"What a day, huh?" Yuya said over the phone the next morning.

"You're telling me," Yuzu laughed. "Those duels were... well, they were exciting enough. As for the environment?" Her smile faded.

"I know," Yuya replied. "There's still some way to go before the damage of the past fully heals, it's clear. You were amazing, though. Have you all been practicing together?"

"Ah, it's like everyone was saying before, I needed to look for my own way, but it also had to have a part of all of us in it. I knew that from as soon as I started but... I feel like I truly understood what it meant during the duel."

"Yes, the other guys and I feel exactly the same way!" Yuya said excitedly.

"Are they as concerned about those other duels?"

"There's a lot of feelings going on at once... It'll be easier to let them speak for themselves. Let's talk about it in person once we're back at the stadium, okay?"

"Yeah, alright, see you soon," Yuzu replied. She lowered her voice. "Um... love you." Yuya felt his face burn red hot. He huddled over and cupped his hand over the phone.

"...I love you too." As soon as he hung up he swung his head around in search of anyone around. His parents were not above teasing for that little display. Let alone if Sora had overheard...

Noticing some movement, he darted to the door and found En the corgi, looking up at him cheerfully.

"Aw, you're not going to make fun of me, are you, little buddy?" Yuya laughed, holding him up. He set him back down to run off and went looking to greet the rest of the family's seemingly-ever-growing army of pets. As he did, it occurred to Yuya that he hadn't seen Sora at all that morning.

Yuzu told her dad that she was going to walk to the stadium and met with Asuka on the way.

"Is something on your mind?" Asuka asked, noticing she'd been walking in silence for a few minutes.

"I'm a little worried about some of the duels yesterday," Yuzu replied. "Especially Kotori Mizuki."

"She wasn't much for talking, as you saw, but if you want we can go and look for her before the matches begin," Asuaka offered.

A few minutes later they learned they didn't even have to search, because within sight of the stadium Yuzu and Asuka found her standing at the bus stop.

"Hey, Kotori..?" Yuzu asked gently.

"What do want?" Kotori sniffled. "Have you come to laugh at me too?"

"Nobody's laughing," Asuka replied. "You're leaving?"

"I don't know what I was thinking," Kotori sighed. "I'm no duelist. I thought... I was trying to convince myself I could be stronger. But I'm not. I'm as useless as always!"

"Hey, I felt useless plenty of times," said Yuzu. "If it hadn't been for my friends..."

"I'll tell you what happened to my friends," Kotori said. "When Academia came for us, I begged them for mercy. I cried like a little baby! They thought it was funny enough that they gave me what I wanted. They saved me for last - made me watch them card everyone else before they did me."

Yuzu's voice caught in her throat. Asuka clapped her hands over her mouth, the color draining from her face.

"I'm so sorry..." Asuka said. "I wasn't part of the invasion, but still-"

"I'm not blaming you for what happened," Kotori put her hand up. "Just... please, let me go. Go back to the tournament." Then she turned back around and refused to speak to them again, trying futilely to compose herself.

"I don't know what we can do," Askua told Yuzu, resting her hand on her shoulder. Yuzu thought that this was a situation where she could really use Yuya, when he called her again.

"Yuzu, you haven't seen Sora today have you?"

"You haven't?" she asked back in surprise.

"No, he hasn't been home all morning. Mom and Dad haven't seen him either and he's not picking up any calls. I'm out in the city now looking for him."

"Where are you now?" Yuzu asked, turning and running back down the road.

Soon enough, the whole group was informed and had split up to search. News was already appearing that Sora's duel, which was supposed to be the first of the day, was being delayed, and Ryo Marufuji had arrived and was waiting. Yuzu ran between buildings as she wracked her brains for an idea of where Sora could have gone and why. She found herself heading in the direction of the docks and wondered is she had subconsciously began to expect things to happen there. As she came out of an alley into the street, it appeared that Yuya had the same idea. Yuzu was about to head his way when she noticed him pointing behind her. She whirled around and cried,

"Sora!"

He was sitting at the side of the road, battered, bruised and staring blankly ahead. Yuzu sprinted up and knelt beside him, Yuya catching up moments later.

"Sora! What happened?!" Yuzu took him by the shoulder. Sora blinked, barely reacting to the question.

"Sora? What happened to you?" Yuya asked. Sora slowly turned to look at them.

"I... can't remember."

They called the paramedics and one examination later, he was about to be loaded onto a stretcher.

"I don't need that," he insisted.

"We don't want to risk moving you too much, there might be more severe injuries we haven't identified yet."

"Fine," Sora agreed, and he was ready to be driven to the hospital when Yuya received a call... from Reiji. He requested that Sora be brought to the LDS medical ward instead, which no doubt meant that he was intending to question him. Sora seemed to notice the expression on Yuya's face.

"It's no problem," he reassured him. So, Sora was sent for recovery at LDS once again, with Yuya and Yuzu in tow. They hoped to be able to see him after his full examination was finished, only to find themselves approached by Reiji's assistant Nakajima.

"Yes..?" Yuya asked, having a bad feeling.

"Mr. Reiji has requested me to inform you both that the next round of the tournament will proceed, and offer you transport back to the stadium."

"Thank you, but the tournament's not our biggest concern right now," Yuzu replied. "Right, Yuya?" Yuya, however, looked at Nakajima suspiciously.

"Why is it so important? Is something else going on here?"

"Mr. Reiji told me to tell you, that's what he's trying to find out," Nakajima said. Yuya and Yuzu exchanged a glance.

In the Akabas' car, Nakajima sat up front, already talking into a headset when he sat down, the window between the front and back raised.

"There's something going on," Yuya said. Yuzu looked over at the bus stop outside the stadium and sadly noted that Kotori would be long gone by now. Thinking about the morning when so much had started happening gave her another thought.

"There's an immediate concern as well..."

"Ryo Marufuji," all eight of them said at once. Yuya had many of Yuto's memories absorbed into his mind, and Yuzu Ruri's, but they did not seem to feel more than an instinctive sense of fear. It was a strong fear, however.

"We never saw him directly, but..." Yuto began.

"...We always knew when he was in the city," Ruri finished. Yuya and Yuzu both felt a shudder.

When they got back, they had to shuffle to their group's spot past girls, and a few guys, who were staring smitten at Ryo as he stood stock still with arms folded down in the arena.

Eventually, Smiley spoke up over the loudspeaker.

"Thanks for your patience, everyone! Unfortunately, Sora Shiunin will be unable to participate in the duel. By standard procedure, Ryo would receive a bye to advance by default; however, a replacement opponent has been arranged for him to face, with his agreement." Ryo's face was displayed on the big screen.

"I'm not concerned who my opponent is," Ryo said, his voice low and soft even with electronic amplification.

"Very well, without further ado, let's introduce our new competitor!" There was a rustle of paper as he checked his notes, then his voice caught in his throat. A figure walked into the arena opposite Ryo, one whom everyone recognized almost instantly even before he fully came into view or Nico announced his name.

"The new duelist is... Shun Kurosaki..."