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Yuya really didn’t know how it had happened. He’d never tried alcohol before, as he wasn’t old enough to legally drink, but he had been curious. So when Sora produced several bottles of sake during a Lancer meeting, the tomato-haired boy kinda wanted to try it.And it seemed that he wasn’t the only one that wanted to try a drink. Each of the Lancers grabbed a bottle, though with varying degrees of enthusiasm. The only three who seemed reluctant were Ruri, Yuto, and Yuya.“Are you sure we should be doing this?” Ruri asked, eying the bottles. Yuya and Yuzu had both been separated from their counterparts a few weeks ago the first time they’d come down with a cold, and their counterparts had gotten their own bodies back. Interestingly, their colds had been gone the moment they split up, so perhaps they hadn’t been colds after all.“Relax!” Dennis said cheerfully, opening a bottle. “We won’t tell anyone!”“Yeah, I’ve had sake a few times!” Yuri agreed, taking a drink from his bottle. “It’s not so bad!”“Yeah! What’s the worst that can happen!” Sora said, grinning.
* * *
Yuya wasn’t sure how much sake he drank, but he really didn’t care. Sake tasted pretty good! It had a balance of fruity and umami flavors. He really liked it!“Eyyyy! Guyyyys! Loook!” Yugo giggled, waving his duel disc around. He had definitely had way more to drink than most of the others. “I found a boat! We should buy a boat! Loooook!”Everyone gathered around to see the boat Yugo had found. It wasn’t a boat exactly, but an ad for a custom built galleon pirate ship, priced at 13,462,800 yen. Everyone oohed and ahhed at the picture. Yugo was bouncing in his seat excitedly. “Can you guys loan me the money to buy it?”“No way!” Gongenzaka said immediately. He wasn’t nearly as drunk as the rest of them, probably due to his sheer size. Sawatari leaned in closer to Yugo’s duel disc. “Hmm, we should all pool our money to buy it together!”Reiji shook his head. “I may be a little tipsy, but I’m certainly not drunk enough to buy a whole pirate ship!”
* * *
“Guys, send me some money so we can buy this boat together!” Reiji said from his computer thirty minutes later. “I’ll pay for half of it, but you all need to chip in if you want a share!”“Oh! Oh! Oh!” Sawatari squealed, pulling out his duel disc. “I have money! What’s your LINE ID?”Reiji recited his number, and the rest of the Lancers, who were all quite drunk by now (apart from Reira, who Reiji wouldn’t let touch a bottle), all began sending him some money. A few moments passed, then Reiji’s disc began spamming him with notifications.“Okay, okay, calm down, shut it!” Reiji snapped at his duel disc, fumbling with it as he tried to turn off the notifications. “Shush! Shut up! Be quiet! Leave me alone!”Finally, his notifications went quiet, and Reiji glared at his disc for a few more moments, silently daring it to make another sound. After a few moments of silence, he set it down and began the payment for the pirate ship. “Aaand… we own a pirate ship now!”“Hurray!” the drunk Lancers all cheered.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Yuya groaned as he woke up the next morning. His head was
killing
him! And he felt very sick. The slightest sound made him wince.
“So you’re awake,” the sound of his father’s voice made the boy freeze. He could immediately tell by the tone that his father was disappointed in him for drinking. The tomato-head forced his eyes open and looked guiltily up at his parents. He and the other Lancers were still in the meeting room, and it seemed the others had already awakened and were nursing their hangovers. The parents of the Lancers were all in the room too, all clearly disappointed in the kids. The footage of the cameras in the room was playing on the wall screen.
After a minute, Yuya remembered a fuzzy memory. “Did… did we seriously buy a pirate ship?” he asked, not entirely certain he hadn’t hallucinated that particular event.
“Yes, it seems you did,” Himika said, watching the camera footage. “I suppose we should be thankful that’s
all
you kids did. You didn’t cause any trouble or do anything illegal, apart from underage drinking.”
Yusho sighed, handing Yuya a bottle of coconut water. “Drink this, it’ll help with your hangover. Where did you kids even get the alcohol?”
“Sora,” the Lancers said in unison. The parents all looked at Sora. Yoko shook her head. “Sora, where did
you
get it?”
“From some older Obelisk Force members,” Sora admitted. Leo groaned. “Well that’s just great!”
Yusho looked down at his son. “Alright, Yuya, Yuto, Yugo, Yuri, c’mon. We’re going home.”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The drive back to the Sakaki residence was quiet, for which the Yuus were all grateful. Their heads still hurt from how much they’d drunk. Yoko and Yusho wanted to scold them, but they decided to wait until later when their headaches were gone.
As they pulled into the drive of the house, Yoko sighed. Quietly, she said, “You four go upstairs and have a bath. I’ll make you some breakfast so you can get some food in your stomachs. It’ll help with your hangovers.”
“Yes, Mother,” Yuri said as the four boys got out of the car. They shuffled inside and up the stairs, wincing at the sound of their footsteps. Yusho and Yoko watched them go, keeping an eye on them to make sure they didn’t fall down the stairs.
Yusho sighed when the boys were upstairs. “I supposed Akaba Himika’s right,” he said, glancing over at Yoko. “We should be grateful that buying a pirate ship was the most extreme thing they did. Particularly with Yuri’s track history in the war, and Yugo’s love of riding his D-Wheel and his tendency to try to run people over.”
Yoko winced. “Ooh, yes, I’d much rather those boys just drunkenly waste all of their allowances on a boat than drunkenly commit war crimes or driving under the influence.”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
As disappointed as they were in the boys for drinking, Yusho and Yoko couldn’t help being curious about the boat they’d bought. They hadn’t seen the photos, as the cameras hadn’t been pointing at Yugo’s duel disk or Reiji’s computer screen, so they didn’t know what it looked like. They honestly thought Reiji was drunkenly exaggerating and the Yuya was misremembering when they called it a pirate ship.So when the four Yuus were eating their breakfast, Yusho asked, “So about your boat. Do you guys remember where you bought it?”The boys’ eyes widened, and they all began talking at the same time. It took Yusho and Yoko a few moments to figure out that they were begging them not to make them get rid of their boat. Yusho shook his head, “I’m not going to make you get rid of it. I just want to see it. I’m curious about what it looks like.”The boys all relaxed and Yugo pulled out his duel disk. “I have it saved in my bookmarks,” he said, pulling up the advertisement which now marked the galleon as sold. He showed the photo to Yusho and Yoko, whose jaws dropped.“That’s… that’s an actual pirate ship…” Yoko said, eyes wide. Yusho put his head in his hands. “I thought you guys were exaggerating,” he said weakly. “I was picturing maybe a sailboat that you guys drunkenly thought was a pirate ship. But you guys bought an actual pirate galleon!”“You promised you won’t make us get rid of it!” Yuya reminded him, eyes wide. “You promised!”Yusho groaned, then sighed, “We’re not going to make you get rid of it. But how much did it cost?”“A little less than 13 and a half million yen?” Yuri replied. Yusho and Yoko both made sounds akin to geese being strangled as they stared at the boys. After a few moments, Yoko shook her head. “Okay, no. It was bad enough that you boys decided to drink sake when you’re not old enough to legally do so. But spending that much money on a pirate ship? No, you boys are in serious trouble! We’re not going to make you get rid of your pirate ship that you sank your entire allowances into. But you four are grounded for the foreseeable future!”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The four boys stayed in their room for a few hours, partly because of their hangovers and partly to avoid Yusho and Yoko. But at around noon, they heard the sound of what appeared to be very angry arguing downstairs. Worried that their drunk shenanigans were causing the Sakaki parents to fight, the boys opened their door to listen.
Fortunately, it wasn’t their parents fighting with each other, but rather Yusho angrily arguing with an unwelcome guest. Akaba Leo was at the front door, and from the sound of the argument, it seemed he was trying to get Yusho to hand Yuri over to him.
“He needs to be punished for drinking at his age!” Leo said angrily. Yusho snapped back, “And he is! He’s been grounded for the foreseeable future. Not that it’s any of
your
business, you’re not his father!”
“Neither are you!” Leo argued. Yusho glared at him. “Actually I am. Yoko and I legally adopted him along with Yuto and Yugo. In the eyes of the law, I am their legal father. And I will NOT subject any of my children to the abuse you want to put them through. Yuri is my son now! You are just a teacher. My authority over him trumps yours. I get to decide how my children are disciplined for underage drinking, not you!”
“You’re not tough enough to discipline them!” Leo snarled. “Yuri’s a cruel, sadistic monster and he deserves—”
SLAP!
The boys stared over the stair railing, wide-eyed as Yusho slapped Leo across the face. “Do NOT speak of my children like that!” he hissed, clearly pissed off. It was the first time any of his sons had ever seen him so angry. Even Yuya couldn’t remember a time when his father was
this
mad. Leo seemed shaken up too, clearly shocked that Yusho
could
actually get this angry. He stared at Yusho with wide eyes.
“Beware the wrath of a gentle man,” Yoko said from behind Yusho, glaring at Leo. Yusho stepped forward, speaking very quietly. The Yuus couldn’t hear what he said, but whatever is was clearly scared Leo. Leo nodded frantically, backing away so fast that he ran into the front door.
“Now get out!” Yusho snapped. Leo bolted, running out the door as fast as he could. Yusho slammed the door shut, and Yoko wrapped her arms around his shoulder to calm him down. After a few moments, Yusho spoke.
“That man is NOT coming near our children again,” he said angrily. “His idea of a suitable ‘punishment’ for Yuri drinking is completely inhumane! That’s not a punishment, that’s straight up child abuse! Torture, in fact! I can’t
believe
he thought it was okay to even
suggest
such a thing to punish him!”
“I know, that’s just awful what he said,” Yoko said, equally upset. “I think we should get a restraining order against him so that he can’t approach Yuri again, or any of our other boys.”
“Agreed,” Yusho said.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Yusho was still clearly very upset by lunchtime, so the boys quietly set the table and sat down. As Yoko placed their lunches on the table, Yusho suddenly spoke.
“Yuri, just so you know, whatever Akaba Leo ever did to you before, I won’t ever let him do it again,” he said, looking at the cabbage-head. Yuri looked up, startled. “What did he say…?”
“I’m not going to repeat it, but it was completely unforgivable,” Yusho replied. “Nobody should ever have to experience anything like that, especially not a child!”
“What… did you tell him?” Yuya asked, a little worried. He’d never thought his father could ever be so angry. Yusho was the kind of person who tried to solve all his problems by making them smile. Seeing him so angry was unnerving.
Yusho shook his head. “I’m not going to repeat it in front of you boys,” he replied. “But if he’s got a single braincell, he’ll take it seriously.”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Lunch was relatively quiet, with the boys still a bit hungover and their parents still angry at Leo. So when Yusho’s phone suddenly rang, it startled everyone. Yusho checked the caller ID and frowned. “It’s Reiji…”
Yuya winced a little, “He’s probably mad that we bought the boat… I mean, he paid for half of it, and it wasn’t exactly cheap.”
Yusho answered the phone and put it on speaker. “Hello, Reiji. Is there something I can help you with?”
“I wanted to apologize for my father’s behavior today,” Reiji said. “He had no right to go to you to punish Yuri now that you’ve adopted him. And what he said was completely unacceptable.”
“I agree,” Yusho replied with a scowl. “I do hope he doesn’t try to do what he suggested to you.”
“Oh, he won’t,” Reiji reassured him. “Mother won’t let him have any say in my life after he abandoned our family. And I’ve been the head of the family for the last four years. He no longer has any authority in this household.”
“Good,” Yusho said. “A man like that has no business having any authority at all.”
“I also wanted to apologize for my part in your sons’ underage drinking,” Reiji said. “I shouldn’t have allowed any of the Lancers to consume alcohol. As the leader of the Lancers, it was my responsibility to make sure none of them did anything they shouldn’t during a meeting.”
Yusho sighed. “Well, if there’s one good thing that came out of all of this, it’s that I sincerely doubt my boys will do that again.”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Reiji sighed, drinking some coconut water. His head still hurt from his hangover, plus thinking about the fact that he sank so much money into a freaking pirate ship. Well, at least the ship seemed to be real. He’d received a video email from the seller showing off the galleon to him.Hmm, he should probably forward the video to the other Lancers. After all, they all helped pay for it, so it was their ship too. He knew for a fact that Sawatari was worried that they might’ve been scammed, as the blonde had been spamming him with texts freaking out about it.So, Reiji sent the video to his Lancers. After some consideration, he also sent the video to the parents. No sense in letting them worry that their children had been scammed. As he sent the video, the Lancer group chat quickly began buzzing with activity.Sawatari: So it’s a REAL ship? Oh thank god… I was worried it might be a scam! Reiji: I know, you’ve been spamming me with your worries for the past hour Sawatari: So you DID get my texts? Why didn’t you reply? :( Reiji: Sawatari, I have a headache Yuya: Mom and Dad are mad at us for buying that ship. We’re grounded for the foreseeable future Yuto: Yep Yuzu: My dad just got the video. He says he’s just glad it’s a real ship and not a scam Shun: So am I. At least we didn’t spend over 13 million yen on a MODEL ship or something Ruri: Or a photo of a ship, I’ve seen that happen before Yuto: Oh, yeah. I remember how mad our teacher was when he found out that his teenage son had stolen nearly 12 million yen from him and bought a tank, only for it to turn out that he’d actually bought a PHOTO of a tank. That was the teacher’s life savings, gone Gongenzaka: My dad wants to know what we plan to do with our 13 million yen pirate ship Yuri: Yuya, Yuto, you two know how to fence right?~ Yuto: Yep Yuya: Yep! Yuri: Teach me and Yugo how to fence so we can do pirate battle reenactments on our new pirate ship! Yugo: Oh, that would be so much fun! Reiji: That’s actually not a bad idea. Naval battle reenactments and pirate battles could be fun, and I’m sure plenty of people would enjoy watching them. Yuya: Yeah, and I’ve always wanted to perform a pirate battle scene! Part of the reason I wanted to learn fencing, actually! Sawatari: I know how to fence too! We should totally do mock battles and reenactments! Reiji: Well, the ship is being brought to us so we’ll see what we can do once it arrives
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Yusho and Yoko were getting a bit curious about the pirate galleon that the boys had bought, and contacted Reiji about it. The boys could hear them talking over the phone from the landing of the stairs.
“So, when exactly is this pirate ship supposed to arrive?” Yoko asked Reiji. Yusho added, “And how is it supposed to get to Maiami City?”
“It’s being shipped by a cargo ship from Vancouver, Canada,” Reiji replied. “It should take between three and six weeks to arrive.”
“Well, when it arrives, please let us know,” Yusho said. “The boys will probably still be grounded when it arrives, and they’re not allowed to leave the house without one of us except to go to school. We’ll have to go with them if they want to see the ship.”
“Alright, I’ll let you know as soon as it arrives,” Reiji promised.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
True to his word, Reiji called Yusho and Yoko to let them know when the Lancers’ galleon had arrived. The Yuus were in their room playing Uno when Yusho knocked on their door. “Boys, your pirate ship has arrived! Why don’t we all go check it out?”
“Yay!” Yugo squealed, throwing his cards into the air. “I can’t wait!”
“Me neither!” Yuya said, scrambling to his feet. “Oh man, just imagine what people are going to think when they see a pirate galleon in the harbor!”
Yuri snickered, “I’ve seen the harbor! There’s mostly modern ships down there! Our pirate ship is definitely going to look out of place!”
“Oh, yeah, it’s definitely going to turn a few heads,” Yuto agreed. The Yuus stepped out of their room to find Yoko holding their winter coats. “Dress warmly, boys,” she said. “The harbor is cold this time of year!”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The Yuus were all very excited as the Sakaki minivan pulled up in the harbor parking lot that night. They could just see the tallest mast of their brand new pirate ship in the distance by the light of the moon. Yuya squealed in excitement. “Look! That must be it!”
“C’mon, let’s go check it out!” Yugo exclaimed, scrambling out of the car. The four boys began hurrying toward the harbor, but Yusho called out to them, “Boys! Stay with us! You’re still grounded, remember? You’re not allowed to just wander off.”
The Yuus all pouted furiously, but reluctantly went back to the parents. Together the six of them made their way down the harbor toward the pirate ship. As they got closer, they could see more and more of it. The galleon boasted a sleek, dark wooden hull with intricate carvings of sea creatures and mythical beasts. The wood had a glossy finish, catching the moonlight and reflecting it beautifully. Towering sails made of worn canvas billow in the wind, adorned with a bold black flag featuring a skull and crossbones. The sails were slightly tattered, giving it an authentic, well-used look.
“Oh, just look at it!” Yuto gasped, running up the gangplank onto the ship. The deck was spacious, with polished wooden planks that creaked underfoot. There were barrels scattered about, and the boys eagerly poked around in them. Some were filled with supplies and others with treasure. A large, ornate helm sat prominently at the rear of the ship, and a figurehead of a fierce-looking mermaid adorned the bow. Along the sides, there were several gleaming cannons ready for action, each meticulously maintained and aimed outward, adding to the galleon’s intimidating presence.
“Oh, this is so cool!” Yuri exclaimed, scooping up a handful of gold coins from a barrel and letting them fall through his fingers. Yugo grabbed his arm and began dragging him away. “Let’s go explore below deck!”
The boys wandered through the ship, checking out every room they could find. The captain’s quarters were luxurious, featuring a large, ornate bed with rich fabrics and a wooden desk cluttered with maps and nautical instruments. A porthole offered a stunning view of the sea, while shelves were lined with books about navigation and pirate lore. Yuya grinned, “I bet Reiji’s gonna claim this room.”
Moving on, the main cabin was lively, with a long wooden table surrounded by mismatched chairs. The walls were adorned with maps of treasure locations and nautical charts. Colorful flags hang from the ceiling, giving it a festive atmosphere. Yugo grinned as he examined one of the maps. “You know, I think this room would be perfect for Lancer meetings!”
“Just as long as you don’t take to drinking during the meetings anymore,” Yoko said sternly. The boys looked away guiltily and nodded as they continued on their way through the ship.
The galley was equipped with a large stove and an assortment of pots and pans hanging from hooks. A small pantry held supplies, and there was a big wooden table for preparing meals, where the Lancers could gather to plan their next adventure as they cooked. Yuri casually swiped an orange from the pantry. “Well, it’s a good thing there’s plenty of citrus on this ship. Pirate got scurvy from a lack of Vitamin C.”
“Ooh, yeah, I want an orange too!” Yugo said, snatching an orange. “Do you guys want oranges?”
“Yes, please!” Yuya said happily. Yugo tossed him an orange, and then offered Yuto one as well, which the eggplant graciously accepted.
Continuing on, the family came to the crew’s quarters, a series of small bunk rooms lining the hallway, each with simple bunks and personal belongings scattered about. There was an air of camaraderie and chaos, with pirate hats and treasure maps strewn everywhere. Yugo squealed when he saw the pirate hats, snatching one up and putting it on his head, before grabbing another and placing it on Yuya’s head. “It’s official! Now we’re pirates!”
Yuya giggled, “Arr, matey!” Yugo giggled as well looking around. “Too bad there aren’t any pirate hand hooks or swords laying about that could complete our pirate looks!”
“Well, maybe we can find some at the store!” Yuto suggested. “We should at least take a look!”
“Yeah, maybe we can find pirate clothes too!” Yuri agreed. “After all, if we’re going to be doing mock battles and reenactments, we ought to dress the part!”
“Well, why don’t we stop by the store on the way home to see what we can buy,” Yusho suggested.