Special Summon Banner — Magical Girl "Xyz" Series
[Illya · Swimsuit] First Ascension
[Illya · Swimsuit] Second Ascension
[Illya · Swimsuit] Third Ascension
"Come on, think about it carefully, Hoshino-chan~"
There it was again — Da Vinci's classic shady merchant tactic:
"Just think about it carefully~"
It sounded like she was letting Hoshino decide for herself, but in reality, she was about to skillfully steer Hoshino's thoughts with her veteran whale-baiting techniques until the Saint Quartz smoothly found its way into her pocket.
"It's already the era of Xyz Summoning now. While the Fusion-focused Magical Girl deck is still fairly strong, if we could make the Magical Girl Fusion engine compatible with an Xyz engine as well, the deck's flexibility would increase by more than just one level~"
["Magical Girl cards with an Xyz archetype, huh? That actually sounds pretty good, Aibo,"] Hoshino Alter commented.
On her left was Mini Da Vinci whispering temptingly into her ear, while on her right was Hoshino Alter chiming in as though she'd already been bribed.
"Hmm… a dedicated Magical Girl Xyz archetype, and it's swimsuits too…"
Ever since Xyz Monsters had been introduced, the Magical Girl deck's inherent characteristics had allowed it to work reasonably well with both Level 4 and Level 8 Heroic Spirit Xyz Summons.
However, even when Hoshino had previously tried overlaying Illya herself (LV4) or the Magical Girl Fusion Monsters after Fusion Summoning (LV8) to summon Rank 4 or Rank 8 Heroic Spirits, those Xyz Heroic Spirits were essentially independent entities. They couldn't create any meaningful synergy with the Magical Girl archetype's own effects.
Honestly, the appeal of swimsuit outfits alone was already incredibly tempting. Add in Magical Girls having their own dedicated Xyz Monsters, and the boost to the deck's flexibility was obvious.
"But Da Vinci, when you said the timing was 'just right,' were you referring to the amount of Saint Quartz in my wallet being 'just right'?!"
Hoshino glared at the prices listed behind the three swimsuit versions of Illya in the Special Summon Shop.
Unlike normal banners that required luck-based pulls, the Special Summon Shop had always been straightforward: fixed prices. If you had the Saint Quartz, the card was yours.
[Illya · Swimsuit SR] First Ascension — 110 Saint Quartz
[Illya · Swimsuit SR] Second Ascension — 120 Saint Quartz
[Illya · Swimsuit SR] Third Ascension — 130 Saint Quartz
"Let's see~"
Adjusting the tiny glasses perched on her chubby little face, Da Vinci calculated with a look of exaggerated surprise.
"Wow, buying all three would cost 360 Saint Quartz. And Hoshino-chan just so happens to have 380 Saint Quartz. What a coincidence! You can totally afford it!"
"Like hell I believe that!"
Grabbing the Mini Da Vinci sitting primly on her shoulder, Hoshino vigorously kneaded her squishy cheeks.
"You shady merchant! I refuse to believe you didn't set those prices after checking exactly how much Saint Quartz I had. And you still have the nerve to call it a 'coincidence' and say it's 'just right'? I'm not falling for it again!"
"So, Hoshino-chan, are you saying you're not going to exchange for any cards in the Special Summon Shop? That's Swimsuit Illya, you know. Are you really willing to give up such a cute appearance and perfectly balanced sex appeal?"
"It's way too expensive!"
Hoshino pointed out:
"Back then, even SSRs only cost 100 Saint Quartz. Now an SR costs over 100? And what kind of scam is splitting a single swimsuit Saint Graph into three separate products? Do you really think I'm that easy to fleece?"
Back during the KC Tournament, Da Vinci had already irritated Hoshino by splitting the three-in-one Valkyrie into three separate exchanges.
But at least the Valkyries were genuinely three different people despite being a trinity.
As for Swimsuit Illya's three stages — weren't they just different outfits obtained through Saint Graph Ascension?
Yet they were being sold as three separate cards.
The road of a shady merchant truly had no end.
"Besides, I have a secret weapon now!"
Pulling over the completely bewildered Eve, who had been watching from the sidelines, Hoshino confidently declared:
"With the blessing of the Star Grail Priestess, all I need to do is throw 300 Saint Quartz into the regular banner. Whether it's SRs or SSRs, won't I get them all easily?"
"(||ﾟДﾟ) Three hundred Saint Quartz?! That's impossible, Hoshino! I'll be completely drained dry!"
The magical energy that couldn't even survive a single ten-pull the night before was now expected to provide blessings for three hundred Saint Quartz worth of pulls.
By the time the gacha session ended, this useless priestess would probably ascend to heaven on the spot.
"It's fine! I'll have Emiya feed you until you're completely stuffed!"
"Well, if that's what you've decided, Hoshino-chan, then I suppose there's nothing more to say."
For once, Da Vinci unexpectedly gave up on persuading Hoshino to spend money and obediently hopped down from her shoulder.
"Business is business. These things should always be voluntary, after all. I can't force you~"
She paused before casually adding:
"Oh, by the way, the Special Summon Shop closes tonight at midnight."
"Ugh, there's a time limit too? That's so underhanded, Da Vinci."
The feeling was exactly like seeing a limited-time rate-up banner or event-exclusive Servant.
Miss it, and it might never come back.
"No. This time, I absolutely won't fall for it again. I refuse to exchange for it!"
I, Hoshino Chiyuki ←, would rather starve ↑, die outside ↓, than let you trick even a single Saint Quartz out of me this time →!
Hoshino Alter commented:
["Aibo's unusually determined this time. Let's just hope this doesn't end with a classic 'it smells so good' moment."]
(A Chinese internet meme meaning: confidently refusing something, only to give in later.)
"Then let me give you one final piece of advice."
Having hopped off Hoshino's shoulder, Da Vinci addressed everyone.
"While I spoke rather optimistically about taking the initiative against the remaining three Kings, dimensional fusion is no trivial matter. Until we fully understand what's happening, it would be best to avoid any unnecessary actions."
"Avoid unnecessary actions?" Yugi asked. "But if we do nothing, how are we supposed to learn more about the situation?"
"Simple. Leave everything to me — the all-capable genius."
Da Vinci proudly patted her miniature chest.
"You all just focus on staying alive until I've completed my investigation. Fortunately, even though Duel Academy Island is currently isolated from the outside world, it should still be capable of sustaining itself for some time."
Besides Duel Academy itself, there were residents and shops scattered throughout the island.
Thanks to the island's favorable natural climate, many residents grew their own crops or raised livestock to sell.
As a result, even though the island was now trapped between the three realms of Yggdrasil, its own production capabilities and stockpiled resources meant that it wouldn't face any immediate shortages.
"Then I'll go speak with the Principal," Hoshino suggested. "We need to discuss how we're going to explain the situation to the academy and the island's residents."
"Let me handle it."
Kaiba cut in.
"I'm worried you won't explain it clearly enough. Besides, this gives me a chance to have him report the academy's recent operations directly to me."
"A sudden work report, huh? Is this the pressure that comes from having a direct superior? I'll observe three seconds of silence for Sheppard in advance…"
"And I'm your direct superior too. I'd appreciate it if you showed at least a little awareness of that," Kaiba replied helplessly, glancing at Hoshino.
"I'll go with you too, Brother."
Mokuba followed after Kaiba as they left.
"Then what about you, Yugi? If you don't have anywhere to stay, do you want to stay at my place for now? I can have one of the Heroic Spirits on the first floor free up a room for you."
"Uh…"
After Kaiba left, Atem immediately handed control of the body back and returned to the Millennium Puzzle, leaving only the somewhat shy Yugi behind.
"If it isn't too much trouble, then I'd hate to impose on you for a while, Hoshino."
"Of course it's no trouble. Why do Okita and Nobu get to occupy two rooms anyway? They can just share one."
After instructing Akasha and the others to obediently return to their dorms and await further instructions from the academy, Hoshino — who had been dueling nonstop since morning — could finally take a short break before dinner.
Hoshino Residence
"It smells amazing!"
Before she even stepped inside, Eve's nose twitched as she caught the scent of food from outside.
"After such a busy day, being able to eat Emiya's cooking is pure happiness!"
"What do you mean Emiya's cooking? It's the Hoshino family's cooking!"
Hoshino shot Eve a look and emphasized:
"And what exactly have you been busy with? You were spectating the entire time. After dinner, remember to help me pull cards."
"(˘••˘) Hmph, you're exploiting labor, Hoshino. I feel like livestock being raised on a farm…"
"I think it's been a few years since I've been here."
Yugi looked around and sighed.
"Hoshino, your house — or rather, your mansion — is still as ridiculous as ever. It can't even be compared to the storage room at Kame Game Shop."
It was hard to imagine that someone who could afford a mansion like this had once quietly lived in a tiny storage room in the corner of Kame Game Shop without a single complaint.
"A mansion with ten thousand rooms still only needs a three-foot bed to sleep in. I'm actually pretty easy to satisfy~"
Hoshino smiled.
"When I had nowhere else to go back then, I was genuinely grateful that Grandpa Sugoroku kindly took me in."
She wasn't lying.
She had always respected Sugoroku as though he were her own grandfather.
Sure, the unreliable old man occasionally used her title as Duel King to make a little extra money, but he had also covered her tuition and living expenses when she first arrived, so small things like that didn't really matter.
"Wow, this dinner is insane!"
Eve stared wide-eyed at the feast Emiya was laying out on the table.
"Is this the luxurious lifestyle you normally live, Hoshino? I'm so jealous!"
"No, this is actually a little excessive…"
Even Hoshino was surprised.
Unlike her, Heroic Spirits didn't need three meals a day for energy. Some, like Artoria, ate countless meals throughout the day, while others like Waver barely ate at all.
Because of that, most Heroic Spirits simply ate whenever they wanted in the dining hall.
In other words, everything specially arranged on the dining table had been prepared specifically for Hoshino.
While dinner occasionally became more extravagant than usual, today's feast had unquestionably reached an abnormal level of indulgence.
"You're back, Master~"
Seeing Hoshino enter, Emiya greeted her with a smile.
"Wash your hands and we can eat."
"Uh, Emiya… what's all this?"
Looking at the lavish spread, Hoshino cautiously asked:
"Did something especially worthy of celebration happen today?"
Speaking of celebrations, Hoshino remembered the relieved expression Emiya had worn after she defeated Guardian Kaiba in Duelist Kingdom and finally achieved her revenge.
"Could this be Emiya's true cooking power with all his restrictions removed?"
Emiya set down the plate in his hands.
His smile vanished.
His expression turned serious.
"I heard about it, Master."
"You heard too? About the dimensional fusion?"
Hoshino nodded in understanding.
That made sense. With two suns and two moons hanging in the sky, it would have been difficult not to notice.
"So this feast is your way of cheering me on? As expected of the housewife type. You're really thoughtful."
"Dimensional fusion?"
Emiya raised an eyebrow.
"That's not what I'm talking about, Master."
"Huh? Then what is it?"
Hoshino was completely confused.
Looking at her solemnly, Emiya declared:
"I heard from Da Vinci that Swimsuit Illya has appeared in the Special Summon Shop."
"(ㅍ_ㅍ) And what exactly are you trying to say?"
"I hope you'll exchange for her, Master!"
"(°Д°) So this was the real purpose of the luxurious dinner?! I never expected you, Emiya, of all people, to pick up shady merchant tactics and start baiting people into spending!"
Hoshino had wondered why Da Vinci had given up so easily earlier.
Who would have thought she had left behind such a powerful backup plan, launching a sugar-coated offensive through Emiya's gourmet cooking?
"It's not baiting people into spending."
Emiya's tone was completely serious.
"I am sincerely asking you to exchange for Swimsuit Illya."
There wasn't the slightest hesitation in his hawk-like eyes.
In that moment, Emiya possessed the gaze of a warrior who had fully steeled his resolve.
"(╯°Д°)╯ No way! I refuse! Three hundred sixty Saint Quartz is way too expensive! I can't afford it!"
"Then I suppose there's no helping it."
Picking up the dishes from the table, Emiya shook his head.
"I'll just give all of this food to Saber."
"Wait! If Artoria eats everything, what am I supposed to have for dinner?"
Feeling the threat immediately, Hoshino hurriedly protested.
"There are some leftover pickled radishes in the kitchen."
"I'm not Hijikata! Why would I live on nothing but pickled radishes?!"
"Incidentally, all meals for the next week will be particularly light."
Emiya continued calmly:
"Of course, this isn't me forcing you to exchange for Illya. It's simply because the island is currently isolated from the outside world. We need to conserve our food supplies."
"They can't be that light!"
Hoshino collapsed across the dining table in despair.
"If I go an entire week without eating any fried food, I won't be able to sleep!"
"But if you exchange for Illya…"
Emiya paused.
"I'll do everything in my power to create your favorite dishes from our limited food reserves."
…
Hoshino's Remaining Saint Quartz: 20
[Illya · Swimsuit] First Ascension ✓
[Illya · Swimsuit] Second Ascension ✓
[Illya · Swimsuit] Third Ascension ✓
Hoshino: "Ahh… it really does smell amazing…"
"I'm talking about the dinner, of course."