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Asuka
Two minutes and half an interrogation after Judai mentions his new ward on the phone, Asuka "suggests" they come visit his old campus. "Very few students will be present during winter break," she assures him when he objects. "Maybe we can help her make some happier school memories."
Judai knows Asuka isn't going to take no for an answer. Asuka also understands him too well, her voice softening. "I still cherish our memories from those years, even after everything. Don't you?"
He gives Aki the option. She accepts.
The resulting island adventure becomes some kind of memory for her, anyway.
Manjoume
Manjoume leaves three voicemail rants about only hearing the news about Aki from Tenjoin and a fourth daring Judai to miss his next major tournament in America. Flight and hotel reservations for two have already been forwarded.
Aki cringes when he explodes at Judai in person, then blinks once the Ojamas burst out and scold their partner. She's intrigued to hear Manjoume only began seeing spirits in his teens.
"You didn't feel like you were cursed?" Judai hears her ask while he helps himself to the backstage snacks.
"Of course I felt cursed," Manjoume grumbles. "Have you seen an Ojama?"
Chronos
Professor - now Principal - Chronos just nags until Judai caves and books a trip to Florence. Aki is more comfortable visiting the Italian branch of Duel Academia, far from Neo Domino City, but she still prefers to keep her distance from most students.
It turns out that Judai's senior remedial tutoring sessions were not his old teacher's last lessons for him after all, but he can't deny needing pointers on teaching methods.
The morning they leave, Aki twirls into his room with a mischievous smile. "Ready to go, dropout boy?"
On the other hand, maybe this really has been a mistake.
The Marufuji Brothers
Fact: Yubel and Kaiser get along way too well, given what happened in Dark World.
Fact: Sometimes Aki gets a look in her eye and Judai wonders if Yubel is a wholly good influence for Aki. That the same can be asked of himself doesn't help much.
Conclusion: Even nineteen years later, the elder Marufuji enjoys being whipped with real vines a little too much.
Shou objects loudly. Aki dials it down.
"She's your daughter, all right," Shou grumbles. Judai freezes.
(Daughter? Student? Ward? Yubel says to let Aki define what she needs of him, but—)
"Again," Kaiser demands.
"No!"
Johan
Johan only mildly twisted Judai's arm for this visit, but his phone call beforehand promised bad news.
"Be careful, Judai," he murmurs as Aki naps against Emerald Turtle. "Rainbow Dragon says powerful forces are gathering."
Yeah, this was coming. "For me, or her?"
"Or both?" Yubel adds.
Johan frowns. "I don't know yet."
It takes a god's power to ping Rainbow Dragon's radar. Not unusual for him and Yubel, but Aki—
Aki is fifteen now.
He survived a lot at that age, sure. But can he…? Is she…?
Ever since Peru, it feels like they've been running out of time.
Godwin
"I'm sorry." Onscreen, Chairman Samejima bows deeply. "But KaibaCorp is threatening to withdraw their support of Aki's education, and much of our schools' funding, if she doesn't participate in this tournament."
And immediately Judai is running through budgets in his head, because someone wanting Aki that badly is that much more reason to keep her away. They can survive without the stipend. He managed well enough before meeting Aki.
He opens his mouth to reject the chairman's request when the doorknob rattles and Aki enters, fists clenched but eyes alight with grudging resolve.
"Fine. I'll compete in this Fortune Cup."