Jaden was completely bewildered as Alexis dragged him off, apparently determined to prove that she was a better option than a female Duel Monster card.
He still didn't fully understand what a date even was.
But since Alexis wasn't pulling him toward the headmaster's office anymore, Jaden decided that whatever this was, it had to be better than that. So he stopped resisting and just let himself be dragged along, head full of question marks.
"Are we dueling later?" he asked at one point.
Alexis did not answer.
Meanwhile, back in the bushes, the boy who had been watching everything unfold could only stare.
His crush, someone he'd been secretly obsessing over for months, had just taken another guy by the hand and dragged him away on a date. And there was absolutely nothing he could do about it.
If it had been just Jaden at the start, maybe he could've worked up the courage to jump out, say something dramatic, and attempt to win her heart.
But Slifer was standing right there.
If he jumped out now, there was a very real chance Slifer would calmly raise his Duel Disk and say something like:
"You dare to bully my Aibo? Let's duel!"
And that would be the end of it.
If Yumi could read minds, he might've paused and wondered whether this kid, after getting NTR'd, had somehow awakened the ability to read minds.
Whoever's been NTR'd before, please verify.
Although it has only started with holding hands and going out on dates. But this is how it all started: now she is holding his hand, and next she will talk to you on the phone while in bed with him.
Shaking the useless thought away, Yumi shoved his hands into his pockets and walked off.
As he moved through the campus, his mind shifted back to the Society of Light.
Dealing with them was annoying.
He couldn't just duel them; every member knew better than to challenge him directly. Their chances of winning were low enough to be considered nonexistent.
Sartorius knew it too.
A direct clash with Yumi would only result in unnecessary losses, so he'd already adjusted his strategy. Avoid Yumi whenever possible. Don't engage. Which, unfortunately, made it harder for Yumi to step in and snap important people out of their brainwashing.
"Tch," he muttered.
Yawning lazily, Yumi headed back toward the dorms and checked on Celina again. She seemed… fine.
Actually, more than fine.
She appeared to be enjoying being treated like a sick princess by a group of professional dragon maids.
With nothing else demanding his attention at the moment, Yumi let out another quiet yawn.
"Chaos."
At his call, Chaos opened a rift in space.
With no particular destination in mind and nothing better to do, Yumi stepped through, deciding to kill some time in a random dimension.
...
Falling from the sky, Yumi casually shifted his gaze around, taking in his surroundings as if he were just sightseeing rather than plummeting through open air.
The place was… odd.
Tall metal pillars rose from below, packed tightly together, stretching upward until they vanished into the clouds. Their surfaces were smooth and uniform, almost sterile, giving the entire area an artificial, manufactured feeling. It didn't feel like a city so much as a giant system built for a very specific purpose.
The moment he appeared, thin red glowing lines lit up along the surfaces of the pillars, running vertically like veins of light.
An alert system, probably. Or some sort of automated "hey, you're not supposed to be here" warning.
Still, Yumi wasn't particularly worried about it.
Not about the glowing red lines. And not about the fact that he was free-falling from a height that would normally turn someone into a smear.
Before he could drop much farther, a metal claw suddenly shot out from out of nowhere and clamped onto him with mechanical precision. A metal wire followed, pulling taut as it yanked him sideways and abruptly halted his descent.
Yumi swayed slightly in the air, more annoyed at the sudden stop than anything else.
He lifted his gaze and finally noticed the one who had caught him.
Floating in front of him was a girl clad in a sleek zero suit, cybernetic hardware seamlessly linked to her body. Thrusters hummed softly from the wings on her back as she hovered, her posture sharp and controlled. She narrowed her gaze down at him, eyes cold and alert.
Her face was identical to his Ace's.
Though it would've been a lot easier to appreciate if she weren't pressing a sharp blade directly against his neck.
"Who are you?" she demanded. "How did you manage to bypass the security barrier?"
As she spoke, the blade pressed a little closer, its cold metal edge resting against his skin. Yumi was suspended in midair by a metal claw, with nothing but open space beneath him.
Yet there wasn't even a flicker of fear in his eyes. If anything, he looked mildly entertained.
Which only made Raye frown.
Her grip tightened slightly, confusion creeping into her expression.
"I really didn't expect to end up in your world, Raye," Yumi murmured, completely unfazed by the situation. "Guess I should start paying more attention to where I jump in."
Before she could respond, a sudden presence appeared behind him.
A familiar figure moved in with practiced ease. Yumi's own Raye swung her blade in a clean, efficient arc, slicing straight through the Widow Anchor's wire. The tension vanished instantly as the metal claw fell off him.
She caught Yumi smoothly and lifted him into her arms, holding him in a relaxed princess carry like this was completely normal.
"As much as I enjoy the nostalgic feeling this place gives me," she said calmly, "I really don't like it here."
Her eyes shifted toward her other self.
The Raye floating nearby froze.
She stared at the identical face, identical voice, identical Sky Striker equipment. And then her gaze dropped slightly toward the slightly larger chest.
Her eyelid twitched. "Y-You have my face!?" she blurted out. "Who are you!? A doppelganger!?"
"I'm Raye. Raye Uzushi," Yumi's Raye replied without hesitation. She straightened a bit and puffed her chest out proudly. "To make it simpler, I'm you from another dimension."
The other Raye stared at her in silence.
Her brain visibly struggled to keep up as she processed the flood of information: alternate dimensions, identical tech, identical identity.
And the very noticeable difference in certain… proportions.
Yumi glanced sideways at his Ace, eyes narrowing slightly. He didn't remember ever giving her his fake last name.
Uzushi was something he'd made up years ago after being kicked out by that family. Officially, his name should've been Yumi Kawakami after being adopted into the Kawakami Temple, but he'd been using Yumi Uzushi in the dueling world for so long that changing it now would just confuse people.
Still, it was painfully obvious she was trying to show off. So he didn't bother calling her out on it.
The local Raye's mind seemed to short-circuit completely for a few seconds as she hovered in place, staring at the two of them like she'd just encountered a glitch in reality.
Eventually, Yumi's Raye broke the silence.
"Let's head back inside," she said in a calm, even tone. The wind caused her hair to sway gently behind her. "It's more convenient to talk in there."
After the three of them headed inside Karma's main base, the doors slid shut behind them with a soft mechanical hiss. They walked through a long metal hallway lined with dim white lights embedded into the walls. The floor hummed faintly beneath their feet, as if the entire structure was quietly alive.
Yumi glanced around with clear interest, eyes drifting from the ceiling to the walls, taking in the unfamiliar technology without any sense of urgency. To him, it felt more like sightseeing than trespassing.
Beside him, his Raye wore an expression he rarely saw, nostalgic, almost soft. It was the look of someone finally returning home after being gone far longer than intended, the kind where everything feels familiar even if it's changed a little.
Meanwhile, the local Raye kept throwing side glances between the two of them.
Her gaze lingered on the other her for a second too long.
Then on Yumi.
Then back again.
She didn't say anything, but the narrowing of her eyes made it obvious she was trying very hard to process what she was seeing, and failing.
When they reached the main room, the doors opened outward, revealing five figures already waiting for them.
They were all looking directly at the entrance.
The first was an older woman with shoulder-length cyan-blue hair, glasses perched neatly on her face. She wore a black-and-white dress that gave off a refined, almost academic feel. Her mature appearance was impossible to miss, especially her… generous proportions. The moment she saw the two Rayes, her hand instinctively rose to cover her mouth.
Standing beside her was another woman with short white hair, the tips tinged red. Her stance immediately turned defensive as she gripped a metal staff tightly in her hand, eyes locking onto Yumi with clear suspicion. Despite carrying a mature, stern aura, her chest was noticeably smaller, even compared to Raye.
A little farther back were two smaller boys, both staring wide-eyed at the scene unfolding in front of them, clearly not expecting… whatever this was.
And lastly, an elderly man in a robe stood quietly at the center, leaning lightly on his cane, observing everything without saying a word.
Yumi's Raye stepped forward first, breaking the silence.
"Hello, everyone," she said warmly. "It's good to see you again."
The old man finally spoke.
"It seems the child we raised has really grown up," Sage of Wisdom - Himmel, said. His voice was calm and warm, like a grandfather seeing his granddaughter after years apart and realizing she wasn't a child anymore.
"I don't believe it…" the cyan-blue-haired woman murmured. "Raye… you've grown so much."
Sage of Benevolence - Ciela, walked forward without hesitation and wrapped the older Raye in a tight hug.
"Have you been eating well? Sleeping properly? You remember to bathe and stay clean, right?" she asked rapidly, each question stacking on top of the last.
Both Rayes flushed immediately.
"Ciela!" they shouted at the same time.
The reaction only made Ciela smile wider.
After all, she was Raye's surrogate mother. Along with the others, she had taken care of Raye since infancy. Despite their appearances, all five of them were robots created hundreds of years ago, and in this world, Raye was one of the very few humans still alive.
Even if this Raye is from another dimension, they still recognize her as the child they raised.
"So," the white-haired woman, Sage of Strength - Akash, finally spoke, arms folded around her metaphorical cutting board, "who is the pink-haired boy you brought back?"
"It's magenta," Yumi and his Raye replied in perfect sync.
"Pfft!" The local Raye quickly covered her mouth, barely holding back a laugh. "I just noticed. How did you even manage to get such pretty pink hair?"
Growing up with almost no human interaction, Raye had only ever really spoken to Roze, who was currently still recovering after their last battle. Seeing another human this close, and one this… strange, made her curiosity slip out.
Before anyone could react, Yumi was suddenly beside her.
One hand rested lightly on her waist, tilting her backward just enough to unbalance her. His other hand brushed her cheek as he leaned in, his face now uncomfortably close.
"It's not pink," he said quietly, his fingers sliding down to gently lift her chin. "It's ma-gen-ta."
The young, naive, innocent, and inexperienced with the opposite gender, Raye, couldn't fully process the strange feeling in her chest; her face turned red, and her brain crashed from overheating.
Steam might as well have risen off her head as her face turned bright red, her thoughts dissolving into static, as she fainted.
"Raye!?" Ciela gasped, rushing forward and pulling the local Raye back protectively.
At the same time, Akash swung her metal staff straight at Yumi without hesitation.
The strike never landed as two blades crossed in front of him, stopping the staff cold.
Both his Raye and Roze had stepped forward.
"Raye!? And Roze!?" Akash exclaimed, staring in disbelief as both girls stood firmly between her and Yumi.
Yumi didn't move an inch.
With the Shadow Charm Ring, he could've easily enhanced his strength with Spirit Energy, but honestly, why bother lifting a finger when someone else was already doing it for him?
"Calm down, Akash," Himmel said gently, tapping his cane against the floor as he stepped forward. "They're just children. There's no need to attack the boy like that."
"But he's trying to corrupt our little Raye!" Akash snapped, pointing directly at Yumi.
Yumi considered responding.
Then thought better of it.
Honestly… she wasn't entirely wrong.
By Momoyo's definition, he was basically an eroge harem protagonist, surrounded by beautiful female monsters, way too many questionable interactions, and a long history of intentionally or unintentionally charming people.
So he simply stayed quiet. No point arguing facts.
Their conversation didn't get to go any further.
A sharp alarm suddenly blared throughout Karma's base, echoing through the metal halls. Red warning lights flashed as a massive semi-transparent screen dropped down from the ceiling, filling the room with shifting data and live footage.
Displayed on the screen were multiple massive black armored mechas advancing in formation.
Surgical Striker - H.A.M.P.
They were slamming their heavy limbs against Karma's energy barrier, each impact sending visible ripples across the shield.
"…They're already here," one of the smaller boys muttered.
Panic spread almost instantly.
The Sages turned back toward their Raye, who was still standing there stiffly, eyes unfocused, clearly still rebooting from emotional overload.
"Raye! Wake up!" Ciela rushed over, shaking her shoulders lightly. "Spectra is attacking! Raye! Wake up!"
There was no response. Her face was still red; steam might as well have been imaginary at this point.
"…She's completely gone," Akash muttered in defeat.
"I'll handle it."
Both Yumi's Raye and Roze spoke at the same time, arms crossed as they calmly watched the black machines pounding on the barrier like impatient customers.
Before anyone could stop them, both girls turned and started walking toward the exit gate, completely unfazed.
"Need anything?" Yumi asked casually, glancing over his shoulder.
Raye didn't stop walking. "Give me the key to Firefly."
Roze immediately turned her head. "If she's allowed to use Firefly, then let me use ZEUS."
"What?" Raye snapped, finally stopping. "If you bring ZEUS out, what's the point of me even being there?"
"And if you pull out Firefly," Roze shot back, "you'll wipe them all out before I even get started."
The two of them stared at each other, neither backing down. Behind them, Ciela, Akash, and Himmel slowly turned their attention to Yumi.
"…Firefly? …ZEUS?"
All three Sages were clearly trying to process those names. Yumi looked back at the screen, watching the sheer number of black armored mechas gathering outside.
"Well," he said after a moment, "there are a lot of them."
He waved his hand lazily. "So go wild out there."
Both girls immediately turned away and broke into a run, their steps light and fast as they headed straight for the battlefield, clearly more excited than concerned at the idea of fighting an army of killer robots.
"…Excuse me," Himmel said gently, adjusting his grip on his cane. "If you don't mind me asking, what exactly are Firefly and ZEUS?"
He glanced at Yumi again, his systems quietly scanning. He had no cybernetic enhancements, just a normal human.
"Explaining would take too long," Yumi replied. "Just watch."
The screen zoomed in automatically.
Outside the base main entrance, Raye and Roze stood side by side, wind whipping through their hair and clothes as they faced the approaching army. The energy shield flickered as more H.A.M.P. units arrived, their silhouettes filling the horizon.
"Let's go, Roze," Raye said, raising a small device in her hand.
"Yeah," Roze replied, doing the same. "Let's clean this up."
"Henshin." Both spoke in unison.
A pillar of roaring flame erupted around Raye, spiraling upward like a blazing cocoon. At the same time, a massive bolt of lightning crashed down on Roze, electricity flooding the area in blinding arcs.
In a blink, both girls vanished.
Where Raye had been stood a towering armored figure, sleek and powerful. Flames leaked from the gaps in its armor, drifting upward like glowing fireflies before fading away.
Where Roze had stood now loomed an enormous mecha, far larger than the H.A.M.P. units, metal wings spread wide behind it as electricity surged across its frame.
Without hesitation, both machines launched forward, tearing straight toward the black armored army ahead of them.