his favorite monster forced its way out in the form of a slightly raised pitch.
"She's cute!" Yumi said while stifling a laugh.
Iichiro nodded. "Isn't she? But I won't be able to use her until next turn, so I'll end with that. Because of Madolche Happy Festa, Mehple goes back to my deck now."
Despite the tough spot she'd been put in, Yumi was starting to have fun. In fact, it was specifically because of her disadvantage that this duel was fun. The feeling of overcoming insurmountable odds was what she loved most about Duel Monsters. Planning out what she'd do and how she'd counter her opponent made her pulse race. Win or lose, she'd be able to enjoy it without regrets.
Odds were in her favor right now. Her opponent had nothing in hand and a 1000 ATK monster on the field. Even so, all of that could change quickly. If she chose to attack Mewfeuille, it would just return to hand because of Chateau, then Ticket's effect would activate. Even worse, that would leave Queen on the field with its dangerous effect.
It was now or never, though, and the appearance of a certain card in her hand helped bolster her confidence. "I activate Tribute to the Devil, letting me send your Queen Madolche to the Graveyard and summon a Level 4 or lower Normal Monster from my hand." With a disappointed sigh, Iichiro was forced to send his favorite card away, letting Yumi summon Big Bat Knight in its place.
"You showed me your favorite card, so now you get to see mine. When I Advance Summon this card, I can use a single monster as long as it's Level 4 or lower, a Normal Monster, and has 1500 ATK and DEF or less. Come out, Majesty Magician!" Her ace monster was on the field now, quickly declaring an attack on Iichiro's only remaining monster. His Life Points fell to 400, though Mewfeuille simply returned to his hand.
"Since a Madolche monster returned to my hand, I can use Madolche Ticket's effect to add another from my deck." He considered his options before finally selecting. "I'll choose Madolche Puddingcess." It seemed odd that he'd add a Level 5 monster to his hand while there was nothing on the field use as a release, but Yumi wouldn't let her guard down. She assumed he was planning something, ending her turn.
Iichiro took his turn, smiling as he drew a card. "There it is," he said. "Just the card I needed." He summoned Mewfeuille once more, using its effect to Special Summon Puddingcess from his hand. "Now I can equip Puddingcess with my Magic Card, Overlay Satellite. With this, I can use her as two Overlay Units in an Xyz Summon."
"I've never seen a card like that before," Yumi said in amazement. Something that let you substitute a single monster for two? That would be perfect for her deck, as well.
"There's more to it than that," he said. "I'll show you, overlaying my Madolche Puddingcess with herself to Xyz Summon. Rank 5, Madolche Puddingcess Choco-a-la-Mode."
"She's cute, too!" Yumi exclaimed.
He laughed. "When the monster equipped with Overlay Satellite is used for an Xyz Summon, I can attach it as an Overlay Unit to that Xyz Monster. I can't attack the turn I do that, though." Despite this, Choco-a-la-Mode now had two materials to use for her effect in addition to a massive 3000 ATK. "Now, I'll use her effect to return a Madolche monster from my Graveyard to my deck. I pick Messengelato. And since Choco-a-la-Mode has Puddingcess as an Overlay Unit, I can detach Overlay Satellite to summon a Madolche from my deck in Attack Mode. I can also use Ticket's effect, and since I control a Fairy-Type Madolche, I can summon the monster I choose to add."
His first choice was Mehple in Attack Position. For Ticket's effect, he chose Madolche Chouxvalier. "I target Mehple and Majesty Magician to change them both to Defense Mode. Now my Chouxvalier can destroy it."
"You'd be right, but you forgot about my Graveyard!" Yumi sorted through it, taking Tasukeleton in hand. "When you're attacking, I can banish my Tasukeleton once per duel to negate that attack."
"Almost had it," he said with a snap of his fingers and a laugh.
"I don't lose easily," she told him, a wide smile finally forcing its way onto her lips.
Iichiro scratched his chin. "If that's the case, then I'll overlay my Level 3 Madolche Mehple with my Level 3 Madolche Mewfeuille. Xyz Summon, Rank 3. Giant God of the Silver Mountain." Getting Mewfeuille off the field would prevent him from taking damage should Yumi find a way around Chouxvalier and its effect to redirect attacks to itself. It's high DEF and strong effect were just a bonus.
His turn over, Yumi started her own. It was just the card she needed. "I equip Majesty Magician with Burning Slugger." Big Bat Knight's own equipment finally showed itself. "Burning Slugger gives Majesty Magician a new effect. In exchange for giving up its attack for the turn, I can target one of your monsters and send a number of cards from my deck to the Graveyard equal to its Level or Rank to destroy it. Then, you take 100 damage for each one." She pointed confidently at Choco-a-la-Mode. "Home Run!" she shouted, sending five cards from the top of her deck in order to destroy her opponent's monster and win the game.
"You really got me," Iichiro said with a smile. "Thanks for the duel."
"It was a lot of fun," Yumi agreed, shaking his hand once more.
"Good luck with the rest of the tournament," he told her, the two parting on good terms. With a long sigh, Yumi packed her things and left the table, as well, meeting back up with Sakuya and her grandmother.
She nearly froze, wringing her hands together before apologizing. "I'm sorry for how I acted and what I said. I shouldn't have done that."
"The only thing I'm upset with is you running off like that," her grandmother told her. "You had us all worried about you."
"Sorry," she said again.
"Just don't do that again," Sakuya said, taking her hand.
"I won't," she promised, holding her friend's hand tightly. "I guess I just got overwhelmed, but I think I'm feeling better now."
Sakuya smiled. "You seemed like it." They met back up with Kazuhiko, Hideo, and Sachi, Yumi apologizing for how she acted once again. With her determination restored and amends made, she and Kazuhiko were both prepared to make it to the finals.
A ways away in the corner of the room, another girl stood by herself. Her hair was pale, nearly covering the blank expression from her dark eyes. She couldn't have been much older than Yumi; in fact, she was probably younger. Despite the slight air of danger surrounding her, not much else was notable about her save for the metallic gray left hand sticking out of her black and white striped jacket sleeve.
"You've done well," a woman told her, giving her a bottle of water which she clasped tightly between both hands. Digging her manicured red nails into the child's shoulder, she continued, "There's only three more opponents until the finals. It should be enough to prove you were worth it once you win." The girl gave no response, only sucking on the bottle's straw.
"I'm sure you know by now, but don't disappoint me. You know what happens when you're a disappointment." She grabbed her tighter. "Are you understanding me?"
"Yes, ma'am," she spoke. Her words were quiet and empty.
The woman nodded in response, a smile across her red painted lips. "Good. We have ten minutes until the next round starts. Take care of what you need to before then and meet me here." She gave no response, but the woman was sure she understood the orders.
Cards Used in Order of Appearance
Madolche Magileine
EARTH
Level 4
Spellcaster/Effect
1400 ATK/1200 DEF
When this card you control is destroyed by your opponent's card (either by battle or by card effect) and sent to your Graveyard: Shuffle this card into your Deck. When this card is Normal or Flip Summoned: You can add 1 "Madolche" monster from your Deck to your hand.
Madolche Butlerusk
EARTH
Level 4
Spellcaster/Effect
1500 ATK/800 DEF
When this card you control is destroyed by your opponent's card (either by battle or by card effect) and sent to your Graveyard: Shuffle this card into your Deck. When this card is Normal Summoned: You can add 1 Field Spell Card from your Deck to your hand. There must be another face-up "Madolche" monster on the field to activate and to resolve this effect.
Rusty Swordsman
EARTH
Level 4
Warrior
1500 ATK/1000 DEF
Rusty Sword
Equip Spell Card
You can only equip this card to a Level 4 or lower Normal Monster with 1500 or less ATK and DEF. The equipped monster gains these effects: This card's original ATK increases equal to its DEF. When this card attacks, during the Damage Step: You can pay Life Points in multiples of 100 (maximum 500); this card gains ATK equal to that amount.
Madolche Mewfeuille
EARTH
Level 3
Beast/Effect
500 ATK/300 DEF
When this card you control is destroyed by your opponent's card (either by battle or by card effect) and sent to your Graveyard: Shuffle this card into your Deck. When this card is Normal Summoned: You can Special Summon 1 "Madolche" monster from your hand.
Madolche Anjelly
EARTH
Level 4
Fairy/Effect
1000 ATK/1000 DEF
If this card in your possession is destroyed by your opponent's card (either by battle or by card effect) and sent to your Graveyard: Shuffle this card into the Deck. You can Tribute this card; Special Summon 1 "Madolche" monster from your Deck, but shuffle it into the Deck during the End Phase of your next turn. You can only use this effect of "Madolche Anjelly" once per turn. That Special Summoned monster cannot be destroyed by battle.
Madolche Ticket
Continuous Spell Card
When a "Madolche" card(s) is returned from your side of the field or Graveyard to your hand or Main Deck by a card effect: Add 1 "Madolche" monster from your Deck to your hand. If you control a face-up Fairy-Type "Madolche" monster, you can Special Summon the monster from your Deck in face-up Attack Position instead of adding it to your hand. You can only use the effect of "Madolche Ticket" once per turn.
God's Providence (Ultimate Providence)
Counter Trap Card
When a Spell/Trap Card, or monster effect, is activated: Discard the same type of card (Monster, Spell, or Trap); negate the activation, and if you do, destroy that card.
Tasukeleton (Bacon Saver)
DARK
Level 2
Zombie/Effect
700 ATK/600 DEF
During either player's Battle Step, while an attack is occurring: You can banish this card from your Graveyard; negate the attack. You can only use the effect of "Bacon Saver" once per Duel.
Seven Tools of the Bandit
Counter Trap Card
When a Trap Card is activated: Pay 1000 LP; negate the activation, and if you do, destroy it.
Madolche Messengelato
EARTH
Level 4
Warrior/Effect
1600 ATK/1000 DEF
When this card in your possession is destroyed by your opponent's card (either by battle or by card effect) and sent to your Graveyard: Shuffle this card into the Deck. When this card is Special Summoned: You can add 1 "Madolche" Spell/Trap Card from your Deck to your hand. You must control a face-up Beast-Type "Madolche" monster to activate and to resolve this effect.
Madolche Chateau
Field Spell Card
When this card is activated: Shuffle all "Madolche" monsters in your Graveyard into the Deck. All "Madolche" monsters on the field gain 500 ATK and DEF. If a monster(s) in your Graveyard would be returned to the Deck by the effect of a "Madolche" monster, you can add it to your hand instead.
Madolche Mehple (Madolche Baaple)
EARTH
Level 3
Beast/Effect
0 ATK/1800 DEF
If this card in your possession is destroyed by your opponent's card (by battle or card effect) and sent to your Graveyard: Shuffle this card into your Deck. Once per turn: You can target 1 Attack Position "Madolche" monster you control and 1 face-up Attack Position monster your opponent controls; if both monsters are still on the field, change them to face-up Defense Position, and if you do, the ones changed by this effect cannot have their battle positions changed until the end of your opponent's next turn.
Madolche Happy Festa (Madolchepalooza)
Normal Trap Card
Special Summon any number of "Madolche" monsters from your hand, but shuffle them into the Deck during the End Phase.
Queen Madolche Tiaramisu (Madolche Queen Tiaramisu)
EARTH
Rank 4
Fairy/Xyz/Effect
2200 ATK/2100 DEF
2 Level 4 "Madolche" monsters
Once per turn: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card, then target up to 2 "Madolche" cards in your Graveyard; shuffle those cards into the Deck, also, after that, shuffle cards your opponent controls into the Deck, up to the number of "Madolche" cards returned.
Tribute to the Devil (Faustian Bargain)
Normal Spell Card
Send 1 Special Summoned monster on either side of the field to the Graveyard and Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower Normal Monster from your hand.
Big Bat Knight
EARTH
Level 3
Warrior
1100 ATK/500 DEF
Majesty Magician
DARK
Level 8
Spellcaster/Effect
2500 ATK/2000 DEF
You can Tribute Summon this card by Tributing 1 monster that was originally a Level 4 or lower Normal Monster with 1500 or less ATK and DEF. This card is treated as an appropriate target for a card that specifically designates a Level 4 or lower Normal Monster with 1500 or less ATK and DEF while face-up on the field or in the Graveyard (its Level and ATK/DEF do not change).
Madolche Puddingcess
EARTH
Level 5
Fairy/Effect1000 ATK/1000 DEFIf this card in your possession is destroyed by your opponent's card (by battle or card effect) and sent to your Graveyard: Shuffle this card into the Deck. While you have no monsters in your Graveyard, this card gains 800 ATK and DEF. After damage calculation, when this card battles an opponent's monster: You can target 1 card your opponent controls; destroy that target.
Overlay Satellite
Equip Spell Card
If the equipped monster is used as an Xyz Material for an Xyz Summon, you can treat it as 2 monsters. If the equipped monster is used as an Xyz Material for an Xyz Summon: Attach this card to the Summoned monster as an Xyz Material. If you do, it cannot attack this turn.
Madolche Puddingcess Choco-a-la-Mode (Madolche Puddingcess Chocolat-a-la-Mode)
EARTH
Rank 5
Fairy/Xyz/Effect
2500 ATK/2200 DEF
2 Level 5 EARTH monsters
You can also Xyz Summon this card by using a Rank 4 or lower "Madolche" Xyz Monster you control as the Xyz Material. (Xyz Materials attached to that monster also become Xyz Materials on this card.) Once per turn: You can target 1 "Madolche" card in your Graveyard; shuffle it into the Deck. While this card has "Madolche Puddingcess" as Xyz Material, when a "Madolche" card(s) in your Graveyard is shuffled into the Main Deck (except during the Damage Step): You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; Special Summon 1 "Madolche" monster from your Deck in Attack Position or face-down Defense Position.
Madolche Chouxvalier
EARTH
Level 4
Warrior/Effect
1700 ATK/1300 DEF
When this card you control is destroyed by your opponent's card (either by battle or by card effect) and sent to your Graveyard: Shuffle this card into your Deck. Your opponent cannot target face-up "Madolche" monsters you control for attacks, except "Madolche Chouxvalier".
Giant God of the Silver Mountain (Soul of Silvermountain)
EARTH
Rank 3
Rock/Xyz/Effect
1800 ATK/2200 DEF
2 Level 3 EARTH monsters
Once per turn: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card to target 1 Set card in your opponent's Spell & Trap Card Zone; it cannot be activated while this card is face-up on the field. If this card destroys an opponent's monster by battle while it has Xyz Material: You can target 1 EARTH monster in your Graveyard; Special Summon that target in face-up Defense Position.
Burning Slugger
Equip Spell Card
You can only equip this card to a Level 4 or lower Normal Monster with 1500 or less ATK and DEF. The equipped monster gains these effects: Once per turn: You can target 1 monster your opponent controls, then send cards from the top of your Deck to the Graveyard equal to its Level/Rank; destroy it, and if you do, inflict damage equal to its Level/Rank x 100. This monster cannot attack the turn you activate this effect.
Finished another chapter and decided to post it. Kind of a rough place to leave everyone hanging last time. Hopefully this will make up for it. Whenever I'd read about archetypes people wanted to see in the anime, Madolche are always pretty high on the list. And I totally agree with that, so here we are. Figured I'd toss in a couple ZEXAL references (you might even call it fanservice) while I'm at it since they're a real Xyz-heavy archetype. I think I was subconsciously channeling this one character from a manga I read a long time ago while writing Iichiro. It's too bad I don't have that many more opportunities to use him since I kind of found myself really enjoying how mellow and nice he was, but that's kind of how things go. There's lots of characters I'll inevitably not get to use as much as I wish I could, potentially even a few more already. Just have to make the best of it. But speaking of characters I don't get to use enough, there's a very special girl planned for the next chapter. I'll talk more about her next time when she makes a full appearance, but just know she's basically the reason this story exists at all. That's all I can think to say right now, though. Thanks for reading and putting up with no real update schedule and the potential to never actually read another chapter of this again if I decide I've finally lost all passion for it. Remember to brush twice a day.