-Misaki Tokura POV-

"I am home!" I said after returning from school, where a familiar voice replied back to me.

"Welcome back, Misaki-chan!"

My uncle Shin as always greeted me back. I quickly take the apron hanging on the usual hanger pole for my usual shift.

"Shin-san, you can take some rest now. Leave the rest to me."

"I am delighted about that, Misaki-chan! This back somehow keeps bothering me these days!"

I sighed.

"You are overreacting about it." I replied to my uncle with a flat tone.

"How could you be so heartless for your beloved uncle~!" Somehow, Shin just childishly replied while crying in crocodile tears.

"I'm gonna punch you for real, Shin-san." I said while glaring at him, which earned a frightened squeak as usual from him.

"Ouch… Could you please not… Misaki-chan…" my uncle replied with an awkward manner as he scratched his head as usual.

I sighed, but unable to get mad at him forever.

I mean, it's a daily routine for both of us to be like this.

After both of my parents tragically passed away in a car accident, my uncle has been taking care of me ever since I was still in elementary school.

It's a normal routine for both of us to banter like this.

While I didn't exactly enjoy this. I also couldn't simply say 'no' to my uncle.

Both of us knew about each other's pain. And both of us have been supporting each other for a long time.

That's why, I can't ever be mad at him, not after everything that he had done for me.

"Sir, do you have any extra stuff for Kagero or anything?"

"Ah, sure, let me check our stock." my uncle quickly replied as he took a quick step towards the back. "So you decided to settle on Kagero?"

"It's not like I want to settle in this clan, It's just that I got most of them in these booster packs. So naturally I had to pick this clan at least for a while.

'Hmmm…?' My eyes perked when I saw a male figure wearing the same Miyaji Uniform sitting on one of the tables with a bunch of opened booster packs scattered in front of him. He had a black hair that reached the nape of his neck, while naturally spiked up. Alongside with his red eyes, it totally gives an image of a delinquent that most people would simply avoid him.

I quickly realized who this person is.

Jin Homura, my classmate and also known as class' loner.

Most of my classmates simply avoided him due to his rough demeanor and rumors that surrounded him. Some said that he was the son of a big Yakuza clan, others said that he was into an infamous gangster that terrorized locals.

Of course, it didn't get proved in the end, but it doesn't make him have a positive vibe in our class.

Honestly, it's surprising that he ended up here, building a deck from a bunch of leftover boosters.

While I was glancing at him with my thoughts all over the place, our eyes accidentally met.

"Sup, Tokura." he plainly greeted me while waving his hand.

"... Very unexpected to meet you here, Homura-kun." I replied hesitantly, unable to properly greet him due to the fact that both of us never talked at all.

"Likewise." he simply replied while back to checking a bunch of cards that stacked quite neatly in front of him. "Sigh, only got a few triple rare for this…"

My curiosity got over me, as I approached him. "I didn't know that you started playing Vanguard."

To my surprise, he didn't immediately answer, merely focusing on putting a bunch of cards on his deck for a moment. "I played long enough. Quitting this for a while, but after some thought, decided to go back to playing."

So that's why he's been opening a bunch of our booster packs for sale. Still it does make me wonder about one thing. "Why decide to buy a bunch of booster packs when you can simply take a starter kit for a better balance?"

"... I wanted to buy one, but apparently your shop is currently out of stock."

"... My apologies for that…" I replied while inwardly cussing Shin for not stocking the latest trial deck.

Both of us didn't talk further, as I was just sitting while observing him building his deck from scratch. Inwardly, I feel bad for him, since he is probably being forced by Shin to buy some packs due to our lack of Trial Deck kits.

"Sorry for waiting!"

Speaking about the person I really wanted to see right now, he just appeared while bringing what I know as leftlover bulks, which mostly contained unused cards from boosters, or trial decks that most of our buyers simply left because they only wanted specific cards from the set.

"This is not much, but it can work quite well for your deck." Shin said while giving Homura a few cards from the bulks. I was surprised that he didn't complain much about those leftlover cards, merely glancing at them, while quickly taking a few cards and then putting them in his mish-mash deck.

"I guess I am done for now," Homura just stated simply while later looking at me. "Tokura, wanna play with me for one game? I want to test whether this deck works decently or not."

I honestly didn't want to accept his request, but at the same time, I feel like it's rude for me if I do it, considering that Shin kind of basically extorted him.

Damn it, we're gonna talk about this after this game.

"... Okay."

It didn't take long for us to get prepared for our game, considering I kept my newly built Genesis deck in the drawer.

While shuffling his deck, I couldn't help but stare at his odd method of shuffling.

Instead of shuffling it normally in a vertical position where players are taking a chunk of cards from the bottom then gradually transferring it to the top of the deck, he took the position from the side instead. And not only that, he also did it on fast-paced.

"... That's an interesting way of shuffling cards."

"I used to do it with this." he simply said it, while giving my deck back to me, whereas I also did the same.

Both of us then drew five cards each, as I looked at my hands, finding it quite satisfactory.

'... Bowstring of Heaven and Earth Artemis, Twilight Hunter Artemis, Tatsutahime, Sahohime, and finally, Kushinada. A decent start.'

I couldn't help but glance at Homura, who simply returned two cards for taking new ones. Seems like he didn't get a decent opening.

After settling with our preparation, both of us were then ready to start the game.

"Stand up, Vanguard!" I said while flipping my starter, Aiming for the Stars, Artemis.

Homura just flipped his Lizard Soldier, Conroe without saying anything, which kind of irked me a little.

On my side, Shin also glanced at his odd behavior, but didn't comment on anything.

"Since this is your first game, you can go first."

Homura just scoffed at hearing that. "Don't regret that, Tokura."

"I won't."

"Fine, draw." Homura simply said while drawing a card. "I ride Gojo, moving Conroe on the right back circle. Then I use his skill to change one card with another, and I end my turn."

He simply dropped Monica from his hand, then drew another one, then ended his turn.

… That is lackluster… I didn't feel any passion or any enthusiasm from him at all.

No matter, now's my turn.

"My turn, draw" I said while drawing another copy of grade one Artemis. "Ride, Bowstring of Heaven and Earth, Artemis! And since I have Grade zero Artemis in my soul, she got a permanent one thousand power! My starter Artemis skill activates! When I ride a grade one Artemis on top of her, I can look at up to seven cards from the top of my deck, and search for up to one card named Twilight Hunter, Artemis or Battle Deity of the Night, Artemis from among them!"

I checked the seven cards, then took my grade three Artemis among it, while putting the rest back to my deck and shuffled it.

"Following that, I call another Artemis from my hand, and I am attacking your Vanguard with my rearguard Artemis!"

"Take." Homura simply took one damage with a single reply. Placing Iron Tail Dragon to his damage zone.

I frowned, but continued my attack. "I attack with my Vanguard Artemis!"

"Take."

"Drive check," I said while flipping the top card of my deck, revealing Kukurihime. "I get a critical! All effects to my Vanguard!"

My annoyance grew further when Homura didn't react to three damage that he just took, merely revealing Blue Ray Dracokid and Gatling Claw Dragon.

"Draw trigger, I draw one card." Homura said while drawing one card, bringing his hand up to six cards.

"With that, I end my turn." I said, while glaring at Homura with some disdain. "Why are you playing like you didn't have fun?"

"What do you mean by that?"

"I said, you didn't really respond like a normal card fighter would do!" I cannot help but raise my voice at him. It's really annoying with how lackluster his reaction in my turn, or showing any expression that befitting a passion from every card fighter.

It's like fighting an emotionless robot, and I don't like it.

To my utter confusion, Homura just shook his head. "I just played like normal. This is just how I play as usual."

What?

"What?"

Both I and Shin cannot help but flabbergasted at his dry response. Saying his cold demeanor as his usual style…

… It doesn't feel right at all.

"No, I can't accept that." I said while glared back at the impassive Homura. "That's not how you play Vanguard… You're basically playing without any passion at all! That's not right at all!"

"I don't know why you're being upset, but I will not comment about it, Tokura." Homura simply said while taking his turn. "Draw."

I clicked my tongue, but unable to refute as it's his turn now.

"Ride, Garp. Then I call Berserk Dragon, Counterblast two, retiring your rear Artemis." Homura simply placed a grade two with ten thousand power on his Vanguard, then called his unit on Front Right Circle, followed by flipping two cards from his damage zone.

I responded by taking my card into the drop zone with annoyance.

"Yaksha skill, Superior Ride."

"... What?" I was left astounded when Homura was suddenly riding another card to replace his Vanguard, which basically made his Vanguard two grades above me right now!

But that's not the only thing he did, as he simply responded by calling Raopia behind his Yaksha, then followed with Berger on the Front Left side. Not only that, but he's also using his Conroe to search for Barri, while placing Bahr behind Berger.

'He's strong…!' I inwardly thought.

"Berserk attacking your Vanguard."

"I guard with Kukurihime!" I said while dropping my trigger into the guardian zone. I can't let him gain the advantage back, I need to preserve my damage since I am now two grades behind him.

"Raopia boost, Yaksha attack. Nineteen thousand power to your Vanguard."

I can't guard that much. "I'll be taking that. No Guard!"

"First, no trigger." he said while revealing Nehalem.

"Second check, Critical. Crit to Vanguard, power on Berger."

I clicked my tongue as he revealed Blue Ray, instantly dealt two damage at once.

"Damage check! First check!" I said while revealing Saffron.

"Second check," I flipped the second card, revealing Laurier. "I get a heal trigger!"

I was about to take any damage off, when I realized that my damage was less than his, which means that while I get additional power, I couldn't lessen the damage.

'Darn it, why did I even have to make a simple mistake like this…!' I grimaced as I put Laurier in the damage zone. I couldn't even guard his third attack with Berserk, as he dealt another damage, revealing Sahohime. 'In one turn, he was quickly turning the tide of battle, while also barricading himself in a good defensive position… This man is probably on the same level as him...' I thought while remembering a certain Kagero player that usually hangs out in a shop with Aichi and others.

"End." said Homura simply looking at his card, not even saying anything after that.

I can't let this situation continue, I must initiate the counterattack soon.

"My turn! Draw!" I declared while drawing Iwanagahime, perfect. I really need her for my next turn. "Ride, Twilight Hunter, Artemis!"

My grade two Artemis appeared in her splendor, glaring at the impassive Yaksha who simply crossed his arms.

"I call Sahohime, and Tatsutahime as well!" I said while placing Sahohime on Front Right Circle, while Tatsutahime on behind my Vanguard.

Homura's eyes simply narrowed at my move. But I didn't let it deter me!

"Here I come! I am attacking your vanguard with Sahohime!"

"I intercept with Berserk." Homura swiftly responded by putting one of his rearguards to the guardian zone.

"Continued on! With the boost of Tatsutahime, Artemis attacks your Vanguard!"

"Guard, and intercept with Berger," Homura blocked another attempt with Blue Ray and Berger. "Berger skill, additional five thousand for his shield."

Which means that even if I checked any trigger, the damage would not go through.

"Drive check!" I flipped the top card of my deck, revealing Paprika.

"Turn End…" I ended my turn without even being able to deal a single damage on him, as I gave him a challenging look. "I will get you next time!"

"Sure…" Homura simply shrugged at my provocation, merely drawing his card leisurely. "I ride Dragonic Lawkeeper."

'He replaced his vanguard,' I narrowed my eyes at Homura's newest Vanguard unit. 'It must be his Ace.'

"Call." he said while placing Nehalem on the front right circle, and Dual Axe Archdragon on the front left circle in front of Bahr, leaving with just one card, which is Barri in his hand.

Without wasting his time, Homura then launched his attack. "Nehalem attacking Sahohime."

"I don't guard." I said while placing Sahohime in the drop zone while grimacing. 'He is cutting my resources to fill up cards in soul.'

Added to the fact that I can't waste anymore cards to guard it, it's really a good choice to attack Sahohime.

"Raopia boost, Lawkeeper attacking your Vanguard with twenty-three thousand power."

"No guard…" I whispered, simply unable to guard it due to its huge number.

"First check, no trigger." Homura said while revealing Kimnara. "Second check, Draw trigger."

His second check revealed Gatling Claw, which he gave it into Dual-Axe, bringing it to twenty-six thousand in total with Bahr boost which I also didn't guard as well, as I placed Snipe Snake, and Cockerel in the damage zone, bringing me to five damage.

'I can't lose… Not with this kind of fight-!' I said to myself, while glaring at Homura, who showed nothing but impassive looks.

Even Shin is now visibly disturbed, as his eyes narrowed beneath his glasses. But despite that, he still didn't say anything.

"My turn!" I said while drawing Snipe Snake, perfect. Since I can't do anything with Iwanagahime, this is a perfect play I could do to turn the tide.

"Chaste Battle Maiden," I began to chant. "Cut through the darkness with your Moonlit bow! I ride, Battle Deity of the Night, Artemis!"

My Vanguard appeared along with the shine of moonlight, as she gallantly took her step against the robust Lawkeeper who looked back with narrowing eyes.

"Call! Iwanagahime, Snipe Snake, Paprika!" I declared while placing Iwanagahime and Snipe Snake on the same line, while Paprika on the opposite circle. The combined power of Iwanagahime and Snipe Snake is twenty thousand, surely it's enough to break through his remaining cards in his hand.

"I attack with Paprika, and with her skills, she gets an additional three thousand power!"

"Intercept." Homura responded by placing Garp in the guardian zone.

"How about this! With the boost of Tatsutahime, Artemis attacks your Vanguard! And I activate her skill, Limit Break! Soul-blast three cards, and I draw two cards! Additionally, she gained five thousand power!"

It's risky and Artemis will be losing much power she needed for her base stat, but it's a necessary move for me.

Drawing my cards, I watched Homura just letting my attacks go through.

"Twin drive! First check, nothing. Second check, I get a critical trigger!" My first card revealed Sahohime, while the second was Kukurihime. "I give the critical on my Vanguard, while the power goes to Iwanagahime!"

My attacks successfully break through, as Homura checked two damage and no trigger revealed at all. He just silently put Dragon Monk, Goku, and Garp into his damage zone.

'Just one more damage… but still-'

"With the boost of Snipe Snake, Iwanagahime is attacking your Vanguard!"

"Null with Barri." Homura simply crushed my only hope to win this game with dropped a perfect guard, while discarding Gatling Claw for the cost.

'Of course, He still has a perfect guard to block my last attack…' I inwardly frowned as my last attack was blocked easily.

"... Strong…"

"Thanks for the compliment."

"I wasn't complimenting you…!"

"Sounds like you did it unconsciously, Tokura."

I am inwardly annoyed with his casual jeer on everything I've said. But I can't deny that Homura is strong.

He's maybe as strong as Aichi or Kamui… No, maybe even above that from the way he played.

"Right, it's my turn. Draw." Homura took a card, while quickly calling two units which made me gasp in surprise. "I call Graphite and Iron tail."

'This formation-!'

"Lawkeeper limit break activate, I bind all of your rearguards."

I grimaced as I could only put Paprika, Iwanagahime, Tatsutahime, and Snipe Snake in the bind zone. I realized that the remaining shields, which are Kukurihime, Kushinada, Cockerel, Sahohime, and Laurier, will not be enough for me to block all of his attacks due to all of his three lines having a power of twenty thousand or higher.

'If only I have enough soul to break his front row… He didn't let me build my soul through Artemis and Sahohime in my previous turn, limiting my resources while slowly crippled my units and defenses so he could put a pinpoint attack which I was unable to completely block it at all… This man is really strong…'

While it pained me to admit it, I was completely outwitted by Homura.

"Raopia boost, Lawkeeper attacks your Vanguard with twenty-three thousand power."

"I guard with Kushinada." Dropping Sahohime, I nullified his Vanguard attacks.

Even though the chance is low, I am still hoping for a heal trigger at the top of my deck.

"First check, nothing. Second check… A heal trigger. I gave it all to my Dual-Axe while healing one damage."

Unfortunately Homura revealed another trigger, which completely crushed my hope for surviving this turn. Worse, it's a trigger that I desperately need for surviving this turn.

"Iron Tail boost, I attack with Graphite, and activate his skill."

"I guard with Lauriel and Kukurihime!"

"Bahr boost, Dual-Axe attacks your Vanguard."

"... No guard…"

With the power of twenty-six thousand power, I couldn't do anything about it.

'Please be heal trigger…!'

I shakily took the top card, then flipped it.

Only to receive a disappointment as the last card turned out to be Battle Deity of the Night, Artemis.

'Darn it…'

"Good game, Tokura."

I've lost…

Author Note: first of all, I blamed someone who basically made getting an inspiration to write this.

I've been playing this game ever since its release date in 2011. While I still played the D format, I didn't think about rewriting the old Vanguard fic of mine until someone basically mentioned it. Damn it.

Oh well.

The Chapter isn't beta'ed yet partly because I wanted to post this soon.

Anyway I am not promising anything if I would ever write another chapter, as this is just a wish fulfillment for me. That's all, and I'll see you on the next fic.

Jin's Kagero Mish-mash deck:

1 Dragon Monk, Gojo
1 Graphite Cannon Dragon
1 Dragonic Lawkeeper
1 Dual Axe Dragon
4 Yaksha

4 Nehalem
3 Berserk Dragon
2 Berger
2 Garp

4 Bahr
2 Raopia
2 Gojo
2 Kimnara
2 Barri
2 Iron Tail

2 Tahr (Crit)
4 Blue Ray (Crit)
4 Gatling Claw (Draw)
2 Monica (Draw)
4 Genjo (Heal)

1 Conroe (Starter)