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 FlowersHeart17 who wrote a short scene that is featured at the beginning of the chapter and for designing the birthday party dress that Estelle will wear at the end of the chapter, writing another scene for the chapter, and giving me inspiration for the design of a special birthday gift Estelle will receive from her Shooting Star. You can find the dress and the gift on my DA account.
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 72: A Memorable Birthday
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 would get closer to my classmates, 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, drowning myself in the music.
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 parked 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 Ish and Bruno walked out from a room. "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. "I was hoping to get some help from you to prepare Estelle's birthday party."
"Is Estelle nearby?" Yusei asked. "It wouldn't be good if she overheard our plans."
"Estelle is in the garage cleaning her Runner", Bruno explained.
Yusei hummed with a nod. "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 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 Bruno.
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.
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 such a beautiful sight before. He quickly recovered himself and knocked loudly on the garage frame to get his crush's attention.
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. "I don't mind some company."
Yusei 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!" 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. "Sorry to interrupt your work, but we were wondering when you two were going to show up. You guys done yet?"
"Yes, I'm pretty much done for the day", Estelle nodded as she finished tying the overall and the red blush on her cheeks faded away. "Thank you for your help, Yusei."
"You're welcome", Yusei replied while his eyes stayed on the toolbox in his hands.
"I'll go and change my clothes real quick", Estelle excused herself before she hurried to the mansion.
Crow stepped inside the garage and look around while 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. 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 games.
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."
"Urgh…", 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 Turbo Deck, 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 – 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
The practice date turned out better than I first thought. Yusei and I ate lunch and split the bill to make it fair before we visited a game arcade, which was my request since I had never visited one before. We played several games together and Yusei even got a Blue-Eyes White Dragon stuffed toy from one of those claw machines which he gave to me as a birthday gift.
After the arcade, Yusei bought some spare parts in a nearby shop before we drove to the harbor to enjoy the nature and reminiscing the past year; everything from the beginning with Yusei chasing Jack to retrieve Stardust Dragon, the Fortune Cup, the war with the Dark Signers and Earthbound Immortals, and the other events. It felt like every single day was a new adventure for me. I didn't have an exciting life back in my world, so I was thrilled to live in this dimension. And I was hoping to stay and live here for the rest of my life.
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; a clear sign that he wanted 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.
"Turbo Duel, acceleration!" the Riding Roid and I yelled as we drew our first five cards.
Riding Roid: 4000 LP
Estelle: 4000 LP
I got Sage with Eyes of Blue, Speed Spell – Summon Speeder, the White Stone of Ancients, Dark Bribe, and Sakuretsu Armor. I could work with that.
"I go first! Draw!" the Riding Roid yelled, drawing his sixth card. "I summon Ally of Justice Quarantine in attack mode!"
Ally of Justice Quarantine, Level 4: ATK 1700
Ally of Justice? That was the same type of Monsters the Riding Roids used during the Diablo incident! I looked up the archetype once, but I forgot the details about these Monsters.
"Ally of Justice Quarantine's effect makes it so neither of us can Special summon LIGHT Monsters!"
"What?!" I exclaimed in disbelief.
That meant the effects of my cards couldn't be activated to Special summon my Blue-Eyes! Was the archetype of Ally of Justice a Deck that could block LIGHT-attributed Monsters?
"I place one card facedown and end my turn!"
"I draw!" I called, drawing my sixth card.
Riding Roid: 4000 LP = 0 SPC – 1 SPC
Estelle: 4000 LP = 0 SPC – 1 SPC
My sixth card was Blue-Eyes White Dragon. I growled inwardly. I had the cards I needed to quickly bring out a strong Blue-Eyes Monster, but I couldn't do it because to Ally of Justice Quarantine's effect. I had to go with defense for now until I figured out a way to get rid of the pesky machine.
"I summon Sage with Eyes of Blue in defense mode!" I shouted.
Sage with Eyes of Blue, Level 1, Tuner: DEF 1500
"Sage's effect! I can add one Level 1 LIGHT Tuner Monster from my Deck to my hand! I choose the White Stone of Legend!"
The Deck in my Wrist Dealer got shuffled before it ejected my chosen card. I quickly added it to my hand and took my two Trap cards. "I place two cards facedown and end my turn!"
"My turn! Draw!" the Riding Roid shouted.
Riding Roid: 4000 LP = 1 SPC – 2 SPC
Estelle: 4000 LP = 1 SPC – 2 SPC
"I summon Ally of Justice Thousand Arms in attack mode!"
Ally of Justice Thousand Arms, Level 4: ATK 1700
I checked on the display what this Monster's effect was. It could attack all face-up LIGHT Monster I controlled once each.
"Battle! Ally of Justice Quarantine, destroy Sage with Eyes of Blue!"
Okay, here it comes!
"I activate my Trap; Sakuretsu Armor!" I yelled. "I destroy your attacking Monster with it!"
The Trap card released a gust of whirlwind that hit Quarantine and slashed it into pieces.
"So you got rid of my Quarantine. But that won't help you much. Ally of Justice Thousand Arms, attack Sage with Eyes of Blue!"
The machine Monster with multiple weapons flew towards Sage with glowing optics. It swung its weapons and slashed my Monster into pieces. The shards of the hologram flew around me, but they didn't cause any damage to me.
"Your field is now empty, which means your luck will soon run out, Priestess", the Riding Roid mocked me. "I place one card facedown and end my turn."
"Draw!" I yelled, drawing a new card.
Riding Roid: 4000 LP = 2 SPC – 3 SPC
Estelle: 4000 LP = 2 SPC – 3 SPC
The card I had just drawn was another White Stone of Ancients.
"I summon the White Stone of Legend in defense mode!" I called.
The White Stone of Legend, Level 1, Tuner: DEF 250
"I end my turn with that!"
"You've been backed into a corner!" the Riding Roid chuckled. "This won't take long now. Draw!"
Riding Roid: 4000 LP = 3 SPC – 4 SPC
Estelle: 4000 LP = 3 SPC – 4 SPC
"I activate my Continuous Trap; Call of the Haunted! I Special summon Ally of Justice Quarantine from my Graveyard in attack mode!"
"I activate my Counter Trap; Dark Bribe!" I quickly called. "When a Spell or Trap card is activated, I can negate it! This means you can't summon your Monster from the Graveyard, but you get to draw one card from your Deck as compensation."
The Riding Roid clicked his tongue while his Trap card shattered into pieces before his Thousand Arms could join the field. "I switch Ally of Justice Thousand Arms to defense mode and end my turn."
Ally of Justice Thousand Arms, Level 4: ATK 1700 – DEF 0
Oh? That was unexpected. Why didn't he attack my White Stone? Was it to not let me add a Blue-Eyes White Dragon to my hand?
"My turn! Draw!" I called.
Riding Roid: 4000 LP = 4 SPC – 5 SPC
Estelle: 4000 LP = 4 SPC – 5 SPC
My new card was Jar of Avarice. It was a good card that could be a game-changer. But now, I could proceed with my plan.
"Now that I have over 4 Speed Counters, I play the Speed Spell – Summon Speeder!" I shouted. "I can Special summon one Level 4 or lower Monster from my hand, but it can't attack this turn! I Special summon the White Stone of Ancients in defense mode!"
The White Stone of Ancients, Level 1, Tuner: DEF 500
"I release both my White Stones to Tribute summon Blue-Eyes White Dragon in attack mode!"
Blue-Eyes White Dragon, Level 8: ATK 3000
"The White Stone of Legend's effect! I can add one Blue-Eyes White Dragon from my Deck to my hand! Blue-Eyes White Dragon, destroy Ally of Justice Thousand Arms with White Lightning!"
My Blue-Eyes roared before he unleashed his attack at Thousand Arms.
"I activate my Trap; Quaking Mirror Force!" the Riding Roid yelled. "When my opponent's Monster declares an attack, your attack position Monster is changed to facedown defense position and it cannot change its battle positions!"
"What?!" I exclaimed in disbelief.
An invisible force field appeared in front of Thousand Arms before it was hit by the White Lightning attack. The attack got absorbed into the force field before a purple lightning was shot out. The lightning hit Blue-Eyes White Dragon, forcing him back into his card that got flipped facedown.
I growled loudly at the failure of getting rid of Thousand Arms. The Riding Roid just laughed at my reaction. "You need to try better than that, Priestess. What else do you have for me?"
I grabbed my Jar of Avarice card. "I place one card facedown and end my turn. At the End Phase, the White Stone of Ancients' effect activates in my Graveyard. I can Special summon one Blue-Eyes Monster from my Deck to the field! I Special summon Blue-Eyes Abyss Dragon in attack mode!"
Blue-Eyes Abyss Dragon, Level 8: ATK 2500
"So you managed to summon two of your dragons", the Riding Roid clicked his tongue. "Well, we shall see where this will go. Draw!"
Riding Roid: 4000 LP = 5 SPC – 6 SPC
Estelle: 4000 LP = 5 SPC – 6 SPC
"Before you continue with anything else, I activate my Trap; Jar of Avarice!" I quickly shouted. "I shuffle five cards from the Graveyard back to my Deck and then get to draw one card!"
I grabbed Sage with Eyes of Blue, Dark Bribe, Sakuretsu Armor, Speed Spell – Summon Speeder, and the White Stone of Legend from the Graveyard and added them to my Deck. The Wrist Dealer shuffled my cards before I drew the top card, which was Speed Spell – Raid Shotwing.
"That won't be much help, Priestess. I'm going to follow your example by playing my own Speed Spell – Summon Speeder! I Special summon Ally of Justice Core Destroyer in attack mode!"
Ally of Justice Core Destroyer, Level 3: ATK 1200
"I release Ally of Justice Quarantine and Ally of Justice Core Destroyer to Tribute summon Ally of Justice Thunder Armor in attack mode!"
Ally of Justice Thunder Armor, Level 8: ATK 2700
This Monster's effect made every Ally of Justice Monster able to inflict piercing damage when they attack a defense position Monster with defense points lower than the machines' attack points. He could now destroy both my Blue-Eyes, but he would only inflict 200 points of piercing damage, so it wasn't that bad.
Or so I thought.
"I play the Speed Spell – Power Baton now that I have 6 Speed Counters! I send Ally of Justice Cosmic Gateway from my Deck to the Graveyard to have Ally of Justice Thunder Armor gain attack points equal to Cosmic Gateway's attack points until the end of the next Damage Step! The cost is, though, I cannot conduct my normal draw during my next Draw Phase."
The transparent body of Cosmic Gateway appeared above Thunder Armor before it shattered into golden pixie dust. The dust fell on top of Thunder Armor as the machine started glowing with a yellow aura, increasing its attack points.
Ally of Justice Thunder Armor, Level 8: ATK 2700 – ATK 5100
"5100 attack points?!" I exclaimed in shock and fear.
"Battle! Ally of Justice Thunder Armor, attack Blue-Eyes Abyss Dragon!"
Thunder Armor extended its drills before flying toward Blue-Eyes Abyss Dragon. My dragon used its wings as a shield, but Thunder Armor drilled through him and destroyed him into pieces. The remaining shards hit my Runner, causing it to violently wobble left and right. I forced myself to have control while the Riding Roid drove past me.
Riding Roid: 4000 LP = 6 SPC
Estelle: 4000 LP – 1400 LP = 6 SPC
I managed to regain control of my Runner just as there was a hairpin bend coming up. I made it through without flying straight into the glass barrier and hurt myself.
"I applaud your resilience, Priestess", the Riding Roid spoke through the intercom as I managed to catch up to him. "You may have survived this turn, but your life shall soon be over. I place one card facedown and end my turn."
"Okay. Draw!" I called.
Riding Roid: 4000 LP = 6 SPC – 7 SPC
Estelle: 1400 LP = 6 SPC – 7 SPC
The card I had just drawn was Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon; one of the cards I got from Seto shortly after our exhibition Duel. Now that Ally of Justice Quarantine was gone, I could finally Special summon the majority of my Monsters.
"I reveal Blue-Eyes White Dragon in my hand to Special summon Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon in attack mode!" I yelled.
Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon, Level 8: ATK 3000
"Blue-Eyes Alternative's effect! I destroy your Ally of Justice Thunder Armor, but the cost is my dragon cannot attack the turn he uses this effect."
Blue-Eyes Alternative opened his mouth and fired a neo-white beam at Thunder Armor, destroying it into pieces.
"Next, I summon the White Stone of Ancients in defense mode!"
The White Stone of Ancients, Level 1, Tuner: DEF 500
"I now tune my Level 1 White Stone of Ancients and Level 8 Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon! Boulders of the mountain, hear my call! Break the seal and rise from the depth of the ocean to aid your master! Synchro summon! Arise, Giganticastle!"
Giganticastle, Level 9: ATK 2900
This Synchro Monster was special to me because it was the first Synchro card I ever got when I opened my first Yu-Gi-Oh! booster packs back in my world. It was also thanks to this card I learned about the 5D's season.
"Giganticastle's effect! He gains 200 attack and defense points for each non-Tuner Synchro Material Monster used for its Synchro summoning!"
Giganticastle, Level 9: ATK 2900 – ATK 3100
"Giganticastle, attack directly!"
Giganticastle was almost as big as Earthbound Immortal Ccapac Apu, so he was hovering over the Riding Roid before he threw his clenched fist toward him.
"I activate my Trap; Dimensional Prison!" the Riding Roid called. "I banish your attacking Monster!"
I growled angrily at the Trap. This Riding Roid's Deck was really all about cancelling LIGHT Monster's effects and get rid of them by either destruction or banishing.
A wormhole appeared in Giganticastle's path and sucked him in, leaving no traces behind of the golem king. The Riding Roid laughed humorously. "It was a nice try using another Monster with different attribute, but my Deck is practically invincible against all attributes, except DARK."
DARK… The Riding Roid unconsciously revealed a clue on how to break through his Monsters. I had to use DARK-attribute Monsters against him! However, the only DARK Monster cards I had in this Deck were First of the Dragons and…that Ritual Monster.
I had to get the cards I needed quickly for either the Fusion or the Ritual Monster.
"I end my turn!" I called. "End Phase! My second White Stone of Ancients' effect activates in my Graveyard! I Special summon my third Blue-Eyes White Dragon from my Deck in attack mode!"
Blue-Eyes White Dragon, Level 8: ATK 3000
"You are very attached to your dragons, Priestess", the Riding Roid chuckled. "Let us see how much they can help you. Because of the Speed Spell – Power Baton, I cannot draw a card in this Draw Phase."
Riding Roid: 4000 LP = 7 SPC – 8 SPC
Estelle: 1400 LP = 7 SPC – 8 SPC
"I place one card facedown and end my turn."
"My turn. Draw!" I shouted.
Riding Roid: 4000 LP = 8 SPC – 9 SPC
Estelle: 1400 LP = 8 SPC – 9 SPC
I cheered inwardly at the card I had just drawn. It was Speed Spell – Speed Ritual. It wasn't a card from the anime, so I got surprised when I learned there was actually a Speed Spell card existing for Ritual summoning in this dimension. Now I just needed to get the Ritual Monster and I could hopefully finish the Turbo Duel.
"I activate Speed World 2's effect!" I called as I revealed Speed Spell – Speed Ritual. "I remove 7 Speed Counters to draw a card from my Deck!"
Riding Roid: 4000 LP = 9 SPC
Estelle: 1400 LP = 9 SPC – 2 SPC
My Duel Runner slowed down now that I had removed the Speed Counters. The Riding Roid was several meters ahead of me. I took a deep breath before drawing the card, praying it was the Ritual Monster. I drew the card and checked it. It was Galaxy Serpent. Not what I needed.
"Blue-Eyes White Dragon, attack the Riding Roid directly!" I commanded.
Blue-Eyes fired a White Lightning at the android. I hoped the facedown card the Riding Roid had wouldn't get activated.
"I activate my Counter Trap; Negate Attack!"
Curse my bad luck!
The Riding Roid's Trap card flipped up in front of him to be used as a shield. Blue-Eyes' attack got absorbed into it and ended the Battle Phase.
"I still have many tricks up my sleeves, Priestess!" the Riding Roid chuckled.
"I end my turn!" I spat angrily.
"Feeling frustrated? Well, more is coming. Draw!"
Riding Roid: 4000 LP = 9 SPC – 10 SPC
Estelle: 1400 LP = 2 SPC – 3 SPC
"I summon Ally of Justice Unknown Crusher in attack mode!"
Ally of Justice Unknown Crusher, Level 3: ATK 1200
I quickly checked this Monster's effect. If it battles a LIGHT Monster, that Monster was going to be removed from play after damage calculation. Knowing the Riding Roid, it would obviously attack my Blue-Eyes and remove it from play.
"Battle! Ally of Justice Unknown Crusher, attack Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"
The elephant-like machine rammed itself onto my dragon's stomach and shattered into pieces. Some of them hit the Riding Roid, causing damage to his Life Points.
Riding Roid: 4000 LP – 2800 LP = 10 SPC
Estelle: 1400 LP = 3 SPC
"Ally of Justice Unknown Crusher's effect! When it battles a LIGHT Monster, that Monster is removed from play after damage calculation!"
The remnants of the machine Monster flew around Blue-Eyes like a whirlwind, slashing his body until he vanished from the field.
"I end my turn."
"My turn. Draw!" I called.
Riding Roid: 2800 LP = 10 SPC – 11 SPC
Estelle: 1400 LP = 3 SPC – 4 SPC
I growled again when I saw I had drawn Negate Attack. I couldn't summon anything because the only two Monsters I had in my hand were both Level 8. I still had my first Blue-Eyes White Dragon on the field, but I couldn't flip it up because it got frozen by Quaking Mirror Force. The only way to get rid of it was to Tribute summon, but I couldn't.
"I place one card facedown and end my turn", I said as I set my new Trap card.
"What's the matter? You don't have any Monsters you can summon?" the Riding Roid taunted me. "Well, we are both in the same boat, but that could change. Draw!"
Riding Roid: 2800 LP = 11 SPC – 12 SPC
Estelle: 1400 LP = 4 SPC – 5 SPC
"Look at this! I must have received the Birthday Gods' blessings from you! I play the Speed Spell – Accelerate Draw! I can only activate it when I have 12 Speed Counters and you don't have the same amount! I draw two cards! I summon my second Ally of Justice Unknown Justice in attack mode!"
Ally of Justice Unknown Crusher, Level 3: ATK 1200
"Ally of Justice Unknown Crusher, attack the facedown Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"
I decided to let him attack my Blue-Eyes. He was just going to inflict damage to himself and remove my dragon from play. I still had one Blue-Eyes White Dragon safely in my hand. I had to save Negate Attack for another turn.
Riding Roid: 2800 LP – 1500 LP = 12 SPC
Estelle: 1400 LP = 5 SPC
"Ally of Justice Unknown Crusher's effect! He removes Blue-Eyes White Dragon from play after damage calculation."
The remnants of Blue-Eyes were swallowed by a wormhole.
"Your field is now empty. Next time, I might summon a Monster that is strong enough to take out all your Life Points, Priestess. I place one card facedown and end my turn."
"My turn. Draw!"
Riding Roid: 1500 LP = 12 SPC
Estelle: 1400 LP = 5 SPC – 6 SPC
My eyes widened in surprise at the card I had just drawn before I smiled widely.
"I play the Speed Spell – Speed Ritual!" I shouted.
"Speed Spell – Speed Ritual?"
"I can only activate it when I have 4 or more Speed Counters. I send my Blue-Eyes White Dragon from my hand to the Graveyard for a Ritual summoning! When the world is in chaos, the dragon once pure but now consumed in darkness shall come forth to break the shackles of death! Ritual summon! Descend, Blue-Eyes Chaos MAX Dragon!"
A blue magic circle appeared far above me as the sky grew dark by thunderclouds. Lightning crackled in the sky before a massive dragon flew out from the magic circle with a roar ten times louder than the lightning.
Blue-Eyes Chaos MAX Dragon, Level 8: ATK 4000
This was my first time I had ever Ritual summoned a Monster, and one that originally belonged to Seto. It was an honor to use some of his cards.
"A Ritual Monster with 4000 attack points?!" the Riding Roid gasped in disbelief.
"It's over! The light may have been overtaken by your Ally of Justice, but even the purest being has a darkness within itself that will break through the thickest barriers! Blue-Eyes Chaos MAX Dragon, attack the Riding Roid and end the Duel with Chaos Darkness!"
Blue-Eyes Chaos MAX Dragon fired a beam from its mouth that was first white before it changed into a color combination of black and dark blue.
"It's not over! I activate my Trap; Draining Shield! I target your Blue-Eyes to negate the attack and gain Life Points equal to its attack points!"
A green shield surrounded the Riding Roid, but the shield shattered into pieces when my Ritual Monster's attack made contact. "What?!"
"Sorry, but Blue-Eyes Chaos MAX Dragon's effect makes him unable to be targeted or destroyed by my opponent's card effects! This is the end, Riding Roid! I'm not going with you to see your masters!"
"NOOOO!" the Riding Roid screamed as he was engulfed by my dragon's attack.
Riding Roid: 1500 LP – 0 LP = 12 SPC
Estelle: 1400 LP = 6 SPC
I skidded to a halt as the Riding Roid exploded on the course ahead of me. I took a couple of deep breaths to get rid of the adrenaline in my veins before I removed my helmet. I watched the smoke clear up before I got off my Runner to take a closer look at the remains of the android.
The fake skin and clothes on the android had been peeled off by the flames of the explosion, so all I saw was the metallic skeleton and the mangled Duel Runner. The majority of the cards the Riding Roid had used had turned into ashes.
But the biggest question was; what did the Three Pure Nobles want to see me in the first place? I had a feeling it wasn't just for a peaceful conversation.
"Estelle!"
I turned around and saw Yusei driving toward me with Crow, Jack, Bruno, and Aki behind him on their Duel Runners. My heart sang in relief when I saw my crush was okay after that terrible crash.
"Yusei! Everyone!" I called as they parked next to my Duel Runner.
Yusei removed his helmet and got off his Runner before he ran to me and grabbed my upper arms. "Are you okay? Did the Riding Roid hurt you?" he asked with a worried expression.
"I'm fine", I nodded before I rubbed my forehead in exhaustion. "The Turbo Duel was very tough, though. The Riding Roid used an Ally of Justice Deck that cancelled my Blue-Eyes' effects and Special summoning."
"Ally of Justice? I've never heard of that archetype before", Crow spoke up.
"Me neither", Aki shook her head.
I raised a confused eyebrow. My friends didn't know about the Ally of Justice archetype? Was it possible it was an archetype created in the future, like the Meklord Emperors?
Yusei's body relaxed before he hugged me to his chest. "I'm so glad you're okay…"
I didn't mind the affection and hugged him back. He had grown a bit since the Dark Signers war, but I could still rest my head against his shoulder. I gently patted his back to calm him down before we pulled back.
"How much did you see of the Duel?" I asked. "And what are the rest of you doing here?"
"We found you by the time the Riding Roid's Monster destroyed your Blue-Eyes Abyss Dragon", Jack replied while he had his arms crossed.
"We got called by Yusei who said you had been attacked by another roaming Riding Roid, so we dropped everything", Aki added. "We also felt your distress through our Marks, so we used the bond to find you."
"Thank you", I smiled softly. "I appreciate it you came to help me."
"I managed to download some of the data of those Ally of Justice cards the Riding Roid used", Bruno spoke up after he had been silent the entire time. "It could be useful data in case another Riding Roid appears again."
"Thank you, Bruno", I nodded. "I'll contact Sector Security and let them take care of the Riding Roid."
XXXXXXXXXX
I took it easy for the remaining hours before the party. I wanted to see what else I needed to get done, but I was pushed into my bedroom as soon as I got home. I wasn't allowed to check the garden where the party was going to take place. By then, I realized Ish and the others must have arranged a surprise party for me.
One hour before the party, which was going to start at 6 pm, Ish and the maids helped me dress up and fix my make-up. I got to wear a customized white one-shoulder sweetheart dress with red to pink ombre with a regular flowy effect. The bottom part of the dress was also decorated with red glitter. The strap and the side of the dress had red rhinestones. The strap went over my left shoulder to my back where I had a zipper. At the bottom of my lower back was a crimson star jewel stud. I chose to wear a pair of red heels to match with the rhinestones and glitter. Ish applied a little make-up and fixed my hair so it was nice and proper.
I waited patiently until it was time for me, the host, to welcome the first guests. The first ones who arrived were actually the Kaiba brothers, much to my surprise. The others arrived shortly after the brothers and then the party was on.
XXXXXXXXXX – Aki's POV
I was glad to know Estelle and Yusei were safe after that Riding Roid's ambush. I couldn't help but wonder how many other rouge Riding Roids were still out on the streets. Iliaster, or what Estelle assumed, did steal one from Sector Security before, so it wouldn't surprise me if they were trying to do something bad again.
I drove to Goodwin's mansion on my Duel Runner with Estelle's birthday gift stored in the seat compartment. Well, it wasn't an actual gift; it was the customized dress she had ordered for the Premium party this weekend. Mom finished it not long ago, so it was perfect timing to deliver it for Estelle.
I made it to the mansion just as Sherry and Mizoguchi were parking their Duel Runners among the other vehicles on one of the Duel fields.
Perfect! I needed to talk to Sherry.
"Hi, guys!" I called as I parked my Duel Runner next to Sherry's.
"Oh. Good evening, Aki", Sherry greeted.
I got off my Runner and removed the helmet, slowly shaking my head left and right to fix my hair. "Good evening", I smiled. "I see we arrived at the same time."
"Indeed", Sherry nodded. "It's the first time in a while I've been invited to a birthday party. I may not stay long, though."
I put away the helmet in the seat compartment and picked up the wrapped present before heading over to Sherry and Mizoguchi who were waiting for me. "Um… Sherry. Can we talk before we head inside?"
Sherry looked at me surprised, but then she nodded with a small smile. "Sure," she said walking a bit closer to me, which made me feel a little nervous.
Mizoguchi walked over to me and gently took the present out of my arms. "I'll hold onto this while you have your conversation."
"Thank you, Mizoguchi", I nodded as I watched him walking into the huge mansion, while Sherry came to a halt right in front of me. I smiled slightly at her, moving my arm a bit to lead her to the rose garden, which was actually my favorite spot of the property. I had a feeling no one was currently there. I stood by the fountain, the sound of the water rushing made me calm down a bit as Sherry initiated our conversation.
"So… Have you come to a decision about joining my team, Aki?" she asked with a tone that I couldn't pinpoint exactly.
"Y-Yes…", I nodded nervously before taking a deep breath and looked at her. "I thought about it long and hard and I… I decided to accept your offer."
Sherry said nothing for a few seconds while she crossed her arms. "And what made you make this decision?"
I was surprised to hear that question, but I had a feeling Sherry was interrogating me to see how serious I was about this. "On the day we first met, I was hit by sensations I've never felt before when you, Yusei, and Estelle were Turbo Dueling. It was a whole new world I've never seen before, but it's something you and my friends are seeing on a daily basis. I wanted to be part of that world with my friends and not be left behind," I started, as I remembered the day I met her vividly. "I guess… I'm being a little selfish because I really wish to Turbo Duel in the Grand Prix and not be part of the pit crew. I want to learn more and the best place for that is to participate in such competitions," I added determinedly.
I was deadly serious about this. I wanted to stop relying on my friends all the time and be independent. I was once an empty shell who got manipulated in the past, but now I wanted to fill that shell with my own soul and thoughts and make my own decisions.
Sherry stared at me with her emerald eyes so intensely it made me blush and look away. I didn't even need to place a hand on top of my chest to feel my heartbeat increase immensely. It always did when I was around her, making me wonder what it was about her that I reacted like this.
A chuckle from Sherry made me turn back to her. She had a relaxed expression as she uncrossed her arms and rested one hand on her hip. "There's no problem being selfish. In fact, I'm happy to hear what you want to do and you want to polish the diamond within you." She held out a hand to me for a handshake. "Welcome to Team Royal Knights, Izayoi Aki."
I smiled before shaking hands with her. "I promise not to disappoint you, Sherry."
"I know you won't", Sherry replied with a wink, causing me to blush yet again.
Seriously, what's wrong with me?!
XXXXXXXXXX – Estelle's POV
Even though I wrote on the invitation cards, some of the guests had brought birthday gifts. Aki's birthday gift was actually the customized dress I had ordered for the Premium party. I made sure not to open it, since I wanted it to be a surprise for everyone. The Kaiba brothers' joined present was a lifetime-ticket for the Kaiba Land amusement parks I could visit with my foster sons.
Ish gave me a letter which was from Greiger. I hadn't heard from him and his siblings for a while, so I quickly read it. Greiger wrote he and his siblings were doing well and the village was back to normal after the Dark Signers event. He hoped me and the Signers would one day visit the village and have a Duel.
It was nice to hear Greiger was cooping well after he was a Dark Signer, like Kalin, Misty, and Carly. The only former Dark Signer I had not heard from once was Devack. No one knew where he was, so I was a little concerned about him. He may have been a minor character, but there had never been a proper explanation as of how and why he became a Dark Signer in the first place.
For the rest of the party, we ate delicious food and had fun playing different games. Seto and Mokuba introduced a prototype board game with Duel Monsters as main characters. They wanted to give it a test run and hear our reviews on it, so we played it. In the end, it was a very promising game. We also sang karaoke, which I only sang songs by my Japanese idol; Mizuki Nana.
Two hours into the party, the children got sleepy, so Goodwin's limousine drove them home. Slowly and surely, I started feeling a little tired half an hour later, so I snuck off to get some peace and quiet. My brain still hadn't recovered after the intense Turbo Duel I had with the Riding Roid.
I found my way to the large fountain in the rose garden and sat down on a bench at the front of it. I sighed tiredly and looked up at the clear night sky. This day had been eventful for sure. When was the last time I was practically busy the whole day? I couldn't remember it.
I noticed movement at the corner of my eye, so I turned to my left and saw Yusei standing there with a soft smile. "Hi…", I smiled with flushed cheeks.
"Hey…", Yusei nodded as he walked up to me. "Mind if I join you?"
"Not at all."
Yusei sat down next to me while having his hands in the pockets of his jacket. "Did you have fun today?"
"Yes", I nodded with a tired smile. "It's been quite an eventful day. The practice date, the Turbo Duel, and my birthday party. I can't remember the last time my birthday lasted from morning to evening was."
"Was it…too much for you?"
"A little. I feel like I could fall asleep anytime now, but I'll try staying awake until the last guest leaves. I don't want to be portrayed as a selfish host."
"I'm sure everyone will understand if you want to end the party earlier. No one is going to judge you."
"I know. But still… The tiny fear of being judged is buried deep within me after everything I've been through. It won't disappear even if I have already moved on from my past."
Yusei grabbed gently my left hand and gave it a soft squeeze. "I know the feeling. But you're doing great. Don't let the haunting feelings overwhelm you, okay?"
"Okay…"
We were quiet for a short time and looked at the stars in the night sky. Yusei still held my hand, but let go of it when he cleared his throat. "Estelle…"
"Yeah?" I replied, turning to him.
I noticed he had a nervous expression while he reached into his jacket and pulled out a small rectangle present, wrapped in red paper and a black ribbon. "I know I already gave you the Blue-Eyes White Dragon stuffed toy today, but… I have one more present for you."
I blinked in surprise. Yusei had another present for me? I didn't expect to receive one more thing from him, but I accepted it by grabbing the wrapped present with my hands. I read once that, in Japan, the proper way to accept a present was by grabbing it with both hands.
"Thank you, Yusei, but you didn't have to", I told him softly.
"I know, but I wanted to", Yusei said with a soft blush. "When I saw it, I immediately thought of you."
I was now very curious what this present was if he imagined me when he saw it. I gently removed the black ribbon and the wrapping paper, trying not to rip the paper. Another thing I learned about etiquette was, in Japan, the wrapping paper is just as important as the present itself, so it's considered rude if you just rip open the present in front of someone. I had always been careful when I open a present, so it wasn't really new to me.
Once I removed the paper, I saw it was a rectangle black velvet box almost the size of my hand. The only thing I could think of was this box was probably from a jewelry store. Did Yusei buy jewelry to me?
I looked at Yusei, silently asking him if I could open it. He nodded without saying a single word, giving me the go. I slowly opened the box and felt my eyes widen in surprise. It was a thin-chained necklace with silver plated brass star dangling from it along with a crystal/cubic zirconia cut-out star. The silver plated star had my name in the middle of it in a fancy style.
I couldn't hold back a gasp of surprise as I stared at the necklace. "Oh my… It's so pretty", I said softly as I picked up the jewelry by holding the chain.
Yusei smiled softly while rubbing the back of his head with red cheeks. "Yeah, it took me a while to find the perfect gift for you. I wanted to give you something special."
"This is truly special to me. It's the first time someone, besides my family, gave me jewelry. In fact, I experienced many first times with you today, Yusei. Thank you", I smiled.
"I should thank you as well. I also experienced some first times today, and I'm glad it was with you", Yusei smiled in return before he took my necklace. "May I?"
I nodded, knowing what he wanted to do. I brushed my hair resting on my shoulders to the side before Yusei put the necklace on me in front instead of going behind. He attached the necklace on me and then moved back. He got a little shy and looked away for a second.
"Estelle…"
"Yes?"
Yusei turned to me with a nervous expression. "There's something I want to tell you, but I don't feel ready. So… Once the World Racing Grand Prix is over… Will you hear me out?"
My heart almost leaped out of my chest. It sounded like he wanted to confess, but he still needed to build up the courage. That was okay; I could wait and I also needed to gather my own courage to confess my feelings for him.
"Of course. I'll wait", I nodded as I placed my left hand on top of his right hand. "I also have something I want to tell you, so let's tell our confessions to each other after the tournament, okay?"
Yusei looked confused at what my confession could be about, but then his expression changed into a warm smile. "Okay."
With that said, we turned our attention back at the night sky with my hand still on top of his. Moments later, Yusei moved his hand and intertwined his fingers with mine. I smiled softly and placed my head on his right shoulder. It didn't take long before sleep took over my consciousness.
The last thing I heard and felt before I fell asleep was a pair of soft kisses on my forehead and Yusei's whispering voice that felt like a gentle breeze against my ear.
"Good night, my Shining Star…"
XXXXXXXXXX
I know there is no Speed Spell called "Speed Spell – Speed Ritual" in the anime, except one in the DS games, but that one is an actual Spell card remade into a Speed Spell. That is why I decided to come up with one for Ritual summoning. You can find the card on my DA account.
XXXXXXXXXX
Inoue Miyuki belongs to Springflowerangel.