It's a sunny afternoon at Alex's school, the students have been tasked with cleaning the school. They are required to do this once a month, in exchange for no classes for the day. Students, wearing their gym uniforms, are sweeping the halls, picking up trash, and cleaning windows. Alex takes her sponge and dips it in a pale of soapy water, wrings it out, and wipes down one of the outside windows, making sure to get every corner high and low. "Looks good" she says when she can see her reflection in the glass.
"Alex?" she hears a voice from beside her. She looks over to see Rina also cleaning the windows.
"Oh Rina." She replies.
"I haven't seen you since your fight with Eiji a few weeks ago." Rina tells her, "How's your crotch by the way?" her expression goes to a smug one.
"It's fine, I'm wearing stuff to control it now." Alex replies out on annoyance. Rina notices how Alex is cleaning the windows and tries to clean the windows faster. Alex notices this and goes even faster, like the two are competing.
When they finally get done, Yui and Koharu arrive to see the windows sparkling clean. "Wow! They're so pretty!" Yui says.
"You two work really well together." Koharu tells them.
"No we don't!" Alex and Rina say in unison and then glare at each other.
Yui giggles, "You two feel so much alike."
"I feel like we need to settle this!" Rina tells her getting in her face.
"I was waiting for you to say that!" Alex replies matching her. They then imagine themselves on Cray's surface preparing to fight. "Let's go!" the two of them say in unison, but the Koharu butts in between them…
"You're supposed to be cleaning the school!" she says in annoyance.
"O-Oh right…" Alex says scratching her head. "Ah! I just remembered something. I may have a way we can settle this, this weekend." She says to Rina making her raise an eyebrow. Alex then pulls a small poster out of her back pocket and unrolls it to show it to Rina. It depicts a Fiery background with several clan symbols on it.
Rina reads the name at the top of the poster, "Vanguard Quiz Tournament?" she questions.
Alex nods her head, "It's an event being held at the Dragon Empire branch this Sunday. My uncle is actually the manager there."
Rina looks at the poster for a quick moment, but then turns around to leave, "Sorry, but I'm not interested." She says.
"Ah come on, are you scared of losing to me?" Alex mocks her slightly. Rina's expression stiffens and she turns back around to face her.
"I am not scared of anything," she says, "and I know I can beat you!" she points a finger at her.
"If you're so sure you'll beat me, then come to the event and prove me wrong." Alex tells her with a smug expression.
Rina snarls and declares, "Fine! I'll be there! And you're going down!" the two glare at each other, so much so you can imagine a bolt of electricity jumping between their eyes.
"This weekend's going to be interesting…" Yui mutters.
"That's for sure…" Koharu replies.
Opening Theme – ZERO! (Devil is a Part-Timer opening)
Drive 7 – Rivalry
The weekend has come. The event at the Dragon Empire branch is beginning shortly. In a large open field, there are stages, screens, and booths lined up all over it. Toward the back is a large red dome-like structure with spike-like portions protruding out of it. Alex finishes putting on an orange vest over her shirt, removing her previous one. The vest has the number 3 written on the front and back of it. As she finishes putting it on, she hears a familiar boy's voice call out to her. "Alex!"
She turns around to see Yuto walking up to her, wearing a similar vest with the number 21. "Yuto!" she exclaims and runs up to him, "What are you doing here?" she asks.
"I'm participating, what else?" he tells her and she giggles a little.
"I guess that's one more person I have to compete against." She says with determination.
"Alex!" she hears another voice call to her, this time, and older man's voice. She looks over to see a middle-aged man with grayish-green hair wearing a dark-brown business suit and blue jeans walking up to her.
"Uncle Mamoru!" She exclaims, runs over to him, and gives him a bearhug, "It's so good to see you!"
"It's good to see you two Alex." He says rubbing the top of her head, "Wow, you've gotten big." He says, "You were still in diapers last time I saw you."
"P-Please don't talk about that with my friend right there…" she mutters referring to Yuto.
"So Branch Manager Mamoru is your uncle?" Yuto asks.
"Yep!" Alex nods.
"I'm actually really glad you came today," Mamoru tells her, "it reminds me of when your parents participated all those years ago."
"My parents took part in this?" Alex questions.
"Well, your father did at least. Your mother was just a helper." He explains, "Man how the years have gone by…"
Meanwhile, Alex hears another voice call out to her, "Alex!" She looks over one more time to see Kazuma Shouji walking up to her.
"Mr. Shouji!" She exclaims.
"How many times do I have to tell you? Call me Kazuma." He says.
"Are you participating too?" she asks.
"Nah, I'm one of the commentators. I'll be talking about everything that goes on during the event over the speakers."
"I see." Alex says. She was about to tell Kazuma about Rina, but Yuto butts in.
"Man Alex, you've really got a family of legends." He says in jealousy, "You've got Mamoru, the all-time Asia champion, your parents of TRY3, and Kazuma of Striders!"
"Well Kazuma's not really related to me…" she says.
"Alex, Yuto, you guys better finish getting ready, the event's about to start." Mamoru tells her.
"Oh right!" she exclaims.
"He's right. See ya Alex, I hope we get to compete against each other!" Yuto says and runs off.
"Later Yuto! See you guys!" She says waving back to the other two.
"Later." Kazuma waves back at her. He then looks over to see a familiar pigtailed girl in the distance, "Is that?"
"Isn't she your daughter?" Mamoru asks, seeing the same person.
"Yeah…" Kazuma mutters and walks over to meet the girl. Rina walks the grounds of the event look apprehensive. "Rina?" Kazuma says behind her back, startling her. She turns around to see face father.
"D-D-Daddy?" she mutters.
"What are you doing here? I thought you quit Vanguard." He asks her.
"I-I did…" she stutters, "it's just that… Alex invited me…" her expression then grows angry, "D-Don't get the wrong idea, I'm not here because I want to be or anything!" she yells at him all in one breath.
"Rina…" he says, "You should know you can't hide anything from me. I haven't raised you from the moment you were born and not learned a thing or two about how you act."
Rina begins to grow more and more frustrated, "J-Just shut up! Leave me alone!" she lashes out at him and runs off.
"Hey! I'm not done talking to you! Get back here right now young lady!" he yells at her, but before he could chase after her, he feels a hand on his shoulder. It's Mamoru's.
"Let her go. Just let her enjoy the event." He tells him with a smile and Kazuma clinches his fist.
About half an hour later, the event officially begins. An announcer climbs up on the stage and talks through a microphone to all the event's participants, "Welcome everyone, to Dragon Empire's second quiz tournament!" he shouts and everyone cheers, "We have done this event once in the past, but now we've made it bigger and better! Now I'm sure you're all eager to get into the competition, but first, I'd like to introduce a very special someone. Everyone, meet the Legendary… KAZUMA SHOUJI!" the announcer exclaims as Kazuma walks on stage and takes the mic from him, all while the crowd is cheering at the top of their lungs.
"Thank you all for having me here today, it's a pleasure. Now, let's explain the rules." Kazuma tells the players and the announcer gestures to the large screen behind him on the stage, "You will all be divided into eight different blocks, labeled "A" through "H", and the tournament is divided into three stages, the Speed Quiz, the Scavenger Hunt, and lastly the Obstacle Course! The top-ranking participants of each block at the end of the first two rounds will all move onto the third round to determine our Vanguard Quiz Champion!"
"Sounds simple enough." Alex mutters to herself. She looks over to see Rina amongst the crowd and smiles with determination.
"We've already separated you guys into blocks, so let's reveal the blocks, shall we?!" the announcer exclaims and gestures back to the screen. The screen changes to a chart of 8 squares labeled "A" through "H" with several participant's names inside each square.
Alex looks over the chart looking for her name, "Ah there I am! So I'm in "C" block." She looks closer and notices Rina's name in the same block. "Rina's with me too!" The two glance at each other and prepare for the tournament ahead.
A few minutes later, Alex and Rina are with the rest of C block standing behind podiums with a large screen in front of them. "Alright C block! Let's begin the Speed Quiz!" the announcer says, "For this round, I will display a card on screen without its effects, and you must be the first to hit your buzzer and tell me at least one of its effects. Keep in mind, effects like Soul Drive and Legion do not count as answers." Alex and Rina prepare themselves, "Alright here we go! First card! Dragon Undead, Skull Dragon!"
"I know this one!" Alex exclaims, but before she can even hit the button for her buzzer, Rina buzzes in first.
"During your turn, this card gains 2000 power for each card in your drop zone!" She answers with confidence.
"That is correct!" The announcer exclaims.
"Jeez she's fast, I'm gonna have to step up my game!" Alex thinks to herself.
"Alright, next card!" The announce declares as he brings up the next card, "Lily of the Valley Musketeer, Rebecca!"
Alex tries to buzz in again, but Rina gets it first, "At the end of your turn, Soul Blast 1 and retire a plant token to return this unit to your hand!"
"Correct!" the announcer exclaims again, "Third card, Blade Wing Sykes!"
Rina buzzes in first again, "When placed on the rear circle and your Vanguard is a Blade Wing, Soul Charge 1!"
"Correct!" The announce then displays the next card, "Velvet Voice, Raindear! The Soul Drive version."
Rina buzzes in again, "When your drive check reveals a grade 3, choose a rear-guard to gain 10000 power and Raindear herself gains 1 drive, and if she's driven, 1 critical as well!"
"Correct!" the announce exclaims. He continues showing cards, and every single time, Rina answers them all correctly.
Meanwhile, up on the stage, "Whoa! Looks like things are really heating up in block C! Ms. Shouji is not even giving the other players a chance!" one of the commentators says. "Isn't she your daughter, Mr. Kazuma?"
"Yep. She really knows her stuff."
At the end of the first round, the other commentator announces Rina's victory, "In C block, our winner is Rina Shouji! She answered every single question correctly!"
"Ugh! I couldn't answer a single one, and I knew most of those cards too!" Alex says in frustration while clinching her fist. "More than that, how did she know so much? She only started playing recently…" Alex turns around to look at the screen on the stage and it shows the announcer interviewing Rina.
"So tell me Rina, how were you able to answer all those questions so fast like that?" the announcer asks her then holds the microphone to her.
"It just takes a lot of research and good memorization." She says as she flips one of her pigtails.
"Well, I guess that answers that question…" Alex mutters annoyingly.
Later, the rest of Alex's group gathers for the second round. "Alright everyone! Time for the Scavenger Hunt round!" the announcer says, "Your goal is to collect 10 different cards scattered and hidden in various places on the premise. The cards you are looking for are, 1 of each trigger, including Front & Stand, a Normal unit of each grade 0 through 3, and a grade 4 G Unit. Inside the boxes on your table are clues to help you find the cards, but you can only search for one card at a time. You all have 1 hour to collect as many cards as you can. The person who collects the most cards within that timeframe is the winner! One last thing, if there are multiple cards of the same kind in one location, you may only take one of those cards, and you cannot take other player's cards. Everyone got the rules?" Everyone nods. "Alright then let's get started. Stand up…" the players take a stance, ready to run to their tables, "VANGUARD!" The announcer fires a blank pistol into the sky and everyone runs to their table to grab their first clue.
"Alright let's see." Alex says as she pulls a clue out of her box and reads it allowed, "To find the Grade 3 Dragonic Blademaster, find the recreation that over sees all daily events." She raises an eyebrow, "What the heck does that mean?" Alex looks all around the branch for what the clue could possibly mean. She ends up walking into the building and staring up at the giant statue in the middle of the lobby, and just then, a lightbulb goes off in her head. "Wait! That's it! That big Dragonic Blademaster statue! It's a recreation of the card, and it oversees everything that goes on in here!" she runs over to the statue and notices a small little drawer underneath the nameplate, "Jackpot!" she exclaims, but when she tries to open it, it finds out it's locked. She looks around and notices it takes a combination. She then looks over at the branch staff standing next to her, "Hey, do you know the combination to this?" she asks him.
"Yeah I do, but if you want it," he says and pulls a deck out of his pocket, "you'll have to fight me for it!"
"You're on!" Alex exclaims. The two fight it out until… "With 2 Critical, Korona attacks your Vanguard!" the hologram of Korona flies at the enemy Vanguard and delivers the final blow (Staff: [X][X][X][][][]). "Alright!"
"You win." He says and then tells Alex the combination for the drawer. Once she inputs it, it opens and reveals the Dragonic Blademaster card.
She takes it back to her table and puts it down. "Alright, one down. How's she doing?" She says, then looks over at Rina's table, and notices there are no cards on it. She looks around and finds Rina being swarmed by other players all trying to go for the same card.
"Come on guys enough. Just let me have the card and we'll be on our way." She tells them.
"No way! We're taking that card!" one of the boys says.
"We'll fight you for them!" another girl says.
Rina grits her teeth and says, "Find! I'll take you all on!"
"Looks like that'll keep her occupied for a while." Alex states, "Alright! Next card!" she reaches into the box and pulls out her next clue. One-by-one, she collects the various cards, and ends up collecting 8 out of the 10. "Alright! Almost done!"
At this point, Rina finally gets done taking care of the other players and delivers her first card to her table, "ugh… I wasn't expecting that at all, I have to hurry and catch up." She pants and looks over at Alex's table. "Not bad Alex, but this game isn't over yet."
At the end of the hour, the announce announces the winner of the round, "Times up everyone! Our winner in C Block is Alex Shindou! She managed to find every single one of her cards! And with that, we have the top players of each block!" he then announces the winners, "In Block A, we have Nomura Takehagi. In Block B, Kira Nazuri. In Block C, we actually have a tie between Alex Shindou and Rina Shouji, they'll both be going to the final round. In Block D, it's Yui Genjima. Block E, Akabi Sojo. Block F, Suburu Morikawa. Block G, Karuki Tomajika. and lastly in Block H, it's Yuto Hajikura. These nine players will be going to our final round, the Obstacle Course round!
After a short break, everyone gets ready for the final round. A large obstacle course stands before the nine players. "What does an obstacle course have to do with Vanguard?" Rina asks out loud.
"Beats me." Alex mutters.
"Alright everyone!" the announce declares, "This is the final round. I'm going to ask you all a single True or False question. The first person to reach the end of the course and run through the correct door will be our Quiz Tournament champion! But it won't be easy, this course is one of the most treacherous you have ever seen! There's only one rule, if you fall, you have to start back over from the beginning of the section." Everyone gets ready to run, "Alright, here we go! The question is…" everyone braces and both Alex and Rina glance at each other, in the hopes of beating the other, as the announcer gives the question, "The item obtained from riding certain Grade 3s is… an Imaginary Gift. True or False? Are you all ready? Stand up…" and everyone, including the audience shouts in unison, "VANGUARD!" as the announcer fires the blank pistol again. Everyone dashes through the first obstacle, log swings. Some lose their balance and fall off, while others jump across the logs like nobody's business.
"Whoa! Ah! Whoa AH!" Alex exclaims as she almost falls off a few times.
"Later Alex!" Yuto taunts as he bolts past her.
"You're not getting away that easily!" she says and chases after him, but notices Rina bolt past her as well.
"I'm not giving up! I have to win!" Rina mutters to herself.
"Hey Rina! Get back here!" Alex exclaims and chases after her now. Meanwhile, Kazuma watches from the commentator table with a smile.
Those who make it past the logs move onto the next obstacle, the mud lake. "By the way, this isn't ordinary mud. It's super gooey and extra thick!" the announcer explains as some people fall into the mud.
"AH!" Yuto exclaims as he loses his footing and falls into the mud. "You have got to be kidding me." He says.
Yui does the same and falls in as well. "Ah come on! It's in my hair too!" she complains.
"Remember everyone, if you want help getting out of the mud, we'll help you, but you must take off your vest and forfeit the competition.
Rina takes her turn and leaps across the rocks to reach the end of the lake, "Alright! I can make it!" she says in her mind as she makes her way over, however…
"LOOK OUT!" a voice shouts from her side. She looks over to see Subaru flying straight for her, "I CAN'T STOP WATCH OUT!" he exclaims, but Rina notices him too late and has no time to react. The two collide and fall into the mud together.
"OH! That had to hurt!" the commentator exclaims and Kazuma stands up from his chair in a panic.
Rina pops her head out from the mud and notices Alex run past her, "Bye Rina!" she says.
"Alex! Get back here!" she screams, but when she tries to move, the mud keeps her in place.
"HELP! I'm stuck and I can't get out!" Subaru pleads, "I forfeit, just get me out of here!"
"Hey lady, if you've given up too, we'll help you get out." A staff member calls out to Rina.
Rina grits her teeth and exclaims, "No way! I'm not giving up!" she says and struggles to move out of the mud. She makes it to the end of the lake and climbs out.
"NO WAY! RINA'S STILL GOING!" the commentator shouts, "SHE IS GOING ALL THE WAY!"
With that, only a few people make it to the last obstacle. The rock-climbing wall. "The answer to the question is at the top, and it looks like a few players have already starting climbing!" the commentator says. As Alex gets strapped into her harness to climb, she looks up at the two people ahead of her. She then starts climbing the wall. She makes it half way up the wall and the two people ahead of her slip and fall, allowing her to take the lead. Rina makes it to the wall at the same time and gets strapped in as well, and then immediately starts climbing as fast as she possibly can. "Rina is pushing forward! Let's just hope the mud on her shoes to make things more slippery for her!"
She finally catches up to Alex, "I'm not letting you win!" she says to her.
"I will admit, you're pretty good." Alex tells her with a smile, "But uh… you do realize that since you're wearing a skirt, people can see your panties?" Alex refers to the plain white panties Rina wears under her skirt.
"I know, but I don't care!" she tells her, "I'm not giving up!" Rina climbs further ahead and Alex smiles at her determination.
"Well neither am I!" she says and climbs more. At this point, Alex and Rina are the only ones on the wall. The two of them reach the top, but as Rina puts her hand on the ledge, she loses her footing on the steps and begins to fall off the wall. At this point, everything seems in slow motion for her, as the thought of not being able to finish floods her mind. But before she falls too much further, Alex reaches down and grabs her wrist. "Phew, that was close." She says, struggling to keep a grip.
"Let me go! I don't need your help!" Rina shouts in frustration at Alex.
"Oh would you just quit it with that tsundere attitude?!" Alex exclaims as she pulls her up.
Once they're both on the cliff, they sit down to catch their breath. Once Rina can muster the words, she says, "Why did you save me? You could have easily gotten the win right there."
"I… wasn't about to take a win due to your slip up." She tells her, "It wouldn't have been a win for me in that case."
"What do you mean?"
"In my book, it's not a genuine win unless I win by skill, and skill alone."
"I… I see…" Rina mutters, "I really don't get you sometimes Alex." She then starts to giggle and smile a little, "But I guess that makes you who you are." She gives Alex a kind and genuine smile and the two laugh at each other's antics. When they finally settle down, Rina stands up on her feet and says and makes a dash for the door. "Even so, I'm going to win this!" she says.
"Oh no you're not!" Alex hops up on her feet and chases after her. In front of them are two paper doors, one with a blue circle, the other with a red X.
"This is it! A race to reach the correct door! Who will win?! Will it be Alex or Rina! We're about to find out!" the commentator exclaims as the two girls run for the correct door.
"I will win! I WILL!" that thought runs through Rina's mind over and over as the two reach out their hands for the door until they both crash through it at the same time and fall into a ball pit.
"It looks like they reached it at the same time! Let's go to the photo finish!" the commentator say and displays the several freeze frames of the girls' hands extending for the door. It zooms in and they make a shocking discovery, "RINA TOUCHED THE DOOR HALF A SECOND SOONER! RINA SHOUJI IS OUR WINNER!" he exclaims and the crowd cheers.
"I… won…? I actually won?!" Rina says, not able to believe what she just heard.
"AH DANG IT! I was so close!" Alex yells in frustration. "Ugh… well played Rina. Looks like you beat me again."
"Th-Thanks Alex…" Rina thanks her, "but honestly, you're the real winner here." Alex looks puzzled, "if you hadn't saved me, you'd be the winner, not me. After all, you said it yourself, it's not a genuine win unless you win by skill, and skill alone, and I only won because you saved me."
"I-I see…" Alex mutters.
"So therefore, you're the real winner." Rina says. Alex thinks for a second but then puts on her typical cheerful smile for Rina.
Later at sunset, Rina walks out of a tent rubbing a towel through her hair. "Feeling better?" Alex asks her with Yui by her side.
"Yeah, now that I got all that mud off me." Rina says with a smile on her face.
"Rina!" Kazuma calls out to her.
"I know what you want dad… but I already told you, I'm not interested in the game." She tells him.
"That's not what I was going to say." He says and she looks back up at him.
"I'm really proud of you for winning today. It shows me you really are interested in the game. He says and her cheeks turn beet red.
"I… Alright fine, I may be interested in the game, but don't think for a second that I'm going to become a legend like you!" Rina tells him.
"Huh?"
"I just want to have fun playing the game. I'm not interested in tournaments or legendary status. I just want to play the game."
"Who said I wanted you to become a legend?" he tells her and she looks back up at him.
"But… you said…" but before Rina could finish, Kazuma puts a hand on her shoulder.
"All I want you to do is have fun playing the game. It doesn't matter if you win or lose. It's all about having fun. If you can't have fun, you'll never be happy." He tells her, "but your decisions are yours. And being your father, I will support you in whatever decision you make."
"Daddy…" Rina mutters and a smile comes over her face, "Alright! Then I'll enjoy Vanguard to its fullest!" she says in her cheery voice.
Kazuma smiles and says, "That's my little girl." And the two give each other a big hug. When they break away, Kazuma looks over at Alex and Yui, "and plus, you also have some good friends to enjoy it with."
"Rina, you may have given me the win today, but that just makes us even." Alex tells her, "We have one win and one loss each."
Rina smirks and says, "then I guess we'll have to settle it sometime."
"Yeah!" Alex nods and holds up to Rina. Rina hesitates for a moment, and the two slap their hands together, acknowledging each other as rivals, and as friends.
Ending Theme – Itsuka Sekai ga Kawaru made (Kishuku Gakkou no Juliet ED)
[Next Time]
Alex: I accept a quest from an unknown sender. When I meet up with the man, I feel like I recognize him from somewhere, but I just can't remember. Wait what?! He's a Vanguard champion?! Next time on Vanguard X, "Pro Fighter, Yusuke Katsunori!" Don't miss it!
Alex and Rina's Card Corner
Alex: Hello everyone! It's that time again! Sorry this chapter took so long to get out.
Rina: The writer had a lot of stuff going on, but now he's finally starting get it all together.
Alex: So let's look at today's featured card! It's one of my key cards, Steam Hunter Feena!
Grade 1 / Boost / 7000 Power / 5000 Shield / Gear Chronicle / Gearoid
Rina: When she's placed on the rear-circle, she gains 5000 power for the turn.
Alex: She also has another effect that lets you bind her during either player's Ride Phase while your vanguard is grade 3 or higher to call her upgraded version, High Steam Hunter Feena from your hand, deck, or bind zone!
Rina: And High Steam Hunter Feena has the same effect to call normal Feena.
Alex: So what do you think? You like this card?
Rina: With this, you can also…
Alex & Rina: Stand up Vanguard!
Alex: Oh! One last thing, the writer also had a Discord server where we can chat about the fanfiction. Feel free to join using the link below. Just paste it into your address bar after the "http/" part and without spaces. We look forward to seeing you there!
discord . gg / BQfguu8