Jessie is working his part-time shift at the card shop. Although he's there physically, his mind is elsewhere. While cleaning up the tables with a rag, he stares straight on, eyes just fixated on a random poster while he laments over something in mind.

Sophia is working behind the counter. After ringing up a pair of customers, she notices Jessie staring into space. With the current customers of the shop busy with games or browsing, she walks over to Jessie.

She taps his shoulder, breaking him out of his trance. He turns round to see her standing there.

"You okay?" Jessie gives a half-baked nod while attempting a smile for Sophia, yet she can see right through it. "You're still thinking about Micheal and that Raphael guy, aren't you?"

His fake smile fades, "...yeah. He seemed to be better before leaving the shop the other day, but I haven't really seen him outside of college, just walk together to classes, and the occasional overlap of going to the cafeteria."

Sophia pats his shoulder, "I'm sorry I wasn't there. I wish I could have done something."

"It's not your fault, I was the one working, I should been there to see it. Still," Jessie's expression turns sour. His thoughts turn from worrying about his friend to the image of Raphael, the one who beat him. "That guy. If he's still around here, something needs to be done."

Sophia doesn't like the expression drawn on his face. "I can only guess what you're thinking." She shoves his arm a little, "Just don't do anything stupid, okay? Looking for trouble will only make things worse."

Her words fall on deaf ears, but with nothing he can do, Jessie agrees. "Sure."

The rest of the shift moves on as normal. Sophia puts Jessie to work moving boxes, inventory, and other tasks to keep him busy until his shift ends.

Leaving behind the apron, he walks out with his college bag and walks down a nearly empty town while it's still light out. The weekday nightlife is nonexistent, meaning barely anyone would be around.

Jessie is walking home through the clear streets when he hears a small group of people laughing and joking with each other near the coming bridge. As he passes them by, he overhears their conversation.

"I'm telling you. This guy…he's on another level. Unbeatable. No one at the circuit could even come close to beating him."

Jessie's interest is piqued. He stops to eavesdrop a little longer. Looking over his shoulder, he recognizes two of the group members from the local card shop. He turns on his heel to confront them.

"Oi, mate. That Cardfighter you were just talking about. What was his name?" His tone is rude and direct, not wanting to waste time.

"What's it to you?" the group leader asks, acting high and mighty as if they were God's gift. The two group members from the shop recognize Jessie's face, but can't place him.

"If his name is Raphael, then please tell me. I have business with him. So please, tell me more about this circuit, and where to find him?"

"Well…maybe the guy I'm talking about, who dresses like a goth, and has never lost a Cardfight, might be named Raphael. But, why would I tell you anything else about that? Or better, what's in it for me?"

Before he can even finish his thought, Jessie pulls his deck box out from his pocket and presents it. "Come on. We're Cardfighters, aren't we not? There's only one way to settle anything."

With his challenge, the pair get set up on a table on the bridge. Overlooking the canal below, they set up their decks, place down their units, and prepare to play. The group leader, Mick is playing Oracle Think Tank, a clan of oracles and myths with the power to see the future.

"Stand Up, Vanguard! Godhawk, Ichibyoshi!"

"Stand Up, The Vanguard! Blugal!"

Mick 4 damage

VS

Jessie 3 damage

The game has been going on for some time. Mick rode into his grade 3, Goddess of the Full Moon, Tsukuyomi this turn. He has a nearly full board of units, Silent Tom, Battle Maiden, Tagitsuhime, Goddess of the Crescent Moon, Tsukuyomi and Oracle Guardian, Gemini.

Jessie is in a similar situation, having rode into his grade 3, Fang of Light Garmore on his last turn. After being attacked by Mick's Vanguard, he used a rearguard and a card in hand to protect himself, leaving an open circle in the front row. The rest of his units are Swordsman of the Explosive Flames, Palamedes, two copies of Snowgal, and a Blugal.

It is still Mick's turn, and he has two attacks left.

"Boosted by Cresent Moon, Silent Tom attacks Garmore. When Tom attacks, you can't use grade 0s to guard against them."

[Tom 8000 + Crescent 7000 = 1500]

Jessie lets the attack go through. "Damage check," turning over the next card he finds no trigger.

[Jessie 4 damage]

"With support from Gemini, Tagitsuhime attacks the Vanguard. Her skill adds another 3000 power because I have at least six cards in the soul."

[Tagitsuhime 9000 + 3000 + Gemini 8000 = 20000]

"No guard." Jessie takes the damage, adding another card to his damage pile, putting him on the edge of defeat.

[Jessie 5 damage]

"Turn end," Mick is fairly confident with where he is in the game. He has only three cards in hand, with one of them being a grade 3, he has one more card than Jessie after he guarded the Vanguard attack. "So, are you ready to hold up your end of the bargain after losing?"

"I'm a man of my word," Jessie reads his cards before starting his turn. Drawing his top card, he lets out a small smile, "But, I don't plan on losing this game." The card he drew has a shine to it, with the light from the lamppost glistening from the glitter of the card. "I call…Blaster Blade to the rearguard. I use his counterblast to retire Silent Tom from the rearguard."

While the card is easily obtainable from the Royal Paladin trial deck, Blaster Blade is the poster child of the clan, being a shining beacon of hope on the planet Cray.

"Battle. Supported by Blugal, Blaster Blade will attack Tagitsuhime." Jessie aims for the other interceptor that Mick has on his board.

[Blaster Blade 9000 + Blugal 4000 = 13000]

Mick decides not to guard the attack, not wanting to waste another guardian on such a low attack.

"Now with a boost from Snowgal, Garmore attacks. As a reminder, Snowgal gains 1000 for every other copy on my board. And Garmore gains 1000 for every Snowgal and Blugal I have. That brings his total to 13000 by himself, and 20000 with Snowgal."

[Garmore 13000 + Snowgal 7000 = 20000]

Mick looks over his hand. Battle Sister Ginger, another copy of Gemini and Evil-eye Princess, Euryale. "If I guard this, Palamedies will run right through me. I'll let this through," he says in his head before verbally calling, "No guard!"

"Twin Drive." Jessie turns over the first card, "First check…," he pulls a normal unit. "Second check…Alabaster Owl, a critical trigger. I'll give the power to Palamedis, but the critical Garmore will keep."

[Palamedies 15000]

[Garmore 2 critical]

The attack goes through, Mick taking double the intended damage from the attack. Luck favouring Jessie over Mick, and he pulls no such triggers to prevent his certain defeat. Turning both cards over, Mick is put to six damage.

[Mick 6 damage, Jessie wins.]

Mick's entourage stands in stunned silence at the defeat of their 'leader'. Mick is in awe of his loss, his eyes fixated on the board before finally looking up at Jessie. As a final insult, Jessie reveals his hand, not counting the two cards from the twin drive, his hand contains Bringer of Good Luck, Epona, and Flash Shield Iseult.

Mick falls to his knees, understanding completely what Jessie is non-verbally saying. "You…you were just toying with me…you could have protected yourself earlier, but you just let it through."

Jessie just nods silently before crossing his arms. "So, Micky boy. About holding up bargains." Mick can feel Jessie looming over him like an enraged dragon, questing for revenge. "Where can I find Raphael?"