Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh ARC-V. See Chapter 11 for details.
The next morning.
At his family's dojo, Gongenzaka sits cross legged while meditating with steaming riceballs on his shoulders.
While doing so he remembers how he used to defend Yuya against Gen, as well as what she had told him about his attack the past week.
"My first opponent is my former senior disciple, Gen Ankokuji! Not only did he humiliate Yuya in the past and attacked her recently, but he dissented against the teachings of the Steadfast Dojo and left disgracefully!" Gongenzaka thinks.
"I cannot lose this match!" Gongenzaka exclaims loudly as his eyes snap open and the steam from the riceballs intensifies.
"That's what I want to hear!" Mr. Gongenzaka says as he throws the door open.
"Father!" Gongenzaka says.
"Noboru! As you tighten this new sash, you must also temper and tighten your Steadfast spirit in preparation for this next battle!" Mr. Gongenzaka says as he presents a black sash to his son.
"Understood!" Gongenzaka says as he tightens it on himself.
Later in the LDS lobby.
"After Yuzu's victory yesterday, today is finally my turn! Gongenzaka, Sora and I will win and get to the next round!" Yuya thinks.
Though when she prepares to enter the center courts stands to watch Gongenzaka's duel, a cold sensation close to her neck stops her.
When she turns, she sees two of the goons Gen had with him when he attacked her and Yuzu, and one of them was holding a small knife at her throat.
"You're coming with us for a while, and don't think about making a scene, or else I'm not making any guaranties for that pretty neck of yours." The goon holding the knife said, while Yuya gave him and his friend a disgusted glare.
"So, Gen is playing dirty by taking me hostage. Figures. That coward couldn't win against a preschooler without cheating." Yuya thinks with an annoyed sigh.
"Lead the way then." Yuya simply says, as the goons start leading her out of LDS tower, her glare towards them unwavering.
Meanwhile at center court.
"My dear audience! Thank you for coming to see the even more exciting second day of the tournament! Now let's introduce our Duelists for our first match of the day!" Nico exclaims.
"While he doesn't belong to any duel school, this Duelist qualified for the Junior Youth Championship with a six-game win streak! Gen Ankokuji!" Nico announces.
"His opponent is the successor to the Steadfast Sueling style of the Gongenzaka Dojo, Noboru Gongenzaka!" Nico introduces Gongenzaka, who stands proudly after entering the arena.
"That's a nice sash you have there! Did you get that from your father?" Gen says.
"The master of our dojo gives us a new sash before a pivotal match! This is a tradition of the Gongenzaka Dojo!" Gongenzaka declares.
"Let's start off by selecting the Field Magic Card! Now this match's Field is... This! Now then without any more delays, Action Field On! Field Magic, Solitary Cove in a Faraway Sea!" Nico exclaims as the action field is generated, an island consisting of a small jungle and mountains surrounded by the sea.
"A dense forest huh? What a coincidence. I'm sure your dear friend is inside of a dense forest right now, too..." Gen says.
"What was that?!" Gongenzaka questions as he turns around, getting a bad feeling.
At the same time Yuya and the goons arrive at a clearing in a small forest close to LDS tower. Waiting for them there are Gen's other two lackeys. After removing the blade from her neck, the first two goons join their friends across from Yuya.
"You bastard! How could you do something so underhanded!?" Gongenzaka shouts at Gen, infuriated by the underhanded tactic.
"What's this? What happened to your unshakable spirit? You're already shaking with rage!" Gen mocks him.
"That's all your so called Steadfast spirit is worth. Using any method to win, that's what the truly strong do! That's why I cut ties with the Gongenzaka Dojo!" Gen exclaims.
"Damn you..." Gongenzaka says enraged.
"I wonder if Yuya Sakaki is alright...?" Gen continues his taunting.
"If you want to save her, then you'd better hurry up and defeat me! Or are you going to spout some crap about your friend being more important than this match and surrender right now?" Gen says.
"Jeez, the match has already started! Why is Yuya taking so long?" Yuzu wonders as she calls Yuya over her duel disk.
"Yuzu?" Yuya answers the second she gets the call.
"Tell Gongenzaka not to worry! Gen decided to play dirty and had his goons from last week take me hostage! Don't worry I'll be back in a bit, this won't take long!" Yuya tells her as she gives the goons a glare that makes them sweat drop.
"Huh? Yuya!?" Yuzu exclaims worried.
"On the honor of my dojo, I cannot surrender without a fight!" Gongenzaka declares.
"Then struggle all you want!" Gen retorts.
"Duelists locked in battle!" Gongenzaka starts
"Kicking against the earth and dancing in the air alongside their monsters! They storm through this Field!" Gen continues
"Behold! This is newest and greatest evolution of Dueling! Action!" Gongenzaka and Gen finish.
"Duel!" "Duel!" Gongenzaka and Gen say as the action cards are dispersed and the duel begins.
Turn: 1
Gongenzaka: 4000 LP
Hand: 5
Gen: 4000 LP
Hand: 5
"I'll be going first! I summon Barbarian 3!" Gen says as the blue ogre appears.
Barbarian 3 (LV.3) (1000ATK)
"When this card is summoned I can Special Summon Barbarian 4 from my hand!" Gen explains, as the brown fatter ogre appears.
Barbarian 4 (LV.4) (1200ATK)
"Now that is a throwback for me! These are the monsters Strong Ishijima used!" Nico says with barely any nostalgia.
"I set one card and end my turn!" Gen says as his facedown materializes.
"Now it's your turn! If you don't hurry up, your friend will be beaten to a pulp!" Gen taunts to which Gongenzaka grits his teeth.
"I was already planning to defeat you with one attack! My turn!" Gongenzaka declares as he starts his turn so enraged that his draw creates a gust of wind.
Turn: 2
Gongenzaka: 4000 LP
Hand: 6
Gen: 4000 LP
Hand: 2
"When there are two or more monsters on my opponents Field, I can Special Summon this card from my hand! Come forth! Superheavy Samurai Big Wara-G!" Gongenzaka explains as his monster appears.
Superheavy Samurai Big Wara-G (LV.5) (800ATK/1800DEF)
"Big Wara-G can be used as two Releases for an Advance Summon! I Release Big Wara-G in order to Advance Summon Superheavy Samurai Big Benkei in Defense mode!" Gongenzaka explains as his ace replaces his first monster.
Superheavy Samurai Big Benkei (LV.8) (1000ATK/3500DEF)
"And it's here! Superheavy Samurai Big Benkei can be summoned in face-up Defense mode!" Nico explains.
"And Big Benkei can also attack using its 3500 Defense Points!" Tatsuya points out.
"It can take out either of those Barbarians in one hit!" Ayu cheers.
"Shivers!" Futoshi says as he wiggles around.
"But it looks like he won't be ending it with one attack though." Sora points out as he eats his lollipop.
"What Ankokuji just said about his friend being beaten to a pulp... Yuya I know you got this, but, be careful." Yuzu thinks worried.
"When there are no Magic or Trap cards in my Graveyard, By sending one Superheavy Samurai monster from my hand to the Graveyard, I can Special Summon this card! I Special Summon the Level 2 Tuner Monster, Superheavy Samurai Horagai!" Gongenzaka explains as he discard one card and his tuner appears.
Superheavy Samurai Horagai (LV.2) (300ATK/600DEF)
"Here it is, the Tuner Monster!" Ayu cheers.
"He can Tune that with Big Benkei and... Do a Synchro Summon!" Tatsuya and Ayu exclaim.
"Naive! I activate the Trap, Barbarian' Curse! While I control a Barbarian monster and you control two or more monsters, I can take control of one of those monsters!" Gen explains as his trap creates two flames and his monsters clash their clubs together creating a small shockwave.
"What?!" Gongenzaka exclaims shocked.
"I'll be taking Horagai!" Gen says, at which the wave reaches the declared monster and makes it appear on his field.
"His monster got stolen!" Futoshi exclaims shocked.
"Now he can't do a Synchro Summon!" Tatsuya exclaims.
"I already researched that you won your way here using Synchro Summoning! Matches aren't only decided within the Field!" Gen exclaims while laughing at Gongenzaka.
"Anything could be happening outside of this Field right now. If you don't hurry up and go, who knows what will happen to your beloved friend?" Gen taunts.
"Damn it... Yuya!" Gongenzaka says.
Meanwhile with Yuya.
"Why do you goons have Gongenzaka's sash?" Yuya asks with a raised brow after seeing one of them holding it.
"The boss stole it and suggested we use it to bait you here." Goon 1 says.
"Ok that's stupid and wouldn't have worked for two reasons. One, despite not being common knowledge, I know that his father would have given him a new sash today according with their dojo's tradition. And two, I know what you guys look like because of last week, so that wouldn't have worked anyway." Yuya points out as she narrows her eyes at them.
"So, let's just get this over with." Yuya says as she puts on her duel disk.
"Uhm... Could you give us a second?" Goon 3 says before the four turn toward eachother.
"Boss said to keep her away from the match, but I'm not crazy enough to duel her!" Goon 3 whispered to the others.
"You're telling me! I still get nightmares from that look she gave us and the dragon she used last week!" Goon 2 whispers.
"You to?" Goon 4 says as they all get chills from the memory.
"Ok, listen, how about we act like this never happened? You can just up and go, though you mind saying that you beat us to leave?" Goon 1 suggests.
"Fine, also give me that sash. He might have gotten a new one, but your coward of a boss still stole it, so hand it over." Yuya says as she holds out a hand.
"Here. Are we cool now?" Goon 3 asks nervously as he gives her the sash.
"One more thing! If you ever get close to me or anyone I care about again, I swear I won't let you off easy and unscathed!" Yuya warns them with a glare, which sends them running away.
"Geez, looks like I really freaked them out last week. Though that's not what I want my dueling to do, making sure they don't bother me or my friends again is more important than making a bunch of bullies smile." Yuya tells herself as she heads back toward the tower.
Back at center court.
"Your so called disciple is doing terrible." Masumi tells Yaiba who is shaking with frustration.
"I didn't expect him to get his monster stolen like that!" Hokuto arrogantly says.
"That little...! Is he trying to make me look bad? I won't accept a loss!" Yaiba exclaims loudly.
"If I don't hurry up, Yuya will be...!" Gongenzaka thinks as he grits his teeth.
"Battle Phase! I attack Barbarian 3 with Big Benkei!" Gongenzaka says.
"I activate Barbarian 4's effect! Once during the Battle Phase, it can negate an attack directed at a Barbarian monster!" Gen explains as his monster blocks the attack.
"The attack got canceled!" Ayu observes shocked.
"Damn it!! I don't have time for this!!" Gongenzaka says as he punches the ground.
"Why is he panicking?" Yaiba wonders.
Meanwhile Yuzu looks at him worried.
"What now? Are you frustrated? Are you panicked? You betrayed your beloved monster and you don't know what's happening to your beloved friend! So of course you'd be panicking... I bet she is thinking you've betrayed her right now! Even though she believed you'd come save her for sure, but you won't!" Gen taunts and mocks Gongenzaka.
"Damn it! Yuya!" Gongenzaka says as he punches the ground.
"That's it! Suffer more! Panic even more! The more you panic, the more your spirit is sullied! Along with your dueling!" Gen thinks with satisfied sadism as he watches his plan working.
"I'll prove to you right now just how fragile your Steadfast Dueling is!" Gen declares.
"Gongenzaka!" Yuzu shouts getting their attention.
"Believe in Yuya! Yuya told me to tell you not to worry about her!" Yuzu says.
"Yuya did...?" Gongenzaka mutters.
"Yuya isn't the same Yuya as before! She can fight on her own!" Yuzu says.
"Noboru! Right now is the time for Steadfast spirit! Believe in your friend as well as in yourself!" Mr. Gongenzaka says.
"Father..." Gongenzaka mutters.
"So they got in contact with her? It's so pitiful when that weakling acts like she's something else!" Gen says.
"She is no longer... A weakling! Yuya will definitely come back!" Gongenzaka declares as he gets up.
"What?" Gen says.
"Yuzu is right! Yuya isn't the same as three years ago! She is now strong enough to not need me to protect her! In my rage I had forgotten that and actually fell for the same cowardly strategy she warned me about!" Gongenzaka says.
"Gongenzaka..." Yuzu mutters, while Gen gets frustrated that his scheme isn't working.
"Now that I know Yuya's resolve, my spirit will waver no more! I will follow my Dueling ways!" Gongenzaka declares.
"That's it, go, go, Gongenzaka! Burning! Hot-Blooded" Shuzo cheers with tears in his eyes.
"Even if you say "Go, go!"..." Sora points out sweat dropping.
"I end my turn with this!" Gongenzaka says.
"Huh? Really?" Shuzo says as the wind got taken from his sails.
"Because he can't attack anymore!" Sora points out.
"I'll believe in you, Yuya! So follow your Dueling ways as well!" Gongenzaka thinks.
"Believe in her?! People betray others! Just like your monster betrayed you!" Gen exclaims, finding what Gongenzaka says preposterous.
"My turn!" Gen says as he draws.
Turn: 3
Gongenzaka: 4000 LP
Hand: 2
Gen: 4000 LP
Hand: 3
"I Release all three of my monsters and... Special Summon Barbarian Mad Shaman from my hand!" Gen says as the three monsters are replaced by a grotesque slim ogre.
Barbarian Mad Shaman (LV.10) (2000ATK)
"What the heck is that?" Tatsuya exclaims.
"It's creepy enough to give me shivers!" Futoshi says as he looks away and holds his hands in front of his eyes.
"Level 10 with 2000 Attack Points... I take it that's the monster you mentioned him using against Yuya?" Sora asks Yuzu, who nods as she keeps looking at the duel in silence.
"Here I go! I activate Barbarian Mad Shaman's effect! Once per turn, I can take control of an opponents monster! The monster I'll be taking control of is, of course, Big Benkei!" Gen explains as his monster releases a wave from the skulls on its hands that forces Big Benkei to his side.
"This time Big Benkei...! Got taken!" Tatsuya and Futoshi exclaims as they and Ayu watch in shock.
"There is nothing worth believing in this world! Realize that as you take Big Benkei's attack! Battle Phase! I make a direct attack with Big Benkei!" Gen says as he attacks Gongenzaka with his own monster.
"Look out!" Ayu and Futoshi say.
"If he takes Big Benkei's attack head on like that...!" Tatsuya says.
Gongenzaka holds his arms on front of himself to shield himself from the blast, as he howls in agony as it pushes him, still standing, out of the jungle to the edge of a cliff.
Gongenzaka: 4000 - 500 LP
"That must have hurt! 3500 points of damage all at once!" Nico says as Gongenzaka falls to a knee.
"Are you all right, Gongenzaka?!" Shuzo exclaims worried.
"Gongenzaka..." Yuzu mutters worried.
"It hurts to watch this..." Masumi says.
"He only has a mere 500 life points remaining..." Hokuto says.
"You bastard! You better not embarrass me!" Yaiba says frustrated.
"So you managed to stop yourself at the edge of the cliff? The next attack is game over!" Gen says as he walks toward Gongenzaka with a cocky smirk.
"Standing up is a waste of time! You're going to take Barbarian Mad Shaman's attack and plunge into the ocean behind you!" Gen mocks Gongenzaka as the latter gets back up.
"No matter how much you believe in her, your friend isn't coming!" Gen says.
"Yuya will come! I believe it!" Gongenzaka exclaims.
"Then go ahead and believe all you want! I attack you directly with Barbarian Mad Shaman! Finish him!" Gen says as his monster charges forward.
"At this moment, I banish Superheavy Samurai Glove from my Graveyard! When you declare a direct attack, by banishing this card, I draw one card from my deck, and if that card is a Superheavy Samurai monster, I can make my opponent's monsters Attack Points 0!" Gongenzaka explains.
Tension rises as Mad Shaman is inches away from him.
"Come! Got it!" Gongenzaka says as he draws and gets what he needs.
"I believe in Yuya!" Gongenzaka says as his hand is enveloped in flames.
"Yuya will definitely... come!" Gongenzaka says as Mad Shaman's Attack Points drop to 0, and he uses his bare hand to counter and destroy the monsters blade, though that tears off his sash and sends it flying.
Barbarian Mad Shaman (LV.10) (2000 - 0ATK)
"No matter what happens, my spirit that believes in my friend will never be shaken!" Gongenzaka declares after Gen's monster retreats to its masters side.
"That was amazing! With his back to a sheer drop off, he's dodged his opponents final attack by a hairs breath!" Nico exclaims as the crowd erupts into cheers at the move Gongenzaka just pulled.
"You just got lucky, that's all!" Gen scoffs.
"But as long as I have Big Benkei here, you can't attack Mad Shaman because of its effect! Also, Mad Shaman can only take control of one monster, but if you happen to Summon a stronger monster than Big Benkei next turn, he can swap Big Benkei for that one! So basically, you have no way to win! I end my turn here!" Gen explains before ending his turn.
"The sash my father gave me for this battle... But that is not what I need right now!" Gongenzaka says.
"What I need right now is..." Gongenzaka thinks.
"Gongenzaka!" Yuya calls snapping him out of his thoughts.
"Yuya!" Yuzu and Shuzo say.
"Big sis Yuya!" Tatsuya, Ayu and Futoshi say.
"You're here?" Gongenzaka says.
"Sorry for the wait! Looks like you need this after all, catch!" Yuya says as she tosses the sash toward Gongenzaka.
"Yuya! I've gotten the sash from you! I believed. And you came! This is now my sash for victory!" Gongenzaka says as he catches and puts on the sash, while Gen looks frustrated and panicked.
"My turn!" Gongenzaka says as he draws.
Turn: 4
Gongenzaka: 500 LP
Hand: 4
Gen: 4000 LP
Hand: 2
"I summon the Level 2 Tuner Monster, Superheavy Samurai Tama-C!" Gongenzaka says as the ball like monster appears.
Superheavy Samurai Tama-C (LV.2) (100ATK/800DEF)
"A tuner!? Without any other monsters, it's just fodder!" Gen mocks the new monster.
"Tama-C can perform a Synchro Summon using a Machine-type monster my opponent controls!" Gongenzaka explains.
'What?!" Gen exclaims shocked.
"I Tune the Level 8 Superheavy Samurai Big Benkei on your field with my Level 3 Tama-C! Raging deity, in unison with the roar of a thousand blades, come forth in a spiraling sandstorm! Synchro Summon! Now come before us, Level 10! Superheavy Kojin Susano-O!" Gongenzaka chants to which his Synchro monster appears.
Superheavy Koujin Susano-O (LV.10) (2400ATK/3800DEF)
"He did it! A Synchro Summon!" Yaiba cheers proudly.
"Alright!" Shuzo cheers.
"Next I equip Superheavy Samurai Soulbuster Gauntlet to Susano-O from my hand! It increases its Defense Points by 400!" Gongenzaka explains as Susano-O puts on the gauntlet and gains more Defense Points.
Superheavy Koujin Susano-O (LV.10) (2400ATK/3800 - 4200DEF)
"D-don't tell me that just like Big Benkei, it can..." Gen says horrified at the thought.
"That's right! It can attack using its Defense Points!" Gongenzaka confirms.
"Let's go! Battle Phase! Susano-O, attack Barbarian Mad Shaman!" Gongenzaka declares.
"Right now Mad Shaman has 0 Attack Points thanks to Glove's effect!" Tatsuya exclaims.
"Susano-O has 4200, so that means..." Ayu says.
"He'll end it with one attack." Sora finishes.
"Shivers!" Futoshi says as he wiggles around.
"Kusanagi Sword Slash!" Gongenzaka says as his monster slices Mad Shaman in half, blasting Gen away.
Gen: 4000 - 0 LP
Winner: Gongenzaka
"The first Junior Youth Championship match victory of the day goes to Gongenzaka!" Nico exclaims as the crowd cheers.
"He finally won... Making me sweat like that..." Yaiba says while Gongenzaka walks off the field.
"I believed that you would come, Yuya." Gongenzaka says holding out his hand to her.
"And I believed that you definitely would win, Gongenzaka." Yuya says as she takes his hand.
"Big sis Yuya!" the children say as they along with Yuzu, Sora, Yoko and Suhzo rush over to them.
"We were worried about you! Where did you go?" Futoshi says.
"Sorry, sorry! I'm up next, so I'll do my best so I don't fall behind Gongenzaka!" Yuya declares.
"Next up, we have our second match of the day! You Show Duel School's Yuya Sakaki vs Leo Duel School's Shingo Sawatari!" Nico announces.
"Yuya." Yuzu says getting her attention.
"Good luck." Yuzu says as she gives her a kiss to the cheek.
"I'm off!" Yuya says smiling as she enters the arena.