Sunday, 05/13/2001, 11:37 a.m.
Matsuyama Residence, Shin Osako's Room.
A gentle breeze swayed the curtains.
A beam of yellow light entered the room, briefly illuminating the face of a sleeping Shin nestled in white sheets, his expression peaceful and his breathing slow...
Downstairs in the kitchen, the figure of Grandma Matsuyama could be seen humming an off-key melody by the stove, ladle in hand. A large pot bubbled, filling the air with a strong scent of chicken and spices.
"Doo doo doo, doo doo doo... dooo dooo dooo... Ue o muite arukō... namida ga koborenai yō ni..."
Entering the kitchen from the hallway, Yumiko leaned against the doorframe as she asked, her tone curious and her expression calm.
"Um, Mom. Uh… Do you know where Dad went? I need the car."
Blinking a couple of times, Grandma turned around and answered with a teasing tone, her cheeks slightly flushed. A giggle escaped her lips.
"Hmm, Yumi? Looking for your father? Heh heh. He went to show off Shin's award to his shogi buddies at the park. That silly old man. Ha ha ha."
Sighing, Yumiko crossed her arms and murmured with a frustrated voice, her face showing concern.
"I feel like my son isn't the same anymore. He hid all of this from us until now. He lied, saying it was just a weekend getaway. I'm really worried, Mom. What should I do?"
Looking Yumiko in the eyes, Grandma made a face, shook her head, and answered with a patient tone.
"Shin's a teenager, dear. He's going to keep things to himself, lie, and cause all sorts of trouble. All you need to do is be there for him when he needs you..."
Turning around and stirring the pot with her ladle, Grandma continued after a sigh, her expression smiling.
"Haaa... We all have the right to keep secrets, Yumi. What matters is knowing when to share them. Shin has brought us some joy in these difficult times. If we have to scold him, it's for not letting us be part of the journey."
Yumiko blinked a couple of times and then spoke in a warm tone. A small smile appeared on her lips.
"Thanks for that, Mom. I needed it. I'm heading out for a couple of hours. I probably won't make it back in time for lunch. Bye."
Grandma nodded without turning around, and Yumiko left the kitchen...
At the same time, in Shin's room.
Shin sat at his desk with a calm expression, his gaze fixed on a sealed yellow envelope. To his left lay a white box with green and blue patterns, opened. Inside were a red-and-white glove and a pair of small golden stars in a pink case.
With a swift motion, Shin opened the envelope and pulled out its contents. A murmur escaped his lips after a slight nod, his tone indifferent.
"Yeah... these are the kingdom's cards. I'd forgotten about them."
Setting the envelope aside, five Duel Monsters cards were now visible on the desk. Shin picked one up and read its description quietly. Its image showed a ship at sea.
"Journey to the Kingdom. Month of May, eighteenth day, nine-thirty at night, Domino Pier. Good."
Shin set the card aside and picked up another. Its image depicted a castle on an island.
He read the card's title in a whisper.
"Duelist Kingdom..."
Next, Shin grabbed another card and placed the previous one on the desk. This one showed the image of the red-and-white glove. He quickly read the title and description.
"Duelist's Glove. All duelists must have at least one star on their glove at all times. Hmm..."
Pulling the box closer, Shin took the glove and the two stars. Then, he inserted the stars into two of the glove's wrist slots. Afterward, he returned the glove to the box. His attention shifted to another card. He took it between his fingers and then read its name and description calmly.
"The Honor of the King's Right. Great riches... This must be the card to claim the tournament prize... I remember Jonouchi lost his in the show, but I don't recall exactly how."
The card's image displayed a massive pile of various treasures.
Shaking his head, Shin set the card aside and picked up the last one. Its image was completely blank. Frowning, he read its name and description, his expression confused.
"The Honor of the King's Left? Huh? No description. What was this for?"
Scratching his head and shaking it after a small shrug, Shin gathered the cards and slid them back into the envelope. He then placed the envelope inside the box and closed it.
Just as Shin was standing up, package in hand, his grandmother's voice echoed from the hallway.
"Shin! Come have lunch, dear!"