The year was 2056...

And we're skipping to the day after the start of the new school year. Yeah, that's right, the second chapter takes place the day after the first!

Morning began like usual. Harui nearly slept in, a combination of Satoru calling and Bachi yanking her sheets off her woke her up, she and Satoru shared whatever Izuru prepared that morning along the way and they got to Heiwa.

And then Harui and Yukie got back to being lovey dovey kissy kissy in front of the school's gates and of whatever snack Satoru bought on the way to school.

"Seriously, guys? In front of my dumplings?" Satoru asked.

"Why did you even buy dumplings in the first place? That's food best eaten warm, lunch isn't for another three hours!" Harui pointed out, looking away from her beautiful girl to question Satoru's life choices.

"Unless you're aiming to eat them now. Are you, Satoru?" Yukie asked.

"If you two had any knowledge on food, you'd know that a good dumpling is good regardless of being hot or cold. Well made filling transcends the boundaries set by the concept of temperature."

"Yeah, and then I'm the delusional one." The pink-eyed girl rolled her eyes and looked back at her girlfriend. "Sooooo, I got an idea. Let's make today saturday! What do you think?"

"I think you need to elaborate a bit if you want a proper answer." Yukie sweatdropped.

"Oh, you're right, that was really vague! Ok ok, what I meant was... Let's ditch class and go have a date right now! It's only the second day, we got nothing to lose!"

"Very well. I will go along with this."

Harui's eyes immediately lit up with joy. Except the prosthetic one, that one lit up with actual light.

"Sweet! Aquarium, here we-!"

But Yukie had other plans.

"If, of course, you are willing to damage your perfect attendance. If your patience's that limited, then I'd wager it's a fair trade. What do you think, Harui?"

And look at that, Harui was frozen solid and blushing, what a critical hit from contestant Yukie!

"M-my perfect attendance... M-m-my goal to be the best at everything ever... But a date with Yukie...!"

Her poor brain was working overtime for this one. The pros and cons were evenly matched. A date with Yukie would cost her her attendance, her attendance would cost her a date with Yukie right now. There was just no right or wrong choice here. For her, at least.

She could only awkwardly walk into Heiwa like a malfunctioning robot as she overanalyzed her options over and over again in a very contrived and not well put together debate happening only inside he head.

"Now aren't you a tanuki whisperer? How'd you get her to do that?" Satoru asked.

"I know her ins and outs like no one else does. Appealing to her common sense works better than you believe, Satoru. She knows school is more important than something we can do whenever we want, and that I'm only caring for her." Yukie explained.

"Right... But if she said yes, you would have ditched school."

Yukie didn't give the pretty boy an answer, instead opting to walk faster to dodge the question and go hold her girlfriend's hand, which was all Satoru needed to know.

By the time they got to the classroom, Harui left her broken bot mode. Her head was resting on her desk, her shoulders were sulked, and she shifted from pouting to sigh in defeat every so often. Yukie patting her head only helped so much.

"School is a sham... It's a card fight card world, we should be chilling with the crew in the schoolyard, not learning about how some european conflict thirty years ago affected the social-economic state of the world..."

"Not in this economy." Satoru retorted. He was sitting on Yukie's chair, since she herself was standing behind Harui's. "Those conflicts is what makes cards so expensive now, it's a good thing we're learning about them."

"I guess..."

"You have things to do today, and the kendo club restarts its activities tomorrow, but we should both be free on thursday." Yukie hummed. "We could do something then."

"Thursday is so far away though..." Harui weeped. She raised her head to look back. "Have dinner with us tonight!"

"I'd love to, but Emon and Akira are stopping by for dinner tonight." Yukie sighed. "Those two make us look tame by comparison..."

"Like hell they do! I won't let some loser King be more into a Kiba sibling than me! Let me at him!"

"You're olympically missing the point." Satoru sweatdropped and glanced around the classroom. "Speaking of people with red hair, where's Uekoshi?"

"She's not here yet?" Harui asked. "I told her to wait for us with Yukie since her train gets here before ours. Did you see her today, Yukie?"

"No. I assumed she was already here since I didn't see her, but she isn't it."

"Must have slept in. Good to not be the only one who knows the school schedule is total ass." The white haired girl declared one of her her cocky smirks.

"I'd bet my dumplings that's absolutely not the case." Satoru sweatdropped. "She's new to the school, must have gotten lost on the way here."

"Yeah right. Getting lost in the surrounding area is more believable than that." Harui replied. "How do you even get lost in Heiwa? They got maps on the walls for that, they've had them for years!"

"I suppose Kikka-san did spent a majority of her life in a foreign country. While her japanese speaking may be good, she may have trouble reading the kanji on the map." Yukie pointed out.

"I told that two time divorced bastard he should have swapped for easier characters!"

And while Harui still had it in her to keep complaining about the things Endo should and should not have changed in regards to the school, class eventually started, with no Kikka in sight.

Until halfway through the class, when everyone stopped what they were doing because of the ugly wheezing and coughing coming from the other side of the front door.

"Found her." Harui deadpanned.

"I-i-i-i... I'm sorry for being late..." Kikka said, or at least said as much as her panting allowed her to do. "There was a... A train, thing... G-good morning..."

"Sweet, my dumplings aren't going anywhere."

Oh Satoru, you sweet sweet boy.

It was no use trying to get an answer out of Kikka while the class was going on, so Harui held it off until their break began, after which the trio gathered around the redhead's table.

The only problem was Kikka was too busy sleeping to answer them.

Harui wasn't having any of it. Her arms were crossed, her index and foot were tapping her arm and floor respectively, and she looked a few bad word choices away from blowing up.

"The universe is trying to tell me something."

"I doubt that." Satoru sweatdropped.

"She's a transfer student, she's relatively new at Vanguard, she has the protagonist seat, she got late to school and now she's even taking a nap! I mean, come on! That's too many protagonist qualities stuffed in one place! I'm supposed to be the protagonist!"

"Says who?"

"Me." Yukie said.

"The universe, duh." Harui retorted.

"The same one you think is using Uekoshi to tell you something?"

"Precisely."

"Why would the universe waste its precious infinite eternity on you?"

"It just makes sense."

"Affirming things doesn't make them have sense, Ibuki."

"You really want an answer? Fine. The 2010s. Weird stuff was going on. Who was at the forefront of stopping it from being weird? Ryuzaki."

"Ah huh." Satoru nodded.

"Decades go by, he takes in a student. What happens to that student? He's a newbie, helps kicking a tyrannical King off the Royalty, becomes King, wins nationals, that Tokyo's Finest thing, beats some anti-Royalty club, then wins some silly dream team thing and ends up as a branch manager."

"I'm following you."

"Who's next in line to have a bunch of crap happening to him? His brother! Fights Endo to stay in Heiwa, busts into a wedding and then physically assaults an old man!"

"I believe Izuru-san prefers the term of giving him what he was asking for." Yukie pointed out.

"So, considering how the torch gets passed around, who's next in line to become the protagonist?"

"Easy answer, Bachi, 100%, no doubt about it."

"I'm going to chase you with a sharp object once Sumireko says I can run again." Harui looked away from the boy with a pout. "But enough chitchat, someone needs to wake up Kikka. Yukie?"

Yukie didn't say a word. She just cracked her delicate knuckles.

"Why are you offloading it to Yukie?" Satoru asked.

"Simple. If you touch Kikka, it's weird. If I do it, Yukie is legally allowed to bring her katana to school. If Yukie does it, I get recompensated with tons of pampering."

Satoru didn't say anything. Just when he thinks he hasn't gotten desensitised to Harui's antics, she proves him wrong. Business as usual.

Yukie didn't get too rough with Kikka to wake her up, a few taps on the shoulder was enough to pull her out of snoozeland.

"Hm... Oh hi guys..." Kikka yawned and rubbed her right eye. "Is school over yet...?"

"I wish." Harui scowled. "You slept in, didn't you? You woke up late, the train thing was probably missing it, you slept through the entire class despite all the noise outside from the morning P.E. classes, and if that eye rub was anything to go by, you woke up so late you didn't even put makeup on."

"You've got it all right, Ibuki Harui..." Kikka grabbed the card she had stashed away in her blazer's chest pocked and showed it off with a goofy smile. "I'm moving up in life!"

But her head wasn't.

In fact, it was moving down, she went back to sleep.

"Oh damn, she bought Ominacrowg fast." Harui said as she looked at the card. "I guess living so close to a card shop does have its perks. You should be more like her, Satoru."

"In the doing what you say way? I think I'll pass." Satoru deadpanned.

"Yeah, you're gonna pass. Pass those dumplings over to me."

As if the first class wasn't enough, Kikka was also out for most of their next class, only waking up right near the end, and finally getting out of her sleep deprived daze.

The second the class ended and the bells of lunch break rung, she ran out of that classroom like a gazelle!

Oh well, at least she knew where the trio was having lunch.

Speaking of lunch, Satoru was considering going down a life of crime while he watched Harui and Yukie snack on the dumplings he lost to a dumb bet.

"You know what? You were right. A good dumpling is good whether warm or cold. Food really is something wonderful, is it not?" Harui asked with a solemn smile.

"Well made filling transcends the boundaries set by the concept of temperature." Yukie added.

"I hope Bachi takes a piss on your bed while you're sleeping on it." The boy scoffed, garnering the white haired girl's smug grin.

"That was so embarassing..."

Oh look, Kikka is back.

"Howdy sleeping german, how was it to come back to reality?" Harui asked.

"I want to crawl into a hole and never leave again..." Kikka weeped as she sat next to the other two girls. "You can't see my eyebags anymore, right?"

"Your makeup hid them perfectly, Kikka-san." Yukie answered. "But, what happened, exactly?"

"You should ask your girlfriend."

Yukie suddenly turned to stare at Harui, the latter swearing she heard a bone pop or something from how quickly she turned her head.

"H-h-h-hey I didn't go anything! Dammit Probie, start elaborating before giving people the wrong idea!"

"I don't think you're making it out of the rooftop without the allegations, tanuki." Satoru snickered, now carrying the smug grin Harui had used against him mere moments ago.

"Zip it, Ryougi. How exactly did I-" Harui remembered the card Kikka showed. "You... No... You did, didn't you?"

"...yes." Kikka nodded with a slight blush. "Harui gave a bunch of headers how to get better yesterday, such as websites with articles about decks and match ups, channels with good fight videos, etc etc, and I... Might have stayed up until late doing that... I also spent alot of time improving my deck..."

"The commitment would be admirable if not for how it reflected on your school life..." Yukie sweatdropped.

"I-it was just a one time thing! I swear!"

"That's what Harui said the first time she almost missed school because of a Vanguard all nighter. Look how she turned out."

"Please don't compare me to that mean tanuki, Satoru..."

Said mean tanuki had her arms crossed with an oversized victorious smirk.

"You've taken your first steps into becoming a true Vanguard fighter, my child. Held your head high and declare your achievements to the seven skies! This was just the first of many sleepless nights! Breath Vanguard! Eat Vanguard! Drink Vanguard! Be Vanguard! You're one step closer to becoming as great as me! 'Tis a reason to celebrate!"

Cardfight!! Vanguard: Bujin does not condone the consumption of cardboard. If you find yourself putting your cardboard in your digestive track, contact your nearest medical professional.

"Nooooooooooo, anything but being like you!" Kikka cried, holding her head with both hands.

"Stop scaring Kikka-san." Yukie commanded, lightly tapping Harui's head with a karate chop. "It's not nice."

"Nyehehe." Harui responded by stucking her tongue out.

"Tanuki..." Satoru sighed. "So how's the deck coming along, Uekoshi? Got all the cards you needed?"

"Only Crowg and Owls for now, I couldn't afford some of the more expensive cards like Platonic and Idosfaro. Those are gonna have to wait."

"That blue piece of crap never gets any cheaper no matter how many times it gets reprinted." Harui scoffed. "I got some old Dark States stuff I can offload to you if you want. No cheese on Idosfaro, though. My decks runs Dragveda."

"I'd love to contribute to the cause but I got all my stuff in singles. Try asking Nozomi, that guy buys crates en masse all the time." Satoru recommended.

"Seriously? Thanks, guys!" Kikka thanked them with a smile. "Oh, speaking off, I got a question."

"What is it?" Yukie asked.

"While I was going through some articles, I came across some stuff that confused me. What exactly is Energy?"

"Oh, that thing? That drops this friday with the new trial decks. Same with the deck size increase. We don't got to worry about it for now." Harui explained with a shrug. "Speaking off, you guys know what you'll throw in the new slots?"

"Keter only has so many grade 3s."

"Stoicheia only has so many bumrush cards."

"I haven't even finished the desired decklist, what do you mean I have to find four extra cards..." Kikka sighed. "I got another question, though this is more if a request."

"Shoot it, Probie."

"Can you be my mentor, Harui?"

Satoru's jaw dropped.

Yukie's face showed some surprise for once.

This narrator had to read the script a second time to make sure we didn't skip a page or two.

"So, you've finally understood just how great I am and want to learn from the very best, huh..." Harui crossed her arms with a smirk somehow bigger than the last one. "I can't blame you, I truly am the exception to the rule."

"Why Harui of all people?! That's something worse than hell you're walking into, Uekoshi!" Satoru warned.

"I know..." Kikka cringed at the reasoning she was about to give. "But she is pretty good at the game and serious about it, so... Why not?"

"You flatter me, Uekoshi Kikka-san." Harui let the cockiest chuckle possible. "It is true that this humble Vanguard fighter is out of this world and is all in in regards to climbing the heavens to sit on the chair of victory. Afterall, I am her. I am literally her."

"Her who?" Kikka raised a row.

"Her." The white haired girl smirked for a second, but stopped the act right after. "But I can't be your mentor."

Satoru's jaw dropped further!

Yukie was even more surprised!

This narrator triple checked the script, we didn't skip a page!

Harui really was willingly skipping on all the boasting and teasing rights that came with being a mentor!

"B-but why?!" Kikka asked.

"Cuz I got a mentor of my own, duh. You can't be a mentor while also being a student to another mentor. That's just common sense. And my mentor's not dropping the job until I graduate so I really am your worst choice here."

"She gave the sensible answer too... Yukie, I think your girl got kidnapped by aliens." Satoru whispered.

And Satoru got the Yukie side eye treatment.

"I may not be able to be your mentor, but I happen to know a very wide group of people that are good at the game." Harui said. "Got any ideas on who you want for a mentor?"

"Hm..." Kikka crossed her arms. "I read about this Chisaki Shiguru guy-"

"Absolutely not!" The white haired girl screamed. "The only way to that guy is this really unpleasant and mean rich doctor guy! And he scares me! I'm not going five miles near him if given the choice!"

"There's someone out there that scares you...? Just how bad is this guy?!"

Ask Nozomi's friend.

"Jiei's pretty good and he doesn't have anything to do at the moment." Satoru suggested. "He just isn't as serious about Vanguard as me or Ibuki. Still, great player."

"Wait... Jiei's real?" Kikka asked.

Satoru blinked.

Kikka had an innocent smile.

"Really?" Satoru asked.

"Really." Kikka answered.

Yukie blinked.

Kikka had an innocent smile.

"Really really?" Yukie asked.

"Really really." Kikka answered.

Harui blinked.

Kikla had an innocent smile.

"Really really really?" Harui asked.

"Really really. Really." Kikka answered.

"But he was part of the story I told you yesterday!"

"Yeah, but he didn't say anything in it....I thought you made him up for shock value or something."

Harui rubbed her chin and looked at Yukie. Satoru did the same.

"The Kibas do have relatives out the wazoo..." Satoru hummed. "It's like how alot of people have Ghenghis Khan's DNA in them."

"Well, Yukie's side of the family does have five children..." Harui nodded.

"...that is besides the point." Yukie coughed with a small blush. "Kikka-san, why not give Harui some time to go over your request? She'll find a good mentor candidate for you if given time."

"O-oh, for sure, for sure! No hurries in that end, I was just asking!" Kikka chuckled. "I just read some articles about how some of the most well known fighters in Japan had mentors and the idea just popped into my head."

"Hm... A mentor needs free time, so we want someone who's unemployed or has a job where they do jack all day long..." Harui crossed her arms. "Someone who's good and has nothing better to do in their life... Someone like... I got it!"

"For real?!" Kikka asked. "Well, who is it?"

"It's-a-se-cret."

"Let me raise you this." Satoru said. "Why?"

"What's the fun in saying it now? We'll leave after school ends for the day, it's not a long walk. Trust me Kikka, this guy's the perfect mentor for you."

"I'm getting a severe case of second thoughts here... Last time you tried to hype up something, we ended up at a place with dinosaur stickers in the front door!"

"So? Nozomi's food is good and we have a friend discount, who cares what stickers he chooses to put at his door. I think they liven up the place."

"It is impressive how well kept they are. The Mahapadma has been open for over a year now." Yukie commented.

You know what time it is.

Time for Kikka to set up her expectations for an entire afternoon and get disappointed when Harui goes through with her promise!

Today's location?

Some empty lot between two big buildings in Minato!

Sure, there was a shack-looking thing by the lot's entrance and a sexy red Toyota 86 GT parked next to it, but the place was still a dump!

And Kikka wasn't gonna let this one slide. She did the whole thing of pouting until exploding again, but skipped on shaking Harui around now that she was aware of her physical injuries.

"You... You... You lying tanuki! This is just some dump! How could I ever find a mentor in some barren dump like this! Liar! Evil! Meanie!" Kikka weeped.

"So this is where he moved after the fire?" Satoru asked, hands stuffed in his pockets. "Emon-san was right, the higher-ups really didn't give him any pity."

"Yeah right, this is his pity. He just spends his day lazying around since he has his assistant to handle all the branch things during his timeout... And Izuru still ends up calling me to annoy me instead of coming here to kill time!" Harui scoffed. "Come on Crybaby Probie, let's go meet your potential mentor."

And meet him they did.

Guided by Harui, the group walked over to the front of the shack, where the promised mentor was, laying on the front porch with a green and white stripped hat over his face, and a very noticeable snoring sound muffled by it.

"Harui, this man is sleeping." Kikka pointed out.

"Wrong, he's pretending to be sleeping so he doesn't have to deal with us. Someone get me a stick."

"From what tree?" Satoru asked. "This place is barren as-"

"Here's a stick." Yukie handed Harui the requested stick.

"Where did you get that stick...?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?"

"Huh, yeah, yes I would."

"Who cares where the stick came from, we got it and that's what matters." Harui sweatdropped.

She looked down at her victim and grinned. It was time for some poking.

"Wakey wakey, Jet main. I got a favour to ask and I'm not saying it while you got that hat on your face. I'm being nice enough to not smack it outta the way, so you best comply while you have the chance."

"That stick is really doing wonders, huh..." Satoru deadpanned.

"You lack faith."

"You lack a couple of brain cells."

"Fine. You don't want the stick? We'll skip to the post-stick plan." Harui passed the stick back to Yukie and fixed her tie. "Ahem-hem. Mimimimi, dodododo..."

"W-why are you doing vocal warm-ups...?" Kikka cautiously asked.

"Harui is a girl of many talents." Yukie commented with a brief smile.

One of said talents was the hamped up act she was about to drop on the sleeping beauty.

Right hand in front of her heart, Harui looked up and reached for the sky.

"Oooooooh cruel world! How could this be?! How could you let a champion, a King, a branch manager, fall so low as to be the less successful Sawada sibling?! The wonder prodigy, the student who became the teacher, forced to live on the shadow of some asakusan battling ape?!"

Izuru was out walking Bachi at the moment. He randomly sneezed.

"God! Why won't you throw him a bone? Why won't you do anything? Have you truly let Sawada Ryuuga go from your herd? Is this part of your bigger plan? Or are your words a lie? The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. Psalms 103:8."

"You're quoting the bible now?!" Kikka exclaimed.

"Where is the compassion and graciousness towards Sawada Ryuuga? Where's the abundant love? Has Sawada Ryuuga made you fast to anger? God! Have you truly forsaken the oldest of the-!"

A groan.

That was enough to make Harui drop the bit and look back with one of the biggest shit-eating grins of her life.

The sleeping beauty lifted his hat with his thumb just enough to look at her.

"You'll leave after I acknowledge you, right?"

"Yuppers. Just hear us out, Ryuuga."

He sighed.

Ryuuga got off his butt and sat with his legs crossed towards the group, his head resting on his left fist.

"Who is this, exactly?" Kikka asked.

"One time national champion, former Heiwa Royalty King and student council president, aswell as the Gear Chronicle clan leader, and by extension, the Dark Zone branch manager, Sawada Ryuuga." Satoru explained.

"He's Izuru-san's older brother." Yukie added.

"I only heard about that Izuru, I haven't met him yet..." The redhead sweatdropped. "W-wait, I read an article about this branch, I thought it was a temple, not some shack in the middle of nowhere!"

"It's a long story." Ryuuga answered.

It really wasn't.

Last month, the other members of Hanabi paid him a visit on their day off and the usual crap ensued.

Masato's tasing gizmos shocked Gin into punching Ryuuga's funny sticks onto the pile of medical books Kaido brought. The entire temple burned down and Ryuuga and Masato were left to deal with the authorities while the other two stared and giggled at the burning building.

Thankfully, no one got hurt, including the deer that has been haunting Ryuuga since Spiral Soul ended. The deer actually started a family and found Ryuuga's new workplace. He leaves food for them behind the shack.

"So, what do you want? I got work to do, you know?"

"No you don't, Mayuri's the one doing all the work ever since Ryuzaki slammed your ass into the timeout shack." Harui countered. "Probie, you're up! Sway this bum into mentoring you!"

"H-huh?! O-oh, okay! I'll try my best!" Kikka nodded. "S-sawada-san, we don't know each other, but I'd like for you to mentor... Wait, I've seen you before..."

"Well, I am a branch manager, it only makes sense for you to-"

"You were in a Bottom Gear video last year! You raced the AE86 on an Old Toronado and lost!"

"Why do you know me from some video Kumi made?!" Ryuuga asked, accidently breaking his pose.

"What the hell's Bottom Gear?" Harui asked, looking at Yukie and Satoru.

"It's an online show about cars hosted by an old GEN Student, Minamoto Kumi." Satotu explained.

"You watch it, Satoru?" Yukie asked.

"No, I just googled it."

"Wait, Minamoto, Minamoto... That's one of the people I contacted while I was trying to find Yukie last year! Man, small world." The white haired laughed.

"How did you even lose that race? The Old Toronado should have a stronger engine than a choppy AE86." Kikka said.

"The 86 is not a choppy car. And it has, but the Toronado is a muscle car, it wasn't built for all the fast paced movement that goes into drifting." Ryuuga explained, scratching the back of his head. "One should never drift an Old Toronado."

"Speaking off, where's it now?"

"It finally gave up after six or so years of drifting with it. I had a good budget for a new car and Emon had a 86 GT he wanted to sell, so I ended up with that one. But you're not here for my car, right? So out with it. I got a nap I want to return to."

"R-right! Ahem..." Kikka cleared her throat and bowed. "Please mentor me, Sawada Ryuuga-san!"

"No."

And Ryuuga counters with the quick and short reply!

"Why not?!" Harui asked.

And Harui comes from behind with a steel chair!

"Me having a life aside, what exactly made you think I was mentor material? I'm not Hikaru to start throwing out life advices in my mid twenties."

"You got loads of free time ever since Ryuzaki put you in the timeout corner."

"Stop calling the new Dark Zone branch office a timeout corner! This is a honourable shack where I do my work from while the other clan leaders do theirs from their home offices!"

"Honourable and shack are not words you're supposed to put together, Ryuuga-san." Satoru sweatdropped.

"Shack, timeout corner, Chronojet Chronofang, who cares? Come on, Ryuuga! Don't be stingy and mentor the girl! Mentoring is in your blood!"

"Mentoring is- Why would mentoring be in my blood?"

"Because you once had a mentor, duh. Come on, I can't give you all the answers."

"Ryuzaki being my mentor once doesn't qualify me for the job! Besides, we stopped being mentor and student six months later."

"And you've become quite the prevalent figure in the world of Vanguard since then, Ryuuga-san. I believe that makes you qualified to mentor the new generation of Vanguard fighters." Yukie argued.

"Y-yukie-chan, I thought you were the sensible one of the bunch..." Ryuuga groaned.

"You may be a loser, but you're still one of the best players out there. If there's anyone qualified to mentor a brand new player, it's you!" Harui declared, pointing at the branch manager.

"No. Absolutely not. I'm not mentor material. Go ask Ryuzaki. Or go ask Hikaru to be your coach. Ask whoever you want aslong as it isn't me. I'm a branch manager, not a mentor!"

Ryuuga returned his hat to his face and laid back down with his hands under his head. He was done.

However.

"Let me prove I'm worth your time, Sawada-san." Kikka spoked up.

"And how do you plan to do that?" He asked.

"With a cardfight, obviously."

Kikka grabbed her dark violet deck box and pointed it at Ryuuga.

"I read in an article that Vanguard can solve any and every problem, so fight me, Sawada Ryuuga-san! I'll prove I'm worthy of being your student!"

"And why would I accept your challenge?"

"Because you napping at this time in the afternoon tells us you have nothing to do." Harui interjected. "At least fighting Probie will be more than just sleeping and signing whatever paper Mayuri brings when he stops by."

A groan.

That was enough to for the quartet to share a smile. With enough persistence, anyone can annoy a grown adult into doing fufilling their request.

Ryuuga and Kikka sat across each other on the porch, with the other three sitting by their side and eating some snacks the branch manager had at the shack. That ugly hat was nowhere in sight at last.

"If you're going to eat my chips, then don't make so much noise while eating..." Ryuuga sweatdropped. "You ready, Uekoshi?"

"Kikka's fine. And I am, Sawada-san!" Kikka nodded.

"Ryuuga." The branch manager said.

The two exchanged a final glance. It was-

"Oh, by the way!" Harui spoke up.

-not go time yet!

"What do you want this time?" Ryuuga asked.

"Can you play using the new Energy stuff? It's dropping this week so there should be no problem proxying it in a casual setting. I got some dice you can use."

"Sure, if Kikka knows how it works."

"I do!"

"Then we'll use them. Now for real this time."

The fighters exchanged a final final glance. It was go time.

"Stand up, Vanguard!"

"Chrono Dran!"

"Almajestar, Pipys=Mulchie!"

"My turn. Draw. I'll drop Leimina and ride! Masergear Dragon! When Masergear rides over Dran, I draw one card and get Chronojet Dragon's Crest. Leimina's skill, I soulblast Dran and botdeck her to draw a card. Usually I'd get an Energy Generator, but since we're using dice, no use bringing it up until next turn. Turn end."

Ryuuga
Hand: 7
Damage: 0
OXO
OOO

Kikka
Hand: 5
Damage: 0
OXO
OOO

"It's my turn. Draw! I ride Evil Eye Beast, Ominacrowg! Since I went second, I draw a card with Pipys' skill. I also get three energy. (0>3) Ominacrowg's skill! Soulblast, shuffle my deck and soulcharge two."

"A crit lock and loaded. Good going, Probie!" Harui cheered.

"Thanks! And I'm going to step it up too. I call Steam Battler, Gungnram! When he's called, I soulcharge one, then I'll soulblast three to draw one! Gungnram attacks! (8000)"

"No guard. (Steam Maiden, Arlim)"

"Omimacrowg attacks next! (8000)"

"Maimai, no pass. (23000)"

"Drive check! (Vilnies Chimaera) Nothing. Turn end."

Ryuuga
Hand: 6
Damage: 1
OXO
OOO

Kikka
Hand: 7
Damage: 0
OXX
OOO

"This is where the scary part begins. Have fun, Kikka." Satoru said.

"What? What's that supposed to mean?" Kikka asked, but the boy in shades just smiled. "Satoru? Satoru!"

"Stand and draw. (0>3) Ride! Smokegear Dragon! Then call! Brainwasher Swirler, Steam Scara, Gigi and Steam Battler, Zargon! Swirler's skill, soulcharge. Gigi's skill. Since I have Jet's crest, I soulblast two to draw. Boosted by Zargon, Smokegear attacks! Zargon's skill, Smokegear gets a new ability. (10000>>18000)"

"Eighteen to eight... If I don't guard, Zargon goes off, but I can't make it a no pass with just one card..." Kikka muttered to herself, eyes locked on her cards. "If he gets a trigger, the other column will also be impossible to guard with one card..."

"Does she do that alot?" Ryuuga asked.

"Yeah. But it only shows she's serious about kicking your ass and making you her mentor, so I'd get ready for some pain if I was you!" Harui grinned.

"I've decided. I'll guard with Clenn! (23000)"

"One? You got it. Drive check. (Soul Funeral Dragon, Noctursio) No trigger."

"Thank goodness..." Kikka breathed a sigh of relief.

"But my turn's not done yet. Gigi boosts, Swirler attacks! (8000>>16000)"

"No guard! (Airam Capricornus)"

"Turn end."

Ryuuga
Hand: 5
Damage: 1
XXO
XXO

Kikka
Hand: 6
Damage: 1
OXX
OOO

"Alright, my turn. Stand and draw! (3>6) I ride Evil Eye Beast, Ominaowls! Ominaowls' skill! I put a critical into soul from deck and then draw one after shuffling! I call a second Gungnram to the back and soulcharge! Once again, soulblast three to draw one! Next up, I call Vilnies to the back and Cleansweep to the front! Battle! Vilnies boosts, Gungnram attacks! (8000>>16000)"

"No guard. (Steam Scara, Mal-Nigal - Heal) Heal. Power to Smokegear and I'll heal one. (20000)"

"That's fine! Ominaowls attacks the vanguard! (20000)"

"Leimina. That's a no pass. (25000)."

"Drive check! (Phonograph Operastar) Boosted by Gungnram, Cleansweep attacks Swirler! (10000>>18000)"

"Sure, he retires."

"Turn end!"

Ryuuga
Hand: 4
Damage: 1
OXO
XXO

Kikka
Hand: 6
Damage: 1
XXX
XOX

"See? What did I told you? You can go crazy far if you commit to that nuts early Unica can pull off! If not for a trigger, Ryuuga would be five feet under by now!" Harui exclaimed.

"Even if he hadn't, I'd still need to be on my guard." Kikka replied.

"You got that right. Against a branch manager, having the advantage is a null thing." Ryuuga smirked. "Stand and draw. (3>6) I'll drop Noctursio to ride."

Ryuuga picked up the last card in his ride deck.

"Lead into a future spiral! Open the soul of a new world! Ride! Speed ahead, Chronojet Dragon!"

"Smokegear's skill! Soulblast to grab another Noctursio from the deck! Skill of the discarded Noctursio, I draw one. Gigi moves up and I call a second Zargon behind her. Battle. Zargon boosts, Gigi attacks. (8000>>16000)"

"Riley! (20000)"

"This one you won't guard. Zargon boosts, Chronojet attacks! (13000>>21000) Spiral Strike!"

"You're right, I can't keep dodging Zargon forever... No guard!"

"Twin drive! (Upstream Dragon) (Diabolos Girls, Maimai - Critical) Crit, all to Jet! (21000>>31000/2) Spiral Soul Strike Against the Supreme!"

"D-damage check! (Kitz Peak Griffin) (Almajestar, Astroea=Unica) Damn..."

"Zargon's skill, I put two cards from drop into the soul. Turn end."

Ryuuga
Hand: 7
Damage: 1
XXO
XXO

Kikka
Hand: 5
Damage: 3
XXX
XOX

"You're not a branch manager for nothing, Ryuuga-san..." Kikka admitted. "But don't take me lightly just because I'm a probie! Stand and draw! (6>9) Dazzling gems imprisioned across the silent cosmos, shine ever so brightly! I ride! Almajestar, Astroea=Unica!"

"I'll start by using my Energy Generator's skill! I pay seven energy to draw a card! (9>2) Then, call! Phonograph Operastar, Kitz Peak Griffin and Airam Capricornus! Operastar's skill, counterblast to draw! Kitz Peak's skill, move two criticals to my soul! Battle! Boosted by Airam, Unica attacks! (13000>>21000) Airam's skill! Move a third critical into my soul! Then, Unica's skill! Soulblast and bind three criticals! The Zargon behind your vanguard retires and Unica gets a drive and a critical! (21000>>21000/2) Then, her other skill activates three times! I choose Unica, Vilnies and Kitz Peak! (21000>>26000) (8000>>13000) (10000>>15000) Operastar, Kitz Peak and Vilnies' skills! All get 5k! Vilnieas soulcharges one! (10000>>15000) (15000>>20000) (13000>>18000) Take this! Tri-Star Exodus!"

"Arlim, perfect guard."

"Wasting a perfect guard while at such low damage?" Yukie asked.

"I bet he's trying to act all big and cool by not going past three or something." Harui crossed her arms with a scoff. "You're lame, Ryuuga."

"Yup yup, silence from the peanut gallery, thank you very much." Ryuuga sighed.

"Yeah, zip it tanuki, I'm trying to focus. Triple drive! (Kitz Peak Griffin) (Cleansweep Dragon) (Connected Rampage, Clenn - Critical) I got it! Critical trigger! I give it all to Operastar! (15000>>25000/2) Boosted by Gungnram, Kitz Peak attacks! (20000>>28000)"

"No guard. (Steam Breath Dragon)"

"Boosted by Vilnies, Operastar! (25000>>43000/2)"

"No guard. (Upstream Dragon) (Steam Scara, Mal-Nigal - Heal) Heal. Power to Jet, I'll heal Upstream."

"Again?! All of that and I only got you to three..." Kikka grit her teeth. "I'll just have to compensate next turn then... Turn end!"

Ryuuga
Hand: 5
Damage: 3
XXO
XOO

Kikka
Hand: 7
Damage: 3
XXX
XXX

"Don't knock yourself down yet. You've been doing great, Kikka." The branch manager reassured. "But now's the time when I get to let loose. Stand and draw. (6>9)"

Ryuuga placed Noctursio into his drop zone.

"Liberating the Generation Zone! Listen to the roar of the gear dragon whose howitzers blast a hole through certain fate! Generation Stride! Interdimensional Dragon, Faterider Dragon!"

"Hey, Kikka?" Harui spoke up.

"What?"

"Remember how Mukuro's my best stride?"

"Yeah, what about it?"

"Faterider's Ryuuga's best."

"It's what?!"

"Stop fear mongering, girl Izuru." Ryuuga deadpanned. "If it puts your mind at ease, I'm not throwing out seven stupid attacks like her. Faterider's only as good as my used up G Zone, so this turn'll be on the weaker end."

"R-right... I'll keep that in mind, Ryuuga-san. Thank you for the advice."

"No problem. But back to the game. Chronojet's stride skill! Counterblast to spin Operastar to the bottom of the deck!"

"You're actually using that thing?" Satoru asked.

"It's a situational stride skill, and Operastar hitting 30k unboosted under Persona Ride next turn is a situation. Noctursio's skill, I draw one. I'll also pay seven energy to draw again. (9>2) Nice one. I call Upstream Dragon and Noctursio! Noctursio's skill, counterblast to draw and put two Noctursios from drop into soul."

"Ugh, with all this Noctursio talk you'd think he was playing Drajeweled..." Harui stuck her tongue out in disgust.

"Drajeweled wishes he could abuse this card like my deck can. Battle! Zargon boosts, Upstream attacks! Upstream's skill, add 5k! (10000>>18000>>23000)"

"Guard with Clenn! (28000)"

"With the rest of his skill, I return Upstream to the deck and call Gigi behind Noctursio! Gigi's skill, soulblast two to draw, and since she was called by a skill, she gets 5k! (8000>>13000) Faterider attacks! (28000) Faterider's skill! Counterblast, turn a G Unit face up and return Zargon to the deck to call Upstream back out! For each face up card in my G Zone, Upstream gets 5k! (10000>>15000) And with one face up card in my G Zone, my Crest gives my front row 5k! (15000>>20000) (28000>>33000) (13000>>18000) Upheaval Epoch Fusilade!"

"Elementaria Sanctitude, perfect guard! Since your vanguard has natural triple drive, I can use it for free!"

"Triple drive. (Steam Battler, Zargon) (Black Sky Quaking Thunder Queen, Leimina) (Steam Maiden, Arlim) No trigger. Gigi boosts, Noctursio attacks! (18000>>31000)"

"I'll intercept with Kitz Peak and guard with Riley! (33000)"

"Upstream attacks! Skill! (20000>>25000)"

"No guard! (Phonograph Operastar)"

"Upstream goes back into the deck and I call Gigi behind my vanguard. Once again, soulblast two to draw. Turn end."

Ryuuga
Hand: 11
Damage: 3
OXX
OXX

Kikka
Hand: 4
Damage: 4
OXO
XXX

"Eleven cards in hand... Faterider's true power isn't himself or your Crest, is it? It's how it combos with Upstream and Gigi. Even without Energy Generator amd Noctursio's effects, you'd still draw two cards relatively easy. And even if your field was empty, one Upstream with Faterider's skill can still net you two cards by reusing the same Gigi. Soul isn't a problem by virtue of the nation you play- Well, manage."

"You got a good eye, Kikka." Ryuuga smiled. "You're really dedicated, aren't you?"

"I don't know yet... But I'm serious about improving, and about becoming your student."

"Answer me something then."

"What is it, Ryuuga-san?"

"Why do you play Vanguard?"

"H-huh?!"

"You heard me. Why do you play Vanguard? What made you pick up the cards? How has it touched you?"

Ryuuta looked at the afternoon sky.

"For me it was my dream of seeing the world. I could have gone my entire life without Vanguard, living in my bubble, forever oblivous to the people I could meet. But nine years ago, when I was your age, I met my mentor. He offered me my dream on a silver platter, and all I had to do was beat him once. With a deal like that, how could I not take it? But that dream of mine just ended up being a small drop in a much bigger pond. I met friends who fought alongside me, rivals who fought against me, I met people who just wanted closure and people who wanted someone to reach out for them, I met my best friend, I met my wife, I grew closer to my family- Vanguard isn't just something I play, Vanguard is my life!"

Ryuuga looked back at Kikka.

"So, I'll ask you again. Why do you play Vanguard?"

But Kikka didn't answer.

Her words were caught in her throat.

Her thoughts raced quicker than she could handle.

Her breathing grew faster the more time she took to answer.

Her hand, once again, began shaking.

"Is a reason all that important?"

Ryuuga looked at Harui.

"There's those who were touched by Vanguard like you, and those who touched Vanguard like us. It can start big right off the gate, and it can take years to truly have a grand reason. We train to be better, fight each other to understand each other better and grow closer, we fight for fun, for glory, to understand our own selves better. That competitiveness, that drive- All of it is an accolade to being human."

Kikka's scrambled thoughts were broken by the gentle feeling of two people holding her hand. She looked at Yukie, who gave her a comforting smile, and Satoru, who gave her a thumbs up.

"An accolade to being human..." Ryuuga muttered, and then laughed. "If only Izuru was as eloquent as you when he was your age, it had save me so much trouble as his big brother!"

"Ryuuga-san..." Kikka spoke up. "I'm not sure why I really play Vanguard... But I want to do something I can be proud off. That's all I know for now. Am I dedicated? Others can say I am, but I'm still not sure myself... But I'm serious about this. That much I know. So please, Ryuuga-san..."

Kikka's eyes became steeled with determination.

Ryuuga smiled.

(Media - FAITH)

"Bear witness to my determination! Stand and draw! (2>5) Dazzling gems imprisioned across the silent cosmos, shine once more! Persona Ride! Almajestar, Astroea=Unica!"

"(13000>>23000) I call Cleansweep Dragon and Kitz Peak Griffin! (10000>>20000) (10000>>25000) Kitz Peak's skill, I move two triggers into my soul! Cleansweep's skill! Counterblast to send Noctursio and both Gigis to the soul! Cleansweep gets 15k! (20000>>35000) I call Operastar over Kitz Peak! (10000>>25000) With her skill, draw! Boosted by Airam, Unica attacks! (23000>>31000) Unica's skill! I soulblast three triggers and bind Clenn to get a drive and a critical! (31000>>31000/2) Unica's other skill, give Cleansweep gets 10k, Vilnies gets 5k! (35000>>45000) (8000>>13000) Vilnies' skill! (13000>18000) Operastar's skill! (25000>>30000) Take this! Tri-Star Exodus!"

"Arlim! Perfect guard!"

"Triple drive! (Stem Deviate Dragon - Critical) Critical! I give all effects to Cleansweep! (45000>>55000/2) (Stem Deviate Dragon - Critical) Critical! I give all effects to Cleansweep again! (55000/2>>65000/3) (Stem Deviate Dragon - Critical) Cleansweep! (65000/3>>75000/4)"

"You're kidding me! A triple crit?! In Unica of all decks?! I can't even get a double in a Mukuro turn! And I have Forktail and Shogoat filtering my deck!" Harui cried.

"You've used two Arlims, one was damaged and Swirler soulcharged your Sanctitude! Good luck guarding this, Ryuuga-san! I'm coming at you with all I got! Boosted by Vilnies, Cleansweep attacks! (75000>>93000/4)"

"Can Ryuuga-san guard that? Even with ten cards in hand, an attack of that size with no sentinels is almost a sure kill." Yukie said.

"Even with an overtrigger, he still needs another 35k worth of shield." Satoru replied. "The only known triggers in his hand is Maimai, he'll still need another 20k."

"Come on you Dark Zone bum, take the attack and go to seven!" Harui exclaimed.

"I'm not a Dark Zone bum, I'm a branch manager! The Dark Zone's branch manager! Sawada Ryuuga!" Ryuuga declared. "Over Guard! Spiritual King of Aquatics, Idosfaro! (63000)"

"He's really going to hard guard it!" Satoru blurted out.

"Then, guard! Maimai, Steam Breath, Swirler, Leimina and Zargon! (98000)"

"No way..." Kikka muttered, eyes widenned. "For real?! Ryuuga-san... You really aren't someone that can get taken lightly! Turn end!"

"She's not attacking with Operastar?" Yukie asked.

"No, that's a good thing. Jet lives and dies by the counterblast, if she damage denies him here, she can tank his next turn and win in the next!" Harui explained.

Ryuuga
Hand: 3
Damage: 3
OXO
OOO

Kikka
Hand: 6
Damage: 4
XXX
XXX

"Damage denied, huh... Man, I really had to show off and use Jet's stride skill last turn, didn't I. That's karma, alright..." Ryuuga sweatdropped.

Harui felt a shiver go down her spine.

"I messed up..."

"Harui?" Satoru asked, looking at his friend.

"Stand and draw. (2>5)"

All throughout the game, the cards in Ryuuga's hands have come and gone. His initial hand was long gone.

All except one card.

Ryuuga placed Chronojet Dragon into his drop zone.

"Liberating the Generation Zone! Even in this turbulent world, we'll keep stepping foward! Even if we go down, we'll keep following our instincts and keep pushing into the future!"

Ryuuga reached up and clenched his fist.

"Now go into the far off future and overcome all fears, even those unknown! Speed ahead and show me the future I truly desire! GENERATION STRIDE!"

Kikka, Yukie and Satoru watched in awe. Harui grit her teeth.

"Chronodragon Nextage!"

"But why go into Nextage when he has no counterblast..." Satoru muttered to himself, but he soon caught on. His eyes widenned. "He has-!"

"Yeah... I got so caught up in the moment I didn't even consider the possibility of it...! He has Upstream in his hand!"

"Incorrect, girl Izuru. I got two. Call! Upstream, Stem Deviate, Upstream! Crest! (10000>>20000) (28000>>38000) (10000>>20000) Here I come, Kikka! I'll return the respect you gave me by going all out by doing the same!"

"Bring it on, Ryuuga-san!" Kikka exclaimed.

"Battle! Stem Deviate boosts, Upstream attacks! Skill! (20000>>24000>>29000)"

"I guard with Stem Deviate and intercept with Cleansweep! (33000)"

"Stem Deviate's skill! He goes to the soul and gives the standing Upstream 2k! (20000>>22000) Upstream's skill! He goes back into the deck and calls Purple Jeweled Beast, Almethys! Almethys' skill! I return the Chrono Dran and Masergear in the drop to the ride deck face up and countercharge! Chronodragon Nextage attacks! (38000) Spiral Time Zodiac Blazer!"

"Perfect guard! Repelled Malice Dragon!"

"Triple drive! (Chronojet Dragon) (Steam Breath Dragon) (Upstream Dragon) No trigger! Chronodragon Nextage's Generation Break! Counterblast, discard two cards and return him to the G Zone! Chronojet stands! And since there's a new card face up in the G Zone, my front row gets another 5k! (13000>>28000) (22000>>27000) Boosted by Almethys, Upstream attacks! Skill! (27000>>35000>>40000)"

"No guard! (Steam Battler, Gungnram)"

"Upstream's skill! Return to the deck and call Swanlake Odile behind my vanguard!"

"Odile?!" Kikka asked.

"I'll take it you put the pieces together for what this combo is, Kikka." Ryuuga smirked. "Swanlake Odile boosts, Chronojet attacks! (28000>>36000) Odile's skill! When she boosts a grade 3, I soulblast one to give her 10k! Then, Chronojet Dragon's Generation Break! For this battle, he gets 5k and you can't guard with grade 1 or higher units! (36000>>46000>>51000) Spiral Strike!"

"Grade 1 or highers?!" Kikka exclaimed. "Dammit... No guard..."

"Twin drive! (Steam Scara, Gigi) (Soul Funeral Dragon, Noctursio) Spiral Soul Strike Against the Supreme!"

"Damage check... (Cleansweep Dragon) I lost... Good game, Ryuuga-san."

"Same here, Kikka." Ryuuga smiled. "As for that mentor thing-"

"I don't care what I have to do, be it clean this place or even do all your errands..." Kikka cut in and looked up. "I beg of you, become my mentor!"

Ryuuga smiled.

"I respect your determination, but the answer's the same as before. The old temple's under reconstruction so it won't be long until I have my plate full with stupid paperwork. Sorry, but it is what it is."

"No... I'm the one who should apologize. I said I'd prove I was worth your time, I don't have the right to bet after losing." Kikka admitted and gathered her cards. "Thank you for at least giving me a chance, Ryuuga-san."

"Right..."

Sandwiched between the awkward mood in the air and the triple volley of judging stares coming from Harui, Yukie and Satoru, Ryuuga sighed and scratched the back of his neck.

"Look, I'm serious about not being mentor material, but I'll acknowledge your dedication would make you a prime student for any mentor out there."

Ryuuga grabbed one of the cards in his drop and handed it to Kikka.

"Do me a favour and take this. Call it a show of gratitude for the fight today."

"No way..." Kikka muttered as she looked at the card. "A-are your serious, Ryuuga-san?!"

"Absolutely. You are an up and coming Dark States player, and I happen to be the Dark Zone branch manager, so it's my duty to support you to some extent."

"That's nice and all, but answer me this." Harui cut in. "Idosfaro isn't a Dark States card! How come we never get a free busted Over Trigger when we fight you?!"

"The only one of you three who could even begin to use it is Satoru-kun! Dragon Empire always plays Dragveda unless you're on Zed, and Yukie-chan plays the one Keter deck that uses Amartinoa! I don't want any complaining from you, girl Izuru!"

Harui crossed her arms and pouted.

"Ryuuga-san... Thank you! I promise I won't disappoint you!" Kikka declared with a wide smile.

"You better. I'll take that card away from you if I don't start seeing your name in the big leagues soon." Ryuuga laughed, putting his hat back on. "Now you four, hippity hoppity off my boss' property, I wanna take a nap."

Though they left without getting Kikka the mentor she came looking for, the group still left with something, so it wasn't all lost. Harui wanted to give Ryuuga a piece of her mind, but that could wait for the next Sawada family dinner.

As the group walked out of the empty lot, Kikka couldn't stop giggling at her new card.

"Look at her, all happy because she got a new fancy card. Reminds me of when Harui got her copy of Shogoat." Satoru teased.

"I don't like I'm being like her but I'm too happy at the moment." Kikka chuckled. "Ryuuga-san was really nice... But it's still so fustrating to have lost."

"For what is worth, you've improved alot since yesterday, Kikka-san." Yukie said.

"And it's all because of the great Ibuki Harui's advices! I really am her!" Harui laughed victoriously.

"At least explain what that means if you're gonna keep saying it." The redhead deadpanned. "So, you guys got any plans for now?"

"I got some scheduled, but you guys can come and watch."

"Really? What are you gonna do, Harui?"

Harui stopped and looked back at her friends with a grin.

"Go see my mentor, duh."