An airplane soars through the clear sky before it goes into land on a runway at the airport. After the plane lands, the passengers deboard it, three of which walk together toward the security gate. "Passport?" the guard asks.
"Here." A young man with green hair says as he hands the guard his passport. The guard looks through it, checks them off, and hands it back to the man before he and his companions head for the airport entrance.
One of them, an older girl with light-blue hair, stretches her arms in the air and says, "It feels good to be back in Japan."
"It doesn't look like much has changed around here." The green-haired man says.
"So are we heading to the usual spot?" the blue-haired girl asks him and the green-haired man nods.
"You guys go on ahead, there's someplace else I need to go first." Another young man with white and blue hair tells them.
"You're worried about her, aren't you?" the girl asks him.
"Don't worry Yusuke, we'll wait for you." The man says.
"Thanks guys." The white-haired man replies as he runs off and his two companions smile at him.
Opening Theme – ZERO! (Devil is a Part-Timer opening)
Drive 8 – Pro Fighter, Yusuke Katsunori
Elsewhere, a few hours later, Alex walks down the street looking at the Quest app on her phone, "Man, how long does it take just to get to grade 2…?" she asks herself looking at the point meter on the app that's only half way full. "Welp, no need to think about it too much. As long as I keep doing quests, I'll get there eventually." As she walks down the sidewalk, she runs into a person in front of her she didn't see. "I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention." She apologizes.
"It's fine." The person says. When he turns around, it's a man with white and blue hair.
When Alex sees his face, she lights up with excitement, "Y-Y-You're Yusuke Katsunori! Of Team Exodus!"
"Ah, so you've heard of us." Yusuke tells her.
"Of course! Anyone who plays Vanguard knows who you are!" Alex says in a cheerful voice and Yusuke chuckles.
"Listen, I'd love to stick around for autographs, but I have somewhere to be." He tells her.
"Oh! Of course, sorry for keeping you." She apologizes and bows.
"It's no problem." He says as he turns to walk away. As Alex watches him walk away, he stops suddenly… and then collapses.
"Ah! Hey! Are you okay?!" Alex asks as she runs to him in a panic, but Yusuke is silent. Then suddenly, she hears a growl.
"So… hungry…" Yusuke whimpers, and Alex looks annoyed.
Later, the two of them sit on a bench outside a café as Yusuke scarfs down several rice balls and chugs down a least 6 water bottles. "Thanks for the food miss, I really appreciate it."
"You're welcome, but you really need to pay more attention to your body." Alex tells him.
"You're right." He says as he finishes his last rice ball, "My team and I just got back from overseas and I was on my way to visit someone."
"Oh really? Who?" Alex asks.
Yusuke hesitates for a moment, then says, "L-Let's just say a friend of a friend."
"Oh…" Alex mutters, "Sorry I didn't mean to be nosey."
"No worries. Anyway, I should get going before my friends start worrying about me." He tells her as he stands up, "Thanks again for the food." He says and walks off.
"Bye!" Alex says waving at him, "Good luck with your team! I'll be cheering for you!" Yusuke hears her and gives her a thumbs up without saying anything.
Later at the hospital, in a room lit only be the sunlight from the window, a young woman with light-blue and white hair sits beside the bed, which has another younger girl with similar hair. They hear a knock on the door and the older girl says, "Come in."
The door opens and Yusuke steps in, "Hey girls." He says.
"Yusuke!" she exclaims as she stands up from her chair and runs over to him before embracing him in a hug, "I'm so glad you're back."
"It's good to be back Stella." He replies to her hugging her back.
"Big-bro Yusuke?" the girl in the bed mutters weakly.
"Hey Rin…" Yusuke replies to her and pats her on the head, "How are you feeling?", but the she doesn't answer.
"Her condition's only gotten worse since you left…" Stella tells him and his face grows concerned.
"Have the doctors said anything on how we can fix it?" he asks her.
"They finished their examinations the other day," she tells him, "and they said they can perform an operation that will get her back to normal, but…"
"But what?"
"It… it's to expensive. It's going to cost us over three million Yen."
"Three million?!" Yusuke exclaims in shock, "Where the hell are we going to get that kind of money?!"
"I don't know! You're the pro fighter! Why not some of that prize money you got from your overseas tournament?!" Stella yells at him.
"They only gave us about a million yen, we still don't have enough!" Yusuke yells back.
"Both of you stop…" Rin says weakly, before starting to cough.
"Oh Rin!" Stella exclaims and tends to her, "I'm sorry… I didn't mean to yell in front of you…"
"I don't want you guys fighting for my sake…" she mutters in between coughs, "I'll be ok… stop worrying about me."
"I can't do that!" Stella says as she sakes her head and urges Rin to drink some water, "I'd never forgive myself if I let that happen to you. Let's talk about this outside Yusuke." He nods his head. After making sure Rin stops coughing, they get her comfortable and step outside the room.
"Stella, I understand you're concerned for your sister, but I just don't know if we can get enough money in time." Yusuke tells her.
"There has to be some way! There has to be!" Stella says in distress, "Can't you partake in more tournaments to get prize money?"
"Big tournaments that offer prize money are few and far between." He tells her, "I could do it, but it would take a long time. And I'm afraid we may not have much time left."
"Then what are we going to do?!" Stella complains.
Yusuke hesitates for a moment and says, "I'll think of something. I just hope something comes up before we're too late." He gives Stella a hug before waving goodbye to her and leaving the hospital.
Later at Card Capital 2, Alex looks through the quest board for a quest. "That's like your third quest today Alex." Taiyou remarks from behind the counter.
"I'm only half way to grade 2, so I'm not gonna stop until I get there!" Alex says with determination and Taiyou smiles back.
Just then, the door to the shop opens and Taiyou looks over, "Welcome." He says and is surprised by who he sees, "Yusuke!"
"Hey Taiyou." He greets him.
"Yusuke?!" Alex exclaims hearing his name, "What are you doing here?!"
"Oh, you're the girl I ran into earlier today?" Yusuke replies, "What a coincidence."
"Do you guys know each other?" Alex asks the two adults.
"Yeah, we've fought each other in the past, when I was on team Striders." Taiyou explains.
"You fought my dad?" Alex asks.
"Yeah he did." Taiyou tells her.
"Wait, your dad was on Striders?" Yusuke questions Alex and she nods. "Who was your dad?" he asks.
"It's Chrono Shindou." Taiyou answers.
"Chrono is your father?!" Yusuke exclaims in surprise scratching the back of his head, "That's a shocker."
"My name's Alex Shindou by the way." She tells him.
Yusuke smiles and extends his hand, "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." He says and Alex shakes his hand.
"So… why are you here?" Alex asks.
"I'm here to meet with my team." He says and Alex tenses up.
"About time you got here." A female voice comes from around the corner. Alex looks over her shoulder to see two familiar faces standing there, a tall young man with green hair wearing a black jacket over a red t-shirt and blue jeans, and a young lady with light blue hair wearing a black t-shirt under a green tank-top, a blue skirt, and a white ribbon in her hair.
"Sorry I'm late guys." Yusuke apologizes.
"I-I-I-It's team Exodus! Right here… in front of me…!" Alex stammers in excitement, "Saki Tagushi and Yuji Kyouto!" he names off the girl and boy respectively, "Wh-What are you guys doing here?!"
"We usually come to here to train and have fun." Yuji explains.
"We just got back from a tournament overseas, so we're just here to relax for the moment." Saki tells her, but Alex doesn't really appear to be listen and is too infatuated with the fact that Team Exodus is in the same room as her. She stares at them with an innocent gleam in her eyes.
"You guys are amazing!" she exclaims, "Ohh my fighting senses are peaking! I want to have a fight with you guys so badly!"
"Sorry… but we don't really have…" Yuji tries to say, but Yusuke barges in.
"I'll take you on." He says.
"EHHHHHH?!" Yuji and Saki exclaim hearing his declaration.
"Really?! Awesome!" Alex jumps for joy, "A fight with a member of Team Exodus! I'm so excited!"
Just then, the door to the shop opens again and another familiar voice comes through, "So this is where you were Exodus." Everyone looks over to see Kazuma standing in the doorway.
"Mr. Shouji?" Alex questions.
"Kazuma?" Yusuke questions at the same time.
"Alex, how many times do I have to tell you not to call me by my last name." Kazuma reprimands her.
"You guys know each other?" Yuji asks.
"Yeah, Mr. Shou-I mean Kazuma is my homeroom teacher at school." Alex explains.
"Anyway Exodus, shouldn't you guys be getting ready for the upcoming exhibition match?" Kazuma asks.
Yusuke appears dumbfounded, "O-Oh yeah… I completely forgot…" he says awkwardly.
"Of course you did…" Saki mutters in annoyance.
"What exhibition match?" Alex questions.
"Yusuke here is taking part in an exhibition match for the upcoming national tournament. Against me no less." Kazuma explains.
"Yusuke's going to be fighting you?!" Alex exclaims and Kazuma nods.
"Being my student, I can have seats reserved for you and your friends," he offers, "since I know you're dying to see a fight like this."
"Really?! Thank you so much Kazuma!" Alex thanks him in sear joy. Kazuma then looks back at Exodus.
"As for you three, you should be getting ready for the match. It's just tomorrow." He tells them.
"Seriously… even after we just got back…" Yusuke complains.
"Quit your whining and let's get going." Yuji says and drags Yusuke out of the shop behind Kazuma.
"Sorry Alex, that fight's going to have to wait." Saki apologizes.
"It's no problem," she says, "besides, I can't wait for your exhibition match."
Saki gives her signature cute and innocent smile back at Alex. "See you around." She says and leaves the shop.
Alex takes in a deep breath and exhales in excitement for the upcoming match.
Later that night, in Rin's hospital room, Yusuke stands over Rin's bed as she soundly sleeps, with only the moon light shining on them from the window. Without any words, Yusuke places a plush bear on Rin's lap and a Vanguard card on her nightstand, Special Appointment Professor, Arusha, as well as a note that reads, "I bought these for you. I hope you like them." "You may be Stella's little sister by blood, but you're like my little sister too." Yusuke says to her as she sleeps soundly. He gently places his hand on her cheek and says, "I promise I'll find a way to pay for your operation. Until then, stay strong Rin." He walks out the door, but takes one last long look back at Rin before officially leaving.
Ending Theme – Itsuka Sekai ga Kawaru made (Kishuku Gakkou no Juliet ED)
[Next Time]
Alex: The time for the exhibition match has come, Yusuke and Kazuma face off in their heated match! Two champion cardfighters throwing down! I'm so pumped up! Next time on Vanguard X, "The Black Cataclysm"! Don't miss it!
Alex and Rina's Card Corner
Alex: Hello everyone! It's that time again! *Looks at Rina* what's wrong?
Rina: I'm just upset I didn't get to appear in this chapter.
Alex: Oh well, at least there's next time. Anyway, today's featured card is my starter, Steam Maiden Ayncia!
Grade 0 / Boost / 5000 Power / 10000 Shield / Gear Chronicle Gearoid
Rina: When you ride on Ayncia, she lets you look at the top five cards of your deck and add one Gearoid among them to your hand.
Alex: Not only that, but if you have Korona as your Vanguard, you can bind her from your soul to draw a card.
Rina: And she gets +1 grade when in the bind zone, so she helps you build up your bind zone grades as well.
Alex: So what do you think? You like this card?
Rina: With this, you can also…
Alex & Rina: Stand up Vanguard!
Alex: Oh yeah, one more thing. We apologize if this chapter was kinda short… the writer just had no idea what to do. But make sure you tune in next time when things (hopefully) stir up!
Rina: In the meantime, why don't you join his Discord server where you can chat with him, talk about Vanguard, or even his other non-related Vanguard fanfics. You can join using this link. Just paste it into your address bar after the "http/" part and without spaces. We look forward to seeing you there.
discord . gg / BQfguu8