Night reign over the neighborhood, the cold air brewing through town, it was quiet, like nothing eventful will happen. Wrong, a student of Seijuro fleeing away from something that gave chase, panting heavily, sweat dripping down. His pace finally slowing down, driven by fear, decided to ignore the pain as the student continued to run away. Tripping over the sideway, watching his surroundings to spot the person that reap his friends' lives away, taking a short break to catch his breath. Until he heard a female giggling, echoed around him like he was trapped in a never-ending nightmare.

"Who is there!? Show yourself damnit!" he yelled out, wanting to know why is this happening, "What have I done wrong to you!?"

No response, only the sound of a giggle, feeling like it drew near, within that moment he ran once again, trying to figure out why no one can hear him. Why nobody was on the streets at this time, confused by all that has happened he tripped, hitting the concrete floor, as his ankle was sprained. Hearing someone's footsteps are closing in, mist slowly covering the area, as he saw two dark figures coming through. Revealing to be a cloaked person, but through the giggles, the boy assumed it was a female that shorten the lifespan of his friends. She had a monster played on her side of the field, forgetting that she was using a duel disk this whole time.

"Why do you have a duel-disk active!?" he questioned, but no response, "The system automatically shuts down all duel-disk at night! It's impossible for you to have that thing active!"

Because of the curiosity he displayed, the giggling had come to a halt, raising her arm at the boy as the monster was ready to engage. "Edge Cutter..." she said, the monster reacted and begun its assault on the defenseless student, slicing his body into pieces repeatedly, as if he was a plaything. Her moral standards are dismissed for society, watching the blood dirty up the sidewalk. She began to walk away from the scene, as the monster looked at its claws and began to laugh in delight. More victims were caught in the middle of the night by her once again, leaving no trace that the two were ever there.

The night ended after that event, morning has risen once more on the neighborhood, Shizuka finally getting out of bed early before the sunlight creeped up on like last time. Smiling, as she was getting ready for school once again, instantly turning on the news to see anything happened, which it did. Another incident occurred, more students were killed, in her mind, she knew someone is going after Seijuro in particular. Couldn't help but feel down from the constant attacks towards her school, letting out a small sigh. Turning off the tv instantly after the news broke out, skipping breakfast as she walked out of the house, locking it. Continuing on with her day towards school, joining the crowd of students. Putting headphones on, listening to Nano, her favorite singer, enjoying the music attempting to ignore the gossip about the murders towards Seijuro.

Until someone tapped her shoulder, turning her head to see Yurika walking behind her, receiving a smile from her friend, cheering her up. As they began to walk together towards school, removing her headphones to talk to Yurika.

"The attacks still continue and its only been a few days ever since." Yurika said, out of concern for Shizuka, "We should be careful, apparently the assailant strikes at night, rumor has it, once you come in contact, you are sent to another dimension where the area the same, but empty like a ghost town."

"Yurika... That honestly makes me uncomfortable to hear such a thing." Being scared already from the rumor, "In other news, both Takashi and Johan are being released today."

"It is a delight, maybe Delthea will join us." Yurika sound sure of herself, "I am pretty sure she misses Johan."

"She has been avoiding us lately, Yurika." Reminding her, as Yurika laughs in a nervous tone, admitting defeat already, "But honestly, these murders... You don't think it has anything to do with Duel Monsters?"

"Are you saying that Duel Monster are being used as weapons for murder?" She questioned Shizuka's thinking, letting out a sigh, "The Duel-System shut down at nighttime, only a handful of people are allowed to use it to prevent crimes to be committed. Which is basically the police force."

"What if the poli-." Being interrupted by Yurika, when she placed her finger on Shizuka's lip.

"Shi-Chan, don't think that way. Trust the police, they are trying their best to end this conflict. Have a little faith, okay?" Yurika said, waiting for her answer, which was a nod, "Good, now let's finish our day and pick up Takashi."

With that the girls continued onward with their day, as time flew by fast, seeing the festival being setting up. Many stands outside, being constructed with great care. The sun was finally setting, as school ended today, the girls walking out and headed their way towards the hospital. Once the met with the receptionist, asking for Takashi's room. Which was located in Floor 4, Room H64. It took them a few minutes to reach Takashi's room, knocking before entering as they watched Takashi, as well as Johan laying down in their own beds watching the news.

Yurika greeted them, smiling. "Hey Takashi and Johan."

"Ooooh! Yurika! Nice to see ya again, you too Shizuka!"

"You two know why we're here right?" Shizuka gave them a question, waiting for a proper response from the two.

"Right, right. Time for us to take our leave." Johan answered, getting up from his bed, shutting the curtains so he can properly change, "Taka, hurry up before it gets late for us."

"I was actually enjoying it here; the food was pretty tasty!" Takashi said, slightly laughing as he was hit by an apple from Johan's leftovers, "Okay, okay! Fine! I will get dressed, geez."

"I am surprised those two became friends so quickly, even after the whole duel indecent, I don't understand this at all, Yurika." Shizuka whispered, as the two boys finished dressing up, wearing their white school uniforms.

"It's a Duelist's Heart, they understand each other more through duels more than actual words, Shi-Chan." Yurika answering Shizuka's question, as she gave her a smile.

Shizuka was dumbstruck from what she heard from Yurika's mouth, "The things I hear these days, I will never understand what you people mean these days."

With that, the group finally took their leave from the hospital, walking in the streets, passing by people as the wind blew around them, the group felt chilly from the exposure.

"I am guessing that Dell hasn't tried to talk to you guys, huh?" He asked Yurika, out of curiosity, "She can be pretty stubborn these days."

"She can be spoiled at times, but that is what makes her likable." Yurika laughed after she spoken the facts about her former friend, "But yeah, we tried to get her to come with us to visit you guys."

"It can't be helped." Johan stating, as he realized a flash in the alley ahead of them, "Did you guys see that?"

"I saw it too." Shizuka replied, as she instantly ran towards it, "I am going to check it out!"

"Shizuka! Wait!" Takashi called out, as the group chased after her, only to find her in shock, viewing something horrible, "What... The... Hell...?"

Yurika gasped in horrible, as Johan covered her eyes instantly so she wouldn't see, Takashi walked up to Shizuka, carrying her. Her expression looked terrified, what they saw was a random student whose head was cut off, laying down in the floor covered in their own blood. It didn't take long for the police to intervene, not giving an inspection towards the people that found the body. Trembling in fear, Shizuka couldn't get the thought out of her head, it happened right next to them, they were unable to hear the boy's call. Which scared her more than ever, believing that the threat was more serious than others' speculated, everyone was taken home in separate cars, being dropped off at her house Shizuka instantly opened the door, closing it, and locking the apartment down, turning off the lights, and rushed to her room, trying to just sleep it off.

She couldn't, the images were imprinted into her head, clenching her hands into fist, as tears came out, she was afraid of her life for once. Regretting the fact that she accepted Seijuro's invitation. Wanting to take it back, after seeing what she saw, tonight she cried herself to sleep, trying her best to forget about the night and focus more on the Sakura Festival. The next morning, she finally got up, cleaned herself up, but this time she avoids both breakfast and the news. Walking out of the building, locking the door beforehand. Placing her headphones on, to avoid hearing the crowd talk about the body found by a group of students.

"Shi-Chan." Hearing familiar voice, as she turned to see Yurika, along with Takashi and Johan, "You okay?"

She didn't answer, as her friends walked along with her, keeping quiet until they felt an intense glare from a distance, it was Delthea. Walking up to them, pulling Johan's ear to her height, giving an angry expression.

"Explain yourself!" She yelled, not caring if people are watching, "Tell me why? Why are you hanging out with them!?"

Johan freed himself, as he let out a small sigh, "Dell. They always visit me, while you were just being angry at them. It was my fault that both Takashi and I got hurt in the first place."

She sighed, giving Johan a giant hug, "Welcome back... Johan..."

"Thank you, Dell." He said softly, "They aren't bad people after all. Yurika, explain if you can."

"Indeed." She responded, as Yurika walked up to Delthea, petting her head, "I am sorry for not being there when you need it, can we put it behind us now and move on, we are in the academy now."

Delthea pouted at her, but she was really happy on the inside, "Fine, but under one condition!" Pointing her finger at Shizuka, giving her a smirk, "You will duel me in the Sakura Festival, in the Idol Duel!"

"EHHHH!?" Shizuka was in shock from what she heard, "But I don't know how to duel yet! I am still lear-!"

"Enough of that!" Delthea interrupted, releasing Johan from her hold and walked up to Shizuka, pouting at her, "Sooner or later, you will duel. You had enough time to learn the basics, now use that knowledge and duel!"

"O-Okay!" Shizuka responded, as Delthea gave her a smile.

In that moment, the group grew with two additional members as they walked towards school together as friends, putting their feud behind them. Meanwhile, in the principal's office, Ryuuji and the blonde male from before, along with his twin sister we're waiting for Mr. Seijuro to talk.

"We have a problem to discuss here." He said, with a serious tone.

"Is it about the murders?" Ryuuji asked, as Mr. Seijuro responded with a nod, "What do like the three of to do about this?"

"What I am asking is a top priority, we believe the killer is using a duel monster to kill the student of Seijuro Academy." He explained, as the students stood quiet, "We don't know how murders are conducted, but one thing is certain. Blades were used to cut up the victims."

"We are limited with the information... Even with the police helping us..." Yoshino exclaimed, as she gripped tightly on the plushie, "Is there... Anyways for us to end this matter..."

"If I may?" Said the male twin, "I suggest a manhunt, if it's after Seijuro's Students, how about we sent our best to the field."

"You don't mean...?" Yoshino softly said, being frightened by her brother's words.

"Yes, I will go out there and end this maverick's madness." He said, noticing Ryuuji glaring at him, "Yes, Ryuuji?"

"This isn't a game you can play with, Siegfried. Peoples' lives are at stake!" Ryuuji finally broke out of his monotone voice, "What will this prove!?"

"Exactly Ryu, what will this prove?" Siegfried mocking him, "If my theory is correct, its aiming to attack the students with the high score. If we can get it in a duel, the murder will be locked down by the system and I.D check will be running."

"And who will be stupid enough to take such a risk, Sieg!?" He yelled, as Yoshino cowering behind her brother's back, causing him to sigh, "I will volunteer. I don't want any other students to be caught by this."

He left the room, as Siegfried smiled as if he planned for Ryuuji to set himself in a dangerous position only to benefit from it, if Ryuuji were to be killed.

To be Continued...

Chapter VIII: Sakura Festival Draws Near! Shizuka Finally Shines!