Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh ARC-V. See Chapter 11 for details.
As the sun rises over maiami city, Yuya stands in her room and picks up her deck. While doing so she remembers her prior conversation with Nico after her duel with Mieru.
"You've grown just as I had expected in these past three matches. In the first Duel you showed there are no perfect plans in cooking or dueling and learned that having a flexible state of mind and an ability to improvise on the spot creates the best hospitality. In the second duel you learned that you won't improve through complacency, and that it's important to communicate with the opponent and the audience. And in the third duel you finally surpassed my imagination and left the entire gallery in awe! So far so good! But the next match is the most important! This is the fourth and final match I will produce for you Yuya! This is your 50th match this year! If you win this you'll be at 30 wins out of 50 matches and reach your 60% win rate benchmark, qualifying you for the Junior Youth Championship! Show me the summation of your acquired skills in this next battle! And make your first step towards becoming a pro!" Nico told her with his usual amount of extravagance.
Back in the present.
"Today, my future will be decided. No matter who my opponent is I'll believe in myself and make it through with my Entertainment Dueling!" Yuya thinks with a determined look on her face and smiles.
"Alright! First I'll eat my fill of Mom's pancakes!" Yuya says in high spirits as she slides down the pole to the living room.
"I'll have a big serving of 30 in order to get my 30th...!" Yuya declares before noticing that she is alone much to her confusion.
She looks around the house a bit to see if anyone is around but realizes that even her pets are not here.
"Even Sora isn't here even though he usually is... Where did everyone go?" Yuya asks herself as she sits down to think.
A bit later at You Show Duel School.
"Jeez... Today is an important day that determines whether or not her daughter takes her first step as a pro... and Mom doesn't even make breakfast..." Yuya mutters to herself in the elevator while eating some leftovers she found in the fridge.
Though when she exits it she gets confused.
"Even the principal isn't... Is Yuzu here?" Yuya wonders as she looks around.
"Hey, what are you all hiding for? Come on out! Ayu! Tatsuya! Futoshi!" Yuya calls around to see if there really is no one here.
"How could nobody be at home or at the Duel School? Just what happened?" Yuya asks herself as she looks around.
"I wonder! Just what could have happened?" Nico says, standing at the door behind her.
"Nico!" Yuya says as she turns toward him.
"At your service! Good morning Yuya! Did you get enough rest last night?" Nico says as he takes a bow.
"Yeah! More importantly, where is everyone?" Yuya asks him.
"Is it bothering you?" Nico asks.
"It is! Where is everyone?" Yuya asks again.
"Oh, look at the time! You should hurry or you'll be late! Now then let's go!" Nico says as he grabs her by the wrist and walks into the elevator.
"W-Wait! Answer me! Where did everyone go?" Yuya asks frustrated as she is dragged behind him.
A bit later Nico leads Yuya up to the Gongenzaka Dojo.
"My fourth opponent is here... don't tell me it's..." Yuya asks having a feeling her hunch is right.
"You can confirm it yourself." Nico says as they walk past the gate.
"I was tired of waiting for you Yuya!" Gongenzaka says as he sees them.
"Why did you go out of your way to make me fight Gongenzaka? We've already dueled tons of times..." Yuya questions.
"It's true that you have dueled him plenty of times. But you haven't had a real match with him yet." Nico explains.
"I am also aware of the fact that he is your best friend. Especially after your father, Yusho Sakaki, disappeared during that championship match. Gongenzaka put his body on the line to protect you from the cruel public! I was moved by such a beautiful friendship!" Nico explains as he wipes away his tears.
"But even if you are best friends, a real match is a different matter entirely! Even more so if you're aiming to be a pro!" Nico elaborates.
"He's right Yuya!" Gongenzaka says, getting their attention.
"You and I have fought countless times before. But there was no seriousness in those matches! I couldn't seriously fault you for feeling hurt at your fathers disappearance. But I realized that feeling pity for you only served to make me weaker!" Gongenzaka declares.
"Make you... weaker?" Yuya repeats confused.
"In the third match of You Show Duel School vs. LDS, I wasn't able to win even though we were tied 1-1!" Gongenzaka explains.
"But it still ended in a draw!" Yuya says as she approaches him.
"I couldn't win because of the weakness in my heart! Being unable to break away from my own softness was the reason I didn't win that duel! I must push myself further if I am to purge myself of such weakness!" Gongenzaka declares.
"And with that in mind, Gongenzaka shockingly went as far as betting his entry into the Junior Youth Championship on this fight!" Nico says as he walks next to her.
"He won matches until he was just one away from the 60% win record requirement, then refused any further duel challenges and waited until Yuya had won enough matches!" Nico says, shocking Yuya.
"Just one more win! He waited until you were under the same conditions! Simply put, he set it up so that only the one who wins this very duel can enter the tournament!" Nico says.
"Wh-why go that far?!" Yuya asks shocked.
"Because I thought that if I didn't do this much, I wouldn't be able to get a serious match from you." Gongenzaka explains.
"Eventually I will inherit this dojo so this duel is also a test for honing my Steadfast Dueling! I'll set aside my pity and defeat you with all I've got because you're my best friend! Prepare yourself Yuya!" Gongenzaka tells her, to which she bites down on her lips in frustration.
A few years back, Yuya walked down the street with her goggles covering her eyes.
"Look, that cowards kid is walking over there. Yeah, she's the daughter of Yusho Sakaki, the guy who ran away! She was at the stadium wasn't she? She was saying things like "I'll duel you in place of my father!"." Yuya hears the people she walks by say, while in her eyes they all looked like monstrous shadows with mocking faces.
Depressed Yuya doesn't notice walking right into a bigger boy and falls to the ground.
The boy removes Yuya's goggles and towers above her.
"If you're going to fight in place of your father, then I'll be fighting for Strong Ishijima! So let's duel!" the bigger boy says, but Yuya hesitates.
"What? You don't want to? You going to turn tail and run away like your Dad did? Jeez you're a helpless weakling aren't you?" the bigger boy mocks her, to which Yuya gets angry and stands up.
"Stop it! I the man Gongenzaka, won't forgive bullying the weak! Have you forgotten the Iron rules of our Gongenzaka dojo?!" Gongenzaka tells the other boy as he steps between him and Yuya.
"I wasn't bullying her. I just asked her for a duel, that's all. We were going to prove who's stronger between Yusho Sakaki and Strong Ishijima in their stead!" the other boy says with a malicious grin.
"Our dojo does not teach you Steadfast Dueling for things like this! Those who take part in meaningless fights are excommunicated at once! Whether you may be a senior disciple to me or not! I won't let it slide!" Gongenzaka threats the other boy.
"Gongenzaka..." Yuya mutters in gratefulness but also cursing her own weakness.
Back in the present Yuya stands inside the dojo next to Gongenzaka. In front of them are sitting Nico and Gongenzaka's father, while to their left and right are the dojos disciples.
"Have you not steeled your resolve yet Yuya? Well that's understandable. You have to cut down the man who's had your back all these years. Otherwise, you won't be able to play in the Junior Youth Championship." Nico says.
"Where is everyone at a time like this..." Yuya wonders in low spirits.
"And of course to become a pro, you need the strength to fight alone. Up until now, you've been protected by not only Gongenzaka, but plenty of others. Always being cheered on and encouraged has given you strength. Being a pro means being able to display your own skills even as the away team, even if everyone around you is cheering for the enemy. This is exactly why I had your cheer crew take a leave of absence this time." Nico adds.
Unknown to Yuya, in an hidden upper room Yuzu, Sora, Yoko, Shuzo, Tatsuya, Ayu and Futoshi are watching her.
"This is their first serious match together. Good luck!" Shuzo says.
"Yuya..." Yuzu mutters worried about her.
"Well then, shall we begin, Master Gongenzaka?" Nico asks, to which the man in question stands up.
"Dueling is to polish one's soul! Diligently cultivating each other's character while possessing an immovable spirit no matter the circumstances. This is the path our Gongenzaka Dojo travels upon! You shall clash with each other fair and square in this fight. And I wish for you to polish each other's souls. Now! Action Field on! Field Magic, Sword's Cemetery!" Mr. Gongenzaka says as the field is generated, a wasteland filled with broken swords that are stuck in the ground.
"Th-this is!!" Yuya says recognizing the field.
"Yes! This is the same field I fought LDS on!" Gongenzaka confirms.
"Why pick this one?! Did you choose it?!" Yuya asks surprised.
"Yeah, you'll soon understand why. Let's go!" Gongenzaka muses as he activates his duel disk, to which Yuya activates hers.
"Duelists locked in battle!" Gongenzaka starts
"Kicking against the earth and dancing in the air alongside their monsters!" Yuya continues
"They storm through this Field!" Gongenzaka says
"Behold! This is the newest and greatest evolution of Dueling! Action!" Yuya and Gongenzaka finish together.
"Duel!" "Duel!" Yuya and Gongenzaka say as the action cards are dispersed and the duel begins.
Turn: 1
Yuya: 4000 LP
Hand: 5
Gongenzaka: 4000 LP
Hand: 5
"I'll take the first move! I summon Superheavy Samurai Kageboshi from my hand!" Gongenzaka says as the monster playing a flute appears.
Superheavy Samurai Kageboshi (LV.3) (500ATK/1000DEF)
"Since this card was successfully Normal Summoned this turn, I can Release it and Special Summon a Superheavy Samurai from my hand! I Special Summon Superheavy Samurai Big Benkei in Defense Mode!" Gongenzaka explains as he releases it and summons his ace.
Superheavy Samurai Big Benkei (LV.8) (1000ATK/3500DEF)
"I end my turn with this." Gongenzaka says.
"A Level 8 monster right out of the gates?!" Tatsuya observes shocked.
"Little-Gon's going all out right from the get-go! He's really serious!" Sora observes.
"Both their entries into the Junior Youth Championship are riding on this Duel! I want Gongenzaka to win since he is a huge help, but... as the Principal of You Show Duel School, I should cheer for Yuya...! What should I do?!" Shuzo shouts conflicted before being hit on the back of his head by Yuzu's fan.
"Keep it down! Don't yell! What'll you do if Yuya hears us?" Yuzu scolds him.
"That's right! Nico told us to quietly watch here today!" Ayu agrees, while Futoshi holds his head scared of Yuzu's fan.
"Sorry!" Shuzo says.
"I wonder how Yuya will answer to little-Gon's fighting spirit? This is gonna be fun!" Sora says excited as he eats his lollipop.
"Why does my most important match have to be against Gongenzaka? It's all thanks to him that I have come this far... Even the reason I have 50 matches played this year is because he referred me to the disciples from his own dojo!" Yuya thinks.
"And now I have to defeat the very person who helped me and make him unable to enter the tournament?!" Yuya mutters to herself in frustration.
"Pitying your opponent so much is the same as disrespecting them! I'll say this again Yuya, it's because you are my best friend that I will defeat you with all my strength! You should throw away those meaningless feelings and face me with all your might!" Gongenzaka tells her with a firm look and tone.
"My turn! Draw!" Yuya says with renewed resolve.
Turn: 2
Yuya: 4000 LP
Hand: 6
Gongenzaka: 4000 LP
Hand: 3
"I summon Entermate Silver Claw! Let's go Silver Claw!" Yuya tells her monster as she summons and then leaps onto its back.
Entermate Silver Claw (LV.4) (P.S.5) (1800ATK/700DEF)
"This is...!" Yuya thinks as she picks up an action card.
"I activate the Action Magic, Extreme Sword! Silver Claw's Attack points increase by 1000 during the Battle Phase!" Yuya explains.
"I can use this too!" Yuya says as she picks up another action card.
"I activate the Action Magic, Over Sword! Silver Claw's Attack Points increase by another 500 during the Battle Phase!" Yuya explains.
"Running around while getting Action Cards, huh? She's going on the offensive!" Sora observes.
"Big sis Yuya is dueling like she always does!" Tatsuya says.
"And it gives me the shivers!" Futoshi adds.
"But even with those power-ups, Silver Claw's Attack points will only reach 3300... It isn't enough for Big Benkei's 3500 Defense points!" Yuzu points out worried.
"Battle Phase!" Yuya declares as she leaps off her monster and its power increases.
Entermate Silver Claw (LV.4) (P.S.5) (1800 - 3300ATK/700DEF)
"Silver Claw, attack Big Benkei!" Yuya calls as her monster jumps toward its target.
"At this moment, Silver Claw's effect activates! All Entermate's I control gain 300 Attack points until the end of the Battle Phase!" Yuya explains as her monster powers up again.
Entermate Silver Claw (LV.4) (P.S.5) (3300 - 3600ATK/700DEF)
"It's higher than Big Benkei now!" Tatsuya says.
"Now she can win!" Ayu cheers.
"Shivers abound!" Futoshi says.
"By sending Superheavy Samurai Soul Fire Armor from my hand to the Graveyard, I activate its effect! It negates Big Benkei's destruction!" Gongenzaka explains as he discards the card and the armor appears and intercepts Silver Claws attack.
"When its destruction is negated by this effect, Big Benkei's Defense points decrease by 800!" Gongenzaka explains as his monster weakens.
Superheavy Samurai Big Benkei (LV.8) (1000ATK/3500 - 2700DEF)
"Silver Claw's as well as my two Action Card's effects wear off at the end of the Battle Phase, returning his Attack points to normal." Yuya explains as her monster returns to her side.
Entermate Silver Claw (LV.4) (P.S.5) (3600 - 1800ATK/700DEF)
"I can't fight this match with half-hearted feelings... I set one card... and end my turn!" Yuya mutters to herself as her facedown materializes.
"Attacking Yuya, Defending Gongenzaka. The opening act went as expected." Nico says.
"Indeed." Mr. Gongenzaka agrees.
"No matter how the opponent may move around, one must always hold a steadfast stance. This is the fundamental fighting style of our Gongenzaka Dojo!" Mr. Gongenzaka explains.
"Well done Noboru! As expected of the successor of my dojo! Pierce through the Junior Youth Championship with your Steadfast Dueling!" Mr. Gongenzaka encourages his son.
"You're getting ahead of yourself father. The match has only just begun, and I haven't exerted my full strength yet!" Gongenzaka exclaims.
"Gongenzaka..." Yuya says getting a bad feeling.
"Here we go! My turn!" Gongenzaka says as he draws.
Turn: 3
Yuya: 4000 LP
Hand: 4
Gongenzaka: 4000 LP
Hand: 4
"It's here!" Gongenzaka says as he sees the card he drew.
"I, the man Gongenzaka, have cast off my shell and steeled my heart in order to defeat my friend!" Gongenzaka declares.
"Watch this Father! This is the new Steadfast Dueling I aspire to create! I summon the Level 2 Tuner Monster Superheavy Samurai Horagai!" Gongenzaka says shocking everyone.
Superheavy Samurai Horagai (LV.2) (300ATK/600DEF)
"A Tuner Monster?" Yuzu says in disbelieve.
"Is little-Gon really going to-!?" Sora says shocked.
"Do a Synchro Summon?" Shuzo finishes for Sora equally shocked.
"No way!" Ayu, Tatsuya and Futoshi say in disbelieve.
"I tune Level 8 Superheavy Samurai Big Benkei with my Level 2 Superheavy Samurai Horagai! 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 Koujin Susano-O!" Gongenzaka chants as his Synchro monster appears.
Superheavy Koujin Susano-O (LV.10) (2400ATK/3800DEF)
"Gongenzaka... Synchro Summoned?" Yuya observes in shock.
"Its resolve and willpower are astounding. A monster truly fitting of your way of dueling Gongenzaka." Yuya thinks as she looks at her friends Synchro monster, sweat dropping.
"My goodness!" Nico says surprised.
"He really... did it..." Yuzu and Sora say in disbelieve.
"Was the reason he went out of his way to pick this field for this?" Shuzo wonders, while Yoko gets worried about Yuya.
"Yuya..." Yuzu thinks as she gets worried.
"Here I come Yuya! The serious match has finally begun! Prepare yourself!" Gongenzaka tells her.
"That's enough! My son Noboru has lost this match!" Mr. Gongenzaka declares shocking everyone.
"Steadfast dueling means that having an immovable spirit is crucial. From the moment you stole techniques from another school in order to win... you have lost this duel!" Mr. Gongenzaka explains.
"I did not steal them, I requested instructions!" Gongenzaka says shocking his father.
"Instructions...? You don't mean...!" Yuya says realizing who taught her friend.
"Of course, Yaiba Todo." Gongenzaka confirms.
"From LDS?! From an opponent who caused you to suffer so much?!" Yuya asks unable to believe it.
"If there is a need to learn, I will graciously request instructions even from my enemies! It's only normal." Gongenzaka exclaims.
"I didn't learn Synchro Summoning just to win, but to bring forth a new horizon to Steadfast Dueling!" Gongenzaka declares.
"In order to bring forth a new Steadfast Dueling...?" his father questions.
"Dueling evolves every day! It is a necessity for even the stationary Steadfast Dueling in order to not get left behind along with an era! Save your judgments on my decision until after you witness this match!" Gongenzaka declares before returning his attention to Yuya.
"Superheavy Koujin Susano-O can attack while it is in Defense Mode using its Defense points as its Attack points!" Gongenzaka explains as his monster readies its naiganta and Yuya runs off.
"Battle Phase! Go, Susano-O! Attack Entermate Silver Claw!" Gongenzaka orders as Yuya jumps onto her monster.
"Kusanagi Sword Slash!" Gongenzaka says as his monster swings its weapon and Yuya picks up an action card.
"Action Magic, Evasion! It negates your attack!" Yuya exclaims as she activates the card.
"I won't let you! Once per turn when Superheavy Koujin Susano-O is in Defense Mode while I have no Magic or Trap Cards in my Graveyard, I can pay 500 life points to activate a Magic Card from my opponents Graveyard! The Magic Card I choose to activate is the Action Magic, Over Sword!" Gongenzaka explains as his monsters attack intensifies.
Gongenzaka: 4000 - 3500 LP
Superheavy Koujin Susano-O (LV.10) (2400 -2900ATK/3800DEF)
"It can use Magic Cards in Yuya's Graveyard...?" Yuzu questions surprised.
"But it doesn't matter how much he raises its Attack points if he's attacking with its Defense points!" Tatsuya exclaims confused.
"No... Over Sword has another effect. And that is..." Sora points out
"The monster affected by this card cannot have its attack negated!" Gongenzaka explains, shocking Yuya before the Attack hits, blasting her off her monster and destroying it.
Yuya: 4000 - 2000 LP
"I end my turn with that." Gongenzaka says.
Superheavy Koujin Susano-O (LV.10) (2900 - 2400ATK/3800DEF)
"Bravo! Using the knowledge of Synchro Monsters and Action Cards in a beautiful collaboration!" Nico says, impressed.
"Wouldn't you say it's truly the birth of a new Steadfast Dueling?" Nico asks Mr. Gongenzaka, who remains silent.
"Amazing... I'm shocked... That you've mastered Synchro this much..." Yuya tells Gongenzaka as she gets up.
"Now that you've shown me this much, I can't afford to lose! My turn, Draw!" Yuya says as she draws.
Turn: 4
Yuya: 2000 LP
Hand: 5
Gongenzaka: 3500 LP
Hand: 3
Seeing the card is Stargazer Magician she remembers Rune-Eyes Pendulum Dragon, but is frustrated that she can't summon him.
"Yuya..." Yuzu thinks worried as she looks at her Fusion card.
"There isn't a Fusion Card in my Deck anymore, but... I've decided. I will use the experience to push myself to find what truly lies beyond Pendulum Summoning with my own strength!" Yuya thinks as she looks at her hand.
"Using Scale 2 Entermate Rakudown and Scale 6 Entermate Lizardraw, I set the Pendulum Scale! With this I'm able to simultaneously summon multiple monsters from Level Three to Five!" Yuya says as her monsters appear in the scales.
Entermate Rakudown (P.S.2) - Entermate Lizardraw (P.S.6)
"Swing Pendulum of the Soul! Draw an arc of light across the ether! Pendulum Summon! Appear my monsters! From my hand, Stargazer Magician! And from my Extra Deck, Entermate Silver Claw!" Yuya chants as her monsters appear in Defense Mode.
Stargazer Magician (LV.5) (P.S.1) (1200ATK/2400DEF)
Entermate Silver Claw (LV.4) (P.S.5) (1800ATK/700DEF)
"There it is Pendulum Summon!" Shuzo cheers excited.
"Shivers!" Futoshi says as he wiggles around.
"But Stargazer and Silver Claw are both in Defense Mode..." Tatsuya points out.
"Why?" Ayu wonders.
"The Defense points of little-Gon's Susano-O are 3800. Yuya doesn't have a monster powerful enough to challenge that.." Sora says.
"That's why she's making a wall with monsters in Defense Mode." Yuzu understands.
"So it would seem." Sora says.
"But she can't win with just that." Yoko exclaims.
"I need to find a way to defeat him..." Yuya thinks.
"I set one card and end my turn!" Yuya says as her facedown materializes.
"In the end she only tightened up her guard." Futoshi says.
"Just as I thought... Yuya should have held onto this..." Yuzu thinks as she looks at her Fusion card.
"Yuya! Even if you built your defense, you have no time left! My turn, Draw!" Gongenzaka declares as he draws with such force that Yuya is almost blown away.
Turn: 5
Yuya: 2000 LP
Hand: 1
Gongenzaka: 3500 LP
Hand: 4
"I summon Superheavy Samurai Soul Iwatooshi from my hand!" Gongenzaka says as the crossbow monster appears.
Superheavy Samurai Soul Iwatooshi (LV.4) (1200ATK/0DEF)
"And equip it to Superheavy Koujin Susano-O!" Gongenzaka declares as Iwatooshi becomes a part of Susano-O's arm.
"With Iwatooshi equipped, Susano-O deals piercing battle damage!" Gongenzaka explains shocking Yuya.
"Battle Phase! Sosano-O! Attack Silver Claw!" Gongenzaka orders as his monster mechanically draws back the bowstring.
"Silver Claw's Defense points are 700! If she takes an attack from Susano-O's 3800...! She'll take the difference of 3100 points as damage and...! Big sis Yuya, with only 2000 life points will...!" Tatsuya, Futoshi and Ayu exclaim panicked.
"Iwatooshi, Fire!" Gongenzaka orders as his monster fires an arrow.
"I activate the Trap, Half Unbreak! It prevents a monster's destruction through battle and halves the battle damage from that battle!" Yuya exclaims as her monster survives and the blasts impact is reduced.
Yuya: 2000 - 450 LP
After taking damage Yuya drops onto a knee panting.
"I now end my turn!" Gongenzaka says.
"She somehow managed to scrape by this time." Shuzo says.
"Big sis Yuya only has 450 life points left." Tatsuya exclaims.
"And she only has one card in her hand. Whatever she draws next will decide the match." Sora says.
"Yuya..." Yuzu thinks worried.
"You really are strong Gongenzaka." Yuya says with a smile as she gets up.
"Are you admitting your defeat? Do you plan to surrender now?" Gongenzaka asks.
"No, if I was going to lose, I'd let you land the finishing blow." Yuya says.
"But, that's only after I've gone all out! My turn!" Yuya says with determination as she draws.
Turn: 6
Yuya: 450 LP
Hand: 2
Gongenzaka: 3500 LP
Hand: 3
"I activate the Magic Card, Odd-Eyes Accel! This turn I can Normal Summon one Odd-Eyes monster without Releasing! I summon Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon!" Yuya explains as she summons her ace.
Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon (LV.7) (P.S.4) (2500ATK/2000DEF)
"There it is! Big sis Yuya's ace monster!" Tatsuya and Ayu cheer.
"But she can't defeat Susano-O's 3800 Defense points with with Odd-Eyes's 2500 Attack points." Sora points out.
"What are you planning to do Yuya?" Yuzu wonders anxious.
"I activate Entermate Lizardraw's Pendulum effect! I can draw one card from my deck, then shuffle this card into my deck." Yuya explains as Lizardraw vanishes from the Pendulum Zone.
"This is the best I can do now! Draw!" Yuya says as she draws.
"This is...!" Yuya says as she looks at the card.
"You guys really came through for me." Yuya thinks with a smile before getting serious again.
"With Scale 4 Entermate Trump Witch I reset the Pendulum Scale!" Yuya says as the little witch appears in the scales.
Entermate Rakudown (P.S.2) - Entermate Trump Witch (P.S.4)
"You're wasting your time! Even if you do that, you have nothing to Pendulum Summon!" Gongenzaka tells her.
"I activate Entermate Trump Witch's Pendulum effect! Once per turn, during my Main or Battle Phase I can use monsters on my Field as materials to perform a Fusion Summon!" Yuya explains as Trump Witch creates a Fusion Portal on the ground.
"What?!" Gongenzaka says shocked.
"Using a Pendulum effect to... Do a Fusion Summon?!" Sora and Yuzu say shocked.
"The monsters I choose to fuse are Stargazer Magician and Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon! Wielder if Mysterious powers, become the bright light in the eyes of the dragon! Fusion Summon! Come forth! Arcane dragon wielder of ancient magic! Rune-Eyes Pendulum Dragon!" Yuya chants as her dragon appears.
Rune-Eyes Pendulum Dragon (LV.8) (3000ATK/2000DEF)
"Yuya has a Fusion Monster?!" Gongenzaka asks shocked.
"Yeah! She did it!" Tatsuya cheers.
"A Fusion Summon without a Fusion Card!" Ayu cheers.
"To many shivers!" Futoshi says as he wiggles around.
"That's Yuya's Fusion monster?!" Shuzo asks shocked.
"Amazing! She's managed to overcome my expectations yet again!" Sora says impressed.
"Yuya..." Yuzu thinks happily with a small blush. Though Yoko sees it and smirks.
Yuya jumps onto Rune-Eyes's back and puts on her goggles.
"Battle Phase! Rune-Eyes Pendulum Dragon, attack Susano-O! I now activate Entermate Rakudown's Pendulum effect! It lowers Susano-O's Defense points by 800 and lets Rune-Eyes deal piercing battle damage!" Yuya explains as her dragon gets ready to attack, while Rakudown spits a rainbow colored bubble at Susano-O, weakening it.
Superheavy Koujin Susano-O (LV.10) (2400ATK/3800 - 3000DEF)
"Attack! Shining Burst!" Yuya says as her dragon unleashes a blast from its ring.
"It's pointless! Even if you lower Susano-O's Defense points to 3000, it won't budge to your 3000 Attack points!" Gongenzaka exclaims.
"I wonder about that!" Yuya muses, confusing Gongenzaka.
"Rune-Eyes Pendulum Dragon can attack a number of times based on the Level of the Spellcaster-type monster used as Fusion Material! With Level 5 Stargazer Magician as its Fusion Material, it can attack three times!" Yuya explains.
"Along with each of those attacks, Susano-O's Defense points decrease by 800 due to Rakudown's effect!" Yuya explains as Rakudown pops another bubble at Susano-O.
Superheavy Koujin Susano-O (LV.10) (2400ATK/3000 - 2200DEF)
"Go! Here's the second attack! Unending Shining Burst!" Yuya calls as her monster attacks again.
"I activate Susano-O's effect, by paying 500 life points I activate the Action Magic, Evasion in your Graveyard! And negate your attack!" Gongenzaka says as Susano-O slices through Rune-Eyes's blast and regains its defense points.
Gongenzaka: 3500 - 3000 LP
Superheavy Koujin Susano-O (LV.10) (2400ATK/2200 - 3000DEF)
"Brilliant tactics! Well done Noboru!" Mr. Gongenzaka compliments his son.
"It's not over yet! Rakudown's effect lowers its Defense points by another 800!" Yuya says as Susano-O is weakened again.
Superheavy Koujin Susano-O (LV.10) (2400ATK/3000 - 2200DEF)
"Time for the third attack! Rune-Eyes! Unending Shining Burst!" Yuya says as her dragon attacks again and destroys Susano-O.
Gongenzaka: 3000 - 2200 LP
"Alright!" Ayu cheers.
"She finally... took out Susano-O!" Tatsuya and Futoshi say.
"This is nothing! I send Superheavy Samurai Soul Makarugaeshi from my hand to the Graveyard a to activate its effect! I Special Summon a monster that was destroyed while in Defense Mode from the Graveyard in Attack Mode." Gongenzaka explains as Susano-O holds on to the discarded monster and is lifted out of the Graveyard.
Superheavy Koujin Susano-O (LV.10) (2400ATK/3800DEF)
"Brilliant tactics again! Nice recovery Noboru!" Mr. Gongenzaka says.
"She just managed to take it out too... Gongenzaka really is a tough opponent." Ayu and Futoshi say.
"Yuya needs to finish it this turn since she only has 450 life points." Sora points out.
"That'll be really difficult though." Shuzo says as he scratches his head.
"I can't just sit around anymore!" Futoshi says, to which Ayu nods.
"Let's get closer to cheer for her!" Tatsuya says.
"But-" Yuzu tries to say.
"It'll be fine." Yoko interrupts and confuses her.
"She's completely focused on her Duel. She's already overcome the wall of being the away team." Yoko explains.
"Aunt Yoko..." Yuzu mutters.
"You truly are a wall Gongenzaka. A huge wall in front of me barring my way. It means I won't be able to beat you without surpassing my own limits!" Yuya admits smiling as she pulls up her goggles.
"I've got no choice but to use that. The card that I had set..." Yuya thinks as she and Rune-Eyes set off.
"Big sis Yuya! Good luck!" Tatsuya, Ayu and Futoshi cheer as they dash into the dojo.
"Yuya's one hope is probably... the Action cards scattered across the field." Sora and Yuzu say as they walk in.
Yuya spots an action card in a dead tree on the other side of a chasm and heads toward it.
"I will surpass my own limits!" Yuya tells herself as she and Rune-Eyes leap over the chasm.
"She jumped!" Yuzu observes shocked.
"Yuya!" Gongenzaka calls in shock.
Yuya jumps off her dragons back toward the action card, leaving everyone in shocking suspense. But in the end she reaches it with the tip of her fingers and lands on the other side, and everyone including her let out a small sigh of relief.
"Yuya... you really...!" Gongenzaka mutters in shock at what just happened.
"I send the Action Magic, Over Sword to the Graveyard, and activate the Trap, Dangerous Draw!" Yuya says as she activates her trap and puts her fingers on the top of her deck.
"With Dangerous Draw's effect, I am able to draw one card, but if the card I draw is a monster... I'll take damage equal to its Attack Points!" Yuya explains.
"Wh-what?!" Gongenzaka asks shocked.
"If a monster with 450 or more Attack Points comes up, then...! Big sis Yuya will lose right then and there!" Sora and Tatsuya say.
"Yuya!" Yuzu calls worried.
"She's gambling on it... On whether she moves on from here or if its game over. All on this draw!" Yoko says with a proud smile as she and Shuzo walk over to them.
"I believe... In myself and my cards!" Yuya thinks as she draws. She then sees the image of a dragons head in her mind and smiles.
"Thank you guys. So be it then." Yuya thinks as she grows more determined.
"I activate the Quick-Play Magic, Big Return! It allows me to reactivate the once per turn effect of a card on my Field! I'll reuse Trump Witch's Pendulum effect!" Yuya explains as Trump Witch shoots suits symbols at Yuya's monsters.
"I choose Entermate Silver Claw and Rune-Eyes Pendulum Dragon to... Fusion Summon!" Yuya says.
"What?!" Gongenzaka asks shocked.
"Another... Fusion?!" Sora and Yuzu exclaim in disbelieve.
"Prideful silver wolf. Become one with the arcane dragon to create a new power! Fusion Summon! Come forth! The ferocious dragon with luminous feral eyes! Beast-Eyes Pendulum Dragon!" Yuya cants as her new dragon appears with a threatening roar.
Beast-Eyes Pendulum Dragon (LV.8) (3000ATK/2000DEF)
At the sight of it Gongenzaka backs away a bit, while his father gasps in shock and Nico applauds. Meanwhile Yuya's friends in the stands gasp in shock, with the exception of Yoko who looks proud and Sora who looks at the duel with increasing interest.
Yuya the jumps onto her dragons back as it leaps into the air.
"Beast-Eyes Pendulum Dragon, attack Superheavy Koujin Susano-O! Hell Dive Burst!" Yuya calls as her dragon unleashes a fire blast in the shape of a beastly head.
Gongenzaka: 2200 - 1600 LP
"Furthermore I activate Beast-Eyes Pendulum Dragon-s effect!" Yuya says as her dragon lands on the ground.
"When it destroys an opponents monster in battle, it can inflict damage equal to the Attack points of its Beast-type Fusion Material! Silver Claw has 1800 Attack Points!" Yuya explains.
"This will end it Gongenzaka!" Yuya says as her dragon covers itself in a small layer of flames and blasts them at Gongenzaka causing him to fall on his back.
Gongenzaka: 1600 - 0 LP
Winner: Yuya
The action field and her dragon disappear as Yuya sighs in relief.
"Big sis Yuya!" the children say as they run toward her.
"Y-you guys!" Yuya says not expecting to see them.
"You won!" Tatsuya says.
"It was amazing!" Ayu cheers as she clings onto her arm.
"It gave me shivers!" Futoshi says.
"Don't tell me you were watching?" Yuya asks.
"Nico told us we couldn't cheer you on in person, so... We were watching secretly!" Ayu and Tatsuya explain.
"If you're aiming to be a pro, then you have to be able to win when you're the away team after all." Yoko says as she walks up to her.
"Mom!" Yuya mutters.
"And you pulled off a splendid victory! You were on fire Yuya! Hot-blooded!" Shuzo says as he rushes over.
"No kidding, even I got a bit excited watching that! I never thought you'd use a Pendulum effect to do a Fusion Summon!" Sora cheerfully admits.
"Yuya! Congratulations!" Yuzu tells her with a faint blush as she walks over to her.
"I see... I didn't notice, but they were all watching over me!" Yuya thinks with a smile before blushing slightly at the thought of Yuzu.
A second later she notices Gongenzaka approach her and regains herself as she looks at him.
"Gongenzaka..." Yuya says.
"Since I won, your entry to the Junior Youth Championship is..." Yuya says feeling a bit guilty.
"Don't worry about it. There is still a week before the tournament. I still have a chance. I'm glad that I was able to push you this far." Gongenzaka says as he holds out his hand and she takes it.
"So moving! This is truly immovable friendship!" Shuzo yells with tears in his eyes.
"Dad! Tone it down!" Yuzu says as she smacks his head with her fan.
"Noboru you fought well! You both are splendid Duelists!" Mr. Gongenzaka exclaims with tears in his eyes.
"Well done Yuya. I knew I had chosen the right Duelist. You have what it takes to become a pro like Yusho Sakaki. You'll become a first rate star, won't you?" Nico thinks as he watches Yuya trying to pull herself out of Gongenzaka's bone crushing hug.
At LDS tower.
"It appears Yuya Sakaki's entry into the Junior Youth Championship has been decided." Nakajima tells Reji.
"I see. That means all of the Duelists I've had my eye on are accounted for." Reji says.
"Yes, sir." Nakajima confirms.
"Also concerning the incident with Masumi Kotsu, Yaiba Todo and Hokuto Shijima..." Nakajima says.
"Have you finished erasing their memories yet?" Reji asks.
"Yes, sir. Their duel that night with Shun Kurosaki, as well as anything concerning him, has been erased." Nakajima confirms.
"Good work. Now the environment for Kurosaki's entry into the tournament is prepared. All that's left is seeing how much power he will display..." Reji says as he taps on a tablet and opens a screen with the image of a cavalier and the title Lancers Selection.
"The same question applies to them as well... From among these few, how many of these Duelists will become lances to fight for our world?" Reji wonders as he swipes between the profiles of duelists and stops at those of Sora and Yuya with narrowed eyes.
A bit later at the Gongenzaka dojo.
After saying their goodbyes Yuya and the others prepare to head home, though before she leaves the gate Yuya is dragged to the side by her mother.
"What's wrong Mom? Do you need something?" Yuya asks confused why she is in her current situation.
"Yuya I thinks it's time to be more honest and embrace your feelings." Yoko tells her.
"Huh?" Yuya exclaims confused.
"Your feelings for Yuzu." Yoko says it, making Yuya blush so red that it almost puts her hair to shame.
"Wh-wh-what do you mean feelings!?! We are just friends!!" Yuya counters.
"Yuya, I'm your mother. Perhaps not by blood, but I raised you and have known you for all the fourteen years of your life. I've known you like her that way for a long time now." Yoko tells her.
"You don't find that off." Yuya asks shyly not hiding it anymore.
"Not at all. You probably picked that up from me. Before I met your father I had relationships with both genders." Yoko admits with a chuckle making Yuya blush again.
"It doesn't matter though. She made it clear that she has no interest in me like that." Yuya says disheartened as her blush fades away.
"Why do you think that?" Yoko asks while raising a brow.
"Back when we first met Sora, he asked if we were a couple. She denied it with so much force and disgust in her voice... it took me a lot not to cry." Yuya says as she painfully remembers that moment.
"I'm sure she was just embarrassed and didn't want to admit her feelings in a situation like that. Besides haven't you seen how much she worries about you, and earlier when you pulled your comeback in that duel she looked at you like you had the entire night sky shining in your eyes." Yoko says making her daughter blush again.
"Even if there is a chance you're right... you could also be wrong. Yuzu is my most precious friend I don't want to ruin that." Yuya says as she looks down.
"I've seen you both grow up and know how important you are to each other. And do you honestly think I would tell you to tell her if I wasn't sure that she felt the same?" Yoko asks making Yuya look up.
"How... How would I tell her?" Yuya asks slowly.
"Simple. Take her out on a date." Yoko says with a smirk.
"A D-Date?! If I ask her out she'll know right away!" Yuya exclaims as her blush intensifies again.
"You don't have to tell her it's a date. Just ask her to spend the day out together, just you two. Have fun and by the end of it tell her what you feel." Yoko says as she puts a hand on Yuya's shoulder.
"Alright. I'll ask her." Yuya says and collects herself before running off to reach Yuzu.
At the foot of the mountain.
"Man that was exciting! Never thought I'd see Yuya Fusion Summon like that not just once but twice!" Sora exclaims still slightly impressed by Yuya's performance.
"In the end it all worked out after all." Yuzu thinks with a relieved smile as she pockets her Fusion card.
"Yuzu!" they hear Yuya say, stopping them in their tracks.
When they turn around they see Yuya coming down the mountain at high speed, trying to catch up with them.
"Hey Yuya, something wrong?" Yuzu asks as Yuya stops in front of her.
"Could we talk alone for a second." Yuya asks.
"Sure, go ahead without us. We'll catch up later." Yuzu tells the others as they turn and walk off.
"So what is it?" Yuzu asks.
"Here goes..." Yuya nervously thinks as she steels herself.
"Well, we both have been really busy these past few days and didn't spend much time together." Yuya says.
"I guess you're right, what about that?" Yuzu asks.
"I was wondering if you wanted to hang out tomorrow. Just the two of us, we haven't done that in a while." Yuya says as she fights down her blush and literally is sweating bullets in her head.
"Just us... get it together she said hang out." Yuzu thinks as she fights down her own blush.
"Sure, why not. We both could use some time off before the championship after all." Yuzu says.
"Great! How does 2 PM tomorrow sound?" Yuya asks hopeful.
"Great! See you tomorrow then!" Yuzu says as she turns around and leaves fast so Yuya won't see her blushing like that.
Once she is out of sight, Yuya sighs and almost falls to her knees.
"Well, the hard part is over at least." Yuya says.
"Who said this was the hard part? The actual date is tomorrow after all." Yoko says as she walks up from behind her, making Yuya sigh again.