The spectacular field of constellations vanished, dissolving back into the ordinary backyard of the Youshow School.
"I... I lost?" Hokuto stared at his Duel Disk in absolute disbelief, his winning streak shattering.
"Alright! Way to go, Yuya-niichan!" Futoshi, Ayu, and Tatsuya cheered, jumping up and down.
Shuzo let out a loud sigh of relief, wiping his brow with a giant grin. "My blood is absolutely boiling with joy!"
A confident smile returned to Yuya's face as he gave his friends a solid thumbs-up.
From the sidelines, Himika's expression did not change at all. She gave Hokuto a cold, dismissing glance as he walked back to her side with his head hung low. "For the top of the Xyz course, you have let LDS down," Himika said, her voice completely calm. "But a match is decided by two wins, not one. Who is next?" Her hunger to get her hands on Pendulum summon had gotten more dark.
Before Yuya could step back, Yuzu moved past him directly onto the field, her grip tight on her Duel Disk.
"Wait, Yuzu!" Yuya called out, surprised. "Sora was supposed to go next."
"No, Yuya. Let me do this," Yuzu said, her voice shaking slightly but hardening as she spoke. "I am a student of Youshow too. This accusation involved me, so taking responsibility is up to me."
Sora smiled playfully and took a step back. "Alright, go get 'em, Yuzu!"
A girl from the LDS trio stepped forward with calm elegance. Ryo glanced at her, recognizing her instantly. "Masumi Kotsu, from the Fusion course," he muttered.
"I am Masumi Kotsu. From Fusion course. So you're my opponent?" Masumi said quietly to Yuzu, a sharp edge to her words. "I will show you that true dueling is not a simple game."
Before the duel started, Masumi spoke briefly with Yuzu, saying words that clearly shook Yuzu's confidence, though Yuzu tried to hide it by standing tall. The solid light system activated, generating a solemn, isolated room with towering holographic pillars and bright, multi-colored walls lined with Action Cards.
"DUEL!" Both shouted together.
The match was very short. Yuzu was losing from the start; it was so obvious that even a kid could tell. Because of Masumi's final attack, Yuzu was thrown to the ground. Though it wasn't a strong attack, Yuzu felt it cut directly through her spirit and resolve.
"Yuzu!" Yuya shouted, running out to help her up. Yuzu sat on the ground, staring down in complete frustration and sadness, her shoulders shaking as the sting of defeat set in. "Don't worry about it, Yuzu. You fought incredibly well." Yuya said gently, offering his hand to pull her up.
Ryo had foreseen that Yuzu had no chance to win. He knew her duel style and all her cards, but he also knew how strong Masumi was and how sharp her thinking could be. More than that, Ryo had noticed Yuzu was deeply perplexed since this morning. He knew her mind was completely clouded by a single, haunting thought: that Yuya looked exactly like that mysterious Phantom duelist from the night before.
If a duelist has a clouded mind and a perplexed heart, they cannot duel well, let alone win.
As Yuya helped her back to the sidelines, Ryo looked at Yuzu and asked quietly, "Are you okay?"
"Yes..." Yuzu replied, looking down.
Ryo's expression didn't change. "Your eyes and your mind are fogged by something." He muttered.
She had tried to grab an Action Card, which was reflection on a pillar and actual card was opposite of it. No matter how you look at it, this is too much cloudy.
With the score tied at 1-1, the weight of Youshow's survival fell onto the final match. The atmosphere grew dense. Himika Akaba smiled faintly, her attention turning toward the young man in the hoodie jacket and red glasses. His face was shadowed by his hood as his cold, calculating gaze locked onto the center of the field from the outside.
"The final match will decide everything," Himika announced. "Yaiba Todo, from our LDS Synchro course."
It was supposed to be Sora's duel, but he shrugged, moving his lollipop slightly. "I don't really feel like dueling with that Yaiba guy," Sora said casually, then turned around. "Gongenzaka, why don't you duel instead?"
Gongenzaka was surprised, but the next moment he became wholeheartedly pleased. "This man Gongenzaka accepts this task with honor!" He roared, agreeing without a second thought.
Their duel started immediately. It was an intense battle on the absolute edge, but through stubborn determination, Gongenzaka managed to force a draw. A perfect tie.
Shuzo immediately stepped forward, trying to end the confrontation. "Now that it is a tie, there is no point in pushing this any further. We should call it a day!"
However, Himika raised her voice, cutting through his words. "No! We will have a lightning round. A tie-breaker duel between final two representatives to settle this once and for all."
The courtyard fell dead silent. Shuzo looked ready to argue, but he accepted it, wanting to end this once and for all.
Himika turned her sharp, serpentine gaze toward the back of the Youshow group as if she was waiting for this hard chance to come. "And for this final match, we will choose our, one of LDS's finest and greatest duelist." Himika announced, a serpentine smile touching her lips. "LDS will be represented by Ryo-san."
"What?!" Yuya's voice cracked. A gasp rippled through the Youshow students. Ayu and Futoshi were lost in thought, while Tatsuya froze.
"Are you completely out of your mind?!" Shuzo yelled, immediately stepping forward and pointing an angry finger at Himika. "Ryo is a student of 'our' school! You can't just walk in here and claim our kids as your representative!"
"This man Gongenzaka will not tolerate." Gongenzaka said, stepping up beside Shuzo. "Ryo is a good friend, a dedicated classmate, and an honorable student of Youshow! To call him a representative of LDS is an insult to his character!"
"What are you all talking about?" Himika said, her smile widening. "Ryo-san is LDS's student."
"This is too much now, old lady. You're being totally ridiculous." Sora chimed in, shouting at Himika. "Ryo helped me set my deck just yesterday and bought me a lolipop."
Yeah!" Kids also protected Ryo." He always helps us with our practice and teaches us a lot of things. He's a true Youshow duelist!"
"It's true!" Yuzu added frantically, her eyes darting between Himika and Ryo. "Ryo is always quiet, but he cares about this school. He would never work with someone who wants to tear us down!"
Amidst their fierce defense, Ryo silently stepped forward. He walked past Shuzo and Gongenzaka, and stood right on the edge of the battlefield. Without saying a word, he raised his left arm. With a sharp mechanical click, a normal but high-tech duel disk activated on his wrist. He reached into his pocket, pulled out his deck, and slotted it firmly into the device.
The bright hum of the activation of duel disk froze the protests in Youshow people's throats. The harsh response struck them, as they looked at his calm face.
"Ryo..." Yuya whispered, his voice trembling as he stared at his friend's eyes. "Please... just tell us what you're doing."
Ryo stood perfectly still beneath the weight of their staring eyes. He didn't flinch, nor did he looked guilty. His face was absolutely calm as he finally spoke, his voice completely carefree.
"Are you really asking me such a simple question? Even kids can answer it," Ryo gestured slightly toward Himika. "As the chairwoman chose the representative, I am gonna fight."
Yuya took a step back, his eyes widening. "But... why? We defended you! You are one of us! Our friend!"
"I am no one's. First I will tell. I am not a spy," he said clearly, looking directly at Yuya. "LDS did not send me here to spy on Youshow. I came here on my own accord. I simply wanted to see you, Sakaki Yuya. I wanted to witness the Pendulum Summon with my own eyes. No more no less."
"Then why stand with them?!" Yuya stepped closer. "Why are you doing this? We thought you believed in our dueling! My dad's dueling!"
"I believe in data and facts." Ryo replied coldly, his words cutting through the emotional tension. "I have observed your so called dueling you are so proud of, and you. I have analyzed your actions and matches. And I have come to a final conclusion."
He paused, the stare in his red eyes locking onto Yuya's.
"The Pendulum Summon was nothing more than a universal coincidence. A freak gift from the universe. You did not attain this power through your own skill and form, Yuya. Pendulum is not created by you, you are not its pioneer. You are not the creator or founder of it.
"You do not understand its depth, nor do you know how to wield it properly. Therefore... it is truly not yours and you truly don't understand it.
"It is a perfect example of how universe does a joke. Bestowing such a power on someone like you. Not on lot more capable and far more suitable people. It is such a ridiculous joke netherless, not in the slightest funny, no one will smile on such joke."
"How can you say that?!" Shuzo finally burst out, tears streaming down his face. "Yuya poured his heart into those cards! You have no right to tarnish his bond!"
"Heart does not write facts, Principal of Youshow Duel School. And since we are finally at this point, I am withdrawing my admission. You can keep the full advanced fees I paid. It will be of little help for the renovation your school needs."
Yuya flinched as if he had been struck, the cold finality in Ryo's voice cutting deeper than any threat Himika had made. The time they had shared for weeks which was like playing in rain. It started to felt like it was evaporating into the heavy summer air.
"You can't just do that!" Yuzu burst out, her voice cracking as she took a desperate step forward. "The lunches we shared, the times we sat in classes until sunset... was all of that just nothing to you? You can't just buy your way out of a friendship, Ryo!"
"A mistake... it has to be a misunderstanding. A joke!" Shuzo muttered, his shoulders dropping as he stared blankly at the ground. "He was our student. You don't just erase a bond and talk like that..."
Gongenzaka slammed his foot into the concrete, his voice thick with hurt. "This man Gongenzaka refuses to believe this! We talked together like true man, Ryo! Was all of that real, or was it just a lie?!"
"No way..." Tatsuya whispered. "He always helped us fix our misplays. He was so nice to us..."
"He's lying! He has to be!" Futoshi cried out, stamping his feet in pure frustration, while Ayu hid her face against Yuzu's side.
Even Sora stopped spinning his lollipop, his usual playful smile completely gone. "Man, and here I thought you were just a lone, quite boy, but one of us. Turns out you're just a total buzzkill."
Yuya remained silent... completely silent, his head lowered, as the words from the boy who he thought is his friend echoed through his head.
The students from LDS chuckled, on the scene.
"That is enough lecturing," Himika interrupted, her voice snapping everyone back to reality. "Ryo-san has declared where he belongs. Step forward, your final representative."
Before anyone else could speak, the young man in the hoodie jacket finally walked onto the field from the outside. He reached up with a pale hand and pulled back his hood, revealing his silver, sleek hair and sharp, intellectual face.
"Reiji Akaba!?" Tatsuya froze.
Everyone seemed confused. Tatsuya explained who this person is to Youshow's people.
Reiji Akaba ignored the gasps of the Youshow children. He walked straight up to Ryo, his red glasses reflecting the afternoon sun. Without uttering a single word, Reiji reached into his hoodie's pocket and drew out a small stack of five specific cards. Presenting them to Ryo.
Ryo's eyes widened as he looked at the card art. A brief flash of shock crossed his face, but it vanished instantly as he met Reiji's knowing gaze. He understood his big brother's silent command perfectly.
"Fine." Ryo murmured.
With no further questions, Ryo slotted the five cards directly on top of his deck. His duel disk beeped in response, the mechanical slot whirring as it automatically shuffled the cards. A brilliant, sharp blue outer line flashed along the edge of his duel blade as it snapped into active mode.
He turned to face Yuya, his stare became incredibly hollow. It was completely painless, yet entirely powerless—as if the boy standing there didn't possess a single shred of human emotion left inside his soul.
From the outside of the open backyard, by the green netting, the support structure. Razz leaned over to his friend, his eyes wide with frantic excitement. "Oh my god, Vance, are you seeing this?!" Razz whispered loudly, gesturing wildly. "The trusted friend turning out to be an enemy, getting handed five mysterious cards by the big boss right before the final round? This is like a peak anime moment!"
Vance didn't say a word. He just let out a long, exhausted sigh and rubbed his temples. He turned his head. Focused his gaze and wondered what will happen of this duel.
Ryo completely ignored the murmurs from the Youshow kids. His hollow gaze locked dead onto Yuya's eyes.
"Before we begin, Sakaki Yuya... the banquet hall will be of your choice," Ryo said, pointing his behind of open hand toward Yuya. "The served food will be cooked entirely by you. Now, let's see how much of a feast you can offer me."
Yuya reached up, fiercely pulling his green goggles down over his eyes as a burning determination ignited in his chest. He slapped his hand onto his Duel Disk, bringing it to life.
"I'll make sure you savor every last bit," Yuya shouted back with absolute, unyielding confidence. "And I'm gonna put a smile on that cold face of yours, Ryo!"
Ryo taunted, "You better not burn yourself in your own kitchen."
"Field active: Master Circus." The automated solid light system announced.
The backyard vanished, replaced by a massive, vibrant circus tent that expanded across the entire area. Strands of glowing, multicolored fairy lights draped from a towering center pole, casting a warm, brilliant illumination over the arena. Brightly colored platforms hovered in the air, and giant rings and balls formed on the ground beneath their feet.
"DUEL!" Both roared together.