Chapter Text
I sighed. Komachi suggested something ridiculous here. An older vs younger siblings competition where the winner can ask the loser whatever they want. There isn't even anything I particularly want to ask Komachi for even if I know she’d give me some impossible request. But I did want to tell Taishi to leave Komachi alone, that he was unwelcome. So in a sense I did have a request.
“You can go first,” Komachi told Kawasaki.
Kawasaki raised an eyebrow. “Alright then,” she said. “I start by activating Witchcrafter Creation letting me add a Witchcrafter from my Deck to my hand. I add Witchcrafter Schmietta and summon her.”
A red-headed girl in a white crop top and red shorts with goggles on her forehead appeared on her field.
“I activate Schmietta’s effect,” Kawasaki continued. “By tributing her and discarding Witchcrafter Collaboration, I can summon Witchcrafter Haine from my Deck!”
Schmietta melted away from the field and was replaced by a brown-haired woman with a black, leather skin tight dress, a black cap, and black, thigh high leather boots. She had 2400 Attack.
“Next, I banish Schmietta from my Graveyard,” Kawasaki said, “to send Witchcrafter Madame Verre from my Deck to the Graveyard.”
“Here she comes,” I heard Taishi mutter. He really should’ve been cheering Komachi on. On the other hand, if Komachi knew then she would be put off by him so he should keep cheering for Kawasaki!
“I activate Witchcrafter Holiday,” Kawasaki said, “to summon Madame Verre from my Graveyard in Defense Position!”
A light blue-hared girl wearing a frilly white dress appeared with a blue aura on a throne made of glass. She had 2800 Defense and her glass staff laid on the floor.
“I end my turn,” she declared. “At this timing, because I control a Witchcrafter monster, I get to add Witchcrafter Creation, Witchcrafter Collaboration, and Witchcrafter Holiday from the Grave back to my hand.”
“Then it’s my turn!” Komachi winked, drawing for turn. “I summon Speedroid Terrortop!”
“A Special Summon?” Kawasaki asked, looking at the logs.
Komachi stuck her tongue out. “Since I control no monsters,” she explained, “I can Special Summon Terrortop!”
The red, centipede-like monster with tops for segments appeared on Komachi’s field.
“Now, since Terrortop was summoned I can add another Speedroid from my Deck to my hand!”
“I chain my Witchcrafter Madame Verre,” Kawasaki said, “By discarding a Spell, like this Witchcrafter Collaboration, I can negate the effects of all monsters on your side!”
Verre lazily grabbed her glass staff and waved it. A thin, white hot sheet of glass covered Terrortop, negating its effects.
“You got me!” Komachi giggled. “I won’t be able to add a Speedroid now. But I can still Normal Summon! I Normal Summon Speedroid Red-Eyed Dice!”
A golden cube with large, bulging, red eyes where the die’s pips would normally be appeared.
“And when it’s summoned, it can change the stars of another monster on my field. I change Terrortop to a 6-star monster.”
Six eyes popped out of its side with six pips and surrounded Terrortop, turning it from a level 3 to a level 6.
“Now there's a level 6 non-Tuner in Terrortop and a level 1 Tuner in Red-Eyed Dice,” I said aloud.
“I activate Witchcrafter Haine’s effect,” Kawasaki said. “I discard Withcrafter Holiday to target your Speedroid Red-Eyed Dice and destroy it.”
In a yellow glow, large sewing needles appeared in front of Haine. She snapped her fingers and they went flying off, piercing all the eyes on Red-Eyed Dice’s sides. It cracked and exploded, getting destroyed.
“Saki…” Komachi said. “You took my bait! Now you have no points of interaction!”
“What?!” Taishi shouted.
Kawasaki just glared at Komachi.
“Now!” Komachi said. “Because I only control Wind monster, I can summon Speedroid CarTurbo!”
A small, rectangular toy karuta with a blue engine block appeared on Komachi’s field.
“I set the Link Arrows with Speedroid Terrortop and Speedroid CarTurbo.”
A Link Circuit appeared on the ground, where the Left Extra Monster Zone is on her field. Her two declared monsters turned into red light arcing across the field onto the bottom right and bottom left Link Arrows of the Circuit.
“I Link Summon Hi-Speedroid Rubber Band Shooter!”
A beam of honeycombed blue light burst from the Circuit. Emerging from it was a six-winged, blue rubber band gun.
“I activate Rubber Band Shooter’s effect,” Komachi declared. “I can Normal Summon a Wind monster. I summon Speedroid Maliciousmagnet.”
Rubber Band Shooter produced and shot a rubber band into the air. The band expanded and turned into a portal where a blue magnetix with two grey magnets sticking out the top appeared.
“Maliciousmagnet’s effect activates,” Komachi declared. “I target your Witchcrafter Haine and using itself and her as material, perform a Synchro Summon.”
“A Synchro Summon,” Kawasaki said, her eyes wide, “using monsters from both sides of the field?!”
Komachi giggled. “I tune my 1-star Speedroid Maliciousmagnet with your 7-star Witchcrafter Haine.”
Maliciousmagnet turned into a see-through green outline before turning itself into a single green band of light around Haine.
“The mischievous magnet attracts the witch who tailors, converting her hatred into childlike joy.”
Haine started glowing and condensed into seven yellow stars.
“I Synchro Summon! The soaring mechanical dragon who guards the gates of the Cyber Style Dojo!”
A beam of white light appeared, enveloping the rings and stars as “1 Level 1 Tuner + 1 Level 7 non-Tuner = 1 Level 8” appeared in green text.
“Come forth! The Roid Style Ace! Hi-Speedroid Kitedrake!”
When the light disappeared, a blue mechanical dragon with eight neon, toxic green kites for wings appeared above her.
“Hi-Speedroid Kitedrake’s effect!” Komachi declared. “When it’s successfully Synchro Summoned, it destroys all other cards on the field!”
“What?!” Kawasaki said.
Kitedrake began descending, creating category eight gusts of winds, destroying every card on the board as it landed behind Komachi.
“It’s okay, Sis!” Taishi said. “It can only attack for 3000 damage! And she destroyed her own Rubber Band Shooter! So she can’t use its second effect to summon an extender!”
I sighed. Taishi really should’ve been praising Komachi. Besides… “She can still summon,” I muttered.
“I discard the Infinite Impermanence in my hand,” Komachi said.
My eyes widened,
“I activate Speedroid Wheel.”
“Imperm…”
Komachi looked at me directly and gave me a huge smile. “Now, I spin a wheel with numbers from one to six and summon one or two Speedroid monsters whose stars equal the result.”
A roulette wheel appeared on Komachi’s board with the results spaced out equally. She threw a ball bearing into the spinning wheel going around and around until it landed on a six.
“We have our result! I summon the 3-star Speedroid Taketomborg and the 3-star Speedroid Ultra Hound!”
A blue bamboo-copter landed in Komachi’s field before transforming into a robot, using its yellow blades as limbs. Then a red ultra hand with a tail, dog feet and ears, and a mouth full of sharp teeth jumped onto her board.
“No Tuners?” Kawasaki asked.
“No Tuners?!” Komachi echoed, rubbing her eyes and pouting. “Oh no! What will I do?!” She smiled and snapped her fingers. “Oh right! Taketomborg can tribute itself to summon a Speedroid Tuner from my Deck! I tribute it to summon from my Deck Speedroid Dominobutterfly!”
Taketomborg began transforming again, turning into a butterfly with dominos for wings.
“I tune the 2-star Speedroid Dominobutterfly with the 3-star Speedroid Ultra Hound.”
Dominobutterfly turned into a see-through green outline before turning itself into two green bands of light around Ultra Hound, who started glowing before condensing itself into three yellow stars.
“I Synchro Summon!”
A beam of white light appeared, enveloping the rings and stars as “1 Level 2 Tuner + 1 Level 3 non-Tuner = 1 Level 5” appeared in green text.
“Come forth! Hi-Speedroid Chanbara!”
When the light disappeared, a giant, red toy piloted by a toy warrior from the guard wielding two more swords appeared. It had 2000 Attack.
But with the 3000 Attack Kitedrake and 2000 Attack Chanbara, she still didn't have game. Unless…
“I activate the effect of my CarTurbo in the GY!” Komachi declared. “By banishing it and the Terrortop from my GY, all Wind monsters on my field gain 800 Attack!”
Kitedrake went up to 3800 Attack while Chanbara went up to 2800 Attack.
“Battle Phase,” she declared. “Kitedrake attacks directly.
Unafraid of Gorz, Kitedrake flapped its wings creating a gale that left Kawasaki at 4200 Life Points.
“Now Chanbara attacks! When it attacks, it gains 200 Attack during the Damage Step.”
Chanbara flew straight through Kawasaki’s chest going up to 3000 Attack and dropping her Life Points to 1200.
“But now you’re out of attacks,” Kawasaki said.
“No,” I said.
“Cyber Bro!” Komachi stamped her foot, pouted, and crossed her arms. “I can explain my own effects!”
I sighed. “Please accept my apology,” I deadpanned. “I was just trying to help. Can we be okey dokey, Mokey Mokey?”
Komachi sighed, shaking her head. “I can’t stay mad at my Cyber Bro,” she said, smiling. She looked back at Kawasaki. “Chanbara can attack twice per battle! It attacks directly again.”
Chanbara turned around and hit Kawasaki straight through her spinal cord going up to 3200 Attack. Kawasaki’s Life Points dropped to 0.
“Yippie!” Komachi shouted, jumping in the air. “I beat a Duel Academy student!”
“I can't believe I lost,” Kawasaki said.
I sighed, going over to her and patting her shoulder. “Don't worry about it,” I told her. “Komachi’s in a different league for a middle schooler, she could easily be in Ra Yellow the way she is right now.”
Kawasaki looked at me before looking away. “That smile on your face is disgusting,” she said, smacking my hand away. “And the way you prop up your sister is just gross.”
I scratched my head as she walked away.
“I’m at least just a design student,” she told me. “It’d be really embarrassing if a Duel student lost here.”
“Thanks,” I said, sighing.
I turned my Duel Disk on and sent over the Duel request.
“Advanced Duel!” we both declared.
“Were you so impatient to Duel me?” I asked.
“You go first, Cyber Bro!” Komachi said.
I sighed. “Yes, yes,” I said. “I normal Cyber Dragon Core.”
A rough skeleton, just an internal mechanism of what should be Cyber Dragon, appeared on my field. It had 400 Attack.
“When it’s summoned, I can add a Cyber Spell/Trap from my Deck to my hand. I add Cybernetic Overflow.”
I looked at my hand: Allure of Darkness, Cybernetic Overflow, Cyber Dragon Nachster, Machine Duplication, and Power Bond. Komachi mustn’t have opened a single hand trap otherwise she would’ve stopped Core’s effect. That means my line is…
“I activate Machine Duplication,” I declared. “I summon two Machine monsters with the same name from my Deck as a monster on my field with 500 Attack or less.”
“Then he’ll have three Level 2 monsters on his field!” Taishi said.
“No,” Kawasaki said. “Cyber Dragon Core’s Continuous Effect makes its name Cyber Dragon on the field and Grave.”
“That means…”
“I summon two Cyber Dragons from my Deck,” I said.
A hanging conveyer belt appeared above and moved around until two dangling Cyber Dragons appeared. It dropped them onto my field.
“Now you have two 5-star monsters on your field,” Komachi said.
“I overlay the two Cyber Dragons on my field."
A black and yellow spiraling vortex appeared on the field, sucking in the two Cyber Dragons.
“I Xyz Summon Cyber Dragon Nova.”
In a flash of white light, the vortex collapsed into itself and exploded. When the dust settled, a Cyber Dragon with black wings and, as a power source, a mini star remained.
“Here it comes,” I heard Komachi mutter.
“I use Nova as material to overlay!” I declared.
A black and yellow spiraling vortex appeared on the field.
“An Xyz Summon using an Xyz Monster as material?!” Taishi gasped.
Nova’s star core burnt bright white and engulfed it before streaking through the air and entering the vortex.
“Rank up! Xyz Evolution!”
The vortex collapsed into itself and exploded in a big bang. It was as if an infinite number of stars started to appear, to be born, as the explosion exponentially expanded.
“Come forth! Cyber Dragon Infinity!”
The sky became a screen tuned to a dead channel. Between the gaps of static was a Cyber Dragon, its wings night black with a tail the shape of infinity. Red lightning flowed through the gaps of its machinery, returning the field to normal.
“For each material on Cyber Dragon Infinity,” I explained, “it gains 200 Attack.”
Three overlay units orbited Infinity as if electrons around a nucleus, increasing its Attack from 2100 Attack to 2700 Attack.
“Next,” I declared, “I set the Link Arrow with Cyber Dragon Core.”
A Link Circuit appeared on the ground, where the Left Extra Monster Zone is on my field. Core turned into a red light arcing across the field onto the bottom right Link Arrow of the Circuit.
“I Link Summon Salamangreat Almiraj!”
A beam of honeycombed blue light burst from the Circuit. Hopping out of it was a cybernetic almiraj. Its rabbit body was made out of cold metal while its singular horn was made of pure fire.
“I set a card,” I said, setting Cybernetic Overflow, “and end my turn.”
Komachi giggled, drawing for turn. “I was worried you'd be different,” she said. “But you’re the same old Cyber Bro using the same old tactics I’ve Dueled against over and over again!”
When was the last time Komachi and I had a Duel? It must've been before the entrance exam, that was the last Duel I had before going to Duel Academy. But the last Duel I had, even before the entrance exam, was…
It was a month before the entrance exam, the day we got our written test results back. It was a time when our plans for the future were being scrutinized by every teacher. Of course I said I wanted to go to Duel Academy. I wasn't even a good Duelist. It was because the girl of your dreams was planning on going there. So you yearned, you dreamed. You reached out for the non-zero percent chance everything would work out, you would go to Duel Academy and you’d be going there with your new girlfriend. But dreams are dreams. Eventually, you had to wake up and face reality.
I asked Orimoto to meet me by the Duel Fields after school. I asked her how her written exam went.
She said she's going to take the practical exam.
I told her I passed, more than passed. The math and science portions had given me a bit of trouble but I egged it out thanks to the literature and rulings portion.
She congratulated me. But the air was still when she said it.
You knew the stillness was there but chose to ignore it. Instead you asked her what essay topic she was going to write as part of her Decklist submission.
She said she hadn't thought about it.
You thought it was your chance, a destiny draw to change the entire outcome of the Duel. So you began to tell her you were thinking of writing about Deckbuilding philosophies.
But she cut you off. She asked if this was all you wanted to ask.
You wanted to say no. That you wanted to ask her out, that you two could be Duel Academy’s Dueling Duo. Instead, you just scratched the back of your head and gave a half-hearted smile telling her you just wanted to congratulate her because you never had any doubt she'd get in.
She said she hasn't gotten in.
You said with a Duelist like her, the outcome was already clear.
Then she asked for a Duel.
You asked her–
“I activate Infinite Impermanence,” Komachi said, winking. “When there are no cards on my field, I can activate this Trap Card straight from my hand. I target Cyber Dragon Infinity and negate its effects.”
A flash of blue lightning exploded from the card hitting through the column straight to Infinity. His red eyes dulled and electricity stopped flowing through his body. It went back down to 2100 Attack.
“Do you remember this card?” Komachi asked.
“Of course,” I said. “I got you a playset when you got your first Deck. You used to play Mokey Mokey.”
She giggled. “I used to lay a Mokey Mokey Smack Down!”
“Yeah,” I said, “I used to have such a hard time beating you.”
“Liar,” she said. “You held back. You always held back against me. Even when I started playing Speedroid, you could've Contact Fused my entire board away but you never did. You always could've beaten me in one turn but you never did.”
I looked at Komachi.
“I won’t hold back,” she told me. “So don't hold back.”
“Then give me your best,” I told her.
“That's what I always do, Cyber Bro!” she said. “Because I control no monsters, I can summon Windwitch – Ice Bell!”
A long, blue-haired girl holding a glass wand and wearing a purple witch hat with a pink frilly dress on a glass broomstick with a bell for a head flew onto the field.
“Windwitch?” I said, glancing at Taishi. “Since when do you play Spellcasters?”
“Since when do you play Ojamas?” she responded.
I couldn’t say anything back. How did she know I played Ojamas? Where did she learn to talk back?
“I…” She gave me a small, wavering smile. “I wanna show you how far I’ve come.”
“Komachi…”
“Since I successfully summoned Ice Bell using its own effect,” she continued, “I can summon another Windwitch from my Deck. I summon Windwitch – Glass Bell!”
Ice Bell waved her wand. A gust of wind followed her wand movements before shaping itself into another girl. She had short, green hair and wore a blue witch hat with a white suit on a similar glass broomstick with a bell for a head.
“Now my monsters effects activate! CL1: Because Glass Bell was summoned, I can add a Windwitch from Deck to hand; CL2: Because Ice Bell was summoned, I inflict 500 damage to you!”
She chainblocked! “I have no effects to chain.” I hoped I wasn't smiling or, at least, wasn't smiling too wide.
“Chain resolution,” Komachi declared. “Ice Bell resolves.”
Ice Bell flicked her wand, sicking a gust of winter air onto me. My Life Points dropped to 7500.
“Then I add Windwitch – Snow Bell to hand,” she said. “Because I control at least two Wind monsters, I can summon Snow Bell to the field.”
A large, snow blue, spherical glass bell with white wings on top appeared on Komachi’s field.
“I tune the 4-star Windwitch – Glass Bell with the 3-star Windwitch – Ice Bell.”
Glass Bell turned into a see-through green outline before turning herself into four green bands of light around Ice Bell, who started glowing before condensing itself into three yellow stars.
“I Synchro Summon!”
A beam of white light appeared, enveloping the rings and stars as “1 Level 4 Tuner + 1 Level 3 non-Tuner = 1 Level 7” appeared in green text.
“Come forth! Windwitch – Winter Bell!”
When the light disappeared, a woman with deep purple dorsal fin, snow blue wings for arms, a green, spherical bell for a torso, and a deep purple fin instead of limbs appeared. She had 2400 Attack.
“I activate Winter Bell’s effect,” Komachi declared, “she deals damage to you equal to the stars of a Windwitch in my GY times 200! Glass Bell is a 4-star monster which means you take 800 damage!”
Winter Bell’s gazed into me and a winter chill blew through me taking me down to 6700 Life Points.
“I’m not done yet!” Komachi said. “I tune the 1-star Windwitch – Snow Bell with the 7-star Windwitch – Winter Bell.”
Snow Bell turned into a see-through green outline before turning itself into a green band of light around Winter Bell, who started glowing before condensing itself into seven yellow stars.
“I Synchro Summon!”
A beam of white light appeared, enveloping the rings and stars as “1 Level 1 Tuner + 1 Level 7 non-Tuner = 1 Level 8” appeared in green text.
“Come forth! Windwitch – Diamond Bell!”
When the light disappeared, an ice blue woman with enveloped in white icicles with a white frozen dress in the shape of a half a bell appeared. She had 2800 Attack.
“Since Diamond Bell was successfully Synchro Summoned,” Komachi said, “she can deal damage equal to half the Attack of a Windwitch in my GY. Winter Bell has 2400 Attack which means 1200 damage!”
Diamond Bell made her icicles face me before firing, dropping my Life Points to 5500 when I got hit.
“Then,” Komachi continued, “because you took damage, Diamond Bell can destroy a card on your field. I target your Set Card!”
“I chain my targeted Cybernetic Overflow,” I responded.
“No response.”
“Then,” I told her, “I banish the Cyber Dragon Core in my GY to destroy your Diamond Bell.”
Core rose up from the ground and wrapped itself around Diamond Bell before exploding. When the dust settled–
“Why wasn't she destroyed?” I asked.
Komachi giggled. “A Wind Synchro using Snow Bell as material can't be destroyed by card effect,” she explained.
An icicle pierced Cybernetic Overflow, destroying it.
“Since Cybernetic Overflow was destroyed, I can add a Cyber Spell/Trap from my Deck to my hand,” I explained. “I add Cyber Repair Plant.”
“Next,” Komachi said, “I discard Speedroid Pachingo-Kart to activate Speedroid Scratch. This lets me add a Speedroid from my Deck to my hand. I add Speedroid Colonel Clackers who I’ll scale right away!”
A cylinder of blue light appeared on her right. Inside was a nutcracker in a Union Army uniform with a red scarf and holding a pair of red and blue clackers. Above it was the number 8.
“A Pendulum Monster…” I said.
Komachi gave me a smile and a salute. “I activate Colonel Clackers effect,” she continued, “by banishing a Speedroid in my GY, I can scale from my Deck. I banish Speedroid Pachingo-Kart to scale Speedroid Wing Synchron.”
A cylinder of blue light appeared on her left. Inside was a robotic toy dragon with neon green wings, a white body, and a metallic green accent. Above it was the number 1.
“I activate Speedroid Wing Synchron to destroy my scales,” Komachi said.
“Huh?” I watched her scales explode into dust. “Why?”
“Because now, I can tune my destroyed 5-star Speedroid Wing Synchron with my destroyed 2-star Speedroid Colonel Clackers.”
Five rings appeared on Komachi’s field with two yellow stars in them.
“A Synchro Summon…” I said.
“The simulacrum of a heroic dragon resonates with the toy soldier of a civil war.”
I continued, “... with scaled monsters.”
“I Pendulum Synchro Summon! The heroic dragon whose wings create a whirlwind!”
A beam of white light appeared, enveloping the rings and stars as “1 Level 5 Tuner + 1 Level 2 non-Tuner = 1 Level 7” appeared in green text.
“Come forth! Clear Wing Synchro Dragon!”
A neon green wings emerged from the beam of white light. In a single flap, the light disappeared leaving behind a white dragon with blue limbs and horns. She had 2500 Attack.
“Then, since Speedroid Wing Synchron was sent to the Extra Deck while I control at least two Wing Synchro Monsters,” Komachi said, “I can send a Speedroid Spell/Trap to my GY. I send Speedroid Dupligate.”
Speedroid Dupligate is a Trap that can be activated in the GY. It could summon itself as a Level 1 Tuner if Komachi had a Speedroid on the field. It's going to be used to extend on her next turn. I had to beat her on my next turn.
“Battle Phase,” Komachi declared, “Clear Wing Synchro Dragon attacks Salamangreat Almiraj!”
Clear Wing Synchro Dragon flew straight for my Almiraj.
“I activate Almiraj’s effect,” I declared. “By tributing itself, I can make Infinity immune to effect destruction.”
Almiraj jumped into the air and exploded, scattering a fiery coating onto Infinity.
“Attack redeclaration! Clear Wing Synchro Dragon attacks Cyber Dragon Infinity instead,” Komachi declared.
Clear Wing Synchro Dragon changed trajectory and headed towards Infinity.
“During the Damage Step, since a Clear Wing is battling, Colonel Clackers banishes itself from my Extra Deck and increases her Attack by 700!”
Clear Wing Synchro Dragon’s Attack went up from 2500 Attack to 3200 Attack. It bit Infinity’s head and ripped it out. Infinity’s body exploded leaving me at 4400 Life Points.
“Diamond Bell attacks directly,” Komachi declared.
Diamond Bell shot a volley of icicles at me, reducing my Life Points to only 1600.
“Then, I’ll set two cards and end my turn.”
“I draw for turn,” I declared.
I drew One Day of Peace. Which meant I could afford to be a little more reckless if my line didn’t work. First I’d have to do something about Clear Wing Synchro Dragon. It could negate the activation of and destroy a Level 5 or higher monster then it would gain Attack equal to the destroyed monster’s.
Of course, I saw the line.
“I activate Cyber Repair Plant,” I declared. “To add Cyber Jormungardr from my Deck to my hand. Then I’ll activate its effect. Because you control monsters, I can summon it from hand and a Cyber Dragon from my Deck.”
A Cyber Dragon with spikes running down its back and a normal Cyber Dragon appeared on my field.
“I return Cyber Dragon to hand to activate Jormungardr’s effect,” I declared, “to add Polymerization to hand.”
“I chain Clear Wing Synchro Dragon!” Komachi responded. “I negate and destroy Jormungardr. Then Clear Wing Synchro Dragon gains 1000 Attack, which is equal to Jormungardr’s.”
Clear Wing Synchro Dragon went up to 4200 Attack. Jormungardr was the only monster she could have negated. If I found my way to a Fusion line, she knew it would be over. Unfortunately, I already had a Fusion Spell in hand.
“I activate Power Bond,” I declared. “And fuse the Cyber Dragon and Cyber Dragon Nachster in my hand.”
A gargantuan welding clamp appeared and held the Cyber Dragons that appeared on my field. Then a welding machine started fusing my two Cyber Dragons. The field was engulfed by a shower of white hot sparks and a purple light.
“I Fusion Summon! Come forth! Chimeratech Rampage Dragon!”
When the light faded, a two headed mechanical dragon with a black body and glowing yellow eyes appeared on my field. Red electricity surged through its body revealing 4200 Attack.
“When Rampage Dragon is summoned,” I explained, “I can target and destroy a number of Spells and Traps up to the number of materials used. I target your backrow.”
“Then I chain them,” Komachi said. “I activate Ice Wind’s Refrain then Pendulum Reborn.”
“I don't have effects to chain,” I said.
“Then the chain resolves,” Komachi said. “CL3: Pendulum Reborn summons Speedroid Wing Synchron from my Extra Deck in Defense!”
Speedroid Wing Synchron appeared on her field with a blue aura and 1000 Defense.
“CL2: Ice Wind’s Refrain,” Komachi continued, “summons Windwitch – Glass Bell from my GY in Defense!”
Speedroid Wing Synchron appeared on her field with a blue aura and 1500 Defense.
“Then Rampage Dragon destroys your backrow,” I said.
Rampage Dragon shot two lasers, destroying her already activated cards.
“Glass Bell’s effect activates,” Komachi said. “Because she was summoned, I get to add a Windwitch from my Deck to my hand. I add Windwitch – Freeze Bell.”
There were four monsters on Komachi’s field. I wouldn’t be able to beat her this turn but I just had to continue my line.
“I activate Rampage Dragon’s effect,” I declared. “I send Cyber Dragon Core and Cyber Dragon Herz to my GY so it can gain two additional attacks this turn.”
Right now Rampage Dragon only has 4200 Attack. But with my next move, it can go even higher.
“I activate Herz’s effect,” I declared. “Since it was sent to the GY, I can add a Cyber Dragon from either my Deck or GY to my hand. I add Core from my GY.”
The pieces were now in hand. The line was clear.
“I summon Cyber Dragon Core.” I declared, “I activate its effect to add a Cyber Spell/Trap to hand. I add Cyber Rev System.”
“Cyber Rev System…” Komachi said. “That means–!”
“That's right,” I said. “I use Cyber Rev System to summon Cyber Dragon from my GY. But it won't be staying for long because I set the Link Arrows with Cyber Dragon and Cyber Dragon Core.”
A Link Circuit appeared on the ground, where the Left Extra Monster Zone is on my field. My two declared monsters turned into red light arcing across the field onto the left and bottom Link Arrows of the Circuit.
“I Link Summon Cyber Dragon Sieger!”
A beam of honeycombed blue light burst from the Circuit. Emerging from it was a Cyber Dragon with blue electricity coursing through its body. A blue disk ran from its mouth to the back of its head.
“Battle Phase,” I declared. “Chimeratech Ramoage Dragon attacks Clear Wing Synchro Dragon.”
“But why?” Taishi asked. “They'll just destroy each other.”
“No,” Kawasaki said.
“Damage Step,” I declared, “I activate Cyber Dragon Sieger’s effect. I increase Rampage Dragon's Attack by 2100!”
The disk detached itself from Sieger and attached itself to Rampage Dragon increasing it to 6300 Attack.
“The attack goes through.”
Rampage Dragon let out a volley of lasers and destroyed Clear Wing Synchro Dragon dropping Komachi’s Life Points to 5900.
“Next Rampage Dragon attacks Diamond Bell.”
Another volley of laser shattered Diamond Bell. Komachi’s Life Points were now 2400.
“Rampage Dragon attacks Speedroid Wing Synchron.”
Rampage Dragon wrapped its tailed around Speedroid Wing Synchron to destroy it.
“Sieger attacks Glass Bell.”
Sieger shot a laser disk, slicing Glass Bell into two.
“Main Phase 2,” I declared.
“Then he loses!” Taishi said. “He only has 1600 left and Power Bond deals 2100 damage, equal to Rampage Dragon’s original points.”
“I activate One Day of Peace,” I just said, “to draw a card then until the end of your next turn, neither player takes any damage.”
I drew Cyber Pharos and the only other card in my hand was Allure of Darkness.
“I end my turn,” I declared. “At this timing, Sieger’s effect ends and Rampage Dragon’s Attack returns to 4200. Then, Power Bond activates to deal 2100 damage to me but One Day of Peace prevents me from taking damage.”
“I draw,” Komachi declared. “I activate Pot of Avarice to shuffle back Glass Bell, Ice Bell, Winter Bell, Diamond Bell, and Clear Wing Synchro Dragon to draw two cards. I’ll use one right away! Since I have no monsters out, Speedroid Passinglider summons itself.”
Roaring from the sky was a toy plastic airplane made painted metallic grey and blue.
“I summon Windwitch – Freeze Bell.”
A short, grey-haired girl wearing a green witch hat with a white dress on a glass broomstick with a bell for a head flew onto the field.
“Next, because I control a Wind monster, I can summon Speedroid Taketomborg,” Komachi said. “I activate Taketomborg’s effect to tribute itself and summon a Tuner from my Deck. I summon Speedroid CarTurbo.”
Taketomborg folded itself and transformed into CarTurbo.
“I tune the 3-star Speedroid CarTurbo with the 3-star Windwitch – Freeze Bell.”
CarTurbo turned into a see-through green outline before turning itself into three green bands of light around Freeze Bell, who started glowing before condensing itself into three yellow stars.
“I Synchro Summon!”
A beam of white light appeared, enveloping the rings and stars as “1 Level 3 Tuner + 1 Level 3 non-Tuner = 1 Level 6” appeared in green text.
“Come forth! Hi-Speedroid Kendama!”
When the light disappeared, a large, deep purple kendama was on the field.
“Next,” Komachi said, “I activate Speedroid Dupligate from my GY. I reduce the stars of my Passinglider by one to summon it as a 1-star Tuner.”
“I tune the 1-star Speedroid Dupligate with the 4-star Speedroid Passinglider.”
Dupligate turned into a see-through green outline before turning itself into a green band of light around Passinglider, who started glowing before condensing itself into four yellow stars.
“I Synchro Summon!”
A beam of white light appeared, enveloping the rings and stars as “1 Level 1 Tuner + 1 Level 4 non-Tuner = 1 Level 5” appeared in green text.
“Come forth! Hi-Speedroid Glider #2!”
When the light disappeared, a wooden, green toy plane was left on the field.
“But I’m not done yet!” Komachi said. “I tune the the 5-star Hi-Speedroid Gilder #2 with the 6-star Hi-Speedroid Kendama.”
Glider #2 turned into a see-through green outline before turning itself into five green bands of light around Kendama, who started glowing before condensing itself into six yellow stars.
“I Synchro Summon!”
A beam of white light appeared, enveloping the rings and stars as “1 Level 5 Tuner + 1 Level 6 non-Tuner = 1 Level 1” appeared in green text.
“Come forth! Hi-Speedroid Clear Wing Rider!”
Outspeeding the beam of light was a white motorcycle with a neon green window and blue front forks. It had 3500 Attack.
“I activate Clear Wing Rider’s effect,” Komachi declared. “I roll a six-sided die and shuffle Wind monsters from my GY up to the result and destroy that many cards. Then, until the end of the turn, it gains 500 Attack for each card destroyed.”
Komachi grasped the Synchro green six-sided die that appeared in front of her.
“Let’s go!”
She tossed the die and it expanded and rolled across the board before stopping on the number five.
“I shuffle back the CarTurbo and Snow Bell,” Komachi declared, “and destroy Sieger and Rampage Dragon.”
Clear Wing Rider rammed straight into Sieger and Rampage, destroying them. It went up to 4500 Attack.
“I end my turn,” Komachi said. “At this timing, Clear Wing Rider’s Attack goes back to normal.”
It went back down to 3500 Attack.
“Then it’s my turn,” I told her, drawing for turn.
I drew Cyber Ouroboros. Perfect.
“I’ll start by activating Allure of Darkness,” I said. “I can draw two cards then banish a Dark monster from my hand.”
“I chain my Clear Wing Rider,” Komachi said. “By tributing itself I can summon two 7-star Wind Synchro Monsters from my Extra Deck.”
“No effects to chain,” I declared.
“Chain resolution,” Komachi said. “I summon from Extra Deck Clear Wing Synchro Dragon and Clear Wing Fast Dragon!”
Both dragons appeared on her field. Clear Wing Fast Dragon looked the same as Clear Wing Synchro Dragon but with green accents instead of black ones.
“Then, I draw two cards and banish Cyber Ouroboros.”
I drew Forbidden Droplet and Infinite Impermanence. It wasn't good but I still had another trick up my sleeve.
“I activate Cyber Ouroboros’ effect,” I declared. “Since it was banished, I can discard a card to draw one. I discard the Cyber Pharos in my hand.”
I felt my heart beating in my chest. I placed my hand on top of my Deck. And…
“I draw!”
I saw the line!
“I activate Overload Fusion,” I said.
Komachi took a step back.
“Then I send it and the Infinite Impermanence in my hand to chain Forbidden Droplet!”
“No response,” Komachi said.
“Forbidden Droplet negates the effects of monsters equal to the number of cards sent for its activation,” I said, “then halves their Attack!”
A chalice appeared over Komachi’s field and covered both her dragons in a clear liquid, dropping them both from 2500 Attack to 1250 Attack.
“Then Overload Fusion activates letting me Fusion Summon a Dark Machine.”
“But the materials?” Taishi asked.
“The materials?” I echoed. “They're right here in my GY. Overload Fusion lets me banish monsters in my GY to use as materials. And thanks to how long this Duel has gone, I’ve got plenty of materials! I banish Cyber Dragon, Cyber Dragon Infinity, Cyber Dragon Sieger, and Chimeratech Rampage Dragon!”
My Duel Disk exploded into a large dust cloud.
“Four artificial dragons created through cybernetic arts become spare parts for the cybernetic chimera dragon!”
Bits of wiring started flying around.
“I Fusion Summon! The mechanical chimera dragon created from mismatched parts!”
Purple lightning hit the dust cloud, bathing the field with blinding purple light.
“Come forth! The Chimeratech Ace! Chimeratech Overdragon!”
When the light faded and the dust settled, a headless mechanical dragon appeared.
“A monster with no points?” Taishi asked.
“No,” Komachi said. “Overdragon gains 800 Attack for each Fusion Material it had.”
“With four materials…”
Then, heads appeared where its neck would be until it had four.
“It has 3200 Attack,” Kawasaki said.
“Battle Phase,” I declared. “Overdragon attacks Clear Wing Synchro Dragon!”
Overdragon’s four heads each shot a laser that converged, destroying Clear Wing Synchro Dragon and leaving Komachi at 450 Life Points.
“But now,” Taishi said, “he’s out of attacks! You can win next turn, Komachi!”
Taishi needed to learn not to make assumptions, to not jump the gun.
“Overdragon can attack monsters up to the number of materials used,” Komachi told him.
“No way!” he said.
“It’s over!” I said. “Overdragon attacks Clear Wing Fast Dragon!”
Overdragon’s four heads shot another four lasers and obliterated Clear Wing Fast Dragon. Komachi had no Life Points left. I won.
She fell to her knees and started sobbing.
“Komachi…” I said.
Wait.
No.
She was… laughing?
“Hey, Cyber Bro,” she said, giving me a huge smile. “I haven't had fun like that in a while. I’ve missed Dueling with you.”
I sighed and gave her a small smile. “Missed Dueling you too,” I told her, helping her up.
She patted herself down. “So what’re you gonna ask me to do?”
I looked at her. I supposed this made more sense than asking Taishi. I just sighed and patted her. “Just don’t grow up,” I told her.
She grabbed my hand and stuck her tongue out. “I’ll try, Cyber Bro.” She pushed it aside. “But it’s hard. I’m all alone in that house, it's just me and Kamakura.”
Right. I glanced at Kawasaki and Taishi. It looked like she was scolding him over something.
“Well,” I told Komachi, “instead I’ll ask you to call me whenever you want to! Even when it’s in the middle of class!”
“I won't let you get off schoolwork that easily, Cyber Bro,” she said. “But I’ll take you on that offer! So! Listen!”
And we talked for the rest of the day. About useless, pointless things. About the girls in her class, about the boys. About her classes, about Dueling. Right before dinner, the Kawasakis and us parted ways and went to different platforms. After an eternity, Komachi’s train arrived. We hugged each other and said our goodbyes.
“Oh! I almost forgot.” Before the doors closed, Komachi said, “I’m glad you found the dog girl.”
I looked at her. “Huh? Who?”
“The orange-haired one with a side bun.”
I didn't say anything when the doors closed, when she waved. All I could do was stumble back to the hotel, staring as everything passed me by.
It was her. This whole time.
It made a lot of sense now. Of course. It could only have been her. Why else would she have joined the Service Club? She wasn't under any kind of duress. She really was a nice girl but because the truth is cruel then lies must be nice. It was her–
“Hikki!”
I was just outside the hotel.
“Erm…” She played with a few loose locks of hair. Her eyes darted back and forth. “A couple of us were about to eat dinner,” she told me. “If you’d like to eat with us? I’m like totally asking Otomi and Hayato too, you know.”
Tomioka and Hayama. I’d have to apologize to them tomorrow. I was already planning on being dead weight but this was different.
“Listen,” I told her, “you don't have to be nice to me.”
“Huh?”
You couldn't even look her in the eye. “It was just pure luck I was there, pure happenstance I saved your dog. I didn't even know why I did it. My body moved on its own I guess.”
“Hikki… I–”
“So you don't have to pretend anymore.”
She slapped you in the face. “You're an asshole, Hikki,” she deadpanned before walking away.
You just stood there, watching her walk away. There wasn't anything you could've done, anything you should've done. This was all there was to be done. You made that wrong right and you were right about something being wrong in the Service Club. You finally fixed a cosmic imbalance. Now the world will keep spinning and tomorrow morning a ball of incandescent gas will illuminate the city.
She really was a nice girl. If only you could pretend to be a nice guy.