The metallic click of the apartment door lock echoed softly as Shin stepped inside, shoulders heavy and hood still pulled low. His duel disk hung at his side like a weapon fresh from battle. The glow of his HUD flickered faintly across his face as he shut the door behind him.
"...Hey." His voice was casual, almost hollow, as his eyes fell on Rex lounging on the couch.
But Rex didn't return the greeting. Didn't even look away from the muted holo-screen playing in front of him.
Instead, he scoffed. Loud. Sharp. And then his gaze slid toward Shin, eyes cold.
"Don't 'hey' me."
Shin froze mid-step, blinking. "...What?"
Rex pushed himself off the couch slowly, towering a bit as he approached. His fists clenched and unclenched at his sides, every step deliberate.
"You've been doing them, haven't you?" His voice was low, but thick with heat. "Contract Duels. That's how you ranked up so fast."
Shin's jaw tightened. He looked away, trying to brush past him without answering. "...Move, Rex."
But Rex didn't budge. He shifted just enough to block Shin's path, chest squaring against him.
"Answer me." His voice was louder now. "Tell me I'm wrong."
Shin's eyes met his for the first time—and in that moment, Rex knew the truth. Shin's stare wasn't guilty. It wasn't scared. It was... burning.
"I have," Shin said flatly.
Rex blinked, stunned for a half-second before his voice rose, louder than either of them intended.
"Are you out of your damn mind?!"
The sharpness of his tone cut through the air like broken glass. Shin didn't flinch. He just stood there, silent, his breath steady.
Footsteps padded down the hall.
"What's going on?" Naomi's voice came first, groggy and tight as she rubbed her eyes. Juno followed close behind, slipping her hoodie on, face tense.
"Nothing," Shin muttered quickly.
But Rex didn't let it go. He spun toward them, voice raw with anger. "Nothing? No, Naomi, Shin's been out there risking his neck in Contract Duels."
Naomi froze mid-step, her blood running cold. "...What?"
"You heard me!" Rex barked. "He's out there chasing scraps in the underground. For what, huh?! You wanna end up like Shiyu?!"
The name hit like a sledgehammer. Naomi's breath hitched—eyes widening, then narrowing sharply as she turned to Shin.
"...Tell me he's lying." Her voice cracked like porcelain under pressure.
Shin didn't answer. Not immediately. He just stared at the floor, shadows stretching under the dim light.
Finally, he spoke—soft, but cutting. "He's not."
Naomi's chest tightened. "Why?" she asked, her voice trembling now. "Why would you even—"
"To avenge him." Shin's words came like a blade, swift and merciless. He lifted his gaze, and the fire in his eyes burned hotter than any lie. "To find the bastard who destroyed Shiyu and make him pay."
The silence that followed was suffocating. Naomi stared at him—her little brother, her family—and for the first time, he felt like a stranger.
"Listen to yourself," she whispered, voice cracking. "Do you hear what you sound like?"
"I know exactly what I sound like," Shin shot back, his tone iron.
"No, you don't!" Naomi's voice spiked, raw with grief and rage. She stepped closer, tears threatening to well up. "You think this is what Shiyu would've wanted? For you to throw your life away in the same pit that killed him?!"
"He didn't die in a pit," Shin snapped. "He died because someone cheated him out of his future. And if the system won't do a damn thing, then I will."
Naomi's fists clenched so hard her knuckles went white. She shook her head, biting back a sob. "You're grieving, Shin. I get that. But this—" Her voice cracked, her hand gesturing wildly toward his duel disk. "This is not the way."
Rex stepped in then, voice firm but not as sharp as before. "She's right, man. You need to stop this now. Contract Duels aren't just risky—they're a death sentence if you tick off the wrong guy."
Shin didn't answer. His jaw was locked, his body coiled like a spring.
Naomi's voice softened, but it broke in the middle. "Please, Shin… Don't do this. I can't lose you too."
For a second—just a second—his resolve faltered. His breath hitched. But then the fire surged again, hotter than doubt.
"I'm not stopping," Shin said, voice low and final.
The weight of those words dropped like a hammer in the room. Naomi's face crumbled, tears finally spilling as she turned away. Rex stared at Shin like he didn't even recognize him anymore.
Juno said nothing—she just looked at him, silent and cold, before retreating back to her room without a word.
Shin didn't move for a long time. The quiet that followed was louder than any argument.
----
The soft hum of the HUD alarm faded as Shin dragged himself out of bed. His head felt heavy, the weight of last night's argument still pressing down like iron shackles. He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling slowly, before slipping on his uniform jacket.
The apartment was quiet—too quiet—as he stepped into the hallway and toward the kitchen. The smell of toast and eggs lingered faintly, but the sound of voices pulled him in closer.
Naomi sat at the counter, a coffee mug between her hands. Rex leaned against the wall, arms crossed, talking low.
"—you got this today," Naomi said, trying to sound encouraging. "Win your prelims. Just focus."
"Yeah." Rex's tone was short, clipped, but there was steel in it. "Don't worry. I will."
Shin stepped in then, forcing his voice into something that sounded normal. "Morning."
Neither of them looked at him. Not a glance. Naomi kept staring into her coffee, lips pressed tight. Rex just picked up his bag, strapping it across his back without a word.
Shin's throat tightened. He tried again, softer. "...Good luck today."
Still nothing.
Rex turned, brushed past him like he wasn't even there, and left the apartment with a sharp click of the door.
Shin stood there for a moment—silent, staring at the empty space Rex left behind. Naomi didn't say anything either. She just got up, rinsed her cup, and walked down the hall without a sound.
The silence that followed was deafening.
---
The school was buzzing with energy. Duelists everywhere were pulling up their HUD brackets, discussing match conditions, and checking their decks. The tournament had swallowed the entire campus.
Aurora spotted Rex near the fountain, tightening the straps on his duel disk as he checked the time.
"Hey!" She jogged over, smiling. "Where's Shin? I thought he'd be hyped for this."
Rex didn't even look at her when he answered. His voice was flat. "...Don't know. Don't care."
Aurora blinked, thrown. "What? What do you mean?"
He finally looked at her then—eyes sharp, colder than usual. "He's been out doing Contract Duels. Risking his life in the underground for... revenge."
Aurora froze, eyes widening. "...Revenge? For what?"
"For Shiyu." Rex's voice dipped lower, heavy with frustration. "He's convinced he's gonna take down the guy who destroyed his brother. Won't listen to me. Won't listen to Naomi. He's gone full... I dunno, lone wolf."
Aurora's heart twisted. "And you're just... gonna let him?"
Rex turned to her, glare hard. "What do you want me to do, Aurora? He made his choice. If he wants to drown himself in that mess, I can't stop him."
"But—" she started, voice trembling, "—you two are basically brothers."
He looked away for a long moment. His jaw clenched. Then he exhaled through his nose, forcing a smirk that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"If he wants to put himself in danger and doesn't want to listen, what can I do?" Rex muttered. Then, as if trying to shake it off, he equipped his duel disk in one smooth motion, the metallic click echoing sharp in the air. His fingers slid his deck into the slot with practiced precision.
"Besides," he said, flashing a grin now—one that carried more weight than confidence—"I got a tournament to worry about. Someone's gotta get the fam out the Eastside."
Aurora stared at him, searching for any sign he didn't mean it. But Rex just adjusted his duel disk, eyes locked on the arena gates in the distance.
Behind the wall, just around the corner, someone else had been listening.
Tessa.
Her arms were folded, her expression unreadable as she leaned against the cold concrete. Her sharp eyes softened for a split second at the name that slipped between their words.
"...Shin," she whispered, almost to herself.
Her gaze drifted toward the courtyard—toward the space where he should've been—but wasn't.