The current year is 2032. "Cardfight!! Vanguard" is a card game that has become a global phenomenon.

This is what happened between now and then.

(Play song in the media here)

In 2021, the Great Vanguard War broke out between the CFA team, the Bushiroad Cult, and the Anti-Vanguard. Lasting an entire year, it was the CFA team that survived, thanks to Yza and Ryuzaki defeating the Queen and Hanafi.

They had managed to protect Cardfight Area and it's creator, Rem-chan. She, Vladislav, and a recovered Ryuzu, moved back to Russia to continue development of CFA as it anticipated the reboot Kidani was planning.

In 2022, Ryuzaki sold the USR back to Japan and invested the money back into his tech company, Mikazuchi and Co., which now had ties to Vanguard thanks to a partnership formed with Kidani during the Great Vanguard War.

Zak finished publication of Circumstances, ending his popular light novel series on volume 27. He is currently in talks with Amatsuyu about publishing a new series, something more light hearted and less gritty than his tragedy.

In America, Shika debuted on live TV as a pro-rugby player, now officially playing in the big leagues. Everyone gathered at Card Capital 2 to watch the event live to cheer him on through the screen.

Yozora returned to the music scene under his real name, rather than as an idol. His debut album, Return to the Starlight, peaked at number 8 on the music chart. Naturally, he was still signed under Chiharu's father's record label, and as such, Chiharu decided to become his manager rather than go to university.

The happy couple later got engaged, and just before the year ended, Yozora and Chiharu got married.

In 2023, Harusui and Shouri were the next to marry each other. Harusui joked about making Shouri wear the wedding dress for the wedding since she wore the pants in their relationship. Shouri reluctantly admitted she looked good in a suit.

Callum's prison sentence in Japan had ended. Under Ayato's recommendation, he went back home to England. It was a bittersweet farewell with his friends Izanoku and Zak, but Callum promised that he'd come back to Japan to visit them someday.

Mai's long journey to a full recovery had finally been completed. Thanks to some gracious donations and developments in modern medicine, Mai was now back on her feet, finally able to return to the real world. When she was discharged, she happily reunited with her boyfriend, Kinjuzo.

Yza's net published version of his debut series, The Seed of Caladrius, had a sudden large surge in popularity, becoming a massive hit in the web novel community overnight.

Shisue immediately snatched up the rights to publish his story before Kadokawa could get their hands on it, and the now totally legal Iqumashi Publishing officially printed Yza's refined version of his light novel. On it's debut week, it ranked number 4 on the sales charts.

Finally, those who went to university with a four year course had graduated from it. This included Zeon, who did a childcare course, and Hiyoku, who did a voice acting course.

In 2024, Izanoku graduated from cooking school. Fed up of getting told her food tasted bad, she took a course in Europe to learn how to cook. Finally completing it with passable grades, she returned home to Japan as both a polyglot and a chef.

Another chef, Fubuki, alongside his business partner and friend, Raijin, finally got funding to set up their brand new restaurant, the Vanguardine Diner in central Tokyo. At first business was slow due to Fubuki's screaming, but his loving wife, Nozomi, used her business connections to get the place popping.

Meanwhile in Kyoto, Ryu and Tari got married after a very stubborn relationship. This was also a perfect excuse for his friends in Tokyo to have a Kyoto road trip, complete with camping under Ryu's suggestion. This time, Backlion and Zeon joined without any evil intentions.

Not long after their wedding, Backlion felt homesick, as the camping reminded him of living in the wilderness of Cray. Wanting to go back to his roots, he resigned from his position as Clan Leader, and asked Zeon to build him a portal gun to Cray, so he could return home whenever he wanted to. Zeon agreed, making the gun for him.

Just as Backlion prepared to go on his spiritual journey alone, Akari appeared at the last second with her own belongings. Just like Backlion, she was also feeling homesick and wanted to go back with him. Together, they reentered their home away from home for the first time.

With a Gold Paladin Clan Leader missing, Kinjuzo suggested to Mai that she should take the job. She agreed with him, prompting Kinjuzo to use his authority as United Sanctuary Branch Manager to hire Mai as Backlion's replacement.

In 2025, everyone else still attending university had graduated from it. This included Rukia and Wyvon, who took an extra two years to complete their nursing and engineering courses respectively. However, because their extended courses gave them extra experience, they got job offers straightaway. Rukia started work in a large hospital in central Tokyo while Wyvon joined one of the biggest construction companies in Japan.

Hiku graduated from Harvard and began her career as a full-time cosplayer. Originally she took a course on politics, but midway through, she switched courses to photography. Her beautiful (and sometimes risqué) cosplays got her a lot of simps.

Finally, after spending a year together, Backlion and Akari got married on Cray. They held a traditional Cray wedding.

In 2026, Rina's cooking programme had ended. She returned home after travelling all over the world to learn various cooking techniques from masters of very different cuisines. Equipped with this extensive knowledge, Raijin hired her as the sous chef of Vanguardine.

Maverick and Kizari, his girlfriend that no one believed existed, got married. During the ceremony, the very rare sight of Ryuzaki crying was seen. He was crying over watching his best friend finally get married. As congratulations, he gifted the newlywed couple a fat stack of cash.

Inu wished he could marry Riku already.

Mai pushed her role as Clan Leader to the side in order to pursue her dream career: modelling. Using her petite frame as a point of attraction, she became a popular model for various Lolita fashion brands. Her speciality was wearing frilly and candy coloured dresses.

Hiyoku debuted his first major role in a TV anime as Jun Seto, an ikemen butler from a slice of life isekai anime. He was also chosen to host a show dedicated to travelling Japan and tasting the tea in different regions.

In 2027, Zeon started up the Rose Orphanage with the help of Lucine. Wyvon was hired as the head of building, completing construction of the orphanage within six months. It officially opened a month later, taking in it's first orphan shortly thereafter.

Then, Backlion and Akari returned to Earth while Izanoku and Masaru got married.

In 2028, Backlion and Akari took up new jobs. Akari settled down as an employee at Card Capital, helping out Haruka run the store, while Backlion decided to become a pro-Vanguard player, travelling the Asia Circuit with Riku. They film vlogs for Riku's channel that showcase Vanguard culture in each country they visit.

While his girlfriend is off travelling Asia and playing Vanguard, Inu is still being overworked by Ryuzaki. Luckily, he is now compensated properly, so he can keep his relationship with Riku going. Hopefully.

Kinjuzo and Mai were the next to get married. The wedding was quite publicised due to Kinjuzo being a Branch Manager and Mai being a famous model.

Finally, at the end of the year, Shika and Hiku returned to Japan after Shika was bought by another team and transferred from the American pro-league to the Japanese pro-league. He was considered a rugby legend, the best player of his generation. Hiku continued her cosplay misadventures, raking in simp money.

In 2029, after a long time dating and working with each other, Zeon and Lucine finally got married. Naturally, all the kids at their orphanage attended and celebrated with them.

During an official press conference, Shika formally announced his engagement to Hiku. This drove away some of her simps, but surprisingly, Hiku's fanbase was still very large, even after this announcement.

In the summer of that year, Rina departed from Vanguardine in order to fulfil her dream of starting up a restaurant. Buying a rundown diner in central Tokyo and refurbishing it, she officially opened "Rina's Restaurant". Hiring Izanoku to help her out, Rina's restaurant became an instant hit with the locals and even received a Michelin star for the outstanding quality of their food.

In 2030, Vanguard had rebooted. The age of V had entered this universe.

Yza kept playing Shadow Paladin while Ryuzaki stuck to his word and switched his deck from Gear Chronicle to Murakumo.

Now that Rina had set up a restaurant, she could finally fulfil her other dream: marrying the man she loved. She and Wyvon had their wedding, where a lot of alcohol was consumed (mainly by Wyvon).

Payic gave birth to Kaido. When Ryuzaki picked him up for the first time, he declared Kaido as the God of the next generation.

Yza published a new series called "Is it wrong to make a harem of God's slaves?". This became a mainstream hit, quickly growing to become the most popular ecchi series in existence. When it debuted, it ranked number 1 on the sales chart.

In 2031, Chiharu gave birth to twins, Ken and Shiori. Ken was a very quiet and sleepy baby while Shiori was a very loud and giggly baby. Yozora was worried their children might have been mini versions of them.

Seeing how Chiharu already had kids, Rukia and Mai also wanted some, so Yza and Kinjuzo made them pregnant.

It is now 2032, the current year.

After a lot of making up for what he did and bickering with her older brother, Ayaza finally got permission to make his relationship with Aya official by getting married. They were on their honeymoon in Cray.

Due to the extensive damage she had received from being Gyze's vessel, Mai was unsure if she could even give birth. She was lucky to even get pregnant, but delivery was a whole different matter. Thankfully, Mai managed to give birth via a caesarean section. Mai names bee daughter Kin, after her father Kinjuzo.

Today was the 30th July.

Right now, Rukia was in labour. She was beginning to give birth. Yza sat beside her, holding her hand tightly as support.

"You can do it! It'll be over quickly! Don't think too hard about it!"

"Ahhh... it hurts...! It hurts...!"

Rukia's face twisted in agony as she screamed from the pain in her lower regions.

"Just do as the doctors said! Breathe and push!"

Rukia huffed and puffed, holding onto Yza's hand tighter as she started to deliver.

"Yza... it's coming...!"

"Rukia, you can do it! I believe in you!"

Rukia made one final push, giving birth to their child.

"Congratulations, it's a boy!"

Rukia cradled her son protectively as she cried tears of joy. She stroked his face while holding him tightly in her arms, never letting go. Yza smiled as he delicately held his son's tiny hand. This was their precious first child.

"He's beautiful, isn't he...?"

"Yeah... I'm really happy right now."

"Me too... I'm so glad that I can finally hold him now... it's like a dream come true..."

"Since I'm bad with this kind of stuff... what name do you want to give him?"

As Yza asked that, Rukia rocked their baby.

"Yuuto."

Yuuto's first cry passed like a faint light.