They had barely gotten home, not even eaten dinner, when the phone rang.
It was Yugi's grandpa—Professor Komori had fallen from a building.
Komori had taken them through the museum all day, and he was also an old friend of Yugi's grandpa. They had to go visit him.
Yuto and Téa quickly changed into outdoor clothes and headed to the hospital. Joey, Tristan, and Miho came too, and of course, Yugi was there as Solomon's grandson.
Yuto had a feeling Solomon wouldn't call them out in the middle of the night just for Komori's accident.
Otherwise, they could've just come tomorrow. Could it be some kind of curse? Would it spread?
Yuto's thoughts wandered—the TV Asahi version's plots were too dark.
Solomon came out of the ward with a sigh.
"Luckily, it's not fatal. Alright, everyone, go home... Come visit Komori next week."
"Okay."
So... it's fine? He didn't get it.
They left the hospital. Joey and Tristan had come on bikes, and since it was already midnight, Tristan gave Miho a ride.
Yugi volunteered to stay overnight with his grandpa.
That left just Yuto and Téa, hand in hand, strolling through the night.
Because she had rushed out, Téa wore a yellow tank top under a jacket and short denim shorts. The night breeze raised goosebumps on her skin.
"So cold..."
Seeing this, Yuto slipped off his jacket and handed it to her.
"Here, put it on."
"What about you? Aren't you cold?"
Yuto shook his head. "Actually, I feel kind of hot."
From the shadows, Shadi watched with the Millennium Key in hand.
"Man from another world... I will probe your power." Shadi pointed the Key at Yuto. Nothing happened.
Sorry! Souls from another world aren't under the domain of your local gods!
Shadi frowned. It seemed he'd have to draw out Yuto's power another way—perhaps through the girl he cared about.
He aimed the Millennium Key at Téa. This time it worked—he entered her inner world.
Shadi looked around. The west wall was lined with mirrors like a dance studio—so she wanted to be a dancer? The mirrors reflected her confidence. She was a girl of firm conviction.
On the wall hung an image of the Statue of Liberty—so she wanted to go abroad? On her nightstand was a photo of Yuto… love. This girl loved the outsider deeply.
Yes, choosing her was the right call. 'Forgive me for what I must do.'
Meanwhile, on the street, Yuto sensed something was wrong.
"Téa? What's wrong?"
Her mouth opened—but a man's voice came out.
"Outsider, I will test your power. If you care for this girl, come with me."
"Shadi! What are you doing?!"
Yuto immediately activated his weapon—yet it had no effect. Shadi simply controlled Téa and walked her away.
"Darn it!"
Yuto had no choice except to follow. The controlled Téa reached the rooftop of a tall building. Shadi's spirit appeared.
"Listen, Outsider. The girl is my puppet. At my command, she will jump."
"You bastard—what's your goal?!"
"I told you—I want to probe your power. However, I failed. I need you to unleash it yourself."
"I admit I'm from another world. But I'm just an ordinary man." Yuto glared at him, but dared not move recklessly.
If Téa jumped...
"Anger, hatred, despair—strong emotions can awaken your power. Perhaps I can help..."
Téa slowly stepped toward the edge.
Panic surged in Yuto. Then he thought of a desperate idea.
"Shadi! Duel me! A Shadow Game! If I win, you release Téa. If I lose, do whatever you want to force out my power!"
Shadi paused, then halted Téa's steps.
"So that is your choice? Very well, I accept."
"Then let's use Duel Monsters."
Yuto pulled his Deck from his pocket. Shadi conjured chairs and a table.
He also created a pile of miniature stone tablets, shuffled them, and set them in his Deck Zone.
Yuto shuffled his own cards and placed them in his zone.
"Then the game begins."
Shadi picked up a stone tablet and set it.
"I summon Arma Knight in the Wasteland. Turn end."
Yuto drew a card, checked his hand.
"I summon FF‑B/2 Flying Manta Bomber. Then I activate the Spell [Missile Mounting]. I also Set one card."
Missile pods appeared on the Bomber.
"Attack!"
Shadi raised an eyebrow. In the Wasteland, Arma Knight had 2000 Attack. Even with the Equip, the Bomber only had 1100. Why attack?
Seeing his doubt, Yuto explained.
"My FF‑B/2 Flying Manta Bomber's effect—when it attacks a ground monster, its Attack doubles!"
Shadi's LP dropped from 2000 to 1800.
"Ugh... My turn." He drew again.
"Then how about this? I summon Gaia the Fierce Knight to the ¹Plains! Attack!"
Doubled, its Attack hit 4600. If it connected, Yuto would lose instantly.
"I activate [Negate Attack]! Your attack is stopped!"
"Hmph. You've only delayed defeat. Your life flickers like a candle."
Shadi glared as if Yuto had no way out.
Yuto frowned. His cards couldn't escape this bind.
"My turn. Draw!"
Please! Deck, answer me!
If he couldn't pull the one card to turn this around, Téa...
His hand shook as he drew—then he smiled.
"We'll see about that! I activate [Radar Lock], targeting your Gaia! When my Machine monsters attack it, their Attack doubles again!"
He slapped down another card.
"And I activate [Burning Land]! Now, your Plains are gone—you can't get that double Attack bonus!"
"What?!"
The Plains turned to blazing fire. Gaia writhed in the flames, unable to keep its doubled power.
"FF‑B/2 Flying Manta Bomber—attack!"
The Bomber's Attack doubled—1100 to 2200... to 4400!
With 4400 Attack, Shadi's LP dropped straight to zero.
"I win. Don't trouble us again."
"...I understand."
Shadi released Téa and vanished.
"Ah!" Téa realized she was standing on the edge and screamed.
"Don't worry, I'm here." Yuto grabbed her waist and pulled her to safety.
"You were sleepwalking. Dreaming as you walked..."
He tried to lie, but Téa knew him too well. He had to confess.
"Alright, actually—here's what happened..." Yuto explained. "Anyways, it's resolved now. Don't be afraid."
***
¹ Plains: Refers to the early Bandai-era Field card concept; in modern Yu-Gi-Oh!, the closest equivalent would be 「草原」/ Sogen. There are tons of them here.
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