At the very center of Branch Hall No. 4 of the Dueling Hall.
The two stood a dozen or so meters apart, each taking his place on a service line of the dueling field.
As two pale blue rings of projected light spread beneath their feet, the mechanical card slots clicked into place with a series of dull, crisp clacks.
Just as Yūki was about to pull his regular Deck from his Deck Box, Jaden Yuki suddenly thrust up a hand across from him and shouted for him to stop.
"Wait! Yūki! Don't put your cards in yet!"
Yūki paused slightly, raising an eyebrow in amusement.
"What's wrong, Jaden? Only just realized you forgot to bring Polymerization?"
"I wouldn't make such a basic mistake!"
Jaden hurried half a step closer, his golden-brown eyes startlingly bright, his face brimming with undisguised fervor and anticipation.
"Yūki, for today's duel, could you use that... you know, that pitch-black new HERO Deck that's just bursting with savage energy?!"
"I think it was called... Evil HERO, right?!"
"After watching you use that Deck last time, I went back to my dorm and kept thinking about it even in my dreams for days!"
Jaden waved his fists excitedly, gesturing wildly as he spoke.
"Those HERO forms, wreathed in dark flames with eyes fiercer than the villains'-they're just so badass, so much fun!"
"HEROes don't just represent light and justice. They can even take on forms like demon gods descending from the abyss!"
"I really want to experience that Evil HERO Deck's power for myself!"
Hearing Jaden's rapid-fire outpouring of heartfelt feelings, Yūki froze for a full three seconds.
He couldn't help laughing.
Looking at Jaden, with his pure, radiant smile and the hot-blooded youthful energy pouring off him, Yūki's expression turned exceedingly strange.
Good grief.
*Jaden,