"My unruly granddaughter has caused you all trouble. I truly apologize."
A gentle voice spoke up.
A refined elderly man, dressed in a neatly pressed suit with silver hair combed perfectly in place, had appeared behind the group at some point, wearing a kindly, apologetic smile.
"Grandpa..."
At the sound of his voice, Rebecca's proud, fearless demeanor instantly shattered.
She lowered her head, burying her face into the teddy bear in her arms, her voice tiny and trembling with shame.
"I'm sorry, Grandpa Solomon... I'm sorry, everyone..."
"It's alright, it's alright."
Solomon Muto quickly waved his hands, smiling with grandfatherly warmth.
Arthur then stepped forward, heading straight toward Yugi on the platform.
"This duel's result is already clear."
His gaze swept across Yugi's face, full of admiration and nostalgia.
"Yugi is the true victor. How astonishing—the entire course of this duel mirrored the one I once had with your grandfather."
"What?!"
Rebecca looked up in shock, glancing between her grandfather and Yugi, then hurriedly ran over to them.
"Impressive, Yugi."
Arthur praised sincerely, his eyes seeming to peer through time, seeing the Solomon of years past.
"Such kindness and wisdom, such respect for your opponent... You will surely become, like your grandfather, an eternal legend in the world of dueling."
He stepped onto the platform—not to inspect the Duel Disk, but to reach directly for the top card of Yugi's Deck, plucking it with precision.
"Look, Rebecca."
He showed her the card.
"If Yugi had played this in his final turn, your defeat would have been certain."
"Then... Yugi chose to lose?" Rebecca stared at Yugi, eyes wide with disbelief and confusion. "Why? Why would you do that?"
Yugi, caught off guard by her sudden closeness, blushed faintly and stepped back a little.
"Because Yugi, like his grandfather, has a kind heart. He surrendered not for victory or defeat—rather, to save you, who had become blinded by your obsession with winning."
Arthur's gaze grew distant, as though returning to that fateful day long ago.
"Just like when Solomon and I were trapped in that collapsed Egyptian ruin, fighting over the last drop of water. In the end, your Grandpa Solomon forfeited. He left that life-saving water for me, who was already on the brink of collapse."
Arthur's voice was heavy with emotion.
"He told me something I've never forgotten: 'Arthur, what matters more than victory... is life itself.'"
He knelt to meet his granddaughter's eyes, his expression both tender and solemn.
"Rebecca, back then, I was just like you—seeing only the glory of victory, willing to send any monster to the Graveyard without hesitation, treating them as tools. Yet your Grandpa Solomon taught me that every Duel Monster, and every relic we study, carries meaning. We must show respect to them—to those partners we 'sacrifice' in battle."
He gently patted the arm that held her teddy bear.
"That respect extends to your opponent. To belittle your opponent is to belittle the duel itself."
Rebecca listened quietly, staring into her grandfather's time-weathered yet sincere eyes. She recalled Yugi's gentle yet firm gaze, and how he had chosen to forfeit when victory was within his grasp… She nodded slowly, beginning to understand. The icy pride in her heart began to melt.
"As for that [Blue-Eyes White Dragon]..." Arthur stood and pointed to the card in Solomon's hand.
"That card was a gift from me to your Grandpa Solomon—a Japanese edition, given from the depths of my gratitude for saving my life, and in honor of his spirit as a true Duelist. It represents our friendship that transcended borders. The one you heard was stolen back in America was the American edition, Rebecca. You were mistaken."
"Exactly so." Solomon raised the gleaming [Blue-Eyes White Dragon], smiling gently and proudly.
"Rebecca." Arthur looked at her again, his voice filled with meaning. "Cards are the echoes of our hearts. A true duel, one fought with respect, is not defined by victory or loss—but by the bond it builds between duelists. That bond of friendship is the greatest treasure of all."
"Heart... and friendship..."
Rebecca repeated the words softly, a new light shining in her eyes—one that reached beyond the idea of winning or losing.
For the first time, she began to understand what her grandfather and Solomon had been protecting.
"Yes, heart and friendship," Arthur said with a teasing smile. "Until you can truly cherish them, Rebecca, you're not worthy of that 'American Champion' title, you know?"
Rebecca's cheeks flushed bright red.
She turned sharply to face Yugi, took a deep breath, and bowed deeply, setting aside all pride.
"Yugi! I'm sorry! I was selfish and arrogant! I misunderstood Grandpa Solomon—and I underestimated you! I'm truly sorry!"
Before she could rise, Yugi's gentle voice replied, warm and forgiving.
"It's alright, Rebecca. I'm just glad we cleared the misunderstanding."
"Thank you, Yugi!" Rebecca looked up, her face glowing with a radiant, cloudless smile.
It was the first genuine, sunlit smile she'd shown since arriving in Japan.
Yugi, moved by her expression, smiled warmly in return.
As if remembering something, he drew a card from his pocket—the one he had received atop the Duelist Kingdom Clock Tower: [Bond of Friendship].
"What's that?" Rebecca looked curiously at the card in his hand.
"I'd like you to have it." Yugi offered it to her, his eyes clear and sincere. "It symbolizes the precious connection born from understanding one another."
"Mm!"
Rebecca accepted it carefully, holding it as if it were the most precious treasure, nodding firmly.
"I'll treasure it forever, Yugi! I promise!"
Seeing the misunderstanding resolved and everyone smiling again, Joey, Tristan, Téa, and Yuto all relaxed, their faces glowing with heartfelt relief.
The tension in the air was gone, replaced by warmth.
"Solomon!" Professor Arthur Hawkins laughed heartily, his eyes glimmering with rekindled passion. "It's been far too long, old friend! How about we settle things with a duel—just us old-timers!"
"Hahaha, gladly!"
Solomon laughed heartily in return, cracking his knuckles.
"The kids can handle tonight's party preparations! As for us—let's duel to our hearts' content! And later, we'll celebrate properly with a drink or two!"
Yugi smiled and turned to Rebecca, who clutched Teddy and the [Bond of Friendship] close to her chest, and extended his hand kindly.
"Rebecca, would you like to come to the party tonight? It'll be a lot of fun."
"Yes!"
Rebecca answered at once, her face bright with anticipation as she placed her small hand firmly into Yugi's warm one.
Two hands—bridging distance and misunderstanding—now held tightly together.
The golden light of sunset bathed them and their smiling friends, painting the perfect ending to a long, turbulent day.
...
If you want to support, please consider Patreon, and read advanced chapters! Your support keeps this series going!
[Patreon.com/RedZTL]