7. Yu-Gi-Oh ARC-V A New Story of Pendulum (Standard Arc)

Chapter 37 Stealth Warriors

The doors slid open, and Yuya and Yuni entered the LDS control room as Reiji had summoned them. The air was tense—far too quiet. They only had a second to register the rows of glowing monitors before a shadow moved.

Shun was already there. He charged forward, seizing Yuya by the front of his jacket and slamming him against the nearest console. The screen flickered from the impact.

"Answer me, Sakaki!" Shun's voice was a growl edged with fury. "What happened to Yuto? Why are you carrying Dark Rebellion?!" His grip tightened, knuckles white. "If you've stolen him away—"

Yuya gasped, struggling. "I—I didn't—!"

Then Yuni's stance shifted. Her eyes steadied, and her voice came out with a different weight—stronger, older. She grabbed Shun's wrist and pushed against his shoulder.
"Shun, stop this!"

The tone froze him in place. His eyes widened. "...Rumi?"

"Yes." Rumi's presence flowed through Yuni's body, her words calm but cutting. "You're letting your anger cloud you. Yuto is alive. Yuya protected him, just as Yuni once protected me. Yuto's spirit rests within Yuya, and when Yuya has recovered, Yuto will return."

Shun faltered, his grip loosening. Yuya slipped free, clutching at his chest and gasping for breath. "...Thanks, Rumi," he murmured.

But Shun's anger didn't vanish. He straightened, pointing a shaking finger at Yuya. "Then explain this! Why was Yuto forced down in the first place? Why would some pawn of Fusion strike him so hard that he had to be absorbed by you?!"

Yuya flinched but found his voice. "It wasn't like that! You don't understand—"

Yuni cut in before the clash could reignite. Her own voice this time, sharp with conviction. "It was a misunderstanding, Shun! Just because his name sounds like 'Fusion' doesn't make him one of them. Don't twist the truth with your rage!"

The tension between them crackled, Yuya and Yuni holding their ground while Shun's chest heaved with barely contained fury.

It was Reiji who shattered the standoff. His calm voice rang out like steel.
"Regardless of your reasons, I will not allow personal grudges to disrupt the tournament. Remember why I hold this competition—and the purpose it serves."

The authority in his words struck harder than any argument. Shun's glare lingered a moment longer before he spun on his heel and stormed out, the doors slamming shut behind him.

Yuya let out a shaky breath. "...We'll need to watch him. Just in case."

Nakajima nodded at once. "I'll see to it." He moved toward the exit, but before he reached the door, the main screen lit up.

"Pardon the abruptness," an announcer's voice echoed, "but we must announce a change in schedule! Regarding the upcoming third match... LDS' Shijima Hokuto is absent. Therefore, You Show Duel School's Sakaki Vivian wins by default!"

"What?!" Yuya and Yuni shouted in unison, spinning to face the screen.

At that moment, a staff member burst into the room, bowing slightly. "President, Vice-Presidents! We detected a surge of summoning energy three hours ago in Miami City."

Yuni narrowed her eyes. "What kind of summoning?"

"Fusion. We also recovered surveillance footage."

The monitors changed again. Hokuto appeared in the grainy video, backed into an alley. The duel ended almost instantly—the cloaked opponent activated their disk, and Hokuto was sealed away, his body collapsing into a Duel Card.