Well, January is over, so here is the chapter for February, even though it's still technically January.
The entire group stared at the newcomer.
"Who is that fellow?" Yuya asked with a curious expression, which was mirrored by the rest of You Show's students.
I face faulted at that. "Are you guys serious? You actually don't know who this person is?" I asked. I'm still confused how they don't know the face of the CEO.
"Even I, the man Gongenzaka, have never seen him before." Gongenzaka stated. "Is he famous?"
"Is he famous? Guys, this is Akaba Reiji, the current President of Leo Corporation and the youngest Duelist ever to obtain the qualifications of a pro. How can you not have heard of him before?" I said. "You live in the same town as him!"
Needless to say, everyone was mightily surprised by this sudden revelation except for Sora, who was eyeing Reiji with newfound interest.
"Well, I believe introductions are out of the way." Reiji said, pushing up his glasses. He then turned to Himika. "Mother, I would appreciate it if you let me handle things from here on."
"Reiji-san… Very well, do as you wish." Himika said.
After Himika consented to Reiji's request, he turned to the students of You Show Duel School.
"It appears you've bested my students." Reiji began. "Though it doesn't surprise me considering your victors both use Pendulum Summon, a new Summoning Method."
"Careful not to gag while you're sucking me off." I said, which made Reiji smirk.
"Sakaki Yuya, won't you have a Duel with me?" He asked Yuya, to which I frowned.
"Hey, Four-Eyes, the deal was-"
"Yes, I am quite aware, and unlike my mother, I will fulfill my end of the bargain." He interrupted me. "However, this is merely to satisfy my curiosity. Any good Duelist wouldn't miss the chance to duel against the creator of Pendulum Summon. You could join if you so desire, Hoshizaki Noa."
"Nah, I'm good. I already filled up on dueling. Besides…" I said. "I don't like to share."
"As you wish." Reiji straightened his glasses. "Now, what do you say?"
"…If I agree to this, will you leave You Show alone, no matter the result?" Yuya asked.
"I give you my word as President of the Leo Corporation and as a Duelist." He answered. "I will also follow through with Hoshizaki Noa's requests."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Yuya lets out a wide smile. "Let's get this show on the road!"
As Yuya and Reiji faced off in the field, I began to walk off.
"Where are you going, Senpai?" Sora asked.
"Just going to get some fresh air." I merely said before leaving.
"So this is where you were."
I said to Yuzu, as we were both outside. Yuzu was on the ground, knees to her face.
"Hey, Noa…" She said, not looking up.
"Still thinking over your loss?" I asked. "Or about the Yuya doppelganger?"
"Both…" She answered.
I sighed. "For the love of…" I raised my fist and whacked her upside the head.
"OW! What's the big idea!?" She asked, standing up, massaging her head.
"When are you going to get through that thick skull of yours!?" I said. "I have only known Yuya for a few days and I know that lookalike was not her. And yet you know her all of your life and somehow you have the audacity to doubt her!?"
Yuzu flinched. "I…"
"What!? Because they look the same!? News flash, Hiiragi, that is the only thing they have in common." I said. Well, that and other things, but i'll leave it at that. "Yuya doesn't Xyz Summon, doesn't dye her hair or have different clothes, nor does she have a Phantom Knight Deck. So stop thinking about that mysterious girl and focus!"
"...You're right. If I was focused, maybe I could have defeated Yuri." Yuzu said.
I shook my head. "No, you lost because you are weak and useless, plain and simple."
Yuzu flinched. "Hey!" She said to Noa, in indignation.
"It's the truth, whether you like it or not." I said, unafraid of her. "Who was it that attracted Sora and I to You Show? Not you. Who was it that defeated Bakatari? Not you. Who was it that won their duels against LDS? Not you. In all of these, you're not even in the picture, because you're either being on the sidelines or being a damsel in distress. You couldn't even believe in your childhood friend when she needed it most, nor could you defend You Show. Again, you had to depend on someone else to come to the rescue. Tell me does this sound like someone who is strong?"
Yuzu stayed silent while I continued.
"You may have been able to defeat your run of the mill duelists, but in the big leagues, you're nothing but cannon fodder." I interrupted. "If you're content at the level you're at, forget being an Entertainer, you're not even worthy to call yourself a Duelist."
Yuzu flinched at that, but I didn't let up.
"The world revolves around one thing: power. If you want to entertain the masses, but you do nothing but lose, who is going to be entertained by you?"
"Then how do I do it?" Yuzu asked. "How do I become stronger?"
"That is something you have to figure out for yourself." I said, before turning around and going back inside. "But if you want my advice: Imagine it."
"Imagine it?"
"Imagine how the duel is going to go down, imagine yourself becoming a stronger version of yourself." I explained, pointing to my forehead. "If you do that, you're one step closer to getting stronger."
"A stronger version of myself…" Yuzu repeated.
"Now, are you going stay sulking or are you going to be useful to your friend for once?"
We walked back inside.
The Duel was going exactly like in the anime, so I doubt anything was going to change.
"The opponent activated four Contracts, so he'll take 4000 points of damage on his next Standby Phase, In other words..." Gongenzaka comments.
"If Yuya ends her turn, his opponent will have 0 life points!" Yuzu added, though no one heard her.
"So Yuya wins?" Ayu asks hopefully.
"That was quick." Futoshi comments.
"He made a strategic mistake." Tatsuya says relieved.
"Are you sure about that, I don't think he's the type who makes simple mistakes, and right before Whip Viper attacked, I wonder why Genghis's attack points changed from 2500 to 1500." Sora comments.
"No, this duel is only beginning, Akaba Reiji won't take any damage." I tell them.
Everyone looks at me, surprised by my sudden appearance. "Oh and why do you think that?" Reiji asks me curious.
"Sora lollipop me." I say holding out my hand nodding thanks when he places the candy in my hand and I unwrap it. "First: Akaba Reiji is a highly talented Duelist able to place top in many tournaments and wouldn't make a stupid mistake that would kill him. Second: You had a full Spell and Trap card zone before activating it so you needed to make room for the Action Spell so it was obvious that you planned that far ahead."
"Impressive." Reiji comments with a smirk.
"What 's so funny?" Yuya questions.
"My apologies, I was thinking back to when you offered to let me go first. It seems you're a kindhearted person, but that kindness won't help you on the battlefield!" Reiji says, pushing up his glasses.
Yuya grits her teeth in frustration.
"You can win if you end your turn, but you're hesitating, that's due to your kindness, I wonder where that weakness will lead." Reiji goads Yuya.
"What is he talking about?" Futoshi questions.
"Don't hesitate, Yuya!" Gongenzaka yells out.
"That's right, finish him!" Ayu calls out.
"Hurry up and end your turn!" Tatsuya comments.
"I set one card and end my turn. Whip Viper effect switched Genghis's attack and defense points, but they now return to normal. High Dive's effect also ends, so Whip Snake's attack points return to normal." Yuya finishes as the monster's stats return to normal. "Due to the effects of your Contracts, you now take 4000 points of damage!"
"I told you before Akaba Reiji won't take any damage." I say placing the candy in my mouth, "In fact to him such Contracts are mere trivial things." I state as the Contracts blow up.
Everyone gasps in shock.
"What happened?" Yuya asks in shock.
"The Contracts are negated. Your friend was right. I already activated the Trap Card Contract Laundering. Contract Laundering activates by negating the effects of all Contracts, and all Contracts are destroyed during the End Phase." Reiji explains.
"I see, Dark Contract with the Witch was negated, so that's why Genghis's attack points returned to 1500." Sora says, looking at me with an analyzing look.
"4000 points of damage were negated!" Gongenzaka says shocked.
I sigh. "Really you guys were shocked by this strategy, it's not even that complex." I say placing my hand on my face Lelouch Style.
"And for every card that was destroyed, I draw a card from my deck!" Reiji says drawing 4 new cards.
"So that's my weakness, but even if I won I wouldn't be happy because the audience was looking forward to seeing something awesome from my entertainment dueling.." Yuya mutters to herself, "From your point of view, it might look like a weakness, but I'm going to win my way, by using the entertainment dueling that I learned from my dad!" she says to Reiji, speaking a bit louder.
"Wow, you knew exactly how that was going to turn out Noa." Yuzu comments as everyone looks at me.
"How did you know?" Gongenzaka questions.
"I loved playing strategy games growing up so I learned how to predict my opponent's moves and applied that to Dueling." I tell them.
"Impressive." Sora comments.
"Who do you think will win?" Ayu asks me.
"I can't tell, the scales of fate swing both ways in this duel." I tell them, I notice Reiji and Himika both glance at me with narrowed eyes at the comment, I just give a cheeky Grin and a little wave.
"Win using Yusho Sakaki's dueling?" Reiji asks returning his attention to Yuya.
"You know my dad?" Yuya asks.
"Of course we do, your dad is famous." Yaiba laughs.
"As the former Champion who ran away." Hokuto mocks.
"Sil….." Reiji begins to snap before freezing.
"Hokuto...Yaiba…" I say, a dark red aura of pressure leaking off me in waves that actually forces the You Show crew onto their knees and gives the window a hairline crack, "Did you just say something?" I say in a sweet tone.
"N-NOTHING!" The two yell out hugging each other in fear as Himika has sweat on their faces. Yuri merely continued playing her game, though she shivered a bit.
"My apologies of course I know your father. He's a pioneer who built up Action Duels into the success it experiences today, so I admire him deeply. I'll make you show me the dueling that you inherited from your father, so that means I'll have to get serious." Reiji tells Yuya
"Get serious, you weren't serious yet?" Yuya says shocked.
"My turn, I draw!" Reiji says starting his turn, "I summon the Level 3 Tuner Monster D/D Nighthowl!" he says summoning his monster, which was literally a jaw.
(LV3 Fiend/Effect/Dark ATK:300 DEF:600)
"Tuner Monster?" Yuya yells out in shock.
"Can it be?" Gongenzaka asks.
"It's time for the main event." Himika comments.
"When it's summoned, I can Special Summon a Level 4 or below D/D monster from the graveyard by lowering its attack points to 0. I resurrect D/D Lilith!" Reiji says explaining Nighthowl's effect as the Graveyard Portal Opens in front of Yuya and Lilith emerges.
(LV4 Fiend/Effect/Dark ATK:100 DEF:2100)
"Level 3 D/D Nighthowl tunes Level 4 D/D Lilith." Reiji declares as Night Howl and Lilith swing towards each other on the Trapeze swing before Nighthowl's breaks from its teeth and it turns into the Synchro Rings surrounding Lilith.
"The roar that cuts through the darkness, gain the speed of a gale and give rise to a new king! Synchro Summon! Be born Level 7! D/D/D Gust King Alexander!"
(LV7 Fiend/Synchro/Effect/Dark ATK:2500 DEF:2000)
"Synchro Monster?" Yuya says seeing his first one.
"He can use more than Fusion?" Gongenzaka asks.
"Ten Bucks says he can use all the summoning methods." I comment.
"Do you mean he can Xyz as Well?" Gongenzaka asks me.
"Maaaaaaaybe." I say dragging out the word.
"I'm not done, I activate D/D/D Flame King Temujin effect!" Reiji announces. "When another D/D/D monster is Special Summoned, I can Special Summon a D/D monster from the graveyard, Resurrect again, D/D Lilith!" he calls out summoning the monster once again. "D/D/D Gust King Alexander's effect activates, When a D/D monster is Special Summoned, I can Special Summon a D/D monster from the graveyard, recurrect D/D Cerberus!" he calls out as Alexander's cape begins blowing in a wind as the Grave Portal opens and the guardian of the underworld emerges.
"Two Level 4 Monsters." I mutter.
"I overlay my Level 4 D/D Lilith and D/D Cerberus!" Reiji announces as his D/D Monsters enter the overlay network.
"What?." Yuya yells out as everyone looks at me in shock.
"With these two monsters, I build the Overlay Network. In order to rule all of existence, descend at the world's spire! Xyz Summon! Be born! Rank 4! D/D/D Wave King Caeser!"
(RNK:4 Fiend/Xyz/Effect/Dark ATK:2400 DEF:1200)
"He even uses Xyz Monsters." Sora says shocked a Standard Duelist can master more than one Summon Method.
"He's unbelievable." Gongenzaka says shocked.
"Do you think Yuya will win?" Ayu asks me.
I shake my head, "I honestly can't answer that, truthfully If Reiji and I were dueling even then I wouldn't know who would win, he just seems to be outside my scope of prediction." I tell her softly grasping her hand, "But all we need to do is cheer Yuya on with all our hearts." I tell her getting a smile.
"D/D/D stands for Different Dimension Demon. Taste the power of the demon king's that have conquered different dimensions." Reiji tells Yuya, getting ready to attack.
So far, this duel has been going the same way. Logically, to follow the cannon storyline, it would have to end the same way. But as I stared at Yuri I wondered...
Could this duel end differently?
Originally, this was going to include the rest of the duel, but I saw how much edit I would have to do with the rest, so I said 'Nah', and decided to split this like in the anime.
So, let's check the ideas:
-OC!Buster Blader: A small crossover with Cardfight Vanguard. Sendou Aichi didn't have a good childhood. One day, he meets Yuya, who tries to entertain him, working for a bit. Before they part, Yuya gives him Buster Blader. What he didn't know was that it was going to save Aichi's life. Now years later, Aichi returns to You Show in order to pay his debt to Yuya. OCxRuri and Rin; YuyaxSerena and Yuzu.
-SI!Buster Blader: Buster Blader gets help from an OC. In exchange for stopping Zarc, who is a woman in this universe, Buster Blader will allow its wielder to enslave the counterparts. Evil!OCxFem!Yu-boys. M Rated.
-Therapy: Instead of going straight to the Parasite Fusioner, Leo uses a more... delicate approach to convince Ray's counterparts to join him. So he asks help from a young man named Doctor Maruki. Essentially Takuto Maruki from P5R exists in Academia and has therapy sessions with the Bracelet Girls. OCxTyler Sisters.
P.S: I might try and post some of my fics here to AO3, so if you use that, stay tuned. My username is the sameover there.