Ten minutes passed since the start of the second hour.

Even though Ban managed to close the gap in numbers between the two schools after Shin beat Aimi and Minami back to back, the gap was soon remade by Shin himself.

At the start of the Battle Fight, as the temple bells announced its beginning, the members of Shinjuku Tech went their separate ways, with the exception of Koko, who followed Kiyokiyo, and Yamagishi, who tried to follow Shin, but soon lost sight of him and went to do her own thing before being beaten by a student council president.

The last student to exit Shinjuku's garden was Ibuki, who quietly wandered through the forest by herself.

'Why...'

Fight after fight, as players from both sides fell one after the other, she arrived at the temple town. She walked through the small spaces between the buildings there present, sticking to the shadows while avoiding making any sound, and even caught the initial words of Minami and Masao's conversation.

But Ibuki soon left the temple town without interfering, and stepped into Heiwa's side of the battlefield.

'I'm sorry...'

She wandered Heiwa's side battlefield endlessly, until she caught a glimspe of Izuru running, and quickly hid behind a tree, tossing her V Buckle away from her to prevent it from getting locked with his.

'You'll never forgive me if I win... And you'll never forgive yourself if I lose...'

After Izuru left her sight, she walked up to her V Buckle and crouched down to pick it up. She looked down at her weak reflection in the buckle's card slot, and left out a small whimper.

"Why... Why did things have to be like this..." Ibuki muttered, resting her forehead on her buckle.

But then, she felt the touch of a hand on her right shoulder, and looked up.

"Lock On! Ibuki Nino! Mitsuki Chika!"

Chika smiled.

"Do you want to talk about it, Ibuki-san?" She asked.

After helping Ibuki get up, the two girls walked down to a small clearing. A river that passed through the property passed through the clearing aswell. In fact, it was the same river Nobu took a break next too. The two sat on some boulders that were near the river in silence, and while Chika looked at the streaming water, Ibuki stared down at her lap.

A couple of minutes went by without any of them saying a word, so Chika tried to break the ice.

"Finding you was easier than I thought, Ibuki-san... I just... Had a feeling you'd try to come see Izuru, after you two met at the starting area." Chika said with a low chuckle. "Can I... Can I ask why you're here, Ibuki-san?"

Ibuki quietly got up, holding her V Buckle close to her chest.

"I'd rather just... Get this moving along, Chika-chan... It's better we end this as fast as we can..."

"If that's what you want... Then let's do it, Ibuki-san." Chika smiled, getting up aswell.

The two girls created some distance between each other, and both placed their V Buckles on their waists. Ibuki quietly slid her Fusion Card into hers and pulled the side handle.

The card slot flipped around, revealing a front piece with a black diamond surrounded by white.

"Turn Up."

"Uhm, Ibuki-san, before we start, there's something I'd like to tell you..." Chika muttered, clenching her right fist. She raised her head, and looked at her opponent with a smile. "Thank you, Ibuki-san!"

Ibuki looked up at Chika.

"...eh...?"

"I was never the social type at school... I was president of the student council once, but I felt like an outsider next to the other members... I didn't had any friends until I met Izuru-kun and Aimi-san, but even after becoming their friend, and becoming friends with Tate-kun, Yumi-san, Ban-san, I still felt like an outsider at times... Despite my privileged background, the thing I most liked was something most deemed to be for kids, others deem they are for boys, so I never showed those around me what I liked, or even tried to find others who shared my interests... But then, on the day Izuru-kun and Ban-kun accidently found about my secret, I met you."

Chika showed her Fusion Card, holding it between the tips of her thumb and index finger, and turned it around, before entering it into her V Buckle.

"Even though you teased me in our first encounter, and mocked me by giving me a false sense of confidence... You still became someone I looked up to. You were such an outgoing person, always speaking what was in your mind... You were independent, beautiful, smart, and... And really cool. Ever since I met you, I've began to change... I began changing for the better. I can talk about the things I like with others now, and I've even... I've found someone who shares my interests and grew to have a relationship with them... I was always scared of leaving my friends in Heiwa and go to college on my own, but after meeting you... That fear left me. So thank you, Ibuki-san. Thank you for the power you've given me. I don't know what you're going through right now, and if you don't want to tell me, that's fine, but... I'll do my best to help you, Ibuki-san."

"Chika-chan..." Ibuki muttered.

Chika took a deep breath.

"Ibuki-san!" She exclaimed, extending her right arm and hand diagonally to the left, while holding her right hand near her waist. "Please watch my Stand Up!"

'Why... Why would you ever look up to someone like me...'

"Stand..." Chika said, slowly moving her her right arm back to the right. Then, she clenched her right fist, and as she pulled it back to pull the V Buckle's side handle, she extended her left arm and hand diagonally to the right. "...Up!"

Chika's card slot was flipped, revealing a dark green front piece, with a red clover at the center, though the upper clover piece was also dark green, and split into two at the top, like an insect's antenna.

"Turn Up."

Now connected, the two V Buckles projected the starting blue cards, but Chika didn't just wait for hers to be fully projected. As her Buckle projected it, she ran after it, and then jumped through it after it stopped.

One the other hand, Ibuki just stumbled her way to the game board.

"Stand up, vanguard!" Chika exclaimed, in english instead of japanese, to make a reference only people with good taste will get. "Sol Maiden, Uzume!"

"Stand up, vanguard... Starting Legend, Ambrosius."

"Draw! Ride! Citrine Witch, MuMu! Uzume's skill, I draw one card! Turn end!"

Chika
Hand: 6
Damage: 0
OXO
OOO

Ibuki
Hand: 5
Damage: 0
OXO
OOO

"Draw... I ride Charging Jewel Knight, Morvidus. Ambrosius' skill, draw and get a Ticket... Morvidus attacks. (8000)"

"No guard!"

"(Leading Jewel Knight, Salome)"

"Damage check! (Seablue Witch, NiNi)"

"Turn end..."

Chika
Hand: 6
Damage: 1
OXO
OOO

Ibuki
Hand: 8
Damage: 0
OXO
OOO

"Draw! Ride! Topaz Witch, PiPi! MuMu's skill, since a Witch rode upon her, I draw one card! I call NiNi and use her skill! By moving her into the soul, I scry three and return them in any order! PiPi attacks! PiPi's skill! Since my hand has more than four cards, she gets 2k! (8000>>10000)"

"I... Sicilus. (18000)"

"Drive check! (Scarlet Witch, CoCo) No trigger. Turn end!"

Chika
Hand: 7
Damage: 1
OXO
OOO

Ibuki
Hand: 8
Damage: 0
OXO
OOO

"Stand and draw... I ride Dogmatize Jewel Knight, Sybill. Morvidus' skill, draw... I call Livarot, and soulblast one to superior call Laile with his skill. Livarot... Attacks. (10000)"

"Heal Guard! Goddess of Water Dragon, Toyotamahime! (33000)"

"Sybill attacks... I put a card into soul to draw with her skill. (10000)"

"No guard!"

"(Fruiting Jewel Knight, Eunice) No trigger... Turn end."

Chika
Hand: 6
Damage: 1
OXO
OOO

Ibuki
Hand: 9
Damage: 0
XXX
OOO

"Stand and draw! Amazing! Best! Genius! The great witch bathes the world in the brilliance of her deep blue magic, and gathers the knowledge of a century of witchcraft around her staff! Ride! Benitoite Witch, YoYo!"

Chika clenched both her fists, and after holding her right fist by her left wirst, she that arm extending to the left thing again.

Fucking weebs.

"Here I come, Ibuki-san! Imaginary Gift, Protect I! Then, PiPi's skill! Since a Witch rode upon her, I soulblast one to draw a card! I call MuMu and PuPu to my right column! MuMu's skill! I soulblast one and rest her to scry five, reveal NiNi, MuMu and YoYo, and then add MuMu to hand! I call MuMu and use her skill! I reveal PuPu and YoYo, and add PuPu to hand! Since I didn't reveal three cards, MuMu goes into the soul! I call PuPu, and go into the battle phase! YoYo attacks your vanguard! (12000) Benitoite Stamping Kick!"

"No guard..."

"Twin drive! (Divine Sword, Kusanagi - Critical) Critical trigger! I give the critical to YoYo, and the power to my right PuPu! (12000>>12000/2) (9000>>19000) (Divine Sword, Ame-no-Murakumo)"

"(Pure Heart Jewel Knight, Ashlei) (Future Knight, Llew - Critical) Vanguard. (20000)"

"My right PuPu attacks Laile! PuPu's skill I reveal one Protect in my hand to give her 5k! (19000>>24000)"

"Llew. (25000)"

"My left Pupu attacks Laile then! PuPu's skill! (9000>>14000)"

"Livarot intercepts. (15000)"

"Turn end!"

Chika
Hand: 8
Damage: 1
XXX
OOX

Ibuki
Hand: 8
Damage: 2
XXO
OOO

"Stand and draw... The troubled waters are frozen fast, and under a clear heaven, moonlight and shadow... M-moonlight and shadow..." Ibuki muttered, covering her mouth with one hand. "R-ride... Leading Jewel Knight, Salome..."

"Ibuki-san..."

"Chika-chan... I heard what you said." The white haired girl admitted, placing a hand on her chest. "But... I'm sorry... I'm sorry for not living up to your expectations, and for making you to look up to someone like me..."

"No, that isn't true, Ibuki-san! You were always great! I couldn' have asked for someone better to look up to! My life wouldn't have been the same without you, Ibuki-!"

"Chika-chan...!" Ibuki screamed, with a small crack in her voice. "I'm... I'm the only loser here... Regardless of who wins at the end of the day..." She clenched her fist. "I'm going to lose everything... Imaginary Gift, Force I, on Laile's circle. (10000>>20000)"

"Lose everything...? What are you talking about, Ibuki-san?!"

"Sybill's skill, I scry three... And call Eunice behind Laile. I call Morvidus and Sybill. Battle... Boosted by Morvidus, Sybill attacks. Sybill's skill. (10000>>18000)"

"I guard with Ame-no-Murakumo! (22000)"

"Boosted by Eunice, Laile attacks... Laile's skill, botdeck two to soulcharge and get 5k...! (20000>>33000)"

"No guard! (Benitoite Witch, YoYo)"

"Eunice's skill. Botdeck a normal unit to soulcharge, and then return her to hand... Salome attacks. (13000) Black Star... Lobelia!"

"I guard with Kusanagi! (42000) No pass!"

"(Explode Jewel Knight, Laile) (Dogmatize Jewel Knight, Sybill) Salome's skill... Counterblast, call Sybill and Laile from hand over the ones in the field, and call Eunice over Morvidus... Then soulblast four and restand Salome. Black Lobelia Grandeur... Morvidus' skill, draw... Sybill's skill, scry three and... And call Eunice behind Salome... Laile's skill... (10000>>30000) Boosted by Eunice, Salome attacks...! (13000>>21000) Black Star... Lobelia!"

"No guard!"

"Twin drive... (Leading Jewel Knight, Salome) (Laurel Knight, Sicilus)"

"Damage check! (Jade Witch, TeTe)"

"Eunice's skill, soulcharge and bounce... Boosted by Eunice, Sybill attacks. Sybill's skill. (10000>>18000)"

"Guard with Psychic Bird! (27000)"

"Laile attacks... Laile's skill. (30000>>35000)"

"Protect, perfect guard!"

"Turn... Turn end..."

Chika
Hand: 3
Damage: 4
XXX
OOX

Ibuki
Hand: 11
Damage: 2
XXX
OOO

"Ibuki-san, I don't know what's going, but I can tell it's eating you from the inside out... So I'll do my best to save you, Ibuki-san! I won't tell you lose anything! Stand and draw! Ride! Scarlet Witch, CoCo! Imaginary Gift, Protect I! YoYo's skill, she calls herself behind PuPu! CoCo's skill! Counterblast, soulblast NiNi, who counts as a grade 3 in soul, to draw two cards! Then I discard two Witches to add two Protects to hand! I call MuMu and go into my battle phase! Boosted by MuMu, CoCo attacks! (12000>>20000)"

"Guard... Eunice and Sicilus. (33000)"

"Twin drive! (Wistaria Witch, ZoZo) (Seablue Witch, NiNi) YoYo's skill! After my Witch vanguard attacks a grade 3 or greater vanguard, since it is the first battle of the turn, I counterblast one and discard two to superior ride a Witch from hand! Rounding Witch Call! Descend, witch whose power burns in a violet veil! Ride! Wistaria Witch, ZoZo! Protect I! ZoZo attacks! ZoZo's skill! I reveal any amount of Protects from hand and my front row gets 5k for each revealed! I reveal four for 20k! Around the Wisteria! (12000>>32000) (12000>>32000) (9000>>29000) Vibrant Wisteria Call!"

"Iseult, perfect guard..."

"Twin drive! (Wisteria Witch, ZoZo) (Psychic Bird - Critical) Critical trigger! I give all the effects to PuPu! (29000>>39000/2) YoYo attacks! (32000)"

"(Pure Heart Jewel Knight, Ashlei)"

"Boosted by MuMu, PuPu attacks! PuPu's skill! I reveal four Protects! (39000>>67000/2)"

"No guard... (Absolute Blade Knight, Livarot) (Innocent Ray Dragon - Heal) Vanguard, heal one... (23000)"

"Ibuki-san, I-!"

"Please..." Ibuki cut in. "Please just let it go, Chika-chan..."

"But, Ibuki-san!"

"SHUT UP!"

Chika
Hand: 7
Damage: 3
XXX
XXX

Ibuki
Hand: 7
Damage: 4
XXX
OOO

Ibuki clenched her fist and raised it. As tears began rolling down her face, she swung her fist down, continously hitting her V Buckle until her knuckles were scraped by the patterns carved into the front piece.

"I'm going to lose everything at the end of the day... I can win... I can lose... I can give up... BUT I'LL NEVER SEE IZURU AND HARUI-CHAN AGAIN!"

(Media - Heretics)

"Ibuki-san..." Chika muttered. "W-why are you saying things like that, Ibuki-san?!"

"BECAUSE HE KNOWS!" Ibuki cried, grabbing her head with both hands. "GAKUGANJI KNOWS! He knows about our mother's divorce... H-he knows Harui-chan is with me and Izuru... A-and he said... I-if I didn't fight in this and won... He'd report the situation to child protective services... I'LL LOSE HARUI IF I LOSE! SHE'S JUST A CHILD, BEING TAKEN CARE OF BY TWO TEENAGERS WHO DON'T EVEN HAVE FULL TIME JOBS! THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO PROTECT HER EXCEPT WIN AND TAKE DOWN HEIWA!"

Ibuki fell to her knees, and burried her face into her hands.

"But... But if I win, Heiwa is closed..."

"I-i'm sure Izuru-kun will understand!"

"He will, but deep down... Deep down he'll never forgive me, and I'll lose him... And Harui has grown to love him like family... The last thing she wanted was for us to fight in this... S-she'll hate me... If I win, I'll lose both Izuru and Harui... But if I lose... Harui will be taken away... A-and Izuru won't forgive himself for it... Whether Heiwa lives or not... I don't have anyone to return to..."

"Ibuki-san!"

"I don't know what to do... Except this... Stand and draw... Per... PERSONA RIDE! SALOME! FORCE I ON HERSELF! (13000>>23000) Salome's skill... Counterblast, get 10k and a drive aswell... (23000>>33000) I call Eunice and Morvidus! Morvidus' skill, counterblast and botdeck a card to give Sybill 5k and soulcharge one. (10000>>15000) Chika-chan... I'm so sorry... Battle...! Boosted by Morvidus, Sybill attacks! (15000>>23000)"

"Psychic Bird! (27000)"

"Boosted by Eunice, Laile... Laile attacks! (20000>>33000)"

"No guard! (Wisteria Witch, ZoZo)"

"Eunice's skill... Salome attacks... (33000) Black Star... Lobelia!"

"Protect! Perfect guard!"

"Twin drive... (Flash Shield, Iseult - Draw) Salome... (33000>>43000) (Absolute Blade Knight, Livarot) Salome's skill... Call Ashlei, Laile and Eunice... (13000>>23000) Soublast four to restand. Black Lobelia Grandeur... Laile's skill. (23000>>33000) Sybill's skill... No targets... Morvidus' skill, draw... Ashlei attacks. (33000)"

"No guard! (Divine Sword, Kusanagi - Critical) All to my vanguard! (22000)"

"Ashlei's skill, call Laile from the deck! (10000>>20000) Laile attacks...! (20000>>25000)"

"Perfect guard!"

"Boosted by Eunice, Laile attacks! (10000>>23000)"

"Perfect guard!"

"Salome attacks... (43000) Black Star... BLACK STAR LOBELIA!" Ibuki cried.

"No guard... Ibuki-san."

"TWIN DRIVE! (Leading Jewel Knight, Salome) (Fruiting Jewel Knight, Eunice)"

"Damage check."

With a stern look in her face, Chika took her final damage. It was just Jade Witch, Tete, a card that wasn't a heal trigger.

"MITSUKI CHIKA WAS ELIMINATED."

Now that the cardfight was over, the holographic board between the two girls disappeared, allowing Ibuki to stumble up to Chika and grab her by the collar.

"Chika-chan... I don't know what to do anymore... Please help me..." Ibuki sobbed, staring at the ground.

"Ibuki-san... I know Izuru-kun won't abandon you." Chika said, placing her hands over Ibuki's with a warm smile. "So please... Please, go after him. You need to talk things with him."

"But... We'll get locked into a fight... That's the last thing I want to happen..."

"Just throw your V Buckle away like you did earlier then." Chika chuckled. "At least do it when you meet him... There will be a final fight, and it may be between you two... But whatever you do... You can't let this despair consume you. So go, find Izuru-kun, and discuss things with him. I don't want to see you sad when this war ends, Ibuki-san... Please!"

"Chika-san... I'm sorry for being such a pathetic person..."

With that final apology, Ibuki let go of Chika, and quickly ran away from the area. Though Chika tried to catch up to her, she used the woods to her advantage and got out of her sight fast.

Even after hearing Chika's reassuring words, the idea of losing both Izuru and Harui regardless of the outcome of the Battle Fight was too overwhelming.

The clock began ticking on an inevitable confrontation.