It was during the late hours of afternoon, when night's reign had already taken over the skies of Sagakin, that Jack returned to the Shirayama mansion. As per usual, he was greeted by Yuji, the overly polite butler who was quick to take his winter coat and leave it in the hangers near the entrance. After refusing an offer for warm tea or coffee, Jack made his way through the hallway and ended up in the living room. It was there that he found Hajime, Ben and Lori all gathered around a coffee table, working on a deck.
"And with four copies of Gagaga Gaial Brand, it seems we're done here," Ben concluded and wiped a small trickle of sweat off his brow.
"You've finally got a RexStars deck as well. Welcome to the club, Lori!" Hajime congratulated her.
"Why thanks, guys! I can hardly wait to test this on Jack when I get back at the hotel. He won't know what hit him!" Lori said with a devious voice.
"No, I sure won't," Jack broke his silence, having everyone turn their attention to him. "Well howdy there, didn't know y'all were planning things behind my back!"
"Welcome back!" Hajime greeted as he walked up to him, the two friends shaking hands heartily. "How was work today?"
"I've had better days."
"Understandable. You up for a beer?"
"Sure thing, fetch me a cold one!"
Hajime walked past him and went to the small bar in a corner of the living room where he opened a fridge and fetched two beer cans. In a matter of moments, both men toasted to their reunion.
"Man, that's the stuff!" Jack exclaimed, giving out a small burp afterwards. "Excuse me."
"Not a problem. I hope our upcoming reunions will be as good as this one," Hajime replied knowingly.
"If my job allows me to return to Japan, you mean. Speaking of which, we're all dressed in suits and you, mister company man, are wearing just a T-shirt and gym pants? Pretty unprofessional, don't you think?"
"Give me a break, Jack; it's my day off. Speaking of which, you said you'd tell me more about your job." Hajime walked back to the bar and pressed his elbows against the wooden table. "I'm all ears!"
"Well, if you put it that way, partner." Jack joined him and placed his beer can on the table. "I work for a multinational company that specializes in telecommunication. I started low at first - just a 'test boy' who checked the cables and wires. Then I slowly rose through the ranks and before I knew it, I started having a say in the company's tech building chit-chats. One day I get called into the big boss's office and he talks to me alone for like an hour. By the end of it all, I get promoted to being his personal 'errand boy' for lack of a better term."
Both chuckled for a moment and then Hajime asked, "What does that imply?"
"At the boss's behest, I must oversee other departments and sometimes go on business meetings in his stead."
"That sounds pretty much like a second-in-command position, doesn't it?"
"Not really, partner. I still lack the proper experience to climb that high up the damn corporate ladder." Jack paused for a moment and rubbed his damaged right cheek in contemplation. "No, I was just really lucky."
"Luck, you say?" Hajime repeated, though deep down he did not believe in luck, at least not when it came to the business world. There was another factor, Jack was hiding something, and he needed to find a way to subtly pull his tongue. "May I ask what did this luck entail?"
"Haha, you'll have to excuse me, but the matter's confidential! I'm sure you can understand business etiquette."
"Of course I do." In his mind, Hajime was certain that something was off about Jack. There was no way he could get an easy answer out of him. Would he have to question Lori instead? Who knew if he would have another opportunity to be alone with her once more? Until then, he decided to not give Jack any hints that he was growing suspicious, so he downed the rest of his beer and then said, "You wanted to duel me, right? Well then, I'll take you up on that offer!"
"You're on, partner!" Jack excitedly replied and then they both took out their decks and went to the closest dueling tables to set up their cards.
Five teal-colored rectangular panels materialized above each player, thus marking the beginning of their duel.
"I summon Yattareman," Jack said and a purple humanoid-like creature with a trumpet for a mouth and a pair of drums hanging at its chest appeared by his side. "With its effect, my Jokers all cost 1 mana less."
"I summon Mixel, Strange Stone." An airship made of red crystal appeared by Hajime's side.
"I charge mana and now... Yattareman, break his shield!" The humanoid jumped headfirst and went through an opposing shield. "Kirifudash 1, I cast Momodachi Power and destroy Mixel!"
"Kirifudash...?" Hajime repeated as his creature disappeared in an explosion.
"At the end of any of my creatures' attacks, if that creature broke a shield, I may play cards with Kirifudash which gives them an alternate mana cost," Jack explained and tipped his hat, his smile growing in anticipation. "Yattareman's cost reduction effect also affects Kirifudash costs, so Kirifudash 1 - I summon Momodachi Monkid and ramp one mana!" The next creature to appear by his side was a monkey dressed in a yellow suit with a green mask as well as green gloves and boots. "Then Kirifudash 1 again, I summon Momodachi Canbello which grants Momodachi Monkid speed attacker!" A red dog wielding a nunchaku also join the small army of creatures and gave a battle howl which empowered the monkey to dash ahead. "Momodachi Monkid, break another shield!" It tore through a second opposing shield with its claws.
"I summon Still Justice Till The End," Hajime said and a blue robotic humanoid sitting in front of a giant golden golem appeared by his side. "All my evolution creatures cost 1 mana less. Also, Still Justice Till The End can't leave the battle zone until the start of my next turn."
"Not a problem at all, partner. Yattareman, break his shield!"
As the purple humanoid broke through another shield, much to Jack's surprise, his opponent revealed the card, but did not declare shield trigger.
"Guard Strike - I reveal Tekara, Inspection Guard and stop Momodachi Canbello from attacking this turn."
"Guard Strike, ey? Nice trick there, Hajime, but still... Kirifudash 3, I summon Bearshigara, Four-wheel Drive Bear!" A white car with the head of a polar bear sticking out of its front appeared by Jack's side. "With his effect, I ramp two mana and recover a card from my mana zone. I'll take back... Momoking, Jonetsu Hero. Momodachi Monkid, break another shield!" The monkey jumped through the air and kicked through a fourth opposing shield, shattering it into pieces. "There, it's your fourth turn and you got only one shield left. Let's see how you turn the tables now, partner."
"I evolve Still Justice Till The End into Still Justice Till The End (Kira Star)!" The robotic duo got engulfed in a bright light and when it dissipated, both were each wielding a flaming sword and a shield shaped after the Sol key, only the smaller one's were made of blue energy and the golem's were made of gold and crystal. "Since Still Justice Till The End evolved, I activate his Shinkapower effect which won't allow you to cast spells that cost 4 or less until the start of my next turn! Now with Kira Star's effect, whenever he's put in the battle zone or he attacks, I draw a card and put a creature which costs 4 or less from my hand into the battle zone! Come out, Shuff, Eureka, and I choose the number 2!" A blue robot wielding a deck of cards appeared and tossed a 2 of hearts at Yattareman and Momodachi Canbello, incapacitating them.
Jack bit his lip at the sight of the lockdown.
"Kira Star, attack Momodachi Monkid! I draw a card and bring out Evo Lupia." A yellow, blue and red bird appeared by Hajime's side. "With its effect, I draw a card and evolve it into another Still Justice Till The End (Kira Star)!" The bird also got engulfed into a bright light and turned into another robotic duo wielding swords and shields. "With my second Kira Star's effect, I draw a card and bring out Testa Rossa, Survival Star." A white-haired cyborg dressed in a black suit joined Hajime's small army. "My first Kira Star destroys Momodachi Monkid! Now then, I attack with my second Kira Star, draw a card and bring out Diamond Star, Kiramekinosabato." A being whose limbs and head were made of purple crystal and tied together by a bright light also appeared. "Testa Rossa doesn't let you play creatures except by summoning them. Diamond Star doesn't let you activate your cost reduction effects, so no more Kirifudash shenanigans from you! Go, Kira Star, double break his shields!"
Jack took cover as the robotic duo slashed away two of his shields. He immediately revealed one of the card he received and said, "Shield trigger, I cast Momodachi Power and destroy Diamond Star!"
"I end my turn here." Hajime crossed his arms, satisfied by his comeback. "My Kira Stars turn both Shuff and Testa Rossa into blockers."
"Yattareman reduces his cost by 1, so I summon Momoking, Jonetsu Hero!" A pink dragon dressed in green samurai gear and wielding a large katana appeared by Jack's side. "Witness the leader of the Fire Nature Team Kirifuda!"
"Impressive," Ben remarked.
"That's Jack for you, always showing off," Lori added with a smile.
"Bearshigara, break his final shield!" Jack ordered.
"Testa Rossa, block the attack!" Hajime intervened.
"Momoking, break his final shield!"
"Shuff blocks this attack as well!"
"Now that your blockers are out of the way... Momoking untaps after his first attack! Then I'll attack a Kira Star with Momoking!" The dragon jumped at one of the robotic duos and hacked them both into pieces with the katana, both disappearing in an explosion, but out of its smoke emerged the yellow, blue and red bird from before.
"Star Evolution, although Kira Star gets destroyed, Evo Lupia remains!" Hajime announced. "And now it's my turn again, I cast The Triple Three and draw three cards. Then I summon Rex Sidia." A floating dark purple gem with four hands and a red eye in its center appeared in the battle zone. "You can't attack with creatures on the turn they're put in the battle zone while Rex Sidia is out. Now, I attack Bearshigara with Kira Star, draw a card and evolve Evo Lupia into Ov Sidia (Southern Star)!" The bird got enveloped into a bright light once more and transformed into a blue gem with a red eye in its center, angelic golden wings and a golden spear in its hands. "Kira Star, destroy Bearshigara!" The polar bear car was hacked into pieces by the robotic duo. "Southern Star, attack! With his effect, I'll draw a card for each creature of mine that costs 4 or less, so I'll draw two. Now go, double break his shields!" The gem flew towards the opponent and used its spear to hack away two more shields. "I end my turn and Kira Star untaps Southern Star and grants it blocker."
"Alright then, partner. Let's see you survive this - I cast Heat enough to burn to Ash and bring out Momodachi Kentnark!" A blue pheasant dressed as an airship pilot appeared by Jack's side. "With my spell's effect, I force battle Momodachi Kentnark with Rex Sidia!" The pheasant flew ahead on its wings and used its beak to shatter the small gem creature. "Now that the little nuisance is gone, my creatures can attack one more on the turn they're put in the battle zone. But first, Momoking breaks your final shield!"
"Southern Star, block the attack!" Hajime ordered and the other gem jumped in the path of the samurai dragon, getting hacked into pieces by his katana. "Star Evolution, Evo Lupia remains."
"Momoking untaps after his first attack. Then mach fighter, Momodachi Kentnark attacks and destroys Evo Lupia! And, when Momodachi Kentnark attacks, I break your final shield from its effect!" Jack announced and watched as his opponent's jaw dropped upon his final shield being broken. "There's no more shields, blockers or lockdowns in the way. Game over, partner - Momoking, todomeda!"
The dragon hit Hajime with the handle of his katana, throwing him off his feet and having him crash right on the couch, next to a laughing Lori and concerned Ben. As the creatures and shields vanished, Jack pulled out a deck case made of yellow leather and walked up to the host, who was struggling to get back on his feet.
"Hajime, here, I thought you should have this," he said and offered the deck case.
"What is it, Jack?" Hajime wondered as he accepted the sudden gift.
"Heh, take a look and see."
The contents surprised everyone: Jokers of the Light civilization. This contained both tamaseeds and evolution creatures. As a bonus in Hajime's mind, they had the RexStars race as well. Among them were MAX the Johnny and Momoking MAX, which were Star MAX Evolution versions of Jack's aces: Jolly the Johnny and Momoking, Jonetsu Hero.
"Gee, thanks a lot, I'm at a loss for words." Hajime looked at Jack in the eye and then asked, "What's the reason for this gift?"
"Just a sign of apology. You know, for not speaking to you in five years. I'd lie if I said I wasn't mad over what happened back then with Shishima, and a huge chunk of me did blame you for it. But now I know better, it was neither your fault nor Sayo's. The blame lies entirely on Shishima. So... thanks for your friendship, Hajime. I hope you can forgive me," Jack earnestly said, and in response Hajime grabbed his hand tightly and shook it.
"I never once was mad at you or Lori. Just sad, that my friends decided to cut me out of their lives."
It was half an hour later when their meeting had ended and Hajime found himself in the doorway of his mansion's entrance, watching Jack and Lori walk out of his snowy front yard. As pleasant and heartwarming as their meeting was, it pained him that it had to be cut short by Jack's boss once more calling him to work. Which reminded him that he never got an honest explanation as to how his friend rose among that business's ranks so quickly.
"Hajime, come quick!" Ben shouted from inside, startling him.
"What's wrong?" Hajime shouted back while closing the door.
"The alerts on all my laptops have gone off. The Shirayama Industries website is under another cyber attack!"
Of course, Hajime's unseen enemy was making their next move. Once more he had let his guard down at the wrong time.