One late afternoon, Alex walks down the street looking down at her phone. She reads a text message from Yuto that reads "Meet at Card Capital at 6, there's something I want to show you. XD" Alex reads the message with a look of confusion, and asks herself "What does he want to show me?" Regardless, Alex continues her way to Card Capital.

Opening Theme – ZERO! (Devil is a Part-Timer opening)

Drive 11 – Formation of a Team

Alex arrives at Card Capital but notices the lights are off and there's a sign on the door. "Closed for cleaning…?" she reads it aloud, "You're kidding me." She tries pulling on the handle and the door opens. Surprised by this, she walks inside. "Yuto! It's me. Are you here?" she shouts into the darkness.

Then, without warning, the lights turn on at the same time that party poppers go off. "Congratulations on making it to Grade 2!" Yuto, Yui, Rina, Kazuma, Taiyou all cheer together.

Surprised by this, Alex looks around an sees a table in the middle of the room with various snacks and treats on it. "Wh-What is all this?"

"We thought we'd celebrate you making it to Grade 2, so we threw you a party." Yuto tells her.

"Oh come on guys, you didn't have to do this for me…" Alex tells them, scratching the back of her head.

"Alex, getting to Grade 2 is a big deal, so it definitely calls for a party." Taiyou explains as he holds up his drink.

"Besides, defeating the one and only Yusuke Katsunori to get there was so cool!" Yui exclaims, "I'm actually kind of jealous you got to fight him and not me…"

"I'm with Yui on this one, you're a lucky girl Alex." Yuto tells her.

"You guys…" Alex mutters and puts on a cute smile, "Thank you." She then looks over at Rina who is just standing there quietly. "I didn't expect to see you here."

Rina blushes while trying to maintain a straight face, "I'm only here because my dad told me to come."

"Oh would you quit it with the tsundere act, it's getting old." Alex teases her, "Besides, if it wasn't for you, I might not have actually won that fight. I'd probably still be moping around thinking I wasn't good enough, but you reminded me that Vanguard is supposed to be about having fun and making a friendship with the person you're fighting." Alex places a hand on Rina's shoulder and gives her a warm smile, "So thank you!"

"I-It was nothing…" Rina tells her, but cracks a faint smile away from Alex's eyes, and Kazuma watches with a smile of his own.

"Yeah, that last fight was amazing!" Yuto exclaims putting a hand on Alex's, "Getting a Heal Trigger at the very last moment, that's not something that happens often." He then crosses his arms as he states, "And besides, I'm actually a little jealous… getting to fight a real Vanguard champion is like a once-in-a-lifetime experience."

"I'm honestly very proud of you Alex." Kazuma tells her.

"Yeah, you definitely have what it takes to live up to your father's legacy." Taiyou adds and Alex smiles at their words.

"Your imagination is strong, the fact you were able to beat him shows that it can rival that of champions." Kazuma continues.

"You guys…" Alex mutters as he smile grows wider and bigger, "Thank you! Thank you all!" she says with a cute and innocent smile.

"Now, with that out of the way, I say it's time we eat." Yuto says and everyone agrees. They turn to the table, but, in a shock, find all the snacks have been eaten already.

They all look toward the other end of the table to see Yui about to put a piece of candy in her mouth. She notices them and puts on an awkward smile, "Heh heh… sorry…" she says in embarrassment.

"Did you seriously eat everything? My gosh you're such a glutton." Alex says as she walks over to her, "You really need to watch how much you're eating, I've already begun to notice you getting a little chubby around the middle." She says as she lifts up Yui's shirt half-way and starts pinching her tummy.

Yui blushes and forcefully puts her shirt down and says in anger, "Oh that's funny coming from the girl who never gets fat no matter how much she eats!"

"Hey don't blame me, I was just born with higher metabolism than most girls!" Alex retaliates and the two of them start bumping heads.

"Alright you two, settle down." Yuto says, "I'll just go get some more." He then looks at Taiyou, "If that's alright with you boss."

"It's fine with me." He replies.

"Oh! Can I come too?" Yui asks in excitement.

"Oh no, you're staying here so you don't eat everything he buys." Alex stops her.

"Come on Alex, I won't I promise." Yui pleads.

"It's ok Alex, I don't mind." Yuto says and Yui smiles.

"Guess I'll go too to keep an eye on her." Rina says put her hands on her hips.

"We'll be back." Yuto says as he walks out the door with Yui and Rina following behind him. Alex watches them leave with a smile as she feels a hand on her shoulder.

"You seem rather happy." Kazuma tells her.

"I am." Alex replies, "I didn't have many friends growing up besides Yui, so being able to have a party like this makes me really happy. Thank you guys."

Kazuma smiles and looks up in thought, "You know, this really takes me back…" he says and Alex looks curious, "We used to hold parties like this for your father all the time back in our youth."

"Based on what I heard from your mother, she and her friends held a party for your dad when he hit grade 2 as well." Taiyou tells her.

Alex looks down and sees her reflection in the juice in her glass, then looks back up at the two men, "So, since you guys were such good friends with my dad, do you know where he is?" she asks.

Both Kazuma and Taiyou glance at each other intently, then look back at Alex, "We're not sure…" Taiyou says with a long face.

"10 Years ago, it was like he just… vanished off the face of the Earth." Kazuma adds and Alex looks down in disappointment.

"I… I see…" she says with a heavy voice.

Kazuma walks up and puts a hand on her shoulder in comfort with a smile on his face, "But wherever he is, I'm sure he misses you."

Alex smiles at his comforting words and nods in agreement, "Yeah…" she says then questions, "So what was my father like…?"

Kazuma smiles and backs away a little, "He was just a lovable idiot. Always thinking with his mouth instead of his brain, but he had a good heart. He was a good man, and we cherished every moment we had with him."

"I remember when I first met your dad." Taiyou says as he reminisces, "I was just a shy little boy back then who just wanted to learn how to play Vanguard, but then my thoughts were corrupted by the strict training regimen of the United Sanctuary, and lead to believe that Vanguard was all about having a lot of power and that being weak was a bad thing… but your dad, no, Chrono showed me that weakness is just part of who we are. When we lose, we just pick ourselves back up and push harder, no fuss, no crying, just a smile on your face. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be the man I am today."

"Taiyou…" Alex mutters and then looks at Kazuma, "So what about you Mr. Shouji?"

"How many times have I told you to not call me that…?" Kazuma complains, but quickly puts on a smile, "Well… when I first met your dad, I was just an arrogant teenager who didn't care about anything. Then one day, I decided to learn how to play Vanguard. I came into this shop and found your father working here. He fought with all his heart, like he usually does, but I didn't care one bit. I remember quitting during his final attack when I knew I was going to lose, he tried to tell me not to and I just threw a fit. He then had the bright idea of entering the big Under 20 tournament and putting me on his team. I hated it at first, but he showed me what Vanguard was like, and over time, even though he annoyed me to no end, I ended up liking him more than I thought I would. We won the tournament and we ended up becoming best friends. However… a few months later… that all changed…"

"What do you mean…?" Alex asks.

"Alex, you know how your father became a legend for having defeated a God?" Kazuma asks.

"Yeah…?"

Kazuma puts on a weary smile and explains, "I… was that God."

"WHAT?!" Alex exclaims in complete shock.

"I'm not really a God, but a God was inhabiting my body. It's a whole complicated thing." Kazuma explains and then continues, "I was in a dark place, and your father rescued me from it. I still remember that day, seeing the million lights falling from the sky. It was a day none of us would forget. I learned so much from him, and much like Taiyou, if it wasn't for your dad, I wouldn't be here today."

"Your dad had an impact on all of us." Taiyou states, "Me, Kazuma, our wives, your mom, and all of our friends. He's touched a lot of people."

"Man… now I wish I could meet my father and see what he was really like." Alex says with excitement.

"Oh right, you were so young when he vanished, you must barely remember him." Taiyou says.

"All I can remember of him was him teaching me how to play Vanguard."

"Well I can say one thing. You definitely have his hair." Kazuma says referring to the sideways pink swirl in her violet colored hair.

"I'm sure your father's out there somewhere, and if he is, I'm sure he's watching out for you." Taiyou reassures her.

"Yeah…" Alex says with a smile and puts her hand over her heart.

Meanwhile… Yuto, Yui, and Rina are walking back from the market carrying bags of groceries. "You think we have enough…?" Yui asks.

"Not if you eat like that again…" Rina mutters in frustration.

"I'm positive Alex will make sure of that…" Yuto replies and notices a limousine stopped at a stop light.

Inside said limousine, Koharu sits in the back seat holding her stomach with a face of worry. "Are you alright madam?" The butler driver asks.

Koharu hesitates for a moment then replies, "Y-Yes… I'm fine…" with a faint voice.

"Well we still have a few hours before your French lessons, is there anywhere else you'd like to go before then?" the butler asks.

Koharu hesitates again and replies, "Well… I guess we could…" she is interrupted by a knock at her window. She rolls down the window and sees Yuto, with Yui and Rina behind him.

"Well look who it is, feel like coming to a party?" He asks her.

Back at Card Capital, both Taiyou and Kazuma are shocked by the amount of stuff Yuto brought back. "Um… Yuto… what is all this?" Taiyou asks. Yuto has set up a hot pot in the middle of the table and everyone pitches in preparing ingredients.

"I figured a hot pot might be a good way for all of us to get to know each other a little better." Yuto explains, "I mean we're all friends, right?"

"Yeah but that's not the problem…" Taiyou says with worry, "We're not licensed to prepare food in the shop…"

"Relax, it's not like anyone's gonna find out." Yuto reassures him "Alright gang, let's fill this pot up!"

"Well, if you can't beat them, join them." Kazuma says and starts helping.

"Kazuma! You're supposed to be on my side about this!" Taiyou exclaims in anger, but sighs heavily, "Fine… I guess I'll help too."

A few minutes later, the hot pot is ready. Everyone gives thanks and begins to eat, taking finished ingredients out of the pot and into their own bowl. Rina reaches for a piece of cabbage, but a small brown thing floating in the broth, "What's this?" she asks. She pulls it out with her chopsticks and grows more confused, "A chocolate bar?" She then hears Yui giggling to her side, "What's so funny?"

"It was a bar left over from earlier, I threw it in there when no one was looking." She replies with a mischievous look. Hearing this, Alex's hand tenses up.

"I'll pass…" Rina says with a sigh.

"Nuh uh… Once you touch something with your chopsticks you have to eat it. That's just the law of the hot pot." Yui tells her with a smug face.

Alex then slams her fist down on the table making everyone tense up with fear, "You put a piece of candy… in there…?!" Alex asks with a very menacing tone of voice, "Yet you speak of the law of the hot pot, you have brought shame to this wonderful meal." When she glances up at Yui, she could see the anger in her eyes and her typical cheerful smile had turned into a menacing frown. "Hot pots are a meal that let people come together in peace, without the need for tensions between parties… yet you go and disgrace this delicacy by putting in such an unsavory item… and here I thought I trusted you Yui… As I'm sure I've told you before… severe punishment should be given out to those who disgrace the hot pot…" Alex glares at Yui with the eyes of a hungry wolf who has just spotted its pray.

"I-I'M SORRY ALEX! It was just a prank I never meant any harm! I'll eat the chocolate bar!" Yui pleads as she swipes the slightly melted bar from Rina's chopsticks and stuffs it into her mouth.

Alex loosens up and folds her arms, "Well I guess I can let you off the hook this time…" she says.

"Thank you Alex…" Yui says with a sigh of relief.

After that tangent, Yuto tries to reach for a piece of meat but Alex stops him, "The meat's not quite ready yet. The mushrooms should be done by now, you can take some of those." She tells him.

"Um… thanks…" He replies taking out a few mushrooms, and turning his attention to Kazuma, "I've never seen Alex act like this…" he tells him.

"Well her mother is the self-proclaimed hot pot queen," Kazuma tells him, "Like mother like daughter I guess."

"By the way, Koharu…" Alex gets her attention, "how has business been?"

"We haven't seen you around school often, are things just getting really busy?" Rina asks.

Koharu hesitates again, "B-Business has been fine for the most part…" she replies, "Sorry I haven't been to school it's just… business has been keeping me away…"

"It's ok, I totally understand." Alex says patting her on the back, "It must be rough being part of such a big company." She pats her on the back more and Koharu starts growing worried.

"Not so hard! You'll hurt the baby!" she cries and everyone is stunned by these words. Koharu covers her mouth when she realized what she said.

"What baby?" Kazuma asks in a serious tone.

Koharu panics for a moment, "Ha ha, I mean my brain!" she says pointing at her cranium, "My brain is the most important part of my body, so much so that I practically call it my baby." She explains and lets out a forced laugh. Both Kazuma and Taiyou look at each other in concern and Rina questions Koharu's behavior.

Later after eating, everyone slouches on the couch will full bellies, "Oh man… I'm full…" Alex says in fatigue.

"Well, it's about time I head out." Taiyou says checking his phone for the time.

"Huh, why?" Yui asks.

"It's past my twins' bedtime, and I have to put them to bed tonight." He explains.

"Well take care man." Kazuma says offering him a fist bump and he takes it.

"Kazuma, you're in charge of them from now on." Taiyou tells him as he leaves the store.

"Well everyone, let's get this place cleaned up and call it a night." He asks them.

"Or, we could work off some calories with some Twister!" Yuto suggests pulling out a Twister Box.

"That sounds like fun!" Yui exclaims.

"Count me in." Alex says.

"Um… Yuto, where did you get that?" Kazuma asks in a slight panic.

"I brought it from home." He tells him, "I've never had anyone to play with so it's still brand new. Alright everyone, let's move the tables out of the way."

"Yuto… you're gonna get me in trouble!" Kazuma says to himself in a panic.

As she's moving one of the tables, she notices Koharu walking out the door, "Where are you going?" She asks and Koharu flinches a little.

"I'm sorry, but I really should be going…" she says with a tired face.

"Now? But you only just got here." Yui complains.

"I'm sorry, but I have things I need to do back home…" Koharu explains.

"Can't they wait?" Alex asks, "Can't you call someone and let them know you'll be home late tonight?" As she suggests this, Koharu looks down at the floor in thought.

She steps outside the door to talk to someone on her phone, "…Yeah, I'm just letting you know I might not be home tonight…" she says in a hesitant and wherry voice.

"I see… you're not avoiding me are you?" the male's voice comes through the other end.

"N-No… of course not… some friends just want me to stay over…" She tells him.

"We're getting started, you in or out?" Yuto asks as he leans out the door.

"I'm coming." She tells him, then turns back to the person on her phone, "I have to go." She says, then hangs up.

A few minutes later, the kids lay out the Twister mat and start the game. Yuto is the spinner. "Right hand Red, Rina." Yuto calls out.

Rina examines the board for the best spot to place her hand. Alex is a doggy position over Yui in a backwards dog position over Rina's leg, who is barely proper herself up next to Koharu who is lodged in between Alex and Yui. "This is starting to hurt…" Yui groans as her muscles grow weak from holding herself up.

"Yui if you fall right now you're gonna crush my leg!" Rina exclaims.

"Yuto go fast… I'm starting to feel uncomfortable…" Koharu says.

"Alright." Yuto replies and spins the wheel, "Left foot Yellow, Koharu."

"Left foot Yellow?" she repeats. She moves her foot to a dot underneath Yui, "It hurts even more now… I shouldn't have moved there…"

"Not sure why you guys are complaining, I'm comfortable here." Alex says with a smug expression.

"Yeah, because you've got the easiest position!" Rina exclaims in annoyance, "My arms are killing me!"

"Alex, it's your turn." Yuto tells her and she nods as he spins the wheel again. "Right foot Blue."

"Oh crap…" Alex says to herself as he moves her foot between Rina's legs.

"Alex! You're gonna make me fall!" Rina says in anger.

"Isn't that the point of the game?" Alex asks with a wink, "To grab a dot that knocks out another player?"

Meanwhile, Kazuma huddles up behind the front counter. "Ugh! Why is this happening? First Taiyou leaves me to deal with all these kids by myself and now I'm letting them play Twister too! I promised Luna I'd be back by now… She is so going to have my head when I get back." Just then, his phone begins to ring, "No it can't be…" He takes his phone out of his pocket, and when he sees a familiar smiling face on the caller ID, his face turns to horror. "You've reached the voice mail of Ka…" he says trying to imitate his Voice Message, but he person on the other end catches on.

"Hi Kazuma…" a young woman's voice comes through the speaker and Kazuma's face shrinks. "You and Rina have been gone a long time, is everything ok?"

"Hey honey… yeah everything's totally fine. The kids are just having so much fun I'd hate to break them up now."

There is a slight pause before the woman speaks again, "Well just be sure you two are back before it gets too late."

"Yes ma'am, I will." Kazuma tells her as he hangs up the phone.

Back at the Twister game, "Right foot Red Alex." Yuto calls out and Alex realizes she only has one option. She puts her foot on that red dot and really struggles to support herself. Both Yui and Koharu have already dropped, so it's just Alex and Rina left.

"Ok, this hurts! Yuto hurry up!" Alex exclaims in a panic.

"Right foot anywhere Rina." Yuto calls out.

Rina spreads out her legs and breaths a sigh of relief that she can finally brace herself. "Ah… that's better." She says but then hears Yui snickering to her side, "What's so funny?"

"Rina… I can see your panties." Yui says with a smug face.

"HUH?!" Rina exclaims in a panic. She looks down and remembers she's wearing a skirt. "Damn it! And I can't move from this position!" she says in frustration while gritting her teeth.

"Ignore them Yuto… Ignore them…" Yuto think to himself as he can clearly see her panties too. As he is about to spin again, he notices Rina glaring at him, but he tries to pretend he didn't see her. "Left hand in the air Alex."

"In the air?!" Alex exclaims.

"She can't support herself like that." Koharu states.

"So Alex lost?!" Yui exclaims.

"Don't you dare fall on top of me." Rina demands.

Alex hesitates for a moment and then lift her left hand. To her surprise, she manages to stay upright. "Ha, I'm still in this!" She says looking down at Rina.

"Yuto! Hurry up!" Rina demands, starting to grow uncomfortable given the situation, but as Yuto spins the wheel again, Alex's foot slips and she begins to fall.

"Eyah!" she squeals as she falls, plummeting straight toward Rina.

"Gyah!" Rina also squeals as Alex lands face first on top of her.

"Are you two ok?" Koharu asks in concern.

"Yeah… I'm fine…" Alex replies as she picks herself up and rubbing her head, "though that landing kind of hurt…" she peers down and notices she fell right on top of Rina's flat chest. "Heh heh… sorry about that Rina."

Rina is silent for a moment, but replies, "I thought I said not to fall on top of me!"

"Sorry, but I didn't really have a choice." Alex apologizes as she climbs off, "You kind of softened my fall at least…"

"Tch, whatever…" Rina clicks her teeth in annoyance.

"Glad to see everyone's calmed down a little." Kazuma says walking up to them, "Well it's getting late, so I say we…" but before he could finish, Yuto butts in.

"Watch the store Kazuma, we'll be back." He says and turns to the girls, "Let's go get some dessert you guys." Everyone says their goodbyes to Kazuma as they walk out of the store.

"Yuto wait…!" Kazuma tries to stop him, but it's too late, they're already out of ear shot.

Alex and the others head to the super market to pick out some popsicles, and once they're done, they head back to Card Capital in the dead of night. "…Ah! This stuff is so good." Alex says as she pulls the popsicle she was sucking out of her mouth.

"What flavor did you get Alex?" Yui asks.

"I got the grape one." She replies, then turns to Rina beside her, "How's yours Rina?"

"It's not bad." Rina replies.

"Let's try and finish these fast, we're almost back at Card Capital." Yuto tells them as he takes his popsicle out of his mouth. Just then, they hear an unfamiliar voice call out to them.

"Hey you!" a deeper man's voice shouts. They all look up to see a police officer walking up to them. "Are you friends with these girls?" he asks Yuto.

"Um, yes sir." Yuto replies hesitantly, unsure of the situation, "We were just heading back to our hang out spot."

"In the dead of night?" the officer questions.

"Yeah, we're having a party for this one over here." Yuto answers pointing to Alex.

"Can I see your ID young man?" the officer asks with a very stern face.

"Um… sure…" Yuto replies as he reaches into his pocket, pulls out his wallet, and hands the officer a white plastic card.

The officer looks over the card for a moment, then turns Yuto around and pulls out a pair of handcuffs, "You're under arrest!" he exclaims.

"HUH?!" every exclaims in shock.

"Wait, what did I do?!" Yuto asks in a state of panic.

"You're under arrest for being a minor possession of minors in sexual assaults." The officer tells him.

"Wait what?! I haven't done anything of that sorts." Yuto tells him, "We were heading back to a card shop to finish celebrating my friend's party."

"Yeah, a pedophile party." The officer tells him.

"No officer! He's telling the truth!" Alex pleads, "We were just having a party to celebrate me getting to grade 2 in Vanguard!"

"How do I know he didn't force you to say that?!" the officer exclaims.

"He didn't! It's all true." Rina tells him.

"We were just celebrating with Alex and going out for dessert!" Yui exclaims.

"Kujo!" they hear another voice, this time a woman's voice, come from behind them, "Let them go, I assure you these kids have done nothing wrong." They turn around to see a female officer running up to them.

"Hinata, you're too lenient." The officer tells the woman.

"And I think you're too overly cautious, now let him go." The woman tells him. The male officer hesitates for a moment, then uncuffs Yuto.

"Are you ok Yuto?" Koharu asks.

"Yeah… I'm fine…" he says soothing his wrists.

"I'm sorry about my partner here," the female officer apologizes, "he's been a little on edge with all the girls that have been kidnapped lately. You kids stay safe." The two officers then walk off into the night.

"Well that was weird." Yui says.

"Yeah, but no harm done at least…" Yuto says, "Come on, let's get back, Kazuma's probably worried about us." Everyone nods in agreement.

"Alex, Yuto never told me you got to Grade 2." Koharu says, "So congratulations."

"Thanks Koharu, I've worked so hard for this." Alex says.

"Heh, you haven't seen anything yet." Yuto tells her, "The real fun starts when you get to Grade 3."

"What happens at Grade 3?" Yui asks.

"A lot." Yuto explains, "You get to take part in official tournaments, and that's when a whole new world of possibilities opens up." Alex looks star struck, "You'll be able to fight all sorts of cardfighters, from all around the world, some are even champions. Remember when you fought Yusuke? Well that was only a taste of what nationals has in store."

"Only a taste…?!" Rina says in shock.

"So there's even stronger fighters out there?!" Yui exclaims and Yuto nods.

"That's amazing…" Alex says, struggling to contain her excitement, "Now I really want to get to Grade 3!"

"And I'm sure if you work hard enough, you'll be there in time for nationals." Yuto reassures her.

"Yeah!" Alex says with a nod.

"However, there's one slight problem." Yuto explains and Alex backs off slightly, "In order to compete in any official tournaments, you need to have a team of at least 3 fighters."

"Oh, that's no big deal. I already knew about that." Alex tells him, "I just need to find teammates."

"Why not me Alex? I'd love to be on your team!" Yui says with excitement.

"Yui, I think that answer would be obvious." Alex tells her, "Of course you can be on my team." When she says this, Yui's face lights up like a little child's on their birthday.

"Thank you Alex! Thank you! Thank you!" Yui squeals in joy as she wraps her arms around Alex and nuzzling her head against her.

"Whoa easy there." Alex says trying to keep Yui from squeezing too tight.

"That's fine and all, but you're still missing one person." Rina says.

"Why not you Rina?" Alex proposes, and Rina looks shocked.

"Why would I want to be on a team with you?!" she exclaims, "You've known Yui a lot longer than you've known me."

"That doesn't mean anything, as long as we're friends, you can be my teammate." Alex says giving Rina a kind smile, making her back down and blush a little.

"I… I don't know…" Rina mutters.

"Come on Rina please…?" Yui asks with puppy eyes.

"You know you want to." Alex taunts her a little. Rina grits her teeth like she's about to explode, then finally does.

"Alright fine! I'll be your teammate…" she says and then Alex puts her arm around her neck and pulls her closer.

"Ok! It's official! We're a team!" she exclaims. Yui is cheerful about this, but, while Rina looks unhappy about it, she does crack a faint smile.

"What about you Koharu? You wanna be part of our team too?" Yui asks.

"I… um…" Koharu mutters.

"Teams don't have to be exactly 3 people, they can be more." Yuto explains.

"I… I don't think I can…" Koharu says.

"Why not?" Alex questions.

"Because… I'm just… to busy with family business, school work… stuff like that." Koharu explains, "I just don't think I have the time."

"Well you do have a point…" Alex says, "What about you Yuto?"

"Sorry Alex, but I can't. I'm already part of another team." He explains, "But if luck's on our side, our teams will meet at nationals.

"Then that gives me even more reason to get to nationals!" Alex says with a fist pump, and both Alex and Yuto glare at each other with determination in their eyes.

"Come on, let's get back to Card Capital. Kazuma's probably really worried right now." Yuto suggests and the girls follow him. "By the way," he says to Alex, "what are you guys gonna call yourselves?"

Alex looks dumbfounded by his question, "Um… I don't know yet…"

"Really…? That's a terrible name…" Rina mocks her with a smug face.

"You know that's not what I meant!" Alex complains back at her and Rina snickers a little.

"That certainly would be an interesting name…" Yuto says as well.

"Come on you guys, that's not what I meant!" Alex complains and every starts giggling and laughing at her.

The five kids finally return to Card Capital to meet back up with Kazuma. Afterwards, they gather up their belongings, close up the store, and head home for the night, and so tonight marks the birth of a new team to carry on a legacy.

Ending Theme – Itsuka Sekai ga Kawaru made (Kishuku Gakkou no Juliet ED)

[Next Time]

Rina: Alex, have you noticed that Koharu's been acting a little strange?

Alex: Strange how?

Rina: Something about her just feels off, from when we first met her.

Alex: Now that you mention it, you're right… what could it mean…?

Rina: Hmm? What's she doing at an abandoned building?

Alex: Next time on Vanguard X, "Conception"! Don't miss it!

Alex & Rina's Card Corner

Alex: Phew! This chapter took a long time to make.

Rina: Let's just hope the readers found it enjoyable…

Alex: So, there were barely any cards shown, so what's our featured card today?

Rina: Well you made it to Grade 2, so let's do your ace, High Steam Maiden Korona.

Alex: I like that.

Grade 3 / Twin Drive / 12000 Power / Gear Chronicle / Gearoid

Alex: Korona also has the Soul Drive ability, which can be activated by putting cards from the bind zone into the drop zone whose total grades equal 4 or more.

Rina: At which point, she gains 3000 power, 1 grade, and 1 drive.

Alex: Her other ability lets you counter blast 1 and bind a rear-guard that's just finished attacking.

Rina: When you do this, you can then call a unit from your deck whose grade is 1 higher than the bound unit, similar to Time Leap.

Alex: And if Korona is Driven, both that unit and herself gain 2000 power for each grade face up in the bind zone.

Rina: At the end of the turn, you bind that unit and call the original unit from your bind zone.

Alex: So what do you think? You like this card?

Rina: If you wanna discuss the fanfic or any of the author's other fanfics, you can join us on the author's Discord server at

discord . gg / BQfguu8

Alex: Just paste this link into your internet browser without spaces. We look forward to seeing you there!

Rina: In the meantime, always remember…

Alex & Rina: Stand up the Vanguard!