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Tearing open the pack, Karigari dropped the wrapper onto the pile of others, which was overflowing out of his garbage pail. He quickly turned through the cards, most of which he was tired of seeing.
“I got it!”
He could barely believe his own eyes at first. The card which had eluded him for so long, The SnakeMasterDeity Asklepiooze, was finally in his hands.
“Finally, the Battle Spirits card most suited for me, the Ophiuchus Genius Scientist. And most importantly, my Miss’ Fortune Corner Deck is complete!”
The deck actually specialized in Dark Snakes, especially those associated with Karigari’s sign. Karigari had researched the game, making sure he had a deck which both complied by the rules and was carefully crafted for the utmost power. But he also decided to include all the 12-Zodiac X-Rares. Each one reminded him of Miss.
“Doctor, what are we going to do with all these trading cards?” Yusuke stared at the mass of cards covering the floor, leaving little room to walk.
“Can we sell them?” Akira asked.
“Absolutely not,” Karigari replied. “Or do you want the police to find this place?”
“No!” Akira and Yusuke were shaking their heads furiously.
“But they’ve gotta be worth something,” said Yusuke. “I mean, it took you all those packs to get the card you wanted, so some of them are really rare.”
“I’m sure some of them are,” said Karigari. “I plan to recycle them. But that can wait. For now, I need an opponent to challenge with my new deck. It’s a shame Kurumada doesn’t play.”
Battle Spirits had become quite popular lately in Bayfront City. But the Mobile Rescue Police were still operating as normal, and Kurumada was still married to the job that should have really been Karigari’s. It was truly irritating to think about.
“Why don’t you try battling Miss?” Yusuke asked.
“Didn’t you make the deck with her in mind?” Akira added.
“As if Miss would play.” Karigari sighed to himself. “Even if she did, she wouldn’t want to play against me. No one truly would want to play against a genius like me, knowing they would lose before the battle even began, but certainly Miss would be opposed on principle. If she even played.”
It made him bitter to think about. But he was a wanted criminal. He could enjoy Miss’ Fortune Corner all he wanted, but that didn’t mean she would ever be interested in him.
“Hm?” Karigari was taken aback when he heard the alarm he’d installed going off. It wasn’t an immediate need for concern, when the hideout was well hidden. But someone was nearby.
“Doctor, do we run?” Yusuke asked.
“You must’ve installed a secret tunnel or something, right?” Akira asked.
“Stop panicking.” Karigari went to his computer and turned on the cameras to the outside. Then, he nearly fell over. It was Miss!
“Dr. Karigari!” The cameras picked up the sound of her voice. “I know you’re in there! I need to see you at once!”
She looked very serious. Karigari wasn’t quite sure what to think. No matter the reason, it was Miss! He was immediately torn over whether to let her in or install escape tunnels urgently. He could likely finish them in an hour, he estimated.
‘If she thinks I’m not here, maybe she’ll leave,’ he thought to himself. He didn’t want that. Why was he even thinking that? Why did his genius mind always fail to work properly when it came to her?
Escape tunnels definitely were the best idea!
“Dr. Karigari!”
Hearing Miss’ voice not through the cameras but in the same room he was in, Karigari turned around in shock.
“Miss...” His voice sounded terribly stiff, and he couldn’t muster any other words.
“We let her in,” said Akira. “Miss isn’t dangerous.”
“That isn’t the point!” Regaining a sense of composure for a moment, Karigari glared at his two subordinates.
Sasagawa was staring at the sea of trading cards on the floor.
“I somehow knew you would be into Battle Spirits,” she said. “But I didn’t know you were that into it.”
“There are many things about me which may come as a surprise to you, Miss,” said Karigari.
“I know,” she said. “But I’m glad that you love card games too! Because I’ve been hoping to have a battle with you!”
“Then we’re of the same mind,” said Karigari. He was at least trying to sound composed. He didn’t really think that Miss played Battle Spirits. She didn’t generally talk about it on her shows, just about Drive Head like usual. Not unless she was specifically reporting on a tournament or new pack release. And even then, it seemed to Karigari that she’d rather be talking about Drive Head. Well, apparently he was wrong for once.
“I should warn you, Miss. The only reason I have this many cards is because I’ve been working to build the ultimate deck. A deck as flashy and cutting-edge as the driving system I designed. I won’t be an easy opponent to defeat.”
Sasagawa smiled, pulling out a blue deck case.
“My Cyclone Interceptor deck won’t lose to anyone!”
“Cyclone Interceptor?” Karigari frowned, pondering over what she meant. Battle Spirits was known for doing many collaborations, but they never did one with Drive Head. There couldn’t be any Cyclone Interceptor cards. Of course, there were mechs. Perhaps she used an Armed Machine deck and named it after Cyclone Interceptor. He’d also named his deck, he just wasn’t going to tell her the name out of embarrassment.
“Yes!” she exclaimed. “Look!”
She pulled out the cards, holding a stack in each hand.
“Cyclone Interceptor, 2-play,” Karigari read the name out loud. “And Shadowwave Cyclone.”
For a moment, he was left at a complete loss for words.
“Aren’t they so cool?!” Sasagawa’s eyes were glimmering, as she looked at the cards herself. “I made the deck with twenty copies of each!”
“I hate to disappoint you Miss, but those aren’t even Battle Spirits cards. Nor are they from the same game themselves. You won’t be able to battle me with that deck.”
One was from Wixoss, and the other from Duel Masters. Karigari was aware of those games, but never had an interest in playing them.
“But they must be really strong cards!” Sasagawa replied. She didn’t seem to be deterred.
“Actually, I believe both are support cards,” said Karigari. Certainly the one from Duel Masters was, as it said right on it that it was a spell. They called them “Magic” in Battle Spirits, but it was the same concept. “Even in their own games, I’m not sure you could battle properly with them.”
“But Cyclone Interceptor always saves the day.” Sasagawa looked down. “I was hoping to enter a tournament with this deck, after testing it on you.”
Karigari hated to see her look dejected. But what could he say? He didn’t make the rules of trading card games.
“Miss, I assure you that those both would be good cards to include in your deck,” he said. “But you would be disqualified from entering any game’s tournament with the deck you’re playing now. If you’d like to pick up Battle Spirits, I could offer you... all of these.” He turned and pointed to the pile. “There are some X-Rares in there I didn’t need. They aren’t all junk.”
“Maybe,” she said. “But it’s no fun if I can’t see Cyclone Interceptor.”
“Then call up Bandai, and use your influence to have them produce a Drive Head collab set,” said Karigari. “I’d listen to you if I were Bandai.”
“But you’re not Bandai.” Still, Sasagawa smiled at him, which left Karigari further flustered but relieved she’d cheered up at the same time.
“No, I’m considerably smarter,” he said. “If your influence fails, I’m sure I could use mine.”
“Dr. Karigari, you’re the best!”
She took his hand in hers, the non-metal one, and squeezed it tightly.
Karigari wondered if he’d need to perform CPR on himself, his heart beating faster than it ever had before.
Flustered as well, Sasagawa dashed over to the sea of cards to distract herself. “I guess I should start with Armed Machines,” she said. “Will you help me make a really strong deck?”
“A deck fit for a genius,” Karigari replied.