Hiroto Honda stepped into the dimly lit apartment, his brown coat catching the faint glow from the streetlights outside. His hair, arranged in a spike that seemed to match the sharpness of his eyes, framed his face in a way that gave off an air of determination and loyalty. His white shirt was crisp, a stark contrast to the worn-out surroundings he now found himself in.

The living room, cluttered with remnants of their daily lives, seemed to mirror Jonouchi's current state of mind. Papers and magazines were strewn across the coffee table, while a stack of Duel Monsters cards lay precariously near the edge. A half-empty pizza box perched on the armrest of the couch, testament to the haphazard nature of their living arrangements. As Hiroto's gaze fell upon his best friend, Jonouchi's body language spoke volumes. Slumped on the couch, his eyes were heavy with a mix of frustration and sadness. His usual energy, that spark that defined their bond, seemed to have dimmed. It was as if the weight of the world had settled on his shoulders, and he found himself unable to shake it off.

Honda's face softened, a mix of concern and empathy evident in his features. He moved forward, navigating through the mess with ease, and took a seat next to Jonouchi. With a gentle touch, he placed a hand on his friend's shoulder, offering a wordless gesture of support and understanding.

"You didn't get in the World Championship Series, did you?" said Honda.

"What gave it away? Was it my cheerful dancin' or the fact that I'm sittin' face first in this half-empty, old pizza box? Can't hide nothin's from you."

"What are you gonna do now?"

"Ya know, I'm startin' to see why my old was an alcoholic. Life ain't no cakewalk, that's for sure. But I ain't gonna quit that easy. I ain't endin' up like him, no way. I'm makin' my own path, doin' things my way," Jonouchi said.

A soft knock reverberated through the cramped apartment, and Honda's attention shifted to the door. He rose from the couch, his eyes curious and expectant, as he approached the entryway. With a cautious hand, he turned the doorknob, revealing Mokuba Kaiba standing on the other side. Mokuba's appearance exuded an air of sophistication and authority, evident even in the casual setting of the apartment. His white business suit jacket, immaculate and perfectly tailored, hinted at his position of power within KaibaCorp. The purple pants and vest added a touch of flair to the otherwise pristine ensemble, while the blue tie provided a subtle pop of color against the neutral tones. His tan skin held a healthy glow, contrasting with his grayish-purple eyes that seemed to hold a glimmer of determination and wisdom beyond his years. Long black hair cascaded down his back, adding an air of elegance to his overall presence.

"Mokuba?" Hiroto said.

"What's up Honda?"

"What are you doing here?"

"What? I can't stop by?" Mokuba said.

"No, no, no. It's not that. I'm just shocked that you would."

"I came to see Jonouchi. Is he around?"

"Yeah, come on in," said Honda.

Honda step aside allowing Mokuba to enter the apartment. Jonouchi remained motionless on the sofa, almost oblivious to the fact that someone had entered the apartment.

"I hear you're trying to enter the World Championship Series," Mokuba said. "How's that working out for you?"

"Oh, fantastic. Did Kaiba send ya here to come and mock me? Ain't got time for that nonsense."

"Actually, I came to offer you a sponsorship from KaibaCorp."

The room fell silent. Jonouchi's posture immediately changed. He stiffened up, almost like a shock of electricity was injected into his being.

"What did you say?" Honda said.

"KaibaCorp would like to sponsor Katsuya Jonouchi for the World Championship Series. Of course, we can't have someone giving KaibaCorp a bad name. So, we need to upgrade your Deck."

Mokuba placed a briefcase on the table before Jonouchi. With a swift motion, Mokuba opened up the briefcase revealing hundreds of rare cards. Jonouchi shot up to his feet.

"Check out all them rare cards! Ain't no freakin' way anyone's gonna beat me now!"

"Last I checked, Kaiba isn't a fan of Jonouchi. So, why would he want to sponsor Jonouchi in the World Championship Series?" Honda said.

Jonouchi's face morphed from a delightful glow to a stern detective.

"As much as I hate to admit it, Honda's right. What's the deal, Mokuba? Why's Kaiba suddenly tryin' to sponsor me outta nowhere? Somethin' ain't addin' up."

"Seto is missing," Mokuba said. "After Aigami was defeated, Seto took the Quantum Cube and used it to traverse dimensions. We lost contact with him shortly after that. We haven't heard from him since."

"Aigami!? That was like six months ago! Kaiba's been missin' all this time? Is he even alive? Man, this ain't good."

"Don't even imply that Kaiba may be dead in front of Mokuba!" Honda growled.

"I know my brother is alive! We picked up a reading on his vitals just the other day."

"What does this have to do with Jonouchi?"

"The vitals were detected within the Neurons VR System. We need to send in a Duelist into the system to track Seto's location. Only then can we begin the process of bringing my big brother back home," Mokuba said.

"You didn't have to bribe me, Mokuba. I'm more than happy to help ya, even if it means helpin' Kaiba. Bros stick together, ya know?"

"Thank you Katsuya."

"So, what's the deal? What do I gotta do?"

"We'll need to hook you up to the Neurons VR System. We can do that at KaibaCorp HQ. We're not sure what you'll encounter within the system though. So, I recommend using these cards to upgrade your Deck. Come to KaibaCorp tomorrow."

"You got it."

"Thank you, Jonouchi."

"Nah, don't mention it. It's gonna be real nice havin' Kaiba owe me one. Gotta keep that in my back pocket, ya know?"