The school bell rings all over Miyaji Academy like a saving grace. After an intense and stressful exam season, the loud chimes almost felt like a healing release to every student that heard it. Some cheering as they stretched on their seats or jumped for joy.

    The teacher had started to pack up the stacks of exam papers as they left.   "That's it for the week, don't go too crazy on the weekend." They warned but only for it to fall into deaf ears.

      "So, you guys down for some karaoke?"

      "Ohhh, let's! I need something like that to unwind!"

      "I'm down!"

       The class started to gather 'round as they excitedly discussed their afternoon plans.

      "Hey Tokura, Yotsue, are you guys joining in?" A girl approached to the two who sat near the front. They were still packing their things.

      Akari Yotsue, a girl with green braided hair wrapped into a bun was the first to reply. "Hmm... Sounds like fun. I guess I can go! What about you, Misaki?"

     The two of them turned to the Liliac haired girl. Who unlike the rest of the class wasn't, at least visually, as excited. Misaki Tokura had the same aloof look in her face as usual. An admittedly intimidating look that everyone feared. If it weren't for Akari acting as some sort of middle-man, perhaps no one would be brave enough to reach an invite.

       "I'll pass." Misaki replied sternly. "Besides. I have to help out at the shop."

     If anything, for her, she'd rather spend her time earning money from their family shop than to spend it with a noisy crowd.

       "O-oh, is that so?" The girl that was inviting couldn't help but feel nervous talking to her. "That's unfortunate."

        "(Y/N)! What about you, dude?"

        Another invite yelled around.

       Although you were hoping that you'd escape scott free, trying to get out of the classroom as fast as you can. Your friends managed to catch you and throw a dreaded invitation to you as well.

       You flash an apologetic smile. "Ooo... Sorry, I have better things to do."

      They groan with an unconvinced look. "Uh uh, I know you said you were going to do nothing all weekend!"

      "Exactly." You flash a mischievous smile before turning around to leave.

      "Oh no you don't!" You felt a hand grab you, preventing your leave. "Yep, that's it. This is now an obligatory hang out."

      Annoyed you furrowed your eyebrows together. "Seriously?... You guys let Tokura skip out!"

     At the mention of her name, everyone turned to her. She shot a glare at everyone in the room. "What?"

      Like a survival instinct everyone held their breathes. Panicked, some of them shook their heads trying to pull off the friendliest smile they could muster. "No no, it's nothing!"

    One of them leaned in to whisper. "Yeah, no we can't do anything about that..."

     "But you're just a loner! You have zero excuse to not come out with us on this fine after school afternoon!"

      You flashed a smirk. "Alright. Rock-Paper-Scissors. You win, I'll go."

     Some of your closer friends who knew you longer sighed, as if they just accepted defeat the moment you proposed the challenge. Though one that wasn't aware of whatever it is they know confidently stepped forward and blindly accepted the challenge.

     "Come on, (Y/N). I'm just helping you enjoy your youth..." They raised a fist with you to initiate the game.

     ....

     "Wait no! Best out of 12! I swear I can make a comback!" The composure they had a moment ago seemed to have vanished as they continously lost.

      "Goddammit, it's not like he's using a pattern! Why does he keep winning?" They angrily looks up at you, unlike his struggle, you merely looked bored as you threw whatever you felt like.   

      "Dude just give up. It's 0-10. When it comes to luck. You can't win against, (Y/N)."

      Satisfied that you've made your stand. You slightly bowed at everyone as you hoisted your bag to your shoulder.

     "Gentlemen. I'll be taking my leave."

      With a smile like a badge of great valor. You reveled in pride as everyone saw the lengths you took to be alone for the weekend.

     As a loner, you were fortunate enough that people still talked and made friends with you. It's not like you were the edgy lone wolf either. You simply acted like a normal person, you'd spend breaks talking about anime, video games or youtube videos you'd seen.

    But after the school bell rings, you only wish to take a break from all that social interaction and just be alone. Rather, what's the point anyway... You're stuck with them for 6 hours for 6 days a week. Why should you extend that time any further than it needs to be?

      ....   

      "I'm home..." You called out to anyone that was there as you entered your house. As you took off your shoes your mom comes from the kitchen with a smirk.

      "4:00 PM, just in time as like everyday..." Your mom giggles, crossing her arms and leaning on the wall. "Don't you have any friends to hang out with?"

      Without stopping on your tracks, you replied. "Mom, you should be happy that I'm such a responsible son to come home right away from school."

      As you made your way up the stairs your mom had to just shoot one final bullet. "Well yes, I am. But at least find yourself a hobby... Or a girlfriend."

       You cringe. Hurrying your steps up the staircase so you could retreat into your room. Finally stepping in before you quickly closed the door and took a deep breath of relief.

     There it was. Your oasis, your cave, your fort. The warm privacy and comfort of your own room, with walls and a locked door that protects you from any responsibility.

    Throwing your bag to the side and changing clothes before flopping into the bed. You took out your phone to check what you've missed today...

      ....

     Its been 3 hours.

     Somehow, you were shot back into reality. Not even realizing how much time had passed as you mindlessly scrolled away. The amount of time you just spent accomplishing nothing was outstanding and at this rate, by the time it'd be Monday you'd probably still be doing the same thing and finished nothing as you continue the vicious cycle.

      "Wow, I really do need a hobby..." You tell yourself, though your finger still continued to swipe up through reddit forums.

       Half-assedly while you continued your scroll. You tried to think of any ideas on what would be interesting and worth investing some time into. Getting inspiration from whatever post that reached the top posts of the day.

     Art? You weren't really good at drawing. Music? Instruments are expensive, and your voice is just embarrassing. Sports? With your stamina, it'll be a painful few weeks. Writing? You'd like to think you were above making fanfiction...

    Wow, there's nothing that interest you at all. Or would that be the laziness and apathy talking?

     After a seemingly useless session of passion finding, you scrolled through the next few post; An article about how a Japanese team won a national tournament.

     The VF circuit.

     An international tournament centered around the game cardfight! Vanguard.

     "Vanguard? That's familiar..." You could recall passing by a few people talking about the game. You never expected it to be this big.

    Curious, you check the comments

    "No way! Let's goo! I really cheered for them for all their attempts throughout the circut. I'm so happy they won!"

      "Once again, Q4 proves they're the best!"

      " what booster pack did they open for those dope ass cards?"

      "That clutch at the end!! Aichi is the main character, I swear lol"

      "Kamui fucking carried this team throughout. Kid's a beast with those Nova Grapplers!"

      "Lmao Kai probably regrets transferring to team Asteroid now!"

     You read through the comments. All of which praising the winning team or grieving the losing ones. Though you really didn't understand some of the longer more analytical ones with the lingo. Most of the comments were what you'd entirely see with the internet.

But there was one comment that struck you.

     "Misaki Tokura with the insane strategies again! How does she have such a good memory??"

      Misaki Tokura?!

        You rushed back to the article and opened it. The image used for the article show team Q4 during the awarding show. Holding the trophy was a blue haired guy. A kid. And then... Misaki from your class?

     It took a few moments. But there she was. Now fully sitting up on your bed as if to better properly look at her. You exited out of the article and instead looked up her name. With more and more images and videos of her, it was either a twin with the same name, or it really was the girl in your class

          "It really is her..." You continued to stare at the White haired female member of the now champions.

     Surprised to discover that someone you knew was this big of a deal. You looked up some videos of the tournament. But mostly skip to Misaki's fights. You had no idea what was going on but you were surprised to see her act differently. Gone was the quiet and scary girl in class. Everyone knew her as distant and rather scary but Here she held a strong confidence... And still scary, if you're her opponent.

   •••••

   "Aaaand there we have it folks! After an exhilarating day of cardfighting we have our champions!"

      As the holographic projections of warriors, dragons and robots that stood throughout the stadium began to fade leaving only the three cardfighters. The cameras then zoom in on the victors.

      "Team Quadrifoglio, Q4 has become our VF circuit world Champions! "

        With the whole stadium cheering and appluading. Aichi Sendou, Kamui Katsuragi and Misaki Tokura stood in everyone's attention and waved. Smiling happily as the President of the Tatsunagi Corporation presented them their trophy.

        You let out a heavy breath. It felt like you were holding it in for the entire match. Watching the entire thing wasn't something you had planned to do. But as you found a youtube channel that had archived the entire tournament... And you were hooked.

        Your heart was beating pretty quickly. Despite only watching, you felt the intensity and adrenaline as if you were participating in the tournament.

       Cardfight Vanguard. You never really gave it a chance to check out. Thinking that getting into a TCG would be lame.
        But after seeing that. Holy crap, was it just the visuals or were cardfights actually that intense?

     A game that felt like you'd be transported to another world....

     Maybe it wouldn't hurt to check it out.