Chapter Text
The door of the Hiragi residence opened, and a man walked in. The man wore what looked like explorer gear, a pair of long boots, a green vest with a gray undershirt and the same colored cargo pants. He took off his hat to reveal a mop of short vibrant purple hair. The man was in the middle of taking his vest off when the tapping of feet on hardwood made him turn and barely catch the small girl that had partially flung herself at him.
“Daddy!”
Musashi Hiragi giggled as he held up his daughter, a shining smile on the girl's face, which made a smile bloom on his own face.
“Hello there Utena-chan”
He nuzzled the little girl's cheek. Both letting out giggles.
“Is that you honey?”
Musashi rested Utena on his chest and looked up again, as his wife came out from the kitchen. Lily smiled as she approached her husband, placing her hands around his neck as they gently kissed, before Musashi pulled back.
“Hello darling”
The happy couple smiled at each other. As little Utena taped her dad's head.
“Daddy daddy! Did you bring me any souvenirs?!”
Lily and Musashi giggled as Utena was set down.
Musashi:”I actually did. While wondering Kairo, a very nice jewelry piece caught my attention”
He reached into his jacket and pulled out a gold amulet, in the middle of the circle it had a pyramid with the eye of Wadjet. It had five little golden ornaments hanging from the bottom. Utenas eyes were sparkling with stars.
“This is the millennium ring. It's a treasure from ancient egypt”
Musashi puts the ornament around Utenas neck, the little girl marveled down at the treasure, eyes sparkling.
“It's so pretty!”
Utena quickly hugged her dad. Smiling and looking up at him.
“Thank you daddy! I love you!”
Musashi hugged back his daughter, smiling as well as Lily fondly looked on.
None of the family noticed the weird shadow on the wall that had replaced Utenas. The one that had distinctly weirdly sharp eyes on it.
________
“Good morning everyone!”
The classroom door opened, and a pink haired girl walked in around her neck on a chain holding a huge necklace with an upside down pyramid at the end. Excitedly waving at everyone as she walked towards the back of the class, where a very tall blue haired girl and a short blonde were waiting for her.
“Good morning Haruka-chan”
“Yo Haruka, morning”
“Hey Sayo! Hey Kaoruko! Morning!”
The three friends smiled at each other, quickly falling into a conversation.
“Are you two excited about today?! We have duel class!”
Kaoruko leaned on her elbows, leaning her head on a closed fist.
“So? We have duel class almost everyday”
“I know. But there are still so many people we haven't dueled around the school!”
Sayo lets out a giggle.
“Your as excitable as ever Haruka-chan”
"As cheery as ever aren't you Haruka-chan?”
As Haruka chuckled and was about to responde, the door closest to the three girls caught their attention. From it, two people walked in. One was excitedly jumping around talking to her friend. The green haired girl was talking with exaggerated hand motions and a lot of bounce in her step, while the purple haired girl next to her just had a small smile on and was nodding along.
“And then I was like “Rtatatatatatatatata!’ and he was like ‘Oh no aaaaagh!’ you should have been there Utena-chwan! It was amazing!”
Haruka saw Utena giggle and nod along. Smiling as her friend described something or other. Kaoruko instantly scowled as her not-so-hidden to everyone but her rival entered the room. Haruka was quick to wave at the duo.
“Good morning Kiwi-chan, Utena-chan!”
Utena looked and waved at Haruka, her eyes trailing to the necklace around her neck for a moment, widening as the two walked closer.
“Ah-Good morning Haruka-chan, Sayo-chan, Kaoruko-chan. How are you doing?”
“Hi hi!”
Kiwi and Utena greeted simultaneously. Then instantly, Kaoruko and Kiwi gave each other the stink eye, as they descended into an argument that the other three girls got used to just tuning out.
“How are you doing this morning Utena-chan?”
Utena’s eyes snapped back up from Haruka’s puzzle.
“Um, yes. I’ve been fine Haruka-chan. Umm, s-say, where did you get that?”
She pointed at the puzzle around Haruka’s neck, and Sayo looked over also.
“Yes, I too wished to ask, but didn’t think of when.”
“Oh! Uhh, well I bought an old puzzle box from a toy store the other day, and I completed this like, last night! And I wanted to show it off!”
Haruka held up the puzzle tenderly, grinning.
“The box called it the Millennium Puzzle, and I’ll tell ya it was a very hard thing to solve!”
“It looks very pretty Haruka-chan”
Sayo smiled at her friend, while Utena just kept staring at the puzzle intensely.
“I see…”
Haruka looked at Utena’s face, she had a weirdly hardened look in her eyes. She was about to question it, but the classroom door opened and their teacher entered. So everyone took their seats and the lesson started.
___________________
“ You look like you are about to pop a blood vessel ”
Utena ignored the voice of the spectral figure floating behind her as they walked out of math
class and towards the dueling fields of the school and kept her eyes on Haruka’s necklace like a hawk does to its prey. She wanted to tackle the girl to the ground and rip the chain off her neck, but she couldn’t.
“It’s right there…..After so long, it’s been here, in this town, all these years! It’s right there!”
She still remembered the day. One moment, smiling happily and laughing, next the sirens of the ambulance. Then, her mother crying everyday for hours on end. Never ending, never stopping. Then, one night…Utena’s gaze drifted to the floating person following her. It was a man, his skin was dark and he had long spiky white hair. He wore mainly red robes with golden accents and currently had his arms crossed.
“ Yes, and I wish to rush in like you. But the rules can’t just be broken. We planned this for years, Hiiragi Utena, let us not destroy it in the final step ”
He was right, of course he was, but Utena felt like protesting. It was right there . But as they walked out to the courtyard, where on the ground a dueling field was painted, she let her anger churn in herself without showing any. And stood with everyone else as a tall blonde woman with stern looking eyes and wavy hair walked in front of the class. She wore a
“Ok all you little coquins get in line”
Sherry LeBlanc was, in Utena’s opinion, the third scariest person she knew, and she was brutal with her dueling training as well. Right now she was wearing a white set of pants and jacket with a black belt. The jacket had a red undershirt and metallic looking shoulderpads on it. Utena had heard it was because Miss. LeBlanc was a turbo duelist as well as a teacher, but she wasn’t sure. What was extra interesting was that behind her stood about three other people, they looked younger than Miss LeBlanc, but older than us.
“For today's lesson, I will call two names, the people whose name I call will come up and duel, to help with today's practise we have three special guests from Duel Academy Island, please welcome Mihi Nasoka, Bleir Flannigan and Momomori Momo”
That got some people mumbling and Utena’s eyes wandering over the three people. Bleir was a short girl, really about as tall as Kiwi, with bluish black hair that reached the middle of her back,wearing a red blazer jacket with a skirt. Miho wore a bright yellow jacket,a white skirt and had light purple hair in a ponytail. She wore a serene smile on her face. Momo had green hair in a french braid, wore big round glasses and a bright blue blazer, the front open and a very tight undershirt, Utena’s eyes were drawn on their own as with each breath it looked like her chest would just explode out.
“Now now, quiet down enfants, so. The first duel of the day will be”
Sherry looks down at her phone, before nodding.
“ Mademoiselle’s Hiiragi and Nosaka. Please step onto the field”
Utena’s attention quickly jumped from Momo (Momo’s breasts) to Miho, who cheerfully walked over to her side of the arena, Utena quickly strapping up her duel disk and following suit
“Hello! Miho’s name is Miho! She’s so excited to meet you!”
“ Oh great, she’ll be annoying as fuck ”
“Be nice…”
Utena mumbled to the ghost behind her, even though she kinda agreed.
“U-Yes, I am Hiiragi Utena. Let's have a nice duel, Miho-Chan”
Miho smiled brightly and both girl’s raised their duel disks. Sherry raised her hand up and looked at both participants, with a nod from both she lowered it in a chop.
“DUEL!”
INITIATING DUEL!: Hiiragi Utena: 4000 vs Miho Nosaka: 4000
[Turn 1]
Hiiragi Utena: 4000 vs Miho Nosaka: 4000
“Oh! Looks like It’s Miho’s turn! Miho draws!”
Miho drew her sixth card, looking at her hand and smiling, humming a tune to herself.
“Miho normal summoned Gem-Knight Armadillo in attack position!”
As Mihi announced, in front of her a large orange gem appeared. Before that gem burst open, revealing an armored armadillo, with no legs and rockets on its back. On its back, side and lower abdomen it had circle like orange gems. It let out a small screech and slashed towards Utena.
[Gem-Knight Armadillo]
Level 4
Earth, Rock, Effect
ATK: 1700/DEF: 500
“Now when Gem-Knight Armadillo is normal summoned, Miho can add a “Fusion” card from her deck to her hand! And Miho will add Gem-Knight Fusion!”
A card popped out of Miho’s deck, she quickly snatched it before showing Utena and adding it to her hand.
“Continuing! Miho will set one card face down, and then activate the Gem-Knight fusion she added to her hand! With it, Miho will fuse Gem-Knight Armadillo, Gem-Knight Garnet and Gem-Knight Obsidian! Brilliant diamond worth the world, appear and shine the light of glory on the battlefield! Fusion summon! Gem-Knight Lady Brilliant Diamond!”
Armadillo, a knight is bright red armor and another is pitch black armor all got entrapped by a bright light, and the gems on their bodies seemed to start to mix together. Until, from that light a single giant diamond appeared. The diamond started to crack, before exploding outwards revealing a tall, slender female knight, with robotic joints and diamonds adorning her helmet and shoulders pads, some even adoring the first few inches of her cape. She brandished a rapier in her right hand.
[Gem-Knight Lady Brilliant Diamond]
Level: 10
Earth, Rock, Effect
ATK: 3400/DEF: 2000
Murmurs started from the crowd, all in deep awe at Miho’s monster. And Utena was much the same. She was feeling even a bit scared, but not alot. Still, summoning such a strong monster on the first turn? Sheesh.
“Also! When Gem-Knight Obsidian is sent from Miho’s hand to the graveyard, Miho can special summon a level 4 or lower Normal Monster! I special summon Gem-Knight Garnet!”
Miho plucked a card from her graveyard, placing it on her field. Out of a bright red garnet gem popped the red armored knight from before, standing in attention in front of its superior and master, a ball of fire blazing from its hand.
[Gem-Knight Garnet]
Level: 4
Fire, Rock, Normal
ATK: 1900/Def: 0
“But Garnet won’t be staying here for long! Miho will activate the effect of Lady Brilliant Diamond! Miho can, once per turn, send a Gem-Knight monster from her deck to the graveyard, but in doing so Miho can special summon one Gem-Knight fusion monster by ignoring the summoning conditions!”
Utena’s mind just stopped working for a moment, her eyes widening as Garnet exploded in a pillar of flames.
“Apprentice of the brilliant light! Shine forth and show your worth! I special summon, Gem-Knight Lady Rose Diamond!”
The pillar of fire then turned into bright light, slowly dissipating to reveal a figure, a bit shorter than Brilliant Diamond , wearing a long blue cape, a helmet and having more diamonds all over her body. She stood with her rapier at attention.
[Gem-Knight Lady Rose Diamond]
Level: 8
Earth, Fairy, Effect
ATK: 2700/DEF: 2400
“T-What?!”
Utena was panicking a bit more now, taking a step back as she faced down two powerful monsters on the first turn was not something she had expected this early in the morning!
“Miho ends her turn!”
[Turn 2]
Hiiragi Utena: 4000 vs Miho Nosaka: 4000
Utena gulped, but then nodded.
“O-Ok! I draw”
She drew her card and looked at her hand…which was decent, not perfect but she might be able to do something about one of those two fusions, and she knew exactly which one.
“First, I will activate the spell card Foolish Burial. Using its effect, I send from my deck to the graveyard the Fiendish Rhino Warrior”
As the card was activated, a hand rose out of the ground going into Utena’s deck and pulling a card out of it, before disappearing into the depths once more.
“Then, Fiendish Rhino Warriors effect activates! When it is sent from the graveyard, I am allowed to send another Fiend-type monster from the deck to the graveyard. I will send my Archfiend Heiress.”
Utena looked threw her deck and then picked up one card, placing it inside of her graveyard, looking satisfied with herself, before looking up at Miho’s expression, who seemed to be barely holding in giggles.
“W-What’s funny?”
Miho lets out a giggles while covering her mouth, before waving a hand in front of her face.
“Miho is sorry! Miho was just thinking how-how weird it looks for a cute girl like Utena-chan to be using these big scary fiend monsters! Miho thinks it's a nice contrast!”
Utena felt her face light up with a fierce blush, covering her cheeks for a moment. In the background she could also hear Kiwi screaming something like ‘Homewrecking bitch!’ or something similar. She quickly shook her head and focused back on the duel.
“W-Well, with Heiress’s effect, when she is sent to the graveyard, I am allowed to add one Archfiend card from my deck to my hand. I think I will add, Archfiend Glitch!”
Utena plucked another card from her deck, looking at her hand again.
“Then…I will summon Mist Archfiend in attack mode!”
As Utena placed down the card, a bunch of smoke started to come out of the ground, slowly taking shape. Turning from white to red, then forming a torso and turning pitch black. A pair of arms were formed next, thick and with sharp yellow claws at the end. The head formed last, with red smoke that wisped out of the cranium like flames and piercing yellow eyes. It lets out a screeching sound as it took a battling position in front of its master.
[Mist Archfiend]
Level: 5
Dark,Fiend,Effect
ATK: 2400/DEF: 0
“Oh my! That’s quite the scary monster you have there Utena-Chan!”
Miho put her hands up to her face in what Utena understood was mock terror and caused Utena to frown deeply.
“Yeah well, he's good for sacrifices. He can be normal summoned without tribute, but is destroyed during the end phase and I take 1000 points of damage. That won’t matter though, because I will sacrifice him to activate the effect of Archfiend Commander in my hand! I tribute one ‘Archfiend’ card on my field and special summon him!”
Mist Archfiend let out another screech before its form started to disperse, from inside of it another monster crawled its way out. It had gray bones covering its purplish pink muscle tissue, a blue cape on its back as well as giant shoulder blades and horns that formed a crown shape on the monster's head. Unlike most of its brothers, it had piercing sky blue eyes. The monster, with much more poise than any other of Utena’s beasts so far stood in front of her, arms crossed and head held up high.
[Archfiend Commander]
Level: 6
Dark,Fiend,Effect
ATK: 2500/DEF: 1200
“But sadly he can’t attack the turn he is summoned by this effect. But now I can activate this ”
Utena flipped a card in her hand, and then the card glowed a dark eerie light, slowly from her duel disk’s graveyard three other cards floated out, all glowing a right blue before turning into wisps that were absorbed into the card. As the card was placed then on the duel disk, Utena’s eyes widened and seemed to shine, as from out of herself a tall woman, with a bald head slowly manifested, holding on to a baby like doll with care and compassion, the woman stood in the middle monster zone and looked at Miho with a cold glare that actually made the purple haired girl take a step back and let out a gasp.
[Dark Necrofear]
Level: 8
Dark,Fiend,Effect
ARK: 2200/DEF: 2800
“W-Wow Utena-chan. Those were some wild special effects. Hehehehe”
A drop of cold sweat ran down Miho’s face as the Necrofear’s gaze never left her own for even a second, all the while caressing the doll’s head.
“Dark Necrofear can be special summoned from my hand by banishing three Fiend-type monsters from the graveyard! Then, I set two cards face down and enter my battle phase!”
Utena placed two cards from her duel disk face down.
“I attack your Gem-Knight Lady Brilliant Diamond with Dark Necrofear! Spectral Banishment!”
Necrofear raises a hand, and from it a pulse of dark miasma slammed into Brilliant Diamond, the opposing monster quickly slashed it away, then with a quick jump and a a lunge pledged it’s sword right into Necrofears head, causing the monster to go limp and disappear in wisps of light.
Hiiragi Utena: 4000-1200=2800
Utena took Dark Necrofear from her duel disk and placed it in her graveyard.
“Why would you do that? Miho’s monster was way stronger than Utena-chans”
Miho tilted her head, Utena just smiled at her, one of her fangs showing.
“Well, I think you’ll figure it out..I go into my end phase”
As Utena said that, from her graveyard a spectral figure of Dark Necrofear rose, before lunging and wrapping around Lady Brilliant Diamond, making the monster go rigid and Miho exclaim.
“What?!”
“During the end phase that Necrofear was destroyed, I can take control of the monster that destroyed it! Now, come to me Lady Brilliant Diamond!”
Lady Brilliant Diamond then went limp, before its eyes looking up, they had turned into the eerie blue of Necrofear as she walked and stood over to Utena’s field.
Miho:”No!”
[Turn 3]
Hiiragi Utena: 2800 [H:1] vs Miho Nosaka: 4000 [H:4]
Miho let out a slight moan of annoyance as she drew her card for turn.
“Miho draws! Miho can’t believe you would just take her monster like that! How mean!”
Utena just shrugged slightly.
“It’s kinda your fault Miho-chan~ I mean, Dark Necrofear is a pretty old card. Shouldn’t you know its effects?”
Miho just let out a pout and looked at her hand.
“Miho knows that card, Miho was just surprised someone actually used it. It’s basically a relic. Definitely rare though, Miho didn’t expect you to own one.”
She picked up a card from her hand and looked at Utena with a smile.
“Do you know though, Utena-chan~ For a card so old, it’s weaknesses are known to almost everyone? Miho will banish a Gem-Knight monster from her graveyard to activate Gem-Knight fusion! By banishing Gem-Knight Armadillo, Miho can add it back to my hand~”
Miho picked up Gem-Knight fusion back from her graveyard, then immediately placed it into her duel disk.
“Next, Miho will once again activate it. Fusing together Gem-Knight Amber and Lapis from her hand, Miho will create the lancer of thunder and protector of the gem kingdom! Come to the field, Gem-Knight Prismaura!”
Again, two different monsters decorated in gems appeared in front of Miho, before the gems on their bodies combined and created a pile of sharp gems that exploded outwards, revealing a heavily armored knight, with gems sticking out of his shoulder pads, a lance on his right hand and a shield on his left. Horns made out of the same kind of gem that adorn his shoulder on the sides of his helmet.
[Gem-Knight Prismaura]
Level: 7
Earth,Thunder,Effect
ATK: 2450/DEF: 1400
“It’s truly a strong monster, Miho-chan. But not strong enough to defeat my Brilliant Diamond”
At those words, Miho’s smile broadened, causing a frown to appear in Utena’s face.
“Well, Utena-chan~ Let your senpai show you a few cool tricks she has learned in the academy~. Miho will activate the effect of Gem-Knight fusion in her graveyard again! Banishing Gem-Knight Garnet for the cost”
Miho again added the fusion spell to her hand, smiling.
“I will then do this! Revealing the face down trap, Call of the Archfiend”
One of Utena’s two face downs flips, revealing a continuous trap.
“Hmm? Fine by Miho, continuing on. Miho will activate the effect of Gem-Knight Prismaura! Miho discards the newly added Gem-Knight Fusion from her hand to then target and destroy your Dark Necrofear! Go! Lance Strike!”
“W-What?!”
As Miho placed the fusion spell into her graveyard for a third time this duel, electricity started to crackle on the edge of Prismaura’s lance, before it shot out and destroyed the Necrofear in Utena’s spell and trap zone, cause Brilliant Diamond to convulse and screech out as the spirit shot out of it and re-entered Utena’s graveyard. Then, Brilliant Diamond looked around, almost confused before walking back to Miho’s field. Now all three of Miho’s knights were looking at Utena with a deep, hated look.
“You did well enough, Utena-chan~ But, you are still a little bit too underprepared to take on Miho~ But don’t worry! I am sure in a year or two you should be good enough to give me a proper fight~ I will be entering my battle phase now”
Miho’s words made an angry blush to take over Utena’s face. So she wasn’t a proper fight right now? She wasn’t strong right now?! Who the fuck did this girl think she was to tell her if she was a proper opponent or not?! The hand holding the last card in her hand tightened, but a grin blossomed on her face anyways. Yes, this girl was underestimating her a bit too much.
“Oh? Then come on, attack me”
Miho huffed, flicking her hair a bit.
“Miho will. First attack will be Lady Rose Diamond against the Archfiend Commander! Charge Diamond!”
The fencer of the trio of knights sped forward, piercing the chest of Utena’s with her blade, making the girl gasp and put a hand over her mouth as Rose Diamond’s blade was slowly removed. Archfiend Commander died with a gasp before becoming specs of light.
Hiiragi Utena: 2800 -200=2600
“Next Miho will finish this duel with Gem-Knight Lady Brilliant Diamond! Attack Utena-Chan directly with the slash of the royal knight!”
Brilliant Diamond rushed forward like Rose Diamond before, bringing her sword up she swang downwards, going to cleave Utena in two.
“I will chain to the attack! Face down activate, Scrap-Iron Scarecrow! Negate the attack of Brilliant Diamond!”
Utena’s second face down flipped, out from the card a wooden post with a beaten up helmet for a head, goggles and a hair dryer for a hand pops out of the card, blocking Brilliant Diamonds attack. Then the knight jumps back and the trap is flipped face down again.
“Hmmm. Good job Utena-chan! But you forget, I have one more attack. Go Prismaura, lance of thunder!”
Electricity cackled from Prismaura’s weapon, before a large static wave shot from it.
“No I didn't! I was waiting for this moment! During the Damage Step, when my opponent attacks me directly with a monster who shares or has a lower level than this card, I can special summon it to the field by returning a banished Fiend-type monster to my graveyard! I return Mist Archfiend to the graveyard to special summon Barrier Archfiend from my hand in defense position!”
Utena placed the last card in her hand onto the field, as the electrick attack almost reached her, suddenly between her and it. The monster had giant arms and its form was reminiscent of a hercules beetle. Only, it had bones on it and a deep sickly green exposed muscle tissue on it’s back, head and forearms. The attack bounced off of it like it did nothing.
Miho Nosaka: 4000-50=3950
[Barrier Archfiend]
Level: 7
Dark,Fiend,Effect
ATK: 1800/DEF: 2500
Miho gave a grimace at the monster's appearance.
“Yuck! That monster looks so icky! Why do you even run it?”
Utena just smiled, before drawing a card.
“Because it’s good for defense, oh, it also allows me to draw a card when it deals battle damage while in defense position. So I think it was a very fine effect, Miho-chan”
Miho huffed and looked at her hand. She set down another card from it.
“Miho sets one face down, Utena-chan’s turn”
[Turn 4]
Hiiragi Utena: 2600 [H:1] vs Miho Nosaka: 4000 [H:3]
Utena drew her turns card and looked down at it, before smiling.
“I activate the spell card Pot of Greed! I will draw two cards”
Utena drew two more cards from her deck, she tilted her head as she looked at them. Then at the third card she had drawn the turn before, then she nodded.
“Ok! I will activate the field spell, Archfiend Palabyrinth!”
She placed a card in the field spell slot of the duel disk, and beside her the card showed. The art depicted a giant castle standing in the middle of a labyrinth.
“With it, all my Fiend-type monsters gain 500 attack!”
[Barrier Archfiend: 1800+500=2300 ATK]
“Then, by discarding my Dark Spirit of Banishment to pay for the cost of Call of the Archfiend, I can special summon a level 5 or higher Fiend-type monster from my graveyard by discarding another one! So I summon back Dark Necrofear!”
Utena discarded one of the two cards in her hand, before on the field from the ground below, Dark Necrofear appeared again floating up as a spectral figure before gaining mass again. Her feet touched the ground and made no noise.
[Dark Necrofear: 2200+500=2700 ATK]
“Then, I activate my final card, Raigeki! This destroys all monsters on your field!”
As Utena placed the card in the spell slot, a giant bolt of lightning struck Miho’s field, eviscerating all of her monsters. The field was left empty, with only Utena’s monsters left. A large, almost manic smile extended on Utena’s face, she was ready to taunt Miho, to ask how she felt that she was about to be defeated by someone who she deemed to be a non threat. Only to stop as a storm of giggles reached her ears. Her smile dropped, and she looked at Miho, who was holding a hand over her mouth and giggling very loudly.
“O-Oh. That was certainly a good strategy, Utena-chan. For sure, but you see, as a Ra student, I have come to realize the weaknesses of my deck and monsters. When my monsters are destroyed by card effect or battle, I can activate this trap card. Brilliant Spark!”
Miho flipped the face down card she had placed since the first turn, it shined very brightly as out from it, the diamond of Lady Brilliant Diamond came out, shining.
“What it does is, it allows me to target the destroyed monster and then deal damage to you equal to that monster's attack. Since three were destroyed, I will choose to deal you damage equal to Lady Brilliant Diamonds attack points!”
Utena’s eyes widened, a gasp escaped her, and then a yell as the diamond exploded and covered her in smoke and shards. She covered her face with her arms to protect herself.
Hiiragi Utena: 2600-3400=0
Winner! Miho Nosaka!
Utena dropped to her knees, her hands holding her, eyes wide and entire body shaking as the monsters disappeared from the field. Utena couldn’t believe it. No, she could, she just didn’t want to believe it. Her usual win-loss record wasn’t the best, but she was still one of the strongest of her school. Yet she had been manhandled the entire match. She was so out of focus she didn’t even notice when Kiwi rushed and kneeled next to her.
“Utena-chan! Are you ok?!”
Was she? She thinks so, she lets out a shaky breath, closing her eyes and taking deep breaths. She lost, so what? It wasn’t the loss that hurt, no…It was who she lost to, someone who looked down on her that made her mad. Slowly, she stood up and looked in front of her as Miho approached. She was smiling and extending a hand.
“Good job Utena chan!”
Utena, with a shaky hand, shakes Miho’s. She really wants to punch this girl in the face, but she won’t. She looks at Sherry, who is walking over and lets go of Miho’s hand.
“Miss LeBlanc…could I go to the nurse's office? I don’t feel too well….”
Sherry looks at her, with a critical eye. Before she nods.
“I shall accompany her!”
Kiwi quickly grabbed onto Utena’s arm and started to gently pull her towards the school building again. People were looking at them as they walked away, Utena didn’t really care, she gripped Kiwi’s arm tightly.
“Are you ok Utena-chan?”
She wasn’t.
“I-We will talk about it later…”
_____________________
“Come now tout le monde , calm down now. We are still in class, so we will continue with the second duel.”
Sayo looked at Utena and Kiwi walked away, as the people talking all around her just wanted to go and make sure they were ok, but she couldn’t. As she looked in front of her and dutifully kept her hands at her side, Kaoruko looked a bit peeved and Haruka looked worried. Utena-chan was strong, Sayo could attest. These three girls were on another level from them though, and from the way the purple haired girl was smirking smugly to herself, they were seeing this as a game. They get to play some fun and games with their juniors.
Now Sayo was feeling like it was personal. Hiiragi Utena wasn’t her closest friend, but for her to be served such a humiliating defeat? Sayo wasn’t exactly feeling mercyful.
“Next match! We will have Blair Flannigan against Minikami Sayo!”
As her name was called, Sayo walked forward with purpose in her step. The other girl did the same, standing opposite to her.
“You got this Sayo!”
“Kick her butt!”
Sayo smiled at her friends cheering, and nodded her head. Blair gave an amused chuckle.
“Well, your friends seem excited, you too. Aren’t you worried about facing me though? You saw what Miho did to your friend.”
Sayo brought up and activated her duel disk.
“I am not scared no, and this duel will be a good learning experience for me to grow”
Blair let out a grin and activated her own disk.
“That’s the spirit, come on. Let’s give everyone a show to remember”
Sherry raised her hand, looked between the two girls who nodded and then lowered it in a chop.
“Duel!”