"Give it back! That's my card!"
Rebecca Hawkins stood her ground, hands on her hips, glaring fiercely at Solomon Muto.
"Eh? Wait a second… could you be…"
Solomon seemed to recall something. Adjusting his glasses, he leaned in to take a closer look at the girl's delicate yet stubborn face.
"What are you doing?! Staring at a lady like that is very rude!"
Rebecca instantly stepped back half a pace, protesting indignantly. Then, puffing up her chest with an air of self-importance, she declared in her English-Japanese hybrid accent:
"[Blue-Eyes White Dragon] was born in America! It's the strongest Monster Card ever made there! Giving it to me—the number one duelist in all of America—is only natural!"
She looked down at the teddy bear in her arms, seeking affirmation.
"Right, Teddy?"
"O-ohhh~ America's champion, huh? Impressive, kid," Tristan said, though his skeptical tone betrayed disbelief.
"Hey, you, little miss big shot," Joey couldn't hold back, his irritation plain. "Even if you're some kind of prodigy, there's gotta be a limit to your jokes! And even if you are America's number one, that doesn't mean you can just barge in and demand someone's rare card—"
"No, she's not lying."
Yugi cut in gently yet firmly, halting Joey's protest. He turned toward Rebecca.
"I've read about you in the Duel Monsters magazines. Miss Rebecca Hawkins—crowned America's youngest champion ever. A true prodigy duelist who caused quite a stir back then."
Hearing Yugi's accurate description, Rebecca lifted her chin proudly, like a little peacock confirming its territory.
Joey crouched slightly, leaning close to Yugi, whispering in disbelief. "Hey, Yugi, you sure? That bratty little squirt's really America's number one?"
Tristan leaned in too, frowning. "Even if she is, that still doesn't give her the right to demand someone else's rare card. That's just bullying!"
"Hey! Are you guys looking down on me?!"
Rebecca's ears were sharp; she'd heard every word. Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, she hopped forward, clutching Teddy, shouting at Joey.
"You jerk! Don't think I don't know who you are—Joey Wheeler! You only made it into the Duelist Kingdom semifinals by luck!"
She rattled off the rankings as if reciting from memory.
"First place, Yuto Tenshou! Second, Yugi Muto! Then Mai Valentine and you—tied for third! Face it, anything below first is just following the leader! What's there to brag about?!"
She finished with a defiant pout, tossing her head with disdain. To drive her point home, she even lifted the brown teddy bear in Joey's face, mimicking a childish voice.
"See? Even Teddy agrees with me!"
"You—! Why, you little brat!" Joey's face turned beet red with rage, trembling with frustration, yet he couldn't lash out at a kid, so he flailed helplessly in place.
"However, Miss Rebecca," Solomon tried to explain, his tone still kind. "That [Blue-Eyes White Dragon] holds great personal meaning to me—it's a very special card, so…"
"Hmph, of course it does!" Rebecca cut him off sharply, her words dripping with sarcasm. "Since it's the precious card you stole from America!"
"S-stole it?!"
That word hit like a bomb. Even Yugi's composure faltered.
"Rebecca, that's got to be a misunderstanding! That card—Grandpa's—"
"Yet!" Rebecca interrupted again, her voice rising with accusation. "It was Bandit Keith himself who told me! He said that priceless [Blue-Eyes White Dragon] was stolen from America!"
She emphasized the name "Bandit Keith," as though invoking his words made her claim undeniable.
"Ehhh?!" Everyone was stunned.
"Anyway!" Rebecca waved her hand with finality. "[Blue-Eyes White Dragon] is the symbol of America's strength! It rightfully belongs to me—the number one duelist in the U.S.!"
"Rebecca, that card really isn't—"
"Alright, alright! I get it!" she cut Yugi off again, her tone implying, You're just making excuses not to give it back.
"Talking won't fix this! If you won't return it, then we'll settle it the duelist's way!"
She thrust her finger straight at Solomon, her eyes sharp as blades.
"Duel me! If I win, you'll give back the [Blue-Eyes White Dragon] to me!"
Joey couldn't take it anymore. "Hey, you! You keep interrupting people! Haven't you caused enough trouble already?!"
Yet Rebecca ignored his yelling entirely, her gaze locked unwaveringly on Solomon as she declared again:
"Let's duel!"
Yugi looked at the stubborn, fiery girl before him and sighed helplessly, then exchanged a glance with his equally weary grandfather. He knew words wouldn't get through now. Taking a step forward, his voice was calm yet resolute.
"Miss Rebecca, Grandpa's too old to duel. If you insist on a duel… then I'll be your opponent."
Looks like I'll have to clear this misunderstanding through a duel, Yugi thought.
The group headed for Domino City's only professional dueling arena—Kaiba Land.
After explaining the situation to Mokuba Kaiba, who was on site, they quickly obtained permission to use the arena.
"Rebecca, I'll be your opponent!" Yugi declared, standing on one side of the platform.
"OK! Fine by me!" Rebecca hugged Teddy tightly and strode up to the opposite side, confidence radiating from her face.
"No matter who my opponent is, or how strong—they all lose to me! America's number one doesn't lose to anyone!"
"That super-arrogant brat's gonna make me explode!" Joey fumed from below the stage.
"Calm down, Joey," Yuto said, placing a hand on his shoulder. His gaze stayed fixed on the duelists, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"Trust Yugi. He'll win."
And maybe, he thought silently, he'll earn something unexpected—a little… reward.
"DUEL!"
The declaration rang out as both duelists took their positions.
Rebecca looked at Yugi, a sly, confident grin curling on her lips. In her sweet yet taunting tone, she teased:
"Hey hey Yugi-oniichan, are you sure you wanna let a genius duelist girl like me go first? You'll be crying later, you know?"
...
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