A man assaults a woman. A young boy shoves the man away. Red and blue sirens flare. Cold handcuffs bite into the boy's wrists. Labeled a criminal.
And then, darkness.
Yumi's eyes snapped open. His cold golden irises stared blankly at the wooden frame of the bunk above him. A single tear slid down the corner of his eye before his hand came up, brushing it away.
"He is dead... He isn't me... I'm not him." The words left his lips in a hoarse murmur, half a mantra, half a plea. His palm pressed against his face, trying to steady the uneven rhythm of his breathing.
His tired gaze shifted toward the clock on the desk, seeing how he had already missed multiple classes, but he didn't care at this point. The bitter taste from last night clung to him, sharp and suffocating. Even if it was all a mistake, the accusation gnawed at him like poison.
He has tried to help, to do the right thing again, and he was labeled a criminal once more.
Yumi shifted his gaze toward his deck, seeing his cards. Sky Striker, HERO, Exosister, etc, most of his cards, even if not saying it directly, reflect his desire to be good and do the right thing.
But trying to act out on the good and righteous has nearly got him labeled a criminal once more.
Yumi clenched his teeth in frustration, his eyes flashed crimson before turning back to their cold golden glow, then he lay back down on his bed before closing his eyes.
...
Meanwhile, back on campus.
"So Dimitri still hasn't woken up? Guess that loss hit him harder than any of us thought," Celina murmured, arms crossed.
"How's AIBO doing? He seems… off." Jaden asked, concern edging into his normally carefree tone.
"I don't know. That's the first time I've ever seen him that angry." Celina looked down, her voice softer. "I mean, I saw him use Berserker Soul and kept drawing cards even after he'd already won, but never with that much fury."
"He got angry?" Alexis asked, brows raised. The idea seemed foreign to her. "Yumi Uzushi... The guy who's always calm or just messing around. What did Dimitri even do?"
"That's the thing, we don't know exactly," Celina admitted. "One minute he was dueling with that usual grin, the next… his smile dropped, and it was like he became a completely different person."
"Have you asked him if he's alright?" Rio asked gently.
"I did. He said he was fine, but clearly, he isn't." Celina sighed, looking half-annoyed, half-worried. "This morning, when I tried dragging him to class, he straight-up lifted me and tossed me out of our room."
The group froze at that.
Normally, in their little circle of first-year friends, Yumi wasn't exactly known for physical strength. If anything, he should've been the weakest of the bunch, well, aside from Syrus and Chumley. Celina was without question the strongest physically. So for Yumi to suddenly throw her like she weighed nothing… that wasn't normal.
Not far away, pressed against the wall with a worried grin, Crowler was busy eavesdropping.
"Maybe we should ask his older sister," Alexis suggested at last. "She'd know something, right?"
The idea was quickly agreed upon, so they headed straight to Zane, asking if he knew where Momoyo was. Zane, of course, raised an eyebrow at the sudden request, wondering if this was some elaborate scheme to lure him toward her. With a sigh, he gave them a list of her usual hangouts and left them to fend for themselves.
That sent the group on a little scavenger hunt around the island, checking the cliff overlooking the sunrise, the gym, the shoreline, the Slifer dorms, Momoyo's room, even Zane's room.
Finally, they found her.
"Yumi is what now?" Momoyo asked, arms crossed, staring at the group that had come looking for her.
"He's been acting strange," Celina explained, quickly walking her through everything that had happened, from the duel, to Yumi's sudden fury, to him tossing her like a ragdoll.
Momoyo listened quietly, her expression hardening with every word. When Celina finished, she let out a long breath. Annoyance flickered across her face, but beneath it was understanding.
Back when Yumi had first been taken into the Kawakami temple, he carried a wound that twisted his view of the world. He'd convinced himself that helping others would only bring harm to himself. It had taken years of help, encouragement, countless moments of trust, before he'd finally begun to open up, to the temple, to others, and now to his friends here.
"I see…" Momoyo said at last, her tone heavy. "It's that accusation. Figures."
She stood, reaching for her Slifer Red jacket lying on the floor.
"Yumi's got history with this kind of thing. I don't know all the details, but from what he told me, he once stepped in to help someone and ended up accused as the attacker. I don't know much about that incident, all I know it deeply affected him."
She slung her jacket over her shoulder, wearing it like a cape. Her eyes sharpened, and a dangerous frown appear on her face.
"Let me handle this. If I failed to get through to him, then..." she cracked her knuckles, the sound sharp as thunder, "I'll personally drag every last one of the idiots responsible for this mess and make them apologize on their knees."
Without another word, she strode past them, her presence radiating like a storm on the horizon.
...
Yumi stood in silence, his feet in the shallow water as the tide lapped gently against them. The setting sun painted the horizon in shades of orange and crimson, his magenta hair swaying softly in the sea breeze.
His golden eyes stared forward, unblinking. He wasn't watching the sunset, he was trapped in the reel of memories from another life, one that refused to fade.
"Yo, my adorable little brother."
A familiar voice broke the silence as Momoyo appeared behind him. She slung an arm around his neck and pulled his head against the side of her chest, the weight of her presence grounding him back into reality.
"Nee-san…" he murmured, his gaze tilting upward toward her for just a moment.
"I thought you grew out of this emo phase already," she teased lightly, her free hand ruffling his hair with exaggerated affection.
Yumi didn't respond. His eyes slid back toward the horizon, expression unreadable.
"You know it was a mistake," her voice softened, shedding its playful edge. "They didn't mean it."
"I know…" he whispered, almost too quietly to hear.
"Then are you mad at them?" she asked, tilting her head.
"I don't…" His words trailed. He knew they were good people, that none of them held malice toward him, but the accusation had pried open a scar he thought had long since healed.
"So why are you angry?"
"I don't know…" he admitted, frustration simmering beneath the uncertainty in his tone.
Momoyo studied him for a moment, her usually sharp gaze softening at the sight of her little brother's downcast expression. Then she sighed and straightened up.
"Alright then," she said, her smile returning, though tinged with warmth this time. "Let's duel. Might help you clear your head. You've always been happiest when you're dueling, right?"
He hesitated, then gave a faint nod.
"Good!" She grinned, jogging a short distance away before raising her arm. Her Duel Disk flared to life with a mechanical hum.
Yumi mirrored the action, sliding his Duel Disk into place. His motions were practiced, precise, but his expression remained cold and lifeless.
Their eyes locked.
"Duel!" x2
[Yumi, LP 4000]
[Momoyo, LP 4000]
"I'll go first! Draw!" Momoyo declared, sliding her finger across the top of her deck in a clean motion. The card snapped into her hand, and without hesitation, she placed one into her Duel Disk.
"Continuous Spell, Spell Absorption! Each time a Spell is activated, I gain 500 Life Points."
"And next, Spell Card, One Day of Peace!" She slapped down the card, her voice ringing against the crashing waves. "Both players draw one card, and until my next turn, neither of us can take damage!"
The hologram of the card flared brightly before vanishing. She and Yumi each drew a card.
[Momoyo, LP 4000 -> 4500]
"But I'm not done yet." She slid another card forward, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Continuous Spell, Soul Absorption! Whenever a card is banished, I gain 500 Life Points."
[Momoyo, LP 4500 -> 5000]
She gave her brother a small grin, equal parts playful and serious. "You better come at me strong, or I'll just keep stacking my life points higher and higher."
With a flick of her wrist, three cards materialized facedown behind her. "I set three cards, and end my turn."
"Draw."
Yumi's voice was calm, almost detached, as he drew his card. Without sparing it a glance, he slid it into his Duel Disk.
"Normal Summon Raye."
Blue data swirled together, coalescing into the slender figure of a girl with flowing pale blonde hair and a futuristic katana at her hand.
[Sky Striker Ace - Raye, 1500 ATK]
"Since a Sky Striker Ace monster was summoned… I Special Summon Roze from my hand."
Another surge of light gathered, forming into the figure of a silver-haired girl. Her twin-tails swayed as she brandished her saber, stepping beside Raye.
[Sky Striker Ace - Roze, 1500 ATK]
"I set one card face down." A glowing card appeared behind them, silent and waiting.
Yumi's expression didn't waver as he revealed another card. "Quickplay spell, Mischief of the Time Goddess. I skip directly to my next Battle Phase."
[Momoyo, LP 5000 -> 5500]
The world around them warped, bending and twisting as time lurched forward in an instant, slipping past the safety net of One Day of Peace.
"Battle. Raye, Roze, direct attack."
The two girls leapt forward, blades gleaming.
But Momoyo only smirked, slamming her hand down. "You're too naive, little brother! Trap card, Blazing Mirror Force!"
A blazing wall erupted, flames surging to consume his monsters.
"Destroyed all of your attack position monsters and inflicted damage to both players equal to half the combined of all destroyed monsters attack point!"
Yumi countered instantly, his voice sharp. "Quickplay Spell, Sky Striker Mecha - Eagle Booster, until the end of this, Raye can't be affected by other card effects except her own! And the Quickplay spell, Interdimensional Matter Transporter, I banished Roze until the end of this turn!"
Mecha booster wings appeared on Raye's back as she soared above the flames, while Roze was pulled into a dimensional rift, her body vanishing just as the heat wave expanded.
[Momoyo, LP 5500 -> 7000]
"My attack still continues, Raye, player direct attack! Ace Striker!"
Raye dove with her blade, but Momoyo's hand shot up again.
"Trap card, Dimension Wall! When you declare a direct attack, you would be the one taking the damage instead!"
A tear in space bent Raye's path, reappearing in front Yumi, her blade whirling toward him.
"Raye's effect activates!" Yumi's eyes flashed, his hand slicing through the air. "I tribute her to Special Summon another Sky Striker Ace from my Extra Deck!"
Raye's body shone in golden light, breaking apart and reforming into a burning figure a she flew past him.
"Henshin! Sky Striker Ace - Masquerade!"
[Sky Striker Ace - Masquerade, 2300 ATK]
She hover by his side, her deep red and crimson energy wings spread wide.
"Player direct attack! Inferno Striker!"
Masquerade's body ignited in crimson flame, crashing into Momoyo.
[Momoyo, LP 7000 -> 4700]
The flames dissipated, and Yumi's cold voice carried on. "Spell Card, Card of Sanctity, both players draw until they have six cards."
[Momoyo, LP 4700 -> 5200]
The sibling drew until they had six cards in their hand.
Then Yumi's trap snapped open. "Trap card, Trickstar Reincarnation! Banish your hand and redraw the same number of cards. And I chain with Droll & Lock Bird! Since you drawn cards outside your draw phase, I can discard it, neither of us can add cards to our hands for the rest of this turn."
Momoyo only smirked, flipping her final face-down. "Quickplay Spell, Crossout Designator! I declare Droll & Lock Bird. By banishing a copy from my Deck, I can negate yours until the end of this turn."
But Masquerade's aura flared, fiery lines burning across the field.
"While Masquerade is on my field," Yumi reminded coldly, "you must pay 600 LP to activate any cards or card effects."
Momoyo didn't hesitate, sliding the card free. "I'll pay. And banish the bird."
At the same time, both her continuous spells automatically trigger their effects recovering her Life Points.
[Momoyo, LP 5200 -> 5600]
Then the effect of his trap finally went through, causing her to banish the six cards in her hand before drawing six new cards from her deck.
[Momoyo, LP 5600 -> 8600]
Yumi glanced at his cards, his expression icy. He set four down in one smooth motion.
"I'll set four cards face down," The cards slammed into place behind his monsters, glowing ominously.
"I Normal Summon, Elemental HERO Woodsman in defense."
The earthy warrior appeared, kneeling with arms crossed, guarding Yumi's field.
[Elemental HERO Woodsman, 2000 DEF]
"Turn end." His voice was steady.
A rift opened with a low hum, and Roze re-emerged, her twin-tails whipping in the sea breeze as she took her place beside Masquerade.
Momoyo smirked. "Did you forget our conversation that day?"
Under the glow of the full moon, a much younger Yumi sat outside the temple doors with his older sister Momoyo and younger sister Kazuko. The night air was calm, the stars faint against the overwhelming silver light above.
"Nee-san! When I grow older, I'll be just as strong as you!" Kazuko declared with bright, unshakable confidence.
Momoyo chuckled warmly, reaching over to ruffle her little sister's hair. "Good, I'll be waiting for you."
She pulled her hand back, her gaze shifting toward Yumi. "And you? What about you, little brother? What do you wanna be when you grow up?"
Yumi stayed silent for a while, his eyes fixed on the moon as if searching for an answer in its pale glow. Finally, he spoke softly. "...I don't know. Maybe… something like a superhero."
"So cool!" Kazuko beamed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Momoyo couldn't hold it in, she burst into laughter, clutching her stomach as her voice echoed. "A superhero? With your narcissistic, egotistical personality?" She smirked, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. "I'd love to see how that turns out."
Her tone hardened, eyes locking on him. "You always try to help others, even if it's in your own way. Don't forget that, Yumi!" She slid her hand across her deck, drawing with a sharp motion. "My turn! Draw!"
The card snapped into her hand, and without hesitation she slapped another onto her Duel Disk.
"Spell card, Raigeki! Destroy all monsters on your side of the field!"
[Momoyo, LP 8600 -> 8500]
A massive bolt of divine lightning tore down from the sky, ready to scorch everything on Yumi side.
"Trap card, open!" Yumi countered instantly, his voice calm but edged. "Starlight Road!"
One of his face-downs flipped up, releasing a radiant dome of shimmering stardust that swallowed the lightning whole before shattering it apart in a thousand sparks.
"When you activate an effect that would destroy two or more cards I control, negate that effect and destroy it. Then I can Special Summon a Stardust Dragon from my Extra Deck."
The stardust spiraled together, weaving into the slender frame of Raye clad in gleaming white mecha-dragon armor. Her radiant wings unfurled, scattering shimmering fragments of light.
[Sky Striker Ace - Stardust, 1500 ATK]
Even as one of her strongest spells was negated, Momoyo didn't flinch. She only smirked, as though she'd been expecting it all along.
Her slender fingers hovered across her hand, then slammed another card down.
"Spell Card, Dark Ruler No More, negate the effect of all of your face-up monsters, and once this effect resolves, you take no damage until the end of this turn. Both players can't activate card effect in response to this card."
"Even so…" Yumi's cold voice cut through. "Masquerade's continuous effect still triggers."
[Momoyo, LP 8000 -> 7900]
A wave of energy rippled across the field, suppressing the glow of Yumi's monsters.
Momoyo only grinned, her voice sharp with determination as she pointed forward. "Get ready, little brother, because I won't be holding back!"