Maverick gulped. "Shit, it's my turn already?!" He exclaimed worry.
"Don't worry man, your gonna ace it." Ryuzaki gave him a thumbs up.
"Win it for us, okay?! We'll be counting on you to carry our group!" Payic cheered.
"Aye..." Maverick shivered. "I don't think I'll do well seeing as I'll be fighting-"

"NOVA GRAPPLERS!!" Ryu screamed as he slammed down his deck. "Man, it ain't the same without Shika..." He sighed. "I don't care about the tournament anymore... So what's the point of playing?" He groaned. "Vanguard... feels dead to me. Trolling isn't as fun and there's not much to do except stride... I just... I just wish that I lost in the first round!!"

"Alright folks, it's the fourth round of the tournament, and now, in the Red Corner! The guy who shoulda played Tachikaze for his Military obsession but instead plays some ninja Bermuda Triangle rip off, Maverick Ichinose!!" The announcer exclaimed.
"I DON'T LIKE DINOSAURSSSS!!!" Maverick roared as he charged forward. "I got a lot ridin' on this game... I have to win... For Ryuzu and Payic!!"
"And in the blue corner, the one who uses Gundams for his cardfights, it's Ryu Jomko!" The announcer exclaimed.
"Why my last name isn't Joko or Yoko is beyond me." He sighed. "I don't care... Should I just resign? I mean, that'd mean Yza and Mai can have their match..."
"Ok Ryu!! Imma win!" Maverick exclaimed.
"Nah, it's fine. I resign from the tournament." Ryu said nonchalant.

(Insert theme song here)

"What's this?! Is Ryu giving up?! It can't be!!!" The announcer exclaimed.
"What's the point of fighting without any passion? I don't feel the need to fight if I don't want to. Vanguard... Isn't as fun." Ryu said grimly. "Plus, I don't feel the vibe to fight... My best friend was just thrown into jail so suddenly, and all my pumped energy has been drained... That, plus other circumstances."

"Well, this is interesting, we didn't anticipate him to become like that, did we?" Max grinned.
"I could care less for that Jungle Boy. If he quits, that's fine by me, that just let's me fight Aya and beat her quicker." Ayato slammed his fists together, then clicked his fingers.
"That trick is neat, you know." Max tried to click his fingers but no snap.

"Phew, that means less work for me..." Maverick breathed a sigh of relief.

"What in the-?! Ryu!!" Yza exclaimed. He left the room in a hurry to run after Ryu. "No, he can't just give up so suddenly!! I don't want him to lose dammit!!"

"So yeah. I resign. Yza versus Mai can start instead. Whatever." Ryu said as he walked away.
"So... Uh, Maverick Ichinose wins this round...?" The announcer gulped.
"This is-o-so terrible." Dr. O shook his head. "This is a shame."

"Heh." Ryu smiled sadly. "I'm weaker than I thought. Now I just wait for the bombardment of messages telling me to go on and someone slapping some sense into me..." He checked his phone. Seven new messages.

Rino

R u an idiot?! Don't quit!!! Win 4 Shika!!

Wyvon

RYU NO

PLEASE DON'T QUIT

YOU CAN'T!! NOT AFTER SO MANY OF US LOST!!

Backlion

Hey, Ryu
I swear to God, when I find you, Imma force you to play that game!! If you lose now, what's the point?! You can win! Don't let anything else get in your way!!

Yza

...hey, me and u gotta talk. This is crazy.

Ayaza

Ryu, y? Are u honestly telling me ur THAT weak?!

"..." Ryu closed his phone and slipped it into his pocket.

"BOO!!" The audience in the stands were in an uproar for Ryu quitting.
"This is worse than I thought..." Maxios mumbled as he looked around him.
"DAMMIT RYU!!" Ayaza screamed.
"You can't be that weak... Right?" Backlion gritted his teeth.

"Well, that was an easy win." Maverick rubbed the back of his neck.
"But it's not a win. Far from it." Payic sighed.
"I wanted to see an epic battle but instead Maverick got a coward who looks like a hobo and needs a haircut. Fucking useless." Ryuzaki snarled.

"RYU!!" Yza punched Ryu in the face. "WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?!" Yza exclaimed, tears welling in his eyes.
"I'm thinking about something other than cardfighting, of course. I've lost my vibe for the game. With Shika in jail, it's not the same... With those stupid Яeverse guys making a move! I don't want t be involved, I don't want to be intangled in none of my business!! I want to fight, but what's the point of fighting when I'm not having fun!!! IT'S LIKE HOMEWORK, IT'S STUPID AND I DON'T LIKE IT!!" Ryu exclaimed, trying to hold back tears. "You guys don't truly know the real me... I may not say my emotions that often, but that's because I don't wanna show off my depressed side to anyone else. I have bad days aswell... Today's just one of them... I'd rather fight another day, but I can't delay your fight... So... I resigned."
"..." Yza became extremely angry at Ryu. "Are... ARE YOU THAT WEAK?!"
"Are you an idiot?! Can you not understand my feelings dammit!!!" Ryu exclaimed.
"Your excuses are pathetic!!" Yza called out.
"Shut up..." Ryu grumbled. "Get outta my way."
"GO BACK OUT THERE AND FIGHT!! PLEASE!!" Yza exclaimed.
"I said shut up..." Ryu said slightly louder.
"I want to see the Nova Grapplers win! I want others to experience what you can bring, the trolling, over confident yet amazing guy I know... Ryu... That fight we had in school... If it weren't for that... I wouldn't have known you... So..." Yza sobbed. "Please fight... For our friends!"
"...DON'T PUSH YOUR FRIENDSHIP SHIT ON ME NOW!!" Ryu kicked Yza to the ground. "I QUIT, I GAVE UP!! I WANT TO REWIND TIME NOW!! I WANT TO FIGHT AGAIN, BUT I! BUT I!!" Ryu sobbed. "BUT I SAID I QUIT! I CAN'T CHANGE THAT!!" He cried. "I want to fight now... I regret my mistake..." Ryu sobbed quietly.
"You can still go back... You idiot." Yza wiped away his tears.
"...what's the point... It'd be embarrassing... And the last thing I want is-" Ryu was swiftly grabbed by Yza as Yza pulled Ryu by force to the stadium.
"Cram it! So what if it's embarrassing?! Atleast you won't show that your weak! C'mon man, not even I know your true weakness." Yza said.
"I can't believe your doing this shit even though you have better things to do than to pull me around..." Ryu sighed.

After a few minutes of Yza dragging Ryu and Ryu trying to escape, they made it to the hall.
"Here he comes! Yza Bla-" The announcer started as Yza chucked Ryu back into the stadium.
"My friend changed his mind. Ryu wants to fight Maverick!" Yza exclaimed. Ryu looked around and looked at the ground from embarrassment. The crowd exclaimed,
"Ryu versus Maverick, Ryu versus Maverick!" Over and over. Ryu looked up as he scratched the back of his head.
"Shit, this wasn't what I expected..." Ryu mumbled as became red faced from the cheering.

"You gotta be joking me..." Maverick anime fell.
"Go out there and win!!" Ryuzaki and Payic exclaimed in his face.

"So it seems like Ryu vs Maverick will happen! Maverick, please get on the stage!!" The announcer exclaimed.
As soon as Maverick came, the game started off.

"Now, Ryu is on Mega-flare, eight cards in hand, two damage and has Tough Boy on his rear-guard. Meanwhile, Maverick has Tamagahane on his vanguard circle, Katarigitsune on his rear-circle and seven cards in hand with a total of two damage aswell!" The announcer exclaimed.
"Now, get ready!! Stand and draw! Powerful taboo that has been released, show them the abyssal third eye! I ride my avatar, Stealth Dragon, Shiranui!" The vanguard circle expanded a greyish orange. "Stride the Generation! Rikudo Stealth Dragon, Zaramerakan! Stride skill, counterblast, bind Tough Boy and you discard a card!" Maverick exclaimed.
"Done." Ryu said.
"Good, calling Chigiregumo, Miyabi and Kamoji. His skill, Tough Boy goes to drop and I countercharge one. With a boost from Katarigit, Miyabi attacks! Her skill, counterblast! Add 3k, (9000 > 12000 > 19000) and since I have less cards in hand than you, I bind that card in your hand face down!" He pointed at the fourth card in Ryu's hand.
"On it." Ryu put it face down. "Something feels like it's missing..." "No guard. Damage. (Phoenixraizer Flame-wing)"
"It'll return to you at end of turn. Go, Zaramerakan! (26000 > 33000)" Maverick exclaimed.
"So be it, no guard!" Ryu replied.
"Drive check!! (Killing Method Stealth Rogue, Samidare, Tempest Stealth Rogue, Fuuki, Stealth Rogue of Wintry Winds, Kamojigusa) Sweet! A critical!! (1★ > 2★)"
"Damn, your luck is perfectly timed. (Ultimate Raizer Glory-hand, Twin Blader)" Ryu said. "A part of my rush has died... Heh, I even made a coincidental pun aswell."
"Alright! Zaramerakan's skill! The fifth card in your hand, bind it face down, and since I have three Afterimage rears, it goes to the discard!" Maverick smirked. Ryu discarded Arashid. "Turn end, afterimage skills activate as the card bonded by Miyabi returns! I can only return one, so, Kamoji returns to hand!"

Maverick:
Hand: 7
Damage: 2
XXO
XXO

Ryu:
Hand: 6
Damage: 5
OXO
OOO

"I'm alone and hurt..." Ryu looked down at his bare field. "Just like my avatar... We really are similar... Mega-flare..." "Stand and draw. Generation, Stride!! Meteokaiser, Bustered!!" "Something's killed my vibe. Something's wrong with me... But, what is it?!" Ryu thought, getting angered at himself. "You don't want them to pity you yet..." Ryu growled. "I CALL, MINIMUM RAIZER, DUAL-FLARE, CAT BUTLER AND PHOENIX TO REAR-GUARD!!" Ryu shouted, all of his anger being voiced out in that as he slammed his hand on the holographic table. With an angered expression, Ryu looked up. "What the Hell... What the Hell is wrong with me?!" He swiped Phoenixraizer Flame-wing and Cat Butler to the side. (10000 > 15000) "Ryu... Try to calm down... Worrying about this will only get you a Panic Attack... So... Calm down... Don't let the anger consume you..." He tried to keep a brave face on as he breathed slowly and more collectively.
"You okay man?" Maverick asked. "No guard. (Stealth Dragon, Dreadmaster)"
"No... I'm not... I'm missing something... Something that made me... Me!" Ryu admitted. "I've been gifted with so much, yet I can't smile... I can't... I don't know anymore!!" He swiped Bustered and activated his skill. (26000) He stood Phoenixraizer.
"Well, what made you you?" Maverick asked. "Perfect guard with Kurenai!"
"I'm not sure myself... Triple Drive... (Three Minutes, Ultimate Raizer Mega-flare, Cat Butler) Draw. Power to Phoenix. (9000 > 14000)" Ryu sighed. "Attack and add 3k! (14000 > 17000)"
"What's worrying you?" Maverick asked. "Guard with Samidare. (11000 > 21000)"
"I won't be... Well... Me... I know it sounds stupid-" Ryu was cut off by Maverick.
"As a wise young man told me, take life at my own pace, and without the baggage. Live in the now, forget about the past, and destroy the future. If our lives were already written out, then our lives would be already decided! But that person told me never and continued to do things her way, and her time!" Maverick declared. "I feel so proud of myself right now!"

"Did he just steal my line?!" Ryuzaki exclaimed at the screen.
"He also threw in what I said..." Payic sweatdropped.

"His and her?" Ryu started to laugh. "You have your pronouns messed up... Well, I guess whoever said that makes some sense... Although, over coming this isn't easy." He scratched the back of his head. "Anyways... Dual-Flare-"
"No guard! (Stealth Beast, Katarigitsune)" Maverick grinned.
"Turn end."

Maverick:
Hand: 4
Damage: 4
XXO
XXO

Ryu:
Hand: 6
Damage: 5
XXX
XOX

"Change your perspective in life fam! Generation Stride, harvesting your fears and tenacities! Rikudo Stealth Dragon, Tsukumorakan! Stride skill, counterblast and bind Cat Butler and you discard one!" Maverick smirked. Ryu discarded a card. "Tsuku's skill! Counterblast two and G Blast! Four of your hand cards are binded face down!!"
"F-four?!" Ryu had a shocked expression on his face. He took four cards from his hand and threw them face down. "One card left..." He gritted his teeth.
"Call, Kamojigusa and skill. One of your face down cards go to the drop zone. You choose, but I get to countercharge." Maverick smirked.
"Sly son of a bitch... This one." Ryu put a card into the drop zone.
"Now, I call Tamagahane and vanguard attacks!! (26000 > 33000)" Maverick exclaimed. Ryu's eyes opened up slightly, like a realisation had just happened.
"This... Feeling... Of being driven back into a corner!! It's... Exciting!!" Ryu thought. "NO GUARD!!" He exclaimed with pride and a smile.
"Triple Drive!!" Maverick exclaimed.
"Maybe I've been looking at the wrong direction all this time! Maybe I... Maybe I needed something different to happen to me to feel it... Once more. That rush." Ryu flipped the top card of his deck into the damage zone. "Mega-flare. No trigger." Ryu grinned.

"AND THERE YOU HAVE IT!! MAVERICK ICHINOSE HAS WON IT!!" The announcer exclaimed as the people in the stands cheered and clapped.

"That was awesome..." Ryu walked away in a daze.
"Well... That was unexpected." Maverick said. Ryuzaki and Payic jumped up behind him, giving him a hug.
"YOU AMAZING IDIOT!!" Ryuzaki exclaimed with a smile.
"You won it!! You win it!!" Payic exclaimed with a bright and cheerful smile, tears of joy in her eyes.
"Wait, why are you guys so excited?!" Maverick asked them.

"Man, you lost..." Yza rubbed the back of his head as he looked at Ryu.
"Imma take a break from all this." Ryu said.
"Break from what?" Yza asked.
"Everything around me. I need to clear my mind and think in a different direction, ya know? So I'll be heading back." Ryu said.
"To where?" Yza asked Ryu.
"My home town, in Kyoto. I need to see my mom anyways..." Ryu grinned.
"Will you, come back?" Yza asked.
"Of course. But I dunno when. I'll text you guys in the group chat though." Ryu said. "Thanks for everything, by the way."
"Right... H-have fun, Ryu." Yza gulped.
"Win against Mai, ok?" Ryu said as he walked away.
"Yeah... I will." Yza nodded. He headed out to the stadium.

"In the red corner, the holder of the outcasts of the United Sanctuary, it's Yza Blade!!" The announcer exclaimed.

"Yza Blade. I have a 83% chance of winning against you." Mai said in a bored tone. "I'll finish you quickly."
"If you say so... Bring it." Yza smirked darkly.

================================

A/N

Whoo... I tried some experimenting this chapter and I dunno. This Ryu drama stuff was supposed to develop his character, but I don't think I did it all too well... Add the fact I didn't find a good soundtrack for this match and I'm just like... Ehhh.

Anyways, I did like the ending though. I feel kinda sad to let Ryu go for a bit. (Man, first it was Shika, now his best friend too? Damn...)

Yza vs Mai next week, so Pervert vs Tsundere XD

That's all, Fox out!