After returning to his world, Yumi slowly stepped out from the rift as it quietly sealed behind him. The familiar night air greeted him again, along with the calm silence of the academy grounds.
He let out a long breath before walking over to the tree he had been resting under earlier that day and sitting down beneath it.
For a moment, he simply stayed there.
His right hand rose to cover his face as he leaned back against the trunk, trying to sort through everything that had just happened.
It had been an accident.
He never intended for the duel to end that way, and he certainly never had the intention of taking someone's life.
Yet the result had already happened.
There was no undoing it now.
Lowering his hand slowly, Yumi looked down at his own palms as if trying to find something still lingering there.
"Photon Change…" he murmured quietly.
The moment the words left his mouth, his appearance shifted.
The black shirt and pants he wore gradually turned white, while the red jacket and boots transformed into a glowing magenta color. Purple markings slowly appeared around his left eye as the power of Photon Change manifested on him.
For a brief moment he simply stared at the transformation he obtained by absorbing Kaito's soul.
Then he exhaled again and canceled it.
The glowing markings faded, and his clothes reverted back to their normal colors.
Yumi ran a hand through his hair, pushing it back over his head as he leaned against the tree and stared up at the full moon hanging in the sky.
The quiet night stretched on for a while as he sat there alone, letting the cool air slowly calm his thoughts.
Eventually, after some time had passed, he stood up and made his way back toward the dorm.
When he finally stepped inside.
"Yo, baby bro." Two arms suddenly wrapped around his neck from behind.
"Where've you been the entire day?" Momoyo said as she leaned onto him from behind with her usual carefree grin. "Don't tell me you ran off to slack off while your big sister was doing all the hard work, huh?"
Yumi closed his eyes for a moment before answering.
"It can't be helped," he said calmly. "They're scared of me, so nobody wants to accept my challenge."
As he spoke, he quietly focused inward, overlapping the restless emotions in his chest with Raye's calm presence. The familiar connection helped steady his breathing as he slowly pushed the more troublesome thoughts to the back of his mind.
Momoyo narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Tch… I feel like you're hiding something from me again," she said with a playful tone. "But I just can't prove it."
That was the frustrating part about Yumi.
Among the three siblings, their personalities were strangely balanced.
Momoyo was blunt and honest.
Kazuko was straightforward and a little naive.
And Yumi was a trickster.
If the three of them were placed in a situation where two would tell the truth and one would lie, most people wouldn't be able to figure out who the liar was unless they knew them very well.
Momoyo would always tell the truth, but sometimes the truth coming from her mouth just sounded so unbelievable that many might think it was a lie.
Kazuko can be honest and tell the truth, but to mimic her older brother, she would occasionally tell white lies or half-truths if needed.
Yumi can lie with a straight face, but he could also use the truth to trick others.
Momoyo stared at him for another second before shrugging. "Oh well."
She gave up easily, deciding it was better for him to talk about it on his own terms instead of trying to force the answer out of him.
"If you're not ready to say whatever's on your mind, then you don't have to," she said casually.
Then she reached over and patted his shoulder.
"Just remember you're not alone. As your family, we'll always have your back."
Yumi's lips curved slightly into a small smile.
Even if it didn't completely solve the heaviness still lingering in his chest, hearing her say the word family so casually still helped ease some of the tension in his heart.
But the moment Momoyo saw that expression. "Oi."
She suddenly grabbed both sides of his face.
"What's with that fake smile?" she said as she pinched his cheeks and started pulling them outward. "You trying to mess with me?"
"Cut it out, Momo-nee!" Yumi protested as he grabbed her cheeks in return and pulled them into an exaggerated smile as well.
"Oh ho!?" Momoyo laughed. "You little punk, you've been hiding your physical strength, huh?"
She could clearly feel the force behind his grip.
Her brother might not be trying to hurt her, but the strength he was using definitely wasn't normal. Which only excited her as she pulled harder.
Seeing him having the strength to actually fight back against Momoyo, many were confused.
Yumi Uzushi wasn't known for his physical strength. Raye wasn't shocked, since she knew her Master was using the Shadow Charm Ring's effect to enhance his physical strength. Otherwise, Momoyo could easily bodied him.
Across the room, Zane watched the two siblings bicker like children and quietly took a sip of his water.
Honestly, besides her siblings, no one would ever dare touch Momoyo like that.
Especially after people learned that Momoyo Kawakami was basically a Yakuza heiress.
When Zane first found that out, he had been more than a little shocked; he was even afraid to think that if they broke off on bad terms, no one would find his body.
Then he realized something important. As long as he stayed on good terms with Momoyo, even if their relationship ever went south later…
He probably wouldn't end up tied to a chair and tossed into the bottom of the ocean... Right?
...
The next day, Yumi went out early, wandering around the island until he eventually found one of the Pro Duelists that had been invited to Duel Academy for the event.
The man standing across from him looked confident, clearly not expecting much from a student wearing the Slifer Red uniform.
Their Duel Disks activated as both sides prepared for the duel.
[Pro, LP 4000]
[Yumi, LP 4000]
"I Normal Summon Big Shield Gardna in Defense Position!" the man declared as he placed his card down.
A muscular warrior clad in heavy armor appeared on his field, kneeling behind an enormous shield that looked large enough to cover his entire body.
[Big Shield Gardna, 2600 DEF]
The Pro Duelist then casually placed down several cards from his hand.
"I set four cards face-down. Turn end."
Four cards appeared behind his monster, glowing faintly as they locked into place.
The man crossed his arms with a confident smile, clearly believing his defensive setup would be more than enough to defeat a Slifer Red student.
Yumi simply looked at the field without any change in expression.
He slowly raised his Duel Disk, placing his fingers on top of his deck.
"Draw."
He pulled the card smoothly before glancing down at it.
"I Normal Summon Elemental HERO Bubbleman."
The card slid into his Duel Disk and immediately activated.
A cheerful blue armored hero rose from a burst of bubbles, his cape fluttering slightly as he struck a confident pose.
[Elemental HERO Bubbleman, 800 ATK]
"Bubbleman's effect activates. When he is summoned while I control no other cards on my field, I draw two cards."
Two cards slid off the top of his deck.
Yumi glanced down briefly, seeing Avian and Burstinatrix.
Without hesitation, he continued. "Spell Card, Double Fusion. By paying 500 Life Points, I can perform a double fusion."
[Yumi, LP 4000 -> 3500]
"I fuse Elemental HERO Ocean from my hand and Bubbleman on my field."
A vortex of swirling energy opened as a blue figure holding a staff appeared beside Bubbleman. The two heroes nodded before leaping together into the fusion vortex.
"Fusion Summon! Elemental HERO Absolute Zero!"
The vortex exploded outward as a new warrior stepped onto the field.
He wore snow-white armor, and the air around him instantly dropped to freezing temperatures. Frost began forming across the ground as cold wind whipped around his flowing white cape.
[Elemental HERO Absolute Zero, 2500 ATK]
Yumi continued without pausing.
"Now I fuse Avian and Burstinatrix from my hand."
The two classic HEROes appeared briefly before flying together into another vortex.
"Fusion Summon! Elemental HERO Burst Wingman!"
A green-skinned warrior stepped forward as blazing wings of fire erupted behind him, spreading wide across the battlefield.
[Elemental HERO Burst Wingman, 2100 ATK]
The Pro Duelist let out a small whistle.
"Impressive," he admitted. "I didn't expect a Slifer Red to possess a rare card like that."
His eyes briefly lingered on Absolute Zero, after all, this is one of the signature monsters of the second-generation Duel King, before he suddenly disappeared.
Even so, he didn't seem particularly worried. His field still contained Big Shield Gardna along with four face-down cards, and he was confident his defenses would hold.
Yumi didn't respond to the comment. Instead, he simply placed another card into his Duel Disk.
"Quick-Play Spell, Mask Change."
"Mask Change?" the man repeated, clearly confused. "I've never heard of that card before."
"I send one HERO monster on my field to the graveyard," Yumi explained calmly, "and Special Summon a Masked HERO from my Extra Deck with the same Attribute."
Absolute Zero suddenly began glowing with bright energy.
"Henshin! Masked HERO Acid!"
The light shattered apart, revealing a masked warrior clad in blue armor. The hero held a sleek gun-like weapon in one hand as he landed on the field.
[Masked HERO Acid, 2600 ATK]
"I activate the effects of Absolute Zero and Acid."
The moment Absolute Zero left the field, the freezing energy around him erupted outward.
At the same time, Acid raised his weapon and fired several glowing blue shots high into the air.
"Acid Rain! Freezing At Moment!"
The water bullets burst apart above the field before raining down like a storm.
The Pro Duelist's four face-down cards were instantly torn apart as the rain struck them, while Big Shield Gardna was completely encased in thick ice before shattering into fragments.
In just seconds, the entire field had been wiped clean.
The man's confident smile disappeared as his jaw practically dropped. "...What?"
Yumi didn't even bother looking at his reaction. He calmly placed another card into his Duel Disk.
"Spell Card, Gift of the Martyr. I send Acid to the graveyard, and its original attack is transferred to Burst Wingman."
Masked HERO Acid dissolved into golden particles that flew across the field and merged into Burst Wingman's body.
The flames on the hero's wings burned brighter as the power transferred.
[Elemental HERO Burst Wingman, 2100 -> 4700 ATK]
"Battle." Yumi raised his hand slightly. "Burst Wingman, direct attack."
The fire-winged warrior launched forward across the battlefield.
The Pro Duelist could only stare as the flame hero rapidly closed the distance.
"Burst Impact!"
The flaming strike landed directly on him, sending him tumbling backward onto the ground.
[Pro, LP 4000 -> 0]
The duel ended immediately.
Yumi lowered his Duel Disk without saying anything.
He walked forward calmly, picked up the man's duel badge that had fallen beside him, and turned around before leaving the area just as quietly as he had arrived.
...
At that same moment, events were unfolding all across Duel Academy Island.
On one of the rooftops of the main school building, Alexis stood across from Jaden. The wind swept across the rooftop, tugging lightly at their clothes as the two stared at each other from opposite ends.
Alexis's eyes were cold as they locked onto him.
"It seems I really should have taken you out when I had the chance," she murmured.
During their date, she had more than one opportunity where it would have been easy to end his life. The thought had crossed her mind several times.
Yet every time it did, something in her mind rejected it almost immediately, pushing the thought aside before it could settle.
Jaden scratched the back of his head before lifting his Duel Disk.
"Well, I won't hold back on you," he said casually.
Whatever darker intention Alexis had just mentioned flew straight past him.
Alexis didn't react much. She simply raised her own Duel Disk.
"So do I."
The two Duel Disks activated at the same time.
...
In front of the Ra Yellow dormitory, another confrontation had already begun.
Tyranno Hassleberry stood firmly with his Duel Disk raised, staring across at Syrus.
"Tch! You talk so big about being Jaden-aniki's little brother," Tyranno said as he cracked his knuckles, "yet you can't even stand beside him."
He couldn't resist rubbing salt in the wound.
The difference between them was clear. Tyranno was only pretending to be brainwashed. Syrus, however, had actually fallen under the Society of Light's control.
"Shut it!" Syrus shouted angrily as he raised his Duel Disk.
...
Near the front gate of the academy, another duel was about to begin.
Chazz stood facing Shark.
After Jaden had helped break Chazz free from the Society of Light's control, he had immediately gone looking for other members who were still brainwashed.
Unfortunately, Shark had already fallen under their influence after losing his duel against Rio.
The two stood across from each other silently, Duel Disks ready.
...
Along the cliffs not far from the Slifer Red dorm, the sound of waves crashing against the rocks echoed through the air.
Celina stood facing the open ocean, her hair swaying gently in the sea breeze.
After a moment, she turned around.
Rio stood several meters away from her.
"You really came," Celina said calmly as she looked at Rio's expression.
What she saw in Rio's eyes was empty resolve.
"Why aren't you dead?" Rio asked coldly, her fists tightening slightly at her sides.
Celina shrugged lightly. "It was thanks to that idiot."
Rio's eyes widened slightly at the answer.
"I see…" she murmured. "No wonder you survived. If it was him… then that makes sense."
Her gaze sharpened.
Celina took a breath before speaking again.
"I made my decision." Her voice was clear. "I can't give him to you."
Rio clicked her tongue in annoyance.
"And what makes you think I'd allow that?" she snapped as she raised her Duel Disk.
Celina nodded slightly. "I figured you'd say that."
She raised her Duel Disk as well.
...
Meanwhile, near the academy docks, the three Hiiragi sisters had just arrived.
The moment they saw their older brother standing there, their expressions froze.
He was wearing the white uniform of the Society of Light.
Sometime ago, they had asked Celina what was happening, and she had told them the truth. She didn't want them walking around without knowing what kind of danger they might run into.
So when they saw their brother like this, their hearts sank.
But Declan wasn't even looking at them.
His gaze was locked onto someone else.
Momoyo stood several meters away from him, her jacket fluttering lightly behind her.
Declan still carried a grudge toward her.
Ever since they first met, Momoyo had repeatedly beaten him in martial arts… and even in duels.
Unfortunately for him, Momoyo didn't remember him at all.
As far as she was concerned, the situation was simple.
Society of Light uniform. Which meant he probably needed a beating.
Momoyo smiled confidently as she cracked her knuckles.
...
Near the mouth of the island's volcano, the air shimmered with heat.
Zane stood quietly with a somewhat helpless look on his face.
"You always did have a soft spot for your little sister," he said.
Across from him stood Atticus, his white coat moving gently in the hot wind.
After a moment, Zane's relaxed expression disappeared. His eyes sharpened.
...
Out at sea, aboard Aster's personal ship, another long-awaited confrontation had begun.
Aster stood on the deck facing his uncle.
The man who had revealed himself as the one responsible for murdering his father. And the one who had stolen the ultimate D card.
The tension between them hung heavily in the air.
...
And finally…
Back at the Society of Light dormitory.
Yumi walked calmly toward the building.
The large doors stood open, as if someone had been expecting him.
Inside, Sartorius slowly turns back to face Yumi, his expression sharpening into this twisted smile as ominous white light glows around his body.
"So you finally came, Darkness." He said, lifting his Duel Disk.
Dark, ominous mists spread out from Yumi as he raised his Duel Disk. "Let's settle this."
"DUEL!!"