A Heart to Duel For; Yu-Gi-Oh! Protagonists x Reader

Chapter 1: The Calm Before the Storm

"Are you sure I should do this?" I asked the girl sitting next to me. My hands were clasped together, my fingers fidgeting before I cracked my knuckles. I shifted in the metal chair, bouncing my leg under the indoor café's table. Looking out through the window, the sky was bright, sunlight filtering in and heating up my skin.

"You're fine (Y/n)!" My friend Sara beamed at me. "You've been practicing for weeks now!"

I tried to smile back, but I couldn't help but worry. There was so much I wasn't prepared for. What if I fail? What if I'm not good enough? Will never be good enough? What if. . .

"Hey, you've got fifteen minutes before it starts," Sara interrupted my thoughts as she checked the time on her phone. "Don't you have to go for a briefing or something first?"

I gulped and nodded. "Yeah." I stood up and grabbed my backpack from behind my chair. "Wish me luck!"

"Of course! I'll be cheering loudest for you!" Sara promised. She got up too, picking up her own pretty turquoise satchel. "I'll go and find a good seat now."

"Okay," I said. "See ya."

"Peace!" Sara turned and started walking away, her dark hair bobbing slightly behind her.

I let out a small sigh and turned down the hallway I was supposed to go to. Taking a breath, I tried to steel myself from the self doubt that kept bubbling up in my mind.

Come on (Y/n). You got this, I thought, faking a confident voice.

"Excuse me!" I heard a voice call out.

"Huh?" I stopped, turning my head to see a boy in a red jacket running over to me.

"Hey!" The boy stopped in front of me, panting slightly. "Sorry! My name's Jaden. Do you know where today's tournament is? I've been trying to find it for the past half hour!" He smiled sheepishly. "I'm not the best navigator in the world."

I couldn't help but smile back at him. "I'm (Y/n)," I introduced myself. "I'm in the tournament too. I was just heading there now. Come on, I'll take you there."

"Sweet! Thanks!" Jaden said gratefully. "I can already tell, you're gonna be an awesome opponent! I can't wait to duel you!"

"What kind of deck do you use?" I asked him as we walked down the hall.

"My Elemental Heroes of course!" He said. "What about you?"

"I play Lightsworns," I replied.

"Woah, sounds cool!" Jaden said, awe evident in his voice. "I've never seen Lightsworns before. They'll be so cool to duel against! Wow, I'm pumped up now!"

I stopped in front of the door we needed and held it open for him. He smiled. "Thanks. You're more gentlemanly than I am! And you're not even a boy!"

I giggled. "It's just basic manners," I said as he walked into the room, me following closely. The room was filled with a large gathering of people who were all chatting together. Those were the people I would face in the next few hours.

"Good afternoon." A man in a suit and smart looking glasses approached us, holding a clipboard. "Have you registered for the tournament?"

"You bet!" Jaden replied. I nodded as well. "Yes."

"May I take your names?" The man asked and clicked his pen open.

"Jaden Yuki."

"(Y/n) (L/n)."

We told him our names and he checked us off on the sign in sheet. "Please go get your duel disks. We'll have a quick demonstration on how to use them for those unfamiliar with professional dueling equipment, and then the tournament will begin." He motioned to a table, where two men were seated.

Jaden and I went over to the table. The men greeted us and one helped affix a duel disk to my arm while the other tried to assist Jaden.

"I don't need any help!" Jaden said, grabbing the duel disk from the man and putting it on with ease. "It's time to get my game on!"

"How's that?" The man helping me asked, adjusting the arm strap.

"It's good," I told him. "I've never worn a real duel disk before. It's heavier and bigger than I thought," I noted.

The man smiled. "You'll get used to it once you've worn it for a while. Careful not to put too much strain on your arm. A sprained arm isn't fun." He advised.

"Thank you," I smiled back.

"Hey, did I hear that right?" Jaden was suddenly at my side again. "You've never worn a duel disk before?"

My face burned, slightly uncomfortable. "Um. . . yeah. . ."

Instead of laughing at me, Jaden beamed. "You'll love wearing it! They're so cool! I use them all the time in Duel Academy. That's the school I go to."

"You're from Duel Academy?" I repeated, surprised.

"Yep! Best school I could ever ask for!" Jaden replied earnestly.

"Wow. . . I've heard lots about the Academy," I said.

"It's the coolest!" Jaden said enthusiastically. Before he could continue on about his school, the man who had signed us in spoke through a microphone.

"May I have everyone's attention please!" He said.

I felt a surge of adrenaline as I listened to the announcement. This is it! It's time to duel!