"Hmm." Zan said as she had her eyes closed.

"Something up, Zan?" Hope asked.

"Subaru and I will be facing off against Seiji and Amir once again, this may be our last chance to save Seiji." Zan said.

"Yeah, Subaru's been worried sick over Seiji." Hope said. "He's had a lot of chances to try and get him back but nothing's worked."

"Yes, which is why we need to win this match and get him back, we can't let the Lost Thieves get their hands on the scroll. It's important for Sunset and Neu to reclaim their powers." Zan said as she summoned her spear.

"I get you wanna fight for them. Enma wanted them to find those swords, and we need that scroll to do it." Hope said. "But the thing is, we all want to figure out how to get Seiji back, but nothing's working."

"I know something that'll get him back…" a voice said as they saw Pinkie behind them.

"Gah! Pinkie!" Hope said.

"You do?" Zan said unfazed.

"Yup. Cake!" Pinkie said.

"Cake?" Hope asked.

Zan merely face faulted with her legs in the air.

"We're not doing that." Jexi said, knocking her out. "Look, the only thing you can do is do your best."

"I know, this is Subaru's best friend, and I want to help him get Seiji back anyway I can." Zan said.

"Then watch his back out there. And your own." Jexi said.

"Of course." Zan said as she did the Bonjam prayer.

And so, the next day…

"And we are here with the next day of matches! Today we have Seiji Kido and Amir Alexs facing against Subaru Hoshiyomi and Zan Partizanne! This is gonna be exciting." Ion said. "Also in singles we have Kabuki vs Elize, but this fight is much more epic!"

"Hope you're ready to hand over that scroll to us." Amir said. "Because I've fine tuned my deck this time around."

"And my deck has been powered up as well. It's time for your odds of keeping your advantage to decrease." Seiji said.

"You just don't get it do you?" Zan said.

"No. It's you who never learns." Seiji said. "Now… Let the game begin. Luminize! Lostknight Control!" Seiji said.

"Let the game begin! My course has already been plotted out. Luminize! Checkmate!" Amir said.

"I'm guided by the celestial sphere! And the Guidance of a Dragon. Luminize! Triangulum Galaxy!" Subaru said.

"Unity between Demons and Magic will pave the path to peace. Lumenize! Order of Sorcery!" Zan said.

"And...buddyfight!" Ion said.

"Raise the flag!" the four said.

"Star Dragon World!" Subaru said.

"Magic!" Zan said.

"Star Dragon World!" Seiji and Amir said.

"Skyseer Ardent Dragon, Cross Farnese Astrologia!" Subaru said.

"Overturn Demon Lord, Asmodai!" Zan said.

"Lost Knight, Nero Schiltlance!" Seiji said.

"King: Rosso Scepter!" Amir said.

"So their buddies have powered up." Cross said.

"We have first move. Draw, charge and draw." Seiji said. "I call Bishop: Giallo Mace to the center and Buddycall Lost Knight: Nero Schiltlance to the left and right!"

10-11

"Now...pay one gauge for each and oppress both the left and right!" Seiji said. "Then, Nero on the right attacks Subaru!"

10-8

"I end my turn here." Seiji said.

"My turn. Draw! Charge and draw!" Amir said. "I call Rook: Viola Sword to the left and right! Then I Buddycall to the center King: Rosso Scepter! Now...pay one gauge for each Rook...and take both your areas!"

"Both Seiji and Amir go for the same plan, blocking Subaru and Zan from calling any monsters to the left or right!" Ion said.

"That's not all. With every oppressed area, Rosso Scepter gains a critical. Now it boasts 5 critical! Rosso Scepter...attack the fighter!" Amir said.

"I don't think so. I cast! Solomon's Shield!" Zan said.

"Damn you...I still have more surprises, but for now...I end my turn." Amir said.

"Let's do this. Draw! Charge and draw! I Buddycall Cross to the center and equip Skyseer bow, Kaus Alnasl!" Subaru said. "Cross, destroy the Nero on right!"

"I activate his ability!" Seiji said. "If one faces destruction, I can negate it and it stays on the field."

"No choice. Attack Giallo Mace instead!" Subaru said as Cross destroyed it as Subaru fired his bow.

11-9

"I'm done for now. Zan!" Subaru said.

"Yes. Prepare to face the wrath of the God of Lightning! Draw, charge and draw!" Zan said. "This will do nicely. Consecutive Cast! Two doses of Magical Goodbye for your Rooks."

"Oh no! Well...that was to be expected." Amir said.

"Now, I call Fallen Angel, Paimon to the left, Magical Secretary, Genjuro Saki to the right and Artificial Angel, Virgine Casta to the center!" Zan said.

"A size 3 monster? But how?" Amir asked. "Wait, I know how. It has an ability to reduce size similar to Rosso Scepter."

"Speaking of Rosso Specter, I think I'll have Virgine Casta attack it right now." Zan said.

"Ha! I was waiting for that! I activate Rosso Scepter's ability! Once per turn, I can return a monster on your field to your hand! Virgine Casta! Go back to your owner!" Amir said.

"Nice trick, but it can only be used once per turn, can it?" Zan asked.

"True, but Rosso Scepter has soulguard. Meaning the most life I'll lose is 2." Amir said.

"Then in that case… I'll just get rid of that Soulguard then. Paimon, Genjuro, link attack!" Zan said.

"Well...seems my math was off." Amir said. "(But now I can no longer call monsters to oppress the left and right. No worries. I'll just have to finish things with Rosso Scepter.)"

"I end my turn." Zan said.

"I draw! Charge and draw!" Seiji said. "I call Giallo Mace to center and equip Grandmaster Cane! Both my Nero Schiltlance's...attack Cross!" he said as both knights destroyed cross. "Now Giallo Mace attacks the fighter!"

9-7

"And with Grandmaster cane! I use it to make the Knight on the right stand again!" Seiji said.

7-6

"Attack!" Seiji ordered.

6-4

"That's all for my turn." Seiji said.

"I draw! Charge and draw!" Amir said. "I equip! Grandmaster Crown!"

11-10

"Now with its ability, I give Rosso Scepter the double attack ability! And with Rosso Scepter...I return Paimon to your hand! Now...attack the fighter!" Amir said.

10-7

"Double attack! Put that girl in her place!" Amir said.

"I don't think so. I cast, Chillax!" Zan said.

7-8

"Fine. I end my turn but you will be finished next turn." Amir said.

"You aren't going to get a next turn." Zan said.

"Hm? Excuse me? Did I hear that right? Did you just say there won't be a next turn?" Amir asked.

"This is it. If I get this card. Draw! Charge and...DRAW! Yes! Just what I needed! I cast! Nothing to it!" Zan said.

"Nothing to it?" Amir said.

"See, I can only use it if I have a size 2 monster on the field. With this...I can destroy a size 3 monster!" Zan said.

"What?!" Amir said in shock.

Rosso Scepter was destroyed as Zan brushed her hair back.

"Now, the endgame. I recall Paimon to center and Virge Casta to the right!" Zan said. "Then Equip! Sorcery Book, Goetia!"

"She...trounced my strategy...with sheer luck!?" Amir said.

"Luck is part of it." Zan said. "The other part is the connection I have to magic… and the right way to play my cards. Ready, everyone? Now, attack!"

10-3

"Final Phase!" Zan said. "I cast! Diabolical Hardcore!"

"Gah!" Amir shouted as the attack nailed him dead on.

3-0

Game over, Amir! Winner: Zan Partizanne!

"Maybe...I should just stick to planning heists." Amir said twitching a bit.

"Now I draw! Charge and draw! I cast! Proclaim: Steer the Stars! I draw four cards and add two to my hand. Calling Cross to the center! Then...I cast! Celesociation! Return Nero Schiltlance on the right to Seiji's hand!" Subaru said. "You will...come back to me my friend! I call Seerfight Dragon, Barry to the right! Galaxy Formation Right! This is it!" Subaru said as Cross destroyed Giallo Mace.

9-7

"Double attack!" Cross said.

7-5

Subaru then fired his bow twice at Seiji.

5-1

"Barry, attack Seiji!" Subaru said.

"I cast! Queenside Castling!" Seiji said.

"I cast! Notify: Skyseer Pulse!" Subaru said as Cross attacked Seiji once more.

3-0

Game over, Seiji! Winner: Subaru Hoshiyomi!

"It's over! Subaru and Zan win!" Ion said. "And in the singles...Kabuki has conquered over Elize! Now both stages move on to the semifinals!"

"This is getting more and more exciting. But I think we're sleeping on our friends matches." Hope said. "I really want to see David and Kabuki Face off."

"It's not your fault. Ion doesn't think them important because she focuses on the Tag Matches." Himiko said.

"Well that's stupid." Kagura said.

"I hear you. She doesn't know what she's missing out on!" Teepo said.

"Then again, most of the main action that the events having been playing up to is here." ZS spoke up.

"Well...maybe we should switch over to singles." Gemini said.

"Especially since David is going to face Jexi in the next match. I hear he's pretty nervous about it." Kokichi said.

"This is the third time they're facing off." Hope said. "You have to guess the nerves are through the roof."

"Yeah, remember their fight in the Sports Festival?" Ochako asked.

"How could we forget? That was when first pulled off that God Mode and beat Jexi. Everyone watching was left in shock." Kokoro said.

"Just… Seriously, how is this not some sort of rivalry at this point?" Craniamon asked.

"Mainly because David tries not to think of it as such." Shuichi said.

"I like to think of David and Jexi as people who strive to make each other better. Honestly, the reason Ace and I strive to get stronger is because David and Jexi keep making each other better." Hope said.

"I still remember back from before their first match in the Sports Festival. David didn't have much confidence in his ability at that point." Tapu Lele said.

"But now here he is, all thanks to his determination and tenacity." Tapu Bulu said.

"However, the only difference is that there is more to this tournament to David than just winning matches. This is his last run with Sol and Luna, so he wants to end it on a high." Zelos said.

"If you guys wanna see Jexi and David's match so much, I don't really mind." Flamberge said.

"Huh?" Hope asked.

"Hey, Masato and I are going up against Franny and Yuga. It'll be a great fight, but you guys are pretty focused on Jexi vs David Round Three. Honestly, I'm perfectly okay with you guys watching them. How about you, Franny?" Flamberge asked.

"Berge, you know they don't mean anything like that." Francisca said.

"I know, I'm not trying to say they're watching the wrong fight. If I wasn't fighting you next round, the both of us would see this match." Flamberge said.

"Should we really do this?" Ryuji asked.

"We already know who will win. It'll be our side. Seems when high stakes are in a tournament, you already know who will win. However, the singles has low stakes so who will win there is unpredictable." Sheer said.

"So let's switch. I'm all for changing our viewing up a bit." Hope said.

"You got this, right Franny?" Kaito asked.

"Don't worry about me, Kaito. I've got this." Francisca said.

"Then let's go watch the show!" Eddy said as the group started to make their way to the singles arena.

"Seiji." Zan said as she and Subaru approached him.

"Don't worry, Zan." Hope said patting Zan's shoulder. "I think Subaru's got this. They're friends after all."

"Friends drift apart from time to time but...those bonds always pull them back together." Sora said.

"Yeah, no matter where you go, they're always with you." Kairi said holding her Good Luck Charm.