Chapter 11 – Kosei Yamada
Another few months go by. Junto continues to play every available minute of the day. He usually plays alone but spends time waiting with Genki and Kimiko. When the rush hours come and they leave, Junto spends his time earning points winning duo games with Taisei. Junto plays so often that it comes to the point where he out levels Taisei. Soon, he reaches rank 75, the highest tier of Killjoy. Taisei struggles to keep up as he sits at rank 69 and Junto inches close to the rank 80 mark. After one intense duo game they sit together. Taisei begins to speak.
“Junto, we need to talk. I honestly can’t keep up with you at this rate. Soon you’ll be more than 10 ranks higher than me and we’ll be unable to compete without special permission from the receptions.”
Junto looks uneasy.
“If I’m honest, really enjoy having you as my duo. I feel like I’ve learnt a lot in the matches we’ve had.”
Taisei agrees.
“The same applies here. I truly believe in you, Junto. You can be the legend who beats Azuma Koyama. When the time comes to battle him, if he demands a duo battle, I’ll stand by your side if you want.”
Junto appreciates the sentient and wishes that he did not have to wait this long.
“I really wish that we could approach the higher-ranking battles together but Azuma Koyama is rank 97. I can’t slow down my battling now.”
Taisei tries to cheer Junto up.
“Don’t worry. We can still play together until you hit rank 80. But I suggest that you start looking for another partner now.”
Junto meets up with Genki min the arena later that day. Genki is later to arrive than usual.
“Genki. You’re rank 71, do you fancy coming to the arena during rush hour and being my 2v2 partner?”
Genki laughs.
“Easy there. I don’t really do 2v2 battles. Besides, there are better candidates than me. I wish that I was the first person you asked though.”
Junto isn’t sure what to say as Genki continues to speak.
“I’ve heard about your secret 2v2 training with Taisei. Don’t worry, I don’t hold it against you. He’s a good player. He approached me earlier today and insisted that I find someone to be your new duo partner. He believes that you can beat Azuma Koyama.”
Genki looks at his watch.
“So, I found someone who’s willing to take you on as their partner if you can prove yourself.”
Someone enters the arena and begins to walk over to them.
“If anyone stands a chance at beating Azuma Koyama, I told you that it’s him…”
The man walks over to them as Junto looks to his side and notices that Azuma Koyama’s rival, rank 89 Kosei Yamada is standing there.
“Face against me in one of the Killjoy dens, Junto. I’ll see if you have what it takes to face against off against Azuma Koyama.”
Junto, Kosei and Genki head into one of the Killjoy dens. Everybody else has left out of respect. As they shuffle their cards, Kosei speaks.
“I don’t expect you to beat me. I just need to see how long you can last.”
Kosei prepares his first card.
“Let’s start this off with a bang.”
Kosei plays the card which reads ‘Your opponent feels like he has just been shot by a gun. The pain will remain for the rest of the game’.
Junto holds his side.
“Is that all you got?”
Junto throw his first card onto the table. It reads ‘The floor is now magma which burns your opponent’s feet’.
Kosei clenches his fist.
Kosei then plays his next card. It reads ‘Your opponent feels as if he has been stabbed. The pain will remain for the rest of the game’.
Junto almost hits his head against the table as he leans over in pain.
“Sorry, Kosei. I’m, a bit of a copycat.”
Junto plays his next card, it reads ‘The most recent card to affect you, also affects the opponent’.
Kosei grabs the area which has been affected.
“I’ve battled this combination before. It’s nothing to me.”
Kosei then smiles as he plays his next card. It reads ‘A vision of a serial killer haunts your opponent’.
Suddenly, somebody else appears in the Killjoy arena. In Junto’s eyes, the mysterious man has attacked Genki and stabbed him. The man then walks over to Junto and holds the knife to Junto’s throat. Junto does not react. Kosei comments as he imagines what Junto is seeing.
“Nerves of steel, huh?”
Junto smiles.
“Then I assume that you have nerves of steel too?”
Kosei smiles back.
“Of course, I do.”
Junto prepares his next card.
“Steel makes a good conductor.”
Junto attempts to end the game with his next card, it reads ‘Your opponent is shocked by electricity until they end their turn’.
This sensations shocks Kosei Immensely for a few seconds. Junto believe he has won the game as Kosei does not play his next card. Junto then looks back over at Kosei and notices him laughing. Kosei then regains his composure and speaks whilst being electrocuted like it’s nothing.
“Do you know the most painful way to die? It’s from being burnt alive. The card that causes an effect like that would be very sought after. In fact, only five or so players have a copy.”
Kosei then plays his final card. It reads ‘Your opponent is set on fire until they end their turn’.
Suddenly, Junto suffers the most excruciating pain that he has ever felt. Junto screams loudly in pain, not used to the burning type of pain that he is now experiencing. Junto reluctantly tris to resist and swiftly hits the Killjoy button. The game has ended.
Junto begins to breathe heavily as Kosei smiles.
“I like you, kid. I’ll train you and be your 2v2 partner.”
Kosei begins to get worried.
“The problem is that Azuma Koyama steamrolls everyone he faces. My worry is whether we’ll be able to get you to rank 89 before he reaches rank 100.”
Kosei has a lightbulb moment and believes that he has found a way.
“I know one way. But you need to be in that arena at every moment possible. We need to battle everyone who is in the 10 rank range of Azuma Koyama. If we can constantly beat people within that range, Azuma Koyama will have less opponents to face. He won’t be able to battle as often.”
Kosei and Junto do just that. Time continues to pass as they continue to beat every opponent who dares to stand against them. Even when playing alone, Junto annihilates everyone who stands against him. As many months go by, Junto reaches rank 87 as Azuma Koyama reaches 98.
Junto begins to speak with Kosei about how to beat Azuma and Hiroki. Kosei thinks about his previous matches against Azuma.
“I’m not too sure about Hiroki but if is anything like Azuma, you can’t beat him with physical harm. It’s like he wears an impenetrable armour made from his determination. Even my ‘burned alive’ card doesn’t affect him much.”
Kosei looks at Junto.
“If you want to be him, it needs to be done psychologically…”
