Wings that soar from resolved hope

The halls were empty of students today due to the teacher workday. What should have been a day of planning study lessons for the rest of the year, it was a day fretting over the well being of the Arc Academy students. He promised Allie, Amanda and Guu that he will try to help them. But he was struggling to figure out how to help the Arc Academy trio.

This seemed too big for him to handle. But the future of these students concerned him. It was clear that Emile was scared of his nonexistent future. Something had to change in the system to help Arc Academy.

'How? The question echoed in his skull, relentless. 'How do you help kids who are trapped in a system designed to keep them trapped?'

He knows all too well about systems meant to keep you trap. Said system was on his face.

He knows the the Arcadia Movement has a grip on the school. But the only way to deal with that was to for Arc Academy to get support from other avenues and that wasn't happening. Which was the problem.

Crow let out a annoyed groan. He had the distinct sense he was standing at the edge of something complicated and potentially dangerous. It didn't matter to him, this was for the future well being of students. A good place to start his research would be to lookup the principal.

Crow typed in 'Arlekino' in the computer. He expected a few standard biographies, maybe some district newsletters. Instead, he was bombarded with a lot more info than he expected.

He clicked the headline that read: 'Young Graduate Arlekino Opens School for Psychic Children.'

The article was a little over a few years ago. The man look nothing like when Crow had seen him that one time. The Arlekino in the picture had emotion. Arlekino stood flanked by a handful of children, who looked to him with open and trusting faces. Crow scanned his eye over the accompany article.

Due to the segregation laws of the time, psychic children were prohibited from attending public schools alongside their non-psychic peers. Arlekino, a recent graduate with a focus on psychosocial development, founded a small academy to provide these children with the education they were being denied.

'A step forward,' Crow thought. 'A man trying to do the right thing.'

He clicked another link. "Arlekino's Academy Faces Mounting Public Pressure."

The tone of this article shifted and the language became more hostile. "Concerned parents." "Safety precautions." "Unregulated psychic abilities." The public had not taken kindly to a school full of children they had been taught to fear. There were protests outside the gates. Petitions demanding closure. Vandalism. Threats.

Another headline: "Psychic Academy Shut Down Amid Controversy."

The article was brief. Budget cuts. Legal challenges. Insurmountable public opposition. The school that Arlekino had built with his own hands, his own vision, had been systematically dismantled. The children he had promised to protect were scattered to other institutions or just abandoned to the shadows of obscurity.

And then, the final article before the timeline went dark: "Dismissed Headmaster Vows to Continue Fight."

It was an interview, one of Arlekino's last public statements before he vanished from the media's eye. Crow read the quoted words and felt a pang of something like respect.

"I will not abandon these children. The world has failed them, but I will not. Wherever there is a child in need, I will be there. I have been invited to continue my research with the Arcadia Movement in Japan. I believe this partnership will allow me to help psychic children on a scale I never could before."

The Arcadia Movement.

'Why is it that when they are involved nothing good seems to happen?' Crow thinks.

Crow took notes as he read the articles. As Crow scribbled down notes and read articles a hand slammed down next to him, startling him beyond belief.

"You are suppose to be planning lessons for the school year." Xitto grumbles, deadpan. "Not stalking another school's principal!"

"Y-yes...." Crow shakenly turns to Xitto. He could already tell this would be difficult to explain.

Xitto let the silence stretch, his gaze fixed on Crow with the patience of a man who had been teaching teenagers for decades and could smell a lie from three rooms away. Xitto let out a huff. "You are not going to let this go are you?"

"I have no idea what you are talking about." Crow feigned.

"I think you do."

"Well what do you expect, I care about the students. Even if they aren't mines." Crow says as he shuts down the computer. "They clearly need help, but it seems like everyone wants to ignore them. To let them age out and toss them on the streets with only the cloths on their backs. The answer is no! I guess I'm not going to let this go."

He wasn't going to let the Arch Academy students head towards a dark future. He had been in their shoes before. To look around and realize that everyone who could help has already decided you're not worth the trouble. His markers told people that everyday.

Crow ran a hand through his hair, suddenly exhausted. "I made a promise. To my students. That I would try." He looked at Xitto, the man who had spent years navigating the machinery of education while he was still learning which levers to pull. "I don't know how to fix a broken system. But I can't just stand here and do nothing while three kids, three good kids, get chewed up by it."

The silence stretched. Xitto's expression was unreadable.

Xitto moved, pulling out the chair across from Crow's desk and dropping into it with a heavy sigh. "How are you going to help them?"

"I can start by breaking the Arcadia Movement's control on the school." Crow blinked. He hadn't expected that. He hadn't expected anything except maybe a lecture about boundaries and professionalism and the limits of what one teacher could do.

"Huh!?" Xitto tilted his head.

"It's still just a theory. But after my research, I strongly believe that the Arcadia Movement is treating the school like a satellite campus for their own plans." Crow says. "It's only a matter of time before the students get caught up in the madness."

"Thinking all of that," Xitto leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. "How do you plan on separating the Arcadia Movement from the school?"

"By going to the principal's office." Crow stood up, his chair scraping against the floor. He gathered his belongings and headed for the door, his footsteps echoing in the empty hallway.

Xitto watched as the redhead vanished. 

From his desk Taxus spoke up. He asked, sounding more curious than annoyed. "Why were you encouraging him?"

A small smile tugged on Xitto's face. "I guess I want to see if he can actually do it."

-

Crow stood outside the gates of Arch Academy. The huge gates slowly opened up with its usual ominous groaning. He made his way to the administration office and was met with a surprised Glassouffle.

"Mr. Hogan!" Glassouffle's voice was sharp

"Hi ya!" Crow offered a smile he didn't feel.

"Don't be all nonchalant." Says Glassouffle. "Why are you here?"

"I am here to challenge the principal to a duel." He replied. "I did some research. If my theory is correct, I think he is being mind controlled by the Arcadia Movement."

"Well... I don't think it's a theory...." Glassouffle's face went very still. Her voice was barely a whisper. "I believe the limiters we are given are being used to control the staff. It seems the students remain untouched."

"But for how long?" Crow asks. Glassouffle couldn't answer. The fear in her eyes was answer enough. "That settles it."

Crow knocks on the door.

"Enter." It was the same devoid of emotion voice he heard before. A real stark contrast from the old interviews of Arlekino from his researching. The difference made his chest ache.

Inside the office Arlekino was sitting at his desk. His face a mask of nothingness. The jabot at his throat gleamed in the dim light, and the new monocle over his eye caught Crow's reflection like a dead lens.

"What brings you here?" The words were a formality, empty of curiosity or welcome.

"I came here to help." Crow says.

"Whatever do you mean?"

"I did some digging." Crow says. "You accepted the help of the Arcadia Movement because you felt it could help you help psychic children."

Something flickered in Arlekino's eyes.

"I get it." Crow smiles. "I became a teacher so that I could help children too. Eventually I want open a school in Satellite where a lot of impoverished children live and teach them. You were taken advantage of by the Arcadia Movement. I want to help by challenging you to a duel and free you from their control."

Arlekino's face didn't change. But his eyes, behind the glass and the deadness, something was listening.

"I reject-" His hand flew to his month. His breaths came in sharp, ragged gasps.

"L-let's d-duel." The words were forced, dragged from somewhere deep. "Please."

For a split second, his true self shown through. The man from all the old photograph ands interviews. All the limiters kicked in and he lost all the life in him.

Crow called for Glassouffle who made a swift entrance. She looked over his body and told Crow that Arlekino will be at the duel field.

Crow trusted her word and made his way to the duel arena. Crow took his place on once side of the duel field and put on his duel disk.

Shortly, Arlekino and Glassuffle arrived. the headmaster stood at the opposite side of the field. He activates his own duel disk. Arlekino looked up. His eyes were empty. But somewhere beneath the limiters, Crow knew someone was watching.

"This will be a ride that you will regret getting on Mr. Hogan."

Duel Start

Turn 1 -Emile-

"If you don’t mind, I'll go first." Emile said, his voice a flat, emotionless contrast to the fury that had brought them here. He placed a monster card face-down along with 2 back row cards. "I end my turn."

Turn 2 -Allie-

Allie drew her card.

"Allie." Crow gently calls out. "I don't know what happened between you two, but if you want to win you have to keep a level head!"

Allie takes in a deep breath to get her head in the game. She normal summons Deep Sea Diva and activates her effect to special summon Deep Sea Artisan from the deck in defense mode. Since she had no monsters in her graveyard, Deep Sea Artisan could not activate his effect.

"I tune my monsters together to Synchro Summon Tatsunoko!" Appeared was a cute little sea horse creature with dragon wings for arms. She activated Sea Lord's Amulet before moving onto her battle phase. "Tasunoko attack the face-down card!"

Emile's card that was flipped over was Ghostrick Yeti with 2000 defense points. Since it had a higher defense that her attacking monster, she took 300 points of damage.

Allie Life points: 4000 ->3700

"My Ghostrick Yeti effects activates when flipped face-up, I can target any Ghostrick monster to not be destroyed by battle or card effect for the rest of this turn." Emile explains. "Not that I have to worry about that right now."

Allie placed down one card.

"Emile, Why do you not want to help Ms. Glassouffle?" Allie asks, her voice loud and clear, carrying over the hum of the holograms. "Why are you against doing something?"

"I am not against doing something." He says. "This proposal is just gonna fail. The petition is going into the hands of the very people who terminated her. How is that helpful?!"

"Fine then! What do you suggest we do?" Allie shot back, her fists clenched at her sides. "What's your brilliant solution? Just give up and let them win?!"

"Heh. That's the fun part." Emile lips twitch. The grimace of someone who long mapped out this dead end maze. "There are no other solutions! Everything is set up to make sure ideas like the petition fail. I know it. Ms. Glassouffle knows it. And hopefully..." 

Turn 3 -Emile-

He drew his card for his turn.

"...by the end of this duel, you will understand too!"

The threat hung in the air, heavier than any monster.

"I play Book of Moon to flip your Tatsunoko face down. Then I turn over one of my face-down cards: Gravity Bind." Emile says. "Gravity Bind makes it so monsters level four and up can't attack. Then I summon Ghostrick Mummy."

Bandages bunched together to form Ghostrick Mummy.

"Now I attack your face-down Tatsunoko!"

Tatsunoko has 500 defense points, meaning Ghostrick Mummy could destroy it with no issues.

"My Ghostrick Mummy's effect allows me to have an additional normal set. So I set another monster card face-down. Using Ghostrick Yeti's effect I can flip it back face-down. I end my turn.

"That's weird." Risebell murmured from the sidelines. "Why would he attack? He never does that."

"Brainwashing people changes their brain chemistry." Phovi give his coach a glare. "He probably changed due to your esteemed teaching."

"Your sarcasm isn't helping me figure out the problem you twit." isebell snapped back.

"Please refrain from name-calling students." Xitto looks dully over at Risebell.

"Yes." Risebell waved a dismissive hand, then turned to Songo. "Do you know Songo?"

"Songo doesn't know." She shakes her head.

Annoyed Risbell turns his attention back to the field.

"Tsk." Phovi rolls his eyes, his scowl growing deep.

"Songo is worried." She speaks up. "Emile usually tries to win by alternative win conditions."

"Well... that monster she summoned did outclass all of his monsters." Phovi reasoned. "His highest attacking monster in his deck is 1600. Tatsunoko is 1700. That thing was a threat that had to be dealt with. Otherwise he wouldn't be able to set up his strategy."

"Hmm...."

"What is on your mind?" Phovi asks her.

"Does Phovi think that Emile might be goading Allie into accusing Emile of using Emile's powers?" A cold dread began to pool in Songo's stomach as she admits this. "Like what happened to you at the tournament."

The pieces clicked into place for Phovi with a sickening finality. His scowl deepened into something grim. "Do you really think he would go that far to prove himself right? The last thing he needs is to be proven right."

"Allie... please win this...." Songo whispers as she clasped her hands together.   

Turn 4 -Allie-

Allie drew her card.

"I activate the spell Card Surface. It allows me to special summon a level 3 or lower Fish, Sea Serpent, or Aqua monster in my graveyard in face-up Defense Position."

She special summons Deep Sea Artisan which activates his effect. Allie sent the top card of her deck to the graveyard and special summoned Deep Sea Diva from the graveyard with its effects negated in Defense Position. She Normal Summoned Deep Sea Sentry. With five stars on the field she Synchro Summoned her Deep Sea Soloist.

Deep Sea Soloist - Water - level 5 Sea Serpent/Synchro/Tuner/Effect Attack: 2500 Defense:2500

"Deep Sea Soloist lets me banish 3 water monsters from my hand, field, graveyard, or deck so I can banish face down 3 cards from your field, hand, graveyard, or top 3 cards of your deck."

"I activate my face-down card: Ghostrick Scare!" Emile flipped his second backrow over. "I can target any number of face-down Defense Position monsters I control and change them to face-up Defense Position. Then change up to that many face-up monsters you control to face-down Defense Position. I flip up my face-down, Ghostrick Skeleton and force your Deep Sea Soloist face-down."

This caused a chained reaction. Ghostrick Skeleton effect activated when flipped over, allowing Emile to banish cards from the top of his opponent's deck face-down, up to the number of face-up Ghostrick cards he controls. He has Ghostrick Mummy and Ghostrick Skeleton. So Allie's top two cards are now gone. Then Ghostrick Scare flips her Deep Sea Soloist face-down.

"That means Allie's Deep Sea Soloist can't get it's effect off." Frank says.

"Yep. And she can't flip it over until her next turn." Crow further explains.

"With gravity bind on the field she can't attack him...." Amanda says.

"Tsk, I end my turn." Allie reluctantly ends her turn.

Turn 5 -Emile-

Emile draws his card.

"Emile... why are you attacking?" Allie said, her voice quieter now, laced with confusion. "You never attack."

Emile gives her a look. It was as if he never expected her to notice his mannerisms. The realization seemed to crack something open inside him, but what poured out wasn't warmth; it was a deeper, colder bitterness.

"What? Scared?" he sneered, a twisted smile forming, laced with a hint of pain. "I thought you didn't care about psychic powers. I thought you trusted me. Trusted us...."

he gripped the cards in his hands. His usual calm was crumbling revealing the raw, betrayed teenager beneath.

"You're just the same as all the rest."

~

"Hey Emile." A young boy no older than ten years old walks up to Emile's desk.

Emile look up at him from his book. "Are you talking to me?"

"Who else would I be talking too?" The kid had a laid back attitude and a carefree smile.

It was a simple friendship. Emile never had many friends so he cherished this one. However, it slowly became apparent that the same wasn't returned.

The cracks appeared slowly. The invitations that always seemed to arrive just after he'd left. The conversations that died when he approached. He tried to ignore it, clinging to the fragile connection.

One day Emile was walking to the classroom when he overheard them.

"But I don't want Emile to come." One kid whined.

"Yeah, why are you friends with him?" Another boy asked.

The carefree boy's voice answered, and the words turned Emile's blood to ice, "It's not like I want to be friends with him either."

The confession shocked Emile.

"He has those psychic powers. If I am friends with him he won't hurt me."

Emile watched as everyone agreed with the sediment. He walked into the classroom. He was greeted. But when he looked at them all he saw were fake smiles.

For awhile Emile played along with the boy until a certain event.

"Would you duel me?" Emile asked, much to the boy's confusion. "You got me interested the game so I want to duel."

"Ah... but you don't have a deck...."

"You can help me make one." Emile says.

"I don't think you would like the game. It not your type of fun."

"I'll be the one to decide that." Emile says. "Well I'll just ask someone else to help me."

"No!" The boy shouts. "Um... why are you suddenly interested in the game?"

"Is it a problem?" Emile was stunned at the question.

"What about your powers? You'll just hurt us if you play the game." He said.

It was all Emile needed to hear. He walked past the boy keeping his back turned to the other.

"I overheard you talking with the others." There was a pause. "Tell me... was I really that dangerous that you had to fake being my friend? Just on the off chance that I won't harm you with my abilities? Did you know that I never hurt anyone for as long as I had them."

Emile didn't wait for an answer. That was the last time he ever spoke with any of his classmates.

~

"You're no different from them." Emile growled, the memory fueling the fire in his eyes. The calm was gone, replaced by a seething, years-old hurt. "I never hurt anyone, yet I'm treated like I committed murder."

Allie listened. She closed her eyes, not to block him out, but to truly hear the pain lacing every word. The roaring of the crowd faded into a distant buzz.

"Take it off," she said, her voice suddenly clear and steady.

Emile blinked. "Huh?"

"I said to take it off!" This time she raised her voice. The look of both anger and determination were flaring in her eyes. She wasn't asking.

Emile didn't get was she meant at first, but soon he realized that she meant his limiter device. He slowly raised his hand to his choker. His hand rose slowly, an almost involuntary movement. His fingers brushing against the cool metal. He didn't know why he was compelled to do so. Was he getting swept up into Allie's emotions? Or was it something else?

"Emile!" He heard Risebell call to him. "If you remove your limiter, you will automatically lose! She is just trying to use the rules against you! You know this Emile! Don't fall for it!"

Risebell is correct, but Emile was struggling to process Risebell's words for once. By tournament regulations, removing his limiter unsanctioned was an automatic disqualification. Allie was offering him a way to lose without being defeated in battle. A hollow, procedural victory.

There was something inside him that wanted to rip off the device. If he rips off the limiter and things go exactly as expected, he would be vindicated in the most painful way possible. The bliss of being proven correct about the utter hopelessness of it all.

Emile did not use the proper way of removing the device. He pulled it until it snapped, utterly destroying it with a twisted smile on his face.

The broken limiter hung loose in his hand for a moment before he let it drop to the duel arena floor with a small, final clink. He looked at Allie, a twisted, empty smile on his face. It was the smile of someone who had just jumped off a cliff and was waiting to hit the ground.

A beat of stunned silence followed. Everyone was waiting to see what would happen.

"This match is now null and void. Allie is defaulted as the winner!" Kichi says, a note of triumphant vindication in her voice. "I didn't think she had the smarts to use the rules like that."

"Kichi... this match is not about the rules." Amanda said, her voice low and grave. "In fact... if the rules get applied now that further Emile's descent." 

"Emile! You moron!" Risebell was apoplectic.

"Please refrain from name calling the students." Xitto's voice was more stern than the last time.

Risebell shot him a venomous glare but turned his fury back to his student.

"Emile! I hope you are happy with yourself. Now you lost the match! Was it worth it!?" Risebell continues.

Emile did not register his coach's words. He was staring at the broken device at his feet. Then at his own hands. The twisted smile was gone, replaced by a blank, hollow look. The riptide had pulled him under, and now he was just... waiting. Waiting for the duel to be called in Allie's favor despite no conclusive result. Waiting to be proven right about everything.

The crowd went into an confused uproar.

"I call the match in Allie's-"

"Stop!" Crow shouts from the sidelines, his voice raw with urgency. His eyes locked on Xitto. "Please let this match go on!"

"Sorry, rules are rules." Xitto says.

"I will take responsibly for everything!" Crow pleads. "It can't end like this!"

Crow knew exactly what Emile wanted and from her demand he knew Allie figured it out too. This duel has to reach its conclusion properly.  

"You know ending it like this isn't going to help. We are watching the same duel, you know stopping this match is wrong. Please let it play out."

Xitto sighed and retracted his statement, allowing the duel to continue much to the confusion and fear of the audience. Risebell stared, open-mouthed. Phovi and Songo exchanged a look of stunned hope.

"Emile," Allie's voice cuts though the confused crowd to Emile. "It's still your turn."

"I lost." He he says slowly raising his head. All light, gone from his golden eyes.

"This duel ends when one of our Life Points reach zero!" Allies says, her fury raising. "Not a point before!"

Emile was really confused. His eyes trail from the red-head in front of him to the broken limiter device and finally to Xitto.

"She's right, It's still your turn." Xitto said simply.

This only furthered Emile's confusion and his frustration. This wasn't the script. The world wasn't following the narrative it written for itself.

On the sidelines, Risebell was confused along with Phovi and Songo.

"Hey, what's the big idea? Are you making fun of him or something?" Risebell looks over to Xitto trying to make sense of the whole ordeal. "Trying to use this to your advantage somehow?"

"I just want see how everything plays out." Xitto shrugs.  

Finally gaining a semblance of life back, Emile played a card; a Field Spell called: Ghostrick Mansion.

"This card makes it so that we can attack directly when our opponent's monsters are all face-down." Emile explains. "It also halves the battle damage of any non-Ghostrick monsters."

Emile turns Ghostrick Skeleton to attack mode. "This will get you to show your real colors!"

He starts off by attacking with Ghostrick Mummy.

What Emile Expected was for Allie to flinch. To show terror. And inevitably accuse him of invoking his abilities. What he got was the complete opposite. She stood face-to-face with his attack and took it head on. The only blow-back was from the system's holographic performance.

Allie Life Points: 3700 -> 2200.

This situation made Emile stunned. Why wasn't she accusing him of using his powers? Why was she not following the his cynic script? What is going on?

Then Ghostrick Skeleton attacks. Swinging its scythe, taking Allie's Life Points. 

Allie Life Points: 2200 -> 1000

'Why isn't she accusing me!?'

"I use Ghostrick Skeleton's effect to flip it face-down again." Emile's hand trembled as he turned over his card. "I end my turn...."

Turn 6 -Allie-

Allie started her turn.

She flip summoned her Deep Sea Soloist.

"I play Deep Sea Conductor!"

Deep Sea Maestra - Water - level 3 Sea Serpent/Tuner/Effect Attack: 1500 Defense:1200

"Deep Sea Maestra can banish the top card of my deck to remove its tuner type. Now I can tune it with Deep Sea Soloist to Synchro Summon. Feel the melodic emotions of the sea! Take the stage! Deep Sea Orchestra!"

Deep Sea Orchestra - Water - Level 8 Sea Serpent/Tuner/Effect Attack: 3000 Defense: 2500

"If this card is Synchro Summoned using a 'Deep Sea' Tuner then it can activate its effect of destroying all other cards on the field!"

"Huh!" Emile exclaimed. All of his cards gone as if the waves of the ocean cleansed the field.

Allie's back-row was destroyed too, but it didn't bother her. The field was a clean slate now with only Deep Sea Orchestra on the field.

"I'm not done yet. I can Return Deep Sea Maestra from the graveyard if it is used a Synchro material." Allie continues. Deep Sea Maestra returns to the field in attack position. "Deep Sea Maestra attack!"

Deep Sea Maestra pointed her music conductor baton at Emile for a direct attack.

Emilie Life Points: 4000 -> 2500

"Now! End this Seep Sea Orchestra! Symphony of the Waters!"

The 3000 attack point monster depleted the rest of Emile's Life Points giving the win of this match and their argument to Allie.

Emile didn't have the strength to stand anymore. The exhaustion took over as he collapsed.

-

The festival went on as normal, for Allie and crew it had an somber air. The trio of Allie, Guu, and Amanda were in Crow's classroom as the festival was reaching its end.

Allie was now out of her dress at this point and the classroom was now back to normal. The earlier fire in her eyes had banked to embers. She just looked... tired.

Amanda sat beside her saying nothing, a steady, silent presence. Guu was at the window, watching the last of the festival-goers drift toward the gates.

Crow entered the Classroom and the trio's attention turned to him.

"Emile is doing fine. Nurse Lily says it was just exhaustion. He'll be fine with some rest." Crow explains.

The girls breathed a collective sigh of relief.

"The students of Arch Academy are being taken back to their school now that Emile is awake." Crow continues. "You guys should get going home too."

"So what happens now?" Allie asks, her voice was small.

Crow didn't know how to answer her question. He didn't want to be dismissive, but flowery language will upset them. He opened his mouth, searching for words that wouldn't come.

"If you you can't answer...," Amanda speaks up. "Can you at least try to do something? I am not just talking about Ms. Glassouffle losing her job. If things continue as is things are going to get worse."

"I will talk with principal Martha to see if there is anything that we can do." Crow says, but his tone indicated that he still could make no promises.

The class buzzed with a mix of groans and speculative murmurs as Crow wrote 'Summer Festival Planning' on the board in big bold letters.

"So any ideas for the summer festival?" Crow addressed the class. "We got chosen to do a cafe."

"We can do a cosplay cafe!" Sari's hand shot up. "Like, the waiters and cooks dress up as characters! It'll be way more popular than just a regular one!"

"That's a suggestion..." Crow said, momentarily caught off guard by the specificity. And trying to not think of the time he had to dress up as a cup noodle character. He dutifully wrote down the idea.

"I can provide menu ideas and design concepts." Kichi announced from her seat, already mentally cataloging her family's catering contacts and what would photograph well. "Presentation is key for a successful venture."

"Why did we get stuck with such a lame gig...." Frank slumps into his chair.

"It'll be fun!" Allie chirped, always the optimist.

"I don't want to hear that coming from someone who isn't going to help us." Frank retorted, pointing an accusing finger.

Allie rolled her eyes, then turned to Crow. "Oh! I can ask Ms. Wana for some costumes and materials from the drama department! She's got tons of stuff!"

"That would be a huge help." Crow said, grateful for the practical offer. He scanned the room. "If there are no major objections... we'll go with the cosplay theme for the class cafe."

"See, I did help." Allie grins smugly at Frank.

There a mix of reluctance and cheerfulness from the class.

-

During the break, the trio of girls grouped together as usual.

"Allie why are you not helping?" Asks Amanda.

"I am going to be performing with my acting class for the school festival." She responses. "We were going to showcase an Action Duel performance. But that's a dud. So we are going to put on a one act-play. I might not be able to come to club much right now."

"The same is for us too." Amanda says. "I feel that would be the case for a lot of clubs right now."

Their conversation was interrupted as Crow approached, a slightly mischievous spark in his eyes that indicated interesting news. 

"Hey girls," Crow walks up to the trio. "I have some good news. I was able to secure us the privilege of doing an exhibition match for the festival."

"I'll do it!" Allie says without hesitation. Her performer's heart leaping at the chance.

"Your prior priorities." Amanda popping Allie's bubble.

Allie's shoulders drooped. "Oh. Right."

"If you decide to do this, you'll be excused from the cosplay cafe." Crow adds.

Amanda didn't need to think twice. A duel in front of a festival crowd was infinitely preferable to serving drinks in a costume. "It's no problem for me," she said, a determined smile playing on her lips. "So, who am I dueling?"

"That's the best part. You get to pick your opponent. Anyone in the school. If you can't decide, or if they decline... well," Crow's grin widened, "I'll be your default opponent."

Amanda nods, latching onto the offer. "Understood Mr. Hogan."

As Crow left to handle his next pre-class task, Allie buzzed around Amanda like an excited bee. "This is such a cool idea! You get to pick anyone! Who are you going to choose?"

"Hmm...?" Amanda murmured, her gaze turning inward. The wheels were turning.

"What are you thinking?" Allie pressed.

"I'm thinking," Amanda said, "that one exhibition match is good. But a series of matches, showcasing the whole Duel Club would be a real event. We could have each available member face off against someone."

Guu nods with a smile, agreeing with the idea.

"Frank is practically begging for a 'get out of jail free' card from the cafe," Allie pointed out, giggling.

"If I can get this approved, I am sure he will be happy about this." Amanda smiles.

-

The atmosphere in the Arch Academy commons room was picture perfect scene of muted gloom. The news Glassouffle brought in should have been a spark.

"Good news! I managed to get us a spot at the Neo Domino Summer Festival." Glassouffle walks into the commons room with a smile of victory.

The trio of Emile, Phovi, and Songo had no reaction to the news. Phovi ignored her, continuing to look at the tv. Emile paid her a passing glance from his book. Songo shrunk in on herself, pulling up her sketchbook to hide her face.

Glassouffle let our a wry breath. "We decided on an art show. If you want to participate, just bring an art piece that you created. Those who want to join can meet in the art room after school."

She left the flyer on a table and exited, the click of her heels echoing in the silence she left behind.

"Once again, she looked like a kicked puppy." Phovi groans.

"Songo... Songo thinks we should do it," Songo murmured, her voice barely audible from behind her book.

"That would mean less time spent as the duel club for now." Emile points out, his voice flat.

"Not like your plan of getting us discovered through dueling so we can have a future is working anyways." Phovi retorted, his voice a low mumble laced with weeks of bottled-up frustration. "Besides anything to get away from scam 'coach' of ours."

Emile finally looked up, a frown etching his features. "Why the hostility? Mr. Risebell has been nothing but supportive of our goals."

“To you!” Phovi snapped, finally turning his head. The show's laugh track sounded grotesquely out of place. “Have you actually listened to what he says? He’s creepy. How he scammed his way into this job is beyond me.”

Emile's frown deepened, but he didn't argue. He saw Risebell as a realist, a man who understood the world's harshness and was preparing them for it. Phovi saw a snake.

In the end, the trio agreed to participate in the art exhibit. For now, their talents, and their frustrations, would have to find expression somewhere other than the dueling field.

-

The school board meeting room felt like a courtroom designed for public execution. The air was thick with judgment and a poorly concealed fear. Glassouffle sat ramrod straight taking shallow breaths. Next to her, Sistart gripped her hand under the table, a silent anchor.

"You can't have a psychic around the students! It's not safe for them."

"She put a device on a child. That alone should result in termination."

"She lied on her application. Her employment should end now!"

"Order!" The board chairman's voice cut through the accusations. He turned to Glassouffle, his expression unreadable. "Ms. Glassouffle, do you have anything to say in your defense?"

Glassouffle stood, her legs feeling like water and walked to grab the microphone.

"I... I hope you can find it in your hearts to forgive my deception. My intention was never to cause harm, but to pursue a career I love, in a world that often makes that... difficult." She paused, swallowing hard. "As for the incident, in that moment of crisis, I did what I believed was necessary to protect every child in that room. Thank you for hearing me out."

She made her defense. Heartfelt but fragile, was not enough.

Glassouffle was unceremoniously removed from Neo Domino Academy.

-

Weeks of frantic preparation blurred by and suddenly the day of the Summer Festival arrived. Neo Domino Academy was transformed. Paper lanterns hung between trees, the scent of street food warred with the smell of fresh paint from game booths, and the air thrummed with a contagious, chaotic energy. Even for the students working, there was a buzz of freedom: no classes. Just the vibrant hum of their own creation.

"Thank you for getting me out of doing the cafe thing, Amanda." Frank let out an exaggerated sigh of relief. "I owe you my life. Or at least my dignity."

Amanda had gotten used to it over the few weeks. She was happy that this would end soon.

"You are going to duel the principal. You have a tough match ahead of you." Amanda says.

"Until then, I will be enjoying the festival properly!" Frank grins as he runs off.

"Just remember your match time...." Amanda's voice trails off.

Guu smiles silently at the show in front of her.

Allie was in her white and orange costume gown waiting at the entrance of the school. She perked up as a familiar voice shrieked her name.

"Allie!"

Songo came barreling through the crowd, not in her school uniform but in casual clothes—a black top and skirt, her signature oversized, detached sleeves flopping wildly as she moved. She launched herself at Allie, and the two friends spun in a joyful, giggling circle.

"You have to show me your art piece!" Allie says.

"You'll see it during the show!" Says Songo with a gleam in her eye.

"I am free now. I can help set it up."

"You are trying to cheat."

"I won't look I promise!"

Their bubbly exchange was observed from a few feet away by Phovi and Emile. Phovi wore his usual scowl, but it was softer here outside the academy's walls. Emile watched with an unreadable expression.

"Songo, she has to show use the way to the miscellaneous room so we can set up." Emile interjected, his voice calmly cutting through their laughter. "I am sure she is not trying to look at your art project before hand."

"Right this way!" Allie beamed, taking on the role of official guide. "Follow me!"

Allie lead the Arch Academy group to the miscellaneous room. Glassouffle was there to greet them as she finished helping Tanner set up his display.

"Is there anything else I can help with Ms. Glassouffle?" Allie asks.

"Nope. Enjoy your time at the festival before your performance." She says.

"Songo will be free during lunch so we can hang out then." Songo called as Allie, with a final wave, disappeared back into the vibrant current of the crowd.

-

Inside the makeshift gallery, Tanner stood proudly next to his displayed artwork: a surprisingly detailed and vibrant crayon drawing of a stag beetle.

"Tanner, that's a beautiful picture of a beetle," Ms. Sistart praised him, her voice gentle. Then she glanced around her brow furrowing slightly. "Where are your parents, sweetie? 

Curiously, she looks around for Tanner's parents. They always showed up with him for events.

The boy's face, so bright a moment before, clouded over with a confusion too deep for his years.

"I don't think my parents like me anymore." When he said that, it had and air of childlike innocent. He still had not grasp the full picture, but he knew something was wrong. The air around them froze as Sistart tried to come up with something to sooth the boy's worry. Sistart opened her mouth, grasping for the right soothing, hopeful lies. But found none that wouldn't ring hollow.

Nearby, Emile was setting up his own contribution. He overheard and didn't look up. A dark, knowing shadow passed behind his golden eyes. He knew were this was headed. The familiar bitterness a cold stone in his chest. 'It's the same all the time....'

Luckily Glassouffle came up to him, wondering about his art piece.

"Emile, you said this art piece was from experience." She stared at the blank canvas. "There is nothing on here."

"The piece is called Projection," he explained, his voice cool and detached. "My lived experience is whatever the viewer projects onto the canvas. Fear, pity, curiosity, indifference. The canvas merely reflects the observer."

It was a sound bases for a project however...

"I can't help but think," Glassouffle said gently, "that you just didn't want to participate."

"You could have rejected my entry." Emile counters.

"I didn't want you to be left out...." She sighs.

A few feet away, a more animated conflict was brewing. Phovi was holding up his contribution: a strikingly rendered painting of a wilted, dying flower. Its petals scattered on barren soil. Growing from the same stem was a conjoined and parasitic flower. Vibrant, healthy, and glistening with a sinister dew.

"My art piece is a wilted flower having its life sucked out by another flower." Phovi explains with grim satisfaction.

"Why does the leech flower look like me?" Risebell had a strained look on his face and a dangerously calm voice.

"Don't like being an inspiration to your students, coach?" Phovi asked, the question dripping with dry, undisguised malice.

The look of irritation became more obvious on Risebell's face. No longer a flicker, it was promise that this particular piece of student expression would not be forgotten. 

Songo's art piece was by far the most popular. Seeing as it was a drawing of one of her monster cards from the game. A secluded area of fun within the heavy atmosphere of the makeshift art gallery.

-

"You are a bit more gloomy today than usual." Phovi observed later, as he and Emile took a break in a corner of the room.

"I could say the same to you." Emile says, side glancing at Phovi. "I have never seen you express this much emotion before."

Emile was referring to the art piece. He could feel the distaste for Risebell radiating off of it.

"You are usually good at hiding your emotions." Emile continued.

"I'd figure I might as well participate in the festiveness and pour my soul into it." Phovi took a sip a water. "Don't change the subject. What's gotten you into knots?"

Emile's gaze was fixed on a point across the hall where Sistart was now gently helping Tanner pack up his beetle drawing early. Sistart is going to let Tanner be relieved from his duties for the rest of the day so he could enjoy the festival.

"He said that his parents didn't like him anymore...." Emile whispered, the words barely audible. "He is such a well mannered kid, but suddenly who he disappears in the eye of his parents because of his powers."

Emile closed his eyes, tilting his head back against the wall as if seeking strength from the ceiling tiles. "Sorry, it hit a little too close to home for me."

Over yonder, their somber moment was shattered by a jubilant whirlwind. Allie burst into the room, her stage gown swirling, a paper bag of festival treats clutched in her hand.

"Songo! I brought some food." Are you ready?" She began distributing warm, delicious-smelling snacks: taiyaki, yakitori, bags of candied nuts to the Arch Academy students, a wave of normalcy and kindness. She also took this time to look at each of the art pieces made by them.

Her first one was Songo's and she recognized the character as Spright Carrot from Songo's deck. "This is so pretty Songo."

"Thank you." Songo beamed, her mouth full of taiyaki.

"I don't mean to pry, but are you guys going to participate in the Fall tournament?" Seizing a lull, Allie's naturally blunt curiosity surfaced.

"Oh... um... Songo doesn't know...." She replies. "After what happened...."

"Oh, right... that's understandable." Allie for once was considering her next words. Which was a feat for her. "Songo why don't you like showing your limiters? I mean, you wear your heart on your sleeve, but not those."

It was a reasonable question for someone like Allie to ask. An innocent question from someone who lived in a world where trust was default. Though Songo had trouble explaining her feelings.

"Songo wants people to trust Songo without having to show Songo's limiters." She explains.

Allie was taking in the information, but it was clear that she barely understood what Songo was getting at.

"Then other kids kept stealing Songo's limiters and blaming Songo for things Songo did not do." Songo shrunk in on herself, visibly shaking at the memories. "No one believes Songo without Songo's limiters. Songo doesn't like that."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to bring up bad memories." Allie says, as she wraps an arm around Songo.

"It's okay." Songo and Allie hug.

Then Allie remembers something. She dug into her satchel and pulled out a clipboard with a petition. "We are getting signatures from students and staff to bring back Ms. Glassouffle."

Songo happily signs it and passes it to Phovi who writes his name with a grim nod.

The clipboard reached Emile. He stared at it as if it were a poisonous insect.

"Tsk, what the heck is this supposed to do?" Emile spat, the calm finally cracking. "This is just going to go to the same people who fired her in the first place!"

He snatched the paper, crumpled it into a tight ball, and threw it to the floor.

"Hey!" Allie shouted, her temper flaring.

"What is this going to change?" Irritation ringing in Emile's voice. "We keep groveling at their feet hoping their hearts will magically grow? They humiliated Ms. Glassouffle! Do you really want to keep her going through this degradation ritual!"

"It's better than doing nothing!" Allie yelled back, stepping forward.

"Enough!" Glassouffle's sharp voice with authority and pain, cut between them. "I was the who mentioned it my students when I was saying my farewells to them Emile. They had asked what could be done to overturn this decision. So if you are angry at anyone, let it be at me."

"You try and try so hard and it has gotten you nowhere." Emile turned on her, his golden eyes blazing. "When was the last time anyone has heard you out. Taken your concerns about Arch Academy seriously. Because of the rules you can only go back to the same people that allow nothing to change. A never ending cycle of humiliation! You're efforts are useless!"

"You take that back!" Allie roared, reaching her limit. "Ms. Glassouffles efforts are not useless! I won't allow you get away with talking to her like this!"

"As if you have any grasp on the issue!" Emile shot back, his composure in ashes. "You live in your bright, simple world where signatures fix everything! You are just like everyone else. Why don't you save us all the trouble and show your true colors already! End this farce friendship you have with Songo!"

The word 'farce' hung in the air, toxic and final.

"Duel me." Allie's voice dropped, low and deadly serious. "Right. Now."

"Psychic students can't duel outside of sanctioned—" Emile began, automatically reciting the regulation that had always been his cage.

"Shut up!" Allie screamed, the sound raw. "You either show up on that duel field or I will hunt you down!"

She turned on her heel, her stage gown flaring, and stormed out of the room, a tempest of orange and white.

Emile stared after her, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles were white. He slammed the clipboard onto the ground. Then, without a word to anyone, he too strode out the door.

Allie did not bother changing from her gown as she stormed the duel arena. Amanda's match was scheduled at this time against Xitto, but it did not matter to the two angry students.

"Allie what are you doing? What's going on?" Amanda asks, confused. "What about your play?"

"Sorry but I have to do this." Allie looks forward to her opponent.

On the other end, Xitto steps aside out of Emile's way. He saw the look of confusion on Amanda's face and figured this was an unplanned happening. He sighs and has Emile tell him his name before moving to the center of the field to officiate.

Soon the respective club members and coaches showed up on the sidelines. Just as confused as everyone else.

"What is going on?" Crow asks.

"I have never seen Allie this angry," Amanda whispered, a knot of worry in her stomach.

"This violates every safety protocol!" Kichi hissed. "He shouldn't be allowed on that field!"

"Be quite about rules for once Kichi!" Allie yelled back from her position, not even turning her head.

Crow places a hand on Kichi's shoulder to silence her retort. "I think you'll have to let this one go."

Crow knew that look on Emile's face. The look of someone who has been back into a corner too many times. Now lashing out at anything and everything.

"Hey, kid you didn't tell me that you signed up for this exhibition match." Risebell says.

"It's not an exhibition match." Emile stated flatly, activating his duel disk with a sharp click-hum.

"Oh really... wow I did not think you could get all fired up like this. You should do it more." Risebell usual sick cheeriness came back.

"You're the reason Emile's like this. This is your fault!"  Phovi shouted next to him, unable to contain himself. Risebell didn't even glance his way, his eyes fixed on the spectacle about to unfold.

Xitto looked from one duelist to the other. Allie, a tempest in a ballgown. Emile, a glacier of contained fury. He raised his hand.

"Now, are both duelists ready?" Xitto states.

The air was filled with anticipation, confusion, and fury.

The big day finally arrived for the club. Saturday dawned bright and clear, the sky a brilliant, untroubled blue. It was a day made for beginnings. The members of the Neo Domino Duel Club stood assembled in front of their school, dueling gear in hand, a collective bundle of nerves and excitement.

"Thanks again Mr. Taxus." Crow says as he enters the small bus.

"Don't forget my food," Taxus mumbled in reply, his eyes fixed on the road ahead with a focus usually reserved for napping. The promise of a paid meal was a powerful motivator.

Outside the bus the Amanda was giving the team a pep talk.

"I hope everyone rested up this week. This is the moment we've been waiting for." Her gaze swept over each of them; Allie's vibrating energy, Kichi's poised confidence, Frank's nervous grin, Guu's quiet resolve. "You have all put your best foot forward, now let's show everyone what the Neo Domino Dule Club is made of!"

There was a wave of cheers from the group before they boarded the bus.

-

The atmosphere in the Arch Academy duel arena was its polar opposite of that at Neo Duel Academy. Emile sat on the bench surrounded by silence. His posture perfect but his shoulders bowed under an invisible weight. The echo's of Risebell's footsteps getting closer broke the quite.

"Why so glum, chum." Risebell asked, his tone artificially bright as he dropped onto the bench beside Emile.

"What can I do to help my friends see my way." Emile sighs. He didn't look at him, his golden eyes fixed on the empty duel field.

"You can't make them see your way." Risebell says. It was the voice of a false confidante. "All you can do is keep telling them and slowly they'll come around. Let them realize on their own. Trying to force it will only push them away."

"I just want to keep them safe." Emile admitted, the words feeling like a confession of failure.

"I can tell." Risebell smiles. "When they realize the truth, you have to be there for them. They are your besties. Right? Is that what the kids say these days."

Emile sighed again, the sound lost in the vast, empty room. "I just have this feeling... that something is going to go very wrong today."

Before Risebell could offer another slick piece of manipulation, the heavy doors at the far end of the arena groaned open. Phovi and Songo entered, their presence immediately changing the air. Songo's eyes were red-rimmed, her usual bounce absent. Phovi’s expression was a guarded scowl.

"Heya~ everyone~ are you ready for todays competition?" His voice was a singsong parody of cheerfulness. "I know I've only been your coach for a short while, but I truly believe in you guys."

Phovi rolled his eyes. "We don't need your fake encouragement."

Risebell was defeated by Phovi's bluntness. He glances at Emile. "Hey, maybe moral will boost if they got a word of encouragement from their captain...."

Emile stood. His back straighten as he faced his friends.

"Look, we are only doing this so we can have a secure future for ourselves. Don't mess up." He walks past them not waiting for a reply, leaving a chill in his wake.

"He's nervous in his own way. Please excuse him." Risebell tried to placate the worry written on Songo and Phovi's faces. 

-

The stadium was filled with high octane energy. The competitive spirit could be felt radiating in the air. Crow missed this atmosphere from his Turbo Dueling days. It brought back many memories.

Allie was shaking with unbridled excitement. "Cool!"

Your are making us look uncool with your childish antics." Kichi scoffs.

"Girls." Crow interjected. His tone a warning for them to calm down.

"Let get to registration before you both get us kicked out." Amanda sighs.

While at the registration desk, Allie was scanning the bulletin board when her eyes landed on a certain flyer.

"An Action Duel competition is coming soon!" Allie's eye lit up. Guu looked curiously from beside her.

"Focus on one things at a time." Frank said.

The group gather around Amanda, who showed them the lineup.

"The first one to go will be Allie. Then Kichi. And I will be going last." Amanda explains. "Frank, I trust that you have your deck ready to go."

"Yep!" Frank nods with a thumbs-up. "You can count on me as your backup!"

"For the turbo duel division, they will have both first and second rounds today." Guu says. "Because there are not a lot of groups competing in this division."

"So you're going to be here for the long run if you win." Crow finished.

"You mean when we win." Allie corrected, her confidence blazing.

"Let's stay in the realm of possibilities." Amanda says.

"The matchups have been posted. It's time to get ready." Crow says.

The group looks at the monitor to see there first opponents and time of the match.

It was their debut on the stage. The announcer got the crowd going with her energetic introductions of Allie and her opponent.

-

Allie stepped onto the field, no nervousness taking over. In fact the stage seemed to be a second home to her. The duel began in earnest once the timer struck zero and both duelist drew their cards.

Allie managed to start off strong establishing her aquatic domain with 'Sea Lord's Amulet'. She ended her first turn on 'Deep Sea Diva' and 'Star Boy' in defense mode and one card face down. Her opponent put her on the defensive with his deck. She managed to turn the tides of battle with a combo of 'Diamond Dust' and 'Torrential Reborn' to deal burn damage to her opponent. She had 3 monsters on her field for protection now.

"Great going Allie!" Amanda cheers.

"I did not think she had a backup strategy in her deck." Kichi says. "Since it's her Main Phase One, she can easily deal damage to her next opponent during her Battle Phase before they get a turn!"

"No so fast Kichi." Crow says. "To prevent something like that, the rules make it so that when you defeat an opponent your turn ends automatically."

"Huh! Well that's just unfair."

"Only someone like you would think that, Kichi." Frank sighs.

"Allie is on her last bit of life points. She put all of her revived monsters in defense mode." Amanda studied the field.

Guu gives Kichi a look. One that silently told her that she should get ready.

Guu's prediction was correct. Allie lost during her opponent's next turn.

It is Kichi's time to shine. Her Gem-Knights captivated the audience with their lustrous radiance. Kichi normal summoned 'Gem-Knight Alexandrite' and tributed it using its effect so special summon 'Gem-Knight Crystal'. With 'Gem-Knight Fusion', she managed to get her 'Gem-Knight Lady Lapis Lazuli' out to the field and use its burn effect to to pull off a one-turn kill to her opponent using her monster's burn effect. She was lucky that her opponent's field was filled with special summoned monsters. Along with her own two special summons, it amounted to enough burn damage.

Allie and Amanda cheered. 

Kichi and her Gem's managed to overpower her opponent and win the match. With two wins, the Neo Domino Duel club moves onto the second round.

"Good job girls!" Crow says. "Rest while you can."

"I'm going to look for Songo and the others." Allie announced, already bouncing on her heels. "I want to cheer them on!"

She went over to the matchup list to look for Arch Academy, but they weren't listed. She searched for their names in the singles or tag duel divisions, none of their names were listed. Allie tilts her head in confusion, as she sends a quick text message to Songo. She returned to her team, who were now gathered around a concession stand lunch.

"Allie, you should eat something before our next match." Frank says.

Amanda and Guu both notice something is off.

"Something wrong?" Amanda asked, her voice gentle.

"I wanted to watch Songo duel... but Arch Academy isn't listed anywhere." Allie confessed, her usual exuberance dampened by concern. "I was really looking forward to dueling them in the competition."

"Why would the committee let them compete?" Kichi balks. "Their powers are danger to others. The gall they have to even think they would be allowed to compete is astounding." 

"Have you texted Songo? Has she responded?" Asks Amanda. Allie shakes her head, staring at her silent phone.

-

A bit earlier.

The Arch Academy students arrived, same as everyone else. However, their entry was all but calm.

"They all have on their Limiters." Risebell insisted, his voice a blend of charm and pressure. "Go on show them."

With an air of reluctancy, Emile and Phovi both showed their devices. Songo refused.

"I can't allow her to participate if she doesn't comply." The gentlemen said.

"Songo just show him." Phovi tells her. Songo vehemently refused.

"I can let the other two join, because they have their Limiters." The gentlemen said.

"Then Phovi and I will join singles." Emile says.

Everything went smoothly until Phovi match. Phovi launched a successful attack on his opponent, he fell over.

"His attack did real damage! He tried to hurt me!"

Phovi stared, numb. "No. I didn't." His denial was automatic, hollow. He'd heard this script before and couldn't be bothered to deal with it.

"Don't blame the kickback of this over tuned science project on my student." Risebell said as he was confronted with the other team's coach.

Phovi was disqualified. Emile didn't even bother doing his match. Not wanting to go through some humiliation ritual. Thus Arch Academy's tournament run ended with broken spirits.

-

"Thanks for the food." Taxus says.

"You ate me out of my wallet...." Crow grumbles.

"I needed sustenance for the next few days. Thank you for funding my survival."

"Are you really homeless Mr. Taxus...?" Crow mumbles not expecting an answer.

While waiting for their food, Crow over hears a conversion not far from him.

"Hehehe. Good job faking that injury. You got your opponent disqualified without lifting a finger."

"When I found out my opponent was a psychic, the plan came to me naturally."

"Seriously, what did those Arch Academy stools think was going to happen."

"Just don't let the coach know or he might feel bad. You know how noble he is."

The three students laughed at having their plan be a success. Crow understood all too well that there were crooks in the dueling world. They were willing to do whatever to win no matter the tricks. Crow knew the bigger picture. From the outside looking in, this was going to make the students of Arch Academy look worse to the general public.

-

Crow was walking through the halls of the stadium when he saw all three Arch Academy students sitting together on a bench. They all looked crestfallen.

"Hey guys." Crow spoke up in a cheerful voice. Trying to pretend he did not overhear the earlier conversation.

Songo's eyes perked up for a split second and Phovi just did not acknowledge his presence.

"Hi Mr. Hogan." Emile responded.

"How did your duels go?" Crow asked. "Did you decide to not take part in the Turbo Duel division?

"We couldn't," Phovi scoffs. "Songo wouldn't show her Limiter. So me and Emile signed up for the singles tournament."

"Phovi got disqualified because his opponent claimed that Phovi used his psychic abilities." Emile was composed, but his voice was filled with bitterness. "It goes without saying, that no one believed Phovi."

"The implicit distrust... I know that all too well...." Crow scratched at his markers.

"Mr. Hogan did Mr. Hogan have to duel against psychics when Mr. Hogan were a duelist?" Songo asks.

"Hmm, I guess I did. But I wouldn't know. The rules are completely different in professional leagues." He recalled how Akiza was able to enter the WRGP with no issue after displaying her abilities in the Fortune Cup tournament.

It was small but a tiny bit of hope returned to Songo's eyes.

-

The tournament continued as normal. But the second round was not as kind to them as the first round. Their opponent's were much tougher, with their coordinated decks. Each of the opponent's used the left behind monster's of the previous teammate to their full advantage. It was a grand show of their perfect planning and teamwork that allowed them to overpower the Neo Domino Duel club.

"This sucks." Frank says.

"How?" Allie says, genuinely confused.

"Are you really asking that...?" Frank says.

"Is it really a loss." Crow asks.

"We made it to the second round." Allie says. "That means we might start getting challenges." 

"That means more opportunities to practice against other school's clubs." Amanda realizes.

"We always have the fall tournament to look forward too." Allie adds.

"Sometimes a loss can be a step toward a win." Crow says. "Learn from it and come back stronger than ever."

"Can you have your pep talk later. Get on the bus! I want to go home." Taxus grumbles from the driver's seat. "I'm tired, and my spiritual homelessness requires a nap."