A few days later, Tenjo Hikari arrived at the island where Fengguang Company was located.
After greeting the company's contact, he hurriedly got into a car and headed to the local hospital.
Upon reaching the hospital, he took a few deep breaths and tried to make himself appear less travel-worn before gently pushing open the door to the hospital room and walking inside.
Dinosaur Lyuzaki's bed was by the window.
At this moment, he had changed out of his jacket, put down his favorite hat, and was wearing hospital clothes.
His face was slightly pale, but it probably wasn't because of an injury; his skin had always been pale.
Right now, he was gazing out of the window, staring at the flower bed, lost in thought, not even noticing Tenjo Hikari's arrival.
This was quite a severe "oversight" for someone who was always keenly aware of their surroundings, like a "duelist".
Tenjo Hikari silently stepped into the room, gently placed the prepared gift on the table, and only then did Dinosaur Lyuzaki react, slightly turning his head, scratching his occiput and speaking irritably, "Brat, why are you here. I told those guys not to bother you, yet here you are."
Tenjo Hikari could see that his right hand wasn't very nimble, clearly injured from the previous duel.
Or perhaps...
Just the opposite.
"An important company duelist is injured, there's no reason not to call me, right, Lyuzaki big brother."
"Tch…" Dinosaur Lyuzaki was still displeased, "Students should be focusing on school, not following my example of being a social reject."
But he understood well.
Replacing an injured representative, preventing others from "kicking someone when they're down," it was a given for Tenjo Hikari to step in as the second-in-command.
Tenjo Hikari pulled a chair over and sat next to Dinosaur Lyuzaki.
"Lyuzaki big brother, what's happened?"
Dinosaur Lyuzaki lowered his stiff right hand, stopped looking at Tenjo Hikari, and gazed out the window again, looking at the flower bed, the butterflies, and…
His eyes were somewhat unfocused.
"It's my affair."
"Lyuzaki big brother, this isn't a personal matter, is it?"
"Brat, I said it's my personal matter, so it's my personal matter!" Dinosaur Lyuzaki angrily slapped the bed and instinctively lifted his right hand, gasping in pain, "So there's no need for you all to meddle."
"But, Lyuzaki big brother, didn't you say it before? Once we join the company, we are family. Now that you're hurt, as the company's second duelist, it's naturally my responsibility!"
"Tch, you always pick up these pretty words."
After Dinosaur Lyuzaki muttered for a while, he fell silent, focusing more intently on the flower bed outside.
Tenjo Hikari didn't say another word, patiently waiting.
After a while, Dinosaur Lyuzaki suddenly spoke.
"It was him."
"Him?"
"Insector Haga, you've probably heard of him."
Insector Haga…
Tenjo Hikari lowered his head, not responding further.
In today's era of "legendary duelists," the former champion of Japan, the strongest duelist of the insect deck, Insector Haga.
Also Dinosaur Lyuzaki's... "friend."
"That person?" Tenjo Hikari clicked his tongue and cursed inwardly.
Expected.
Related to Dinosaur Lyuzaki and likely to attack him, who else but Insector Haga?
Yet, Tenjo Hikari hadn't anticipated that this guy, even at his age, was still so relentless.
Clearly, Dinosaur Lyuzaki had long moved on.
At this moment, Dinosaur Lyuzaki casually started sharing their story with Tenjo Hikari.
From participating in national championships at an even younger age than Tenjo Hikari, winning the championship and second place.
Later participating in Pegasus's Duel Kingdom, Kaiba's Duel City, and onwards to the Orichalcos incident, and events thereafter; he briefly told Tenjo Hikari about them.
Dinosaur Lyuzaki was a very straightforward person.
He considered Insector Haga his friend, but Insector Haga had his own thoughts, and moreover... big thoughts.
Insector Haga once, out of concern for Muto Yugi's "Exodia the Forbidden One" being too powerful, tricked Yugi by words to steal his cards, and then threw the Dark Great Mage into the sea. Later, in Duel City, he placed parasites into Jonouchi Katsuya's deck, using Monster tactics to frame Jonouchi.
Even in later events, after Dinosaur Lyuzaki lost to Jonouchi, accepting his defeat, Insector Haga incited Dinosaur Lyuzaki to "seek revenge on Jonouchi," joining the Doma Organization together, using Orichalcos cards to attack Jonouchi.
In short.
Rotten to the core!
Now, after ten years have passed, Dinosaur Lyuzaki recognized past mistakes and even started anew, yet Insector Haga emerged again.
What's the deal?
A brother's failure is regrettable, but a brother's success is even more painful?
"Lyuzaki big brother, since that's the case, leave it to me!" Tenjo Hikari listened, filled with anger.
They are all legendary duelists; how can the gap be so vast?
"No!" Dinosaur Lyuzaki shook his head, his eyes seemingly lit up, resolutely saying, "No, only by defeating him by myself can it truly end, the final... conclusion of fate. Only I... only then will it be the true duelist."
"Lyuzaki big brother..." Tenjo Hikari listened to him, sighing deeply, "But, you've already lost to him."
"I didn't lose!" Dinosaur Lyuzaki suddenly slammed his right hand onto the bed in anger, then quickly grabbed his right wrist with his left hand, gritting his teeth and uttering word by word through clenched teeth, "I accidentally crushed my hand before the duel, and couldn't hold onto the card… Otherwise, the duel was not over!
I would definitely win!"
From childhood, till now.
He and Insector Haga were always "friends."
Insector Haga was the champion, he was the runner-up.
Insector Haga proposed ideas and plans, and he followed suit.
He thought, he could break past "destiny," completely stepping into a new "realm," but unexpectedly, at critical moments, couldn't hold the card!
He angrily stared at his hand, only blaming himself for being useless in crucial times.
…
An accident?
Tenjo Hikari suddenly realized.
It seems, although awakened, Dinosaur Lyuzaki was still the same simple and direct person.
And Insector Haga!
Tenjo Hikari clenched his fist.
He let out a sigh and expressed his thoughts.
Honestly, no evidence.
Just speculation!
But, when he voiced this speculation, Dinosaur Lyuzaki seemed to realize, lowering his head in a daze.
It was just like something Insector Haga would do.
Too similar—
After ten years, he thought Insector Haga might have changed like him.
Although he'd never contacted Insector Haga, over ten years, even a madman should have come to some realization, right?
Yet.
Clearly.
He was disappointed.
"It was like this, then there's no need to be persistent anymore." He seemed to have let go of something, half laying on the bed, "If that's the case, then whatever, it doesn't matter at all. You handle it."
But then he abruptly recovered, looking at Tenjo Hikari: "Wait."
He quickly sat up, even turning over to grab his deck.
He took out two cards from the deck.
Tenjo Hikari looked at them in turn.
"These are my old friends," he gently stroked the cards, "They weren't originally this powerful, but after joining Fengguang Company, these two cards gradually transformed to a new form."
He handed those two cards to Tenjo Hikari.
"They are the symbol of my soul!" Dinosaur Lyuzaki earnestly gazed at Tenjo Hikari.
"Go. Go and put an end to my—not right, to our company's, our family's enemy!
Remember, be careful in everything!"
Tenjo Hikari took a deep breath and nodded heavily.
"I understand!"