"Payment?" A gothic lolita radiating a dark aura sat delicately on Hoshino's lap, rubbing her fingers together in a coy, playful gesture—as if she were asking for money. The act was oddly... enticing?
Lowering her voice, Hoshino replied with a deadpan tone, "Let me make this clear: when it comes to being broke, I'm second to none." Her sharp words carried a mix of sarcasm and self-deprecation. Translation: If you're hoping to squeeze a penny out of me, forget it. Never mind the fact that she was currently riding in a luxury car.
"Please don't lump me in with those lowlife humans." The loli leaned in closer, her breath ghosting near Hoshino's ear. The soft, teasing sensation sent shivers racing down her spine.
"This is merely a greeting," the loli whispered, her voice laced with both mischief and authority. "When we're alone, we'll have a more… intimate discussion."
Clearly, even the loli found it inconvenient to speak openly in the car. After leaving Hoshino with a charmingly eerie smile, she vanished without a trace.
The faint warmth of her lingering presence remained by Hoshino's ear, causing her cheeks to flush. Glaring down at the card now resting on her skirt, Hoshino muttered, "Calm down... it's just a sphere... just a sphere..."
But inside, she couldn't help thinking, I never expected you to be that kind of sphere!
---
Domino City's Open-Air Stadium – The Semi-Final Battle City Venue
"So this is the place the puzzle cards pointed to, huh?" Yugi scanned their surroundings with quiet awe.
The stadium, usually bustling with life during sports events, was eerily silent. Located on the outskirts of the city, the vast venue was devoid of people. Its emptiness felt almost unsettling, as though the air itself carried a sense of foreboding. With its towering stands and wide-open field, the stadium was surprisingly plain for a location meant to host the semi-finals of Duel City.
"Wow, all that hype, and we get... this?" Hoshino muttered, crossing her arms. "Way to kill the vibe."
Having dozed off in the car, Akasha now bounced alongside them with recharge energy, her steps light and cheerful. "Hoshino-nee, look! It's just us. We're the first ones here! An empty stadium feels like it's all ours~ So fun!"
"Is it?" Anzu crossed her arms, shivering slightly as a chilly breeze swept through the open-air venue. The vastness of the deserted space made her uneasy, and she rubbed her arms for warmth. "Yugi, Hoshino, are you sure Marik will show up here?"
The thought of finally confronting the mastermind behind everything filled her with both dread and anticipation.
"If he still wants the God Cards, this tournament is his last shot," Hoshino replied with a hint of determination, though her words seemed to reassure herself as much as Anzu. After all, if she wanted to gather all three God Cards and defeat Marik, this was her last chance too.
"Someone's coming!" Yugi's sharp gaze turned toward the stadium's entrance.
Alerted by his warning, Hoshino immediately tensed. "No way... speak of the devil?"
"Hoshino-nee, who's this 'devil' you're talking about?" Akasha tilted her head, curious.
"A certain 'satellite' that hasn't landed yet, but if my guess is right… it's probably a girl."
The three of them turned their attention to the stadium entrance, holding their breath as steady footsteps approached. None of them dared to blink, afraid the figure might disappear if they looked away.
The confident clicks of heels on concrete drew closer until, finally, a familiar figure strode into the stadium.
"Oh? Chiyuki, Yugi, Anzu—you're here already?" A graceful, confident smile lit up Mai's face as she waved to the group.
"Mai!" Hoshino exclaimed, her voice tinged with joy. Of all the potential semi-finalists, she hadn't expected to see her friend, whom she hadn't seen for almost 20 chapters.
It wasn't surprising that someone with Mai's skills had advanced to this stage of the tournament, but seeing her here still felt like a small miracle.
Mai tossed her bag to the side and grinned. "I thought I'd be the first one here with all six puzzle cards, but once again, you two beat me to it."
"You're amazing for making it here so fast, Mai," Yugi said with his usual kindness. "Let's both do our best in the finals."
"Wow, such a beautiful, elegant onee-san!" Akasha's eyes sparkled as she admired Mai, practically radiating awe.
Mai bent slightly to get a closer look at Akasha, her smile softening. "And who's this adorable little cutie? Sweet as honey~"
"She's my—" Hoshino began, but Akasha cut her off with an excited chirp. "I'm her daughter!"
"Huh? Chiyuki's daughter?" Mai blinked, tilting her head in thought. "Well, no wonder she's so cute."
"Wait, Mai—" Hoshino started again, but Mai interrupted once more, this time with a playful grin. "Wait a second... so she's Chiyuki and Yugi's daughter?"
"No way!" Anzu blurted out, her face flushing with embarrassment.
Meanwhile, Yugi flustered beyond words, turned bright red and lowered his head to avoid everyone's gaze.
"Mai, you're such a tease," Hoshino said, exasperated but amused. She gently grabbed Akasha's cheeks and gave them a light squeeze. "And you, stop spouting nonsense!"
"Ow, ow, ow! QxQ!" Akasha squealed, her round cheeks turning pink from Hoshino's scolding pinch, now matching Yugi's rosy hue.
Mai chuckled, clearly entertained by the chaos. "Hehe, with you all around, I feel like I'll never be bored."
Yugi's head suddenly snapped up. "Someone else is coming."
This time, instead of footsteps, the roar of an engine broke the quiet atmosphere.
"Oh yeah! Your man is here!" Jonouchi's familiar voice echoed as he waved enthusiastically, perched on the back of Honda's motorcycle.
"Jonouchi, Honda…" Anzu sighed in relief at the sight of their friends. The growing crowd made the vast, empty stadium feel less intimidating.
"Mai? No way—you made it too?" Jonouchi exclaimed as he hopped off the motorcycle, clearly surprised.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Mai asked, narrowing her eyes. "Honestly, I'm more surprised that a novice like you managed to scrape through the prelims."
"Hey! Don't underestimate me!" Jonouchi shot back, puffing his chest out. "I'm twice as strong as I was during Duelist Kingdom!"
Mai turned her back to him, unimpressed. "Well, considering you started from zero, doubling your power still leaves you at… zero."
As the two bickered, Hoshino couldn't help but smile. "By the way, Jonouchi, weren't you and Honda supposed to be picking someone up? Who's the mystery guest?"
"Oh, uh… that…" Jonouchi scratched his head awkwardly.
"Hello there!" A sweet voice chimed in as a girl stepped out from behind him. She wore a pink top and had an air of shy elegance. "I'm Shizuka Jonouchi, Katsuya Jonouchi's little sister. It's nice to meet you all."
Hoshino's gaze softened at the sight of the girl's gentle demeanor. Jonouchi... after meeting your sister, I've decided—you're definitely a friend worth keeping around.
"You're kiddin' me!" Hoshino was the first to react, her voice filled with disbelief. She pointed a finger at Jonouchi, eyes narrowing. "No way! I've seen enough of your weird face to know there's absolutely no chance you could have such an adorable sister!"
Shizuka, standing before them, looked completely out of place compared to Jonouchi. She appeared to be a middle schooler, shorter than Hoshino and about the same height as Yugi. Her soft demeanor, sweet smile, and gentle eyes made it hard to believe she was related to one of the "delinquents" of Domino City.
"You're Chiyuki Hoshino-san, right?" Shizuka asked, her voice delicate and polite. A faint blush rose to her pale cheeks as she spoke, her shyness only amplifying her charm.
Hoshino blinked, momentarily stunned by the sheer sweetness of the girl addressing her. Recovering, she smiled warmly. "Just call me Hoshino. We're probably around the same age."
"Thank you so much, Hoshino!" To everyone's surprise, Shizuka suddenly bowed deeply, a perfect 90 degrees, catching Hoshino completely off guard.
"Eh?!" Hoshino's eyes widened, her cheeks reddening. "W-Why are you bowing? What's going on?" She waved her hands nervously, flustered by the sudden display of gratitude.
With her head still lowered, Shizuka continued, "Hoshino-san is my lifesaver. I have to thank you properly."
Hoshino quickly helped her straighten up, her confused expression now aimed directly at Jonouchi, who was scratching his head with a sheepish grin.
"Don't look at me like that!" Jonouchi laughed awkwardly. "It's true, though! Thanks to your wins in the Duelist Kingdom, Shizuka was able to go to Germany for her surgery."
"But the surgery fees were covered by Industrial Illusions," Hoshino replied, waving her hand dismissively, trying to downplay her role.
Yugi stepped forward, shaking his head. "You can't brush it off like that, Hoshino. You were the one who defeated Pegasus and freed him from the Millennium Eye's curse. Without that, Industrial Illusions wouldn't have been able to help people like Shizuka."
Jonouchi nodded, gently patting Shizuka's head. "Her condition wasn't just blindness. If we didn't act fast, it could've risked her life. You saved her, Hoshino, plain and simple."
"Amazing, Hoshino-nee!" Akasha chimed in, her eyes sparkling with awe. "You're the coolest!"
"Nicely done, Chiyuki," Mai added with a teasing grin. "Didn't think you had it in you. I'm starting to see you in a whole new light!"
Honda, now standing beside his motorcycle, folded his arms with a grin. "Yesterday, after helping with her discharge papers, she wouldn't stop saying how much she wanted to thank you in person. She's been dying to meet you and watch you duel."
Hoshino's gaze softened as she looked at Shizuka, her chest tightening with emotion. Seeing the girl's sincerity and hearing everyone's words of praise filled her with a deep sense of fulfillment. For the first time in a while, she truly felt like her presence in this world mattered.
"Thank you, Shizuka..." Hoshino whispered, her voice tinged with emotion.
Shizuka tilted her head in confusion, her big, round eyes blinking in surprise. "Hoshino-san, why are you thanking me?"
For a moment, Hoshino was at a loss for words. The surgery must've been top-notch to restore Shizuka's sight so well, but it wasn't just her vision—it was the warmth and light in her eyes that struck Hoshino deeply.
Suddenly, a loud, booming laugh echoed through the stadium, shattering the heartfelt moment.
"Whoa! What the heck is that thing in the sky?!" Jonouchi exclaimed, pointing upward as a colossal airship descended toward the stadium.
Yugi's expression grew serious. "That's the KaibaCorp airship—the one they used to promote the Battle City!"
"Behold, lowly duelists!" A familiar, commanding voice rang out from the airship's deck. Standing at the edge, arms folded and cape billowing dramatically, was none other than Seto Kaiba. "Gaze upon the ultimate, most magnificent, most intense battle stage—the Duel Tower in the Sky!"
"The Duel Tower in the Sky?!" Hoshino muttered, her jaw dropping slightly. "So we're actually going to duel on an airship? Forget what I said about the venue being plain—Kaiba's on a whole different level."
The massive airship landed gracefully in the center of the stadium. Its sheer size and presence were even more intimidating up close. A staircase extended from the airship's exit, and Kaiba descended with the air of a king stepping into his court.
Trailing just behind him was a much smaller figure, sprinting down the steps with unrestrained enthusiasm.
"Hoshino! I'm here to cheer you on!" Mokuba shouted, leaping down the final few steps and racing toward her.
Kaiba scanned the growing crowd, his sharp eyes narrowing. "Why are there so many people here? Did you all mistake this for a tourist attraction?"
Hoshino chuckled, unfazed by his attitude. "Come on. The more people, the better the atmosphere—it's a tournament, not a funeral."
Kaiba scoffed. "Tch. Whatever. I'll pretend I didn't see it."
Jonouchi crossed his arms, counting on his fingers. "So, uh, with Kaiba here, that makes five finalists. More than half. We're missin' three, though."
Yugi and Hoshino exchanged a glance, their expressions growing serious. "The real question is: when will Marik show up?" Yugi muttered.
The early rush of arrivals gradually slowed, and as the hours ticked by, the sun began to dip below the horizon. The stadium lights flickered on, casting a soft glow over the arena as the sky darkened.
"Alright! Red-Eyes Black Dragon, direct attack!" Jonouchi shouted, his voice echoing through the stadium.
"Activate Trap Card—[Dimensional Wall]!" Akasha countered, her playful tone contrasting Jonouchi's intensity. "You take the damage instead, Jonouchi-nii!"
"Arrrghhh!" Jonouchi groaned dramatically as his Life Points hit zero. Slumping to the ground, he covered his face in exaggerated despair. "I can't believe it—I lost to a kid!"
Shizuka giggled behind her hand. "Onii-chan, how many times have you lost now? Isn't this, like, the fifth time?"
Grabbing his head, Jonouchi groaned louder. "Stop rubbin' it in!"
Yugi, watching from the sidelines, was equally stunned. "Akasha's, I had no idea you were a strong duelist. Why not join the Battle City?"
Akasha, beaming with pride, shook her head. "I can't—I'm still working on completing my deck!"
Honda smirked. "So, with an incomplete deck, she's still mopping the floor with this guy? Ouch."
"Jonouchi, you're such a loser!" Mai chimed in, delivering the final blow with a teasing laugh.
The stadium erupted into laughter, the lively energy of their banter filling the once-empty arena. Amid the noise, Hoshino quietly observed, her gaze fixed on the glowing interface hovering in front of her.
[Banner System Updating. Please remain connected to Wi-Fi to avoid high data charges.]
Her eyebrow twitched in irritation. "What is this? Are you a mobile game or something?!"
[Update Progress: 98%. After updating, a 'Special Summoning' for Heroic Spirits will be unlocked.]
(*****)
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