"Hoshino..." Concern was evident in Anzu's eyes as she looked at Hoshino, and their companions were at a loss for words. Hoshino had always won every duel they fought, no matter how challenging, and the group had grown used to celebrating each victory. However, deep down, they knew that winning wasn't always guaranteed. Even if Hoshino managed to defeat Kaiba today, future duels with Jonouchi and Yugi would still loom, and someone would eventually lose.
The expected defeat came sooner than anticipated.
"Sorry, everyone." Seeing the worried expressions on their faces, Hoshino forced a smile. "I gave it my best, but I still lost."
Hoshino's attempt to appear strong only deepened everyone's heartbreak. Anzu approached Hoshino timidly and grasped her slender hands tightly, "Hoshino, you gave it your all. It's okay to show your sadness right now."
Feeling Hoshino's cold, trembling hands, Anzu fought back tears. "Even with such delicate hands, you fought so hard..."
Hoshino tried to maintain a calm demeanor, but her hands shook uncontrollably. Realizing Anzu noticed, Hoshino awkwardly pulled her hands away and waved her duelist glove to change the subject, "I only have 5-star chips left. At this rate, I can't enter Pegasus's castle."
"Yes, that's a significant problem," Yugi, now in control, said as he looked at the setting sun. "Most duelists have been eliminated by now. Where can we find 5 more star chips?"
"How about we go back and challenge the Paradox Brothers again?" Jonouchi suggested, breaking his silence.
"That's a good idea, Jonouchi! I didn't expect that from you," Honda said, his eyes lighting up with hope.
But Hoshino shook her head gently, declining Jonouchi's suggestion. "The Paradox Brothers are tough opponents, and it requires two people for a tag duel in the labyrinth. I don't want you all to lose your qualifications because of my mistakes."
"Hoshino, you can't be thinking of giving up! In a situation like this..." Jonouchi began to panic as Hoshino refused his suggestion.
"There aren't any extra duelists left on this island now!" A familiar voice came from behind them.
"Mai Valentine?!" Jonouchi exclaimed, turning to see Mai suddenly appear. "When did you get here?"
"I've been here the whole time, but you didn't notice me." Mai walked up to the slightly exhausted Hoshino and, like Anzu, took her cold hands. "I saw your duel, Hoshino. I've never seen such an intense battle."
"!!" Hoshino was slightly stunned, feeling the object in Mai's hand. "Mai, this is..."
"This is what I borrowed from you before, remember?" Mai winked and motioned for Hoshino to open her right hand. Five-star chips, the symbol of duelists, transferred from Mai's hand to Hoshino's.
"But Mai, if you give me these star chips, you won't have enough to enter the castle. Your dream is..." Hoshino tried to return the star chips with her trembling hands.
"Do you think your big sister would let that happen?" Mai proudly raised her duelist glove, still adorned with 10-star chips. "To return your star chips, I worked hard and won a total of 16 star chips."
"You're amazing, Mai!" Yugi, who had been worried about Hoshino's ability to enter Pegasus's castle, finally felt relieved seeing the star chips.
"That's great, Hoshino! Now you can enter the castle again~" Jonouchi said gratefully, looking at Mai.
"Thank you, Mai. You're kind," Anzu said, any previous resistance she had felt toward Mai now completely gone.
"Don't thank me. These star chips belong to Chiyuki," Mai said, feeling a bit embarrassed by their gratitude.
However, in stark contrast to everyone's joy, Hoshino stood aside, staring blankly at the star chips in her hand.
"Chiyuki..." Mai, feeling sorry for her, pulled Hoshino into a tight hug.
"Mai..." Hoshino was caught off guard by the sudden embrace, overwhelmed by the soft sensation.
Gently stroking Hoshino's head, Mai whispered in her ear, "Chiyuki, sometimes a single defeat can teach you more than ten consecutive victories. As a duelist, it's okay to feel confused or reluctant to accept sudden losses, but you must never run away."
"Chiyuki..." It was the first time since arriving in this world that someone had called her by that name. "It feels just like family."
Enjoying Mai's warmth for a moment, Hoshino looked up. "Don't worry too much about me, Mai. It's just one lost duel; it's not a big deal."
After saying this, Hoshino quickly embedded the five-star chips back into her duelist glove, filling the once-empty slots.
"It's getting late. We should head to Pegasus's castle now," Hoshino said, waving to her companions. "There are still many steps to climb. This is harder than dueling. If we don't hurry, it'll be dark."
"Right, Hoshino is right. Let's go!" Jonouchi's spirits lifted, and he jumped onto the steps with Hoshino.
"Jonouchi is fast, jumping three steps at a time."
"Of course! I can even jump four steps at a time!" Jonouchi stretched his long legs, skipping four steps with each stride.
"Haha, it looks like a split. It's impressive but also gross!"
Watching Hoshino and Jonouchi cheerfully bounding up the stairs, Yugi's worry didn't lessen. "Hoshino is pretending to be strong."
"Chiyuki probably doesn't want us to worry too much," Mai said, sighing at Hoshino's excessive kindness. "She could rely on me a bit more."
"Hoshino must have her reasons." Anzu, placing her hand on her chest, looked at Hoshino with trust.
"Let's go too, to Pegasus's castle!"
"This staircase is as difficult as ever~" Hoshino complained, wiping the sweat from her forehead and gasping for breath.
Previously chatting and laughing with Jonouchi, Hoshino now couldn't keep up with her companions. "Don't these people ever get tired?"
"Miss Hoshino, are you all right?" a calm voice with a hint of concern sounded in Hoshino's ear.
"Mr. Holmes?" Hoshino looked at him with a puzzled expression as he suddenly appeared. She answered quietly, "I'm okay. Even though it's tiring, I've climbed this before. Besides, I think my endurance has improved a lot over the past two days."
Spending two days outdoors hadn't transformed Hoshino into an athlete, but it did help her, normally accustomed to a sedentary lifestyle, regain some physical stamina.
"That's not what I'm asking about, Miss Hoshino." Holmes raised an eyebrow, his expression growing more serious. "You know what I mean."
"Mr. Holmes, you're speaking in riddles. I don't quite understand," Hoshino said, looking away. "I'm perfectly fine. What do you think is wrong with me?"
"There are many things: your forced calmness, your shaking hands, your strained smile..." Holmes sighed, taking a deep puff from his pipe. "You're not deceiving this detective, and you're certainly not deceiving your friends."
"Mr. Holmes, if you've been materialized this long, won't Da Vinci scold you?" Hoshino's previously agreeable demeanor shifted, her voice tinged with annoyance. "If you don't have anything else to say, could you please be quiet for a while? I'm already very tired from all the duels."
"Oh, is that so?" Holmes, momentarily surprised by Hoshino's sharp response, patted her shoulder with his semi-transparent hand.
"Miss Hoshino, if the battles you usually fight are shared with Chaldea, then the battle you face now is yours alone." With these words, Holmes's semi-transparent form disappeared into the wind.
...
"Finally made it!" Hoshino gasped as she reached the front gate, hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath.
"You all... collected 10-star chips?!" The guard at the castle gate looked at them in shock.
"Yes, the four of us are the final qualifiers for the Duelist Kingdom tournament!" Mai Valentine proudly presented Hoshino, who was still out of breath, and showed the guard their gloves, filled with star chips.
"You!" Jonouchi exclaimed suddenly, pointing at the guard. "You're the one who set up the fake Kaiba to duel Hoshino and kidnapped Mokuba!"
Everyone became alert at Jonouchi's words, recognizing the guard by his distinctive hairstyle.
"Where's Mokuba?" Jonouchi demanded, grabbing the guard's collar.
"Hmph, I didn't expect you to collect all 10 star chips." The guard sneered, pushing Jonouchi away. "As for Mokuba, I was just following Lord Pegasus's orders. If you have questions, take them up with him."
The guard stepped aside, revealing the iron gate behind him. "Enter. Just place your 10-star chips on the door to activate the switch."
"All right, everyone, let's not waste time on him," Mai said, placing her star chips on the door mechanism. "Put them here and turn the switch~"
The massive iron door creaked open, revealing a path leading into the castle's opulent interior.
"We all have the right to enter, so no need to open the door one by one," Jonouchi remarked, taunting the guard as he entered the castle.
"Dammit..." The guard muttered, unable to retaliate.
"Let's go too..." Anzu and the others, who weren't participants, tried to slip in unnoticed.
"Stop right there! Who are you?" The guard, still fuming, wasn't about to let them pass. "You're not participants. Why are you here?"
"Hehe, we're just here to cheer them on," Anzu said, awkwardly scratching her face.
"Don't play games with me, kids," the guard growled, reaching for Anzu's shoulder.
But before he could, Honda grabbed the guard's hand firmly. "Don't be so arrogant. We still have a score to settle from last time."
"You're... the guy from yesterday afternoon!" Recognizing Honda, the guard pulled away angrily.
"Yesterday was just a fluke. You think I'd lose to you?" Honda cracked his knuckles, stepping closer.
"You're in for a surprise, kid! Today, I'll show you what happens when you mess with a pro," the guard shouted, lunging at Honda.
"Honda, now!" Jonouchi called out, and Honda dodged, letting Jonouchi land a surprise attack from behind.
A coordinated barrage of punches and kicks followed, with Jonouchi and Honda working in perfect sync, giving the guard no chance to fight back.
"Why... yesterday we were evenly matched, but today...?" The guard stammered, bewildered by the high schoolers' strength. "How are high schoolers this strong?"
"Hmph, we're not the same as we were yesterday!" Honda declared.
"After seeing Big Sister Martha's incredible fighting skills, we leveled up!" they shouted, raising their fists. "Take this, Jonouchi & Honda's burning brotherly combo!"
"Double! Iron! Fist! Judgment!"
Their combined punch, delivered with full force, sent the guard flying, crashing into the castle wall and knocking him out.
"Big Sister, you have disciples in this world too..." Hoshino murmured, astonished at the sight.
(*****)
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