Kaiba Land, on the other side.
"This is amazing!"
Mazaki Anzu, wearing a crop top and black stockings over her long legs, looked at the layers of white water jets spraying into the sky with a face full of wonder.
This is Fountain Square in Kaiba Land. Many bystanders stopped by the fountain pool to watch, and quite a few held cameras to capture the moment.
Mazaki Anzu was among them. She eagerly pulled Yugi along, taking photos from various angles as mementos.
Interestingly, just as the trip to Kaiba Land began, Yugi inexplicably retreated into the Millennium Pendant, remaining silent despite any calls. So accompanying Anzu to explore Kaiba Land was actually Dark Yugi.
This king from three thousand years ago was skilled at all kinds of games, but he was clearly not very interested in entertainment outside of games.
Right now, he helplessly let Anzu pose him in various ways for photographs, while his mind wandered—
——What's up with AIBO today? Is he feeling unwell?
No card games to play, why did they call me out...
Jonouchi heard there was a "professional-level" AI robot in a venue built by Kaiba, and his card cravings drove him to go play cards. The accompanying sister, Kujaku Mai, and good buddy Honda (still aiming to become a brother-in-law) followed him.
Thus, only Yugi and Anzu remained on this side.
Anzu dragged him around the park half the day, but Dark Yugi was disinterested and kept zoning out.
That is, until they happened to pass by a "Kaiba Group Card Specialty Store" in the park, and Yugi's eyes lit up, showing interest.
A few minutes later.
"Yes! Got another great card!" Dark Yugi nodded to himself, pleased with the card pulled from a newly bought pack.
Watching the king-like figure suddenly energized, Anzu felt happy for him, but also an inexplicable sense of defeat...
Anzu's fondness for Dark Yugi was no secret.
From Anzu's perspective, the mysterious king was cool, an unbeatable card player, calm and reliable...most importantly, he had saved her life more than once.
The DM anime actually cut out quite a few scenes. For example, in the original manga, Anzu was held hostage by an armed robber while working at a fast-food restaurant. It was the king who rescued Anzu, and in the process, he also turned the robber into ashes.
There were several other instances, like when she was targeted by a pervert or drugged by a fraudulent mystic, where the king would inevitably come to the rescue.
When you consider it, Anzu could have been just as unlucky in her hostage experiences as Grandpa Yugi in the early manga...
The girl gathered her courage and decided to give herself another chance: "By the way, I heard there's a statue of Magician and Dark Magician Girl teamed up on the other side of the park, they say it's really well done. How about we go take a look?"
"Statue, huh?"
Dark Yugi glanced at the shelves of "Kaiba Land Exclusive" card packs in the store, feeling a little unwilling.
Magician and stuff, I already have them, why go out of my way to see a statue...
Better to open card packs.
"Hey, sounds like fun!" The spirit-state Yugi promptly floated out, "How about we check it out, other me! I'm interested too!"
"Alright, let's go take a look." Dark Yugi nodded.
Seeing her suggestion accepted, Anzu couldn't help but smile joyfully.
However, they hadn't walked far when Yugi suddenly halted, furrowing his brow and sharply turning to look in a certain direction.
Not a soul.
"What's wrong, other me?" Yugi asked telepathically.
"...Nothing." Dark Yugi shook his head.
Must have been my imagination.
Shortly after they left, a faint silhouette appeared at the spot Yugi's gaze had swept over.
Golden hair, a strong and muscular figure, it was none other than the long-unseen Paradox.
"Another Duel King, Muto Yugi, rumored to have the Pharaoh's Soul from three thousand years ago residing inside..." Paradox narrowed his eyes, "...Truly sharp intuition."
Looks like these historical "Legendary Duelists" indeed aren't easy to handle.
...
At this moment, Youyu looked at the little loli with rose-colored hair in front of him and then at the Duel Disc on her hand, feeling a bit unsure.
Is this really his next opponent?
It's not impossible. Actually, there were quite a few talented kids in Yu-Gi-Oh! who were good at card games, after all, the game depends a lot on talent.
"Yu... Youyu?" The little girl recognized him, looking surprised.
Youyu smiled and greeted her, looking around and not seeing anyone else who seemed ready to play cards, he asked, "So, you're my next opponent?"
"I... I..." The little girl lowered her head, tugging at her skirt, seemingly too nervous to speak.
"No need to be nervous, just play as you usually do. What's your name?"
"...Izayoi...Izayoi Sakura."
Youyu: "!"
Izayoi?
It was then Youyu abruptly understood why she seemed familiar.
The hair color, the appearance, though she looked a bit younger and had some baby fat on her little face, she indeed resembled the heroine of Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's, one of the Five Signers, Izayoi Aki.
It's just unclear what specific relationship this little loli has with Aki in the decades to come.
Come to think of it, the Izayoi family might have good genes, producing beauties generation after generation from a young age...
Thinking like this, it happens that Katsu is still in this era, isn't he?
I wonder what he would think if he saw this loli who resembles Aki...
Presently, the surrounding players were buzzing.
"Izayoi? Is it the one I'm thinking of?"
"Aki, my goddess!"
"Then I'll leave the future Aki to you guys to protect, and I'll take care of this one..."
"Forget it! Draw your swords!"
"..."
The declaration of the little loli's name suddenly caused such a reaction among the ones here, nearly scaring poor Izayoi Sakura.
Looking at this group of oddballs who seemed eager to gobble her up, she instinctively backed behind Youyu.
Perhaps she felt that the big brother Duel King was more reassuring...
Scared.JPG
Just then, Youyu remembered, in Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's, Aki's father seemingly held a significant political position?
As everyone knows, non-dueling pedestrians in Yu-Gi-Oh! don't have promising futures. Hence, Youyu could boldly speculate that the Izayoi family's ability to achieve such high status in the future might be linked to their previous generation's impressive card skills...
They shuffled, shifted, and took their positions on opposite sides of the field.
"Ready?" Youyu was always patient with lolis.
Izayoi Sakura took a deep breath and nodded seriously.
"Ready, Youyu!"
"Alright, here comes your big brother."
"Duel!" x2
[Youyu, LP 4000]
[Izayoi Sakura, LP 4000]