A Bond...

Japan...

Yuuta had wide sparkling eyes as he looked at the piece of parchment on Ken's nightstand.

Yuuta: " you really got it!"

Ken looked up from his LBX and at the younger male.

Ken: " yep, that way, Ruri and I are going to participate in Artemis."

Yuuya: " we've got a lot of people participating."

Hiro: " it's better this way Yuuya-san, we can ensure the championship easily."

Kazu: " oh man, I can't believe I can't participate. You guys make me want to battle you in there."

Yuuya: " don't you have an invitation?"

Kazu: " nope, thus Ami and I will be patrolling there. As you know in case an attack happens."

Hiro: " by the way Hikaru-san, you have an invitation, right?"

He turned to the blond who was fiddling with his CCM. Hikaru blinked as he was addressed and looked up at Hiro.

Hikaru: " well, yeah, but I think I will pass on this time."

Gendo who was leaning on the wall with both his arms folded opened his eyes and looked at the blond.

Gendo: " you gave your invitation to Arata and Muraku, right?"

Hikaru didn't rise his look from the screen this time.

Hikaru: " true. It's frustrating to admit it but those two together have a better chance than me."

Yuuya: " Hikaru-kun you're such a good friend."

He, in fact, slightly blushed at the comment.

Hikaru: " well..."

He didn't know what to say.

Ken: " finally finished."

He set the LBX on the table and his visors blinked with light before he started moving around.

Ken: " how is it?"

Ranger: " I feel lighter and faster than before, thanks."

Ken: " our battles in the Underworld Tournament was really tough after all so you needed a lot of fixing. I could have asked Ruri to do that but she is busy with her Valkyrie and maybe she is angry with me for defeating her after all."

He said sweat dropping.

Yuuya: " I don't think she would refuse if you asked her."

Hikaru: " Yuuya-san and Hiro-san, aren't you going to train? Artemis is in a week time."

Hiro: " ah, but we will be sparing against Ruri-san and Ken-san so we're waiting for them to get ready."

Ranger: " I'm all set. Let's go fetch Ruri."

Ken: " alright."

And so they left their common room...

Two bursts of light could be seen as Unicorn and Beargguy fell down. Lilyan and Elie merely sighed at their loss.

Elie: " as expected, your combination is tough as usual."

She said placing her hand on her waist, slightly frustrated at how they keep losing. Lilyan though blinked at her CCM before rising her blue eyes to the dark green ones.

Lilyan: " Ban-kun, are you sure about this though?"

Ban merely nodded with a smile before looking at Jin.

Ban: " if Jin is going off with Zenon then my best option is Odin after all, they match better together."

Odin: " we will be working together again."

Zenon: " sounds promising for me."

Unicorn stood up.

Unicorn: " but, with Odin Mk2 then..."

Jin smiled as he gazed over at his friend.

Jin: " Ban-kun doesn't want to use Odin Mk2 for official battles after all."

Ban had a nervous smile at that and he scratched his cheek sheepishly.

Ban: " well, it doesn't feel fair at all using an LBX with high specs. Odin Mk2 was actually a super LBX made for dangerous fights."

Elie: " just like you, Onii-chan."

She sighed in defeat.

Evangeline : " that's Yamano Ban for you."

She said skimming through the data she gathered so far from their battles.

Evangeline : " well, seems I can't be of much help to you. Your LBXs are in good shapes and your synchronization is pretty perfect I don't need to add any customization."

Jin: " yet, I don't feel satisfied, my timing is a little bit off. Ban-kun, shall we go for another round?"

The brunette seemed to have the same thoughts.

Ban: " ah, here too, I've been used to Mk2's speed after all so I need to match with Odin's speed again."

Ran: " you can do that later."

The door opened letting in Ran, Jessica and Touko who walked in with trays in their hands. The others who were training on other dioramas turned back as well.

Jessica: " training is important but having a break and healthy food is necessary too."

She winked at them.

Touko: " we've prepared some snacks for you, so gather around guys."

The all gather around one of the large tables in the training room.

As a preparation for Artemis, they picked off a room in Tiny Orbit and set it so they can train and do maintenance on their LBX there.

Twilight: " you should be training as well aren't you?"

Touko: " don't worry about us, we're training as much as everyone as well."

Jessica: " so everyone, don't hesitate! Today we have Onigiri! I've made them myself so enjoy them!"

Ban had already reached his hand for one of the rice balls and took a bite before his mouth was pulled into a wide smile.

Ban: " as expected of Jessica, it's really awesome."

Arata: " I think Ran-nee's are better."

Ran slammed her fist down on her cousin's head.

Ran: " don't say such thing, idiot!"

Her face was actually red.

Evangeline : " wait till you taste Jiiya's."

Ruri: " if you haven't tasted Nii-san's before then you should just shut your mouths."

Ken: " Ruri."

Ruri: " what? It's the truth."

Elie: " ho~. I wonder if you would say the same after you taste mom's Onigiri."

Ruri stared at her.

Ruri: " Elie-san, are you trying to trigger a cooking battle here? Cause I will be very glad to set up one."

The brunette smirked.

Elie: " maybe~."

Mirai: " if there is one I want to enter as well. I've been the one doing the cooking in our house for so long I've confidence in my abilities."

Ami: " right, your mother doesn't cook right."

Hiro sweat dropped and laughed sheepishly with a confirming nod.

Ami: " I've been living on my own for a while so I'm pretty good as well."

Touko: " I can safely admit that those who live on their owns are good at cooking."

Jessica: " maybe the girls, though the boys..."

She threw her look around the adult males and Hiro and Kazu merely laughed sheepishly. Gouda froze as a rock.

Jessica: " hora?"

Sendou: " hold on, don't apply it on all of us! I was the one who was preparing Kiyoka's bentos when she was in elementary."

Asuka: " ho! I didn't know that!"

Gouda: " seems like you're a really nice brother after all."

Sendou's cheeks and ears went all red.

Sendou: " S-Shut up!"

Jessica turned on to the black haired male by her side.

Jessica: " Yuuya?"

Yuuya: " I'm still actually learning, but yeah, I can cook."

Jessica: " Ban? Jin?"

Ban: " well, back in A Nation Elie was the one taking care of cooking, but I would sometimes help her out or do it myself when she is busy."

Elie: " his meals are pretty delicious to be honest."

Yuuya: " Jin is good as well he was the one who taught me."

The other man tried his best to ignore the curious glances he was getting.

Touka: " seems we mostly have reliable boys."

Jessica: " I bet they will make good husbands in the future."

" Jessica!"

The blonde laughed as everyone snapped out at her.

Mirai: " I wonder about Kirito though?"

Asuka: " maybe he is living of coke."

Jessica: " he wouldn't... No, it's totally possible."

She quickly correct herself with a sweat drop when she thought it was a high prospect. Sendou took out a card just at that moment.

Sendou: " Justice, Upright. Truth."

Silence lingered over the room from a moment.

" Seriously!"

Mirai: " I will have to ask him later."

Hiro almost froze upon hearing her cold tone. Something told him that if it was true, Kirito would be in for a rough rebuking.

Gouda: " if it's true I will believe in your tarot cards, Sendou!"

Sendou took another card.

Sendou: " huh, someone with your small brain won't ever believe in them."

Gouda: " what did you say? Are you trying to start a fight?!"

Sendou: " I'm insisting!"

Their heads clashed and everyone started laughing at that.

Jessica: " it's been a while since we've enjoyed a peaceful time like this."

She had a soft smile on her face.

Gendo: " you call this peaceful?"

He doubted.

Ban: " now mentioning it, you're right. We were running around the world for so long, fighting Leviathan."

Elie: " we should be thankful for the little time of peace we were given?"

Runa: " as you mentioned it, why Leviathan didn't make a move?"

Saurus: " probably focusing on creating the D Manipulator."

Jin: " not to mention that he should know where the driver is by now. He may be intriguing for something for Artemis."

Sendou: " so he is basically waiting."

Gouda: " you don't see me complaining about it. At least we don't have to worry about attacks and have more time to prepare for Artemis."

Asuka: " right!"

She shoved the last rice ball in her mouth and turned to Gouda and Sendou.

Asuka: " let's go! More training!"

Sendou: " are you that excited to be beaten up?"

Asuka: " hehe! In your dreams! I will be the winner this time as well!"

Gouda: " oi! I feel all forgotten here! Don't push me out the picture!"

Hakai-O: " I would advise you to stop third wheeling though."

And they agitatedly walked to the Diorama.

Arata: " Muraku, let's go too."

The other boy nodded.

Yuuya: " we should go back to training as well."

Hiro, Ruri and Ken agreed as they followed after the black haired male.

Evangeline : " I must get back to checking on everyone's LBX in action as well."

Mirai: " Jessica. Ran and I will take care of the rest in the kitchen. You can use some training as well."

Jessica: " thank you, I owe you one. So let's start, Touko."

The woman nodded enthusiastically as they took a diorama as well.

Ban: " everyone are really excited."

Elie: " you should not lose to them."

Zenon: " Elie's right. Let's go as well."

And so Ban and Jin picked a Diorama...

Night...

Ban: " man! It's been a while since I had so much fun like today!"

He said stretching his arms up before reclining on the fences of the balcony and looking up at the sky.

Ban: " I wish the peaceful days won't ever end."

" I'm afraid it would be a long way before that wish comes true."

He looked over his shoulder at the black and white haired man who caught up with him on the balcony, holding a cup of coffee in one hand and a can of orange juice on the other. He had a smile at the brunette as he approached him, holding up the can of juice.

Jin: " thought you may need a refreshment after all those battles."

Ban: " thank you, Jin!"

He accepted the juice thankfully and opened it, but as he took one sip he couldn't fight the urge to ask the other male.

Ban: " though black coffee, at night time? You won't be able to sleep that way, Jin."

Jin: " ah, it's alright. I still have to get some work done with Zenon after all."

He stated offhandedly while slowly drinking his coffee. The said LBX flew next to him.

Zenon: " you know, I have the impression you won't stop until you turn me into a perfect creation, Jin."

Jin: " I just want to be ready for whatever that Leviathan may have prepared for us."

He shrugged.

Odin: " you have a point."

Ban merely closed his eyes and his smile widened at that before he looked at Jin's red eyes.

Ban: " we had been busy for a long time so I couldn't say it. I'm really glad you're back to your old self, Jin."

Jin blinked twice at that, he didn't expect that to come out all of a sudden. Nevertheless, he merely smiled at his friend.

Jin: " well, I have everyone to thank, especially Elie."

His eyes looked at Ban with a confident gaze.

Ban: " oh, you have a good look now. I suddenly want to battle you."

Jin: " eh!"

Jin was taken aback not to say the least.

Ban: " to think about it I still didn't have the chance to battle against you since our match on the river's bank. Shall we go on for one last round against each other today?"

Jin blinked twice at that and rose an eyebrow.

Ban: " don't worry, I won't try to harm you this time..."

He said with a nervous laugh, Jin eventually sighed and gave the other man a meaningful smile.

Jin: " alright then."

Odin: " yosh!"

Zenon: " I was actually waiting for this!"

" Then can we oversee this battle?"

A familiar feminine voice interjected as the owner made her way to them.

Jin and Ban snapped their heads backward to see Elie along with Eva, Lilyan and Hiro.

Lilyan: " Elie-san had always said that your battles are really interesting..."

Evangeline : " so we wanted to witness one with our own eyes."

Hiro: " I want to see it as well, a serious battle between you both! Ban-san! Jin-san!"

He said with exotic sparkling eyes. Ban and Jin looked at each other, each with a small smile, as they knew they couldn't turn them down.

The Diorama was set in a matter of a few seconds and both purple LBXs landed on it.

Ban: " Jin! I'm not holding back!"

Jin: " that's exactly what I want, Ban-kun!"

Their smiles still plastered to their faces as both LBXs made their first moves. Odin's lance aimed to thrust Zenon's torso but the latter blocked it off with his hammer. He pushed away the lance and pulled down the hammer as to hit Odin but he blocked with his shield and knocked him backwards before rushing forward to slash at him, yet Zenon was able to dodge Ban's quick thrusts.

The battle continued on and both fractions were not going back and holding down on the other, everything else in the world disappeared for them. It was only them, the diorama and their LBXs.

Elie's eyes and grin kept widening in excitement by the second for it has been so long since she witnessed their battles.

Evangeline : " Magnificent... They're pretty evenly matched."

Hiro: " Amazing! You never really get tired from watching them!"

Lilyan: " I have to agree on that. I never thought a battle can be... So much fun to watch."

Elie: " man! It's a shame they are not facing each other in Artemis! I want to see their battle on the stage!"

Beargguy interjected.

Beargguy: " you know their chances when they tag together are much higher to win."

Lilyan's eyes remained glued to their faces, their smiled didn't fade as they tried to attack each other, to dodge each other's attacks, to find opening and to build a strategy. She could see joy overflowing them every time their LBXs clashed together.

Lilyan: " it's not rivalry..."

Hiro: " eh...?"

He blinked twice as the woman muttered all of a sudden, but Lilyan didn't get her eyes of the two men.

Lilyan: " for so long, I thought Ban-kun and Jin-san acknowledged each other as rivals. But now seeing their battle closely..."

Zenon bend down beneath the lance as it aimed forward and actually used the chance to kick Odin back using his shoulder. Activating his wings' boosters, he aimed to crash him on the wall of rocks behind him but Odin managed to get off his grasp.

Lilyan: " ... It feels more deeper than rivalry..."

Elie: " you can sense it too then, Lilyan-san."

Lilyan snapped and looked at the brunette woman next to her who had a satisfied grin as their eyes met before looking back at her brother and Jin.

Elie: " you're right. It's not rivalry, it a bond."

Hiro: " a bond?"

Elie nodded and her grin widened more as the raging battle continued on.

Elie: " as friends and as LBX players, this the bond that brought Onii-chan and Jin together. This is the bond they share through playing LBX."

Eva's eyes were fixed momentously on them before smiling softly.

Evangeline : " I see, I think I understand what you mean here, Elie."

Lilyan: " bond, huh?"

She looked at Ban and his glimmering eyes before a smile was drawn on her face.

Lilyan: " LBXs are really amazing..."...

MC: " anyone here feels excited and agitated! Of course all of you are!"

It was broadcasted all around the world, on different times, in different places, through different devices, through all the world's screens.

Japan

MC : " here's what all of you were waiting for! With no more intros! The 9th LBX World Tournament, Artemis!"

A blimp that was flying above Tokio City was projecting the announcement on a hologram screen.

A black haired man was leaning on a wall and watching the blimp as it passed by.

" I will do it this time."

MC : " right! It's this time of the year! When we decide who is the strongest LBX player."

A blue haired boy around his fourteen was sitting to a chair in a dark room that was lit but the multiple screens in front of him. One of them had the announcement.

A bunny like robot approached him with a cup of coffee.

" Here you go, Dr."

The boy took it with a smirk.

" It will be interesting."

Mc: " It's already the 9th tournament! I'm sure more strong LBX players will appear this year!"

In Kamui Daimon it was already on all the screens of the lobby.

Yuno: " you think our representatives will win this year?"

Kiyoka next to her flipped a card on her CCM and spoke with a cold face.

Kiyoka: " the wheel of fate, upright, a fate that keeps changing."

Chatharin: " that doesn't say anything!"

Mc: " we're all looking forward for interesting battles!"

All the giant screens of Akihabara had the image of the pink haired MC. A black haired 10 years old boy stepped forward with a wide smile.

" Time to show the world what I can do."

A nation

MC: " I'm sure our participants won't let us down!"

The man flicked his earring with a smirk as he passed by the display window with so many TV screens.

" They better not let me down after I participated."

Another man who was sitting in his room, maintaining his LBX looked up at the screen of his TV and held up the screw as if holding up a flag.

" To the victory."

Asia

MC: " is anyone else excited to know who will be the champion of the 2056's Artemis!"

Everyone in the game center were gathered around the TV. All but those three who kept battling at the back.

" Hmph. Of course it will be us this time."

The brunette said.

" We're not giving up the title."

The female with dark purple hair spoke.

" We're stronger than before after all."

The more muscular man interjected.

Europa

MC: " I swear I can hear you all cheering from here!"

The man signed the many boards that were given to him by his fans. They were all gathering around him, literally squeezing him. How he managed to breath among them is a mystery.

" Your star won't ever disappoint you."

He said with a wink and a bright smile that the women all around started squealing.

Paris

MC : " I know what you all want! An exciting, firing battle! Right!"

The older sister brushed back her long blond hair with a confident smile as she looked down at the TV screen.

" Then you're on for a hell of a battle."

The younger sister who was making the final adjustment for her LBX merely nodded, still with a confident smirk.

Malaysia

MC: " this is a chance to prove yourselves and climb up to the top."

The young black haired woman was looking down at her CCM with a confused look. She rose up her head and stared at her reflection on the glass of her window before narrowing her eyes and pressing a button on the device.

Tunisia

MC : " as always! You can enter up to three members! You can also enter on your own and make the world notice your skills!"

The two siblings stopped their argument as they listened on to the announcement.

" We better win this, big sister."

" It's the only thing we don't argue about right, we will be fine."

Russia

MC : " what are you waiting for! If you're qualified so don't hesitate to come!"

The blond woman stood on top of the roof of her house, looking up at the sky with brillant blue eyes.

" Are you ok with not going?"

A small robot jumped up on her shoulder, but she didn't seem to care the least bit about it. The only reaction she gave was a nod.

B City

MC: " we should not forget that this year's Artemis is also sponsored by both Omega Dain and Dream Future! It's thanks to them that we can have another safe Artemis this year!"

The young male smiled as he played around with his snow white hair.

" That's right, don't forget to thank us. It's thanks to us that this world will change."

His grin grew wider.

" Thank you, future."

" Let the countdown begins! We will all see each other in a week time in Tunisia! Be there on time for 2056's Artemis!"...