Alexis walked through the hallway of the main academy building at a brisk pace. She had a grocery bag on each arm, both laden with different varieties of fruit.

Alexis adored sweets, especially sweet fruit-flavored drinks. Whether it was smoothies, bubble tea, frozen yogurt or soda, it was a treat she never tired of. The only problem was the extra calories that she tried to avoid when she was busy studying for longer periods of time. So she had come up with the idea of making her own all-natural frozen fruit drinks with a little help from the cafe's menu and the very handy mini-fridge complete with a built-in freezer that all the Obelisk dorms came equipped with.

While mentally debating whether to make a strawberry or blueberry slush when she practically walked right into Aster, who was in the middle of a phone conversation. Absorbed in whatever the person on the other end was saying, he only nodded briefly in her direction.

"It's good to know I won't have any obstacles in my way for the present time being. However, I'll be interested to find out just what these "awakening shadows" refer to that you've seen and just how they'll help further my goals like you seem to believe," Aster spoke with interest while remaining in a relaxed posture, leaning lightly against the stairway rail.

Alexis stiffened slightly at Aster's words. She would bet every penny she had that it was Sartorius that Aster was talking to. And from how Aster described things, it sounded like he was receiving predictions for longer periods of time than just simple near-future glimpses. It disturbed her just how much more dependent he seemed on them than she had initially thought, especially after hearing it in action now.

Alexis must have been too busy stewing in her own negative thoughts, because the next thing she knew, Aster had ended the call already and was facing her with a nonchalant grin. "Hey, how's it going?"

To Aster's complete surprise, Alexis returned his greeting with an irritable scowl. "Why ask me when you can just get a prediction about it!?" She said "prediction" as if it were a dirty swear word.

Aster raised his eyebrows slightly at Alexis' tone. "I take it you didn't care for the end of my phone conversation." He wasn't going to beat around the bush since she wasn't either.

"You can take it any way you want. It doesn't change the fact that you basically got the whole school duel outcome fed to you, even your match against Bastion to determine representation in it," Alexis stated bluntly.

Aster groaned inwardly at the mention of the representative match. It had already been difficult enough for him to even be considered as a candidate for it thanks to the opposition Dr. Crowler had put up according to Zane. Despite being the best first-year student in both his grades and duels, Dr. Crowler had argued that it wouldn't be a fair competition to have a pro duelist going up against North Academy. He had also complained about Aster's "less-than sportsmanship-friendly attitude" when it came to dueling. This was what ultimately led the committee of the teachers and Zane as school valedictorian to decide on a duel for Aster against another likely candidate to determine who would represent Duel Academy.

"I'm just trying to make sure I'm prepared," Aster said uncomfortably. His reasoning sounded weak and he knew it. But it wasn't like Alexis could possibly understand how important it was that he didn't leave any room for failure going forward.

"You're actually worried about your duel with Bastion!" Alexis accused Aster triumphantly.

Refusing to take the bait of Alexis wounding his pride, Aster decided to be honest instead. "Is it really so wrong that I am? Bastion is a very capable duelist with good instincts for adapting to the game when he has to. And he's observed how I duel more than enough already."

Alexis was somewhat taken aback by Aster's reaction. It was one thing that he acknowledged Bastion as a duelist, but not seeing his usual confident reassurance that he was going to win was a surprise to her. He really IS taking his opponents more seriously.

"It's not that I think you're wrong about Bastion, but shouldn't there come a time when you realize that you're relying too much on trying to find out everything that's going to happen before it does?" Alexis questioned Aster seriously.

"There will. But that time is not something I can afford to have right now if I want to do what I need to," Aster insisted.

Realizing that she wasn't getting anywhere, Alexis decided to change the subject. "Well, we also have family day on the same day as the duel. Will Sartorius and Sarina be here?" Alexis asked hesitantly, somehow guessing what the answer would be.

Aster smiled ruefully and shook his head. "Sorry, the rules state only biological or legal relatives are allowed. Although even if they were, I don't think they'd come to this. The store requires a lot of their time, and they don't always feel that comfortable in settings that are too public."

"Oh…that's too bad," Alexis replied reluctantly. She was trying to choose her words carefully and not sound like she felt too sorry for Aster since she knew he never liked pity from others for being an orphan. And she wasn't even going to mention D's apparent absence.

Aster waved his hand easily at Alexis' words. "That's why they're going to be getting the next best thing. I'm getting someone to record the duel for me."

Alexis brightened at this compromise. "That'll be nice for them. I probably wouldn't mind rewatching it myself just knowing how much there will be to process knowing you and Bastion."

"Well then, guess I'll have to put on a show for when we all break out the popcorn!" Aster teased.

Seeing Aster's relaxed stance, Alexis couldn't help feeling conflicted when her mind came back to how much he was relying on the predictions for his duels. I want him to learn not to be dependent on something like that, but I also don't want him to lose… Why does this have to be so complicated?

Xxx

The day of the representative determination duel arrived before Alexis even had a chance to ponder her own feelings any longer. Just like that, she found herself with her parents in the rather crowded common hall of the main Academy building. All around her, students and their families chatted animatedly as they walked by or paused to take in the posters advertising today's duel. Long tables were set up to the sides, laden with large bowls of fruit punch to serve into paper cups along with pastries and other easy-to-eat foods like rice balls.

Alicia Rhodes beamed as she took in the colored streamers hung on the walls along with the small group of students and their parents casually showing each other some cards they had bought from the shop's half-off sale going on for the day. "My, the atmosphere certainly becomes more lively when an important duel is included compared to the other Family Days we've been to so far. It's like a festival!"

Alexis laughed lightly in agreement at her mother's observation. "You can say that again!"

Trevor Rhodes looked thoughtfully at the poster advertising Aster and Bastion's duel. "I only wish you were given a chance to be in it. I know how much that would mean to you as a duelist."

Alexis brushed off her father's slight disappointment. "Normally, I would. But I'm afraid the timing was a bit off this year. I still need more practice before I can even think of dueling Aster again."

It was then that Alexis spotted Aster making his way through the throng of people nearby. Waving her hand above her head, she called out to him. "Hey, Aster! Over here!"

Glancing up in surprise, Aster made his way over to where Alexis and her parents were. "Hey, glad you made it!" he greeted Alexis nonchalantly.

Alexis shrugged easily. "Where there's a duel, there's a way. And speaking of ways, I guess I should introduce you all since Mom and Dad came all this way for it, too."

It was then that Aster shifted his focus on Alexis' parents. Trevor gave him a friendly smile. "So you're this friend Alexis talks about so much! I'm Trevor Rhodes, and this is my wife, Alicia." He held out his hand for Aster to shake.

Aster put on his "professional mode" smile and shook Trevor's hand easily. "Pleasure to meet you. I can only hope she's saying more positive things about me these days!" he joked lightly, causing Alexis to roll her eyes slightly.

"Well, I suppose we shouldn't be surprised that it came down to dueling in the end for Alexis. With her interest, having a professional duelist right here at school to be friends with has to be a dream come true for her! She watches the matches on TV all the time at home, yours included," Alicia chimed in.

Aster raised his eyebrows slightly at this new information. While he knew they were friends, he didn't think that Alexis could handle voluntarily watching more of his duels than was necessary thanks to his dueling etiquette. He couldn't stop the tiny seed of hopefulness from sprouting in his stomach at the thought of her watching him on TV during her free time.

Recovering himself before he had too much time to daydream, Aster smiled good-naturedly at Alicia's comments. "Watching the duels is always good, but I'm also pleased to say that I've learned some other ways to study it with Alexis' help. It doesn't hurt me at all to try learning like a student again despite my career, I'll admit that."

"Yeah, we still have our disagreements about it from time to time, but it's still been fun," Alexis agreed with a smile.

"But of course. It wouldn't be as fun if we didn't!" Aster couldn't help teasing Alexis, earning him her, "Don't push your luck, buster!" look.

"Don't you have a duel to get ready for soon?" Alexis asked Aster pointedly. While there was still a good hour or so before the representative duel started, she wasn't sure how much more she could take of Aster testing her patience like this.

Getting the hint, Aster decided it was better to wrap things up. "That's true. It was nice meeting you Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes. Hopefully, the odds will be in my favor for this duel today," he said politely, trying to sound modest for Alexis' sake. As much as he enjoyed seeing just how exasperated she could get from his antics, he figured it was best to quit while he was ahead in front of her parents.

"I'm sure they will be. Feel free to see us again after the duel before we leave," Trevor offered nonchalantly.

As soon as Aster turned the corner out of sight, Alexis turned her attention back to her parents. Something in her expression as they were saying goodbye to Aster must have sat well with them, because she found them smiling knowingly at each other. Normally, she would have just been happy to see them getting along with each other, but not for what they were most likely assuming was going on between her and Aster.

"What?" Alexis asked her parents, sounding more defensive than she had meant to.

Trevor feigned surprise at Alexis' reaction. "It's nothing. I just couldn't help thinking that he seems a lot different from how you usually described him."

Alexis couldn't help grimacing a bit remembering how many rants she'd gone on to her parents about "Asshole Phoenix" during many of their phone conversations before the tag duel had taken place. She supposed it was one thing to have told them that those days were over compared to actually seeing them interact in person now. She still couldn't help feeling self-conscious about it, though.

"He seems like a very nice young man to me. Maybe you could invite him over for dinner sometime!" Alicia suggested innocently, knowing full-well what she was really doing.

Alexis groaned in frustration at her parents' teasing. "Okay, that's enough! We still have other things to see before the duel!"

Alicia's expression turned slightly somber. "That's just as well. I'd like to see Atticus' dorm again while we're here."

At the mention of Atticus, Trevor turned on his wife sharply. "Don't start, Alicia. This is supposed to be a day where we don't dwell on that."

"And who said that!? More like you just want to shut out any reminder of him completely!" Alicia shot back.

Alexis' heart sank. Great. They're back to fighting again… She suddenly wished they were still teasing her about Aster again instead.

Xxx

Outside on the school grounds, Bastion led his parents and Amy to the Ra Yellow dorm. For once, it was nice to see their positive reactions to an interest of his. Of course, he made sure to hide any evidence of his math and science research before their arrival, from making sure the walls of his room were scrubbed thoroughly to be equation-free days earlier to hastily shoving any loose textbooks out of sight. They didn't have to know the truth, and there would be none of the usual tension today at least.

Bastion stopped once they were close to the entrance and held his hands out in a sweeping gesture. "And here we are, the most humble abode of Ra Yellow!"

Arthur and Elena smiled knowingly at the introduction, but Amy gaped in amazement at the building since this was her first time visiting on Family Day. "Wow! This is so cool, Bastion! It's like you guys get your own apartment, and all for playing the funnest game in the world!" Amy exclaimed.

Bastion laughed spiritedly at Amy's excitement. "I'm afraid it's not as simple as that, Amy! Duel Monsters has a much more competitive and strategic side you must embrace if you want to succeed and stay here."

"And yet you seem to have embraced it wholeheartedly. Your mother and I are very proud of you," Arthur complimented Bastion with a genuine smile.

Once they were in Bastion's room, Amy couldn't contain her excitement. She was bouncing around from corner to corner, from marveling over Bastion's computer, to jumping on his bed. "No wonder Ra is the best dorm in this school! This place is totally lit!"

Bastion gave a somewhat reluctant laugh at Amy's misconception. "I do find the furnishings quite comfortable. But I'm afraid this isn't the highest-ranking of the dorms. That honor goes to Obelisk Blue. Wait until you see it! It's like a medieval castle from outside!"

Amy looked puzzled. "But…if Obelisk is the best, then why aren't you there instead?"

Bastion smiled wryly. "I'm afraid it's not that simple. It takes more than doing well on the exams to be placed in Obelisk at the start. You have to have undergone previous training at a dueling preparation school for middle school first."

Amy's mouth dropped open in surprise. "More duel schools!? Jeez, I didn't think there was that much to learn…" She looked thoughtful, almost as if she were reconsidering just how fun she'd find going to the academy and pursuing a dueling career herself.

Elena smiled reassuringly at Bastion. "We don't care that you're not in the best dorm. Only that you try your best like you're doing now, Bastion. As long as you put that much effort into dueling and are having fun with it, your father and I know you'll go far in it."

Bastion barely listened while his parents continued with their praise for him. He only felt bitter. Why couldn't you think that way about me when I wanted to be a scientist?

While Bastion and their parents continued to talk, Amy's eyes strayed to the corner of Bastion's bed where she noticed half of a book sticking out haphazardly from under it, as if it had been shoved there in a hurry. It was one of his mumbo-jumbo science textbooks about spatial relativity or something like that from what she could glance from the lettering on the cover. She couldn't help thinking the book looked sad somehow, being shunned from existing in the open space of the room. Amy suddenly couldn't help feeling sorry for her brother. Was that how he had felt too whenever he tried to talk about anything like that around them. Here he was, happy and surrounded by fun and respect on this island with exciting duels, yet he still had to hide a part of himself. Carefully to make sure their parents didn't notice, Amy gently nudged the book further under the bed.

Xxx

The crowds in the stands cheered excitedly as Bastion and Aster stood staring expectantly at each other from the opposite ends of the dueling arena. Dr. Crowler stood off to the side near the center of the arena, poised at the ready with a microphone in his hands to announce the duel.

"Welcome one and all to our representative determination match! Only one of these two today will earn the right to represent our most prestigious academy in the upcoming duel against our rival school, North Academy!" Dr. Crowler announced with flair.

Dr. Crowler turned to Bastion, extending his arm towards him in a showman gesture. "From Ra Yellow, the genius and upstanding scholar of Duel Academy, Bastion Misawa!"

Enthusiastic cheers erupted from the Ras and Slifers at Bastion's introduction. And while there was more of an overall half-hearted clapping along with some glum muttering from the Obelisks, there was still a decent amount of genuine applause and positive exclamations from them as well. Bastion had quite a reputation as a duelist and was popular for his friendly and calm composure (along with having no problem helping students with their homework) around campus.

Once the cheers had died down, Dr. Crowler turned with much less enthusiasm towards Aster. "And from Obelisk Blue, here is our dueling "celebrity", Laster Phoenix. Um, I mean, Aster Phoenix, of course!" Dr. Crowler corrected himself hastily at the end after Aster shot him an exasperated look.

Aside from the usual ear splitting screams of adoration from the Obelisk girls, there was a fair amount of cheering from the boys from all the dorms, much more than Aster had received in the past if anything. And Aster looked genuinely happy as he smiled and waved appreciatively at the crowd-none of his mock-sarcastic reactions from before present in his expression.

Alexis couldn't help smiling at how different things were for Aster now. He's changed so much from when he first came here. Seeing his optimism warmed her heart, and looking at how happy he was to be there facing a duelist he initially would have considered beneath him and enjoying the atmosphere, she couldn't help thinking that Aster did look a bit handsome when he was truly in his element like this.

Once the crowd had died down, Aster turned his attention to Bastion. "I guess we've had a while coming to this duel, but I'm glad we're here now, Bastion. I know you'll give me a run for my money if anything, but I've got some tricks as well! So, show me what you can do!"

Bastion smiled knowingly at Aster's challenge before him. "I"ll gladly comply, Aster! I've had plenty of time to study you, and my theories are waiting to be put to the test!"

"LET THE DUEL BEGIN!" Crowler yelled.

Bastion's expression turned to grim concentration as he readied his duel disk. This isn't going to be easy…

To be continued…

AN: Ugh, I'm so sorry for how long this took. I've been busy IRL, and I had a real problem deciding which of Bastion's decks I wanted him to use for this duel. I kept going back and forth and agonizing about writing the specifics of one of them until I finally made my decision. Sorry the duel is delayed till the next chapter, but it was just too hard to focus on all of it at once and I wanted to get SOMETHING done.

To the guest/s: Thank you so much! I'm sorry it took forever to update! Are you sure it's Foster and not Sheppard who is the one who is desperate to win this, though? XD