It was quiet.

Far too quiet when taking time into account.

Lunch break began, no problems arised.

Seiran and Mana sat down on the usual rooftop spot to eat, no issues came to be.

Mashiro had even joined them, and everything was normal.

Seiran looked down at her bento. She was already halfway done with it. She even ate a full croquette without Touko's next goon walking through one of the doors to their location.

"So this is it..." Seiran spoke, garnering the attention of the two other girls. She looked back at them. "Ataraxia."

"Ata... Axe? Cataracts? What's she talking about, Ma?" Mashiro asked, deciding she had better ways to use her brain than to try and understand her bassist.

"She's just glad we get to have lunch in peace today." Mana giggled. "I mean, we had fights going down here for three days straight, if one hasn't begun yet, then it probably-"

"Hush, Mana-chan. Do not jinx it under amy circumstance. This peace... It soothes me greatly."

"Hmm... I totally get it in a way. We've gone twenty whole minutes without Kurozumi barging in to go hide from Shiori-kun. The lack of her presence soothes me greatly too."

"Ne? That's 'cause she's having lunch with Shi." The guitarist said.

"For real? I thought she hated Shiori-kun."

"That lesbian is down bad for Ori-chan."

Seiran's bluntness resulted to Mashiro choking on her spicy udon, but nothing two hearty swings of her peach juice couldn't fix.

"Man, you really... Really don't hold back when talking, do you, Sei?"

"Holding back is something to overcome, not to do." She stated. "But I assume you already knew about Zikuromu and Ori-chan, givem you're buddy-buddy with her."

"Fair 'nuff." The blond shrugged. "Yeah, Shi and Ne got a weird relationship. Shi pines for Ne in her shakespearean way, Ne pines Shi in her tsundere way, they play cat and mouse for a while and I catch them slurping each other's throats in the P.E. storage room."

Now it was Mana's turn to choke on her octopus sausages from being hit with Mashiro's own bluntness. Suddenly she stopped questioning how Seiran and Mashiro got off so well, turns out these two were just equally aloof.

"That's a graphic image. Did we ever slurp each other's throats, Mana-chan?" Seiran asked, looking at the drummer.

"L-let's not breach into those kinds of topics!" Mama begged, awkwardly laughing as a crimson blush spread across her cheeks. "S-s-say, I caught Bravadon on TV yesterday-"

"That episode was peak." The bassist said.

"So fire." Mashiro nodded. "Seeing Bravadon's hydraulic system pump like never before from having Isa ride her cockpit and unlock a new stage of bravado gattai was the stuff of dreams. They don't make mecha like this these days."

"I'm so tired of copy and pasted mobility suits with machine guns being used for political takeovers. I'll eat sand before giving Cipher Jebutt another try. Redouch is just not as well written as Isa. He's also a stinky man with the testosterone stench."

"You were friends with Taro, though."

"Taro smells lile honey nut bird feed."

"He feeds that many birds?" The guitarist asked.

"Oh, you think the bird feed is for the birds? Rookie mistake. Our composer cooked up the greatest symphonies and beats with forsaken amounts of bird feed in his degistive system."

"I huh... I-i don't think I wanna learn more about Sirius after this." Mashiro sweatdropped.

"Hehe, Sirius' dietary habits were..." Mana was having a hard time coming up with a proper explanation. "Man, we really told alot of kids to eat properly while eating like crap ourselves..."

"I don't know what you're talking about, Mana-chan. There's nothing unhealthy about a croquette." Seiran scoffed, crossing her arms with a pout.

"I think the healthiest thing about Mays' croquettes is the greasy paper bags they come in." The drummer sweatdropped. "At least I tried to keep a balanced diet. But Seiran engorged on croquettes like a zealot-"

"As it was written."

"Taro ate full bags of bird feed during practice, Futaba-chan ate a daily loaf of bread and Tae-chan-"

"Cryptid Power Boost. I foresee Nishikiyama-san to die of caffeine-born cardiovascular problems in her mid twenties."

"The signs were there, she deadlifted Taro alot of times..."

Mashiro chose to keep eating and not questioning her growing fear of the monstrous band those two fruits were describing. Her wallet may be broke but her mind can stay intact.

But in the midst of their recollecting and talking, they didn't hear one of the rooftop's doors open and close, nor did they listen to the footsteps quickly making their way to them. Just like that, Amane was standing over them with her arms crossed.

"Ibuki."

"Saki-san?!" Mana asked.

"Ama?" Mashiro said, looking up at the girl and then slapping her hands over her mouth, remembering Ryou's reminder.

"It's Saki to you. I never gave your permission to call me by my first name, let alone use a nickname." She dryly warned.

"We had a good run, old friend." Seiran said to her bento as she closed it. She was almost done with her lunch. Just a few more bites and she would have finished a meal without having to cardfight or watch someone do it. "Touko, I assume?"

"Yeah. The abandoned school building's auditorium. Meet me at six there and be on time. I want to get this done fast."

"You got a fight, Saki." The golden eyed girl declared, sizing up her current enemy. Seiran wasn't tall herself but even her had Amane beat.

"See you there then."

The three sitted girls watched as their challenger turned her back to them and left through the door she came from. Ans then Seiran just got back to eating like nothing happened.

"Food is so yummy when at peace."

"Please think of what just happened..." Mana requested.

"Huh, had no clue Ama was in cahoots with Tou..." Mashiro said. "Wonder why."

"Wouldn't Ori-chan know? She made it seem like the two had a shared background in taking support roles in bands."

"I guess Shi did... Hold on, I'll ring her up."

Not even five minutes after Mashiro called her, Shiori was on the rooftop ready to drop some exposition about Amane. Nerona was sticking this one out, enough watching this Seiran vs Touko crap from the sidelines.

"How marvelous for you all to think of me in your time of need. Aaah, I couldn't ask for something more fleeting~!" That damn stupid hand wave again.

"Can you lock in already, Ori-chan?" Seiran deadpanned, finished bento by her side.

"S-s-sei-chan...!" The princely girl quivered, almost at tears. "N-not with other people around!"

"Yeesh... This is a mask off moment and a half, Shi." Mashiro said.

"Nah, she's as prince charming as she a bumbling girlfail, Seiran just know her keyword." Mana giggled. "So, Shiori-kun! You and Saki-san do support roles, yeah?"

"Ahem, yes, most correct, my dearest Mana-san!"

"Ori-chan."

"S-stop that, Sei-chan!"

"Don't flirt with Mana-chan then."

"Let it go, Seiran." The drummer chuckled, patting her bassist's head. "What do you know about Saki-san exactly?"

"Well... There isn't much to be said, I suppose." The taller girl hummed, rubbing her chin. "Saki-san was always very... Reclusive? On her own? She was never a people's person, to say the least. In fact, thst is how she turned out to be the greatest student to come out of Yasojo Middle."

"She went to Middle? Never saw her." Mashiro shrugged.

"She did?! How did I never notice her then?!" Mana asked.

"Simply put, she made herself not need to go to class. Her attendance might have been disastrous, but she kept it just above it causing trouble down the road. Really, her grades were her strategy. She appeared to do her exams, scored higher than anyome else in the school, and then wouldn't show her face to anyone for another two weeks. That's how she did three years in Yasojo Middle without being remembered by anyone. But then something most unusual happened, you see."

"Which would be?" Seiran questioned.

"One time when I was over at the Sawada residence for some tea with Homura-san during our second year, she relayed to me that Saki-san had, against all odds, joined the student council as the president's assistant. Needless to say, I was most shocked! Even from the few times I managed to catch a glimpse of Saki-san did I imagine she would one day just join the student council out of the blue!"

"And I take it she is still in the student council to this day?"

"Most correct, Seiran."

"It checks out then. She's allied with Touko. Mashiro, you said Touko's been on the disciplinary committee since you remember, didn't you?"

"Sounds about right." Mashiro nodded.

"Meaning Touko would already be in the student council by the time Saki-san joined as the president's assistant. I suppose this would inevitably happen, in hindsight."

"She did start by sending out Hoeru-chan... I just didn't think she'd send another member of the council so fast." Mana said, twirling a strand of her hair as she gave the matter some thought.

"Mhm... Wouldn't Ama be a more trustworthy ally for Tou than Ho?" The blond guitarist asked. "Ama's all quiet and does her job right, the type of traits Tou's probably more fond off given her demeanour. Meanwhile Ho's..."

"All over the place?" The drummer said.

"A robot?" The bassist asked.

"It is as my dear Mashiro says, yes." Shiori chuckled. "My kitten Hoeru is rather loud and extremely hyperactive. One can assume Touko just learned how to deal with her as bringing her onboard was a decision made by the council president. If there is one person within the student council that would be more in sync with Touko than the rest, Saki-san was, is and will be the answer."

"She's planning to get it done with this fight then. Touko has grown impatient. Probably because Ori-chan annoyed her alot."

"D-d-did not!"

"But hey, if we beat Saki-san, then only Touko remains. No one will come to ruin our peaceful lunches except Touko herself." Mana said, giving Seiran a nudge with her elbow..

"Or she doubles down and sends more people... I'm desperate enough for a peaceful meal to take the bet." Seiran sighed. "Mana-chan, Mashiro, Ori-chan, I'm going to fight Saki-san at the gymnasium after school today. Wanna watch?"

"S-sei-chan!" Shiori begged.

"I think that's a yes from Shiori-kun." The drummer chuckled.

"Can I take the fight?" Mashiro asked, raising her hand.

"Why?" The bassist asked.

"No, I mean... You fought with Ne, Ma fought Ho, then Shi fought Tou... I kinda wanna get a turn too. You forced me into your band, if I can't go wild on my guitar yet, at least met me go wild on a cardfight."

"Hm... Fair enough." The golden eyed girl shrugged. "Mashiro, you're it."

"Rad."

"Aaaah, how fleeting! I cannot wait to see you in the heat of battle, my dear Mashiro! Bless my poor eyes with thy polar cold brawling!" The theatrical guitarist did her hand motion again. "Fleeting!"

"Your one syllable only nickname scheme was really noticeable there..." Mana sweatdropped.

Unlike the faction she had challenged, Amane had her lunch on her own. She was in the now unused music room of the abandoned school building in Yasojo's premise, an old meeting ground for all of its clubs, now a silent place gathering dust. At least Amane gave the music room a sweep every now and again.

No one bothered her there. No one could find her there. There was no Land of Smiles. There was no Touko. It was paradise.

Having already finished her lunch (the quarter of her bento that she could stomach, she'd just have Ryou finish it when they got home), Amane tapped her thighs as if playing her keyboard, quietly humming the melody playing in headset. The music room did have a working piano, but a keyboard was just too different for her.

But she missed a note. Then another. Then a third one, until she slammed her fists against her own legs with her teeth grit, bowing her head until it touched her knees.

"Disgusting..."

The melody in her headphones was interupted by throat singing of all things. It wasn't in her playlist. It was her set ringtone for a specific number.

Amane quickly raised her head and picked up the call.

"R-ryou! How did you..."

"Gut feeling. I saw the look on your face this morning. And yesterday too. How're you holding up, Amane?"

"Ryou... I-i think I'm going to do something bad today..." She sobbed.

"Kiba's taking advantage of you again, isn't she? Do you want me to handle it?"

Amane shook her head. Ryou's unwavering calm in spite of everything helped her push down her anxieties.

"Don't... Being at the center of your clash... I-i just can't handle it... I can barely handle myself..."

"Amane."

Amane bite her lower lip.

"Hold your head high. Nothing will change if you keep bending to Kiba's will. You know she doesn't see you for who you really are and just manipulates you into being around her finger. What does she want you to do this time?"

"Put a stop to Seiran's Land of Smiles..."

"Amane... Why not join her?"

Her eyes widened.

"It may sound like a longshot, but I think a Land of Smiles sounds great. Did Kiba ever really make you smile by telling you what she thinks you want to hear? Because I think Seiran-san's ideal world can. You deserve to smile too, Amane."

"Ryou..."

"What are you waiting for?"

"R-right...!"

It was with a fluttering feeling of newfound joy and motivation that Amane ran out of the music room, and with the ever familiar weight of despair that she halted upon seeing who had entered the abandined building.

"I must say, I never truly understood your fixation with this place. I suppose it has its quaint or vintage appeal, but I digress." Touko's focus moved from the dusty space around her to the person she was looking for. "I assume you challenged Ibuki girl by now. You did well, Amane-kun. My duties will prevent me from witnessing your fight, but I know you won't fail."

Amane's entire body shook as Touko stretched out her arm towards her, her thin and long fingers caressing her pale cheek.

"Because Amane-kun would never fail, right? Behind his meek appearance as a quiet keyboardist, he's still the son of a great legend. He wouldn't lose to a ragtag team of people hellbent on causing me a headache, would he?"

"Ryuo..." Amane thought.

"You're going to finish her off for me, correct, Amane-kun?"

"...yes."

"...I'm sorry..."

The three guitar-playing dumbasses and Mana looked at the entrance to the abandoned school building, skies turned orange from the approaching end of the day, and the sound of students leaving the school off to the distance. Mana was particularly close to Seiran, going as far as to tightly cling on to her hand.

"D-do we really have to go in there...?"

"It's not that haunted looking, Mana-chan." The bassist said. She didn't have complaints though. Holding Mana's hand was the highlight of her day.

"I'm gonna be kicking up a sneeze storm by turn two at this rate..." Mashiro sweatdropped, doing her best to not think about all the dust inside.

"If you please, follow me, my kittens." Shiori chuckled. She stepped into the decaying building on her own, soon followed by the other three. "The auditorium is on the other side, but haste you mustn't need to make. I know a shortcut."

"You've been here before?" Seiran asked.

"Indeed!" Obnoxious theatre kid stupid hand wave again. "I find this place to have some rather fleeting acoustics, so I have brought my guitar here many a time. It is my belief someone else in Yasojo shares my opinion, for the music room here is always cleam and free of dust whenever I stop by. A perfect band practice site, I say."

"D-d-does it have a d-drumset...?" Mana suttered, eyes darting around her surroundings for any potential creepy crawlies.

"Aaaaah, fleeting~! It does not."

"Don't think the fleeting was necessary there, Shi..." Mashiro sweatdropped, briefly stopping to sneeze. "Ugh, forget turn two..."

"Is your nose sensitive?" The bassist asked.

"Wha- You can't just ask a girl about her nose, Sei."

"I will take that as a yes."

"P-please beat Saki-san fast Mash, I don't wanna be here...!" Mana pleaded.

"Fear not, for I'll protect you, Mana-chan. Spiders and other insects have nothing on me."

Bugs mortified Seiran but she had to lie through her teeth for Mana's sake. Awwww.

But Shiori was a prince of his word, and soon enough, the party made it to abandoned school building's auditorium, a vacant place with just a small stage and some paintings of Yasojo's older headmasters on the walls.

Their opponent sat on the edge of the stage, head hung low with her headphones on her head.

"You're here. Let's start." Amane said, pushing herself off the stage and pulling her headphones down, Desire Specs already equipped.

"You're quick to the point. I expected such." Seiran replied, narrowing her eyes. "Mashiro, I'm counting on you."

"You got it." The blonde grinned, stepping in front of the group. "You'll be fighting me, master keyboardist!"

"Whatever. Just start."

"Sounds about right from someone quiet like you. Let's brawl, you!"

"Aaah, how fleeting it is to see Mashiro dearest do her best to not call Saki-san by an unfinished form of her given name..." Shiori sweatdropped.

"G-good luck out there, Mash...!" Mana meekly called out.

Now that everyone had their Specs on, the Digital World's bounded field raised around them as a data card descended in front of the two fighters.

Amane threw her right arm back to wind up the swing that slashed through her card like a scythe. Her crest took the form of a purple hexagonal zero with two scythes crossing it, a left blue one and a right red one.

As for Mashiro, she shrugged her shoulders like a boxer about to start a fight as her card descended to her reach, spinning around in a perfect 360° angle once it did to strike it with a right uppercut and smash it between her fist and the palm she held above her card. Her crest was in the form of an icy blue boxing glove designed to resemble a polar bear.

The system decided Mashiro would go first.

"Stand up, Vanguard!"

"Galactic B-Hero, Pure Agnos!"

"Cavity Maligia."

"My round! Draw! Ride! Galactic B-Hero, Architect Paseel! With his skill, I grab AIAS from deck and set it! AIAS' skill, rest it to scout Levin Prondia from drop! Turn end!"

Mashiro
Hand: 5
Damage: 0
OXO
OOO

Amane
Hand: 5
Damage: 0
OXO
OOO

"Draw. Ride, Hollow Raptor. Cavity Maligia's skill, draw. Energy charge. Call, Opener of Heart, Philya. Battle. Boosted by Philya, Hollow Raptor attacks! Philya's skill. (8000>>16000>>21000)"

"No guard!"

"Drive check. (Elaborate Wizard) No trigger."

"Damage check! (Galactic B-Hero, Bedash Bersten)"

"Philya goes to soul and I draw. Turn end."

Mashiro
Hand: 5
Damage: 1
OXO
OOO

Amane
Hand: 7
Damage: 0
OXO
OOO

"My round! Draw and energy charge! Ride! Galactic B-Hero, Wired Klosten! I throw down Sender Faris and use her skill! Energy blast three and rest AIAS to call Levin Prondia from there! Levin Prondia's skill! 'Cause I haven't played a Base this turn, I scout Unite Dianos from hand to set AEGIS from deck! AEGIS' skill, scry seven and reveal three Heroes! Stately Crozard, Bold Salos, Direct Foriel! I grab Stately Crozard and scout the other two! Then, I throw down a second AEGIS! Skill, scry seven and reveal Unite Dianos, Amass Darnia and Sender Faris! I grab Sender Faris and scout the other two! And now that my hand's at four, we can have a proper brawl!"

Mashiro cracked her knuckles, icy blue circuits igniting on her left hand and running down her right as she did, converging on her wrist to form a roman numeral - I.

"Magician Ability."

"Polar Burn! If my hand doesn't have five cards, I draw equal to amount I'm holding right now! With four in hand, I draw another four!"

"Hm, how curious." Seiran commented. "I didn't expect Mashiro to also have a skill so deeply tied to her deck like us dual Arcana havers."

"You're taking the piss out of how small the turn two Hero hand is, aren't you..." Mashiro sweatdropped. "With this boosted hand, I'm using Wired Klosten's skill! Scouting Amass Darngia from hand to draw one! And to follow that up, AEGIS' skill! Rest it and pitch Bold Salos to call the scouted Beldash Bersten! But that's not all! Bold Salos' skill! When pitched for AEGIS, I counterblast to call him back and scout Direct Foriel from drop! And with at least two Bases set, Sender Faris and Bold Salos have their buffs! 5k for her, 10k for him! (8000>>13000) (10000>>20000) Let's get in the ring! Bold Salos attacks! (20000)"

"Aduro. (23000) She goes to soul after battle."

"Boosted by Bedash Bersten, Wired Klosten attacks! Bedash Bersten's skill, add 2k! (10000>>18000>>20000)"

"No guard."

"Drive check! (Galactic Base, AEGIS)"

"Damage. (Veidrock Dragon) No trigger."

"Bedash Bersten goes to soul and I countercharge! Then boosted by Sender Faris, Levin Prondia attacks! (10000>>23000)"

"No guard. (Stem Deviate Dragon - Critical) Vanguard. (18000)"

"Turn end!"

Mashiro
Hand: 8
Damage: 1
XXX
XOO

Amane
Hand: 6
Damage: 2
OXO
OOO

"Stand and draw. Energy charge. Ride, Vacant Fang. Hollow Raptor's skill. Reveal the top three and soul all grade one or higher units, the redt is botted. I souled two, so I draw one. Tizkar's skill. Energy blast and draw. Battle. Vacant Fang attacks! (10000)"

"No guard!"

"Drive check. (Veidrock Dragon)"

"Damage check! (Star Aggression Dragon - Critical) All on the vanguard! (20000)"

"Turn end."

Mashiro
Hand: 8
Damage: 2
XXX
XOO

Amane
Hand: 9
Damage: 2
OXO
OOO

"My round! Stand and draw! Energy charge! Bold and brave, throwing hands day or night, kicking bad guys with polar goodness rain or shine, because that's how brave justice's done! Mash them to mush! Ride! Galactic B-Hero, Stately Crozard!"

"Sender Faris' skill! Energy blast, rest AEGIS and call the scouted Amss Darnia! Then, Amass Darnia's skill! Soulblast, pitch one, and set from deck! Galactic Base, AEGIS! Skill! Scry seven, add Direct Foriel and scout Sender Faris and Bold Salos! And then from hand, set the last one! Galactic Base, AEGIS! Skill again! Scry seven, add Levin Prondia and scout a second one! AIAS' skill! With over four orders set and it still standing, I soul it ti grab Direct Foriel from drop and reduce Stately Crozard's counterblast cost by one this turn!"

"Aaaah, how fleeting, indeed!" Shiori... Moaned? Sighed? Whatever sound theatre kids make. "Dear Mashiro's fighting still is so fervently hot despite the cold shell around it, always rushing along like a train smashing through a fortified wall of solid ice!"

"Is ice not solid by definition?" Seiran tilted her head.

"Mash is really going at it... You remove Heroes ending with half a card in hand turn two and all of a sudden she goes for an OTK... Please finish it quickly, Mash! This place gives me the creeps!" The drummer begged.

"That's the plan. Sender Faris and Bold Salos' skills! (8000>>13000) (10000>>20000) Let's get in the ring! Bold Salos attacks! (20000)"

"Stem Deviate. (23000)"

"Stately Crozard attacks! (13000) Polar Might, Good Night!"

"Aduro. (25000) Two to pass and it gets souled after battle."

"Twin drive! (Strong-arm Conversion, Strogalmars) (Ameliorate Connector - Draw) Draw trigger! Stack it on Amass Darnia! (10000>>20000) Direct Foriel's skill! Soulblast and rest her, Bold Salos tags out for Amass Darnia! Then, Stately Crozard's skill! After battle, I soul Direct Foriel and Bold Salos to ride a scouted grade three Hero with drive minus one! Ride! Galactic B-Hero, Unite Dianos! Stately Crozard gets scouted! Unite Dianos' skill! All my front rear Heroes get 5k! (10000>>15000) (20000>>25000) Amass Darnia attacks! (25000)"

"No guard. (One Who Walks From Zero, Blangdmire Nexus)"

"Amass Darnia's skill! Counterblast and sack her to have her tag out for a scouted Hero! Call, Bold Salos! (10000>>25000) Unite Dianos attacks! Skill! Counterblast, add 15k and a crit! (13000>>28000/2) Deathmatch Punch-Out!"

"Over Guard. Spiritual King of Aquatics, Idosfaro. (60000)"

"Drive check! (Galactic B-Hero, Sender Faris) No trigger! Bold Salos attacks! (25000)"

"No guard. (Joyful Songstress - Heal) To the vanguard. (20000)"

"Crud, that stings." Mashiro sighed. "Boosted by Sender Faris, Levin Prondia attacks! (15000>>28000)"

"Tizkar. Energy blast three to draw, then add Alchemist. (30000)"

"Turn end! I ride the scouted Stately Crozard as rest!"

Mashiro
Hand: 11
Damage: 2
XXX
XOO

Amane
Hand: 5
Damage: 3
OXO
OOO

"Stand and draw. Energy charge. Hearken to the tolling bells and the raven's cry, for what was sown will be reaped! Depart to nil! Ride! Fated One of Zero, Blangdmire!"

"Vacant Fang's skill. Same as Hollow Raptor's, but what's not souled getd shuffled back instead. I put all three into soul and draw. One of the cards was Singlr Strike Shatter Colossus, whose skill activates. Bind it face down to draw. Colourful Magician, Rayvos' skill. Soulblast, add a Persona Shield to hand. I call Elaborate Wizard and Veidrock Dragon. Elaborate's skill, scry two, soul one and bot the rest. Veidrock's skill, soulcharge, counterblast and call Funeral Processiom of the Fallen, Valac! Valac's Unique Skill. He gets 5k, then energy blast three to scry seven, soul one and call Philya behind him. (10000>>15000) I call Evoke Alchemist. Battle. Boosted by Alchemist, Blangdmire attacks. Alchemist's skills, add 5k when boosting, and another 2k when boosting Blangdmire. (13000>>21000>>26000>>28000) Blangdmire's skill! Four cards from my soul are bound face down. I draw one and Blangdmire gets 5k for every two face down cards in my bind zone. You bind two as well. (28000>>38000) Nihil Monochromacy!"

"Levin and Bold Salos get it! No guard!"

"Twin drive. (Violate Dragon) (Steam Gunner, Tizkar) No trigger."

"Damage check! (Galactic B-Hero, Stately Crozard)"

"Boosted by Philya, Valac attacks. Valac's skill, add 5k when attacking a grade three, then another 5k since I have over five cards in soul. Philya's skill activates too. (15000>>23000>>33000>>38000)"

"Darn, that's way too big. Guard with Lizary and Dekarcop! (43000)"

"Philya goes to soul and I draw. Boosted by Elaborate, Veidrock attacks. Veidrock's skill, add 10k for every four face down cards in my bind zone. (10000>>18000>>28000)"

"Amass Darnia, Levin Prondia and Connector guard that! (33000)"

"Elaborate's skill. Counterblast, add Violate from soul to hand and bind Elaborate face down. Turn end."

Mashiro
Hand: 6
Damage: 3
OXO
XOO

Amane
Hand: 10
Damage: 3
XXX
OXO

"A truly fleeting comeback. I daresay Saki-san went from being in the ropes, as they say, to having dear Mashiro against the wall. The Fated One of Zero's Divine Skill is as terrifying as ever, it seems." Shiori mused.

"How about you try to glaze our girl instead of Fraudmire, Ori-chan?"

"S-s-sei-chan, not here!"

"You say that like it's a bad thing." Mashiro cut in, huge grin on her face as she brushed off the bead of sweat rolling diwn her cheek with her thumb. "It's when backed against a wall that a brawler's true stuff gets pushed to the front and center! You're good, Ama, but I'm clinching it here!"

"Don't call me that." Amane snapped back, tongue click loud enough to be heard by everyone present and to shock them for a moment. "Just get on with it..."

"Y-yeah... My final round! Stand and draw! Energy charge! Bold and brave, throwing hands day or night, kicking bad guys with polar goodness rain or shine, because that's how brave justice's done! Mash them to mush! Persona Ride! Galactic B-Hero, Stately Crozard!"

"Draw! (13000>>23000) Stately Crozard's skill! When a different grade three Hero's in the soul, she gets 5k! (23000>>28000) Sender Faris' skill! Energy blast three and rest an AIGIS to call Bold Salos! (10000>>20000) I'm using a second AIGIS myself! Pitch Bold Salos, call Direct Foriel! Then, Bold Salos' skill! Counterblast, call him to the front and scout Levin Prondia! (10000>>20000) I call Levin Prondia from hand! Bold Salos and Sender Faris' skills! (20000>>30000) (8000>>13000) (20000>>30000) Let's get in the ring a final time! Bold Salos attacks! (30000)"

"Persona Shield, Tizkar, Elaborate. (33000) Tizkar's skill, counterblast to draw."

"I didn't hear a bell yet! Stately Crozard attacks! (28000) Polar Might, Good Night!"

"Violate Dragon, perfect guard."

"Twin drive! (Amass Darnia) (Patrol Robot, Dekarcop - Critical) Hell yeah! All on the standing Bold Salos! (30000>>40000/2) Direct Foriel's skill! The rested Bold Salos tags out for Levin Prondi! (10000>>20000) Then, Stately Crozard's skill! Counterblast, soul Bold Salos and Direct Foriel to ride! Galactic B-Hero, Unite Dianos! (13000>>23000) He buffs the front row! (40000>>45000) (20000>>25000) Unite Dianos attacks! Skill! Counterblast, add 15k and a crit! (23000>>38000/2) Deathmach Punch-Out!"

"Violate Dragon again."

"Drive check! (Vital Charger, Lizary - Heal) Hell yeah! Power to Levin Prondia and I heal one! (25000>>35000) Levin Prondia attacks! Skill, add 5k! (35000>>40000)"

"No guard. (Evoke Alchemist)"

"Boosted by Sender Faris, Bold Salos finishes it off! (45000>>58000/3)"

"Elementaria Sanctitude, perfect guard!"

"For real?! Ah darn..." Mashiro clicked her tongue. "Fine, turn end!"

Mashiro
Hand: 8
Damage: 2
XXX
XOO

Amane
Hand: 2
Damage: 4
XXX
OXO

"Hey... Is anything wrong, Seiran?" Mana whispered, tugging her bassist's hand. "Besides occasionally replying to Shiori-kun, you've been pretty quiet the entire fight."

"Hm... I have, haven't I?" Seiran asked herself, looking out to the Land of Smiles' current opponent. "To be honest... Something has been feeling off for me since the fight began. Something about Saki-san just feels... I'm not sure how to describe it. I just can't put my finger on it."

"Let's see... Maybe her reasons?" The drummer offered.

"Her reasons?"

"Yeah. Hoeru-chan and Shiori-kun didn't have any special reason to help Touko other than she asked them to, so maybe your gut's telling you that Saki-san has an actual reason."

"Hm... When you're right, you're right, Mana-chan." Seiran offered her a brief smile before focusing on the one stirring that odd feeling inside her. "Saki-san, a moment of your time, please!"

"Tsk." Amane clicked her tongue, hand hovering above Blangdmire. "What do you want?"

"Why are you serving Touko? Hoeru is understandable, she is naive and was tricked by Touko. Shiori is understandable too, she is himbo and was easily manipulated by Touko."

"Ah, how fleeting!" Shiori proved Seiran right.

"Yet I know you are neither naive nor easy to manipulate. Not even a golden tongued talker like Touko could get to you. So I ask you: why? Why obey her?"

Amane grit her teeth.

"You think I'm obeying her...? Get over yourself. You're annoying. You'll cause more annoyances. I'm cutting the problem at the root. I want peace and quiet-"

"I heard you play during Bitter Gabu's live yesterday."

The keyboardist's eyes widened. Don't go there.

"You play your keyboard to release the rage eating you from the inside out, just as Nishikiyama-san did with her guitar, but your method has an added layer. Nishikiyama-san was just a naturally angry person, her method was simple. Yours is a call for help."

Stop that.

"Playing the keyboard is the only way you have to silence the world you and vent your fustrations."

Shut up.

"You have always been a reclusive person. You wouldn't go out of your way to stop my Land of Smiles! You're here because you're obeying Touko!"

Shut up!

"She's manipulating you too, isn't she? She knows what's causing you so much stress!"

Amane's eyes bulged out, red and blue circuits extending from them down her cheeks like tears cracking her skin. They converged on her throat, forming a roman numeral - XVI.

"Tower Ability."

"Shut up... Shut up, shut up, SHUT UP!"

Saki Amane starts her morning by waking up before her alarm clock. She gets up, washes her face, eats the breakfast either her mom or dad make, brushes her teeth with her brother, puts on her serafuku and looks at herself in the mirror. Serafukus are really cute. Amane feels cute. The same as usual.

Saki Amane starts her morning by waking up before her alarm clock. She gets up, washes her face, eats the breakfast either her mom or dad make, brushes her teeth with her brother, puts on her serafuku and looks at herself in the mirror. Disgusting. She wants to rip that cutesy outfit off her body. Her stomach twists and turns because of her owm image. Amane feels miserable. The same as usual.

Saki Amane starts her school day by going to the student council room. She collects her work for the day, perhaps engages in light conversation with the president, and goes to class. She spends her day surrounded by her peers. Nothing special happens. The same as usual.

Saki Amane starts her school day by going to the student council room. She collects her work for the day, perhaps engages in light conversation with the president, and goes to class. She spends her day surrounded by her peers. They scare her. She should not be there. Yasojo is an all girls school. It suffocates her. She locks herself in the student council room. Touko sees her for who she is. She doesn't. Touko sees a side of Amane's misery. The same as usual.

Saki Amane likes her clothes. They pair well with her classic rock style. Ryou's clothes are too baggy. She doesn't like them.

Saki Amane hates her clothes. They pair well with her classic rock style, but they weigh in her like a steel vest. Ryou's clothes are baggy. She likes wearing them.

Saki Amane starts her morning by waking up before their alarm clock. He gets up, washes her face, eats the breakfast either his mom or dad make, brushes their teeth with her brother, puts on her serafuku and looks at themselves in the mirror before leaving for his all girls school. The same as usual.

Saki Amane starts his school day by going to the student council room. They collect her work for the day, perhaps engages in light conversation with the president, and goes to class. He spends her day surrounded by her peers. Nothing special happens, or sometimes they scare them, so he locks herself in the student council room. Touko sees her for who he really is. No. Touko sees as a side of Amane's misery. The side that Touko can use when Touko needs to. But Touko validates them, so he complies with what Touko commands, lest she lose Touko's validation. Touko is good.

Saki Amane looks at herself in the mirror.

Ryou tells him he deserves to smile.

The black and white world around them suffocates them.

Scares him.

Hates her.

Saki Amane wants to return to nothing. To zero. To dust.

All colour within the digital world's bounded field vanished as Amane's lips moved, pitch black darkness overtaking the inside of the dome.

"What the-?! She altered the digital world?! I can't barely see my cards!" Mashiro exclaimed.

"Some people can change the digital world as they wish, but others can do it when under tons of stress without even wanting to!" Mana exclaimed, squeezing Seiran's hand.

"To have it come to this..." Seiran grit her teeth. "What have you been doing to Saki-san, Touko...?!"

"A-ahaha, I'd rather someone turned the lights back on, yes!" Shiori awkwardly laughed. "I find intense darkness to not be so fleeting!"

Amane's voice boomed through the void space.

"Monochrome... Dust! Until the end of my turn... All of the non-Crest cards in your field lose their skills, and their grade and power become 1! You can't guard with cards whose grades are greater than your vanguard!"

"Huh?! Back to old guarding rules too?! (10000>>1) (8000>>1) (13000>>1) (10000>1) Darn, even AEGIS' been turned off!"

"And since you're not at five damage yet..."

"T-there's more?!" Mashiro exclaimed.

With the swing of the reaper's scythe, the top card of Mashiro's deck was placed in her damage zone.

"(Star Dragon Deity of Infinitude, Eldobreath) Are you kidding me?! A damage with negated effects on top of it?!"

"Stand and draw... Energy charge!"

Mashiro's eyes widened. Right. Amane hadn't begun her turn yet.

"Hearken to the still bells and the raven's silence, for what was sown and reaped is no more! Forever fall... Into the nihil chasm! Persona Ride! One Who Walks From Zero, Blangdmire Nexus!"

"Draw...! (10000>>20000) (13000>>23000) Blangdmire Nexus' skill! Bind four cards from soul face down, add 5k for every two face down cards in my bind zone! (23000>>48000) You bind two as well!"

"Like it matters now...! Levin Prondia and Bold Salos!"

"I call Veidrock Dragon from the bind zone! (10000>>20000) Veidrock Dragon's skill! (20000>>40000) (20000>>40000) Call, Evoke Alchemist and Tizkar! Skill! Energyblast to give her 5k and Boost! (10000>>15000) Blangdmire Nexus' other skill! Besides having Fated One of Zero's name too, it gets its Divine Skill and gives my front row rears 5k! (40000>>45000) (40000>>45000) Battle! Boosted by Evoke Alchemist, Veidrock Dragon attacks! Evoke Alchemist's skill! (45000>>53000>>58000)"

"Perfect guard with Strogalmars!"

"Boosted by Evoke Alchemist, Blangdmire Nexus attacks! Skill! (48000>>56000>>61000>>63000) Then, counterblast to restand Veidrock with 15k! (45000>>60000) Divine Skill! Blangdmire Nexus gets a critical, your sentinels get blocked and your and your vanguard's skill negated! (63000>>63000/2) Epilogue Naught!"

"Darn... I hyped myself up just to fail you right away..." Mashiro lowered her head and closed her eyes, accepting her execution. "I'm sorry, Sei... No guard..."

One Who Walks From Zero, Blangdmire Nexus.

Stem Deviate Dragon.

The swing of Blangdmire's sword brought complete and total silence to the digital world.

Shiori called for Mashiro, but Mashiro didn't hear her.

Mana and Seiran squeezed each other's hands, but they couldn't feel each other.

Sight. Smell. Hearing. Smelling. Tact. All returned to nil.

Only the silent darkness remained. The Land of Smiles was no more.

Now Touko couldn't ask her for anything. Now Touko couldn't pull the strings of his poor heart. Now Touko couldn't pretend validation to have them as a pawn.

Now Amane was at peace. The darkness cloaked him. The silence comforted them. Becoming dust put her at ease.

"..."

"...!"

"...ne!"

"Saki Amane!"

(OST - Beyond the Time)

In that dark void that had become as vast as a starless cosmos, a red meteor's gleam pulled the ones enshrouded in out of the nihil chasm.

"Dear Mashiro!" Shiori called out.

"Shi?! I can hear you!" Mashiro replied.

"Seiran!" Mana squeezed her bassist's hand, feeling it squeeze back.

"Mana-chan!" Seiran squeezed her drummer's hand, feeling it squeeze back.

"No... My monochrome silence...!" Amane muttered.

Five pairs of eyes turned to the source of the red gleam. In it, they saw silhouette making its way towards them. A giant robot they saw before. A unit. But different.

The blue and gray steel of its body had turned red and back, and the orange lights across its body blue.

But atop the robot's head stood its pilot.

Dressed in red garments, with gloves, boots and a belt in white, and a black and golden mantle over his shoulders.

And more importantly, more important that the robes he wore and the robot he stood upon, there was the silver helmet on his head.

Mashiro recognized that pompous cocky smirk. It made her smiled. Of course that nuisance would show up if she got in trouble.

"I came here to fight you."

Abani was a peaceful town outside the hustle and bustle of the Messiah Grand Prix, yet it was no stranger to a few Category Kings and Aces and other oddballs.

But he was above those oddballs.

"Red Meteor ANJOU, dispatch!"

----------

Man that new Granfia sucked, yeesh. Time to keep making due with whatever generic comes our that supports tokens or gauges or can be used in Claudine, that was not it. Literally what if we took the CCE attack form g3s and made them bad.

Anyway, hello! Summer is here! And so is another DE rideline, Savages this time, because this is the Tachikaze year I guess?? I'll find a way to include Venatior in Bujin or Backlight. Bastion is getting support too, a RRR at that... Still not making Yukie keep that deck, especially now witu Liael=Draconids on the way lol.

So the anime is back... Oh man, I can use these to review the episodes... Huhhhh it was mid? More Michiru glazing (bad civ), more Akinao propaganda (even worse civ), Kagetsu is still a cuck thinking about Ruka as Tomari does her on the back of her cop car (good civ, Kage is bad and Seiran mogs him as a Veiss user), and Tohya was the best! Rip Tohya for not making it to Deluxe 3, Tomori would have loved to hear your penguin stories.

This week we have the long awaited Ruka vs Kagetsu... Man, you kniw something's off with my brain chemistdy when I'm more hyped about the one card Seiran can use than the deck I gave to one of Schwartz's goons. It do be like that sometimes.

Anywho, new seasonal anime are here, I recommend the new yuri show, you know which one. Gachiakuta also looks cool, love classism and eating the rich.

Anyway, that's about it. June may have ended but every month is pride month if you're not a redneck. See ya in the next one.

Man, somehow the SR Fate collab is better anni material than everything in the 8th anni, what the hell Nasu :sob: