The morning sunlight gently spilled over Domino City's harbor as a massive cruise ship slowly docked, its horn echoing long and soft.
When Yuto Tenshou and his companions finally set foot on solid, familiar ground, an indescribable sense of relief washed over them.
Three days and nights of heart-pounding adventure in Duelist Kingdom had at last come to an end, the journey closing amid the cries of seagulls and the bustling noise of the port.
Standing by the slightly noisy roadside, the group briefly parted ways.
"Téa and I will take these 'hard goods' home first."
Yuto patted the heavy chest filled with leftover gold and jewels—it was proof of both their fortune and the weight of their adventure.
"I-I gotta get to the hospital and check on Serenity!"
Joey's voice brimmed with impatient joy, tinged with a hint of nervousness.
"Hey, wait up! I'm coming too!"
Tristan shouted, instantly throwing an arm around Joey's neck.
"I'm heading back to the shop. Grandpa's probably worried sick. I should tell him all about… well, everything that happened."
Yugi smiled, his eyes filled with the warmth of family.
"Alright, see you all later!"
They waved their goodbyes, their figures soon blending into the morning crowd returning home.
When Yuto arrived back at his long-missed home, the first thing he did was take a long, hot shower, washing away the fatigue of travel and the lingering gloom of the castle.
After changing into clean, comfortable clothes, he felt entirely refreshed.
By noon, he met back up with his friends, and they treated themselves to a hearty meal at their favorite restaurant.
Good food, laughter, and chatter—that was how life was meant to be.
"Ahhh—!"
Joey let out a satisfied burp, holding a half-empty can of soda as they strolled down the sunlit afternoon streets.
"Man, it's great to be back! Solid ground, cold cola—can't beat that!"
He stretched extravagantly.
"Hey, why don't we hang out at my family's game shop for a while?" Yugi suggested with a gentle smile. "I'm sure Grandpa would love to see everyone."
"Sounds good! Perfect way to walk off lunch!" Tristan replied enthusiastically.
The others quickly agreed—it was a rare, peaceful afternoon, and they had already checked in with their families that morning.
"Then let's throw a party tonight!" Joey declared immediately. "This afternoon, we can hit the shopping district and grab some snacks and—eh?"
As they turned a familiar corner, the game shop came into view.
However, what they saw at the entrance made them all stop in surprise.
A young girl stood quietly there.
A blonde girl clutching a brown teddy bear tightly against her chest—the bear looked like it was her dearest companion.
Beside her was a luggage cart nearly as tall as she was, stacked with suitcases and bags, covered in worn, faded international flight tags. She looked like she had come a long way.
As they drew closer, they saw that the girl wasn't merely waiting quietly—she was standing with her hands slightly on her hips, engaged in what looked like a rather peculiar conversation with Solomon Muto, who had just opened the shop door.
The girl looked up at him, her posture confident in that distinctly American way. The sunlight outlined her serious profile.
Her Japanese was halting—slow, limited in vocabulary—and she relied heavily on gestures, mixing English and Japanese to make herself understood.
"YOU!" she said, pointing a slender finger at the somewhat puzzled Solomon. Her pronunciation was clear yet accented. "Mutou Sugoroku? Are you Mutou Sugoroku?"
Adjusting his glasses, Solomon studied the travel-worn yet fiery girl before him, nodding kindly. "Yes, that's me. And you are, young lady? What brings you here?"
She didn't seem to catch the latter part. Nevertheless, once she confirmed his identity, she straightened her back, the teddy bear wobbling in her arms.
Taking a deep breath, she declared with resolve—and a tone that almost sounded accusatory—
"My name is Rebecca! Rebecca Hawkins! I came from America this morning!"
Her bright blue eyes locked on Solomon, and with a sudden, forceful rise in her voice, she shouted the next words with unshakable determination:
"Give it back! Give it back to me!"
"Eh? Give what back?" Solomon blinked, utterly confused.
He couldn't imagine what this foreign girl, who had come all the way across the ocean, could possibly want returned from him.
Rebecca saw he didn't understand. She stomped her foot lightly, clutching the bear tighter.
She struggled for the right Japanese words—and then, finally, cried out clearly and resolutely:
"Blue… no, blue-EYES! Give me back my [Blue-Eyes White Dragon]!!!"
"Blue-Eyes White Dragon?!"
This time, not only Solomon but also Yuto, Yugi, Joey, and Tristan—who had just arrived and heard everything—shouted in unison!
Every gaze fixed on the blonde girl at the doorway, standing firm with her teddy bear, demanding the return of the legendary dragon.
The air froze. A wave of shock and disbelief spread across the entrance of the game shop.
...
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