Jack grip the handle tightly.
"I believe you owe me an explanation."
"So do I."
"...Jack."
"May I request a place where no one could listens"
"This way."
"Thank You."
"Now... Where's Yusei? Where is he? He should be around! This shit is the kind he usually knee deep in!"
He refuses.
"...To put it simply, both of you are in whole different era, if not outright whole different world. You should notice it. There are many foreign faces... and few familiar ones... that sadly, Fudo Yusei is not among them."
Liar.
Liar.
"If he's here, shouldn't you already know?"
LIAR!
Jack refuses to believe there's a world without Yusei.
He refuses.
He refuses
Phoenix Whirlwind (Yusei's very first bike) almost crashed against the railing if not for Jack hit the bracket and stop it in time. Breath coming out in puff as he gazed ahead.
The night view of the city before him should be beautiful. With all those colorful lights that shine like there's a festival going on.
But to Jack, it's all gray and cold.
(He had spent his entire life chasing after Yusei. Honing himself so he can walk next to him with head held high with pride, of having reach same place as him.
If Yusei is gone
If he's no longer exist
Then...
...what should he do?
What all his training was for?)
"...I know I'll find you here."
Jack turned aside.
"Crow."
Crow is a familiar face. Seeing him make something in Jack's chest loosen up.
(At least he is not alone in this familiar and unfamiliar world. A mockery of his precious city)
"...I tried to find Yusei."
Jack closed his eyes as he walks to a bench and plopped himself.
"You can't find him."
Crow shook his head mournfully.
"I suppose you did the same."
"...isn't that obvious?"
The two of them swallowed in silence. Staring at the city.
It was different than one they know.
It was not the one that was nearly destroyed by the Dark Signers, by the Meklords. He doesn't recognize his city. Neo Domino City is not built as glittering palace but having underbelly of poverty. Neo Domino City is not supposed to be split in half between the wealthy and the poor with severe imbalance between two groups.
This is not Neo Domino City.
At least, not the Neo Domino City they know and acknowledge.
This is not the city they fought so hard against supernatural threats. This is not the city they gladly lay down their life to protects.
This is not the Neo Domino City that they want (this is not the city Yusei dreamed of).
(What would Yusei say if he knows what the city had become?
Silly question.
He would be utmost disappointed)
"When do you remember?"
Did you deliberately keep things from me, went unsaid.
"The same time as you, probably." He had been feeling déjà vu lately. Should be obvious hindsight. "Before..."
Before is... weird.
He cannot remember much.
"...before, I only remember strolling on the city before some snobs call out on me for being a common and tried to kick me out."
"But you beat them instead."
"I don't appreciate of being treated like trash." Jack scowled at the memory. "Still, one thing led to another and... next thing happened, I become the King, again."
"This time is Friendship Cup." Crow mused. "I prefer Fortune Cup. At least they were honest when they say the winner gonna get elevated."
"Preach." Not unlike façade of friendship, while in reality it was just entertainment for topsiders. It was only lately Topsider can join the duels. "What about you?"
"I..." Crow trailed off. "My earliest memory was driving home... despite not knowing where home is, and meet the kiddo."
They were silent.
"We're dumb."
It should be very obvious.
"To be fair, brainpower tends to go to Yusei."
"Ain't that the truth?"
They chuckle. Remembering fondly their unofficial-official leader.
"...You know, Jack? The kids say something about interdimensional war." Crow spoke softly. "There are four dimensions. This place is, most likely, centerpiece of what they termed as Synchro Dimension. Because the only Extra Deck summoning people know here is Synchro Summon."
Jack snorted.
Ridiculous notion.
He knows he can do Fusion.
"...that sounds ridiculous but..." Crow's mouth tugged up in a smile. "This kind of shit is right up in Yusei's alley. Remember that strange masked man that stole Stardust?"
Despite himself, Jack smiled.
A strange masked man in strange oversized D-Wheel challenge them to a duel. Yusei accepted it. But halfway to the duel, that man use a blank card to stole Stardust Dragon. Soon after, Rua, Ruka, and Aki show them a weird old news, where Stardust Dragon somehow went to the past. As the city begin to disappears, The Crimson Dragon helped Yusei went to the past, dueling alongside legendary duelists, before manage to restore the history to its proper course.
Yeah. Interdimensional scuffle and time travel... exactly what Yusei would get knee deep into.
(It makes things feels off that he was not here with them)
A cooing voice could be heard.
Jack and Crow feel tingling sensation in their mark, that was glowing.
A bad premonition washed over them.
To think they would bear the mark once again. And right after the otherworlders arrives in.
The meaning of the marks is painfully clear.
They locked eyes, and nodded.
Neither of them is Fudo Yusei. But if the Crimson Dragon call for their aid?
You damn bet they will deliver the aid and make everyone proud!
.
Floren watch as her pendant glowed, with image of Mark of Claw shone over it.
A discreet glance reveal that Rua pretty much hid his hand under the desk to hid his own mark.
She knows what it means.
"Yuzu. Who do you want to be grouped with tomorrow? Keep in mind you need to stay with your partner at all the time."
The entire table was silent.
(Floren is still amazed they were allowed to go "home" instead thrown into facility since they are friends with Lancers who were caught, and if Roget has his way, he would held them accountable of their fellow Lancer's so-called crime.
"I don't blame you to think like that." Rua commented when she share her opinion. "I know Roget and I can assure you, he is that petty."
And no one could argue with that)
"Let it be said, I have good feeling we will have a repeat of Maiami Championship's Junior Youth Final Stage, starting tomorrow."
Shun blinked, before swore.
"Again?!"
His reaction is very understandable.
Yuzu frowned.
"Should I really have a minder?"
"...you know they are after you and Serena. I am very sure that everyone would feel safer if you have someone to help you incase they're zerg-rushing andblocking you from all directions. If there's something the Academia had in spades, it is manpower. They seeminly never running out of mook to churns." Floren explained. "If it helps, I'll warn Yuya."
"...how are you going to do that?" Yuto asks.
Floren smiled.
Easy
Magic.
Have the Spirit delivers the message. It will arrive in short time and there's no way anyone could intercept it.