After spending another hour, Hoshino finally made it down the stairs.
"I can't do this anymore…. I can't." Hoshino gasped for breath. Although descending was easier than ascending, she had expended so much energy that she was now both hungry and exhausted, seeing stars before her eyes.
"Hoshino, are you okay? The duel tournament has already started," Anzu said with a concerned look at the dazed Hoshino.
According to Pegasus' arrangement, the tournament officially began an hour after the dispersal. The duelists who had already chosen their opponents set off on their dueling journey as soon as the time came.
"Anzu, Anzu, do you have any food? I haven't eaten for so long, I can't hold on anymore." Hoshino finally abandoned her last bit of ladylike demeanor and started begging for food.
However, things didn't go smoothly. Yugi and his friends also looked troubled.
"Sorry, Hoshino, we don't have any food either," Yugi said apologetically. "We didn't expect the tournament to last 48 hours, so we didn't bring any food."
"Yeah, we haven't eaten since we boarded the ship last night. I'm starving too," Jonouchi complained. "That Pegasus, organizing such a big tournament and not providing any food for the participants."
"I have a solution for food," an unfamiliar voice suddenly said, attracting everyone's attention.
A man with crossed arms appeared in front of them.
"Mako Tsunami!" Honda suddenly exclaimed.
"Mako Tsunami?" A strange name; Hoshino had never heard of it.
"Hey? You don't know? This is Mako Tsunami, the one who came third in the national duel tournament recently!" Honda explained to Hoshino with gestures.
"Third in the regional tournament? Sounds impressive," but that wasn't Hoshino's main concern. "You said you have a way to get food?"
Seeing the stars in Hoshino's eyes, Mako's face suddenly turned a bit red.
"Ahem." After a dry cough, Mako turned around, "Follow me."
Although unsure of his intentions, Hoshino and the others, troubled by the lack of food, had no choice but to follow him.
After a short walk, the grass under their feet began to thin out.
"Listen, you can hear the sound of waves," Anzu, always observant, noticed they were getting closer to the shore.
"We're here." Mako stopped on a rock by the shore.
"So, what now?" Hoshino asked, puzzled.
"Just wait here." Without looking back, Mako suddenly jumped into the sea.
"What is he doing?" His sudden action startled everyone.
"Could it be?" Yugi touched his chin, guessing, "Fishing?"
Indeed, confirming Yugi's guess, Mako soon climbed back up with two live fish in his arms.
"Amazing, he caught two big fish in such a short time. Mako, your fishing skills are incredible," Hoshino said excitedly, looking at the fish in Mako's hands, already imagining various delicious fish dishes.
Seeing Hoshino looking at him, Mako, who had been cooled by the seawater, felt his face heat up again. He subconsciously touched his nose and said proudly, "Of course, I'm the son of a fisherman, so this is natural."
Mako expertly handled the fish, found a few dry sticks, quickly lit a fire, and started grilling the fish.
"Smells so good." Hoshino squatted by the fire, sniffing the air as the aroma of grilled fish gradually spread.
"Is it done yet, Mako? How much longer?" The hungry Hoshino kept urging him.
"Not yet, it needs a bit more time." Mako focused on the fish over the fire, not daring to look at Hoshino beside him.
Hoshino felt like she was living through eternity, though it was only a few minutes, waiting for the fish to be done.
"It's ready." Finally, Hoshino heard the words she wanted to hear most.
Mako gently handed the grilled fish, skewered on a stick, to Hoshino: "Here, be careful, it's hot."
"Thank you!" Hoshino nodded vigorously, taking the fish and immediately putting it into her mouth.
"So hot, but so delicious." Hoshino, feeling the joy of finally eating, was almost moved to tears.
Even without any seasoning, the natural salty flavor of the fish, combined with the perfectly grilled texture, made it a delicious, natural treat.
Seeing Hoshino enjoying her meal, Jonouchi couldn't help but swallow. "Hey, Mako, what about our fish? Is the other one for us?"
Unexpectedly, Mako, who had been gentle, suddenly snapped at Jonouchi, "The other one is for me. Why should I grill fish for you? If you want to eat, catch your own."
"What? How can you be like that?" Jonouchi and the others said in unison. "Then why did you ask us to come with you?"
"I never asked you to come. I only invited Chiyuki Hoshino. You followed on your own," Mako said, picking up the other fish and starting to eat.
"Why? Why does only Hoshino get to eat?" Jonouchi asked angrily.
"Huh?" Finally snapping out of her food-induced trance, Hoshino realized something was off.
"Because, because…" Mako, who had been assertive, suddenly softened, his face turning redder. "Because Hoshino is my type. I want to marry her."
"Pfft!!" Hoshino spat out the fish in her mouth.
Her first-ever confession happened in such circumstances; Hoshino couldn't believe it even if she had told before.
"Sorry, Mako." Hoshino forced an awkward smile. "Though the fish is delicious, you're not my type. Sorry." She put down the fish, bowing deeply to Mako.
"Seriously, look at yourself. All scruffy. With that look, you want to marry Hoshino? Keep dreaming," Jonouchi taunted, seeing Mako's rejection.
"Jonouchi, that's not nice," Yugi said, noticing the awkward atmosphere around Mako, trying to stop Jonouchi's mockery.
"Why did you reject me? Do you think I'm not strong enough?" Mako whispered, head bowed. "I liked you from the first moment I saw you."
"Let's duel, Chiyuki Hoshino. As fellow duelists, I'll prove my true strength to you through a duel," Mako said, raising his Duelist Glove, with two stars shining under the sunlight. "Once I win, you'll like me."
"Huh? What kind of logic is that?" Hoshino thought, "Is everyone in this world so strange? Why duel me after a failed confession?"
Unexpectedly, Hoshino's first duel in this world would be for such a reason…