"AAAH! Where the heck is Miho's watch?!"
Tristan, who had been crawling on the floor searching for ages, let out a wail.
The money wasn't the main issue—it was that this D‑Shock watch was a limited release. There was no way to buy another.
"Tristan, are you sure you don't remember? We've checked everywhere," Yuto said helplessly.
"If not, just give up and buy Miho another one," Joey suggested.
Regardless, Tristan refused to give up.
"No! I can't give up! It's all my fault... because of my carelessness, Miho's D‑watch—"
"It's called D‑Shock..."
Seeing Tristan on the verge of tears, Yuto sighed. "Fine, let's keep looking."
Abruptly, just as they were about to continue, Tristan suddenly cried out, "Ow, that hurts!"
Everyone turned to see a foot stepping on Tristan's hand as he crouched on the floor.
"Oh, my bad. I thought it was a rag," came a mocking voice.
A man appeared before them, wearing a bandana and glasses, a smirk playing on his lips, utterly unconcerned with what he'd done.
"You bastard, what are you doing?!"
Joey grabbed the guy by the collar, his right fist raised, ready to smash his nose.
"Don't, Joey. Instead of wasting time on this fool, help me find the D‑watch," Tristan said.
Reluctantly, Joey released him. "Tch."
The bandana man strolled off casually.
The group resumed searching, while Yugi's gaze lingered thoughtfully on the man's back.
Riiiing!
In desperation, Tristan even lifted up an arcade machine. Alarms blared, and two staff members rushed over to restrain him.
"Tristan! Idiot! How could the watch be in there?!"
Téa and Joey hurried over to explain things to him.
Meanwhile, Yugi quietly followed the bandana man.
'Where's Yugi going?'
Yuto wondered—and followed as well.
The bandana man, Yugi, and Yuto all ended up in the stairwell. Nevertheless, Yugi's tailing skills were poor, and he was soon noticed.
Yugi was dragged into an empty machine room and beaten by the bandana man.
Seeing Yugi hauled inside, Yuto rushed down, intending to ambush the guy and save him.
Suddenly, before he could enter, golden light flared from the half‑open doorway. What was happening?
Peering inside, Yuto saw—
"Game time." It was Yugi's voice, yet different.
And the scene was not Yugi being pummeled. Instead, Yugi stood there, arms crossed. The bandana man tried to leave, but it was as if an invisible wall blocked him.
"You!" He clenched his fists, rushing toward Yugi. Right then, a massive pendulum swung through the room.
How could there be something like that here?!
Looking up, Yuto saw the ceiling had become darkness itself, the giant pendulum as if jutting out from hell.
"What the hell is this place?!"
The man shouted, but Yugi was unfazed.
"Come play a game with me. A Shadow Game."
Yugi's presence... overwhelming. Stronger even than Ushio.
Right, a Shadow Game—so this Yugi must be the Pharaoh.
"The wager is the D‑Shock watch you stole."
"Don't screw with me, this watch—" Before he could finish, a door opened on the floor. A mechanical bird flew out, snatched the watch from his hand, and disappeared back through the door.
The man pounded on the floor. "My... my D‑Shock watch!"
"That isn't yours, is it? But if you win, I'll acknowledge it as yours," Yugi declared with unmatched authority.
"Fine! I'll play your game!" The words were forced through his teeth.
"No need to be so mad. The rules are simple." Yugi began to explain.
"At the start, the bird appears, the watch's stopwatch function begins. Whoever stops it closest to exactly ten seconds wins."
The man laughed.
"That's it? That easy?"
"Though when ten seconds hit, the pendulum will swing. You know what happens if you're a step late. Do or don't—it's your choice."
Yugi gave him one last chance.
"Don't mock me! Of course I'll play! I'll go first!"
Yugi smirked. "Very well. Let the game begin."
The door opened again, the bird flew out with the watch, the stopwatch ticking…
'Now!' The man slapped it to a stop just as the pendulum swung.
"9.35 seconds! Haha! How's that?!"
Yugi calmly stepped forward. "Then my turn."
He closed his eyes—at the very last instant before the pendulum cut through, pressed the watch.
9.95 seconds.
"Looks like I win." Yugi reached for the watch, but the man snarled.
"No! That was just practice! Next time's for real!"
Stubborn as ever, Yugi nodded. "Fine. Then..."
"Wait—this time I'll stand over there!" The man switched sides, convinced Yugi's position had been more advantageous.
"Hmph. No problem."
Yugi shoved his hands in his pockets and took the man's old spot.
"Begin."
The bird appeared again with the watch, stopwatch running.
'Now! Wait—'
The man forgot: by switching sides, the pendulum's arc also shifted. The massive pendulum swept down. He clutched his hand and dropped to his knees.
"Too bad. You lose. I think this watch should be returned." Yugi picked it up.
"Wait!" The man grabbed his arm.
"I won't give up! No matter what! The D‑Shock is mine!"
Yugi sighed. "Pathetic. The door of darkness has already opened."
"What—?" The man's injured hand suddenly felt strange. He raised it—
Underneath the torn skin, not flesh and blood, but gears ticking away.
Tick, tock...
"Wh‑What is this?!"
He rolled up his sleeve. The watch on his wrist had fused with his skin.
"I... I... Aaaagh!!!"
Ignoring his screams, Yugi took Miho's watch and left the machine room.
Just outside, he saw Yuto waiting.
"Well. Looks like you've found a good friend, Yuto. Keep this secret."
Yugi gave him a meaningful look—then the familiar Yugi returned.
"Uh... Yuto?"
…
"Eh? You found it? Thank you, Yugi! That's great!"
Tristan held up the recovered watch with a cheer.
And life for the group returned to normal.
...
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