The Birthmark's Fate

by Wolfytoki

A young girl named Naomi Kobiyashi is dragged into a war because of her strange birthmark, but it isn't all that it seems. As she is dragged into this war, questions waiting to be answered, trials waiting to be overcome, looking into memories, and even encountering similar people, without knowing this was all because she wears a birthmark. Canon Divergence. OC-insert.

31. Chapter 31

Chapter 31: Family

Recap: Crow and the brats found another me, but this time she had black hair and dark green eyes, and I wasn't looking, but actually, I was looking, and she had bigger breasts than me. Also, she is cooler than Micchi, and I combined. Just look at the brown leather jacket she had on! BUT anyways, he took them in to hide from the lapdogs, but the next day, they dipped. So, everything should be A-Okay... Right?

In the Morning_One Hour Later_Tops Palace_Aki's House_Haru's Pov_

I woke up with bad chills down my spine. I don't know why but I knew the universe was telling me something bad went down in the Commons. I know it wasn't gang members, but it was something much more horrible.

I dragged Micchi by the collar. Micchi woke up groggily and complained again about being woken up like this. But I honestly didn't care. I had to confirm this bad feeling of mine.

Yesterday night, using the tools Dr. Aki had in her garage, I fixed the screen Gocchi pulled with his monstrous strength. I already forgave him when I punched him in the stomach after it happened. I quickly tapped the screen and saw a call from Crow an hour ago.

I pressed the button and hoped to see Crow, but I saw the kids, to my semi-disappointment. It looked like they had been crying nonstop. They each had snot running down their noses. Their eyes are red. When they saw me, they just cried even harder.

"Little brats, why are you crying? Where's Crow?" I questioned them, but they just started crying and held onto each other.

I was starting to get worried. These kids wouldn't be crying like this. The one time they cried like babies were because Crow was sent to the Internment Camps and returned with criminal marks.

By how hard I grit my teeth, I swear to a deity out there I broke a chunk of my tooth in half.

If they don't start talking and giving me the answers I need. Then I will march straight into those fucking psychotic camps and break Crow out myself.

I don't give a damn if anyone has anything to say that will talk me out of saving my foster brother. Not even Dr. Aki and Martha will stop my rampage.

Fortunately and unfortunately, Martha is holding a crying Ko and Tanner in her arms.

"Haru. Is that you, Haru?" Martha asked, comforting the two youngest kids in the group. Her soothing words reduce the kids crying to sniffles.

The sight made me crack a smile. Martha gave us Common kids a mother figure. When some of us have been abandoned, left for dead, or sold for money. Martha is always there to scold us so we can learn from our mistakes and not make the same ones. Martha called us on our shit frequently and straightforwardly. She often advised us to be cautious about certain people, especially the nice ones. She definitely said to keep an eye out for them.

She was there to make sure our lives were better than they were. Without her, I would have definitely been dead or in the Facility.

Just like Crow, I am glad she is my foster mother, unlike that damn old hag.

"Martha...Where is Crow?" I asked again. Maybe this time, I might receive an answer instead of sobs.

Martha's face turned sour, and she looked me straight in the eyes.

"Haru... You aren't going to like this."

Martha then explained what had occurred this morning. When she'd arrived at Crow's house to deliver snacks for them, she found the kids huddling in the corner in the same state as earlier when I tried to call Crow. Then they explain to her the best way they can despite their words coming out in gibberish.

Martha was able to put the clues together and came to a conclusion about what went down in Crow's house this morning. She told me about what happened to Crow, and Shinji had me lost for words. I was stunned to the point I couldn't even think. I was blank.

"What...?"

Morning_Tops Palace_Aki's House_Normal Pov_

Haru was speechless. Her whole world just stopped. She clenched her fist and slammed it against the brick wall creating a dent. Her knuckles are broken, and blood is dripping from her hand and on the floor.

But she doesn't give a damn.

"What the fuck do you mean Security just arrested Crow and Shinji?! Are you little brats lying to me? Is this some kind of a joke because I ain't laughing?!" Haru growled, clenching her bleeding knuckle.

Naomi finally awakened and registered what was going on. She was shocked by the news, like her lookalike but instead of punching the wall. She is concerned about Haru, Crow, Shinji, the kids her lookalike talks so fondly about despite her calling them 'brats,' but she does it in an endearment way.

The kids from the screen flinched at Haru's harsh words, but Akira managed to get a sentence to his foster sister.

"It's the truth...Haru-nee, a man wearing a uniform, unlike Security, said Crow and Shinji are under arrest. Then they arrested them and took them to the Facility."

"On what charges? Why did they arrest Crow and Shinji in the first damn-" Haru paused. What if she was tracked? She did lose some blood on the streets and the highway. What if Security took some of her blood and put it in their database so they could find out where she lives in the Commons Slums? What if they had cameras and knew she would go to Crow's house to hang out?

It all makes sense since they couldn't get to her directly. They would have to get her through other means. They went after her family. And knowing that Crow would never hand Haru over to Security to save his own skin.

That means one thing...

Haru came to a shocking realization. "He took the fall for me," Haru mumbled, falling to her knees. She dropped her face in her hands and trembled.

It didn't take long for the tears to come out of her eyes and fall into her hands.

If only she had let the matter go and never gone after Syd and Bolger. She should have listened to Martha's and Crow's warnings! But she didn't, and she lost Crow for good! She can't even remember if someone sent to the Facility gets released from being imprisoned for non-false and false charges.

She lost her big brother because of her foolishness.

Naomi doesn't say anything. She just stared at a saddened Haru and clenched her shirt dress, making wrinkles on the material.

Right now, she has something she needs to do. "I'm sorry we had to meet under these circumstances, but my name is Naomi Kobiyashi. I will find a way to save Crow and Shinji and make sure Haru and Yugo don't get into any more trouble than they already have."

Naomi doesn't have the proper words for this dire situation. But she wasn't going to let these kind people suffer any longer. Not when she has something to say about it.

Martha was a little perplexed by how another person resembled her foster daughter but quickly got over her shock. She smiled motherly and accepted her words with gratitude, then scolded the saddened girl.

"Naomi, I'll leave it to you. Haru, if you're listening, don't beat yourself up over something like this! Crow and Shinji will come back home! If you keep crying, nothing will change! Believe in them, and they will come back home!"

It wasn't just Haru Martha was trying to cheer up. Her words were also directed toward the kids associated with the two young men. They wiped their eyes and even their younger siblings' eyes with a handkerchief.

Tanner dried his eyes and noticed something about Naomi. "Didn't you leave last night, Yuki-nee?" Tanner questioned. Frank rubbed his eyes and looked at the green-haired girl closely, taking in her appearance.

"Remember what Crow said: Haru-nee and Yuki-nee have the same face. The same applies to Naomi-nee," Frank explained, and Tanner nodded and remembered the conversation from yesterday.

Naomi processed the young's boys' words about Yuki and the others leaving Crow's place last night. The following morning Crow is arrested. Was it a coincidence, or perhaps something else at work?

Naomi understood the situation was dreadful, but she needed to locate her friends. So she can fulfill her promise to Martha and the kids. She won't let them down.

Naomi bid her farewells with her resolve burning brightly and pressed the screen on the d-wheel ending the call.

"Haru-chan, come on. We need to inform Yugo-kun and Dr. Aki about the turn of events" Naomi gently grabbed Haru by her wrist and pulled the girl up from the ground. She rubbed Haru's bruised knuckle hoping to soothe the physical pain. Still, Naomi recognized that her lookalike was feeling emotional pain. That pain is stronger than any other pain a person could go through. The wound will take time to heal. But when it does, it will permanently scar that person forever.

Unbeknownst to the girls, Naomi's birthmark gave a faint glow.

Naomi dragged Haru by her uninjured hand, and they went inside. They see Yugo and Aki looking at them, concern pooling in their orbs.

Naomi doesn't waste any time and explains the situation since Haru is too shaken up to speak.

"No…way...Crow and Shinji," Aki covered her mouth with her hand. Shock and fury encompass her body. This wasn't the first time Commons had been sent to the Facility for false charges, but this time, it was people Aki knew and became friends with.

She couldn't help but shake in unrestrained fury. Yugo shared the same sentiments as the older girl as he kicked the table, sending it flying against the wall.

"Absolute bullshit! They're being punished only because of what we did!" Yugo shouted. Unknown to him Haru flinched when he was referring to their actions and what they did two days ago. Yugo was telling the truth. Haru feels more tears leak out of her eyes. If she hadn't been so reckless about avenging Pearson. Crow and Shinji would be out of the Facility. But it was because of her... if only...

Naomi got Yugo's attention and tilted her head in Haru's direction. The Speedroid duelist stopped when he saw Haru crying, holding her bleeding knuckle.

"Ah! Are you okay, Haru?! I mean! You're clearly not okay with your knuckle bleeding and Crow and Shinji behind bars because of what we did, but-" Yugo winced at his words. These aren't the words he was going for. Ugh! He should have worded that better.

Haru trembled and held Naomi by her wrist uncharacteristically gently.

"Dr. Aki, I know this isn't the best time, but I need to find my friends who are in this City. Maybe they must have clues as to why Crow and Shinji were arrested," Naomi said. Aki agreed with Naomi's decision. She can tell the young girl is motivated by Haru and the kids. Even though she didn't directly meet Crow and them, she still wants to help them out.

"If they are in the City, there are some Tops that might help you look for them," Aki suggested. Naomi contemplated her options until she recalled her Xyz counterpart mentioned that she left the Synchro Dimension nine years ago. So maybe her family must still be here.

"Do you know anyone with the last name Shimizu?" Naomi asked Aki, and the older girl confirmed that she did know a house in the Tops Palace with the same name as the one Naomi mentioned.

"Can you please write the directions where they stay? I will do the rest," Naomi asked Aki, complied, and wrote down the direction to the Shimizu Villa.

Naomi took out her duel disk and materialized her duel monster spirit Clear Kuriboh. The duel monster chirped and rubbed his fur against Naomi's cheek.

While the girl was happy to see her duel monster spirit, this wasn't a time for a heartfelt reunion. "Clear Kuriboh, I'm going to need you to do something for me," Naomi whispered to the blue creature. Her plan was to notify her friends about the situation and prevent Haru, Yugo, and herself from getting into any more trouble as much as she wanted to rush out there to reunite with her friends, specifically Yuya and Yuzu, properly. She can't be hasty.

Naomi trusts her friends will have a plan if they did consider if Crow were to be arrested by Security. She will entrust the promise she made with Martha to them.

Meanwhile, Yugo was comforting his sad friend. He doesn't like to see his friend upset. He likes to see her smiling and being herself.

"Don't worry, Haru. I'm sure Crow and Shinji will be fine" Yugo hands Haru a blue handkerchief. The girl sneezed into the material and cried some more. Tears escaped her eyes. No matter how much she kept wiping her eyes, the tears wouldn't stop.

"I'm not really worried about Shinji since he's a bitch. I'm more worried about Crow. He won't be able to handle prison. He's the kind of bitch they be looking for."

Haru sneezed again in the soft material. She doesn't see the disgusted look Yugo has when he realizes what Haru means by her words. He doesn't waste any time smacking Haru in the back of her head.

"Don't say stuff like that, idiot!" Yugo grabbed the side of her wet cheeks and wiped her tears with his thumb pads. "Like I said, everything will be fine! I'm sure Crow and Shinji will be out of jail in no time flat by the time you blink!" Yugo released his hands, not before flicking Haru on the forehead. He gave a bright closed-eyed smile and patted her on the head.

He missed Haru's cheeks tinged with pink as the brown-haired girl looked down at the ground. She rubbed her forehead but didn't make her usual remarks.

Still, she felt bothered by the fact she put the people closest to her in harm's way because of her actions. Maybe if Crow hadn't saved her that day... then...

Haru shook her head to force those self-deprecating thoughts out of her mind. No matter how much she tried, they enveloped her well-being.

"B-But man, I think I hurt my knuckle earlier when I punch that brick wall. I think I'm going to need Dr. Aki to fix me up" Haru changed the subject. She looked up and held her bruised knuckle.

Yet to her surprise, she could clench her hand and didn't feel any pain. She wiped the blood with the handkerchief and saw no more bruises on her knuckle. It shocks Haru since she knows she did punch the brick wall at least six times. So how come her hand feels normal?

"What the hell...?"

Haru is snapped out of her stupor when Naomi returns with a note in her hand with directions Aki had written for her. "Micchi, are you going over there to where Yacchi and the others are at?"

Naomi shook her head and explained her plan to her lookalike.

Haru grinned and took the notes from Naomi's hands. "I'll write the directions to Gwen's place, so if they do go back to the Slums, then they will receive help," Haru wrote down the directions to her friend's place with a drawing and words that were clear and simple. Honestly, you couldn't miss it.

"Clear Kuriboh, I'm counting on you!" Naomi turned to her duel monster spirit, and the Kuriboh monster nodded and took the letter in his hands. He disappeared in a speck of dust. Naomi turned to Haru and Yugo and took their hands. "Now let's go to the City Center," Naomi said, confusing the duelists.

"Why?" Yugo asked honestly, not wanting to leave but knowing he and the others couldn't keep relying on Aki to hide them from Security any longer. Especially if they caused a commotion like before, Aki might get in trouble for harboring fugitives. They don't want to drag any more people into their problems.

Naomi beckoned Yugo to come closer so Haru won't listen to their conversation. "I want to cheer up Haru-chan. I know she still feels upset about what happened to Crow and Shinji. I wanted to take her to the City to cheer her up," Naomi explained. Although she couldn't go through with her promise, she could at least cheer up the person who welcomed her with open arms.

Now Yugo understood why Naomi suggested they go into the City Center.

"Haru-chan. Let's go to the City, and I'll treat you to whatever food or snack they serve in your Dimension," Naomi offered. While Haru drooled at the delicious food served in the City Center, she asked her counterpart if she had money. Naomi replied she didn't have any money on her.

"Then how will you treat your Boss to some food minion?" Haru asked. Naomi gave her own cheeky grin.

"You'll see..."

With those words, the trio left the house but not before they said their goodbyes to Aki, thanking her for all she's done for them. Aki bid them farewell and gave each of them a gift to help with their journey. They accepted the gifts and drove carefully out of the Tops Palace and into the City, heading towards their destination.

Early Afternoon_Tops Palace_Shimizu Villa_

Serena is irritated for another reason. When she was back at Crow's place, she was impatient. She couldn't stand waiting around for the situation to pass over despite it being a day since she arrived at the Synchro Dimension. Now she feels annoyed because of something else...

The reason is Yuki. When she first met the Mixed Deck Duelist, she mistook her for Akemi due to their similar facial features. There was also a passion Serena recognized whenever she crossed paths with her friend. There was always that gleam in Akemi's eyes, even if her expression was malicious.

But now, the gleam has completely vanished from the black-haired girl's eyes. It was as if she had become a whole new person... Just like her.

Serena couldn't take it anymore. She stood up and faced the black-haired girl, who still had the same cold and lifeless expression.

"What's wrong with you? Why do you have that look on your face?" Serena questioned. Yuki leaned her head, not understanding Serena's question until it came to her.

"Oh. My complexion does seem to be pale. Maybe I need to eat more," Yuki placed her hand on her cheek.

"You don't need to worry about eating more," Serena remarked, grimacing about last night when Yuki devoured forty plates of gyudon. While she was impressed by how much food the girl could devour, it still wasn't a pleasant sight at all, seeing all those bowls emptied in mere minutes.

"I'm talking about this!" Serena pulled Yuki into the nearest bathroom in the Villa, which she managed to find in minutes. Staring right back at them is their reflection.

"Ever since we arrived here- no! Ever since we came to this Dimension. You have this creepy smile on your face this entire time" Serena pulled Yuki's cheeks away to get rid of the smile that had been bugging her. But the Mixed Deck Duelist kept being unemotional and didn't react to Serena's action. She instead pries them off her face.

"We aren't even close, Serena. Why are you so concerned about my wellbeing? Why are you trying so hard?" Yuki asked. Although she did have a point in their strange relationship, it wasn't Yuki's harsh words that made Serena halt her movements. It was the last words the Mixed duelist asked.

She heard them many times during her stay at Academia when she dueled students left and right to prove her strength to the Professor. The defeated duelists would ask her this question. But this time, they held a sense of familiarity. It was as if she had heard them before from somewhere else. No, judging by her reaction to Yuki's words, Serena knows Akemi must have said those same words to her... but she couldn't recall when her friend said those words to her.

Yuki left when she saw Serena having an internal dilemma. Yuki continued her path to the garden, unaware that her mother was following her.

When she arrived at the garden, she took a deep breath and let it out as if she was releasing some of the burdens off her shoulders. She looked around the beautiful yet calming scenery. Yuki fondly remembered that she would converse with her duel monsters and even duel against them whenever she was alone in this garden. That was before her birthmark appeared on her lower left arm and before she came across her ace monster-Thunder End Dragon.

But now, all Yuki had were the bittersweet memories of the past before Academia invaded, and she lost everything. Thus, why does she keep the cold smile on her thin lips? For it to be a reminder of what she lost, but strange enough, she finds herself enjoying these peaceful moments and doesn't want to wake up from her cruel reality when she is reunited with her parents again. She feels joyful to be in their arms, and their presence soothes her pain.

Speaking of which...

"Okaa-sama... I know that you're here. You can come on out now" Yuki called out. Mizuki came out of the bushes blushing sheepishly. The woman is embarrassed to be caught so quickly but knows it is to be expected since Yuki is Arata's daughter. The other feature they share, besides having the same eye color as each other is they are both very perceptive about their surroundings.

"Is something wrong, sweetie? Be honest. I am pretty sure everyone can tell something is wrong with you?" Mizuki walked over to Yuki and placed her hand gently on her shoulder. She led both of them to a bench in their garden. It gives them a sense of relief whenever they just admire the calming scenery in the magnificent cultivated garden.

"Your father is worried about you but doesn't want to pressure you. Arata is afraid that he might cause you to leave again, so he decided to wait until you spoke up about the issue yourself. However, I still want to know what causes you to be this upset," Mizuki continued.

"What if this person or people I loss held no importance to me?"

"Yuki... If they weren't important to you at all, then you wouldn't be making that face."

Yuki's lips thin into a straight line. She briefly revealed to Mizuki what has been weighing her down and the recent change in her mood. Instead of lashing out just like she did when she told Naomi about the crushing pain in her heart. Yuki is calm when she tells her story and concludes her tale.

The Mixed Deck Duelist felt a hand on her cheek and turned towards her mother, whose dark purple eyes had concern, sympathy, and compassion swirling in those orbs.

"My poor baby... I can tell how much you really loved this boy and cared so much about your friends that you've changed" Mizuki hugged Yuki in her arms. She is heartbroken when her daughter tells her about what happened that caused her to drastically change. She understood where Yuki was coming from since she went through the same pain as well. When Mizuki lost her only daughter nine years ago. She was devastated and became a new person. It wasn't just her. Arata returns back to the way he was before he met her. He put up more walls and became cold-hearted so no one could try to enter deep into his heart to see that he was suffering. They kept this cold exterior until they reunited with their daughter. They may have been one of the lucky ones to return what they have lost back to them.

"But Yuki, just as we thought, we lost you for good. I'm sure this young man and your friends will return back to the way they are just like how you return to us" Mizuki pulled away and tilted the corner of Yuki's mouth upwards.

Yuki grumbled at how much Mizuki was trying to get her to smile genuinely. However, she doesn't try to stop her mother from doing whatever she pleases.

"I still remember what you said about nine years ago," Yuki brought up the words her mother told her when she was younger. "Even times are tough, remember to smile. That's what I am doing. I no longer have the strength to keep being swayed by my emotions. I can't stand losing people in front of my very eyes. I don't want to lose anyone else. If by chance, by a 1% chance, they do come back, then who's to say that they won't be taken away from me again. I can't do that anymore, Okaa-sama... Not as the way I am now. Until I can handle any more loss, I must put on this smiling facade."

Yuki stood up from her spot on the bench, and her lips curved into the dull smile she had ever since she arrived at the Synchro Dimension.

Mizuki stood up in retaliation and looked deep into her daughter's eyes. "Yuki. No one can handle the pain of losing someone they care about. It's human nature for us to care about people even though one day they might disappear from this world forever. It's inevitable, but that's how life works. It's because it works like that. We have to make sure we don't lose anyone else. "

Mizuki had seen people lose their beloved ones as, in turn, they changed because of the tremendous pain they've gone through. After all, she went through the same pain. But Mizuki never forgot the memories she made with her beloved ones to erase or lessen the pain she felt whenever she thought about her daughter. Whenever she and Arata were alone in their Villa, she cried nonstop. She confessed to Arata of her pain as he, in turn, let down his walls to reveal his own suffering. It is also human nature to share the burden with those you have made deep connections with and let them in your heart so they can comprehend and heal the pain of loss. To give you the push, you need to move forward in this cruel world.

"You said as the way you are now, you won't be able to handle another loss, but what you are doing is a way to make sure you don't feel any pain again. I know that feeling, sweetie. But when you unlock your emotions with your own hands, you'll remember the moments you felt during those times. It will overwhelm you at first, but soon you will accept it. At the end of the day, the feelings you felt with the people you've lost prove how much you've cared about them. If another loss comes around again, you don't hide your true feelings. Don't hide your suffering and let someone in your heart" Mizuki placed her hands on Yuki's shoulders.

"It doesn't matter if you become stronger. Some people who have been strong for a long time can crumble. But they can get back up again because they have someone who will lend them a shoulder to cry on when times become difficult. They can't bear the pain anymore by themselves" Mizuki placed her hand on Yuki's cheeks, causing the girl to cease her trembling throughout her mother's words full of sincerity.

"Yuki, will you give these people a chance to lift the weight you've been carrying this entire?"

The dull smile Yuki faltered, and she looked back at her Dimension's current situation. In the glimpses of the tragedy, she witnessed many people comforting each other. Some people who have never met the other person gave a shoulder to cry on and provide reassuring words to the mourning family members whose children's lives have been lost.

The more Yuki recalled the event, the more she reminisced about her conversation with Yuzu last night.

Last Night_Tops Palace_Shimizu's Villa_Living Room_

After dinner, Yuki sat on the couch drinking her oolong tea. Next to her is Mizuki, styling Reira's hair in different styles as she kept doting on the young girl. The young duelist enjoyed Mizuki's company and affectionate actions. Even letting out small giggles every now and then.

Yuki is glad the young girl is starting to open up and show emotions little by little. The first time is when Reira showed happiness when she was talking with Emilia and Amalia about their older siblings. Now she is experiencing a mother's love from Mizuki, something Himika never showed the young girl during Yuki's stay at LDS.

Yuki saw Reira was slowly coming out of her shell and was starting to become more like a human rather than a puppet when Yuki first encountered the young girl. If only Reiji could see his younger sister. Yuki vowed to reunite the pair of siblings together and save Ruri from Academia so Shun could start opening up and return to how he used to be before the invasion started.

The black-haired girl stood up and left the warm atmosphere in the room before she tainted the pleasant mood.

Yuki goes outside to stand on the balcony and enjoy the dark sky filled with stars. She looked back on when they first arrived at the Villa. She grimaced when she recalled Yuya and Shingo were still facing the end of her father's wrath. To summarize, they are both going through hell right now.

No matter how much Mizuki and the other girls try to persuade and beg Arata to cut the boys some slack. The man firmly stuck to his decision and took the boys outside to teach them a lesson they will never forget.

Yuki shuddered in her spot when she heard screams all throughout the garden. She prays for Yuya and Shingo to come out alive and unscathed.

Meanwhile, Yuzu was finished taking a hot bath with Serena and is amazed by how athletic the Moonlight Duelist is compared to her. She felt a little jealous but was motivated to train during her travels.

Yuzu paused when she saw Yuki standing outside. Instead of a cold smile, the girl usually shows this time. Her face is neutral. She doesn't have a single trace of emotions on her visage.

It wasn't just Yuzu who noticed the girl's strange expression. Everyone with eyes can tell something wasn't right with Yuki. Still, whenever Yuya and Shingo try to get close to her, Arata prevents them and thus explains their current situation.

Yuzu wanted to repay Yuki for consoling her when she was saddened by her failure to prevent Naomi from being teleported to this Dimension. Although seeing her friend again eased her worries, it still wasn't enough to erase them.

Yuzu made up her mind and went outside to talk to Yuki, who turned around when she heard the balcony door open. Yuki's visage shortly had a dull smile. Yuzu frowned upon witnessing that smile.

Even though Yuki and Naomi are completely different from each other, there are factors that make them similar to each other, and one of these similarities is they mask their expression with a smile. As if the smile they have will delude the people closest to the young girls...

That would have been the case if their close friends and family didn't know the birthmark girls well enough and would've brushed the matter aside. However, the people that are very close to Naomi and Yuki know that the reason why the girls smile, which is full of suffering and pain, is to assure their friends and family that they are alright. When in reality, they aren't.

"Don't do that!" Yuzu blurted out. Yuki tilted her head when she didn't know what Yuzu was talking about.

"Even though you're smiling... You're actually suffering, aren't you."

Yuki giggled at Yuzu's words, but the Melodious Duelist didn't hear any warmth coming from the girl's laughter. It was as if she was mocking her.

"Oh my. What gave you the idea I'm suffering?" Yuki tilted her head and placed her hand on her cheek. "Maybe it's because I look like Naomi that you assume I look like I need help. Correct."

Yuzu doesn't hide her flinching at Yuki's words. It is true that she is basing it on what Naomi had done in the past and is applying it to Yuki's current actions as a means of helping her.

Yuki chuckled humorlessly at Yuzu's reaction. She was about to go inside but was stopped by a hand holding her wrist firmly yet gently.

"If that's the case, then let me return those words back to you... Tell me, Yuki. You helped me back in the Standard Dimension because I look like Ruri, or perhaps you thought I was her instead, right." This time Yuzu turned the tables on Yuki. The black-haired girl's smile vanished from her face. Indicating that the pink-haired girl is right about what she just said.

Yuzu continued not giving Yuki a chance to talk. "To be honest, I don't care if that was the case. Right now, I see Yuki Shimizu in front of me in desperate need of help. I want to repay the girl who comforted me in my time of need, and now's it is my turn to help you out."

"True, we may not know each other long enough to be considered close friends, but I won't turn a blind eye to someone suffering right in front of me. I may not know you long enough to understand your pain. However, I want to understand you so we can become friends and not because you look like Naomi, and I look like Ruri...Even if this desire is selfish to other people or my reasoning to help you is naive...Despite all that, I still want to fight alongside you and return Heartland to the way it was! I want to be there for you, Yuki!"

Yuzu closed her eyes, and her cheeks flushed in embarrassment at her words. She meant what she said. She's not close to Yuki that she can easily get the girl out of her depressed feelings with her words alone, but that doesn't mean she will turn a blind eye towards them.

For a split second, Yuki didn't see Ruri like she usually does whenever she sees Yuzu since the two of them are so similar to each other, not just in appearance but in personality as well. Right now, she sees Yuzu, and her words bring up a memory of not too long ago. From when Naomi challenged Yuki to a duel to understand her and the others did even though she couldn't, she still tried regardless of the fact.

Yuki's eyebrows furrowed, and she bit her tongue hard enough to stop herself from revealing she was affected by Yuzu's words.

Yuki concealed her trembling eyes by closing them, and the dull smile returned. She released herself from Yuzu's grip and headed out the door. Before she left the balcony, she turned her head toward Yuzu.

"That's all the more reason why you shouldn't get too close to me. One day you may lose your life if you were to associate yourself with me, for your own good, Yuzu. Just don't," with those words, Yuki exited the balcony.

Present Time_Tops Palace_Shimizu Villa_Garden_

There are people who want to help her, but truthfully, Yuki doesn't want to lose anyone else, so she has to push them away before they get the chance to. Honestly, she didn't want to associate with her Standard counterpart or involve her in this war. She didn't want Naomi to go through the same traumatic experience she is currently in, which changed her behavior forever. But fate had other plans. In the end, Naomi and her beloved ones got involved, and now they will go through the same experience she and her friends had to endure to survive.

It was a simple desire for Yuki. She doesn't want anyone else than she already did who had no involvement in her affairs to be dragged away from their home and fight using the game they love so much.

But it was just a desire and nothing more. Nobody promised her that it was the absolute truth.

Yuki tried to move her dry mouth and find her words. "Okaa-sama... There are parts about myself that I despise. I'm a hypocrite, childish, selfish, harsh, ruthless, cowardly, and emotionally unstable. But despite all of my bad traits, there are people that want to be my friend and help me... It's the same qualities my current friends are still by my side... It's the same qualities why he loves me because I am not a perfect person."

Yuki clenched her clothes tight enough, and the memories soon overwhelmed her. She thought if she were to seal her pain, grief, and love, then the memories would still be intact inside her heart. What she didn't realize those same emotions she hid is within those memories. Just like with Reira, they slowly began to show and overwhelmed her no matter how much she attempted to conceal them.

Back then, when she made her decision. It was because she didn't want to get hurt again. Before the invasion, she was afraid to let people in, and even now, she still is. She was worried they would desert her because she wasn't perfect if they saw her imperfections. At this moment, she didn't change and become a better person like she had hoped. She became worse than she did before.

Despite all of her bad qualities, there are people who still want to be there for her. People who want to get close to her.

"... One day, I will have to leave you and Otou-sama again, so nobody else goes through the same experience I went through... I will probably go through the same pain again and make the same foolish decisions again, but those choices will be made by myself and no one else... I know I'm not a good person. I know I can't change for the better, and I will find more traits that I will hate, but despite all of that, it will prove. I am me. The not-so-perfect Yuki Shimizu," Yuki trembled as she hung her head. She finally got her words out. She feels scared about her mother's reaction. Nevertheless, she stood still in her spot and hugged herself. Waiting for the black-haired woman to react.

Silence hung in the garden. The only sound is the birds chirping and the water flowing in and out of the fountain.

A hand cupped Yuki's cheek and wiped her eyes with their thumb pads. Unbeknownst to the black-haired girl, she was crying during her speech. When Yuki raised her head, she was also met with Mizuki crying. There was adoration, pride, and joy written across her visage.

"You finally... revealed your true feelings... Yuki," Mizuki cried, embracing her daughter tight. "I'm so glad... Somehow I knew when you returned that you would have to leave again... I wanted to keep you here to protect you... But if I kept you here, you would have never reached your conclusion, and eventually, you would have been like a lifeless doll. I rather you go back to the battlefield than let keep let you suffer in silence."

Mizuki revealed her own selfishness. When her daughter kept her strange expression since last night, she knew something was wrong with her. Still, she didn't want to say anything because of her fear of Yuki not returning back to her and Arata. But Mizuki is glad she talked to Yuki about what was bothering her. Although it would mean they would have to part and go their separate ways.

Mizuki preferred it to be that way than to let her little girl be in pain any longer.

"Just promise me after everything is over. You'll come back, and then we can become a family again," Mizuki said, wiping her and Yuki's tears in the process. "I would also like to meet this Yuto fellow, while your father will definitely kill him. I still want to meet him, not just him, but your friends who have stuck by your side through the years. I want to show them my gratitude for taking care of my daughter in our absence."

During this whole thing, Yuki has given small smiles filled with small ounces of warmth she used to show, but this time, her face beamed. Her lips which were in a straight thin line started to curve upward.

"You definitely will, Okaa-sama!"

Unknown to them, Yuki's birthmark was glowing this entire time as a card glowed a white light in Yuki's extra deck, creating cards as if the monsters were responding to her will. As well as a familiar blue spirit flying in the garden carrying a note in its hands.

Afternoon_City Center_

Haru was sitting on a nearby bench, watching Naomi set up for her performance as Yugo helped her lookalike. At first, Haru was skeptical. She thought Naomi would steal some cash, but she shook the idea away because of how ridiculous it seemed. Besides that, it sounds like something she would do herself.

Haru waited patiently and looked at the City Center as fond memories entered her mind. They were about Crow taking her to this place frequently to steal food for them on occasions, and Shinji would come with them. They would bring the food they stole back to the Orphanage and get scolded harshly by Martha. But afterward, they would be forgiven for their actions and eat what they stole with everyone.

There was a time Shinji and Crow would take Haru and the other kids to see Chojiro Tokumatsu, aka Enjoy Chojiro, before he was arrested five years ago. His duels were entertaining, and his speeches were inspirational. They made an impact on Haru. It made her want to enjoy life more than she used to. She was just living in the moment, not caring about a tomorrow that would never be in her grasp, and kept being chained by the past.

But now, she is reminded again of how cruel reality really is. Thus, Haru returned to the way she was before Tokumatsu and Pearson. Fighting to survive as a means to an end. Not caring if she were to vanish from this world.

Haru's eyes darkened. "I shouldn't have been saved or have been born." She muttered. Her birthmark started to glow a dark gold-yellowish color enveloping her body. More negative thoughts swarm in her mind affecting her.

Meanwhile, Naomi gazed at Haru. Her eyes tinged with concern. Her Synchro counterpart had the same malicious aura Yuki had in her duel against Izumi. This time, the color was a dark gold-yellowish color rather than black.

If it was just like last time, then Haru is being plagued by her inner demons taunting her. However, just like last time, Naomi will snap her counterpart out of her malevolent state.

"Okaa-san. I'm going to use one of your songs. Please give me strength" Naomi cupped her hands together and remembered Himeko's advice during the Maiami Festival.

Naomi closed her eyes and began to sing.

How far we've come

How much we've changed

A thousand nights and a million tears

Now I can say that I've conquered my fear

If I could go back, what would I tell you

Wish you'd listen to the truth

Till then I'll be patiently waiting right here

Promises are kept deep in the heart

Bells are ringing so loud

Our spirits will never die

As long as there is something worth fighting for

We won't give up

Even if the sky is falling down

Even if the stars crash and burn the ground

We'll believe our voice will reach the universe

We won't give up till the end

We won't give up till we smile again

Cuz we're alive

Cuz we made a promise to the world

to the world

When the song was finished, a huge crowd surrounded Naomi, and cheers were heard in the audience. Sounds of applause and money are being dropped to the helmet on the ground where Yugo is, as he also was stunned by what he just heard. The song sounded so beautiful and soothing. But it also had a powerful message behind it.

Telling the audience not to give up on their ambitions no matter how far they seem. As long they keep on moving forward no matter what life throws at them, no matter if it gets too hard. Just as the song title says, don't give up.

Yugo wasn't the only one who thought that. Haru unclenched her clothes during the song, and her eyes glistened, unlike before. She didn't have a malicious aura covering as well. As a bonus, her birthmark reverted back to its original color.

For once in her life, she felt calm. As if the dark thoughts she had vanished as of this moment, Haru knew one day they would return. The idea of those cruel words coming back brought chills down her spine. She knew where her insecurities originated from and didn't like it.

If only there were some way for her to permanently shoo her self-doubts away for good. Then she wouldn't have a problem with moving forward. To pursue her lifelong dream. Even if it seems incredibly naive. She still wants to make it come true for their sake.

Unbeknownst to Haru, her birthmark shone its original color. Instead of the malicious aura from earlier this time, it glowed purple. The tenderness of the glow made Haru drowsy.

Soon she is lured into a deep sleep.

Where Haru is_

Haru woke up in the same place as last time. On the edge of the building, she can see the entire horizon of the City.

"W-Wait, why am I here again?" Haru asked, whipping her head back and forth. When she stood up and took a step, the scenery changed again, but she was in front of the Orphanage in the Commons Slums this time.

Appearing in front of the entrance is the same woman as last time, but there was a different air around her. Instead of the tenderness she showed Haru this time, there was animosity.

"Do you know why I call you here, Haru?" The woman asked. Haru shrugged her shoulders. "I assume you want to give me a gift, " The brown-haired girl responded wittily.

"I have to warn you. I don't take cash unless it's to buy presents for my brats and Crow; otherwise, I don't mind what you give me."

Soon as Haru said those words, the animosity towards the woman amplified greatly, sticking to Haru's skin. "Tough crowd."

"Do you remember what you told me before, Haru? You said that your past creates you but doesn't define you. Yet why are you constantly reminding yourself of the same past that inflicted mental scars preventing you from moving on? Why do you keep hurting yourself like this?" the woman mentioned.

Haru recoiled but didn't deny what the woman had said. She doesn't even come up with an answer to retaliate against what the woman is saying to her. She pressed her lips in a straight line.

"As the way you are now, you will never accomplish your dreams. You will only fall because of your insecurities weighing you down. You will only have yourself to blame when you can never make any of your goals come to fruition. If you don't straighten up and get your act together, this will be the end of the line for you."

The mysterious woman's words are cold and heartless. Before, she was about to continue further in her lecture. She was interrupted by a shout.

"You don't have any fucking idea what it's like to be put down by the same people who are supposed to be your goddamn family!" Haru lashed out. "I had so many people expecting me to act so god damn perfect all the time! But you know what! I didn't care about those Tops bastards. I only cared about them."

Her parent's faces appeared in Haru's mind. The brown-haired girl gritted her teeth in anger as the memories began to resurface and cloud her eyes. They were filled with resentment towards the people she called family.

"No matter how much I hated those strict rules, they forced on me how I am supposed to act in public from what goddamn fork I'm supposed to use to eat some small salad! But despite all of that, I still try my hardest for their sake, and what do they do to repay me? By tossing me aside when I was just five years old! They have some nerve to pull a shitty stunt like that!" Haru wiped the tears gathering in her eyes. "I... can't help myself but ask what did I do wrong that made you want to leave me for dead... Was I not good enough for you?"

Though her eyes were hidden, the woman empathized with the young girl. But she mustn't deteriorate herself from her objective. If this continues, Haru may end up losing herself in the process because of her insecurities caused by her past trauma.

The woman concealed her emotions, and her face returned to its neutral state. She snapped her finger, and a duel disk was strapped against Haru's wrist, shocking the girl. When Haru tried to pry the duel disk off. It was stuck to her arm.

The young girl knew it was useless after many attempts and gave up. "After I pour my entire heart, it led up to this. How stupid," Haru grumbled bitterly. She accepted that she could use this as an opportunity to this duel as an outlet for her pent-up feelings besides using her fists.

The woman shook her head. "I know what you are thinking. I won't be your opponent. You will be against someone who is the root of your uncertainties and the reason why you think badly about yourself," the woman elaborated further as she disappeared, and soon another woman took her place.

The woman was taller and older than the mysterious woman whose face was hidden behind her purple bangs. This time the woman's face is clear, revealing a pair of blue eyes. She had brown hair pulled up in a bun with a crystal hair ornament. The woman is wearing a white long-sleeved colored blouse and a long red skirt that stops at her ankles. Finally, she wore a pair of black flats.

The woman's figure became recognizable to Haru as an enraged expression took over her face. Veins bulging out of her head and hands.

"I-It's you! Why did it have to be you?!" Haru bit her lower lip hard enough to draw blood as it dripped from the corner of her mouth. "You shitty, old hag!"

"That is no way to speak to your mother, Haru," the woman chastised, narrowing her eyes at her visibly angered child, who scoffed and wiped the blood from her mouth with the back of her hand.

"You lost that right to call yourself my mother when you abandoned me that day. Isn't that right, Akina" Haru mocked the woman by calling her by her first name.

"Actually, didn't you say these exact words, and I quote 'I shouldn't have given birth to you' did you or did you not say those exact words 'Mama'" Haru puts her fingers up when the phrase mom slips out of her mouth. She brings up the same words that were the source of where her low self-esteem and abandonment issues came from.

Akina frowned deeply but didn't refute what her daughter mentioned. "You wouldn't understand, Haru..." Akina tried to explain her actions and words of what happened that day, but she was cut off by a shout.

"I never wanted to-"

"I don't want to freaking hear it! Let's hurry up and start the duel!" Haru activated the duel disk. "If you don't have anything else to say, then stop wasting my time!"

Akina saw the anger and bitterness in her daughter's eyes directed toward her. She knows that Haru won't listen to her when she acts like this. "I have no other option... And here I hope we could have talked things out and hoped things could have worked out better for us in the end... This wasn't the reunion I had in mind," Akina muttered. Regardless she activates the duel disk on her arm.

"DUEL!" Mother and daughter shouted these words as they each drew their opening hands.

Akina Kobi vs Haru Kobi; 4000 LP Each, H:5 Each

Turn 1

H:5

"I'm going first!" Haru declared, taking a card out of her opening hand.

"I activate Cockadoodledoo's effect from my hand when there are no monsters on the field! I can Special Summon this card as a Level 3 Monster!" Haru summons a white rooster bird to her field in Defense Position.

Wind/Level 5-3/Winged-Beast/Tuner/Effect/ATK 1600/DEF 2000

"Next, by removing a Spell Card Tuning from my hand, Monoceros is Special Summoned!" Another Monster appeared on the field right next to Cockadoodledoo.

Light/Level 3/Beast/Effect/ATK 1000/DEF 1000

"I tune my Level 3 Monoceros to the now Level 3 Cockadoodledoo! The dragon who evolved himself into the charged warrior! Synchro Summon! Descend! Level 6 Stardust Charge Warrior!"

A figure wearing dragon armor replaced the two monsters and was summoned to the field in ATK Position.

Wind/Level 6/Warrior/Synchro/Effect/ATK 2000/DEF 1300

Since Stardust Charge Warrior is Synchro Summoned, Haru was able to draw a card via its effect.

"Malik...Kit lend me your strength" Haru looked at the card she drew and played the card, thinking about her younger foster brothers.

"I activate the Spell Card 'Foolish Burial' by sending Jet Synchron to my Graveyard however my monster isn't staying there for long. I send Quillbolt Hedgehog to bring back Jet Synchron however, the next time it leaves the field, it is banished!"

The blue-colored Synchron Monster was brought back by a portal and was next to Stardust Charge Warrior.

Fire/Level 1/Machine/Tuner/Effect/Effect/ATK 500/DEF 0

"Now, at this moment, T.G Warwolf's effect activates the moment when Jet Synchron is Special Summoned! Come out, Warwolf!"

A brown-colored wolf with some of its body parts had blue-colored armor, including its right arm is a claw.

Dark/Level 3/Beast-Warrior/Effect/ATK 1200/DEF 0

"Finally, I tune my Level 3 T.G Warwolf to Level 1 Jet Synchron! The armory machine who came to aid us! Show yourself to the world! Synchro Summon! Level 4 Armory Arm!"

Light/Level 4/Machine/Synchro/Effect/ATK 1800/DEF 1200

Haru didn't waste any time equipping the recently summoned monster to Stardust Charge Warrior, boosting the monster's ATK by 1000, making its ATK 3000.

"With that, I end my turn. Come at me, Old Hag!" The girl concluded her turn, leaving her Spell/Trap Zone empty.

Akina observed the monsters her daughter had summoned on her First Turn. They were different types and attributes, and some came from different archetypes. Unlike the Chaos Monsters Akina gave her, these two different cards shouldn't have any synergy with each other, yet they worked well together.

"Where did you get those cards?" Akina questioned. She'd never seen those cards in Haru's deck until today. The girl scoffed but answered the questions.

"There are kids who went through rough times because of their folks. Just like me, but I was lucky enough to have Crow save me that day. If it wasn't for him reaching out to this deserted girl on the verge of death by starvation, I honestly don't know what would've happened to me," Haru admitted. She remembers through the course of the years when she encounters each of her younger foster siblings during each of their harsh moments in their young lives.

With Akira, his parents almost cut him open and sold all of his organs to the Black Market to make enough cash to fulfill the loan Garome gave them that would have taken years to pay back. Haru stopped these inhuman actions by defeating Garome with Rin's help and burning the contracts to ashes. She beat Akira's parents and took the boy under her wing from that day forward.

With Kit, ever since his mother died, his father beat him senselessly for even the smallest mistakes periodically. He was a bad influence on the young boy. Promoting Kit to steal from other people who were extremely less fortunate than him. Every time he did, he felt guilty about his actions but was afraid of his father to oppose him. One day Haru caught him in the act and forced him to return the item and reveal to her why he would resort to stealing. Kit disclosed to Haru how his father beats him if he disobeys or doesn't fulfill his tasks like the one he failed to do because of her interference. Haru dragged Kit by his wrist and informed Martha about his situation. In turn, he informed the authorities and arrested Kit's father for child endangerment. Since then, Kit has been grateful to Haru and Martha for helping him in his time of need.

With Malik, he was left behind by his parents to fend for himself with only the clothes on his body. He wandered around the Slums hoping to find something to eat. He didn't care if it was scrap or crumbs. He wanted food in his stomach. After three months went by, he was all bones and couldn't take another step, he soon passed out from hunger, and when he woke up, Haru was waiting for him with a tray of soup and bread for him to eat. Happily, Malik took the food and thanked the older girl, who told him he would get more food if he stayed with her. She told Malik he would have a place to call home. Following her words, the young boy cried tears for the first time and accepted her offer.

With Emilia and Amalia, they were sold by their families, who were in poverty, to a person who didn't have any good intentions for the young twins taking sadistic pleasure in their screams by beating them mercilessly. They hated being with the person and couldn't escape them no matter how many times they tried. Even now, they developed psychological trauma from the beatings they received from their owner.

One day on a trip to the City Center, Emilia tripped and knocked over the groceries on the ground and was about to get disciplined for her careless mistake. There was a sound of someone being punched but strange that it wasn't she and Amalia who got hit. It was their owner, courtesy of Haru ramming her fist in their throat and kicking them hard in the stomach. When the person fell to the ground, Haru took both girls' wrists and left the scene laughing at her action, and strange enough, both twins laughed with the older girl's tears streaming down their cheeks. For the first time in their life, they had a budding feeling in their chest. They had hope.

Finally, Ko's situation was the same as Emilia's and Amalia's. Although she is younger than her foster siblings, she has already experienced so much hardship in her young life. She witnessed gruesome moments during the time she was a bondservant. The bodies of the other children decay as their bodies rot where they were killed because of multiple circumstances due to the harsh working conditions their owner placed them in. Ko was in her personal hell, but that all stopped because of Haru butting her nose into her business. By dueling her owner, who used an Ice Barrier Deck, and defeating him, Haru took back Ko and the other imprisoned children's freedom from that wretched man. Although to this day, Ko still has nightmares about the horrendous times she endured. However, it was because of Haru that she didn't have to suffer anymore. And was able to look forward to tomorrow.

"Because I was saved by Crow and many others, I want to save anyone I'm able to save with my own two hands, " Haru confided her lifelong goal to her mother.

"...My younger siblings went through so much hell because of their folks. I am giving those bastards the benefit of the doubt because of their financial issues that their kids had to learn the hard way how reality truly works in this messed up world. I wish things had turned out differently for those brats. Sometimes I wonder, did those guys even consider their children's feelings and how their choices affected each of those kids' lives in the worst possible way."

Haru's eyes shone with determination.

"It's because of them that I learned there are other children who are going through the same hardship they went through, and that's why I can't give up not until I fulfill my dream and my promise."

Akina is stunned by how much Haru has changed in the past nine years. She still saw the little girl who always causes trouble on other people's behalf instead of her own. But now, she sees how much Haru has changed after witnessing so many horrible experiences because of her decision back then.

Maybe if Akina was more honest with herself, then maybe she could've...

The woman shook her head. There's no point in wishing for what already happened and hoping to change the result of her choice. This is what she decided, and now she has to face the results she'd made nine years ago.

"Very well. I will challenge your will head-on" Akina drew for her turn and looked at her opening hand. A shocked expression showed on her face, but a look of understanding replaced the expression she had seconds ago. Akina nodded and played the drawn card.

Turn 2

H:5-6

"I activate the Spell Card 'Chaos Greed' by discarding Chaos Boy to my Graveyard. I can draw two cards" Akina drew her cards. A portal opened up next to her. "When Chaos Boy is sent to the Graveyard by a card effect, I can Special Summon him. Resurrect yourself!"

A purple short-haired boy wearing a black shirt with white pants and devil wings on his lower back stepped onto the field.

Dark/Level 2/Fiend/Tuner/Effect/ATK 1200/DEF 1700

Haru snorted bitterly. "First, you wish you never gave birth to me, and now you're using my deck. What more can this Old Hag take from me," The girl mumbled under her breath. She watched her mother use her cards.

"Don't forget this was originally my deck before I gave them to you, Haru," Akina remarked. Though she didn't hear what Haru had mumbled, she had a feeling her daughter was being sneaky and sarcastic.

"Let's continue. I summon Silent Boy to my field" a young boy with devil horns and a tail with a stoic expression appeared on the field.

Dark/level 1/Fiend/Effect/ATK 600/DEF 2600

"Since you know this card's effect, I don't have to waste any more time explaining his effects. Now come forth, Chaos Teacher!" The older male wears a magician suit wielding a duel staff in both of his hands.

Light/Level 7/Spellcaster/Effect/ATK 2500/DEF 2000

"I tune my Level 1 Silent Boy to Level 2 Chaos Boy! Synchro Summon! Level 3! Chaos Rose!"

A black rose-colored creature with dark blue eyes sprouted from the ground and spread its vines across the area, leaving white flowers to blossom in the ground.

Light/Level 3/Plant/Synchro/Effect/ATK 600/DEF 1000

"Chaos Rose allows me to Special Summon a Plant-Type Monster from my hand. Appear Chaos Seed!" Akina brought out a yellow seed monster with a singular eye on her field.

Dark/Level 2/Plant/Effect/ATK 1000/DEF 500

"When Chaos Seed is summoned, I can add a Chaos Monster from my Deck to my hand. I choose to add Chaos Child," Akina said.

Out of nowhere, the seed-like monster burst into flames. The hot petals flew by Haru sliced her cheeks and stinging them, but it wasn't enough to make her flinch.

Haru:4000-1500=2500 LP

"Chaos Seed allows you to inflict damage to the opponent equal to its combined ATK and DEF. Therefore, I took 1500 points of damage," Haru explained, wiping the blood off her cheek.

"Chaos Teacher allows me to add a Spell or Trap Card to my hand if he is Special Summoned by a Chaos Monster's effect" Akina added a card to her hand, returning the size to normal like when she started the duel.

"Battle. Chaos Teacher attack Stardust Charge Warrior! At this moment, Chaos Teacher takes Chaos Rose 600 ATK, thus increasing his ATK to 3100" Akina commanded her monster to blast at the Synchro Monster, but the older woman isn't finished.

"I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card 'Chaotic Gales' now you take damage half of Chaos Teacher's ATK! Take 1550!" The card shot a tri-colored beam hitting Haru on the shoulder, causing her to wince from the intensity of the blast. Haru glanced down and saw her LP go down drastically. She was in the danger zone.

Haru:2500-1550=950 LP

Her monster was destroyed to add to the damage, and she lost an additional 100 LP from the attack.

Haru:950-100=850 LP

"I set three cards and end my turn. The duel had just started, and you are already lost so many Life Points," Akina noted. "Were you just blowing hot air earlier, or is this really the extent of your abilities."

Haru bit her tongue from lashing out at the older woman who was succeeding at trying to throw her off by using her short temper against her.

If Rin were here with her, she would've definitely got a scolding and her ear being pulled. Just thinking about her friend's actions made Haru subconsciously rub her ears.

"Rincchi has always been a second mother figure to me. Weird because we are the same age, but it's the truth. Though she acts like a mother hen from time to time to the point, it gets so damn annoying. Never once did I hate being told off and scolded harshly. She does it… because she cares about my well-being, just like Crow, Martha, and Aki, do. The same can be said for Pearson too."

If Yugo were here, he definitely would cheer her on, telling her to concentrate and give it her all. He might throw in some tactless words that would have definitely made her want to punch him. But Haru knows he means well. Although he never has the right words to say to her. Haru can figure out what he is trying to tell her.

"He doesn't have a single hint of delicacy, and there are times when he can be a pain in the ass, but Gocchi helped me more than he realized...No not just him, Shinji, Gwen, Akira, Kit, Malik, Amalia, Emilia, Ko helped me throughout the years. There were times I wish I never existed and never had been born, but whenever I see their smiling face and them laughing stupidly. It satisfies me because I can see and hear all those smiles and laughter. Sometimes I may not have been the reason for their short-lived happiness, but what I do know is I want those smiles to remain if they can for this lifetime and the next one..."

Haru closed her eyes and took a shaky breath. She still may have self-deprecating thoughts about herself, but as she thought before, as long as she can see those eyes staring back at her with fondness and their smiles brimming with affection are directed at her.

It may be small, but that's enough for her.

Haru doesn't have a reason to live. She may have a goal, but once she accomplishes her goal, then she will be done with this life and hope things will be better in the next life.

But if she were to vanish for good, those eyes would be filled with sadness, and those smiles will disappear from her precious people's faces. Haru doesn't want that to happen. It's because of them she needs a reason to live.

She will live for their sake. She will fight to see tomorrow and the days followed after... She will survive for them!

Haru closed her eyes and placed her hand on her deck. She felt strength surging from her body. The more she thought of her precious people who have been there for her. The more her mind became clear, a brilliant light formed a path for her.

A roar was heard from Haru's Extra Deck, and it was faint, but she heard a voice. The voice was familiar. It was as if she had heard this voice before.

"You've kept us waiting for quite a while. You aren't quite there yet, but it's better late than never. It's time for you to unlock your hidden potential. Awake their power Haru Kobi."

A golden light emitted from the girl's arm, and she opened her eyes and drew her card. When Haru glanced at the drawn card, she smiled.

Turn 3

H:0-1

"First, I activate the Quick-Play Spell 'Synchro's Greed' I banish Armory Arm to draw three cards. Next, I activate the Spell Card 'Lightning Storm' to destroy all Spell and Traps Cards! Obliterate them!" Haru started her turn. Yellow lightning bolts rain down, striking the cards. Akina had no choice but to activate one of them before it was too late.

"Then, I will chain your effect! I activate my Reverse Card 'Chaotic Healing'. I banish Chaos Boy, so we both gain his 1200 ATK" Chaos Boy turn into particles, rains down on the two women, and increases their LP by 1200.

Haru:850+1200=2050 LP

Akina:4000+1200=5200 LP

"Regardless, two of your other set cards will be destroyed!" Haru remarked as she took a card out of her hand.

"I summon Wind Witch - Chaos Bell to my field!" The monster resembled Ice Bell. However, her hair was yellow-colored, and her outfit was purple and white-colored as she flew on the field on a brown broomstick.

Dark/Level 4/Spellcaster/Tuner/Effect/ATK 1000/DEF 1000

"When Chaos Bell is summoned, you take damage equal to her ATK! Let her have it!"

Chaos Bell waves her wand and a twister of cold wind blasts from the wand. The storm is heading towards the woman but is deflected by a young boy with a butler outfit on with devil wings on his back.

"I send Chaos Child to the Graveyard, and via his effect, I take no effect damage for the rest of this turn!" Akina protected her LP however, despite her setback, Haru wasn't finished.

"When I have a Tuner Monster on my field. I can Special Summon White Wing Dragon from my hand" this time, joining the Magician Monster was a small dragon with white crystal wings flying on the field.

Wind/Level 4/Dragon/Tuner/Effect/ATK 500/DEF 400

"For a Synchro Summon, Chaos Bell is treated as a Non-Tuner Monster. Now the preparations are complete! I tune my Level 4 Wind Witch - Chaos Bell to Level 4 White Wing Dragon!" Haru shouted. White Wing Dragon turned into rings as they passed through Chaos Bell, turning her into stars.

"Spread your chaotic yet beautiful wings and show your appearance between the light and darkness! Synchro Summon! Level 8 Chaos Wing Synchro Dragon!"

A monster greatly resembled Clear Wing descends on the field however the color of its crystal wings was yellow as its scales were a dark purple color. The claws and talons were sharper than the Synchro Dragon but smaller. Finally, the tail had a yellow crystal at the end.

Wind/Level 8/Dragon/Synchro/Effect/ATK 3000/DEF 2500

"Battle! I attack Chaos Teacher with Chaos Wing Synchro Dragon!"

Haru pointed at the opposing monster. Chaos Wing took to the skies and swooped down instantly to destroy the Magician Monster however, Akina wasn't going to let her monster be destroyed.

"At this moment, Chaos Teacher's effect activates! I reduce Chaos Rose ATK to 0- "

"No, you won't!" Haru interjected the wings of the Synchro Dragon shine, illuminating the sky and ground in a mixture of yellow and black, respectively. "When a Level 5 or higher monster activates its effect, that monster effect is negated and destroyed! In addition, since this card used White Wing Dragon as Synchro Material, this dragon will gain Chaos Teacher 2500 ATK!"

"Chaotic Mirror!" The lights shone, obliterating Chaos Teacher into smithereens as Chaos Wing's ATK is now 5500.

"The Battle Phase replays! Chaos Wing Synchro Dragon attack Chaos Rose!"

The dragon swan dived down, colliding against the Plant-Type Synchro Monster, destroying the monster easily however, since it was in Defense Position, Akina didn't take any damage, and because of Chaos Rose's Effect, Akina Special Summoned Chaos Student in ATK Position.

Light/Level 2/Spellcaster/Tuner/Effect/ATK 2000/DEF 100

But that one move wasn't going to stop Haru.

"I activate Chaos Wing's other effect! I bring back Chaos Bell and tribute her, so my dragon gains her 1000 ATK and is allowed to attack again!" Chaos Bell showed up as a spirit and became absorbed into the golden-winged dragon as it powered up and landed another strike, effectively piercing Chaos Student in the chest. The collision was huge enough to create shockwaves sending Akina back to the Orphanage entrance. The impact caused the woman to flinch, but she soon regained her footing back.

Akina:5200-4500=700 LP

"With that, I end my turn," Haru finished her turn, glancing at her new Synchro Monster with adoration. She didn't know why it resembled her friend's ace monster, but she did not care.

It wasn't just this monster. Wind Witch - Chaos Bell and White Wing Dragon: those cards don't just represent the strong feelings she had for her two childhood friends, but they also symbolize the bond she shares with her loved ones who helped and guided her through her journey.

"Old Hag... You threw me out to the side on that very day. But it was because of what you did that I was able to meet wonderful people who I call my friends and my true family," Haru brought up. "… Thanks for allowing me to meet such wonderful people even if it was under very bad circumstances."

Akina blinked owlishly as she processed her daughter's words. She honestly didn't know what to say. Though her methods may have been harsh, her words were indeed cruel. She honestly did have the best intentions for her daughter.

Regardless Akina should've chosen her words carefully on that day. She could have chosen a better phrase than the ones she told her daughter. Nonetheless, she is glad Haru found a place where she belongs. If Akina had been a bit indecisive about her decision, then Haru would have definitely been scorned and ostracized by kids around her age. Slowly affecting her life and creating a coping mechanism because of the torment she would've suffered from her tormentors. Instead of the kids who created the trauma, her mother inflicted the severe mental pain Haru now has to deal with.

Looking back on it, perhaps it would've been better than to let Akina create an emotional scar Haru carries for the rest of her life until the wounds fully fade away.

But no matter how much Akina wished she could turn back time and make a different choice than the one she made that day, it wouldn't change what happened and the result of her decision.

So, hearing Haru give her gratitude for her decision left Akina completely speechless. She stammered, trying to find the right words but couldn't even form a sentence. Akina continued the duel to stop the tears from watering and cease the emotions taking over her body.

"It's my turn. Draw."

Turn 4

H:0-1

"I summon Chaos Sister from my hand" A girl wearing white clothing with a black sash around her waist as she has a purple cap on her head stepped onto the field.

Light/Level 2/Fiend/Effect/ATK 200/DEF 400

"When Chaos Sister is summoned, I can bring out a Level 5 or higher DARK Monster from my deck with its effects negated. Come out, Chaos Apprentice!"

Chaos Sister opened a portal, and Chaos Apprentice arrived, winking before assessing the situation with just a glance. She was confused but still remained on her controller's side.

Dark/Level 6/Spellcaster/Effect/ATK 2000/DEF 1000

"Now, at this moment, Chaos Child's effect activates! I can Special Summon him when I control a DARK Monster such as Chaos Apprentice! Return from the Cemetery Chaos Child!" Akina explained. A portal opened, revealing a younger version of Chaos Boy next to his older sister, who patted his hair affectionately.

Dark/Level 3/Fiend/Tuner/Effect/ATK 100/DEF 1600

Haru observed her opponent's field and calculated the Levels each monster had. She added up the total levels of the monsters Akina had and concluded that the total Levels those monsters had were equal to 11.

"Could it be...?" Haru mumbled there was one monster in the Extra Deck, a Level 11 Synchro Monster capable of surpassing Chaos Wing and depleting the rest of her Life Points.

"I tune my Level 2 Chaos Sister and Level 6 Chaos Apprentice to Level 3 Chaos Child!" Akina shouted her monsters tune themselves together and form the pillar of light Akina chanted.

"Protector of the chaotic city! Show everyone your strength as you rise up in your glory! Synchro Summon! Level 11 Chaos Dragon!"

A purple and yellow dragon with white claw markings across its scales hovers above the Orphanage building, giving off a strange and wonderful aura filling the area, giving it a magical effect.

Light/Level 11/Dragon/Synchro/Effect/ATK 3200/DEF 3000

"There's no need to banish Chaos Sister to activate her effect since, due to Chaos Dragon's effect. It's unaffected by card effects and cannot be destroyed when this card is Synchro Summoned!" Akina revealed the different colored dragons protected themselves in a veil of darkness vanishing from the sky. The other Chaos Dragon couldn't locate the gigantic dragon's location.

"Chaos Dragon other Effect! I Special Summon Chaos Teacher from my Graveyard with its effects negated, and my dragon gains 2500 ATK!"

A path of light shone down from the sky and hit the ground as a familiar magician rose from the path and arrived back on the field. In turn, the di-colored dragon scales shone through the veil as its power increased to 5700.

Chaos Dragon opened its mouth and bound Chaos Wing Synchro Dragon to the ground with orange chains preventing the dragon from moving any further and weakening him to 3250.

"Chaos Dragon, obliterate Chaos Wing Synchro Dragon!" Akina pointed her finger at the bounded dragon.

The gigantic dragon scales glow yellow, purple, and black colors simultaneously. The colors shine through the veil revealing its overbearing presence to everyone as the clouds show a ray of colors reflecting off the majestic creature.

The said monster opens its mouth to shoot a beam made of darkness and light as the blast collides against the Synchro Dragon, obliterating it just like its master commanded the dragon to do.

Not only did the dragon vanquish from the field, but at the same time, Haru skidded back from the impact and landed on one of her knees, head hung low when she saw her Life Points had reached 0, indicating that she had lost the duel.

Haru:2050-2450=0 LP

The girl remained still and didn't move from her spot, even when her mother was standing across from her.

"I will make this very simple for you, Old Hag. I don't want to hear whatever you have to say to me. I have nothing to say to you," Haru stated firmly. She sat on the ground crisscross style and folded her arms, turning her head in the other direction.

Akina predicted this would happen. But that doesn't mean she will stop reaching out to her daughter. "There are no words to describe how I felt when I threw you to the side. The day after I did, I felt regret and remorse for what I did to you and how much I hurt you, Haru. All I ever wanted was to give you the life you deserve."

Akina continued to confide in her daughter about her reasons for what happened nine years ago on that fateful day and the events leading up to her decision. True to her words, Haru still didn't care to listen and continued to tune Akina out. Soon enough, the woman started to disappear from Haru's sight, but that didn't discourage her mother in the slightest. She wants to convey the feelings she's been wanting to say to Haru for the longest time. Now is the opportunity for her to let them out.

"I know you will never forget the pain we caused you, and you will never forgive us... You'll definitely forget this encounter... Nevertheless..." Akina vanished from the area, but her words lingered in the air. Haru still heard her mother's words.

"During these past nine years, your father and I never stopped thinking about you. We've never stopped loving you, Haru...That's the one thing that will never change."

Haru scratched the back of her hair and looked at the sky. "You got a funny way of showing it, old hag."

The scene returned to the edge of the building, and Haru stared in the distance, her hand gently clenched every now and then.

The mysterious woman returned and took a seat next to Haru. The latter doesn't say anything about the woman's sudden reappearance. She stared at the setting sun hovering over the buildings and illuminating the balcony and scenery of the area.

After a moment of silence, the woman spoke up. "Haru... Are you satisfied with your decision?" The woman inquired about how the young girl ended things with her mother on a harsh note.

"Yeah. Besides, I have a feeling this won't be the last time I see that wench, so it's all good," Haru replied. She still clenched her hand, and the woman didn't dismiss the action and continued her words.

"That's not what I mean, Haru. Now you know the reason why your mother-Akina did what she did. Are you still bearing a grudge against her and your father-Masa?" The woman restated her words more clearly. She wants to hear Haru's true feelings. She wants the girl to make amends with the demons that have been tormenting her for far too long. It's time for them to stop and leave this young girl alone so she can fully enjoy her life.

To the woman's surprise, she hears an answer she did not expect. "Hell fucking yes. It doesn't matter if she had the best intentions for me," Haru spat. "They still hurt me in the end. If they honestly had the best intentions for me, they should have considered my feelings instead of acting alone."

"It's because of them that I began to change my outlook on life. They made me not want to live anymore. I can't just easily forgive them and act like it never affected me when it actually did" Haru made her point, and she is sticking with it.

Bracing herself for another lecture, Haru heard laughter coming from the woman.

"How come you're not upset? Moments ago, you were getting on my case about my past binding me and whatnot, and now you're laughing," Haru is confused about the woman's behavior.

The woman waved her hand and ceased her laughter.

"I'm sorry. But I figured you would say something along those lines" the woman smiled softly. Haru is shocked but mentions the strange woman's behavior towards her earlier.

"That was because you forgot them, Haru. In the midst of your self-depreciation, before you entered this world, you forgot the most important thing," the woman explained as she looked in the distance. "I was a bit harsh by how I acted towards you earlier, but I wanted you to make amends with your own demons, even if it will be for a short while. You can only achieve that goal by remembering what's important to you. I knew you could never forget about the pain your parents caused you and the betrayal you felt when they threw you away when you worked so hard for them, which in turn became the source of your low self-esteem and why you believe that you don't deserve to live."

The woman felt the devastating feelings Haru had deep inside her. It was enough to consume her in the waves of negative emotions swirling around Haru's self-deprecation: rejection, fear, anger, and betrayal. In the pitch-black darkness, the woman caught a glimpse of light. She saw the faces of Haru's loved ones, who gave her a reason to live. As well as the fond memories of the good times the young girl spent with her loved ones. It was enough to move her.

"I'm not the best at giving advice, and there are times when I don't have the right words to say, but I still have to show you who is important in your life. Regardless I still should have taken your feelings into consideration. I am sorry, Haru," the woman confessed, hanging her head.

Haru looked at the woman for a couple of moments before slapping her across the back, earning a yelp from her.

"Hehe... I forgive you for pulling a stunt like that and don't worry. I'm the same way. Sometimes I don't have the right words to cheer people up, so I have to resort to violence to get my point across" Haru accepted the woman's apology. She paused when she remembered hearing a voice during her 3rd turn. She knows it wasn't the woman sitting next to her because of how haughty and overbearing the voice was.

So Haru doesn't mention the voice, but she brings up the new cards she received during the duel. "When those cards appeared... were they a gift from you?"

The woman shook her head and pointed at the same symbol Haru has on her left lower arm. "The birthmark reacts to the host's wishes and will fulfill those wishes depending on how strong your four's will are, such as what happened in your duel Haru. The cards you've created are based on your strong feelings for that person or people; thus, your birthmark reacted to those strong feelings and created those cards."

"I assume that this isn't the first time this happened, huh" Haru noted that this occurrence has also happened to her lookalike. The woman confirmed true to her assumption.

"Yes. Whenever Naomi and Yuki both think about their beloved ones, their feelings for them are so powerful that they can manifest new monsters who will lend them their power in their quest to become stronger. The same applies to you and Akemi just to a lesser extent."

"Tsk. To think I'm on the same level as that sadistic bitch guess I gotta improve my game," Haru clicked her teeth in annoyance, but this time doesn't stray from her curiosity when the woman didn't deny her claims of receiving a gift from her.

"What is my gift, then?"

The woman moved closer and placed her hand over Haru's eyes, blocking her sight. "My gift is by giving you the power to reach new heights you've never seen before, and you will need your doppelgängers' help in doing so, and when the time comes, you won't require their assistance because you will have fully harness its full potential."

Unbeknownst to the young girl, her birthmark glowed a purple color enveloping the scenery in bright light.

"But for that to happen. You need to wake up, Haru."

Afternoon_City's Center_

"Haru! Haru! Wake up, Haru!"

The brown-haired girl's eyes snapped open and shot up, breathing heavily.

She quickly scanned her surroundings and found herself back in the same place as before.

"Haru! Are you okay? You look pale" Yugo placed his hand on Haru's forehead as the latter controlled her breathing. He doesn't feel any heat coming from her forehead, but the girl looks drained. But otherwise, she seems to be alright.

Haru replied, "I just had a strange dream Gocchi. That's all." She pulled Yugo's hand away from her forehead and stood in her spot. She stretched her muscles to prevent any drawbacks she might've got from sleeping on the bench uncomfortably.

As Haru continued to stretch, she couldn't help but recall bits and pieces from the dream she'd just had. "This is the second time I met that woman. I still didn't get her name!" Haru fumed. She was this close to causing a scene in the City Center until a noise pulled her away from her thoughts.

With her stomach grumbling, Haru forgot her anger and frustration towards the mysterious woman, and she realized that she hadn't eaten anything since they left Aki's house this morning.

She bent her back all the way where her head was touching the ground and met Yugo's gaze.

"Gocchi! Do we have enough to get some food for us?" Haru continued to remain in her position, waiting for her friend to respond to her.

"Yeah, Naomi made 5000 yen, enough for us to go to a good restaurant in this area," Yugo replied, leaning on the bench. Haru backflipped in the air and landed on her feet. She grinned and threw her fist in the air.

"Forget that! I propose we go to one of my favorite places in this place! Follow me, my minions!" Haru suggested one of the food places she has been looking forward to eating at ever since they passed by the shop several times.

She pulled Yugo away from the bench and dragged him to their parked D-Wheels with Naomi behind them, putting the money she'd received in her pockets.

"Like I told you before, I'm not your minion! Let go of me, Haru!"

"Shut up, minion! Obey your boss' orders!"

"Why I outta- "

"Haru-chan... Yugo-kun... You two are going to get us in trouble again."

With Naomi cutting in before the argument between the two residents of the Synchro Dimension got out of hand. She was able to prevent them from receiving any unwanted attention from any noisy bystanders in the area.

They quickly left the place on their rides. What they didn't realize they were being spied on by a young woman with a gem tied to her forehead. In her limousine, she rests her cheek on her hand, behind her sunglasses, her eyes twinkling with mischief. Her lips curved into a coy grin.

"Fufu... I wonder how things will turn out for them," the woman chuckled, waving her hand and prompting her driver to drive away from the place.

Afternoon_City Center_Downtown_

Finally, arriving at their destination, the trio comes to a stop. Across from the group is a food stand with a picture of dango and mochi on the banner hanging above the shop.

"This place..." Naomi wondered. Her green eyes scanned the area where the shop was located. It wasn't desolate, but it wasn't populated either.

"This shop is one of our places where we like to go to get some good food" Yugo got off his duel runner and stretched his arms. This district doesn't discriminate against Commons and doesn't tolerate any prejudice towards the group as well. So it's a perfect place for Commons to get a bite to eat. Plus, the prices were affordable too.

"Old Woman, I want five mitarashi dango!" Haru shouted, slamming her hands on the stand. The older woman reached over the counter and pinched Haru's cheek as the girl demanded to be released from the tight grip.

"I told you millions of times to call me Grandma! Not Old Woman Haru-chan," the elderly woman released her grip on the young girl's cheek. Nevertheless, she told Haru the price of the order.

"Micchi! Give me 1750 yen for our snack!"

Naomi ran to the food stand, took out the money in her pocket, and gave it to her lookalike, who took the money and gave the older woman the amount she requested.

Naomi saw different varieties of the dangos and mochi and the prices in the food stand. "The dangos cost 350 yen per stick, and the mochi cost 110 yen" she is amazed by how low the prices are compared to the prices back in her Dimension.

"This isn't even the best part. There's a Ramen Joint down the street from here that serves the best Ramen in the City!" Yugo remembered when he, Haru, and Rin would go to the Joint after they finished their training for the Friendship Cup and other small annual tournaments. Whenever they didn't feel like cooking dinner due to them being exhausted, they would go to the place for a bite and head home soon after.

"Aww! I can't wait to head there as soon as we finished with whatever that strange card was and stop at Crow's place to check on Martha and the others!" Yugo wiped the drool leaving his mouth. He couldn't help himself but remember the good times before Yuri kidnapped Rin. To be honest, although he is relieved that Yuya is alive, it doesn't make him feel any better. He still feels bad about what he did to Yuto.

He wanted to apologize for his actions in person and for the damage he caused. Due to his brash reaction whenever someone gets his name wrong, either intentionally or not, he screwed up the communications. He didn't have the chance to make up for what he did that night.

Yugo looked down, and just as he was about to sigh, he felt a hand on his hair.

"...If you still feel bad about what you did to Yuto in the Standard Dimension. Then atone for your actions by fixing your mistakes, and next time when you see Yacchi and the others. Apologize for being the reckless idiot we know and love," Haru patted Yugo on the head. Still, she didn't look in his direction. However, she had an inkling that Yugo was still thinking about the situation revolving around Yuto and what happened that night.

Haru thought Naomi managed to get rid of Yugo's guilt by informing them that Yuto was alive inside Yuya. Therefore, it should've gotten rid of his remorse for good, but it didn't.

Back then, Haru didn't know what exactly she should say to cheer Yugo up, so she used violence to smack the guilt out of him. Of course, that didn't work out too well. Right now, she is taking a different approach to resolving the issue hence why she is treating him gently instead of punching him across the face, possibly sending him flying into a lamppost.

Haru continues to pat Yugo's hair fondly. "If you need someone to talk to, I'm here, Gocchi. After all, you are my No.1 minion! I definitely got to make sure you are in tip-top shape before we go on our next adventure! If you are in another pickle, I will get you out of that jar and fix you right up... Never forget that!"

She took her hand off Yugo's hair, took the food when it was finished, and headed to the bench to eat the food she's been looking forward to all day. What she failed to notice, though, is Yugo staring at her retreating form with wide eyes.

"Haru is such a sweet girl, isn't she, young man" the elderly woman smiled gently when she saw the same tender smile on Yugo's face.

"She sure is..."

Looking at her hands placed neatly on her lap Naomi is reminded of the business card Yugo mentioned earlier. She was waiting to tell her lookalike about the strange white card found in the helmet after her performance. At first, she was going to throw the card away, thinking it was a prank, but her instincts told her to keep it instead.

Naomi wasn't the type to question her instincts. However, she still feels skeptical about the card, especially its words.

"Why these words?" Naomi frowned, looking at the card in her lap.

"What's that?"

Haru leaned over to see what her Standard counterpart was looking at on her lap until the said girl hid the item in her hands. The suspicious activity made Haru curious. What was Naomi looking at? Was it that interesting that her lookalike was looking at the item for a whole minute or two?

Haru decided not to push the issue until the green-haired girl was ready to tell her.

Judging from the look on Naomi's face, it seems she will tell her anyway. Unfortunately for her, Haru has other plans and holds the matter off until she is finished saying her piece.

"I don't know what it is you're hiding, Micchi, but whatever it is, you can tell me," Haru eats her dango and devours another one just as quickly as she did the first one.

Naomi nods blankly, not expecting Haru to be compliant with her hiding the white card. With the brown-haired girl's personality, Naomi figured that Haru would have taken the card from her and read it anyway. But now, Haru is willing to wait until she tells her.

The small act reminded Naomi of her friends and family. Whenever she hid something from her loved ones, they were willing to wait until she told them. Naomi thought she had eradicated her bad habit of keeping things to herself for good. Yet it seems that her old habits were still there, waiting to emerge from the depths of her fragile heart.

"I still haven't changed. I thought I changed during the Maiami Championship from the scared, bullied little girl who relied on her friends to help her with her problems and would cry every day because she was causing unnecessary trouble for her friends and family. I wanted to change for the better to make sure I don't get left behind," Naomi chewed on her lower lip.

"But look at me! I'm still repeating the same mistakes as last time! If I keep declaring that I have changed, I need to make an effort! I need to show I have changed instead of spouting the same words repeatedly!"

"Actions speak louder than words" Naomi released her lip and turned to her lookalike. "Actually, Haru-chan, today me and Yugo-kun found- "

A dango was thrust into Naomi's mouth, preventing her from speaking any further. She squealed and took the hot treat out of her mouth.

"I'm going to have to stop you right there, Micchi. I know you're going to tell me what you have to say about the strange item you're hiding from me, but let me tell you something first."

Haru eats her third dango before speaking what's been on her mind. "Ever since we've met, I've never fully trusted you. Because you could be a backstabbing bitch who might betray me in the future. It didn't help your case when you became so invested in my life. I never wanted you to stick your nose in my life or my business when it had absolutely nothing to do with you," Haru confessed and looked directly into Naomi's green eyes seeing the hurt expression spread across her visage.

"Now, you can't blame me for having these feelings towards you, considering where and how I grew up. The only reason why I saved you is because the voice in my head told me to. They told me to give you a chance. I saved your ass, but giving you a chance was a huge risk for me, especially what happened with that sadistic bitch. I told myself that if I saw another person who looked like me, I'll give them an ass-kicking, which I did back in the Standard Dimension. All that's left is to decide whether I can fully trust you or not."

Naomi's expression became neutral. She took in Haru's words in and knew that the brown-haired girl was right. They hardly knew each other. It's barely been a week since she arrived in the Synchro Dimension, and she can't just say they have become close. It was only during this time that Naomi lent her assistance in bringing down Syd and Bolger. And that wasn't out of her free will. She was dragged to the Sector Security Headquarters by Haru.

Truthfully, she still would've lent her help to Haru even if the girl didn't ask. Naomi believed she and Haru would get along well, considering their similar experiences. Just like how she and Yuki got along so well during their time together, training and preparing for the Maiami Championship.

Naomi was about to reply to Haru's words but found the same dango shoved into her mouth. She takes the dango out and glares at Haru, ready to reprimand her, until her words die down in her throat when she hears the brown-haired girl's next sentence.

"Now, I trust you. We may not know each other well, but we can fix that. I don't know what kind of shit you went through in your life for you to be so secretive about certain stuff, but whatever the reason is, I will be there for you. If anyone tries to mess with you, just call my name, and I will give them one order of ass-kicking with a side of a bloody body on the side."

Haru poked the stunned girl, and her grin changed into a smile. "I mean it, Micchi. You helped me out when I needed it the most, even if I did drag you into my mess. I can't thank you enough for that, so here," Haru takes a hard object out of her pocket.

She hands Naomi the hard object, which is revealed to be an acorn. "Now, with this, you are my official minion No. 7. This acorn will represent your allegiance to me. Make sure you don't lose it, or else I will throw my helmet at you. Got it, Micchi. You got any complaints about being my minion!"

Haru knew her earlier words were harsh, but she was telling the truth. She knew nothing about Naomi except the small details the girl disclosed to her and Yugo about her friends and mother. Other than that, Haru doesn't know a single thing about her green-haired doppelgänger. It's because she doesn't know a single thing about Naomi that is all the more reason to get to know her.

Haru wanted to know Naomi's likes, dislikes, favorite food, favorite color, pet peeves, and least favorite food. Who does Naomi have a crush on? Although Haru has an idea that her lookalike is in love with Yuya judging from how her Standard counterpart talked so animatedly about the boy and how her eyes sparkled full of love and affection whenever he was brought up.

Haru wanted to know more about Yuzu. She wants to know more about the pink-haired girl's eccentric father and his Duel School named "You Show." She wanted to hear more about these kids, whose names are Ayu, Futoshi, and Tetsuya. She wanted to have a brawl with Gongenzaka. She wanted to see the famous Chou and Hachirou and talk to them to see how different they were from her parents. Plus, she wanted to try Yoko's cooking and see if the woman's cooking was really better than hers and Rin's.

Haru wanted to hear more about these wonderful people and hopes to meet them one day when this Dimension War bullcrap is over, with Rin and Yugo.

"If you stop dragging me, pulling me without my consent, and finally stop hitting me with all your brute strength. Then I will have no problems becoming your minion," Naomi agreed as she pointed out all the bad habits that irritated her.

Haru grinned and jumped from the bench. "Thanks a bunch, Micchi! You won't regret being a part of my crew!"

The brown-haired girl couldn't contain her excitement and rushed to the food stand to buy more dango.

"Sorry if you were offended by what Haru said earlier, Naomi. She doesn't mean any harm," Yugo said. Naomi shook her head. She reassured him. While yes, she was offended by her brown-haired clone's words. Naomi understands where Haru is coming from if she were to live in a place where people use others as stepping stones and tools as long as it can benefit them. Mainly if those kinds of people were to use such underhanded methods if it means they would succeed. So, of course, she would be skeptical of meeting new people.

"Besides, her behavior is what makes Haru-chan so charming" Naomi ate her dango as she enjoyed the salty flavor.

Yugo place his hands behind his head to act as a makeshift pillow. "Yeah, it's because her personality is why she might make her dream come true."

Naomi blinked. "What dream?"

"Haru's dream is simple but complicated. Her dream is for the Tops and the Commons to unite as one and for this whole City to become a place of equality," Yugo answered. His face darkened. "I doubt that the whole City will act all buddy-buddy with each other. Those people will just forget the pain those words caused us! That they will just pretend the unjust system never existed at all is just utter bullshit!"

"If we challenge the King, Jack Atlas, and win, we can change our society. But it will only happen when the Tops start changing their selfish ways, and the Commons stop making excuses for themselves! That's when we will have true equality for everyone! Unless that happens, I see no way that dream can ever come true," Yugo finished. He told his friend this many times whenever she talked about changing society.

There was silence in the area until Naomi spoke up. "You are correct, Yugo-kun, but I still believe Haru-chan's dream will come to fruition. She's trying to make a change in this world, no matter how futile it may seem, than just sitting around doing nothing. There is someone who is like that. He wants to make everyone smile with his dueling because it will change the world for the better. He decided to follow that ambition because it was his father. Therefore, he made it his mission as well. No matter how ridiculous their dream is to other people, they will make it come true. They are not doing it for themselves. They are doing it for the sake of others."

Naomi grinned widely. "Maybe it's just me, but when there are people who are like that, I can't help but support them. Maybe I'm just ignorant, but I think other people feel the same way. Whenever they see straightforward people running toward their dream head-on without stopping, they will come together to lend that person their strength because their goals are similar. Thus they'll emerge together for that one purpose. On the other hand, they will do what they can to ensure that person's dream is one step closer to coming true."

Naomi isn't wrong in that sense. She'd seen this many times through her journey, and she experienced this herself.

With Yuki and her friends, Naomi and Yuzu are willing to lend their help to restore Heartland to the city it once was before Academia invaded. By lending Yuki and the others their assistance, their skills are improving tremendously to fulfill their promise.

With Yuya, he has people who will remind him that he is not alone in achieving his dream. Yuya inspires people to make the world a better place through his dueling.

True enough, if there are people who share the same ambitions, their ways of carrying out their dreams may differ. Then their paths will merge and create a difference, no matter how futile it might be. Because eventually, those same voices will resonate with other people's hearts sparking a light that helps bring a change in the world around them.

Naomi gave Yugo a closed-eyed smile. The sight instantly reminds him of a certain brown-haired girl. His mind shuts down, seeing that smile. It was the same smile she had shown him before. Although he'd have seen her smile on so many occasions, it never fails to make his heart race.

"H-H-HAAARRRUUU!" Yugo jumped from his seat and hugged Naomi, who was surprised by the display of affection.

"Y-Yugo-kun?! Why are you hugging me instead of Ha-?!"

Speaking of which, the brown-haired girl came back to witness the scene and nearly snapped the dango sticks in half with her bare hands. She had a frightening glare on her face directed at the pair, mainly at the affectionate boy. Her eyes darkened with each passing second.

Without speaking any words, Haru lifted her foot and slammed it against Yugo's head, sending him crashing to the ground and rendering the boy unconscious. Naomi stared at the spot Yugo was in and flinched when she saw Haru sitting beside her and eating her dango casually. As if she didn't just put a massive hole in the wooden bench!

Naomi squeaked. "H-Haru-chan... Are you okay?"

Haru turned to look at the shaken green-haired girl and nodded. "I don't blame you, Micchi. I blame that moron for getting carried away. Now, what was it you wanted to tell me?" Haru mentioned what Naomi wanted to tell her earlier. But interrupted her when Haru had to clear things off her chest.

Naomi doesn't say anything and takes the white card out of her pocket. She showed the card to her Synchro lookalike and waited for her reaction. A second later, Haru stares at the card with her mouth wide open.

"Death and Rebirth. What kind of occult shit is this?!"

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Oc Cards

Haru:

• Wind Witch - Chaos Bell

Dark/Level 4/Spellcaster/Tuner/Effect/ATK 1000/DEF 1000

This card is treated as a "Chaos" Monster. When this card is summoned, you can inflict damage equal to its ATK towards your opponent. Then if you do, you can special summon a WIND Tuner Monster from your deck. If you activate this effect, you cannot Special Summon any Monster from the Extra Deck except WIND Synchro Monsters. For a Synchro Summon, this card is treated as a Non-Tuner.

•White Wing Dragon

Wind/Level 4/Dragon/Tuner/Effect/ATK 500/DEF 400

This card is always treated as a 'Wing' Monster. When you control a Tuner Monster, you can special summon this card from your hand. When this card is used as Synchro Material: When the Synchro Summoned Monster destroys a Monster by its own effect, it gains ATK equal to the original ATK of the destroyed Monster that was targeted by this effect.

• Silent Boy

Dark/Level 1/Fiend/Effect/ATK 600/DEF 2600

When this card is Normal Summoned: You can Special Summon a LIGHT Monster from your hand. (Quick Effect): Once per Turn: During your Opponent Battle Phase, you can Synchro Summon using monsters you control.

• Chaotic Spirits_Trap(Set Card)

During the Battle Phase: you can banish a 'Chaos' Monster from your GY to negate the destruction of a Monster you control and reduce the battle damage to 0.

• Chaotic Gift_Trap(Set Card)

Battle Damage involving a 'Chaos' Monster or a Light/Dark Monster is reduced to 0.

• Chaotic Healing_Trap

Target a 'Chaos' or a LIGHT/DARK Monster in your Graveyard; banish it. If you do, both players gain LP equal to the banished monster's ATK.

• Chaos Wing Synchro Dragon

Wind/Level 8/Synchro/Dragon/Effect/ATK 3000/DEF 2500

1 "Wing" Tuner + 1 "Chaos" monster

Once per turn when a level 5 or higher monster activates its effects negate the activation and if you do destroy that monster. When your opponent activates a card effect that targets this card, you can negate the activation and destroy that card. During the Battle Phase: When this card activated its effect during this turn, you can special summon a Synchro Material from the graveyard. However, the monster special summoned by this effect cannot be used as Synchro Material during the turn it was Special Summoned. (Quick Effect): it can tribute the Special Summoned Monster to gain the tributed monster ATK and attack again.

•Chaos Dragon

Light/Level 11/Dragon/Synchro/Effect/ATK 3200/DEF 3000

1 DARK Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner Monsters

When this card is Synchro Summoned: it's unaffected by card effects your opponent controls, and it cannot be destroyed by battle or by card effects. In addition, all monsters your Opponent controls have their ATK halved until the End Phase. Once Per Turn, you can Special Summon a Chaos Monster from your GY with its effects negated, and if you do, this card gains ATK equal to that Special Summoned Monster.

• Chaos Greed_Spell

You can discard one 'Chaos' Monster from your Hand, and if you do, draw two cards.

• Chaotic Gales_Quick-Play Spell

During the Battle Phase: inflict damage to your Opponent equal to half of the ATK of a LIGHT/DARK Monster you control with the highest ATK.

•Chaos Boy

Dark/Level 2/Fiend/Tuner/Effect/ATK1200/DEF 1700

When this card is sent to the Graveyard by a card effect, you can Special Summon this card from the Graveyard. When a Synchro Monster that used this card as Synchro Material, it cannot be destroyed by card effects.

•Chaos Rose

Light/Level 3/Plant/Synchro/Effect/ATK 600/DEF 1000

1 Tuner + 1 Non-Tuner Monster

When this card is Synchro Summoned: You can Special Summon a Level 2 or Lower Plant monster from your hand. When this card is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard (either by a card effect or by battle), you can Special Summon a Level 5 or lower Tuner Monster from your Deck.

•Chaos Seed

Dark/Level 2/Plant/Effect/ATK 1000/DEF 500

When this card is summoned: you can add a LIGHT/DARK Monster from your Deck to your hand. You can tribute this card to inflict damage to your Opponent equal to this card's combined ATK and DEF.

•Chaos Child

Dark/Level 3/Fiend/Tuner/Effect/ATK 100/DEF 1600

(Quick Effect): You can discard this card; you take no effect damage this turn. When this card is in the Graveyard, and you control a DARK Monster, you can Special Summon this card from your Graveyard.

•Chaos Sister

Light/Level 2/Fiend/Effect/ATK 200/DEF 400

When this card is Normal or Special Summoned: You can Special Summon 1 Level 5, or higher DARK Monster from your Deck with its effects negated. You can banish this card from your Graveyard to make all monsters you control unaffected by card effects your Opponent controls and monsters you cannot be targeted or destroyed by card effects.

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AN: Hello, everyone! Here is Chapter 31. I have a job working at a mail processor on the weekends. This is my first job, but I am having fun despite the long hours. The song featured in this chapter is Won't Give Up, performed by Laura Pitt-Pulford from the anime Doctor Stone, written by Riichiro Inagaki. Of course, with that being said, have a nice day!