https://youtu.be/Cb3ggoyqXmU

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You and the gang were walking around the island. They were all pretty happy things turned out well.

As for Yugi...

"Hey, (y/n)!" Yugi turned at you with a gentle smile, "Tea told me how good you were at the duel!"

He's the plain, old Yugi you met at the boat.

You were a bit shocked when you saw Yugi being....Yugi. You asked how he has been and he said he was doing fine, he even felt happy that he beat Weevil in the duel.

So maybe that weird sense from earlier was just you panicking? No, you felt something was...up with this boy.

Besides, if you were making up that feeling then the Seal would be laughing their head off, right? Besides, the Seal didn't like Yugi during that time, so that means you weren't imagining things. So what is going on?

"Well, now that's aside it's time for me to have my own duel. I've been aching for one since we got here!" Joey pumped his fists together with a smirk, "The next player is mine to beat!" He said with enthusiasm and ran up a hill,

"You know, I'm not so sure Joey is up for this." Tea mumbled

"Yeah, there are some really good duelists over here." Tristan agreed, "But don't you think he's smart enough to realize-"

"Y'all are looking at the next Duel Monsters Champion guys!" Joey interrupted Tristan with a big smile. You gave a small laugh as Tea facepalmed,

"He needs a reality check." She mumbled.

"He's as smart as he looks..." Tristan sighed,

"Well I think he's got a lot of potential." You crossed your arms with a smile. Yugi laughed,

"I agree with (y/n), he's got lots of potential. I mean, he's fighting for his sister."

"His sister?" You looked at Yugi,

"Yeah, you see, his sister, Serenity, has an operation for her eyes because her eyes are really bad at the moment. So when Joey wins, he can get the prize money and pay for the operation." Yugi explained,

"So everyone here has a deep reason why they want to win except for me?" You asked with a nervous laugh. Yugi laughed,

"Guess so." He nodded his head.

"Do you not have a goal for the tournament?" Tea asked,

"No, not at all." You shook your head with a small grin, "I came just to fight some really good duelists and go home."

"Well that's normal for most duelists, right?" Tristan asked,

"Yeah, it's just that most of us here don't have good luck as we anticipated." Yugi nodded his head.

"Ooh! Guys look over there!" Tea pointed over down the hill and you looked to see lots of duel stadiums up and running.

"Whoa...so many duels!" Tristan said with awe,

"You said it, Tristan." Yugi said with a smile,

"Alright guys I am goin' in," Joey clenched his fists.

"You sure you want to do this? If you lose you give up your only Star Chip." Tristan looked at Joey,

"That's right." Tea nodded and Joey turned pale and collapsed as a result.

"Don't panic, you got this Joey. You do know that, don't you?" Yugi looked at Joey, who looked at Yugi with a small smile,

"I hope you're right, Yugi. This'll be my first official duel and I can't afford to get knocked out on the first trial." Joey agreed,

"Yeah, well not everyone down there is a pro. I am sure you can find someone on your level." Yugi looked down at the crowd with thought.

"Look for someone easy." Tea advised.

"I guess I should start on what type of field my cards are best at. They're all mostly monsters and fighters type....so maybe this meadow field is my type." Joey looked at the grass

"Mhm, you're right. See? You know what you're doing." Yugi nodded his head with a smile. You looked at Joey with some sympathy, he really looks down on himself sometimes, does he...

Well, you can't blame him, can you?

"Ugh...you hear that?" Tea looked at you with annoyance.

"Hear what?" You blinked,

"Give me your starchips!" You heard an ugly whine that sounded all too familiar. You and Tea gave each other a look,

"....Mai." You and Tea said at the same time. Everyone's gaze averted to Mai, who was laughing victoriously at her victory

"You cheated somehow!" Her opponent frowned at her, "How could you know what your cards were without even looking at them!"

"I'm psychic and you're done~" Mai said with a wink and watched the opponent leave with tears in his eyes. Your eye narrowed as you watched him leave. You felt bad for him...

"Well well well~ Look who's here!" Mai noticed you and the gang,

"What a sweet aroma.." The Seal mumbled and got your attention.

"She's already got 2 more star chips.." Joey whispered in awe.

"Hey, Yugi!" Mai approached Yugi, "Are your duels going well~?"

"I am making progress." Yugi nodded and watched Mai take his hand,

"My my! You have 3 star chips already! I might be up for a duel myself." Mai stared at his hand in awe.

"Take her." Tea mumbled furiously at Yugi. "Knock her out of the contest and off the island." She doesn't like Mai, does she? Well, as you thought to yourself earlier, can you blame her?

"Mmmmm I am definitely in the mood for a duel...so get ready, Joey!" Mai pointed at Joey with a smirk, "Cause I choose you!"

"What!?" Joey shrieked, "You challenge me?!"

"Do you accept?" Mai asked,

"G-Guess you've heard about my skill..." Joey mumbled,

"No, process of elimination - I get rid of the weakest to the strongest." Mai responded with a wink, "Besides, you have one star chip - I overheard you on the boat with Yugi, if you have only one star chip that means you must be the weakest!"

"Do you have to be this insulting?" Joey asked,

"....She's being truthful this time." Tea mumbled, as Joey looked offended at Tea's response.

"Don't take her first." Tea advised,

"Keep in mind, Joey, if you lose you're gone." Tristan warned,

"Yugi.." You looked at Yugi and watched him sigh.

"It's all him. He has to choose." Yugi responded, he seemed to know what you were going to tell him.

"I accept," Joey answered,

"Go show her what you're made of!" Yugi gave him a smile,

"Joey are you sure?" You asked, "Judging of how everyone's concerned over you-"

"It's fine, (y/n)." Joey gave you a smile, "Yeah, I have had training but was never able to finish, but I am positive I can take her."

"You better be right for your sister's sake." Tea mumbled.

"He'll be fine." You nudged Tea and Tristan and watched him go to the stadium.

"(Y/n) is right." Yugi nodded and looked at Joey. "He'll be fine."

"To make things 'fair', I'll give one Starchip. After all, you only have one yourself." Mai said with a wink.

"Wait a minute where's the Meadow!" Joey shrieked,

"Only 20% of this field is Meadow, so suck it up or surrender." Mai responded.

"Don't panic, you'll do fine!" Yugi assured, "Besides, your monsters will still get the boost with that 20%!"

"Oh...yeah." Joey nodded, "...Before we duel. I gotta ask you one question." Joey looked at her,

"What?" Mai titled her head,

"Why did you come to the tournament? Why duel?" Joey asked,

"Why to conqueror expensive cravings while not needing to actually work!" Mai responded excitedly.

"How selfish." Joey mumbled.

"How dare you judge me! Who do you think you are, you pathetic little snot!"

"Hey, I don't think you know this but some people are fighting for the people we love," Joey answered.

"That's right you show her we duel from the heart." Yugi mumbled.

During the duel you noticed something off, it was just as her previous opponent said; she can tell which card is which without looking at them. Not even a glance or hint. And her technique as awfully familiar, it looked familiar.

"She's using the divide and conqueror method." You looked at Mai. Tea looked at you,

"Is she?"

"It's a method I am a bit too familiar with." You nodded.

"You've noticed." You heard Yugi speak....or was it?

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https://youtu.be/Ptus_TgrnwY