Heart Excavation promised its miners a robust six-day workweek and vacation days (though they would gladly allow you to work more). Without the visible passing of days, the workweek was defined simply by the number of people in the mines at a given time. Heart Excavation did have its own chaplain and nondenominational services at the Redeemed Heart Chapel, so it fell out that Sundays would be most people's day off. Those who didn't attend the service were still free to enjoy the day.

Clavis sat in the chapel pews and strained to listen to the chaplain's voice. Though Brother Simms could advise extensively on the tenets of each religion to whoever asked, his sermons of the day tended to blend them together, letting each listener fill in the bubbles that applied to them.

"And we must strive to teach others the truth, as we hold it in ourselves….we must be good stewards of our graces." Brother Simms had his arms lifted high to the congregation. Each member had their own head bowed in prayer, agreeing that Brother Simms made good background noise for the real worship, their direct speech to higher powers.

Clavis himself felt lost, though, unable to see himself as a vessel for this connection. And so he moved up a row and tried to hear as best he could, though the ceiling swallowed all sound. Even if Brother Simms was a crank, it was the word of something outside himself. Guidance purported from the heavens.

In his hand he gripped the business card of Inspector Fey, himself appearing like a prophet of the great Duel Circuits. Could he really follow that power? Could Yuu?

"Every day is a gift. Every day we must be grateful." He was keenly aware that Fey's offer seemed too good to be true. He couldn't possibly let Yuu act so recklessly. But if it was real, what then? It would likely never come again.

When he'd first met Yuu, the boy had been scared by the dark. Anyone coming from the surface would be at first. The underground was soul-crushing. But for no reason in particular, you survived. Maybe you'd tell yourself it was to see just how strong you were. Maybe you'd say it was a life of ascetic discipline. Maybe you'd say that you just needed the money. In truth, after a long enough time, none of those reasons mattered. You lived in the Atrium, you worked in the mines. Nothing else remained.

"Amen," Brother Simms mumbled, or something like it.

The congregation lifted their heads, satisfied. Clavis rushed out the door, his head awhirl. Yuu was standing at the bottom of the chapel stairs, arms folded. "Let's hit it," the boy said.

The second of rituals undertaken on days off was market dining. The after-church brunch market was too lucrative to pass up, even underground. Heart Excavation offered its signature Big Heart Bentos, but many workers traded in their coveralls for chef's hats and took to the streets. Down on Leviathan Lane, steam rose into the air from trays of oil in pop-up stands, making the whole town smell of sesame. Many families would split fried fish cakes and seaweed rolls stuffed with rice, beef and whatever else the chef could use to make a "signature dish." Yuu and Clavis were regulars at Magma Bowl, which had the luxury of a foldout counter with four stools. There really was nothing like hot soup.

"So how's the chief doing?" Clavis asked when they were finished.

"Well he sounds healthy. Just as loud as he used to be." Yuu had his forearms on the counter, his hands clasped together. His head tilted down like the prayers.

"Zato told me you got his card back by dueling the head of Monji? And you even made them pay for Oga's treatment?" Clavis guffawed and shook his head. "I wish I had seen that."

"Yeah." Yuu smiled, but didn't look at him. "Crazy set of circumstances, mostly Zato's doing. It turned out okay though, so that's what matters." He pursed his lips.

"Don't sell yourself short," Clavis said, wrapping his arm around Yuu. "You've already beaten the Atrium's strongest duelist."

"We'll see if that's true later," Yuu reminded him.

Clavis checked around the street for a clock. "What time is it now?"

"12:45. Bout an hour til." As the last of the vendors cleared away from the lunch rush, there would be a few people that remained, those who had duradine collections of their own. At Zato's suggestion, they had been called together to meet up and duel.

"Are you excited to duel again?" Clavis asked.

Yuu exhaled, and his lips turned up at the sides. "I really am. Is that wrong?"

Clavis raised an eyebrow. "Why would it be wrong?"

"I don't know. It's not the most productive hobby, I guess. Using our lunch breaks is one thing, but using our days off? I mean, what's next? Hitching a lift to San Domino and challenging the Pro Circuit?"

"You're getting your head twisted up," Clavis harrumphed. "Stop worrying about what's next. If you want to duel today, then duel."

Yuu nodded sullenly. Clavis studied his face. When he'd seen him last, he'd been worried and determined, ready to run off and save the chief. This had none of that expectation. He'd found some kind of answer in his fight with the Monji, but he wouldn't say what.

Looking past him, Clavis suddenly spotted a dark suit against the crush of people. Inspector Fey was glancing into the stalls, wrinkling his nose as he browsed. The woman with the yellow duel disk followed close behind. They seemed to be searching for something.

Clavis looked back at Yuu. "I mean, do you want to go to the pros?"

Yuu shrugged. "It just seems selfish."

"It's fine to duel for your own sake, Yuu."

Yuu stood up abruptly. "How could I do that? You don't," he hissed, and pulled his fingers through his hair.

Clavis flinched. Suddenly, it was hard to look Yuu in the eyes.

The subterranean market bustled around them. The chef came and took their bowls.

"I'm sorry. I'm not blaming you." Yuu reached beneath his shirt and unstrapped his duel belt. He handed the pouch to Clavis. "I'm gonna take a walk for a bit. I'll be back for the duel meetup, but if I'm late, show them how we dig it."

"Yuu-" Clavis began, but stopped when Yuu put his hand on his shoulder. His hands had gotten dirty, a thick layer of grime from their life underground.

"I'll be fine, Clav. One hundred percent." Yuu was already walking away. Clavis watched him take on the rhythm of the crowd around them. His back was no longer that of someone recklessly hacking in pursuit of the stars, nor was it of someone running away. Clavis thought he recognized the look of someone swaying, step by strong step, into their grave.

He peeled the leather flap up from the pouch and stared at the duradine crystal. He tossed it in his hands, breaking off some cards. He recognized them almost by feel. Shaddoll Squamata. Constellar Kaus. Crusadia Reclusia. He'd known them since they were glimmers in the cave wall, coming together to light the dark.

The first time he'd bought one back, Chief Oga had laughed in his face. Clavis had laughed along with him, looking at the card he'd bought. Dark King of The Abyss. It was far from a powerful card, but that had attracted Clavis. He didn't want to believe that he was the kind of person to care only about strength, though he knew this was because he'd find himself deeply wanting. There wasn't much a laborer could gain by seeing the world in vicious absolutes. He now wished that he'd chosen a more powerful card to start the deck that could change Yuu's life.

Of course, Dark King's story had inspired him too; the weakened demon was said to have once had the power to rule over the netherworld. Clavis felt an affinity with the sinister has-been, more than glad to supplant it with his later duradine acquisitions. Resignation was built into the foundation of his deck. He'd never make it out of the mines, so he might as well enjoy what he was able to get. Now that it was Yuu's, it could be worth something, and Clavis, like the Dark King, could fade into the shadows.

Clavis blinked. Did he want Yuu to leave him behind?

He pieced the cards together and stowed them, turned around to head to the duel meetup.

Fey was right in front of him. "Mr. Barnes! So good to see you again," he said, grabbing Clavis's hand and shaking it. "And on such a remarkable day! I never knew the underground had such a vibrant culture."

"Most every Sunday," Clavis said, "though we don't get every Sunday off."

Beside Fey stood the duelist, looking uncomfortable. She wore the Duel Disk across her arm, but all folded together so that it looked like a forearm cast. She was dressed in a jagged violet jacket and white blouse, looking out of place like Fey, but in a much more pedestrian manner.

Fey stepped aside. "I mentioned that I'm a promoter, Mr. Barnes, but it appears I'm not a very good one! I've forgotten to introduce you to my talent."

He gestured between the two and brought his hands together as though to close the space. "Mr. Barnes, this is Ori Yamatano, the Dust Lord."

The woman blushed at the epithet and bowed slightly. "It's nice to meet you, sir. What deck do you play?"

"What deck?" Clavis puzzled over the question until Fey stepped between them.

"Unfortunately for us, Mr. Barnes has dedicated his talents to the sport of cee-lo," Fey said, a hint of smugness in his voice. "Though I was hoping to consult him on where to eat."

Clavis could never feel grumpier than he already looked, so he hoped his expression was still neutral. He jerked his thumb upwards to point at the sign above them. "Magma Bowl's the best. Any one of those skewer stations is fine too, though you'll starve in line if you try to get any beef at this hour."

Fey gripped his hand again. "Many thanks, Mr. Barnes." He then turned and spoke in low tones with Ori.

They really were just looking for lunch, Clavis thought. They don't know about the duel meetup. They're not even hunting for duelists, or else they wouldn't have approached me. Inspector Fey's entire superficial manner rubbed him wrong, as though he were sustaining conversation with the lowly miner just until he could get back to his shining, important young talent.

Yuu was under the impression that Clavis didn't duel for himself. Maybe he didn't think Clavis could. It didn't take a scientist to see that the boy felt guilty, and Clavis refused to be the thing holding him back.

"Inspector," he said. He placed a hand on Fey's shoulder, enjoying how the man jumped and instinctively pulled away. "I think you and I might've misunderstood each other before."

With his other hand, he held up the belt with his duel pouch. "I prefer dice, but I wouldn't say no to a duel."

Ori's eyes brightened. Fey smiled. "Mr. Barnes," he marveled, "you never cease to impress."

Yuu walked around Badtown, hypnotized by the algae lanterns. He had his hands in his pockets, rocking from step to step.

Even on a Sunday, Badtowners didn't get out to Leviathan Lane. Most of them were former workers, or the families of those who'd died on the job. Every leisure was an impossible expenditure; even sleep burned an empty stomach. Many of the children here would develop coughs; despite the air exchangers and Heart Excavation's reassurance, there was no truly clean air in the underground.

Yuu walked past cardboard houses and weary eyes that followed his path. He might have saved Oga from this fate, if he managed a full recovery. Still, the chief might also be absent from work for too long and be let go. If anything, Yuu had been the one responsible for landing Oga in the hospital. There really was no reason to put yourself on the line for cards. What he'd blurted out about being a duelist was ridiculous, but not for the reasons Oga thought. It wasn't that they had no right to call themselves duelists; rather, no reason. Yuu could be anything he needed to be: a champion, a hero, a villain. Just so long as he could duel again.

Yuu kicked at a plastic wrapper on the ground, hoping to punt it straight through the cave ceiling, to the stars. It instead stuck to his foot as though magnetized. He kept walking without peeling it off.

After a while, he realized that his path had a destination: the manor of Gozu Daimonji. There were multiple levels to wanting to see her again: Yuu thought that he might invite her to the duel meetup, or for a nice walk down Utopia Street, or admit to her that he'd cheated in their duel, and that he had no right to save her from her role as the villainous head of the Monji clan. Maybe she'd understand; she seemed to know about Zato's tricks on some level, and how easily he could rile people up. But how could a woman beneath the Monji clan's influence ever be rescued by a man beneath Zato Sanada?

That's enough out of me. Clavis was right; Yuu was too much in his own head. But he needed to be there more and more, because now it felt like there was something else in there with him.

He couldn't even come close to explaining the feeling he'd gotten when summoning high-grades. First, Crime of Prometheus. It had lit up his world, expanded it until it was helmed in all the starry sky. Then, Gigavolt Eagle had come, drawing him to a razor-sharp edge. Zato still wouldn't give a straight answer on how he'd found it. It was clear that he meant Yuu to wield it and to wield Yuu in turn.

Even if Zato was using him, Yuu had to admit that he was also getting what he wanted. I just wanna duel, he thought. Just one more, and maybe I'll feel like myself again.

His thoughts tangled together with every wayward footfall, and Yuu's rhythm was only broken by a familiar, growling voice. It emanated faintly from the alleyway between two stone restoration projects, pushing with the low tone of threat and coercion.

Any other day, Yuu would walk away. People got robbed in Badtown all the time. Survival had nothing to do with hope. It just fought and persisted. Without his deck, too, he had no powers to avail him, no way to stake it all on the game he loved.

Still, his feet moved. He would have the rest of his life to figure out the feeling that drew him around the corner. He walked into the alleyway to the scene of conflict.

Two men had their backs to him. One of them, he recognized by the denim vest; he'd been one of the Monji goons attending his fight with Daimonji. The man next to him could be called "Goon Supreme:" Matsu Monji fit every part of a gangster in appearance, voice, and action. Currently, he had his hand upon the shoulder of a third, smaller man, obscuring him from view.

"Hey!" Yuu shouted, lightening his tone when the gangsters turned towards him. "Hey. Matsu, right?"

Matsu's eyes narrowed. "Tokari."

The denim-vested man said nothing, coldly observing the duelist who had last defeated his boss. Without his cards, Yuu felt a lot smaller than before.

"I was looking for you guys," Yuu said, walking closer putting more and more alleyway between him and escape. "Are you busy right now?"

Matsu growled. "What does it look like?" With his hands occupied, he turned to his partner.

Denim Vest shook his head. "We can spare a moment for our boss's honored guest," he said. He nodded to Matsu, who incredulously released his grip on the third man's shoulders.

The third man was now fully in view; a shock of carmine hair quivered on his head. He looked ready to bolt; but the alley was a dead end, notorious among Badtowners. But he'd gotten trapped there for a reason; Yuu understood immediately when he saw the fixture on the man's arm; a cherry-red Duel Disk, sleeker than the Monji's. This man was from the surface.

Denim Vest walked towards Yuu and put out his hand. "I'm Muzou. Our friend over there with Matsu is a reporter named Valz Lemora. We were just answering a few questions about our group."

Yuu shook his hand. "I see. It's great that the Monji are finally getting the recognition they deserve." He made certain to flatter the Monji by their creed: always deserve what you gain, and so absolve the methods used to gain it.

Muzou chuckled. "Hope we don't sound as stupid on paper as we do out loud. Hey, reporter guy!" he called. "You'll buff up our answers, make 'em all sesquipedalian, right?"

The reporter nodded weakly.

"See, we're peachy," Muzou said, flashing his yellow teeth. "What can we do for you, though?"

"I'm looking for the great Daimonji," Yuu said. "I have an invitation for her, if she's not busy."

Muzou's eyes lit up. "Well, I'll be!" He laughed and put an arm around Yuu's shoulders. "Hey, Matsu! This guy's asking our boss out!"

Yuu put his hands up, turning red. "Wait-"

"You rat!" Matsu snarled. He marched over to Yuu, the reporter forgotten. "You've got some nerve to insult the Monji like that."

"Hey, hey," Muzou said, smiling. "I'm sure he couldn't help himself. It's natural that our eminent boss should be the idol of men everywhere! Unless you don't think that the leader of Monji is beautiful."

Matsu frowned and stuttered, stacking logic statements in his head. "Er, she should be beautiful, um, she is beautiful, yes."

"You see, Yuu, you've honed in on one of the universal truths! Gold star for you." The two Monji chattered back and forth, Yuu powerless to stop them. The reporter, seeing their attention completely shifted, carefully crept by them and scuttled out of the alleyway.

"Really, it's not like that!" Yuu insisted, feeling childish. "I just wanted her to come to the duel meetup."

"Did you say a duel meetup?" The reporter appeared next to Yuu as though he'd teleported. Muzou and Matsu jumped, realizing that he was no longer behind them. "Can you tell me how many people will be there? What decks are they using? What're the names of the newest cards you've seen?"

"Weren't you running away?" Yuu asked.

The reporter blinked, realizing where he stood. "Oh yeah." He cowered as Matsu bristled.

"That's no fair, Mr. Lemora," Muzou said. "We weren't done with our interview yet."

Valz Lemora hid behind Yuu. Yuu's mind scrambled as he backed away from the two Monji. "Well, the thing is, I'll already be late to the meetup, so we have to leave now if we're going to catch it at all."

"Just hold on." Muzou's arm caught Yuu, who only now realized how long the man's limbs were. "We can let Mr. Lemora go with you, but we'll need something from you in return. An exchange of items."

The front of the alleyway seemed impossibly far away, and Muzou's range felt suddenly infinite. His teeth were no longer showing, his face composed into crystalline edges.

"What did you have in mind?" Yuu asked, though he knew what was coming.

"A symbol of victory for the Monji," Muzou purred. "Your deck, Yuu Tokari."

Yuu smiled nervously. "I left it with my friend. Sorry."

Muzou peered closely at Yuu, seeming to fill the entire alley. His eyes flicked from Yuu's face to his neck, as though he were seeking out the vulnerable flesh to bite. "I believe you," he said eventually. "Well, there's nothing to be done now. I guess you can go."

"That's wrong, brother." Matsu stepped forward. "There's still something Tokari can give us."

Yuu returned his glare defiantly. "Just name it."

"I'm really sorry," Valz said for the fifth time since they'd left Badtown.

"It's fine," Yuu said, his hands clasped behind his head. "They could have done a lot worse."

They were walking towards Leviathan Lane, passing the residents on their afternoon strolls. Most of them were retiring to their homes, ready to get all the rest that they could. Some would stay out, playing dice in tin cups for spare change. All of them stared at Yuu as he passed.

"That guy's really screwed up, you know that?" Valz said, "Asking for that of all things! It's not right! I'm pretty sure it's against the rules in war, too!"

"Um, hey, Valz." Yuu glanced around. "I wouldn't go that far; I think people are gonna get the wrong idea."

"Sorry." Valz hung his head. "I just can't believe they took your shirt."

Yuu shivered as a chill went over his bare back. "It really is fine, man. I've got another one at home." Matsu had been dead serious when he requested the shirt off of Yuu's back. Yuu had no clue whether it was to humiliate Yuu or literally for the value of the shirt; trying to understand Monji logic was exhausting. Neither was a huge loss, anyway.

Still, he wondered what would have happened if he'd brought his deck. Maybe it finally would've been taken off of his hands for good. But more likely than that, he would've ended up in another duel, another fight as someone's champion.

"So, what brings you to the Atrium?" he asked Valz.

The reporter beamed. "I'm trying to get the scoop on the latest cards! I've got a hunch that a few of them have never left the underground!"

"What do you mean, new cards?" Yuu asked, scratching his head. "Aren't there thousands already?"

"Thousands and thousands. But somehow, new digs keep revealing new duradine! Obviously there's cards that keep turning up - Call of the Haunted, Mystical Space Typhoon - but new cards are discovered all the time! And I think that Heart Excavation is hiding some of them from us."

Valz knit his eyebrows conspiratorially. "So I'm here to get the scoop, Mister Yuu Tokari. That's just the kind of man I am."

Yuu smiled. "I dig it."

The two of them laughed as they approached Leviathan Lane. Yuu wasn't drawing as much attention from his shirtlessness anymore; Valz apologized profusely nonetheless.

Up ahead, a man exited the plaza and turned left, walking past them. Yuu had never seen him before, but he had a sunstone tucked beneath his arm.

"Excuse me!" Yuu called from across the street.

The man recoiled slightly, but waited patiently as Yuu walked over.

"Are you looking for the duel meetup? I can take you there," Yuu said.

The man shook his head. "I was just leaving. You're better off turning around, too. Trust me, it's a waste of time."

Shock coursed through Yuu's body. The man left without another word, turning at the end of the street. Yuu's hands felt heavy, and his body pulsed though he'd been stripped of an extra layer beneath his skin, all the blood gone from his veins.

"How dare he!"

Valz's voice pulled Yuu from his thoughts. The reporter shook his fist in rage.

"Calling dueling a waste of time! He's probably just mad because he lost!" Valz grabbed Yuu's arm and led him to the plaza. "Come on! It's this way, right? I'm glad he left! More duels for me!"

In the Leviathan Lane Plaza, most of the vendors had packed up for the afternoon. Some of the snack carts remained, flipping an extra hot dog here and there for any stragglers and gamblers meeting in the square. Today had a different atmosphere, though. The hot dog carter peered over his stand, and the regular cee-lo players had grabbed their dice, spinning them in the hand absentmindedly as they watched the shadows unfurl at the center of the square.

Yuu had expected to see many duels at once, but it seemed like there was only one still going; a woman he'd never seen before was squaring off with a Duel Disk on her arm. Yuu peered at her opponent, who had an old sunstone lashed around his arm. "Hey, that's Clavis! Clav!"

Ori - 4000 LP

Clavis - 3500 LP

Clavis didn't turn to look at him, instead throwing his hand out in command. "Now, Dark King of the Abyss attacks your facedown monster!"

Dark King of the Abyss / Level 3 / DARK / Fiend / ATK 1200 / DEF 800

The Dark King's body showed no sign of true flesh, as though the skin had been stretched right over the bone. He feebly marched forth, as though the shadows that composed him could topple at any moment. As Yuu watched, the Dark King pressed his fingertips together and cupped his hands as though the space between them were a lens. A fiery beam of light shot out and destroyed his opponent's monster: a little red mite with big teeth and eyebrows.

Red Duston / Level 1 / FIRE / Fiend / ATK 0 / DEF 1000

"Your Red Duston's effect activates when it's destroyed!" Clavis continued. "Since you controlled it, you'll take 500 points of damage!"

The red mite flew backwards and exploded in the woman's face, making her cough from the smoke.

Ori - 4000 LP ~ 3500 LP

"I'll place one card facedown and end my turn!" Clavis declared.

Yuu cheered. "Way to go, man!"

Only now did Clavis glance at him, nodding before facing his opponent again. There was something new about the old man today, Yuu realized. He'd been too preoccupied with himself to see it, but dueling was beginning to change his best friend too.

Valz's eyes were star-studded. "This is fantastic! Dark King of the Abyss! Such a classic card. Do you all play decks like that?"

Yuu shook his head. "Well, what do you mean, like that?"

A man in glasses appeared from the dark. It was hard to make out the man's shape; he extended an arm forward and pointed to Valz.

"Now, you look like a promising duelist! What model is that disk? Fudou? Zaizen?"

"It's just a Cyclops Portable," Valz said, lifting his arm. The majority of the Duel Disk seemed to be one flat liquid crystal display, sectioned into pieces that could fold outwards.

"Stylish! Now that's the image of a pro." Fey turned his attention to Yuu, looking him up and down. "And you, sir, must be quite the warrior! Just what I'd expect from a born and bred Atrium resident!"

"I was born in San Domino," Yuu said, but Fey was no longer paying attention.

"I'm Inspector Fey, an agent for the pro circuit," he said, shaking Valz's hand. "Over there is my talent: Ori Yamatano, the Dust Lord!"

"Ori Yamatano?" Valz asked. He seemed lost in thought.

Ori drew, reaching into her Duel Disk. The cards in her hand glittered as she drew one out. "I'm summoning House Duston in attack mode! Swarm the field!"

A chromatic array of mites swarmed together, each flitting about mischievously like odious fairies.

House Duston / Level 1 / Fiend / ATK 0 / DEF 1000

Ori took two cards from her hand and dumped one in the graveyard slot of her Duel Disk. "By sending a monster in my hand to the graveyard, I can activate the Spell Card One for One! It's an exchange that'll bring a monster to my field."

"Now, give a royal welcome to Goblin King!" Ori exclaimed. The card shone, the digital light turning a pale green, taking the shape of a baby goblin in an elaborate fur robe.

Goblin King / Level 1 / Fiend / ATK 0 / DEF 0

Several of the audience members groaned and turned away. Ori's gaze flickered to them before honing in on Clavis again. "Goblin King applies its ability! It reigns over every other Fiend monster on each of our fields, and gets 1000 ATK for each!" The Goblin King roared, and as it swelled in size, its voice grew deep and regal.

Goblin King - ATK 0 ~ ATK 2000

"Ori and I are here to scout the best dueling talent the Atrium has to offer!" Fey said, beaming. "Would you like to try out?"

"Oh, I'm actually from San Domino," Valz explained. "I'm down here to check out the dueling scene, same as you!"

"Is that so?" Fey chuckled and looked at the field. "I'm afraid it's not much to check out."

"Battle Phase!" Ori declared. "House Duston attacks your Dark King of the Abyss!"

The Dustons swarmed around the Dark King's head. He swatted through them, snarling, before pushing his hands together and unleashing light like rubber bands from his fingers. The Dustons exploded into little puffs of dust.

Ori - 3500 LP ~ 2400 LP

"Well, he's not doing too bad," Yuu said, relieved.

"Actually, this is their fifth duel," Fey said. "All of them ended the same way, including this one."

"House Duston's effect activates!" Ori shouted. "When it's destroyed, it disperses across the entire field! So, from my deck, I summon Red Duston! Green Duston! Yellow Duston! And Blue Duston!"

Red Duston / Level 1 / FIRE / Fiend / ATK 0 / DEF 1000

Green Duston / Level 1 / WIND / Fiend / ATK 0 / DEF 1000

Yellow Duston / Level 1 / EARTH / Fiend / ATK 0 / DEF 1000

Blue Duston / Level 1 / WATER / Fiend / ATK 0 / DEF 1000

"She summoned four more monsters in one move!" Yuu shouted.

"Not four," Valz corrected. "Eight."

"But she only has five monster zones to begin with!" Yuu protested.

"That's true," Valz replied, then continued: "But House Duston summons monsters to the entire field."

Clavis recoiled as four more pillars of light appeared from his sunstone, as new copies of Ori's Dustons appeared on his field.

A smile cracked Ori's face. "This is the unlimited power of Dustons! Full Dust Cloud!"

"She could use a few punch-ups on her combo names," Fey admitted.

"And just like before, Goblin King gains attack points for each other Fiend-type monster on the field!" Ori declared.

"All other monster zones are filled," Yuu realized. "And all nine of them are Fiends!"

Goblin King - ATK 1000 ~ ATK 9000

Yuu's eyes widened as he stared up at the gargantuan beast. "9000 ATK?"

Valz grinned. "She actually pulled it off! The Duston OTK!"

"Now, Goblin King!" Ori shouted. "Attack Dark King of the Abyss!"

The Goblin King reared back its fist like an avalanche, coming down on the Dark King of the Abyss. Clavis grunted and braced himself as the impact's force cascaded over him; he trembled long after the attack had stopped.

Ori - 2400 LP

Clavis - 0 LP

"Clav!" Yuu caught him as he stumbled. He knelt and propped Clavis up on one knee. "Are you good?"

Clavis didn't look at him. "I thought I'd get at least one," he said ruefully. "Just one would have been fine."

"Hey." Yuu looked up. Ori stood over them, her face placid and cool. "Thanks for the games," she said, extending a hand down to Clavis.

Clavis glared up at her, and then shoved off of Yuu's knee. He stood up brusquely, straightening his collar. "It was really all the same game," he said, and he undid the straps on his sunstone, letting it thud on the ground.

He removed the duel pouch, bundling the duradine crystal inside it. He offered it to Yuu. "I guess your favorite cards can't always be winners."

Ori flinched as Clavis whirled around, stalking off down Leviathan Lane. No one said a thing.

A pair of clapping hands began slow, then accelerated as Inspector Fey took the stage. "Well, wasn't that fantastic, folks? A great display from all of the duelists here. Each and every one of you would be a boon to the professional circuit!"

Valz snorted. The other duelists who'd gathered just turned and began walking away, the same dejected look in all of their eyes. Ori watched them go.

"And it wouldn't have been possible without you, Ori," Fey said, grinning. "Champion of the Atrium! Rising Star of the Duel World!"

"Thank you," Ori said, looking slightly uncomfortable. "Did you get everything you needed?"

"Yes, I think we've done some good work here today," Fey said. "How brightly these underground stars burn! And how much brighter you burn by winning!"

Yuu's eyes met Ori's. Her silence was nervous and paper-thin, as though she could live her entire life on the verge of speaking.

Ori removed her indigo jacket, offered it in one hand. "Here," she said.

"Now, Ori!" Fey said. "I love your energy. But it's not responsible to just go giving handouts."

Ori and Yuu stared at each other. He didn't feel any anger towards her; but seeing the pity in her eyes made him shrivel up. Yuu made no move to take the jacket.

Fey slowly pushed her arm down. "Come now. See? He doesn't want it. Isn't that right, son?" He nodded to Yuu, smiling. "Earning every red cent! That's the spirit San Domino was built on."

Ori didn't say anything. She gripped the jacket like a curtain and shrank behind it.

"You seem to be having fun." His voice cut through the moment like a sunbeam. He stood at the head of the plaza, appearing from the ether as though he'd been there the whole time. He wore a waistcoat with steel-gray coloration, his shirt pinstriped orange like flames jutting from an exhaust. His hair was streaked with platinum, with the shiny texture of chrome. Yuu swore he could almost see himself in it.

Fey gasped. "Otaro!"

Valz shrieked. "That's him! That's why her name is so familiar: That's Otaro Yamatano, the Mist Fang!"

Otaro surveyed the people around Leviathan Plaza; Yuu felt as though he had been overlooked by the eyes of a deity, like a speck on a temple floor.

Otaro reached back and massaged his neck with one hand. "Come on, Ori. We're going."

Ori kept her head down and walked past Yuu, following Otaro back up the street.

"Don't forget about me!" Fey said chipperly. He turned to the plaza and bowed. "Again, so good to meet you all." Then he was gone in a whirlwind, chasing after the Yamatano siblings.

Yuu watched their backs as they disappeared. He sat down.

"Valz, did you get enough material?"

"Not nearly enough!" Valz replied, flipping through his notes. "Though I could probably stretch a few articles from the experience."

"That's good." Yuu found his way to a bench and sat down. He felt as though he could collapse through his seat and fall to the absolute bottom of the Atrium.

Inspector Fey, Ori, and Otaro had come and gone like the wind. The representatives of the pro league had come to the Atrium in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for its duelists, and they'd seen nothing of promise in any of them. Who could blame them? In the end, Yuu's cards just weren't up to snuff.

He let his anger build into half a scowl; that was all it felt worth. "Valz, do you ever get the feeling that you've missed your shot?"

"Not really. If I missed something, that means it wasn't my shot to begin with!"

Yuu clasped his hands over his bare belly. He'd passed the chance over to Clavis voluntarily. Sure, he could be disappointed that the promoter wasn't going for underground duelists anymore.

Valz flipped his notepad back down. "But of course, that means that my shot is still yet to come."

Yuu closed his eyes. "But what makes you so sure it's still coming, man?"

"Because that's the scoop on Valz Lemora. That's my story, and it's far from over."

Yuu looked at Valz. The Atrium lanterns were going down, a sunset simulacrum. Valz's outline remained against the dark and light; he was facing it all the same way.

"Thanks, man."

"It's the least I could do!" Valz said. "I swear, I'll pay you back for the shirt."

"Yuu Tokari." A calm, authoritative voice interrupted them again. By that point, they were the only people left to interrupt in the plaza.

Gozu Daimonji appeared from afar. She cut a solid figure against the distant lamplight, her presence growing as she approached. Muzou trailed behind her, his head bowed obediently. Matsu was mysteriously absent.

Gozu stood in front of Yuu; he realized now that she was a little taller than him. She clutched Yuu's shirt in her hand, and thrust it towards him. "I just wanted to give this back to you."

"Oh, thanks," Yuu said, shaking it out and pulling it back over his head.

Gozu immediately searched the area for witnesses and locked onto Valz, who was still busy writing in his pad.

"This isn't what it looks like," she explained calmly. "I'm resolving an earlier altercation and theft by one of my subordinates, who has been disciplined accordingly. The shirt was not in my possession for any other reason."

"I know," Valz said. "I was there."

For a moment, Gozu's composure slipped, and she coughed into her hand. "Yes, well…good. No need to explain further." She turned to Yuu.

"You also requested that I attend a duel here?" she said expectantly.

"Sorry, you just missed it," Yuu said. "Some pro duelist came and wiped the floor with all of us."

Gozu frowned. "A pro duelist? Here?"

Yuu shrugged. "From the sound of it, they'll be gone soon."

"I see. Well, would you still like to duel?"

Yuu shook his head. "Not today. Maybe we could get dinner, though?"

Gozu stood without reacting for a total of seven seconds. She then blinked rapidly, shooting her gaze all over the place. "I respectfully decline," she said. "I must honor a prior obligation tonight."

"It's a Monji business dinner," Muzou interjected, winking at Yuu. "Nothing romantic, don't worry."

Gozu glared at him, and Muzou winced. "I'll be off, then," she said, digging in her pocket and producing a scrap of paper. "You'll have an easier time contacting me through this landline."

A phone number had been handwritten onto the page. Yuu memorized it and put it away. "Thanks, Gozu," he said.

Gozu stiffened. She nodded to Muzou, who rolled up his sleeve and grinned.

"D-don't be so familiar with the head of Monji, you idiot!" he exclaimed cheerfully, cuffing Yuu across the head.

Gozu kept an eye on him as though to assess the damage. "Good night," she said, and she walked hurriedly away.

Yuu rubbed his head, watching her go. Then he turned to Valz. "Let's find some grub, then. I'll show you the rest of my cards."

The Atrium had very scarce accommodations for tourists, but Fey had found them a small room on the upper side of town. It had all of the vestiges of surface life; drawn curtains, air conditioning, and a small television set that buzzed with effort. It was in this room that Inspector Fey paced, walking circles around Otaro, who stood in the center of the room and turned his head to follow him.

"If you were going to come here yourself, you should've told me! I would've had you instead of-"

"Bringing my sister was the whole point, Fey. I could have just ordered you to do it."

Fey's cheeks flushed angrily. "Now listen here. Some dueling title doesn't mean you can conduct my operation for me. I did my work just fine before you came along."

Otaro glared back at him. Ori sat between them, long forgotten. She'd gotten used to this look from Otaro: cold absolution. Deep and immovable as a glacier, he wouldn't bend to anything. He simply grew more and more massive, like a star trapping planets in its orbit.

Fey put his hands up. "All I'm saying," he said, hissing the 's,' "is that you would have been a hell of a lot more convincing. Do you know how hard it is to convince people that a professional Duelist plays Dustons?"

Otaro glanced down at Ori. "That's a separate discussion for me and my sister. It doesn't concern you."

"I'd hope it won't. Babysitting doesn't suit me."

"You've seen all of the duelists in the Atrium by now. All that's left is to pinpoint the source of their cards."

"You really don't get it, do you? It's not just about seeing them," Fey stressed. "Though I suppose a genius wouldn't understand the hopes of the weak."

Otaro shrugged. Ori knew he never denied such accusations. Ever since they were children, things had always come effortlessly to Otaro. Dueling was at the top of a very long list of his noncommittal masteries. She stared into the floor, knowing that Otaro was going to glance at her, as though to read the thoughts that were closed off to his talented self.

A knock came at the door. Fey shushed the Yamatanos with a finger and went to the door. "I swear, Otaro, if you ordered room service…"

The door opened. Beyond Fey stood a man in an overcoat, unusually warm clothing for the underground. The man pulled off his hat and exposed his bald head to the moonless night.

"Good evening, Inspector Fey," he said. "I'm Zato Sanada. I understand you've been looking for me?"

Ori bolted to her feet. Otaro cocked his head and watched.

"Looking is a rather aggressive way of putting it, Mr. Sanada," Fey replied. "I've simply been admiring the comet tail of your reputation. Won't you come in?"

"Of course. I've heard a lot about you, too." Zato walked into the room and waved his hand in front of the AC unit. Fey pulled out another chair, which Zato took graciously. "Inspector, I'm here because I think we want the same thing."

Fey sat down across from him and rested his chin on his hand. "Well, color me intrigued! Just what do you think that is?"

"Let's say it on 3," Zato suggested, smiling.

Ori watched their fingers tick down.

The very next day, flyers went up from Utopia Street to Badtown. Some passersby gawked at the postings, while others tore them down to replenish their shortage of paper. Once they were brought into the home, the children took them with wide eyes. The bright Heart logo jumped out at them, with a giant cartoon mouth extending a tongue that shone with a familiar duradine luster. Words tumbled out of the mouth in a speech bubble, describing the time, the place. There was one detail that was clear even for those who could not read, depicted by the icon of a trophy at the top of the page: this was to be a tournament, the Atrium Royale.