Arakai

Episode 2: Danger! Danger? Team Domination!

The next day, we follow Sora on his way to school, and everything seems almost the exact same way as it was yesterday. The only change is that he's at least able to recognize that he's gonna be late before his mom tells him, and when he meets up with Hayate, Hayate seems pretty stoked after their duel yesterday. He asks Sora if he wants to go to DCG (Dragon Child Gaming) again, and Sora says he'll think about it. In class, the teacher catches Sora not paying attention.

"Is what's outside that window more interesting to you than learning, Sora?"

Sara (the student council president from last episode) asks Sora if he's okay, because he seems even less focused than usual. Sora knows she's right, but points out that he usually doesn't pay attention anyways, hoping that'll get her off his back. It does, but she reminds him that he still has to finish that form for her.

At lunch, it becomes clear what's really on Sora's mind, as he asks Hayate a lot of questions about Arakai. Hayate points out that this is new, but Sora just says he wants to know more about it. It's kinda crazy to think a card game really got on the same level as a sport. He's heard about people making a living off it, too. What's the difference between the Nations, what deck does Hayate play, is it true what his mom said about people getting hurt-

"Y'know, if you wanna find out so bad, we can just go to DCG again. There's usually someone there who knows more about all that stuff than I do..."

Hayate seems overwhelmed by all the sudden questions, but doesn't mind an opportunity to drag Sora back to the store with him. As he points out, it's been a long time since he had a friend to care about his hobbies! Sora finds this day of school even harder to sit through than the last, because now he's actually got something to look forward to once it's over. As Sora and Hayate leave school, we see Sara watching them curiously, but they don't notice.

They're taking the left turn again, so that they can stop at Dragon Child Gaming on the way. Sora asks Hayate if his parents might get worried about him being late, but he reassures Sora that they never do. Sora wonders to himself how he didn't notice that until now, because he does remember where Hayate's family lives, and he's known them since he was little. Sora has an imaginary thought bubble containing Hayate and his parents waving, and they all have the same closed eyes that Hayate does.

Shiina is happy to see Sora from the moment he enters, almost jumping over the counter to get to the two the moment they enter the store. She excitedly calls them over, and Sora can't help but feel that she's way too energetic for him to deal with. Apparently she's not surprised that Sora came back, acting confident and claiming she never had any doubt he'd return.

She offers to find an opponent for his second duel, but Sora groans for Hayate to do it instead. Shiina acts offended that Sora can't stand her attitude after how "helpful" she's been, and Hayate drags him away to find someone who'll duel a beginner, assuring Shiina that they can look after themselves. Sora gets to see beyond the front of the shop, but it seems much more empty today than it was yesterday. Hayate explains the plan to him.

"You wanna avoid the kinda guys who'll just want to stomp a newbie, but you also don't want a total beginner either, or you won't get much out of it-"

However, they have little luck in finding someone for Sora to duel. There's nobody around right now, and three noisy little kids seem to be hogging the tables! They're chasing each other around and clambering all over the tables and chairs, it's more like the type of thing you'd expect to see at a playground than a card store. An adult enters the store only to see the kids and turn around and leave right away. Hayate seems to be aware of who these troublemakers are.

"Not those kids again... This has to be the worst time possible for it."

Sora questions what the hell is going on, but it's too late! Hayate panics and tries to warn him not to get any closer, but he already caught their attention. The first, a weaselly-faced little boy, says that Sora just entered their duel zone! The second, who has a cartoonish toothy grin, says that when you enter another duelist's line of sight, you have to duel! Sora questions if that's actually a real thing, and although Hayate tries to explain that it isn't, the third kid shouts over him. This green-eyed boy appears to be the ringleader, dramatically challenging Sora to a duel, claiming that this shop is their territory, and it belongs to him!

"We're the dreaded Team Domination, and our world conquest starts with THIS store!"

Shiina wanders in, yawning and immediately bringing Team Domination's mood down. She lazily informs the kids that just because they beat everyone who was in the store at the time, it doesn't actually entitle them to own the whole place, scolding them like a parent. The leader points at her, desperately yelling that it totally does! In fact, Shiina points out that their best duelists don't even come in today. Sora is weirded out by this level of detachment from reality, and Hayate takes the chance to explain it to Sora.

The leader of this gaggle of gremlins is Hiroki Takeyama, and the other two are his minions, Gaku and Touha. Together, they go by Team Domination, and would regularly menace the shop... But only when most of the better local duelists weren't around. Apparently, last time, they vandalised the tables with markers. Shiina kicked them out and had to clean the tables.
Hiroki snaps at them, clearly not appreciating this, and says that he can't let this disrespect stand! Now they EXTRA have to duel!

He demands that Sora just duels him already so he can take over. Hayate volunteers to duel in Sora's stead, but Hiroki rejects the idea, admitting under his breath that he doesn't wanna duel Hayate again after 'the last time' (seeming very embarrassed by that). Sora steps up and tells everyone to chill out. He doesn't mind who it is or why, as long as he gets to play a totally normal game of Arakai, okay? Hiroki claims that this duel is actually very serious, but agrees, confident that he can defeat Sora no problem.

Using his starter deck, Sora duels against Hiroki and discovers that they're playing different deck types. As Shiina explains, there's 6 different elemental "Nations" in Arakai represented by the color of the cards, and you can only play cards with the same Nation as cards in your Spirit. Neutral cards exist that can be played in any deck, though. Hayate explains that Sora is playing a Blaze deck, a fiery nation known for its jack of all trades offensive play style through Power boosting and destructive effects. But Hiroki is playing a Primal deck, green cards that represent wild nature. A lot of Primal cards manipulate the Spirit, and they use fast-paced and aggressive combos to Invoke lots of Allies and hit hard with big attacks!

We get to see the difference in this duel, with Hiroki using effects to get the cards he wants out of his Spirit. Although his Allies are hitting harder than Sora's, he's got no real means of defending himself in return. He plays some Allies with higher Power than Sora expected, but it turns out they have negative effects that make things harder for Hiroki. Sora finds it weird to play powerful cards at your own expense, but this kid clearly doesn't care about strategy or defence. Just once Sora thinks he's got Hiroki figured out, he shows off his LV5 Ally, Druzari, Enlightened Walker! It Invokes a LV2 or lower Ally from Hiroki's Spirit, allowing him to make a quick and unexpected comeback, which is apparently what Primal is known for.

Sora is losing now, but luckily, he was saving NEXUS for a moment like this... With all these Allies in play, NEXUS is able to counter Hiroki's reckless moves by destroying Druzari, and Hiroki struggles to overpower NEXUS because any Ally he Invokes just makes it stronger! Although he tries his best, his attempts to attack and win the game end up leaving him exposed, allowing Sora to attack directly and win the duel! Sora is expecting Hiroki to throw a tantrum since he lost, but instead, Team Domination are now convinced that Sora is really good at Arakai! They ask him a bunch of questions about where he got that NEXUS card and how he was able to defeat Hiroki like that, but their leader silences his minions to speak for himself. Surprisingly, Hiroki is actually really excited and seems to admire Sora now.

"You're clearly far more powerful than I am! That's why you gotta be my Sensei, and mentor me! Once I finally surpass you, I'll take over this store... And then, THE WORLD!"

Sora bluntly rejects the offer, and he and Hayate take an early leave to get out of DCG and ditch Team Domination. Shiina is disappointed, yelling after them that now they've left them stuck with her, but Hayate just thanks her and gets out of there. As they walk home, Sora laughs at the idea that he's qualified to teach someone else. It was just his second duel! Hayate says that maybe Sora should just tell them that next time and let them down easier... But suddenly, Hiroki says that he still hasn't changed his mind. Hayate and Sora stop to find that Team Domination already caught up to them, and that they actually heard everything!

Gaku and Touha explain that defeating Hiroki in his second ever duel only makes it even more impressive! Hiroki nods his head along, saying that since Sora was still considering it, he must actually want to be his sensei. Sora cynically questions where Hiroki's parents are, and he responds that his mom is usually busy on weekdays and he doesn't have a dad. Hiroki is casual about it and doesn't seem to mind, but it actually moves Sora, prompting a flashback to him as a child. Turns out his dad disappeared right after he was born, and now he's assumed dead. Sora's mom raised him alone, and he never got to meet his dad at all.

Feeling bad for Hiroki, he continues walking home with Hayate, but allows Team Domination to follow them (and just ignores their antics). Hayate teases Sora about having fans already, and Sora says to stop messing with him, but actually seems quite happy with himself. Sora and Hayate end up having to go in different directions, and manage to talk Team Domination into going back home. However, Hiroki says that he's sure fate will cross their paths again, and that one day, he'll surpass Sora and become the strongest! Bet on that! Hiroki, Gaku and Touha all run off, and Sora returns home alone... He gets the feeling these kids are gonna be a handful, but he's willing to deal with it. It can't be that bad, right?

Featured Card: Druzari, Enlightened Walker