The two of them ate for a long time.
The glass door of the hotpot restaurant, pasted with red paper, closed behind them, cutting off the still-boiling noise and heat inside. The sunlight outside was a bit glaring, but it no longer carried that same stifling warmth on their skin.
The shop owner was grinning from ear to ear, the wrinkles on his face blooming like flowers. That free meal meant nothing to him; after all, the advertising effect of today's "dragon-slaying performance" would probably double his revenue for the week.
"Prison bro, carry me. I'm tired."
Rikka tugged at Raku's sleeve. The "president" who had dominated the Duel platform earlier had now shrunk back into that oversized coat, turning once again into a clingy little sister.
Raku lowered his head and glanced at her. This girl had eaten more enthusiastically than anyone just now, even ordering an extra serving of brown sugar shaved ice… and now she was claiming she was tired?
"Didn't you just finish eating?"
"Tired means tired. Hurry up." Rikka extended her hands toward him without hesitation, though a hint of mischief glimmered in her eyes. "Soul Power exhaustion, you know? I'm in a weakened state right now."
"…"
Raku sighed. He had no real intention of refusing, but out of habit, he teased her anyway. "Beg me."
"Please."
An instant reply. No hesitation whatsoever; not even the least bit of pride.
"No dignity at all."
Though he grumbled, Raku still obediently turned around and crouched.
When that soft warmth pressed against his back, he steadily supported Rikka's legs and gave her a small lift upward.
"Off we go-hyah!"
"Shut up. I'm your brother, not a mount."
The two of them chatted idly like that, their shadows stretching long across the afternoon street. Most of the shops along the roadside were open, and occasionally, the sounds of duel commentary and cards being slapped onto tables could be heard from within.
This city really was full of duels.
Just as they turned into a usually deserted old alley to take a shortcut—
"AHHHH!"
A shrill scream suddenly tore through the lazy afternoon. The sound was short and piercing, like the dying wail of a beast, followed by a dull thud of something heavy hitting the ground… and then silence.
Raku's footsteps halted abruptly.
Rikka, on his back, also went still, her legs that had been swaying freezing midair.
A metallic scent began to drift out from the alley. In this world of universal dueling, that kind of smell was rare… and deadly.
A few seconds later, a set of unhurried footsteps emerged from the depths of the shadows.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The crisp sound of leather shoes striking the stone pavement made one's scalp prickle.
A figure slowly stepped out from the darkness.
It was a young man who didn't look very old, dressed in a black, skin-tight uniform designed with skeletal patterns. Most striking of all was his deep purple hair; his side locks hung down like the fangs of a venomous snake, while the hair on top spread out like a blooming lotus.
He slowly raised his head.
A pair of golden, vertical pupils.
Black eyeliner traced the corners of his eyes, making them appear even more sinister.
His gaze first swept across Raku's face, then shifted upward, landing on Rikka lying on Raku's back.
In that instant, Rikka felt as if something cold and damp had wrapped around her throat.
Every hair on her body stood on end; that was the instinctive fear of prey facing a natural predator.
Raku did not speak, nor did he step back.
He knew very well that in a situation like this, any unnecessary movement could be interpreted as provocation or weakness. He simply reached his hand back, using that silent gesture to steady his trembling sister before carefully lowering Rikka from his back and stepping in front of her.
Fifteen full seconds.
The two sides faced each other at the mouth of the alley. The air seemed to freeze, even the distant noise of traffic becoming unclear.
The purple-haired boy's gaze scraped across Raku like a blade, as if evaluating whether this passerby was worth eliminating.
Raku's expression remained that same half-dead, listless look; neither fear nor any burst of righteous indignation, simply standing there like a stone with no presence.
Finally, the boy seemed to decide that the two passersby were not worthy of being "prey," or perhaps their lack of reaction bored him.
"Tch."
He tilted his head, revealing a spike-shaped earring on his left ear that flashed coldly in the sunlight.
"Don't wander around here."
His voice was low and hoarse, carrying undisguised arrogance and warning. "Be careful not to see something you shouldn't."
It was a naked threat.
There was no room for negotiation, nor any need for reason.
Raku did not argue, nor did he ask what had happened. He simply nodded calmly, indicating that he understood and would comply.
That pragmatic attitude seemed to satisfy the purple-haired boy.
Or perhaps he simply couldn't be bothered.
With his hands in his pockets, that oppressive violet-black aura around him still lingering, he made no move to attack. Instead, he walked straight past the two of them and disappeared at the end of the street.
Only after that purple figure was out of sight did the suffocating pressure begin to ease.
"…Big brother."
Rikka's voice trembled as she instinctively clutched the corner of Raku's clothes.
Raku did not respond right away. He remained vigilant, confirming that the dangerous individual had truly gone far away. Only then did he reach out, pulling his sister close by the shoulder, preparing to take her away quickly.
However, at the very moment they turned around, Rikka's gaze couldn't help but flick toward the dark alley.
Just one glance.
With a sliver of sunlight spilling into the alley, she saw it.
Behind a pile of messy trash bins lay a twisted body. The person's expression was frozen in extreme terror, and there seemed to be scorched marks on the chest, fatal wounds caused by some kind of high-intensity energy impact.
Beside the body lay a broken Duel Disk, along with several cards stained with a dark red color.
Dead.
Someone had really… died.
In this so-called Duel City, in this world that claimed "dueling brings smiles," someone could actually die due to a duel.
Rikka suddenly covered her mouth. That metallic smell seemed to surge straight into her stomach, making her want to retch.
"Big brother…"
"Don't look."
Raku's hand blocked her vision at once. His voice was even lower than before, yet carried unquestionable calm. "Don't get involved. Let's leave first."
He practically dragged and carried the still-dazed Rikka away from the alley.
This time, they didn't chat, nor did they walk leisurely to save energy; they hurried all the way home.
Only when the worn security door shut with a click, cutting off the outside world, did that lingering sense of danger fade.
The living room was quiet, with just the ticking of the wall clock.
Rikka sat on the sofa, holding a cup of warm water that Raku had given her. Her face was still somewhat pale. Those always sparkling blue eyes now looked dim; what she had just seen had shaken her deeply.
"Who… was that?"
She finally spoke, her voice soft, as if asking Raku, or herself.
That purple silhouette, those golden vertical pupils, that overwhelming aura of malice as if it could devour everything… none of it resembled any Duelist she had ever seen at school or in card shops.
That wasn't about winning or losing.
That was… hunting.
Raku leaned against the window, looking down at the calm street below through the gap in the curtains. His fingers unconsciously rubbed the card case in his pocket, his gaze deep.
"I don't know either."
He turned around, looking at his sister curled up on the sofa, and shook his head.
That guy, whether it was his hairstyle or that distinct aura… was one of a kind even in this bizarre world. Definitely not some nobody.
"Regardless, don't provoke him if you can help it."
Raku walked over and gently ruffled Rikka's long silver hair, fixing the ahoge that had drooped from fright.
"This world… has some duels that aren't the kind we're looking for."
He paused, his tone softening, carrying a reassuring steadiness.
"Forget it. Get some sleep."
After that, Raku returned to his bedroom.
Star City at night wasn't quiet. Outside the window, one could occasionally hear the roar of motorcycles in the distance, or explosive sound effects from some late-night duel still going on somewhere.
Raku lay on his bed, his dark eyes fixed on the ceiling, unable to sleep.
Even though he had said "it's fine," the oppressive feeling from that purple-haired boy was even stronger than when he had faced the Cyber-Style coach before.
That wasn't a Duelist's aura… it was the presence of a predator.
In this world where card games reigned supreme, power was everything.
And those so-called "Shadow Duels" that could drain a person's soul were only the tip of the iceberg.
tap. tap. tap.
A very quiet knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. The sound was cautious, like a stray cat scratching at the door.
Raku sighed and got out of bed.
Opening the door, under the dim hallway light, Rikka stood there hugging a pillow. She had long since taken off her oversized coat and was wearing pajamas printed with soft white cloud patterns.
Her long hair draped over her shoulders, and that usually lively ahoge now drooped lifelessly.
"What is it?"
Raku asked, though he already knew, his tone tinged with helplessness.
"I'm scared."
Rikka's voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz, and clear fear still lingered in her blue eyes. The scene in the alley wasn't something that could be easily erased from her mind.
"Your Starry Night dragon will protect you."
Raku leaned against the doorframe, trying to send her back with a serious tone. "That's a powerful monster with 2500 Attack. A mere nightmare wouldn't even get close. Go back to your room and sleep."
"But…"
Rikka bit her lip, not dismissed by that reasoning. She looked up, her eyes filling with a thin layer of mist, blinking as she stared at him.
That was a finishing move: [Puppy Eyes Attack].
Effect: Deals critical damage to "big brother"-type monsters, forcibly reducing their Defense to zero.
Raku locked eyes with her for three seconds… and lost.
"…Come in." He stepped aside to let her pass. "Just this once."
"Yay!"
Rikka instantly dropped the on-the-verge-of-tears expression, hugged her pillow, and dove into the blanket. She skillfully found herself a comfortable position, even casually claiming half of Raku's pillow for herself.
That night, Raku slept very properly.
With another person beside him, the sound of breathing filled the space, and the faint scent of shampoo lingered at the tip of his nose.
Rikka, on the other hand, slept soundly, as if as long as she stayed by her brother's side, that purple nightmare would be automatically shut out.
She clung to the blanket like an octopus, occasionally rubbing against it, a peaceful smile resting at the corner of her lips.
Seeing his sister's carefree sleeping face, the bit of gloom in Raku's heart eased considerably.
---
The next morning.
When sunlight filtered through the curtains and fell across her face, Rikka was fully revived.
The girl who had been pale with fear yesterday was now humming an unknown tune while wandering around the living room, as if the trembling girl begging to sleep together last night had been someone else.
The aroma of sizzling bacon drifted out from the kitchen.
"Smells so good!"
Rikka took a deep breath and peeked into the kitchen from the doorway.
"Wash your hands. Breakfast is ready."
Raku brought two plates of golden fried sunny-side-up eggs and bacon to the table, then casually turned on the LCD television mounted on the wall.
The morning news was playing. The host's usual energetic voice mixed with the sizzling sound of frying eggs, forming a morning unique to this Duel City.
"Duelist News Express. I'm today's host. Let's take a look at the latest updates."
The scene switched to a cordoned-off location. Even with mosaic censoring, that familiar alley made Rikka's hand shake as she was drinking milk.
A woman reporter in professional attire stood outside the police line, her expression serious.
"As you can see behind me, there have recently been suspected cases of extremely vicious 'Shadow Duelist' incidents in the city.
"According to forensic analysis and Duel Disk data recovered from the scene, the victim showed no obvious physical injuries, but their mental circuits were drained.
"There is no doubt that they died from having their Soul Power forcibly extracted…"
"…Big brother."
Rikka put down her glass of milk, her voice tightening again. The fear from yesterday crept back up her spine.
That was a Shadow Duel.
The one who loses doesn't just lose the match… they lose their soul.
"It's fine."
Raku cut a piece of bacon and chewed slowly, his expression still calm. "Don't be afraid. As long as we don't accept those unknown duel invitations, that kind of power won't affect us."
"But…"
Rikka pointed at the television screen, speaking anxiously, "That person we saw last night… that purple-haired guy… th-that was a Shadow Duelist, right? That look in his eyes, that feeling… it had to be him!"
She turned to Raku, her eyes filled with both a sense of justice and unease.
"Shouldn't we report this to the authorities? The police, or that Duel Administration Bureau or whatever? That's a human life!"
"No evidence."
Raku set down his fork and knife, pulling out a tissue to wipe his mouth. His gaze rested on the body bag being carried away on the TV screen, his eyes deep.
"We don't even have a photo. What would you tell the police? That we saw a purple-haired bully-looking kid with sharp eyes passing by? In this city, there are hundreds like that."
"And…"
His voice lowered, carrying a chill beyond his years.
"That's a Shadow Duelist. People who can wield that kind of power are rarely simple. If you report it recklessly, not only will it be useless… it could alert them instead.
"And if he or his associates find out there were two witnesses…"
He didn't continue, but the implication was obvious.
Rikka shivered.
"Th-then what should we do?"
"Keep a low profile."
Raku gave the simplest answer.
"For the next few days, avoid going out alone. Whether it's going to school or to the card shop, stick together as much as possible.
"And head home early. Stay away from remote places."
He stood up, gathering the plates from the table. His tone returned to its usual lazy drawl, as if the heaviness from before had just been an illusion.
"As long as we don't go looking for trouble, people like that won't go out of their way to bother random passersby.
"Eat. Food won't taste good once it gets cold."
...
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