"Memories" (040)

Enrokonai City, known for its inhabitants being the vast majority of duelists. In the center surrounded by tall buildings lies a fairly large building named 'Dueling Academy' which produces the best of the best to protect anyone and everyone, with new and inspired duelists enrolling every year the number of villains also rises.

The Academies' main goals are to mass-produce heroes to make the world a much better place and to bring down all evil that lies In the shadows.

Dueling Academy offers a rating system that pushes every student to the limit of their abilities and adds fire to their beat.

The top three Duelists are each given a title, with the first being 'King,' the second being 'Devil,' and the first being 'Silver,' as well as the title of Champion of Dueling Games.

These three Duelists regularly duel with other Duelists to defend their titles, and they also serve as the face of the Academies magazine and newspaper.

Aside from the Academy, a storm brews as we look at a hidden top villain who appears to have the ability to manipulate reality to his will thanks to a red gem; he seeks out strong opponents to use as puppets, making them do everything he asks exactly how he wants it; get on his bad side, and he will make your life a living nightmare...

- Spiritual Realm (Zero Dimension/World), Saturday, 2:30 pm -

"Oh, for God's sake! Let me go; I'm capable of moving on my own!" Alpha was irritatedly sitting on Codey's shoulders.

"How did you end up in that position in the first place?!" Just then, Alpha began hitting him in the head with her fist. "Hey! Come on, that hurts like hell!"

"Then, let me go!"

"I'd say you're in no shape to keep up with us! So quit being an ass and take a vacation from being such a loner!"

"Who said I couldn't keep up? All I got was a jolt and a strike! Let me go, for damn sake!"

"I'm not going to! If you want to battle the remaining Spiritual Hoaxers while you're in that state! Then go, but I'm not letting you leave until I'm certain you'll be able to keep up!"

"You've got to be shitting your pants, urgh!" Alpha leaned back, her legs supported by Codey above his shoulder when she spotted something in the distance a split second after reclining back.

They appeared to be pursued by nearly an entire army of Spiritual Hoaxers. "On the other hand, perhaps continue..."

"I raged at you! For the love of God, please!" When Tim turned around, Codey yelled loudly. "Codey, open the wormhole as soon as possible!"

"W-What kind of Wormhole are you talking about?" Nina was held because she couldn't move as quickly as them, but she didn't seem too upset, unlike Alpha.

"I gotcha," When Alpha got squiggly and began to wiggle left and right like a feather, Codey let go of her with his right hand. "...I should've eaten more in order to not be so thin..." Codey swooped forward and opened a wormhole in front of Tim at that precise moment.

"Hurry!" They all jumped through it, and before the Spiritual Hoaxers could react, they vanished, as did their traces.

"Damn... I had no idea they could traverse wormholes... It's all because of the Half-Demon who now wields the Reality Jewel..." While being quite upset, the girl alleged.

"Only a handful of hundreds of our people remain..."

"Shijo, I thought you were meant to be on duty as a guard."

"We were, but one of the Spiritual Hoaxers needed assistance, and the entire squad protecting the door with me was destroyed the instant I left and returned. For me to experience that, it has to be them and a reduction in their Spiritual Symbolism."

"Perfect... we've got our boss injured and also allowed the criminals get away with it, and we have no idea where they'd go..."

"There's a chance they've returned to the Overworld, after all, we know where they are... But it's far too risky for them..."

"Yeah. For the time being, let's take a step back and see what we can do after Genpaku has recovered..."

"Okay, Hoaxers! Return to the hideout! We must treat our boss with respect."

- Yashikami City, Saturday, 2:45 pm -

They all jumped through the wormhole as it opened. When they passed through it, though, Tim slid to the floor and Ayuka's eyes widened.

By chance, she was thrown over. "Ayuka! Oh crap!" When Ayuka looked underneath her with humiliation, Tim leaped forward. "No! Wait! If you do so, I'll-" Tim slipped and his eyes got squiggly, but it was too late.

Tim's backbones were almost broken when her bottom smashed into them. "Hey! Are you okay?!" She worriedly murmured as she hurriedly and reached for his head.

He was staring at the ground, but he gave her a thumbs up. "Damn... I bet your boobs are the source of that heft and weight..." Ayuka grew irritated at this point and rose to her feet.

"On the contrary. I don't care; in fact, I hope you were injured..."

Alpha was holding her mouth due to passing through the wormhole when the others joined in. "Hah! Please don't throw up on me! Get up and go!" Codey screamed as he let go of her and hopped to the side.

When Alpha's puke was heard in the background, she dashed for the bush.

Risa and Nina, on the other hand, appeared to be in good spirits.

"Thank you so much, Risa..." Risa grinned and nodded. "But... Uh ... Codey, this isn't the Spiritual Society..." Codey averted his gaze in embarrassment and blushed as he held his head.

"... I... have no idea..." Everyone turned to look at him at that precise moment. "Isn't this the city of Straightport?" Except for Risa, everyone seemed perplexed.

"Do you know where this is or something?" The city appeared to be more modern than Enrokonai City, and people went about their business as usual as if nothing unusual had occurred.

"Wait... Hold on... This looks vaguely familiar..." They took a look around, but when they came across a building with a lot of glass and nature, they froze.

"That's Yashikami City for you! What the hell is going on here? I assumed it had been destroyed!" A girl who looked exactly like Ayuka was passing by at the time, but she appeared to be an adult.

"I'm finally finished with my work..." When she phased through Tim, the woman sighed. "Wait, aren't we real or something?" But just then, Codey made a comment.

"Yo... Ayuka, I think that's you." She grew perplexed as a result of that. "Are you sure I'm not a little too mature right now?"

"No... He is correct... She is your future self." Risa called attention to it, and our Heroine was disturbed. "But this isn't the genuine deal! Right?!"

"Well... I can't give you an exact answer... but it doesn't appear to be..." They observed the future Ayuka walking through a park the moment Risa said so.

"Will it be strange if I say we should follow her right now since the genuine Ayuka is right in front of us?" Codey was both curious and uneasy. "Stalk much?"

Tim pondered as he crossed both arms. "Perhaps we might learn more about the 'Black Storm' here... Don't you agree?"

"Alpha, are you coming?" She claimed when Alpha was still standing near the bush. "Yeah..." But as soon as she tried to go closer, she had to immediately adjust her direction. "...or maybe not..." She hurried back to the bush, puked, and ran away.

"I'll... pursue you..." Alpha continued, looking away and waving her hand.

They eventually agreed and chased after the future Ayuka.

- Yashikami City, Saturday, 3:05 pm -

They came across a gigantic building and witnessed Future Ayuka enter there while still chasing her. "This is where you'll be living in the future, Ayuka..." Risa stated, her voice trembling with fear.

"I suppose she spent a lot of money on that, huh?" Tim claimed, his face flushed with embarrassment. "I don't see anything noteworthy... It's not my fault that Spiritual Duelists make a lot of money..."

Everyone trailed Future Ayuka up the stairwell until she reached the door.

- Yashikami City, Saturday, 3:05 pm -

Everyone was able to see inside the house as Future Ayuka opened the door.

Her white jacket was hung on the rack, and the Sunlight shone brightly on her white hair.

"Take a look at this... You've arrived earlier than I had anticipated." They were all stunned when they saw Future Tim. "What the hell are you doing at her place, you pervert?" Codey screamed with terror.

"... Risa, could you please clarify THAT to us?" From the future, Tim pointed at him. "You two got married..." "I've previously told you..." Tim's face grew squiggly as he looked at Ayuka fast.

"Everything is a misunderstanding! There isn't a chance! You can easily tell that we have no 'feelings' for one other than friendship!"

"That's most likely due to the fact that you two are still in your adolescent years. Which does provide us with some insight... If your emotions are the same as they were back then, I'm guessing Ayuka has a crush on you..."

Tim and Ayuka both froze when they heard that, and they exchanged glances. Tim hopped to the side and promptly pointed his finger in the direction of Ayuka.

"What are you talking about?" Tim yelled, but Ayuka seemed to have no idea what was going on, except that she was humiliated. "No, it isn't correct! I don't think you're attractive!" After hearing that, Tim's body collapsed to the floor.

"You could've just said no without mentioning that I'm not attractive in your opinion... That hurt a lot more than I expected..."

"Mother!" Everyone turned to stare at a young girl who dashed toward Ayuka and embraced her.

"Did she just say MOTHER to you?" Tim leaped to his feet, and Ayuka's eyes widened. "Hey there, Ayou..."

Hearing that name made Ayuka freeze in place, utterly ignoring the rest of the room.

She came to an understanding and expressed herself. "Ayou..." When a bright light shone in their direction, her eyes shook violently.

- Spiritual Realm (Zero Dimension/World), Saturday, 10:30 pm -

Ayuka sprung from her bed, clutching her blanket and covering her chest, sweating and breathing more heavily.

"Wow, take it easy... I'm guessing you've experienced a nightmare?" Tim, who was holding a pillbox, gazed at her. "... What are you doing here...?" She asked, puzzled, after glancing at him.

He rose up and took the glass of water from the table. "We had to put you in bed when we entered the Wormhole since you were unconscious. Alexis requested that we give you this medication, so please be a good girl and take it." When Tim handed her the glass, she grew irritated right away.

"... sounds like a dream, doesn't it? Don't worry, I'm OK..." She slid the glass away with care. "But, you gotta take it... Or you'll have dreams like this..." When Ayuka peered out the window at the moon, Tim exclaimed.

"Perhaps that's a better option for me..." She leaned back into the bed and wrapped a blanket around herself.

"...of course... you'd be so worried... I understand; if you change your mind, I'll leave the pills here... I'll inform Alexis that you've taken it... So utilize it wisely or chuck it away... See you later, and take care of yourself..." When Ayuka heard the door close, Tim opened it and exited.

Those were her final words, and her recollections of the future or the past came flooding back to her...

Tim sighed as he stood outside the door. "... Now I'm wishing she'd informed me about her dream..." He silently walked across the hallway and into his room without saying anything further.

"How's she doing, champ?" While stretching, Codey laughed. "I suppose she's doing fine..."

"If you ask me, that doesn't sound very 'fine'..." Codey sighed and rose to his feet. "She had her first nightmare, to be sure... Though everything appeared to be worse than we'd anticipated..."

"I suppose you're correct..."

- Spiritual Realm (Zero Dimension/World), Saturday, 10:31 pm -

Ayuka's mouth seemed to be filled with anguish, and sluggish tears dripped down both sides of her cheeks as she hid her eyes.

"...if only you remembered..."

To be continued...