The Duel Everyone Saw - the One Who Didn’t Belong

“Good morning, everyone!” Amelia greeted brightly, standing atop the event podium, her voice ringing out like sunshine.

“Good morning!!” the crowd responded enthusiastically.

People of all ages had gathered—children, students, adults. It didn’t matter who they were; Amelia had a way of reaching people’s hearts, turning strangers into fans with just a smile.

She let out a soft giggle, clearly delighted by the energy her fans brought.

“Alright! Besides today’s meet and greet, we’ve got a special event lined up!” Amelia stepped to the side, revealing something that had been hidden behind her.

A specially prepared Guide Rise table gleamed under the lights—its play zones beautifully engraved into the surface, practically inviting a match.

“Tada~!” Amelia gestured toward it with flair. “Today, you’ll get the chance to challenge me in a Guide Rise duel!”

Cheers exploded from the crowd.

“Hold on, hold on~” Amelia laughed, raising her hands to calm the growing excitement. “Before that, we’ve got a special guest joining us to kick off the event. And yes—you’ll get a chance to duel her too!”

With practiced ease, she worked the crowd, building anticipation like a seasoned performer.

“Give a warm welcome to the three-time champion of the Big Bang Battle, the cute and dangerous battler herself—‘Sweetfist’ Noa!”

The crowd erupted into applause and shouts of joy.

Onto the stage stepped a girl with soft pink hair, dressed in an adorably frilly witch outfit—full of lace, ribbons, and pastels. Even her mic had been customized with stickers and accessories to match her aesthetic.

“Gooood morning, everyone!” Noa beamed. “How are you all doing today? Feeling good?”

The crowd responded in unison, loud and full of life.

“I’m doing great too! And, of course, I’m still 100% cute!”

“You really are as cute as everyone says, Noa!” Amelia complimented as she casually walked over to her guest.

“Ah—n-not really... you're just as cute, Amelia!” Noa replied bashfully, a pink tinge creeping onto her cheeks, though her smile remained big and bright.

“Thank you~” Amelia giggled, clearly enjoying the moment.

***

Liora stood backstage, watching the event unfold with her usual blank expression.

She’s still the same.

That smile… it’s always been too bright.

But, it's fine... It's better for her... For me...

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“Lia? What are you doing here?” Vio suddenly approached her, clearly surprised. “Didn’t you say you couldn’t make it?”

Liora doesn't being startled at all by Vio sudden appearance, she turned around to face Vio.

“Sorry about that. I messed up your plans.” Liora bowed her head slightly in apology.

“Ah, it’s fine. I had a Plan B ready just in case you bailed,” Vio replied, turning her gaze back toward the stage. Amelia and Noa were still interacting cheerfully with the audience.

“As expected from Amoris Industry—you can reel in big names so easily,” Liora remarked. Amoris Industry was Vio’s family business. Though she ran the hobby store, it was just that—a hobby. She was, in fact, the daughter of a conglomerate family.

“I didn’t use my family’s connections, you know,” Vio waved her off casually. “I’m friends with Amelia’s manager. As for Noa—She’s surprisingly easy to lure in.”

Vio clapped her hands and smiled sweetly. “So.” Vio folded her arms, tilting her head. “Mind explaining why you ghosted me? You’re not usually the type to flake.”

“That idol out there?” Liora’s voice dropped almost to a whisper. “She’s my little sister.”

“Wait—what?” Vio blinked several times, clearly stunned. She needed a moment to process that unexpected revelation.

“Also—” Liora added, deciding one shock wasn’t enough. “Noa is a boy.”

She had come to that conclusion after a quick analysis. Her overly deliberate gestures and behavior felt too rehearsed—though it was possible she was just shy off-stage.

Vio stood there, absolutely frozen, taking far too long to register both pieces of information.

Liora, looking somewhat satisfied with Vio’s reaction, turned and began walking away. At least she had successfully steered the conversation away from anything related to her relationship with the idol, Amelia.

“Lia, wait—don’t run away!” Vio finally snapped out of it and rushed after her, realizing Liora had completely slipped out of sight.

***

After both players placed their Guides in the Guide Zone and drew four cards, the battle finally began.

“Amelia, you can go first,” Noa offered with confidence, smiling brightly.

“Then I won’t hold back!” Amelia reached for the top of her deck.

“Draw!”

“I generate 1 OP.”

“By paying 1 OP, I activate Heaven Blessing!

I add one Fixed Support from my deck to my hand—Divine Instrument: Upright Piano.”

“A divine instrument?” Noa raised an intrigued eyebrow. “Honestly, I thought you'd run something more idol-themed.”

“Sorry to disappoint,” Amelia replied with a calm smile. “That doesn’t quite fit my aesthetic.”

“This deck is the physical manifestation of my prayers.”

“Prayers, huh…” Noa's curiosity was piqued. She leaned in a little, intrigued by the kind of devotion Amelia would reveal through her deck.

Amelia exhaled softly, then gently lifted her Guide from the Guide Zone.

“O ceaseless one who prays for miracles—now is the time to grasp them!”

“Guide Call!”

“Everlonging Prayer, Elana!”

“Elana’s ability activates when called. I reveal one card from my hand—” Amelia showed Divine Instrument: Upright Piano, the very card she had just added.

“In return, I get to activate one Fixed Support from my hand for free! I activate Divine Instrument: Harmonious Harmonica!”

“Harmonious Harmonica active! I shuffle any number of cards from my hand into my deck, then draw the same amount!”

“I shuffle four, and draw four!”

“And now for Harmonica’s follow-up effect—

I gain 500 LP for each card drawn by this effect!”

Amelia’s LP: 8,000 → 10,000

“Turn end.” Amelia smiled softly as she concluded her turn

“My turn!” Noa drew one card from her deck with a confident flick.

“OP limit increase! I generate 2 OP.”

“This is going to be fun…” A sly grin crept across her face as she examined her hand.

“A candy knight who fights to protect joy and laughter…”

Noa lifted her Guide and slammed it onto the playmat with flair.

“Come forth and defend happiness itself!”

“Guide Call!”

“Gummy Knight, Gumber!”

“Gumber’s ability activates! By paying 2 OP, I summon two Gummy Minions to the field!”

Noa placed two blank tokens onto the Arena.

Minions are token cards that can only be summoned by the effects of other cards. If a Minion leaves the field—whether by battle, card effect, or being expelled—it vanishes completely, as if it never existed.

“Gumber gains 500 ATK for each Gummy Minion on my field.”

Gumber’s ATK: 2,500 → 3,500

“Now then… time for a little appetizer,” Noa said, licking her lips with playful glee.

She smiled like someone savoring the early bites of a full-course feast laid out just for her.