Rino hummed a gentle song to himself as he leaned on the outside of a classroom, next to a pair of light brown sliding doors. Moving his focus onto the purple bag that was hung on his shoulder, he looked through it and took out a pair of headphones, gently placing them onto his head. Connecting them to his phone, he looked through the selection of songs he had saved, and chose a song. As this happened, the doors slid open, and the chirpy voice of Wyvon saying goodbye to his club-mates spilled onto the hallways, before he ran towards Rino with a large smile and a half opened school bag in his hands.

"Thanks for waiting for me to be done with club activities again!" Wyvon exclaimed, shouldering Rino gently. Looking up with a surprised face, Rino put his headphones onto his neck and looked at Wyvon.

"Don't do that..." He muttered. "What did you say?" Rino asked, as the two began walking down the halls of the first floor.

"Thanks for waiting again." Wyvon said, zipping up his bag and slinging it onto his back.

"No biggie." Rino said, taking out a container in his bag. "I was baking brownies in the food room while you were at club. Want one?"

"Yeah!" Wyvon exclaimed, trying to snatch the container.

"I'll hand you it. Knowing you, you'd eat it all without second thought." Rino said, shaking his head, making his nearly waist length blonde hair shimmer from side to side like waves on a beach. "Here."

"Thanks!" Wyvon said, taking the brownie Rino was offering. It was a large piece, oozing with melted milk chocolate, and crumbling with decadent dark chocolate. Shoving it into his mouth, Wyvon ate it while giving a thumbs up.

"Thank you." Rino smiled, the two exiting through the front entrance. As they walked past the gates, they stepped onto the concrete path with small puddles filling the dents in the walkway.

"I'm so glad it's not raining anymore!" Wyvon said, stretching his arms.

"Yeah, weather like this is perfect." Rino agreed, putting his headphones back on. "Not too cold, not too hot. Perfect temperature."

"You want to go to Card Capital?" Wyvon asked, looking side to side on the road.

"Yeah." Rino nodded as he untied his red school tie and watched a black car zoom pass them.

"Sweet!" Wyvon grinned, looking straight at the path across from them. Flinching, Wyvon swallowed a lump in the back of his throat as he looked at the hooded man on the other side.

"Huh? I swear that guy wasn't there before." Rino clicked his tongue, and narrowed his eyes at the man. "Why is he wearing a hood? It's not raining anymore."

"You should be asking why he has a mask..." Wyvon whispered, laughing. "Is this one of the "Hooded Figures" everyone's going on about?"

"I think so..." Rino mumbled, taking out his phone again. "Should I take a picture?" He asked quietly.

"Yeah... lets go up to him." Wyvon nodded.

"You're asking for trouble..." Rino sighed, pressing the camera app on his device.

"Trouble is my middle name." Wyvon grinned, taking a step forward on the road.

"Whatever you say, Wyvon Trouble Mikushicha." Rino said, clicking the record button, and following Wyvon. The two walked across to the other side, heading straight towards the hooded figure, who looked like he was waiting for them. The iconic dragon mask he was wearing meant it was Hyakurai standing on the other side, and with his FICA tightly held in his right hand, he looked at Wyvon with intense eyes.

"Yo, hooded guy." Wyvon said casually, almost mocking him as they entered the same turf Hyakurai was standing on. "Nice mask, where'd you get it?" He chucked in a casual question, while Rino pretended to look down at his phone, secretly recording the ordeal.

"Wyvon." Hyakurai said, presenting his FICA. "Let's have a cardfight for your Zeroth Dragon!"

"Should've seen this plot twist coming." Wyvon laughed, taking off his bag and scrummaging the insides to find his FICA. "Alright, I'll throw you a bone Mr. Dragon Mask. We'll cardfight." He said, giving a quick glance to Rino.

"My name's Hyakurai." He said bluntly, tossing his FICA onto the floor. It opened up into half a fight table.

"And you somehow already know my name." Wyvon smiled briefly, making his FICA table connect to Hyakurai's.

"You were on national television, what can I say?" Hyakurai said, shuffling his deck.

"I guess you know my buddy too then." Wyvon said, pointing at Rino.

"Yes... I know him very well, Rino." Hyakurai said, waving at him.

"I'm not involved... I'm only here to wait for Wyvon." Rino said, putting on his earphones.

"Yeah, Rino's harmless as a fly." Wyvon said, earning a step on the foot from Rino. "Ow! Well... he generally is..."

"How interesting." Hyakurai said in a detached manner, shuffling his hand of cards. "Are you ready?"

"I was born pretty ready." Wyvon said.

"Let's begin..." Hyakurai said, placing two fingers on his starting vanguard.

"Stand up, Vanguard!"

(Opening here)

"Hardrod Dracokid!" Hyakurai exclaimed, the vanguard circle expanding orange.

"Peter the Ghostie!" Wyvon exclaimed, the vanguard circle expanding blue.

"I'll start us off." Hyakurai declared. "Stand and draw! I ride, Smash Boxer Dragon! Hardrod moves and end!"

Rino saved the current video he had recorded, and quickly sent it to Ryuzaki, before resuming his recording. Hyakurai looked at Rino briefly, and chucked under his breath.

"I can see your recording." He said, putting Rino off.

"I'm not doing anything..." Rino mumbled, turning away.

"You're welcome to film your friend's defeat." Hyakurai said.

"Like that's happening anytime soon." Rino snapped back.

Hyakurai:
Hand: 5
Damage: 0
OXO
OXO

Wyvon:
Hand: 5
Damage: 0
OXO
OOO

"Stand and draw! I ride, Bale the Ghostie, and move Peter behind vanguard! I call Rough Seas Banshee, put her into soul and draw a card! Boosted by Peter, Bale attacks! (7000 > 12000)"

"No guard!"

"Drive check! (Pirate Swordsman, Colombard)"

"Damage check! (Martial Arts Dragon)"

"Turn end."

Hyakurai:
Hand: 5
Damage: 0
OXO
OXO

Wyvon:
Hand: 6
Damage: 0
OXO
OXO

"Stand and draw! I ride, Martial Arts Dragon, and boosted by Hardrod, he attacks! (9000 > 14000)"

"No guard!"

"Drive check! (Brawler, Streetfight Dragon) Critical, all to vanguard! (14000 > 19000/1★ > 2★)"

"Damage checks! (Dewey the Ghostie) Heal, all to vanguard! (7000 > 12000) (Witch of Doctor Languor, Negrolazy)"

"Turn end!"

Hyakurai:
Hand: 6
Damage: 1
OXO
OXO

Wyvon:
Hand: 6
Damage: 2
OXO
OXO

"Stand and draw! I ride, Witch Doctor of Languor, Negrolazy! I use Peter's skill, counterblast, mill two (Dewey the Ghostie, Witch Doctor of the Bone Powder, Negrobone) and put him into soul to draw a card! I call, Tommy the Ghostie Brothers and use their skill! I reveal Zombie Whale of the Ocean Depths to add from deck to hand, Vampire Princess of Night Fog, Nightrose! I discard Colombard. I call, Rampage Shade! Boosted by Tommy, Rampage attacks! (4000 > 11000)"

"Streetfight guards! (19000)"

"Negrolazy! (9000)"

"No guard!"

"Drive check! (Dewey the Ghostie) Heal, healing one, all effects to vanguard! (9000 > 14000)"

"Damage check! (Dragonic Vanquisher "SPARKING")"

"Turn end."

Hyakurai:
Hand: 5
Damage: 2
OXO
OXO

Wyvon:
Hand: 6
Damage: 1
Drop: 4
OXX
OOX

"Stand and draw! The souls lost within the clouds, will be gathered in this very strike! I ride, Dragonic Vanquisher "SPARKING"!" Hyakurai exclaimed, the vanguard circle expanding orange. "Hardrod's skill! I rest him, and you bind a card in your drop zone!"

"Bind Dewey!"

"Call Reseph. Vanquisher attacks! Skill of Reseph, into soul, draw a card and my vanguard gets 5k! (11000 > 16000) Heaven's Thunder!!"

"No guard!"

"Twin Drive!! (Circular Blade of Strong Lightning, Grizel, Mighty Bolt Dragoon)"

"Damage check! (King Serpent)"

"Turn end!"

Hyakurai:
Hand: 7
Damage: 2
OXO
OXO

Wyvon:
Hand: 6
Damage: 2
Drop: 3
Bind: 1
OXX
OOX

"Stand and draw! Abyssal waves, upsurge the undead pirates to victory! Ride my avatar, Vampire Princess of Night Fog, Nightrose!!" Wyvon exclaimed, the vanguard circle expanding a deep ocean blue. "Liberating the Generation Zone! A single swoop shall destroy all hope you have! The raiding pirates are here! Generation, Stride!! Tempest-calling Pirate King, Goauche! Goauche's skill, counterblast, soulblast, and G Persona Blast! I empty my soul of three cards, and call that many back from drop zone to rear-guard! I call, Colombard, Bale and Rough Seas! They get 1k for each face up card in my G Zone! (9000 > 10000) (7000 > 8000) (4000 > 5000) Bale's Skill, when he's called from drop zone, add 2k! (7000 > 9000) Rough Seas skill! She goes into soul and I draw a card! Call, Rough Seas from hand, and I use her skill again! Into soul and draw! Call, Rampage Shade! Boosted by Tommy, Rampage! (11000)"

"Is it a thing for all Granblue decks to first stride Goauche and try drawing as many cards as they can off him?" Hyakurai asked. "Grizel! (11000 > 16000)"

"It's just how I play Nightrose. Goauche attacks next! (26000) Skill of both Rampage, they go into soul, I draw two cards, and my vanguard gets 10k! (26000 > 36000)"

"Interesting... there was this guy, Max, I fought awhile back who used a Granblue deck as well. He did something similar, but with Sea Strolling too." Hyakurai said. "In fact, he was in the same tournament, wasn't he? No guard!"

"..." Wyvon grit his teeth, narrowing his eyes. "You know Max...?"

"Yes. I'm searching for the Zeroth Dragon, and I thought he might have it. Turns out he didn't." Hyakurai said. "He lost in our fight when I strode Closer Dragon. You know him too?"

"Yeah... I know that fucker." Wyvon muttered. "Triple drive! (Seawall Banshee, Cody the Ghostie) Critical, crit to vanguard, power to Colombard! (9000 > 14000) (1★ > 2★) (Rough Seas Banshee) Critical, crit to vanguard, power to Colombard! (14000 > 19000) (2★ > 3★)"

"Fucker? You guys aren't on good terms?" Hyakurai asked. "Lucky drive checks. Damage checks! (Fertility Eradicator, Youki) Heal, all to vanguard and heal a damage! (11000 > 16000) (Dragon Dancer, Vianne) Stand, all to vanguard! (16000 > 21000) (Smash Boxer Dragon)"

"None of your business." Wyvon said, scratching the bottom of his chin. "Damn it... boosted by Bale, Colombard! (19000 > 26000)"

"Don't let me suffer this curiosity! I guard with Streetfight! (21000 > 31000)"

"Turn end..." Wyvon muttered. "Why... why does everything come back to fucking Max?! Why can't I escape him already! I'm trying to move on from the past, but everything keeps dragging me back to him... Does this guy know...? Is that why he was chasing me in particular...? If so, I have more reason to beat this asshole..."

"Nothing else, huh." Hyakurai said.

"Now you're so talkative..." Rino clicked his tongue. "Not only are you a terrible person, but you're also a terrible liar. You know the history between Max and Wyvon, don't you? Stop trying to throw Wyvon off his game by mentioning Max! Do you not have any pride as a cardfighter to try and sabotage someone just to win? Would you like it if I brought up your past now?!"

"Rino..." Wyvon looked back at Rino, who had closed his eyes and gritted his teeth. "Yeah... he's been trying to help me get through it all... I shouldn't let one guy mention Max throw me off so hard...!"

"Sorry... I couldn't just stand here and not say a thing..." Rino said, looking away from Wyvon and fiddling with the ends of his hair.

"No, it's okay... I appreciate it." Wyvon smiled. "Get your head out of the gutter, Wyvon... you've got the control in this fight. Ignore this prick, and just forget... forget everything you know about Max. He isn't worth it anymore... he's just a distant memory, a piece of the past that doesn't matter anymore... I can't let it control me like this anymore, damn it!"

"How passionate... I'm not completely aware of their situation, but I do know Max did some unspeakable things to both of you." Hyakurai said, a cold grin emerging under his mask.

"Don't drag Rino into this!" Wyvon snapped. "This asshole... bringing Rino's past into this when he's trying just as hard to move on!"

"W-Wyvon, it's okay-" Rino stammered, before being cut off by Wyvon's declarative voice.

"Talk shit about me all you want, but don't fucking drag him into any of this!" He demanded. "Let's continue the fight so I can beat you! What you've brought into this fight has nothing to do with the original intentions: the Zeroth Dragon. So shut up, play the game, and stop saying bullshit and pretending like you know us both by bringing up our past even though you don't know anything about it!"

"Right... we should get back to cardfighting before things get more heated then they already are." Hyakurai said. "I don't mean to prick at your wounds, but I was a little curious. I'm still here for your Zeroth Dragon!"

"Whatever you say..." Wyvon muttered. "I'll guard this Zeroth Dragon, no matter what!"

"People like you feed off this kind of thing..." Rino mumbled under his breath. "Seeing others suffer."

Hyakurai:
Hand: 5
Damage: 4
OXO
OXO

Wyvon:
Hand: 10
Damage: 2
Drop: 5
Bind: 1
XXO
XOX

"Stand and draw! Generation Zone, release! Voltage at full capacity, bust into the heavens! Generation Stride, Conquering Supreme Dragon, Dragonic Vanquisher "VBUSTER"!" The vanguard circle expanded orange. "Stride skill, counterblast, and you bind a card in your drop zone face up!"

"Bind Peter!"

"Since "VBUSTER" is a G Unit with Thunderstrike, you retire a rear-guard and bind it face up!"

"Bind Tommy!"

"Call Grizel and Vianne! Hardrod's skill, rest him, and you bind a card in your drop zone!"

"Bind Nightstorm!"

"VBUSTER's skill! Soulblast and G Persona Blast, you bind a rear-guard and a card in your drop zone!"

"Bind Bale and Dewey!"

"Then, VBUSTER, Grizel and Vianne get 3k! (26000 > 29000) (9000 > 12000) (4000 > 7000) Thunderstrike 5! Grizel gets 9k and a new skill! (12000 > 21000) Hardrod's Thunderstrike 4 skill! Counterblast and put him into soul, Grizel gets 3k (21000 > 24000) and you retire and bind a rear-guard!"

"Retire and bind Colombard!"

"Skill of Vianne! Since your rear-guard was retired by my card effect, she goes back into deck, and I countercharge and draw a card! VBUSTER attacks! (29000)"

"Seawall Banshee, perfect guard!"

"Triple Drive! (Eradicator, Dragonic Descendant "Sigma", Circular Blade of Strong Lightning, Grizel, Fertility Eradicator, Youki) Heal, all to Grizel, and healing a damage! (24000 > 29000) Grizel attacks! (29000)"

"No guard! (Witch Doctor of the Rotten Sea, Negrorook)"

"Turn end!"

Hyakurai:
Hand: 7
Damage: 3
XXO
OOO

Wyvon:
Hand: 8
Damage: 3
Drop: 4
Bind: 7
OXO
OOO

"Stand and draw! Liberating the Generation Zone! A single swoop shall destroy all hope you have! The raiding pirates are here! Generation, Stride!! Tempest-calling Pirate King, Goauche!" The vanguard circle expanded deep ocean blue. "Goauche's skill, counterblast, soulblast, and G Persona Blast! I empty my soul of three cards, and call that many back from drop zone to rear-guard, Rough Seas, Rough Seas and Negrorook! They get 1k for each face up card in my G Zone! (9000 > 12000) (4000 > 7000) (4000 > 7000) I hollow Negrorook! Then, I call a third Rough Seas! All three go into soul, and I draw three cards! Call, Cannonner and Negrobone! Cannoneer becomes hollow! Negrorook attacks! His skill, he gets 7k since he's hollow! (12000 > 19000)"

"Generation Guard! Sky Guardian Supreme Dragon, Impede Dragon! (11000 > 26000) Skill, G Guard Blast and you retire and bind a rear-guard! Skill of Youki, binding her and another heal face up, I soulcharge one! (Smash Boxer Dragon)"

"Bind Negrorook... Boosted by Negrobone, Cannoneer attacks! (9000 > 16000)"

"Streetfight! (21000)"

"Skill of Negrobone, I counterblast and retire Cannoneer, then call from my drop zone Zombie Whale of Ocean Depths! Hollow! Goauche attacks next! (26000)"

"Anastasia, perfect guard!"

"Triple Drive! (Seawall Banshee, Rampage Shade) Critical, all to Whale! (12000 > 17000/1★ > 2 ★) (Vampire Princess of Night Fog, Nightrose)"

"Anastasia's Thunderstrike 4, I draw a card!"

"Zombie Whale attacks! His skill, he gets 1k for every two cards in my drop zone! (17000 > 20000/2★)"

"Streetfight guards! (11000 > 21000)"

"Turn end. My hollowed units retire."

Hyakurai:
Hand: 4
Damage: 3
XXO
OOO

Wyvon:
Hand: 11
Damage: 3
Drop: 7
Bind: 8
OXO
OOX

"Stand and draw! SPARKING's Thunderstrike 4, I soulcharge (Dragon Dancer, Fatine) and you bind a card from your drop zone!"

"Bind Rampage!"

"Generation Zone, release! Voltage at full capacity, bust into the heavens! Generation Stride, Conquering Supreme Dragon, Dragonic Vanquisher "VBUSTER"!" The vanguard circle expanded orange. "Stride skill, counterblast, and you bind a card in your drop zone face up!"

"Bind Rampage!"

"Since "VBUSTER" is a G Unit with Thunderstrike, you retire a rear-guard and bind it face up!"

"Bind Negrobone!"

"Call Grizel! Both of their Thunderstrike 5! (9000 > 18000) (9000 > 18000) VBUSTER's skill, soulblast and G Persona Blast, to bind a card in your drop zone!"

"Bind Zombie Whale!"

"Then, my front row gets 3k! (18000 > 21000) (26000 > 29000) (18000 > 21000) VBUSTER's Thunderstrike 7! My units in the front row get 5k, (21000 > 26000) (29000 > 34000) (21000 > 26000) and VBUSTER himself gets critical +1 and drive +1! (1★ > 2★/3 > 4) Grizel attacks! (26000)"

"No guard! (Dancing Cutlass)"

"VBUSTER attacks! (34000/2★/4)"

"Seawall Banshee, perfect guard!"

"Quadruple drive!! (Smash Boxer Dragon, Plasmatron Dragon, Mighty Bolt Dragoon, Dragon Dancer, Vianne) Stand! All to Grizel! (26000 > 31000) My other Grizel attacks! (26000)"

"Cody and Cody guard! (11000 > 31000)"

"Grizel! (31000)"

"No guard! (Cody the Ghostie) Critical, all to vanguard! (11000 > 16000)"

"Turn end!"

Hyakurai:
Hand: 7
Damage: 3
XXX
OOO

Wyvon:
Hand: 7
Damage: 5
Drop: 8
Bind: 12
OXO
OOO

"Stand and draw! Now that I have three or more face up G Units, I can do this! If you want my Zeroth Dragon so badly, first you can watch me use it!" Wyvon exclaimed, slamming a card into the drop zone. "The cost is a card with the same name as my vanguard! I put my future on the line to win this fight! If I fail, all the cards in my Generation Zone are to never come back! Become my future and manifest! Maganicalla's Zeroth Dragon, Ultimate Stride! Zeroth Dragon of Distant Sea, Megiddo!" The vanguard circle exploded in a black-blue colour.

"Perfect! Soon, you'll be under our control..." Hyakurai said, a tight smirk forming under his mask.

"Megiddo's skill! Counterblast two, and call from my hand Negrolazy, Negrolazy and Tommy! From my drop zone, Nightrose and Negrobone! They all get 5k and new skills! (9000 > 14000) (9000 > 14000) (7000 > 12000) (11000 > 16000) (7000 > 12000) Megiddo, attack! (36000) Zeroth Cannon Wave!!"

"Anastasia, perfect guard!"

"Triple drive! (Zombie Whale of Ocean Depths, Skeleton Cannoneer, Undying Departed, Grenache) Damn..."

"Anastasia's Thunderstrike 4, I draw a card!"

"Tommy attacks! (12000)"

"No guard! (Brawler, Streetfight Dragon) Critical, all to vanguard! (11000 > 16000)"

"Damn it! Why get a trigger now out of all times?!" Wyvon groaned. "Skill gained by Megiddo, Tommy and Nightrose switch places! Nightrose swings! (16000)"

"Generation Guard! Sky Guardian Supreme Dragon, Impede Dragon! (16000 > 31000) Skill, G Guard Blast and you retire and bind a rear-guard!"

"Bind Tommy!"

"Since you have two more rear-guards than me, retire a rear-guard!"

"Retiring Negrolazy! Boosted by Negrobone, Negrolazy attacks! (14000 > 26000)"

"No guard! (Summon Lightning Dancing Princess, Anastasia)"

"Shit... shit shit shit..." Wyvon cursed. "Turn end..."

"And your Generation Zone... is to never return." Hyakurai said.

"I know that..." Wyvon grit his teeth, putting Megiddo with his G Units, and then sending them to the edge of the fight table.

Hyakurai:
Hand: 5
Damage: 5
XXX
OOO

Wyvon:
Hand: 7
Damage: 5
Drop: 8
Bind: 13
XXX
OOX

"Stand and draw! Generation Zone, release! I'll finish you the same way I finished Max! The power of your godly fist cannot be contained any more! Conquering Supreme Dragon, Closer Dragon, Stride!!" The vanguard circle exploded dark red. "Generation Break 8! All rear-guards are retired, and you bind all cards in your drop zone face up! Closer Dragon gains a skill!"

"Retiring Nightrose, Negrolazy and Negrobone, then binding my drop zone!"

"Thunderstrike 24! I call, Plasmatron, Mighty Bolt, and two Viannes! Closer Dragon's CONT skill! All my units get 2000 power for each bound card in our bind zones! You have twenty four, and I have two! Adding 52000 power! (4000 > 56000) (26000 > 78000) (9000 > 61000) (4000 > 56000) (7000 > 59000) Plasmatron's Thunderstrike 4! Counterblast, and he gets 2000 power for each of your bound cards! (61000 > 109000)"

"Holy shit... it went over 100k..."

"I can already tell... I've won! Boosted by Mighty Bolt, Plasmatron finishes this! (109000 > 168000) Heaven's Discharge!!"

"No guard... (Vampire Princess of Night Fog, Nightrose) That's game..."

"And the end of your time with the Zeroth Dragon." Hyakurai spoke, turning his side of the fight table into a FICA. Picking up the cards at the edge of Wyvon's fight table, Hyakurai took Megiddo from the pile of cards, before disappearing with a flash and a bang, leaving Wyvon stunned at what he had just witnessed.

"That coward!" Rino exclaimed, ending his recording. "Running off once he gets the Zeroth Dragon... damn it, I wanna punch his stupid mask off and see who's behind that mask!"

"Yeah..." Wyvon took a deep breath, and put on a weak smile. "I can't believe I failed, yet again..."

"You didn't fail." Rino said, putting a hand on Wyvon's shoulder. "I think you did really good! You were just outdone by a single damage trigger, so don't feel bad about it... plus, knowing Ryuzaki, he'll be hunting after those hooded figures now that they have a Zeroth Dragon. We don't have to stress on this too much, since they'll get Megiddo back no problem!"

"I don't feel like going to Card Capital anymore..." Wyvon said under his breath, collecting his cards.

"Lets go home, and I'll cook you your favourite." Rino said.

"Eh? Spicy salmon roe rice bowl?" Wyvon raised a brow. "But we had that yesterday... we shouldn't be eating so much of it."

"Who cares, we did it before. Plus, this'll cheer you up." Rino said, nudging Wyvon. "I don't like seeing you down."

"Alright, alright." Wyvon chuckled, smiling a little as he put his FICA into his bag. "Whatever you say."

"That's the spirit. Let's go!" Rino exclaimed, grabbing Wyvon's wrist and pulling him as the two ran down the street.

"Hey, I haven't even closed my bag yet!" Wyvon exclaimed, being dragged along by his friend.

"Do you want your rice bowl or not?" Rino asked with a pout, as Wyvon shook his head and chuckled.

"Yeah, I do!"

(Ending here)

"Here's dinner." Rino said, placing two bowls of steaming hot rice covered in spicy salmon roe on the dinner table. "Enjoy."

"It's surprising how tasty two simple ingredients can be together." Wyvon said, picking up his chopsticks and smiling. "Thanks for cooking again."

"Ah, it's nothing. This is probably one of the easier things to cook." Rino laughed, putting his hands together. "Let's dig in!"

"Of course!" Wyvon nodded, beginning to shovel the food into his mouth. "It's so good as always! You gotta teach me your secrets!" He exclaimed with his mouth full.

"The secret's in the rice." Rino said, swallowing his mouthful. "It's vital in the taste and texture. Bad rice will ruin everything. Good rice will enhance the toppings."

"Lame!" Wyvon exclaimed, drinking some green tea. "I was expecting some secret ingredient in the salmon roe, not that "the rice has to be perfect"."

"Well, that's how it is sometimes." Rino shrugged with a smug smile. "There's no need to overcomplicate things. Just make things the best it can be, and that alone is good enough, right?"

"I can't help but get the feeling there's a secret hidden meaningful message in this simple dish you cooked for me." Wyvon said, continuing to eat the food with large scoops. "Care to explain, o' great philosopher?"

"P-philosopher? I'm not a philosopher..." Rino muttered, staring blankly at Wyvon. "L-look... all I'm saying is that you overcomplicate things sometimes. Life isn't always as complex as you think it is."

"And what brought you to that judgement?" Wyvon asked.

"When we decided to play that Hyakurai guy. Playing him entered a whole new set of variables into our future, and overcomplicated everything. Now that we lost another Zeroth Dragon, to a man who's identity is disguised no less, there's no telling what will happen to it." Rino replied. "I'm not saying it's your fault. In fact, I should've stopped you. But simply put... we should've walked away and pretended like it never happened. That would've been simpler... that would've prevented a risk of losing a Zeroth Dragon."

"Playing the safe road, huh..." Wyvon laughed, picking up some rice and chewing on it. "Well, I guess your right. We were a bit hardheaded going into that. We just wanted to kick ass!"

"And be a hero, like Yza." Rino giggled, taking some salmon roe from his bowl and placing it in Wyvon's bowl. "Here. Since you've ran out."

"Thanks." Wyvon said, immediately combining the two ingredients and shoving it into his mouth. "You know what, screw Yza, we busted our asses off fighting Zeon! And then trying to stop Backlion by fighting Spectral Duke, man those were some crazy times..."

"I haven't felt such excitement in a long time." Rino said. "Ever since those days, it's been so peaceful... until recently that is."

"We aren't ready for that kind of world again, huh..." Wyvon said.

"Yeah... but my peaceful days with you..." Rino looked away and smiled to himself. "Have been... my happiest."

"That's good to hear." Wyvon said, putting down his chopsticks. "There's a good sense of relief now that most of this is over... the Void, me and Max's issue, hell even the Zeroth Dragons... it's all over, just like that."

"It only felt like yesterday we met for the first time." Rino said, laughing.

"Yeah..." Wyvon said. "This might be lame to say but... I don't think I'll find someone as loyal as you, Rino."

"Lame...? That's far from it..." Rino said, covering his blushing face. "That's... the sweetest compliment I've ever heard."

Next time on Z World:

#39: Hole

================================