I'm Not Afraid of the Dark (Yuto x Reader)

Chapter 26

But you have faith. You know it will all work out... somehow.

You draw.

It seems fate hasn't abandoned you after all.

The card you drew is exactly the one you need.

"To begin with I play (normal summoned monster) in attack mode."

Despite previous events Aura doesn't seem phased.

But you are hardly done yet.

"Now I activate the effect of the spell card Double Summon. This allows me to make an additional Normal Summon this turn. Come forth (second monster)."

Without polymerisation, this is your best chance of winning. You can't afford to bet on yet another draw. You just hope it will work.

"I overlay my (first monster) and (second monster) to build the overlay network. (Insert awesome catchphrasy thing) I XYZ summon (EPIC ULTIMATE XYZ MONSTER)!"

Your monster appears, and you gaze at it in pride and awe.

The stadium falls silent, before erupting in cheers.

Adrenaline courses through your body in response.

Aura seems a little pale. You don't blame her.

The pieces are all in play.

"Now I hope you haven't forgotten that second face down. It's going to help ensure my victory. I activate the spell card Raigeki!"

All the monsters on Aura's field are destroyed. She is now white as a sheet.

"And for the finale," you can't help yourself and throw in a little bow, a slightly sinister smile playing on your lips, "(EPIC ULTIMATE XYZ MONSTER), attack Aura directly!"

Your monster gladly complies and brings Aura's life points down to zero, securing you your first win, and knocking her off her feet.

You hardly notice that she has been thrown down by the force of your monster's attack until she lets out a delicate groan of pain.

The triumphant smile on your face fades, and you shake off the slight feeling of joy at your opponent's injury.

The crowd thunders their applause, unaware.

You approach Aura cautiously, not quite sure of the situation. As you get closer you notice a bruise forming on her arm where she tried to shield herself. A small trickle of blood runs down from a fresh cut.

You are unseeing. It doesn't make sense. She tried to shield herself on instinct, as everyone does for the final attack. The final attack from a hologram. The monsters aren't real. They can't do real damage. So how-

A sudden pain in your head derails your train of thought.

You stagger, clutching your temples and willing the pain away.

It begins to get too much, your vision swimming in and out of focus, but you grit your teeth and desperately hang on to consciousness.

No. At least not here. This tournament was a celebration for all watching. You can't afford to make a scene.

Aura's injuries temporarily forgotten, you take a shaky breath and walk towards the corridor you had come in through, trying to appear normal.

You can't stop the tears from forming. Fortunately, no one is close enough to notice.

Only ten more metres.

Nine.

Eight.

Seven.

Six.

Five.

Four.

Three.

Two.

One-

You collapse against the wall, breath coming in rapid starts.

The pain refuses to subside.

The darkness beckons. It whispers, as if wanting to tell you something.

Unable to resist any longer, you let it envelope you, rough hands catching you as you pitch towards the abyss.

[A/N]

Yep, surprise! I'm still here, even though I am regrettably not active much. This thing called school keeps getting in the way.

It's the middle of assessment now and I was actually going to wait until the holidays to attempt another chapter, but this person called user85112008 kept asking for an update recently, and SisterIsUnacceptable kept commenting and... thank you. I really appreciate the continued support. You guys are the reason that I went hold on, you deserve an update sooner. I'm not the most reliable person when it comes to updating, but I hope the story is at least worth it in some way.

No Yuto this chapter, and it ended a little weird I know, but I have plans for another flashback if that helps explain it.

Alright, enough about that.

Thanks to everyone who reads this, and especially to those who comment – seriously, any little reaction or personalisation or general remark makes my day.

♡RackyQuok♡