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"I'm home."
The empty house answers Judai's call as he closes the door. It's a satisfying silence, the echo proof that Yubel has him all to themself for most of the night. Later on in the evening Mrs. Matsumoto down the street will check in on him, but with six people in the hospital and three more injured few of the neighbors dare to linger for more time than it takes to warm up a meal.
The woman is redundant, of course. With his guardian watching over him Yuki Judai is the safest child in the city, even if nobody else knows it. Anyone who tried to endanger him would only meet another unfortunate end, like the neighborhood children.
Judai removes his shoes and heads inside, discarding his bag near the entrance and heads to the living room. He turns on the television, already tuned to a dueling channel airing a match between two young men. As Black Tyranno bypasses Insect Queen for a direct attack on the screen, Judai fans out his card on the table and draws five cards.
"I summon Beaver Warrior!" he shouts, and he smiles despite how outmatched he is by either of the duelists onscreen. He doesn't remember the battles of long ago, reborn as he is now. To him dueling is still something fun, something to be enjoyed. Yubel intends to keep things that way.
The duel concludes just as Judai manages to summon Yubel on the field against an imaginary version of the insect duelist, their card laid out carefully on top of a magazine next to a Swordsman of Landstar that's swiftly tributed to keep them on the field. Yubel glows with warmth: this is proof of Judai's love, that he's committed to ensuring they stay with him.
Judai responds to that warmth, brushing a soft hand over their card as the television switches to a commercial. "You're here, Yubel!"
"I am always with you, Judai," they say. "Let me fight at your side."
Judai cannot hear them yet, not in the way he hears his parents' words. But he has a small spark of power even now, and he understands Yubel's heart. "Don't worry. We'll fight together!"
Yubel scarcely has an idea of exactly what enemies they're pitted against in this child's playfight, but it matters not. What's important is that they're here to protect Judai against his make-believe foes, and they take pride in doing their job well.
Judai wins that duel and the next, and then he's pushed into a corner against a young woman doing backflips and striking poses as she duels. Imaginary tension at a high, Yubel's about to try intervening in his attempt to imitate her when there's a knock at the door. Judai perks up and rushes over to greet Mrs. Matsumoto.
Of course Judai doesn't think to bring Yubel's card into the kitchen with him for dinner, but that means nothing to Yubel's eyes. Judai and the woman talk as she warms up some rice and stew from the refrigerator for him. Judging by the way Judai is pointing wildly out into the television room, he must be talking about the tournament still underway. He babbles something excitedly, looking up at Mrs. Matsumoto with those wide hopeful eyes—
And she freezes.
Yubel doesn't need to hear their conversation to know what's being said. Judai asked her for a duel. Mrs. Matsumoto rightly fears the consequences.
The woman doesn't make eye contact with Judai again for the reminder of her short visit to the home. On her way out Yubel focuses their eyes on her, so that she glances behind her one last time as she opens the door. She trips over the carpet and lands across the doorway with a shriek.
Judai runs over to help, and the woman scrambles away to shut the door behind her. Once outside, her dress catches on a gate in her haste to get away and she falls again within two steps.
Yubel lets their mouth curl in satisfaction, still observing from their card's position on the table. It serves her right.
Judai returns to the living room, eyes a little bit duller than before. Yubel leans down to stroke his face, smiling gently. "Don't worry, dear. All you need is me, and I will never leave you."
Judai still can't hear their words, but he understands all the same. As he packs up he lingers on Yubel's card the longest, and a little bit of his smile begins to return. "Thank you for being here, Yubel," he whispers, and then he slides his deck into his case.
Mrs. Matsumoto never returns. How faint-hearted that woman must be, to be spooked away by merely the feeling of being watched and some grazed palms. She never could have done a good job of looking after a young child.
Yubel's life together with Judai continues.