A/N: Welp, muses didn't want to work on an essay for English, so naturally this happened.
Gongenzaka and Sawatari aren't even in my top ten favorite character list (although I do think Gongenzaka is cool), and my muses don't even particularly like Sawatari at all, but they still hit me right in the feels with this chapter.
So, yeah. Feels.
You have been warned.
There is no preparing himself for the heat and pain rushing through his body as Supreme King Servant Dragon - Clear Wing's effect explodes in his face. He barely registers flying through the air and landing hard on his back, his vision spinning into darkness, and a vague ringing in his ears until he's roughly shaken awake by someone.
Gongenzaka manages to open one eye and sees Sawatari is the one shaking him. Sawatari's mouth is moving too, but Gongenzaka's ears are still ringing so all he can hear is that low ringing and maybe a mumble or two from the other boy. From the look on Sawatari's face, he's probably begging Gongenzaka not to die. But the man can tell his time is almost up. He's failed to stop Zarc.
…
…
…But… Yuya, he heard me. He had to…
…
…
In a way, he's glad that Sawatari is the one with him at the end. He, he would hate for Yuzu to be the one with him. He's not sure where she is, but at least she doesn't have to witness this. It would break her, and Gongenzaka doesn't want that that to happen to his best friend. So he thrusts aside all thoughts of pain the best he can and holds out the Pendulum. "Sawatari… you saw it too… he reacted to the word 'entertainment'…"
The blonde-and-brown-haired teen draws both of his hands back immediately. "No, no way, I'm not taking that. You—you're not gonna die!"
But Gongenzaka will have none of that, and presses the bloodstained pendant into one of his friend's hands, and tightly grips it to make sure Sawatari doesn't just throw it back at him. With his free hand, he removes his Duel Disk, slides his Deck out of the slot for the last time, and holds it out too. "Sawatari, you're a far better Entertainment Duelist than me. You—" He has to stop in order to clear his throat of blood. So much blood.
"Gongenzaka…"
…
…
…Not yet… I have to…
…
…
Gongenzaka's strength is fading. It takes all of his effort to keep his hand grasped tightly around Sawatari's, and even more to keep speaking. "…You can, do it… reach Yuya's heart," he says. He thinks of Sora and Kurosaki and Edo and Kaito. They've all given their lives for this too. "We're all… counting on you… and Jack…"
"But, Jack—" Sawatari cuts himself off and looks away. "…Okay. Okay, Gon. The—the Super Ultra H-Hyper Strong—" he chokes back a sob, "—Steadfast Sawatari Shingo will definitely rescue Yuya! You can count on it!"
…
…
…Good… then… Yuya… you'll definitely… you'll definitely…
…
…
Gongenzaka closes his eyes and smiles.
A/N: *Internal screaming*
(I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V, since I would've totally given the man Gongenzaka more time in the spotlight if I did.)