UNDER RECONSTRUCTION
This chapter is currently undergoing a rewrite, below is an old version that will be left up until the new version is finished.
Chapter 4: The Falcon and the Tomato of Terror
I let out a sigh as I plopped down on a bench next to Kotori and Yuma, Yuma having just dug into one of his rice balls.
"I can't work up the strength without my Duel Lunch!" Yuma says, swallowing the bite.
I had to admit they did look pretty tasty, that reminded me I needed to figure out some sort of living situation before the day ended.
"Yuma, you shouldn't eat so fast." Kotori lightly scolds Yuma as he inhales the food.
"Yeah, slow down Kirby." I tease him.
"But, I'm really hungry here!" Yuma says with his mouth full.
Kotori gives a sigh at that and looks over at me before shaking her head, her face seeming to say 'Same old Yuma.'.
I looked up at the cry of a crow just in time to see a black blur rush by, it steals Yuma's other rice ball startling him and Kotori before it takes off.
I let out a snort at Yuma's misfortune.
"H-Hey! Wait Up! Hold on!" Yuma cries out standing up running a few steps forward before he collapses on the floor, "My Duel Lunch." he bemoans.
I noticed a figure walking up to Yuma, "Whatcha lyin' around on the ground like that for?" he asks.
Yuma looks up at the new figure.
"Here, Eat my Cucumber! It'll make you feel good" The Zexal incarnation of Hayato said… 'crap what was his name again?' I thought to myself
I let out a snort at that considering how the phrasing could be taken in a less noble way.
"Delicious! What the heck is this? It's really yummy!"" Yuma said, eagerly chowing down on the cucumbers, as Kotori and I stood watching him.
"Here help yourself!" "Tomayato" as I decided to dub him in my mind using a pun of Hayato and Tomato until he said or I could remember his name said handing Kotori and I come cucumbers.
"It really is! It's delicious!" Kotori says taking a bite of the vegetable.
I took a bite out of it, "It's pretty good." I said nonchalantly… I wasn't really a fan of cucumbers.
"Did you grow these yourself?" Kotori asks in wonder, "They taste really good." she adds as a comment.
Tomayato blouses at Kotori's comment, making me glare at him posessively… wait where did that come from..
"I-I did." Tomayato said, looking awkwardly to the side.
"Wow man, they taste so good!" Yuma says standing up.
I absentmindedly flipped the remaining Cucumber I had in my hand, "I'll admit that while I'm not preferencial to cucumbers, they do have a good taste." I said, slipping it into my pocket for later.
"I'm Yuma Tsukumo, Thanks!" Yuma introduces himself while giving gratitude for the meal, giving Tomayato a slap on the shoulder.
I noticed Tomayato looking at Kotori from the corner of his eye. I stood behind Kotori and gave a sweet innocent smile while giving off the same sort of aura Yuya/Yuto gives off when they summon Odd-Eyes Raging Dragon.
Tomayato spins around his skin looking a bit pale and clammy and Kotori blinks curiously at the reaction.
"I-I'm Yasai Housaku! Out of all vegetables, I like tomatoes the best!" he introduces, "Don't you think it would be great if we turned this city into a tomato paradise?!"
"T-Tomato paradise?" Yuma says confused.
Yessir'ee! A tomato-based theme park operated entirely by tomatoes! If I win the Duel Carnival, I will make this city into a tomato paradise!" Yasai said.
I gave a blank look that basically said 'what drugs is this guy on' at the answer.
"A-And when I do, will you, over there with that smile bright as a tomato...W-Will you" Yasai trails off.
Kotori tilts her head curiously, "Huh?"
"Will you act as my tomato paradise dream girl?!" Yasai yells out.
"HUH?!" Kotori yells out, "I'm a tomato dream girl?" she says while awkwardly nibbling on a cucumber like a rabbit nervously.
I smiled at the cute action.
"A dream girl?" Astral asks above us.
I felt a tick mark form on my face when someone was flirting with one of the girls I liked, before I could say anything Yuma beat me to it.
"I won't let you." Yuma says, gripping his fists in anger, his eyes shadowed.
Kotori looks over shocked by Yuma's reaction.
"You won't get away with this!" Yuma says pointing at Yasai.
"Yuma…" Kotori mutters.
"Housaku, I won't ever forget about the vegetables you gave me, But the path we choose to walk is just far too different!" Yuma says in a dramatic speech.
"Yuma, you…" Yasai says, taken aback.
"Face me, Housaku!" Yuma challenges.
Probably best Yuma keeps this duel, as much as I would love to destroy Yasai like Shun does to the LDS Trio for flirting with Kotori… seriously where are these possessive feelings coming from, note to self look into it later.
Yuma still needed to get into the WDC Finals, So I had to make sure not to take away all of his changes for a Heart Piece, I had taken Shobee because that piece was one that didn't fit Yuma's in the original cannon but luckily it fit mine and Anna simply wasn't a WDC participant.
"Fascinating, I will win this Duel Carnival and create my tomato paradise! And I'll make Kotori-chan into my dream girl" Yasai says with a grin, taking out his Duel Disk.
I frowned as I thought back on the conversations we had with Yasai… Wait a minute, Kotori and I never introduced ourselves to him and Yuma never mentioned our names… So how did Yasai know Kotori's name?
"You're full of crap! I swear I'm gonna break your ambitions into pieces!" Yuma says with grinding teeth.
"Yuma" Kotori says with a blush
I leaned up against Kotori's ear, "So is Yuma upset that Yasai wants to use you as a Dream Girl… or because of the Tomato thing." I asked her.
Kotori blinks at that before sighing, "Honestly, with Yuma's stupidity it wouldn't surprise me if it was because of Tomatoes." she says resting her palm against her forehead.
"Here I come! I'm bringin' it to ya!" Yuma says, throwing his Duel Disk into the air.
"Duel Disk - Set!" "D-Gazer - Set!" Yuma and Yasai cry out activating their respective equipment as Kotori and I activate our D-Gazer and D-Tattoo respectively.
"DUEL!" Yuma and Yasai call out. (Yasai:4000) (Yuma:4000)
"Hey, Yuma… We're gonna be usin' some original rules for this Duel." Yasai says fixing together a basket.
"I-Original rules?" Yuma asks, stunned.
"This Here!" Yasai says tossing the Basket by Yuma, "Before you can attack, you have to pick out a vegetable from the vegetables in that basket, then you must eat that vegetable before you can attack!" he explains.
"Sounds like some sort of Vegetable Death Match." I comment.
"Exactly!" Yasai says, pointing at me.
"Wh-What the heck?! As if I'll accept a bunch of rules you just pulled out of thin air!" Yuma protests.
"You guys're in high spirits!" A voice interrupts.
We all look up to see Droite and Gauche standing on a pair of pillars
"Interesting! AS the acting referee of the Duel Carnival, I hereby accept those rules!" Gauche officiates before looking at Yasai, "Hey! Yasai, ya rascal, I guess you were the one stirring up all that commotion throughout the city."
"Gauche, Don't act on your own!" Droite scolds her partner.
"But it's all fine, Droite! You're ruining the mood, This "Death Match" of Yasai's is pretty amusing!" Gauche says lazily dismissing her.
As the two bickered like an old married couple, a small part of me wondered if they were really there or pulling an Otes.
"You betcha!" Yasai says with a grin.
"H-Hang the heck on! That gives Yasai Housaku the complete advantage" Yuma protests.
"What's the big deal, kid?" Gauche asks Yuma, "You trying to say you don't like Yasai?"
"You shouldn't be so spiteful." Droite goads Yuma.
"Th-That's not it! I'm totally not being spiteful!" Yuma huffs crossing his arms.
"Then I take that as an agreement. I approve Yasai's Death Match" Droite decreed.
"Well then, good luck." Gauche says
"H-Hey, Hold on!" Yuma protests as Gauche and Droite Vanish...or did they teleport away.
"Good deal! That gives me the right to go first!" Yasai says, "My turn! Draw!" he says drawing his card.
"I activate the Field Magic, Tomato Paradise!" Yasai says activating a card, "With this card, I get to Special Summon one "Tomato Token" when I summon a Plant-Type monster!" he explains.
The area surrounding us turns into an archipelago of islands floating in the sky with tomatoes all around.
"Tomato Paradise?!" Yuma says in shock.
"He really made it happen!" Kotori says in awe
"The scenery is pretty." I admitted looking around.
"I Summon Tomatoknight!" Yasai declares holding up the card, a midget in armor holding a spear sitting on a tomato wheel appeared. (Tomatoknight, Level 3, 1100 ATK)
"Tomatoknight's a Plant Type, So I Special Summon a "Tomato Token"!" Yasai states as a… Tomato Winged Kuriboh appeared on his field. (Tomato Token, Level 1,0 ATK)
"A Tomato Monster!" Yuma says, flinching back in fear, "Just how obsessed with tomatoes can a guy be?!" he cries out.
I had to admit Yuma had a point, there are just some limits to how much a guy can obsess over a single food.
"Then I activate the Continuous Magic, Tomatopult" Yasai says as a wooden slingshot appears on his field, "With this I can release a Plant-Type Monster to inflict 400 points of damage to you! Eat this red tomato arrow!" he declares launching the Tomato Token at Yuma.
Yuma falls on his back with tomato juice all over his face as his life drops. (Yuma:3600)
"Eatin' a tomato on the edge of death makes for good eatin'!" Yasai says, giving a hearty laugh, "I dun ended my turn!"
Yuma jumped up onto his feet and shook the tomato juice off his face like a dog, "Dammit! Tomato this, tomato that! I'll beat your deck to a pulp!" he declares.
"Good luck Yuma!" Kotori cheers her friend.
"Show me your Dueling prowess." I tell Yuma.
"P-Prowess?" Yuma asks, looking over at me confused.
"It means skill or expertise in a particular activity or field." Astral explains to him.
"I-I knew that." Yuma says looking to the side, "My turn! Draw!" He says drawing for his turn.
"I summon Achacha Archer!" Yuma declares summoning one of his syllable monsters. (Achacha Archer, Level 3, 1200 ATK)
"Achacha Archer inflicts 500 points of damage to the player when it's Summoned." Astral comments.
"Go! Achacha Archer!" Yuma calls out as Achacha cries out in surprise as the arrow suddenly catches on fire before firing it at Yasai.
Yasai cries out as the flaming arrow pierces his chest. (Yasai: 3500)
"Good! Now use Achacha Archer to attack Tomatoknight!" Astral orders Yuma.
"Yup!" Yuma says with a grin before freezing, "In order to attack…I have to eat one of the vegetables in this basket in order to attack." he trails off looking at the basket in fear.
"Hurry an' pick one!" Yasai yells at Yuma.
"I know!" Yuma snaps digging into the basket, "This texture… it's so smooth and long!"
My eye twitches a bit, wow seeing this event in real time makes me notice all the innuendos present.
"It's an… eggplant!" Yuma declares pulling out a Yuya-Yuto Vegetable from the basket...Aka a Tomato Eggplant, "The hell is this?!" he yells looking at the Hybrid Fruitable
"That's an eggplant tomato I refurbished from the brink of death! It's a wonderful tomato you can do almost anything with!" Yasai says.
"Was it on the brink of death before or after they were spliced together." I muttered.
"Darn!" Yuma curses out, setting the produce down, "I set a card face-down and end my turn!" he says as the set card materializes.
"Yuma, why didn't you attack?" Kotori asks.
"Are you still feeling your opponent out?" Astral questions.
I gave out a sigh pinching the bridge of my nose, but Yuma needed this duel as a way to push him for future duels that may have even more unfair handicap conditions.
"Dueling and vegetables are all about the timing. You'll come to regret not attacking me!" Yasai says
Yuma just growls in annoyance.
"My turn! Draw!" Yasai says, drawing his card, "I summon Tomato in Tomato" he says as a Tomato Russian Nesting Doll appears. (Tomato in Tomato, Level 3,1000 ATK)
"When this card is Summoned, I can Special Summon another Tomato in Tomato from my hand or deck!" Yasai says as Tomato in Tomato opened up and a slightly smaller one emerged from inside. (Tomato in Tomato, Level 3, 1000 ATK)
"Tomato in Tomato is a Plant Type, Thus Tomato Paradise's effect allows me to Special Summon two "Tomato Tokens"!" Yasai states as two more of the Tomato Winged Kuriboh looking creatures appear on his field (Tomato Token, Level 1,0 ATK x 2)
"F-Five Tomato Monsters?!" Yuma yells out in shock.
"This is my tomato paradise!" Yasai declares, "Then I activate the Quick-Play Magic, Tough Tomato! This card increases the Attack Power of all Plant-Type Monsters on my field by 500 Points until the End Phase. The Tomato Magic will power up this huge tomato family even further!" All of his monsters gain some shades as their ATK goes up. (Tomato Token: 0 ATK - 500 ATK x 2) (Tomato in Tomato: 1000 ATK - 1500 ATK x 2) (Tomatoknight: 1100 ATK - 1600 ATK)
"These cards wouldn't be half bad in a Predaplant deck." I absentmindedly muttered to myself.
"You say something Kiryu?" Kotori asks looking over at me.
"Just thinking to myself." I say dismissively focusing on the duel.
"And I'll draw a random vegetable from my basket as per the rules of this Vegetable Death Match state!" Yasai says digging into his basket and pulling out a regular green pepper before downing it, "Got a delicious Pepper!"
"Yuma, it's coming!" Astral cautions.
"I use Tomatoknight to attack Achacha Archer!" Yasai declares as a dart board appears on Achacha's chest, "Tomato Striker!" he calls out as Tomatoknight throws the lance it's holding piercing Achacha Archer (Yuma: 3200)
"Then I direct attack with Tomato in Tomato! Go Hit of the Tomatoes!" Yasai calls out as Tomato in Tomato forms a dozen mini copies of itself.
"Good thing this isn't real solid vision." I commented as I watched all the mini Tomato in Tomato copies knaw on Yuma with their small sharp teeth and whack him with their wooden bodies. (Yuma:1700)
"How's that?! One more direct attack an' I'll be the winner!" Yasai declares.
"Gosh, get your act together!" Kotori scolds Yuma, gripping her skirt in frustration.
"Yuma, Use the Trap!" Astral yells at him.
"Yeah, I activate the Trap Card, Heartfelt Appeal!" Yuma declares as his trap flips open, "When I take damage during a direct attack, I gain control of the monster on your field with the highest defense power until my next turn.".
"It looks like Tomato in Tomato has the highest Defense Power." Astral comments.
"Great, I'll take the Tomato in Tomato that hasn't attacked yet!" Yuma declares taking the monster.
"Guess that means I can't attack, eh?" Yasai says "But I still got the effect of the Tomatopult Continuous Magic!" he said pointing at the spell, "I'll release two Tomato Tokens for 500 points of damage each!
The two Tomato Tokens landed in the Slingshot and fired at Yuma "Eat this red tomato arrow!"
Yuma flinches in disgust as his life drops. (Yuma: 900)
"That ends my turn!" Yasai declares.
I blinked a few times, looking over at Yuma's field before back at Yasai's… so aside from plot armor BS what exactly stopped Yasai from tributing his other monsters on the field with Tomatopult to burn Yuma for game.
"I'm covered in tomato juice!" Yuma moans out.
"Are you okay, Yuma?" Astral inquires.
"Darnit!" Yuma says wiping off the juice on his face, "My turn, draw!" he says drawing his card. "I release Tomato in Tomato to Advance Summon Chachaka Archer!" he says releasing the monster he got from Yasai to summon his own. (Chachaka Archer, Level 6, 1200 ATK)
"Once per turn, Chacchaka Archer can destroy one Magic or Trap card on the field." Astral comments.
"Oh yeah!" Yuma says in realization, "I'll use Chacchaka Archer's effect to destroy Catapultomato!" he says as his monster fires its crossbow destroying the wooden slingshot.
"Next I'll activate the Magic Card, Blustering Winds!" Yuma says activating a Spell Card, "It increases the Attack Power of a Monster on my field by 1000 points!" he says as a vortex of wind surrounds Chachaka Archer. (Chacchaka Archer: 1200 ATK - 2200 ATK)
"Nicely done, now Yuma attack!" Astral tells his partner.
"A-Attack?" Yuma says swallowing nervously, "I gotta draw a vegetable to attack!" he sighs before digging into the basket, "This feels.. Tough and bulky!" he mutters, "It's gotta be… a cucumber!" he says pulling out another hybrid tomato, this time a cucumber.
"Yuma, are cucumbers normally red in color?" Astral questions Yuma.
"Another tomato?!" Yuma cries out looking at what he's holding.
"That's a cucumber tomato I refurbished from the brink of death! It's really hard and its crisp texture makes it a topnotch appetizer!" Yasai states.
"That ain't fair, ya jark!" Yuma says angrily, shaking the Vegetable at Yasai.
"How's it unfair? I'm just testing the possibilities of tomatoes!" Yasai points out.
"Damn you, always going on and on about tomatoes!" Yuma says angrily, crushing the Cucumber in his fist.
"Yuma?" Astral questions as Yuma falls to his knees.
"This...tomato!" Yuma says, looking at the Vegetable in fear.
"Yuma, what's wrong with you?! If you don't eat it, you'll never get to attack!" Kotori yells at him.
"I guess his resolve to be Duel Champion isn't that great if he can't overcome this small obstacle." I commented, shaking my head.
Yuma tries to work up the courage to eat the Tomato Cucumber but it falls to the ground as he drops it, "No I can't do it!" he bemoans crying.
"What?!" Astral says in shock.
"Hey Yuma… Could it be you…" Yasai says,realization growing in his expression.
"That's right! I hate tomatoes!" Yuma confesses.
"Eh?" Kotori and Astral say in response to Yuma's problem.
"You hate tomatoes?! Huh so Kiryu was right." Kotori mutters to herself looking over at me with a curious expression.
"They're evil! Yeah, I don't like tomatoes! No way I can eat 'em!" Yuma protests
"So that's why you were so desperate to Duel him." Astral states in realization.
Yuma huffs and crosses his arms at that.
Kotori sighs, "I knew I shouldn't have expected that any hope you were fighting for me." she says.
"Huh, What the heck are you talkin' 'bout?" Yuma questions looking at Kotori.
"F-Forget it!" Kotori huffs.
I give her a reassuring pat on her back.
"Kotori?!" Yuma questions.
"Next time you annoy me, I'll make you a tomato-flavored Duel Lunch." Kotori mutters to herself.
I gave out a laugh, "You're quite the spirited one Kotori." I told her.
Kotori's cheeks gain a slight red dust from my comment.
"A-Anyway, I'll set a card face-down and end my turn." Yuma says as his card materializes.
"So you hate tomatoes?" Yasai mutters.
"Huh?" Yuma asks unable to hear Yasai.
"You won't eat my tomatoes?!" Yasai yells angrily,
"S-Say what?" Yuma says, flinching back in surprise.
"I won't forgive anyone who dares to talk badly of my vegetables!" Yasai says in passionate rage, "First I'll make you repent for your hatred of vegetables, Then I'll create my Tomato Paradise!"
"Shut UP! I couldn't care less if you create a tomato paradise!" Yuma snaps at him.
"You bastard! I swear to win this in order to realize my dream!" Yasai says
"What are we even watching now?" I asked
"Boys" Kotori sighs in exasperation with a twitch on her lips.
"My turn! Draw!" Yasai says drawing his card, "I summon Tomato in Tomato." he says summoning out his third copy. (Tomato in Tomato, Level 3, 1000 ATK)
"Then I Special Summon a Tomato Token" Yasai says summoning a Token. (Tomato Token, Level 1, 0 DEF)
"What?!" Yuma says in shock.
"He's got three Level Three monsters." Astral comments.
"I Overlay my two Tomato in Tomato and Tomatoknight, I build the Overlay Network with these three Monsters!" Yasai says as the red overlay network opens and his monsters enter into it, "Xyz Summon, Appear before us! Bless the Earth! Swallow the sun! Tomato King!" (Tomato King, Rank 3, 1600 ATK, OLU: 3)
"C-Cute!" Kotori comments.
I tilted my head slightly looking at the monster, I guess I can kinda see where Kotori was coming from.
"I use Tomato Paradise's effect to Special Summon a Tomato Token!" Yasai says as a second token appears on his field. (Tomato Token, Level 1, 0 DEF)
"I then activate my Tomato King's effect. Once per turn, I can detach one of its Overlay Units to double its original Attack Power until the Standby Phase of my next turn!" Yasai says as Tomato King absorbs one of its Overlay Units and doubles in size and morphs into a grotesk four armed monster. (Tomato King: 1600 ATK - 3200 ATK)
"This time it's a tomato goblin, and its Attack Power's 3200!" Yuma says.
"This is it! Tomato King, attack Chacchaka Archer!" Yasai orders his monster, taking a bite out of the carrot he pulled from his basket, "Roasted Tomato Splasher!"
The Tomato Goblin King unleashes a torrent of fire from its mouth at Chachaka Archer destroying it.
"Yuma!" Kotori says in concern as he is thrown back by the hologram backlash.
"Good deal! It's my vict…" Yasai starts before noticing Yuma's still standing. (Yuma: 400)
"Why do ya still got Life?!" Yasai asks.
Cause I activated Transaction Summon!" Yuma says pointing to his now face up set card, "This card activates if I have a Monster with 1000 or less Attack Power in my hand when a Monster I control is attacked." he says standing up.
"The battle damage is reduced by 500 points and I Special Summon a Monster from my hand with 1000 or less Attack Points!" Yuma states summoning out the Zexal version of the famous Dark Magician Girl…
"Come out, Gagaga Girl!" Yuma says summoning his monster. (Gagaga Girl, Level 3, 1000 ATK)
"In exchange, my opponent's Monster can't be destroyed in battle by the Monster Special Summoned by Transaction Summon's effect for two turns.." Yuma states.
"Fine then, You only got 400 Life Points left." Yasai says dismissively, "There's no way a guy who hates tomatoes is gonna beat me! Turn end." he says.
"This will be Yuma's last turn, which will prove stronger… his desire to win this tournament and become the Duel Champion or his fear and loathing of Tomatoes." I commented.
"Kiryu is right, you know, If you don't win this turn we will lose and our goal of obtaining Numbers rides on this tournament." AStral tells Yuma.
"Be Quiet" Yuma snaps at Astral, "My turn! Draw!" He says drawing his card, "I Summon Gagaga Magician!" he says as his signature magician card appears from a vortex of wind with a cry. (Gagaga Magician, Level 4, 1500 ATK)
"Yuma, change Gagaga Magician's level." Astral states.
"Right, I change Gagaga MAgician's Level from four to three with its effect." Yuma states as the lights on Gagaga Magician's belt shines. (Gagaga Magician: Level 4 - Level 3.)
"Yuma, the rest is up to you." Astral tells him.
Yuma looks up at him.
"If you Xyz Summon, our setup for victory will be in place, But you will have to eat a vegetable in order to allow that to happen." Astral tells him.
"R-Right, I'll have to eat one of the vegetables in this basket…" Yuma groans out before swallowing, "This time I'll grab anything other than a tomato!" he yells out plunging into the fray once more, "This… This feeling in my hand, There's no way it's a tomato! It's a carrot!" he says pulling out… surprise a Tomato Carrot.
"That's a crossbred carrot and tomato I call a Carrato." Yasai says proudly laughing.
"Damn it!" Yuma moans.
"Come on, Yuma! Eat that tomato!" Kotori scolds him.
"She's right, Yuma! If you keep this up, you'll lose!" Astral tells him.
"Can it, Say what you want, but there's no way I'm gonna eat a tomato!" Yuma says stamping like an angry five year old.
"So you're fine with losing and allowing Housaku to win and create his tomato paradise?!" Kotori yells at Yuma, "If that happens, I'll go to your house and make you eat tomato salad, tomato pizza and tomato Duel Lunches every single day!" she threatens him.
"What!?" Yuma cries out.
"If you don't want that, you better eat that whole tomato now!" Kotori orders him.
"B-But…" Yuma says nervously.
"Pathetic." I say channeling Paul from the Pokemon Diamond and Pearl anime.
"WHAT?!" Yuma says, looking at me with a tick on his face.
"You keep saying how you were gonna become the Duel Champion, But I guess your dream of being the Duel Champion must just be nothing more than simple puppy barking from you. After all, if you lose this Duel, you'll be out of the WDC, which means you will never get another chance to become the Duel Champion. I thought you were someone who never backed down from a challenge with your so-called Kattobingu Spirit, but I guess I was wrong about you." I say turning my back with a huff and crossing my arms.
"They're both right, Yuma, You have no other choice if you want to beat him!" Astral tells his partner.
"Now…" Kotori starts.
"Eat it!" Kotori and I say in sync.
"Yuma!" Astral calls out.
"Shut up! I know! I just have to eat this darn thing, right?!" Yuma cries out, shaking a bit, "I'm gonna bring it to me!" he says, shoving the Carrato into his mouth.
Everyone else gasps in shock at Yuma's action.
"Huh, That's really good!" Yuma says in surprise.
I briefly wondered if I would like it myself, I loved Ketchup which at its core was pretty much sweet tomato paste and Carrots were my all time favorite Vegetable to eat.
Yuma!" Kotori says happily as she and Yasai cry.
"Problem Children." I say with a huff, but a smile on my face.
"I've never eaten anything so good!" Yuma says eagerly as he finishes the rest of the Vegetable.
"Glad to hear, Yuma! You ate it! You finally ate it!" Yasai says happily.
"Now you can beat him, Yuma! Xyz Summon!" Astral orders.
"Right, I Overlay my Level Three Gagaga Girl and Gagaga Magician!" Yuma says as his two magicians turn into energy and enter the red overlay portal, "I build the Overlay Network with two Monsters, Xyz Summon! Come on out, my new friend! Melomelody the Brass Djinn!" (Melomelody the Brass Djinn, Rank 3, 1400 ATK)
"And when Gagaga Girl is used as Xyz Material with another Gagaga Monster,She can reduce the Attack Power of one of the opponent's Monsters to Zero!" Astral states.
"Zero Zero Call!" Yuma cries out as Gagaga Girl activates her effect. (Tomato King: 3200 ATK - 0 ATK)
"My Tomato King!" Yasai cries out.
"Go, Melomelody, Attack Tomato King!" Yuma orders taking another bite out of a Tomato, "Melody Wave." he called out as Melomelody fired a giant beam of energy from its horn..
"And now, Dread King won't be destroyed because of Transaction Summon's effect, but you'll still take damage!." Yuma explains.
Yasai lets out a yell as his life drops. (Yasai:2100)
"And now for Melomelody the Brass Djinn's effect!" Astral declares.
"Yeah, Melomelody the BRass Djinn can detach one of her Overlay Units, to attack once again if there's an Xyz Monster on the opponent's side of the field!" Yuma explains as the Gagaga Girl Overlay 'Unit was swallowed by Meromelody's horn.
"Hosaku, your tomatoes are the best!" Yuma says pulling another out of the basket and eating it without flinching. "Melomelody the Brass Djinn, attack Tomato King!" he orders as Melomelody fires its second shot at Yasai. (Yasai: 700)
"I'll activate Melomelody's effect once more." Yuma says as Melomelody absorbs its Final Overlay Unit. "Go, Mero Mero Melody! Melody Wave!" he calls out while eating his fourth tomato.
"My tomatoes! I'm shining just like my tomatoes!" Yasai says happily as he is thrown back. (Yasai:0) (Yuma: WIN!)
"Heck yeah!" Yuma cries out as the AR turns off. "Hey! You okay, Housaku?" he asks going up to his fallen opponent.
"Yuma!" Yasai says sitting up.
Yuma holds out his hand to Yasai, who accepts it as Yuma pulls him up.
"Sorry about that. I realized thanks to you that Tomatoes are really delicious!" Yuma apologizes, "I won the Duel, but your strong feelings towards tomatoes were even stronger than mine." he says cheekily.
"Whaccha talkin' bout, I lost the Duel because of your strong desire to like tomatoes! I got to see a lonely man ascend to the land of tomatoes! I was deeply moved!" Yasai cries out.
"Housaku!" Yuma says… I can almost see that I guess for lack of a better term, Jojo man face on him.
"Yuma, my dear tomato friend!" Yasai says as he and Yuma envelope each other in a weird hug.
Kotori and I just look at each other laughing awkwardly.
After a while the two weird boys stopped crying as Yasai gave Yuma a Heart Piece.
"Well, See ya later" Yasai says giving a salute at us as he walked away.
"He's a bit of an oddball, but a pretty good guy!" Yuma comments.
"You're right!" Kotori agrees.
I hummed and nodded in agreement.
"Observation Number 16, Bring it to em means loving tomatoes." Astral commented, getting a smirk of amusement from the corner of my lips.
"Oh yeah! I'm gonna keep this up and win the entire tournament!" Yuma calls out in high spirits, ready for his next battle.
-Zexal-
Next Time: The Raptor and the Man with the Indomitable Luck.