So the days went by with me lurking around the school trying to wait for the exact moment that yuya's cards were stolen.
I had made sure to get a pair of binoculars and keep enough distance as to not arouse suspicion.
"8:45a.m. yuya and yuzu make it to school with almost no time to spare" I monologue as I mark the entry in my diary.
'What was this now the 5th day'
I then drink some juice that I picked up from a vending machine nearby.
"Ah..that hits the spot though how much longer will I have to stay out here?"I say.
"Hey kid, what are you doing here outside of school?" A voice says behind me.
Turning around I see a burly man in a security guard outfit.
'Another one of them. Am I some sort of guard magnet?'
"Oh I don't go to school you se-""No! NO! I understand you're one of them delinquents aren't ya well i'll make sure you're not skipping" He interrupts me and grabs my arm.
"Hey man calm down on the grip strength my bones are being tenderized. I'll come quietly" I said.
"Fine then but if I see any more attempts of you escaping...I'll be taking you straight to the principal's office" he said, letting go of my hand.
'I might prefer that actually'
Anyway getting into the school wasn't part of the plan but I could work with it.
Well I hoped.
Students all around were rushing towards their classes. I didn't want to stick around here and be caught by one of the hall monitors or teachers passing by.
"The cafeteria might be a good choice, I'm probably guessing they have one" I mutter to myself as I loiter about.
I finally do manage to find it thanks to the smell of some delicious cooking. did provide me with good living space but getting food was my own concern.
So I entered the cafeteria and went to the counter keen on ordering something other than the store bought meals that I had to microwave.
I managed to snag myself some beef curry and went forward to finishing it up. I was hungry after all.
"It's you" I heard a familiar voice.
"Hmm" I turned around to see someone I didn't want to see.
"Natsume *munch* What are you doing here? Don't you have *swallow* class or something?" I said looking at the mostly empty cafeteria.
"I could ask you the same thing, didn't you say you were here for the tournament? I didn't hear of any new transfer students," she said.
"Well I'm not a student here if that's what you're wondering. The security guard around the gate just assumed I was one and let me inside" I say and then continue eating.
"What were you doing near the school anyway?"she said with suspicion.
'THINK OF SOMETHING! THINK OF SOMETHING!'
"...Surfing?" I blurted out.
"What?" she asked, confused.
"I mean I was just on a walk you know to find... a duel yeah I was searching for a duelist to duel" I bullshit.
Natsume looks at me curiously, probably trying to determine whether I'm being truthful or not.
"Well I've been told that I should report any suspicious individuals to the faculty-""Well you could but the only person who would be at fault would be the security guard" she said as I interrupted her.
"but I'll let this slide," she adds.
'Good decision'
I then see a couple of students entering my vision, especially somebody I recognised.
'Sawatari Shingo'
I watched him discuss with his lackeys how he was going to take Yuya's pendulum cards while they cheered and praised him. Does he not notice there are people around or is he so stuck up that he doesn't even care.
Natsume noticed my distraction as she turned over to where I was looking.
"That's Shingo Sawatari. Apparently his father is a high ranking city official. It would be better if you stayed away from him because he doesn't have the best reputation" she says.
"Nah I think this guy's the person I definitely need to have a chat with. See you later Natsume" I say standing up and waving her off.
"Suit yourself then" she says as she leaves the cafeteria.
She seemed angry, well I can guess why.
I walked up to the four of them who were at the moment talking among themselves.
"Hey there I might have overheard you guys saying something about pendulum cards" I said.
"Yeah we might have been but what's it to you? Who are you anyway?" A green haired lackey asks me.
"Oh my name's Raizen. I'm just here for the upcoming tournament. The reason I asked about them is because I'm really interested in pendulum summoning. I've seen those cards and I believe they could give me an edge in the tournament" I say.
"Oh you're interested in them... well we're about to take yuya sakaki's pendulum cards" A red haired lackey says to me
"You weren't supposed to let anyone know that" A brown haired lackey replied, sighing.
"Wow, that's great. I've personally seen yuya sakaki pendulum summoning, his cards would surely work. Please let me tag along" I said with a smile(which I faked).
"You said you were a duelist didn't you. Sure why not It's not like I would deny the extra help" Shingo said.
"So the rest of you aren't duelists?" I asked.
"Sadly they aren't, that's why it's delightful that I've found another duelist you can tag along with me"-he looked at his lackeys-" the rest of you head to LDS as soon as school is done" Shingo tells his lackeys who eventually disperse.
"That's a strange duel disk you've got there" he says pointing at it.
"Well it's from back home so yeah it might seem a bit different" I replied.
"Sure that's fine you said you were entering the tournament right?" he asked.
"Yeah that's right" I say.
'What's he getting at'
"Then I'll be sure to teach you how to duel, since I'm the best duelist after all I might as well see how good you are" he says.
"Sure I'm up for a duel but don't you have class?" I ask.
"Not really, those teachers can't teach me anything I don't already know. Get ready let's go" He says as his duel disk extends.
"Right here in the cafeteria?" I ask looking around at some students who made their way in.
"Sure nobody would stop us"he says confidently like it was an obvious fact.
"Fine then you're on" I say as my duel disk extends.
...
"I make my Ultimate Darts Shooter attack your Atlantean heavy infantry" Shingo said as his monster shot a bunch of darts and destroyed my fish creature.
Raizen-1900Lp-0Lp
Shingo-2800 Win
It took a lot of willpower for me to not counter his attacks and make myself lose. Especially with all the strategies I had in mind. Anyway winning the duel could have alienated shingo from me which would make my plan of getting integrated into the plot to fall apart.
"Man, you're really strong, Sawatari-san," I lied.
"Well it's only to be expected that I would win but you did manage to put in a good amount of effort," he said.
"Ha ha thanks" I said.
"Well I think I've spent enough time here, meet me at the school gate in about 10 minutes" he said as he left.
'Huh time really does fly'
I turned off my duel disk and proceeded to make my way outside but a sudden hand grabbed my collar.
"What was with that farce of a duel? Summoning a 0 attack monster in attack position and just playing in general like an amateur. And on top of that planning to steal someone else's cards I didn't expect this from you" she said seemingly angry.
She wasn't really causing me to choke or anything of the sort. Her grip just had me bend my neck a bit until we were eye to eye.I wanted to quell her doubts but her little speech seemed to get on my nerves.
So I grabbed her hand holding my collar and removed it.
"If you want to tag along feel free to do so you'll understand the 'why' in a while" I said neutrally as I walked away not looking back.
That was unusual for me to give in to rage. I sighed and just left for the gate. These aren't real people. I shouldn't focus my emotions on them too much. I just needed to keep my mind clear.
I stopped thinking about it as I reached the gate where Shingo was waiting for me. I waved to him as he noticed me.
"Don't say anything unnecessary, just follow my lead," Shingo said as I stood next to him somehow managing to betray any sign of emotion.
"Sure," I said, walking alongside him.
'Should I go for it or not'
I wasn't sure whether this plan of mine will work or not but I guess this was the best opportunity to get tied to the plot. Butterfly effect be damned.