Chapter 7: Bermuda vs Bermuda
Takeru walked into the familiar stadium, just the previous week, he was here against Leon, now he was here to support Sakuya as she faced the new upcoming idol Yatomi Saya.
"Hey! Takeru!" Satoshi called out.
"Sorry, am I late."
"No man you're on time, we just arrived shortly before you." He answered.
"I see, Sakuya had texted me that she had gone on ahead, she was really nervous about this, I hope she can do it."
"You have such little faith in her." Rekka smiled as she entered. "That is, if you doubt her?"
"What? Of course not!"
"Then trust that she can do it you munchkin. Anyway." The retired idol smiled. "So your Imaginary Gifts right? Takuto wants to ask if he can borrow your deck for a bit."
"Huh why?"
"He wants to use it as a base, specifically, if we can make Imaginary Gifts for the other clans."
"I see, but, wouldn't it be-"
"If you're worried about your deck being stolen, you can come with me, I'll bring you to Takuto, don't worry, it won't last long, and you'll make it to the start of the match."
"Well… in that case, ok Rekka-san." He relented as he followed her.
At the same time though, Sakuya paced back and forth in the ready room, she was sharing it with Saya, or rather, Saya went to help her since the latter had already changed into her idol outfit, which was a white top with a pink necktie with the top then splitting a bit in the bottom while she wears a blue and white skirt. She also wears white shoes to compliment it. Meanwhile, Sakuya's is a similar outfit to Saya except the blue part of her skirt is pink instead.
'I can do this… I can do this… I can do this…' she thought to herself.
"Sakuya-chan!"
"EEP!" The girl reacted. "S-Saya-chan?"
"Relax myu~! You're too stressed about this." The idol replied. "It will be fun!"
"B-but…"
"Being nervous is ok myu~! But Saya is telling you that it's going to go away, trust me."
"O-ok…" She was grateful for that as she stood up. "Ok I'm ready."
"Ok myu~!" She cheered. "We still have half an hour so we're good."
Back at the others though, Takeru had made it back to them.
"Welcome back Takeru, so what happened?" Claire asked.
"Oh they took the deck, analyzed it a bit, but it's back with me now." He said as he showed it. "I think they might have it ready soon."
"The gifts Takeru-kun?"
"Yeah, Takuto said that they'll probably have us test it first. But they think it might take a while as they're going to check if it bugs the system."
"Well, the gifts are interesting, and it would be nice to have them as well." Claire admitted and they stopped their conversation just in time too, as the event started.
"Welcome one and all! Welcome to the exhibition match brought to us by the Esuka group!" The announcer said. "Brought to you by the Esuka group! We have the young idol, the Bermuda beauty! Yatomi Saya!"
"Hi everyone!" The girl began as she ran into the stage with a mic before pointing to the camera. "Saya is pumped up! Are you?"
"YEAH!" The stadium cheered.
"Then with Saya! Hop! Step!"
"CONQUER THE UNIVERSE!"
"YAY!" Saya answered in reply with her hand waved outward before she went back on her mic. "But don't sit on your laurels yet! Introducing my opponent, from Kai Rebirth! We have Yagami Sakuya!"
The girl, realizing that it was her turn, tried to force a smile as she entered the stage, however, unlike with Takeru, there were some people clapping, even though others were having less than desirable remarks.
"Well at least they have a better reception to her than they did with me." Takeru smiled.
"The week must have given them some time to register what happened." Satoshi remarked.
"That's great too, I think Sakuya-chan is being overwhelmed just by being there." Bella commented.
"Eh it's fine, you know how she is." Rekka interrupted.
"Eh?! Rekka-san why are you here?"
"Why can't I Takeru?" She replied. "Besides, it's boring to be watching with Takuto, sometimes the only entertainment you can get there is look at his hair and try to poke that green gem like thing on his forehead."
"I see…"
In the stage, Sakuya prepared her deck as she checked its contents.
'We never got much info on what deck Saya-chan used.' She thought. 'But, if I give it all I've got, I'll be fine.'
"Hmmm, what deck to use…" Saya wondered with a curious tone. "Hmmm, guess I'll go with this one instead!" She cheered as she decided to use it.
"Are you holding back on me Saya-chan?" The girl asked.
"Hold back on you? Never, but I think this deck will give a greater surprise." She made a cryptic smile.
'But that's only part of it, the other part is because mom uses Riviere…' she thought as she placed her starting Vanguard at the same time as Sakuya's.
Overseeing it all though was a young man, with his classic all white outfit, white hair, golden eyes and green gem forehead. Tatsunagi Takuto oversaw it with interest.
"Thank you again for joining me Akashi-kun." He said to one of the TryAngel idols.
"No-no I understand Takuto-dono." The idol with brown spiky hair and golden eyes replied. "As you never call us in on day offs unless something important happened, I understand that this is very important. Is it safe to assume that since I'm the only one here, that our subject is related to-"
"Yes, it is exactly as you think."
Back at the field, the match, begins.
"Stand up, Vanguard!"
"Bermuda Triangle Cadet, Shizuku!" Sakuya called out.
"First Lesson, Akari!" Saya smiled.
The battle field then projected what seemed to be two opposing idol stages submerged in water, behind Sakuya a mermaid with a green tail and blonde hair appeared, as behind Saya, what seemed to be a mermaid student appeared, the girl having pink hair and a blue uniform.
"So Sakuya-chan, why don't you start us off?" Saya smiled.
"Ok then, if you say so." The girl said as she drew a card. "Ride! Superb New Student, Shizuku! I move Shizuku back, I end my turn."
'Shizuku huh?' She thought as she saw the girl be replaced by an older version of herself as the past version moved to the side.
"Saya's turn myu~!" she hid her thoughts with a smile. "Ride! Talent of Perseverance, Shandee! I move Akari behind her, and I attack your Vanguard myu~!"
Coming out of the water was a girl with cream like yellow hair and a pink uniform who then went out of the water to attack their target.
(Power: 12000)
"No guard." Sakuya replied as Shandee's tail connected against Shizuku's.
"Drive check myu~." The girl revealed the top card, only to smile as she showed it.
(Drive Check- Spirited Star, Trois)
"Spirited Star, Trois?" Sakuya wondered.
"Hey Rekka-san, is that card on one of the upcoming boosters?" Takeru asked.
"No, Takeru… that card isn't in any of our systems." Rekka replied. "But it must be a real card if it was accepted…"
(Damage check- Admired Sparkle Spica)
"No trigger." Sakuya replied.
"I end my turn myu~!"
Saya - Sakuya
6 - Hand - 5
0 - Soul - 0
0 - Damage - 1
0- Counterblast- 0
0 -Drop Zone - 0
Field
RG- RG = RG - RG
First Lesson, Akari – Talent of Perseverance Shandee = Superb New Student, Shizuku - Bermuda Triangle Cadet Shizuku
RG - RG = RG - RG
'Spirited Star Trois? What can it do?' Sakuya thought as she drew a card. 'No, no use thinking about it, I'll just do the best I can!'
"Ride! Interesting Hope, Shiratsuyu!"
'A Shizuku deck?' the girl thought.
As the blue haired mermaid came into the field, she then went against Shandee, and countered against Shandee with her own tail.
(Power: 13000)
(Drive Check- ChouChou, Roberta- Critical)
"Yes! Critical trigger!" Sakuya cheered. "I give all effects to my Vanguard!"
"Myu~! Damage check."
(Damage Check- Superb New Student, Shizuku)
(Damage Check- ChouChou, Pitte- Draw)
"Draw trigger myu~! I draw one card." She said as she drew one card.
"I end my turn."
Saya - Sakuya
7 - Hand - 6
0 - Soul - 1
2 - Damage - 1
0- Counterblast- 0
0 -Drop Zone - 0
Field
RG- RG = RG - RG
First Lesson, Akari – Talent of Perseverance Shandee = Interesting Hope, Shiratsuyu - Bermuda Triangle Cadet Shizuku
RG - RG = RG - RG
"Stand and draw." Saya smiled as an alarm started beeping on the monitor that Akashi was checking.
"What is it?" Takuto asked.
"Takuto-dono, we're getting Stride force readings from that Saya person."
"Ride! Gift of Effort, Shandee!" She said as she placed the card in her Vanguard circle. To the bottom left, I call Novel Dress, Akari."
As Shandee smiled, the water covered her and as it receded it showed that her outfit was a green uniform now with her appearing older as well while to the bottom left was an older Akari with a pink dress instead.
"Alright myu~! To start of our show, Saya is going to pull out something awesome myu~, Saya will perform a Stride!"
"WHAT?!" The Kai Rebirth kids wondered.
"She's going to stride here?" Bella asked. "But how?"
At another area, two mysterious figures were overseeing the match, each of them having a hood to cover their face.
"Is she going to Stride?" One asked.
"Yes," the other replied. "She's one of 'them.' I'm sure of it."
"Stride force readings are spiking Takuto-dono." Akashi began.
"She is serious about this…" Takuto realized.
"Alright to start of our show! I use the skill of Spirited Star Trois!" Saya said. "Using the counterblast you were kind enough to give me, I call Trois, return this copy of Riviere from my hand to the deck, and then, I superior ride her!"
To the right of Shandee, an idol with pink hair and a pink idol outfit appeared as she raised her mic as a spotlight fell on Shandee, who then dived into the water, but what came out was a blonde mermaid with a blue idol outfit.
"And then." Saya smiled as she revealed yet another Trois. "I do it again! I return Pitte to my deck and then ride Riviere again, but now since I rode on a Grade 3, I can Stride a card with Riviere!" She smiled as she reached for the card in her G-zone as Riviere's idol outfit started changing. "The idol who has reached the summit of idols! Dazzle everyone with your beauty! Stride Generation! Legendary Idol, Riviere!" She smiled as Sakuya just stared in disbelief.
"Wait? That's legal?!" Satoshi asked completely shock.
"Bermuda Triangle could do that?!" Even Claire, the best among the Rebirth students were surprised.
"And then, Akari is now in Harmony with Riviere, I use Akari's skill, I move Akari to the soul, I return Trois to my hand and draw a card. I call Roberta, use her skill to countercharge by placing her into the soul. I then call! Shizuku, and Trois in front of her!"
To the right, the Grade 1 that Sakuya rode earlier appeared, with the other Trois appearing in front of her.
"Shizuku's Harmony, I check the top 5 cards of my deck, and add a Grade 3 to my hand, I add Wonderful Voice, Lauris to my hand. And then I use my Vanguard's skill!" She said as she paid a counterblast and flipped up a copy of Riviere in her G-zone. "For every Riviere in my soul, I give 5000 to a rear-guard, I have exactly one, so I give 5000 to the Trois in front of Akari."
'Just her second turn, and she already strides…' Sakuya thought as she looked at her hand. 'I-I'm still in this… c-calm down…'
"Alright, let's get started myu~!" Saya began. "My right Trois attacks your Vanguard."
(Power: 11000)
"Guard!" Sakuya said using Pitte.
(Total: 14000)
The rear-guard on the right then used her mic to sing against their target as an orange haired with green uniform mermaid appeared to block the attack by swimming in front of it.
"My right Trois attacks your Vanguard!"
(Power: 16000)
"No guard." Sakuya replied as her Vanguard got hit.
(Damage Check- ChouChou, Lucille)
"I attack your Vanguard with Legendary Idol Riviere!" Saya smiled. "Trois' skill myu~! When my Grade 4 'Riviere' Vanguard attacks, I can pay the cost myu~." She said as she paid a soublast. "I stand Trois, I use it for the other one as well."
(Power: 26000)
"Trois stood up! That means it can attack again!" Takeru said.
"No guard." She said as Riviere used her voice to create a tornado that consumed Shiratsuyu.
"Triple drive myu~!"
(Drive Check- Attractive Glow, Sandy)
(Drive Check- Chouchou, Roberta -Critical)
"Critical trigger! Power to my left Trois, and critical to my Vanguard! Third check…"
(Drive Check- ChouChou, Pitte- Draw)
"Draw trigger myu~! I draw one card and give power to the Trois to the left."
"Damage Check…"
(Damage Check- Transcend Idol, Aqua)
(Damage Check- Full Bright Wish, Shizuku)
As the idol tried to recover from the attack, she realized that one of the Trois was headed for her.
"I attack with the Trois on my right" Saya said as it was boosted this time.
(Power: 18000)
"Guard!" Sakuya said using the Roberta she got.
(Total: 24000)
"In that case, I attack your Vanguard with my left Trois!"
(Power: 43000)
"No guard…" She said as she revealed the top card.
(Damage Check- Lover of Hearts, Penelotta- Heal)
"Heal trigger…" She sighed in relief as she healed a card.
"I use Akari's skill I move it to the soul, I return Shizuku to my hand and then draw a card. I end my turn." The crowd finally recovering enough to cheer.
Saya - Sakuya
8 - Hand - 4
4 - Soul - 1
2 - Damage - 4
2- Counterblast- 0
2 -Drop Zone - 3
Field
RG- Spirited Star, Trois = RG - RG
RG – Top Idol Riviere = Interesting Hope, Shiratsuyu - Bermuda Triangle Cadet Shizuku
RG – Spirited Star, Trois = RG - RG
"Stand, and draw." Sakuya shakily said as she drew a card. While she was still in the match, the fact that Saya pulled out the combo for sure surprised her.
'Can I do this?' She thought as her hand started shaking.
"What's going on with Sakuya-chan?" Bella asked.
"She's trying to calm herself." Rekka explained. "It's one thing to be surprised as a spectator…"
"But as the one facing it, she has to overcome it on her own." Satoshi followed up as he held a hand on Takeru's shoulder and shaking his head, knowing that the boy would have said something.
'… She is amazing…' Sakuya thought. 'I wonder if I can-' As she looked at the other girl though, she could only register a smile, it seemed simple enough, but looking at the other, her nerves calmed, and although she didn't say anything, Saya's eyes told her enough.
"You can do this."
That was enough for Sakuya as she gave a faint smile and drew a card, her eyes widening as she realized what it was.
'Thank you for coming!' she thought. 'With you, we can DEFINITELY give our all against Saya-chan.' With that she revealed the card as the Rebirth students smiled as they understood what it meant.
"A revolutionary song to bring about a new era! Ride! Delight Genius, Ange!" Sakuya declared as Shiratsuyu smiled before being consumed by the waves, and in place of her, the genius herself, with her pink hair and white idol outfit, ready to dazzle the crowd who responded in kind by cheering again.
"It's my turn Saya-chan! Ange's skill! I return one of your Trois' into your hand as well as Shizuku for the cost of a soulblast."
As she said that the units just vanished into light particles.
"And then, since I returned one of your rear-guards, I draw one card, and since I returned one of my own, I search my deck for a unit with Generation Break 2 and add it to my hand, I add Lucille, and I discard a copy of Full Bright Wish, Shizuku from my hand." She said as she then checked her G-zone.
'Let's see… right now by best choice is probably… this!' she thought as she took it and returned the other cards.
"Stride Generation, Splendid Fortune, Shizuku!"
As Ange clasped her hand in prayer the Vanguard circles collapsed on her to reveal an older Shizuku who smiled at Sakuya as she readied to fight.
"Stride skill! I return your other Trois to your hand and I then draw one." She then paid a counterblast and flipped another copy of Shizuku face up. "Shizuku's skill is activated! Counterblast, I turn a copy of her in my G-zone face up, I reveal the top 5 cards, and I either add two Grade3s or I add two Shizuku's. I add both Superb and Dreaming Step." She said as she added them to her hand, returning the other cards to her deck and shuffling it. "Then I reveal Shizuku's with different grades." She said as she revealed Superb, Dreaming and Cadet Shizuku. "I revealed three, so my Vanguard gains 15000, in addition, you can't guard with cards of the same grade as them when she attacks."
"Myu~?!" Saya realized the implication at that as guarding became much more important.
"Call!" Sakuya said as she placed Superb New Student Shizuku with Spica in front of her on the right and then a Lucille on the left. "And behind Lucille, Impressed Tear Subaru."
Correspondingly, on the field, in front of the Grade 1 Shizuku was a girl with orange hair and a uniform, and to the left of the Vanguard an idol with blue hair and Blue outfit and behind her, an idol with purple hair.
"I call Impressed Tear behind Lucille, and I then attack your Vanguard with Lucille unboosted."
(Power: 11000)
"Guard!" She said using Pitte.
(Total: 15000)
"Spica attacks your Vanguard!" As she said that the mermaid then swam into the water aiming to go against Riviere. "Skill activated!" She paid a counterblast. "I return Lucille to my hand, and call her to her old spot, power plus 3000. Then Lucille's Generation Break 2, since I called her with skills, I can grant 5000 to three separate units, I give 5000 to her, Spica and Subaru!"
(Power: 21000)
"Roberta will guard!" Saya said as another member of the ChouChou idol group arrived to block Spica's attack.
(Total: 25000)
"Then my Vanguard's turn!" Sakuya said.
(Power: 41000)
"No guard." As Saya said that Shizuku then created a torrent from her hand that flew towards Riviere.
"Triple drive!"
(Drive Check- Dreamer Dreamer, Kruk- Stand)
(Drive Check- Transcend Idol, Aqua)
(Drive Check, Jump on the Water! Amelie- Stand)
"I stand both Shizuku and Spica, and I give one of the additional 10000 to Spica, and the other to Lucille!"
As Riviere got caught up in the tornado she could only scream in pain.
"Damage check myu~! No trigger."
(Damage Check- Spirited Star, Trois)
"Alright, next I attack with Lucille unboosted!"
(Power: 29000)
"No guard." Saya said as she took yet another damage.
(Damage Check- ChouChou, Ranfa)
"I'm not done Saya-chan, I attack with Spica! Once more I use her skill." She said as she paid a counterblast. "I return Lucille to my hand, and call her back again, then she gets 3000 power and since her skill activates again, I grant 5000 to Spica, Subaru and Lucille again."
(Power: 36000)
"No guard." She repeated.
(Damage Check- Transcend Idol, Aqua)
"Saya is at 5 damage." Takeru said. "So why do I feel so uneasy."
"Probably because Saya-chan is taking damage on purpose." Bella commented. "Her hand is big enough to stay at 4 damage, but now…"
"Last attack, Subaru boosts, go, Lucille!" Sakuya called out as the mermaid swam against Riviere.
(Power: 39000)
"Great job Sakuya-chan." Saya smiled. "But not enough, I use the effect of Attractive Glow Sandy from my hand!" She said as she revealed it. "When I would call out a G-Guardian, I can use it as cost instead!" She then discarded it. "Generation Guard! Highest Society Citron! I then call out Gift of Effort Shandee, Shield plus 10000, and then intercept!"
(Total: 40000)
Appearing beside Riviere was the Grade 2 Shandee who smiled as an idol with a white dress appeared in front and created a barrier in front of Lucille before Shandee went to help her maintain it.
"What a nice surprise." Sakuya giggled as she had expected that Saya would pull some trick like that. "I end my turn."
Saya - Sakuya
6 - Hand - 8
4 - Soul - 0
5 - Damage - 4
2- Counterblast- 3
6 -Drop Zone - 6
Field
RG- RG = Admired Sparkle, Spica – Suberb New Student, Shizuku
RG – Top Idol Riviere = Delight Genius, Ange - RG
RG – RG = ChouChou, Lucille – Impressed Tear, Subaru
"Stand and draw." Saya began her turn.
"So, Rekka-hime…" Bella said. "Well… no point in hiding right?"
"Yeah everyone else found out…" Rekka sighed. "Still, what were you planning on saying Bella-chan?"
"Right… she seems awfully confident despite having 5 damage."
"Probably because now she can just use Spica's skill without hesitation." Takeru commented.
"Well you are the one who knows Sakuya-chan most here." The orange haired girl replied. "So I'll leave it to your judgement."
"Time to show you what my units in Harmony can do!" She said as she discarded one of the Trois cards that Sakuya returned to her hand. "Stride Generation! School Student Council President, Alk!"
As she said that Riviere smiled as in place of her, a mermaid with a red uniform and white hair appeared, her twin tails floating freely.
"Call myu~! Suberb New Talent Shizuku, Garland Blossom Ayna! With Shizuku's Harmony, I check the top 5, and no Grade 3. And then, skill activated!" She said as she paid a counterblast and flipped up another copy of Alk. "I return two cards with Harmony to my hand, and acquire a skill. Call!" She said as she filled up her field. "Superb New Talent, Shizuku, Garland Blossom Ayna, Admired Sparkle, Spica, and finally! Wonderful Voice, Lauris!"
As she said that to the bottom left rear-guard, a girl with pink hair in a bikini like outfit as Spica appeared in front of her, to the right, Shizuku and in front of her a mermaid with orange hair and an idol uniform with what seemed to be a microphone stand as her weapon.
"Harmony. I check the top 5 cards, but there is nothing there. I call another Trois behind Alk."
'Why call a grade 3 on a spot where it can't do anything?' Sakuya thought, and as if reading her mind, Saya smiled.
"Alk's Generation Break 3, all of my units in Harmony, gain 5000 power myu~!"
"Wait, 5000?!" She asked surprised.
"That means that at the minimum all of her units are sitting at 26000 power!" Claire realized. "Sakuya's in trouble."
"My partner will start us off!" Saya smiled. "Wonderful Voice Lauris attacks your Vanguard myu~!" She said as the mermaid used her mic stand to send a torrent of water towards Ange. "Lauris' Generation Break 2 myu~! She gains 5000 since she's in Harmony!"
(Power: 21000)
"Guard!" Sakuya called out as Kruk appeared to block the attack.
(Total: 26000)
"I attack with Spica next with Ayna's boost myu~! Skill activated!" She said as she paid a counterblast. "I return Lauris to my hand, and call her again myu~! Power plus 3000!"
(Power: 26000)
"Spica intercepts, and then Amelie in my hand guards!" Sakuya called out.
(Total: 31000)
Saya smiled at that as she had taken out one of Sakuya's key pieces.
"If she intercepts with Spica, that must mean that her hand might not be enough…" Bella commented worried.
"I attack your Vanguard with Lauris again myu~!"
(Power: 24000)
"No guard…" Sakuya said as she took a 5th damage.
(Damage Check- ChouChou, Irune)
'A Chouchou card?' Saya thought. 'She must be using Tirua as a backup Grade 4…' she realized as she rested her last unit.
"Alk attacks your Vanguard." Saya smiled. "Skill activated, for every face up card in my G-zone, I return up two cards to my hand, Lauris, Spica, and then I can call two cards, I call Spica in front of Shizuku, and Lauris in front of Ayna."
Sakuya's eyes widened at the implications there.
(Power: 31000)
"That card can just bounce back cards and then redeploy them." One of the viewers said.
"I know, that's awesome!"
In the stands though, the hidden figures just watched intently.
"Without a doubt, she is one of them."
"Think we can isolate her?"
"If possible. We'll try, if there's anyone with her, we can just try to persuade them."
'Since Spica is now in front of Shizuku instead of Ayna, she'll be able to boost the attack and reuse it's skill again.' Sakuya thought as she then looked at her hand. 'Even if I can guard this, I can't fully guard the three attacks after it… I… I have no choice.'
Alk meanwhile was already preparing her attack and just waited on Sakuya's reply.
"… No guard." She spoke at last.
"I guess her hand doesn't have enough anymore." Takeru realized. "But if she can just get a heal trigger, she'll make it to her next turn!"
"Triple drive myu~!"
(Drive Check- Garland Blossom, Ayna)
(Drive Check- Wonderful Voice, Lauris)
(Drive Check- Transcend Idol, Aqua)
"No trigger." She finalized.
As Ange got hit with the attack, Sakuya just reached for the top card of her deck.
"Damage check…" She slowly turned it over, praying that it was a heal trigger.
In the stands Takeru and the others hoped for the same thing as well.
But sadly, it was not a heal trigger.
(Damage Check- Full Bright Wish, Shizuku)
As that damage check was revealed Ange finally faltered as all the Bermuda Triangle units disappeared and Sakuya just sadly looked down.
"Hey Sakuya-chan…" Saya began as she approached the other girl, making sure to smile when she was looked at. "It was a great match." She then offered a handshake.
Sakuya smiled as she took it.
"The pleasure was mine Saya-chan." As she said that, the stadium went alight with cheers and congratulations for both parties.
So ends chapter 7, this was very hard to write, although mostly the trouble was trying to keep track of both Sakuya and Saya's hand due to the BT shenanigans, but if you guys enjoyed reading it, then it was worth the headache. See you next chapter everyone!
Edit: I made some slight errors on the units called, fixed it.