It's been a few days since Relon dueled alongside Nile against Gaven's cronies. Not much has happened since then. No emails about when school would resume, no sight of said cronies let alone his new friend, no nothing. Hell, he hasn't even seen Eina since then. It wasn't something that exactly bothered Relon but it allowed him to realize that aside from Anna, not very many wanted to duel him. For both his ranking and the revelation of him holding back.
Relon couldn't exactly blame people for feeling that way, but it left little to do aside from spend time in the dorm, study, review his deck, and relax with Anna. Though he wasn't complaining entirely. At least he wasn't alone. He had his best friend after all. Not to mention his deck. The downside being his deck can't exactly communicate with him like Anna can through speech or Nile through clairvoyance. So here he was, spending another day in the living room looking over his Gladiator Beasts.
Hmm… I'd love to run all of them but then I wouldn't have as much utility as I would offensive power. Without things like draw power or my Test cards such as Panther and Tiger, Gladiator Beasts fall off too quickly. What about…
"Hey, Relon." The voice of Anna calls walking into the room, his thoughts momentarily distracted by said girl plopping on the couch directly behind him as she proceeds to use his head as a footrest.
"Yeah?" He asks, returning to his thoughts, taking a sip of his tea, not at all bothered by the slight weight atop his head.
"Wanna go out?" Catching the near spit take, he releases a few coughs beating his chest to look at his best friend in bewilderment. "I haven't been to the duel circuit lately so I was wondering if you wanted to come with me." She explains lifting her feet to peer over his shoulder. "It would be better than staying inside and examining your deck."
"You're not wrong there…" He muses, easing himself to lean back into the gap between her legs looking up at Anna. "Have you studied enough though? School could start back up at any point and you mentioned your teacher giving a test the day we go back."
"I've studied plenty. Come on!" She rocks his shoulders back and forth, Relon humming in thought. "Reloooooooooon, cooooooooooome oooooooooon!" She groans like a child to his amusement until his upper half is lifted and tossed onto the couch.
"Huh?" He blinks to take sight of Anna now straddling him smirking mischievously. "W-whoa there, Anna!"
"I'm gonna make you say yes one way or another, Relon Lucinance!"
"Anna, I'll fight back!" He raises his hands defensively.
"... Good." She grins, attacking the protagonist.
With that declaration, one of the most intense tickle fights commenced. The two tossing and turning all over their dorm knocking numerous furniture down. One tackling the other to the ground became a wrestling match. Relon sitting on Anna's back reeling her foot back to tickle it became Anna atop the boy in a cowgirl position assaulting his sides. Hoots and hollers with plenty of tears could be heard through the floors and walls. As if they've just finished a hot session, Anna lays atop Relon. Both exhausted from their most intense match yet.
"Anna… don't take this the wrong way…" He breathes out.
"Go for it…"
"Not that I mind… but your boobs…" He coughs out a chuckle.
"Ugh… you're used to them… Haha…"
"I can't feel my legs…" He wheezes out.
"Yet you comment… on feeling my boobs… Haha, funny priorities." She chuckles.
"If we don't get up… we'll miss out… on the duels, aha…" Relon protests.
"Mmm, hehehe, haha!" Anna bursts into laughter, with every giggle, Relon can only take in the nice sensation against his chest.
"Annaaaaaaa!" He cries out, unable to hide the smile.
"Problem…"
"... Not you too." He groans for their eyes to meet, Relon smiling nervously.
"I can't feel my legs!" The girl burying her face in his chest as her dam of laughter bursts.
"Argh…! Damn it, Anna…!" He breathes out glancing to the couch to pull the blanket down over them.
"Haha, than- haha you, haha…" She replies before closing her mouth stifling her laughter.
"Ugh, another tie…" He chuckles.
"I… am fine with that." She plops her entire weight atop him, not a damn given as she nuzzles herself, Relon's hand massaging her head.
After about an hour or so, both departed. Their residual laughter eventually dying out all together.
"Going for the back of my leg, that was a cheap shot." Relon says scratching said spot from the slight irritation.
"Coming from the jerk who lifted my shirt to tickle my waist! That was a cheap shot." She puckers her cheek out while crossing her arms looking away.
"Mom and dad raised me to be the greatest tickler and rule number one; go for skin." He smirks. "Besides, you did the same to me!"
Returning to eye her childhood friend, an idea forms as does a grin.
"Since you wouldn't let me bring my cannon with me…"
"Huh? Oof!" Feeling her full weight attach with her legs wrapping around his waist, Relon quickly reacts in time to hold the girl by her nice felt thighs.
"You have to give me a piggyback ride." She hums with a victorious smirk.
"You-" Sighing, he accepts her decree. "Fine."
"Alright!" She rocks for him to steady his balance. "Full Steam Ahead!"
"W-Whoa, Anna!"
Jeez, let's just hope I don't run out of steam before we get there…
"Made it!" The voice of Anna cheers running ahead of Relon, said boy holding a stoic demeanor though his legs tremble greatly.
Barely made it. He wearily thinks. Good job legs. We won for now…
"Relon, hurry up!" She hollers, the boy carefully walking after her.
"Coming. Coming."
Looking ahead, he takes sight of what every duelist near and far yearns to see. A massive dome-like stadium with people flooding inside. A digital screen circling the entire structure reading 'Fusion Circuit.' Large tubes connecting to other nearby stadiums with people flowing through both ends.
"The dueling circuit…" He mutters, he and Anna showing their student IDs before they're allowed through.
Walking closer, he sees the familiar entrances all around the architecture.
"Concession lines are as long as ever." Anna notes.
"That's what it's like to be in a city that houses one of the most popular sporting locations on Earth."
Uni City. One of the largest cities in Japan and one of the most popular in the world. Home to the world-famous dueling circuit, Kaiba Corporation, Uni Academy, and numerous other renowned companies, businesses, and schools, it has thrived for decades due to its economical profits off of the once children's card game.
"Good thing we ate." Anna grins, both climbing up the Everest-like staircases.
Reaching the top, the sun shines upon their eyes. Both students lay witness to the entire stadium erupting in roots and hollers from different sections. Gazing down, his eyes go to the numerous duel fields littered with duelists.
"Hey, look." Anna points, Relon looking up to the jumbotron showing the rankings of said duelists, one ranking reading a few question marks. "Someone new is dueling."
Booming since its creation, many duelists have thrived off of the sponsorships gained through the duel circuit. With such popularity, it quickly shifted from a daytime event to a 24-7 active event. But with the rise in the city's population also came a rise in crime. During the day, a majority of the duels were watched and occurred, but at night fewer happened but crime activity increased both around the circuit as well as within the city itself.
With such a boom in popularity came rankings. A simple way that started out as knowing where what individual or team stood amongst the rest. Such a simple thing became a means of representation not just for that team or individual but it became a means of supporting the lives of many as the pay for such high placements could give one the life of luxury. In the dueling circuit, one's first duel was always the most crucial as it was the only way to skip the rankings by a large margin.
How? The ranking system between two duelists already ranked followed a mathematical formula for increasing and decreasing their rankings. For two newcomers, this system was followed as well. Though for one who already had a ranking and for another who didn't, the rules changed. The newcomer would take their opponent's rank and said loser would drop hard. The only ones who weren't affected as much were those who were already placed near the bottom.
Finding random spots with no on around, both seat themselves as they reach under said seats to pull and flip out a smart screen.
"Glad they thought ahead for those that could barely see and hear the duels, huh?" Anna mentions to receive a nod in response.
Scrolling the current duels, Relon's finger stops on one. Two males, their life points below 1000 with only one's field full. The monitor tells it's the one at the disadvantage's turn. Drawing their card, they reveal it to be polymerization fusing the remaining two cards in their hand. Onto their field comes a giant green kangaroo-mixed koala with 4200 attack points.
"That's a big boy!" Anna notes looking over at his screen as said summoner attacks their opponent's monster winning the duel.
"Yeah but he simply got a good draw. Looking throughout the duel, neither really did anything impressive or noteworthy fusion-wise."
"Hmm, at least he ranked up nicely for his first win." Both look at the jumbotron to see the once question marks next to the duelist become the number of his opponents and said opponents dropping him from gold all the way to bronze level.
Ignoring the commentator, Relon could see the genuine rage and disappointment on the loser's visage. He remembers losing numerous duels himself because someone got a lucky draw. The vehement emotion he knew all too well. Watching the field seep into the ground for a new one to appear, Relon had to hand it to the cleaner workers below; they cleaned up good and fast. Skimming through the other duels, he takes note of Anna doing the same.
"You don't have to stay here with me, you could go to the Xyz circuit. I don't mind coming with."
"Nah, I dragged you along not to mention you carried me all the way here." She says propping her legs on the other seats to her left as she uses Relon's shoulder to rest her head. "That would just be selfish of me."
And pinning me to my own bed before proceeding to tickle the hell out of me isn't? Relon muses to himself with a mental chuckle.
"Thanks, Anna."
"No need to thank me."
Oh yeah. You've always said that, haven't you?
"You don't ever have to thank me, Relon. What I'm doing, I do it because I want to." The voice of Anna from the past says within the confines of his mind, a sorrowful demeanor making its way to Relon's face as he rests his own head atop hers.
"Betcha wish you were the one down there, huh?" Anna wonders none the wiser of their reflecting visages.
"Yeah." His tone betraying his saddened expression. "You know it…"
After spending their morning and afternoon holed up in the circuit, both finally depart.
"Maaaaaan, that last duel actually had me on the edge of my seat!" Anna exclaims, Relon walking at her side. "To think the girl could fusion summon from the graveyard! All the fusion summoning up until the end was just a big setup! Man! The look on the guy's face was priceless! Isn't your Gladiator Beast United card like that?"
"Kinda. During the Battle Phase, I can shuffle into the deck from my hand, field, or graveyard, the fusion materials that are listed on a 'Gladiator Beast' fusion monster, then special summon that fusion monster from my extra deck, ignoring its summoning conditions. The only difference is that duelist's fusion card can be used in the graveyard whereas mine I can only use it during the battle phase."
"Gladiator Beasts don't need polymerization like most fusion decks and even better, they return to the deck instead of going to the graveyard."
"If they didn't then United would be better but the only easy ways of using those in my graveyard are either through link and tribute summoning or my monsters are destroyed."
"If you ever get sponsored, you could get a card that can be activated from the graveyard or hey, get an effect that returns it to your main deck and activates from there!" She gleams in excitement at the idea. Oh my gosh! What about my trains?! I could get a card that-"
"Easy there, Anna." Relon says calmly. "Your circuits are already beginning to heat up with excitement." He gives a soft chuckle for the girl to pout. "I'd love to be sponsored just like anyone. Dueling everyday as a job and not just for fun, getting paid, living a possible life of leisure; all of it sounds like the dream for any duelist." He says, the girl nodding in agreement.
"Hopefully, a sponsor will take note of us since we're in the top 10 like some of the other students." She adds.
"Even if we get sponsored, there's pros and cons to being sponsored as an individual or together as a team."
"Yeah. If we can't perform up to the best of our skills and abilities, then no sponsor. Even if we get signed, should we end up with a bad team, there goes any chances we have at success let alone winning.'
"Exactly." Relon agrees. "If we go in as individuals, we only have to worry about ourselves but we need to duel a lot, let alone win a lot, to keep up with the others in the higher brackets."
"Lucky us that individual rankings and team rankings aren't mixed." Anna says.
"It's easy to form a team but forming one that's actually good is the key."
"Welp, good thing the two of us are already plenty good." She smiles, hands at her hip in triumph. "Once we get sponsors, we'll be climbing the ladders in no time!"
"Easy there, Ms. Locomotive." He gives a light chop on her head. "Some students at Uni Academy have gotten sponsors either out of luck or through connections. Not to mention, the higher we go, the more likely it becomes. I'm at eight and you're nine in terms of rankings. We'll need to beat the others ahead of us if we hope to get sponsors that will be open to the team idea."
"All the sponsors we've gotten have only wanted us as individuals. Hmpf, like I'll do that." She crosses her arms, Relon remembering the time she almost shot her cannon at one who was very insistent on wanting her as an individual representative.
Back when the circuit started, anyone could join but due to the sheer number as a main issue along with scheduling and other things, being sponsored became a requirement. It also went with the circuit's cause for its infinite hours open to the public.
"Hey, Relon?" Disregarding the memory, he looks to Anna, he meets her once lifeful eye now softened towards him. "You okay?" Her tone matching with equal care.
"Yea-" Cutting himself off from telling an unconscious lie, he looks at his childhood friend before sighing to himself. "Somewhat." He gives a small smile raising his bandaged arm to reveal it slightly trembling. "I'm guessing you noticed. That's why you leaned on my right side." His tone equally soft.
"That and you're always nice to rest on." She jokes lightheartedly.
"Thanks Anna."
"Like I've said time and time again; you don't ever have to thank me, Relon. What I'm doing, I do it because I want to. You're my best friend after all."
Widening at the familiar words, he averts his gaze. Feeling a hand take itself in his bandaged one, he looks back to Anna in front of him. Her cheerful smile once again plastered on her face to shift to a grin.
"... Heh, you always know how to lift my spirits." He finally eases the tension in his shoulders he's been unconsciously holding in.
"What kind of bestie would I be if I didn't. Come on, let's head home." She gives a jovial laugh dragging the boy by his bandaged hand.
Home? He thinks looking in another direction. But the Academy is back that way. Unless…
Stopping along the sidewalk a good distance away, he blinks at the back of the girl.
"It's been a while since we last stopped by your place so I figured it's about time we did." She speaks up. "I'm sure it would do you all some good." She looks over her shoulders at Relon blinking in surprise.
"... What would I do without you, Anna?"
"Who knows? Good thing you got me, hehe. Come on, times a wastin'!"
Anna… Seriously, you're…
In the neighborhood he recalls fondly, both continue along. The evening sunlight laying its shimmering glow on the structures.
"How long has it been since we last went home?" He wonders aloud.
"Hmm, a month? Maybe a little more? School had us swamped for a while."
"Yeah." A low nod comes for Relon to halt followed by Anna.
"Relon?" Turning to where his eyes are focused on, she looks up to the stairs with red gates leading up the forest.
"We've never been to the shrine, have we?" He looks to Anna.
"Now that you mention it, we haven't. Want to?"
"If you don't mind." The uplifting of her lips graces her feature
"Not at all."
A few minutes of climbing and Relon followed by Anna reaches the spacious prayer grounds. His eyes going slightly big at the sight of the individual sweeping a little ways away. Their attire consisting of the normal shrine maiden
"Eina?"
Turning around at the call of her name, the shrine maiden widens equally to Relon's.
"Relon?" She asks in surprise to hurry over.
"You know her?" Anna wonders for Relon to nod.
"Yeah. She's one of the students that were there when I dueled Gaven. It was her card that dealt the last blow."
"N-No, my c-card didn't do a-anything!" She disregards in a frantic wave of her hands. "Your dueling skills were what won the duel. Not my card. I really cannot thank you enough she bows.
With every bow, Anna's eyes glaze over her chest flopping slightly with every lift. The smallest of irritable twitches occurring across her eye.
"She has bigger boobs than me." She mutters under her breath with a click of her tongue.
"Huh? You say something, Anna?"
"Hmpf! Nothing at all." She dismisses averting her head.
"Wait, Anna! Hey, Eina, you don't have to bow." He waves his own hands looking between the two. "I just did what anyone else would do. If anything, I should apologize for the way I dueled. I didn't exactly stand in the light people once saw me in." He gives a curt bow. "As well as the other day. That was rude of me." His words drawing Anna back in."
"N-No! It's thanks to you that so many could smile again! I-Including me…" Her grip on the broom tightening.
"If you say so." Relon gives a weary smile placing a hand at his hip.
"Oh, R-e-l-o-n~."
"Hm? Erk!" He immediately takes a step away from Anna, a vile aura around her as she cracks her knuckles.
"What exactly was rude of you~?" She smiles, the amount of malice making beads of sweat begin to form quickly.
"A-A-Anna, it's not what you think! I swear!"
Five minutes later
"Ahhh!" Anna gasps finishing a long sip, almost chug, of green tea, the three now situated within Eina's home in the living room. "So that's what you two meant."
"Yeah. That's all." Relon sighs, his heart finally slowing down to his relief for a giggle to sound.
"You two seem quite close. Those rumors wouldn't happen to be true, would they?"
"Heck no." Both deadpan to the amber-eyed girl's mild surprise at their symmetry.
"Eina, this Anna Kaboom. My childhood and best friend."
"Don't wear it out." Anna grins with that cocky grin of hers.
"That explains the closeness you two share." She notes aloud, raising a finger to her chin.
"Yup. We're two peas in a pod." Anna nods.
"It must be nice." Eina smiles. "Having someone to lean on." Relon mentally furrowing his brows.
"How have things been for you, Eina?"
"Me? What do you mean?"
"Everything really. How are you doing? What will you do with your mother's card as well as your deck? All that?" He shrugs to get a pull at his ear.
"Stop sounding like you're interrogating her!" Anna scolds.
"Ow, ow, ow! My bad! I give! I give!" He whines for Eina to give out light fit of laughter.
"It's alright, Anna. I can tell Relon is a genuine person." Eina speaks up gaining their attention. "Correct me if I am wrong to assume but in regards to your duel with Gaven… you dueled really upset. You normally don't duel like that, right?" Widening her eyes slightly, Anna looks to Relon.
She had heard the rumors of their duel but not something as specific as the way he dueled against Gaven. Hearing a shift in his usual dueling style was news to the red and orange-haired young woman.
"Yeah. Honestly, it was hard not to lose my cool. Between his condescending attitude, our classmates not shutting up, and seeing you emotional over the whole thing, I was just irked you could say. Not saying it's your fault I mean. Just everything surrounding the duel fueled my mood towards Gaven. And personally, I don't like being in the spotlight you could say…"
"Yes, I understand. But again, I must thank you." Reaching into her robe, she reveals a single card. "I am forever grateful. No matter what you may say, It's because of you I once again have my mother's card."
"Eina…"
"Just take her thanks and move on." Anna chides slapping his back lightly.
"Alright! Alright! I'm happy I could help, Eina."
"And to answer your questions from earlier, I am fine. My mom is still at work and won't be back for some time and dad is out shopping."
Phew. Relon mentally sighs in relief. With how distraught she seemed, I was thinking the worse for her mom. I'm glad that's not the case.
"What does your mom do?" Anna asks.
"She's a part of the military. She's been deployed for a while now. We always get letters from her every other day though."
"I'm glad." The gentle voice of Relon speaks, both looking to him with different expression; Anna with worry and Eina with curiosity. "Hearing your mom is safe puts my mind at ease in a way. I won't lie, I was kinda worried." He chuckles bashfully.
"O-Oh, forgive me for how I came across!"
"It's fine, Eina. Calm down." He reassures, Anna looking on silently at him before refocusing on the girl.
"O-Okay… The last time I saw her I was only little. She gave me this card the day she left dad and I. As for what I will do, I… don't know." She gives a wry smile. "I'm not a good duelist. I only got into Uni Academy because of my good grades. I always freeze up in duels and-"
"So what?" Relon interjects with a stoic demeanor. "So what if you're bad? Do you enjoy dueling?"
"W-Well, yes, but-"
"And do you want to do good with your deck?"
"... Yes."
"Then there you go." He smiles. "Keep at it and you'll get better."
"Do you… really think so?" Her amber eyes slightly wavering as they lock onto his own.
"Believe me. Anna here has beaten me more times than I can count and it's because of constantly dueling her and others as well as reviewing my deck for what I could do better. I don't think, I know you can. Right, Anna."
"Yup. I mean, you're holding my rank for me until I feel like taking it so you best be ready for that."
"Yeah right." He rolls his eyes at the grinning girl.
Widening her eyes at the two before her, as though a veil has been lifted off of her, Eina's eyes glimmer in awe.
These two… Relon's conviction and Anna's confidence… They're both so good yet… Lowering her head, Eina's face is covered by her bangs. They're so strong. Not just in their dueling skills, but as individuals. I… want to be like that.
"Um!" She lifts to stop at the two looking curiously at her causing Eina to settle back down on her cushion awkwardly. "I-I-If it isn't too m-m-much trouble…"
"Hm?" Both hum with a tilt of their heads.
"C-C-Could I m-maybe… join you t-t-two… sometimes…?"
"Yeah/Yup!" They answer without a beat of hesitation.
"W-Wait, really?!"
"Yeah! Relon here is always looking for 'optimal' routes in both his deck and mine so he can help you not to mention you have me." She stands placing hands at her hips striking her triumphant pose.
"And what exactly do you bring, Anna?" Relon muses with a sly grin, the girl opening her eyes for her cheeks to flush with embarrassment.
"A LOT, THANK YOU!"
"Hahaha, I know, I know." He says waving her off for a tic mark to form as she pounces to Relon's horror as he rolls out of the way.
"You wanna keep acting like a smartass, huh? I'll show you!"
"Anna, we're in someone's house! Show some manners!"
"It's fine! Our new friend doesn't mind if we move this outside! Better yet, how about I move you myself?!"
"Then do it with simple words and not actions!" He sweatdrops avoiding her hands nearly grab his legs as he hides behind Eina. "Eina, I apologize in advance for this stubborn train!" He quickly says before the two begin running around the room like cartoon characters.
"Get back here! You're lucky I don't have my cannon!"
"You're just mad cause I'm speaking the truth!"
"Grrrrr! Just you wait till I get my hands on you, Relon Lucinance!"
Bursting through the door outside before sliding to a halt facing the other, Eina hurries outside blinking at the two rambunctious teens slightly panting.
"Eina!" Both call looking at the girl in question before extending their hands. "Help me out!"
"Huh?!"
"It's normal for friends to help each other, isn't it?" Relon inquires for the girl to widen, a warm sensation stirring in her chest.
"Eina, help a gal out would you?"
"No way, you're always picking on me! I deserve some help for once!"
"Yeah right! You're a man, aren't you? Act like it!"
"Friends…" Eina murmurs, her lips curving upwards at their corners.
"When mommy returns, I want to meet all of your friends, okay Eina?"
"But… I don't know how to…"
"Don't worry. Be yourself and they'll come to you. Trust mommy. Because those friends are the ones you'll want to cherish the most."
"... Okay. I will!"
"Haha…" Skidding to a halt, both comedically turn to Eina, the young woman stifling a fit of laughter before the dam finally breaks. "Hahahaha!"
Blinking at the girl having a current outburst, both look to the other. A smile gracing their features as well.
It's just as you said mom.
"I've made my decision!" She beams a smile at the duo.
"Then, come on!" Both exclaim in unison.
With a strong step, she hurries into the fray. Leaning against the side of the door with crossed arms, a man stands with a satisfied demeanor.
"Looks like our daughter finally made some friends." He muses looking out the window to the orange sky, an opened letter in his hand.