Vanguard.
A card game that's been loved by people since ancient times.
There are as many encounters between cards and humans as there are stars in the sky.
There have been as many prayers as there are stars in the sky.
The feelings conveyed through cards can transcend even the laws of this world.
Six cards guided by fate...
Six destinies intertwine.
Through earnest wishes, six people have been chosen as the Fated Ones.
One seeks a miracle, one dreams of becoming unparalleled,
one reaches out towards the taboo, one walks an ever-changing path,
one has to be a guiding star, one searches for the truth within zero.
The Fated One answers to those who seek the truth more than anyone else.
In this land where fate intertwines, who shall become the first?
The first to attain the card that shall change their fate...
Fated One of Miracles
Big Bro, it's going to start!
Stand up, Vanguard.
Hurry, it's already begun!
I'm watching.
Why aren't you excited? It's the finals of Deluxe, you know?
Hikari, the stew's almost ready, so clear the dinner table.
Hey, I know you heard me.
The champion of the second Deluxe is...
Koshiba Raika!
I was this close again.
Thank you for the fight.
That was an incredible fight.
Yeah... Thanks.
What an amazing fight!
Are you gonna cry or eat? Pick one.
The stew's really good.
Are you sure you wanted stew?
You've managed to stay healthy for an entire year-
I told you, don't make it such a big deal.
It's not really an anniversary.
Besides, I just love stews.
Okay, if you say so.
Where am I?
Wait...
What in the world is going on?!
Who...
is that?
Are you okay, Big Bro?
Ah, my bad.
I had the weirdest dream.
The kind of ones that only teenagers see?
What do you mean? Who do you think I am?
You know, I thought I saw an interesting dream too.
But it sucks that I can't remember it.
Umm, are you ready to listen to me?
Oops, go ahead.
It was like, the town was floating in air.
And it was somewhere I've never been.
Some kind of creature flew over me.
And yet, I felt somewhat at peace.
It sounds all so vague that I can't really picture it.
You're right.
Yesterday's Deluxe was amazing!
I thought Taizo Kiyokura would clutch it.
He was so close!
The winner again was a high schooler just like us.
How cool is that?!
Akina.
Wanna go to the kiosk?
Nah, I've brought lunch today.
You're eating leftovers again?
No, I made me a rice ball.
Is Hikari staying healthy?
Yeah, she's been doing great recently.
She's excited about her school trip next week.
Nice, that's good to know.
Miss Mikoto!
Who?
You idiot! She's an idol!
She's been coming to school every day to focus more on her studies.
No way! She's too cute!
Later, Mikoto.
Yeah, see ya.
She really is cute.
Um...
Are you okay?
Whoa, I-I'm fine!
E-Excuse me!
I love how she's clumsy in a cute way!
I'm off to buy bread.
Sure, I'll keep your seat.
You tryin' to mess with me or what?!
Get outta here!
This is our hangout spot!
You deaf or somethin'? Hurry up and get going!
Why?
You!
What's with this guy?
Yo, what's wrong?
Damnit!
I'm sorry about this guy!
I'll give you my rice ball, so please forgive him!
Oh, and also, Hiromichi was looking for you in the cafeteria.
You better go see him now.
Jeez, you make sure to teach him how to speak to his elders, okay?
Gimme a break, Yobitsugi.
Oops, I'll need Hiromichi to go along with the story that he's looking for that guy.
There goes my rice ball! I've got nothing for lunch now!
Why'd you give it away?
That's the issue.
I'm telling you as your classmate,
but you need to read the room better!
I don't need to.
I'm telling you because you need to!
Do you have any spare bread?
Nope.
You...
Kept you waiting, huh?
Want a melon bread?
I love you, genius!
Much obliged!
You're way too kind, or should I say "nosy"?
You're like the only who's got Yobitsugi Suo's back.
It's like, I just can't leave him alone like that.
Well, you're like that with everyone.
Really?
You seriously didn't know?
Oh yeah, you free later? Wanna go karaoke after school?
Sorry, I've got work today.
Alright, good luck.
Maybe my move on the third turn cost too much...
No, I should have changed my style the moment I realized my calculation was off.
Guarding shouldn't have been an option.
Umm, Nao?
Replaying again?
Yep, the fight I lost on my last tournament.
I've been replaying it from the start.
That's incredible. How do you remember all the sequences?
Well, I am aiming to become a pro, you know?
Besides, I don't have much else to do today.
We've got fewer customers than usual, Akki.
Aki
So you're calling me Akki this week?
Akki
Huh? What did I call you last week?
It was Kinako.
Kinako
Kinako? Like that soy powder?
Then I guess I had better taste last week.
This is your fourth straight day working.
Don't you have a tournament coming up?
Yikes! You're right!
If I don't do well next time, I might never become a pro!
No way! That's serious!
Uh-oh! Both my wallet and college credit are in dire straits!
How do I get out of this?
Alright, back to work.
Welcome.
Thank you for visiting Cook Million!
She got over that quickly.
Oops, I'm sorry.
Not at all. It must have been fate.
Th-Thank you?
Praying to God is too easy, no?
All it takes is putting your hands together.
Humans ought to get their hands dirty instead of just praying.
Sunglasses at night?
I better not come here at night anymore.
I'm home.
I'm starving.
Wow, yesterday's stew!
Wha?
This...
is not good.
Hikari?
Big Bro...
You're up.
Where's Dad?
Not here yet.
I see.
So you called the ambulance for me?
Yeah, let me go call the nurse.
Jeez, I did it again.
I wish I could have gone on that school trip.
You never know.
It's impossible.
I guess it can't be helped, that's just life.
Don't say that!
How are you feeling, Miss Myodo?
I think it's calmed down now.
I couldn't tell her anything.
Hikari has always been prone to illness since childhood.
She was always in and out of hospital.
Big Bro, where's Dad?
Our parents divorced, and Dad's always busy with his duties as a police officer.
Dad's a hero of justice!
I bet he's arresting a criminal just now.
I can never do anything for her.
If only there was something I could do!
Wait... This place...
I saw it in my dream.
Who... Who are you?
A card?
Why am I holding this?
Wait.
Huh? But why?!
That is a Fated One card.
Huh?
Myodo Akina, you have been chosen to be a part of the battle to change your fate.
It's called-
A ghost!
Oh.
Jeez, what the heck was that?
That's my line!
A seaweed ghost!
Who are you calling a ghost? Calm down and look at me.
A plushie?
That's right.
A hippo plushie!
I'm a Dragon, you idiot!
Wait, can plushies talk?
Better yet, can plushies fly?
I told you to calm down!
I may look like a plushie, but that's not the real me!
I am Gabwelius.
My soul is merely wearing this to talk to you.
Gab? Soul?
You really are a ghost.
Listen well, I have a message for you.
You have won the chance to change fate.
Six chosen ones have been given the Fated One cards
in order to duke it out in Vanguard fights to compete for the power to change fate.
This battle has been titled the Fated Clash.
Only the sole victorious fighter at the end
will be allowed to change fate and make their wish come true.
What you possess is the Fated One of Miracles card.
As the owner of the card, you have the right to enter the Fated Clash.
So if I'm able to win it all in this Fated Clash,
you'll make any wish come true?
To be precise, not all wishes are granted.
However, your earnest wish drew you to the Fated One of Miracles.
That in itself is a miracle and something you wished for.
I wished it?
The Fated One of Miracles possesses the power to heal.
To heal?
But I don't believe you! How can a card make a wish come true?
Is it too far-fetched to believe when there's a flying plushie talking to you?
Yeah, but still...
Besides, you've already met it.
You must have a wish, right?
A certain fate that you wish to change.
I...
I'll be back to hear your answer another time.
But beware! For the Fated Clash is upon you shortly.
Eh?
A certain fate that I wish to change...
Here, the cards you asked for yesterday.
Thanks!
Now that I've got time on my hands, I'm going to rearrange my deck!
You sure like Vanguard.
Yep! You should play it too, Big Bro.
Maybe.
So how are you feeling?
I'm doing good for now, but they say that I have to stay in bed for a while.
Hey now, why are you more depressed than I am?!
Sorry.
No more apologizing!
Let me remind you that I don't want you to pity me.
I'm totally enjoying my life!
I'm gonna hit you the next time you look sad!
Woo, scary.
I'll be careful.
As long as you understand.
You're so strong, Hikari.
Huh? What?
Nothing. I better get to work soon.
Okay, good luck.
I'm not sure who I heard it from,
but there's a saying that's been with me for as long as I could remember.
"Even though it's just a glimmer of hope, a miracle will descend upon those who reach out their hand"
If I want a wish to be granted,
a fate to be changed, I will...
I beg you, Nao!
What is it all of a sudden?
Please teach me how to play Vanguard!
There's a cardfight that I really have to win.
But I only know a tiny bit about Vanguard.
I want to become strong... More than anyone!
Oh yeah?
You mean, even stronger than me?
Oh, that's, um...
I'm joking!
Sounds like it's really important.
Yes.
Come to think of it, wasn't I the one who taught you how to cook hamburg steaks?
Huh? Yes.
I also taught you how to serve a parfait, and how much a bibimbap should be heated.
We don't have enough chefs here.
Um, Nao?
Yeah, okay then!
As your senior, I'll lend you a helping hand!
Thank you so much.
What about your deck? You probably don't have one yet, right?
Yeah, I don't have one.
Right, very well.
Hey, Meg. Yoo-hoo.
Ah, Nao! Welcome!
Hello.
Can we use the fight space in the back?
I also want to borrow a teaching deck.
Of course. What nation would you like?
Huh? Nation?
There are six nations in the Vanguard world.
You can only use cards from the nation that you've chosen.
Dragon Empire, a large nation where Dragons fly.
Dark States, a magical nation shrouded in everlasting darkness.
Stoicheia, a utopia surrounded by the sky, sea, and nature.
Lyrical Monasterio, an academy carried on the back of a giant whale.
Brandt Gate, a nation known for advanced scientific technology.
Keter Sanctuary, a holy kingdom in the sky.
Huh? What is it?
Keter Sanctuary...
Did that sound pique your interest?
I think so... Yes!
I'm going with this one, Keter Sanctuary!
Here you go.
Thank you for your help.
Meg's a really nice girl.
She's actually quite affluent,
but she works here because she wants to buy her cards with money that she earns.
I'm such a fan.
Wha... O-Okay, I've got to tend the store.
Let me know if you need help.
Okay, shall we get started then?
Yes please.
First, you'll need to prepare.
What you need is a deck and a ride deck.
Choose a Grade 0 unit from your ride deck
and place it face down in the middle.
Try imagining it.
Imagining?
Yep, imagine this.
Where we are going to have our fight is Cray, a planet that's similar to Earth.
It's a faraway place where the units depicted in Vanguard reside.
Where the units reside...
We are but illusions on Planet Cray.
Just frail astral beings.
But because we are astral beings, we can project ourselves on the units.
Meaning that we can fight by riding the units.
And when we ride on a unit,
we become Vanguards.
So "ride" means to superimpose our souls onto a creature from a faraway planet?
That's quite the poetic imagination!
You might have a knack for Vanguard.
Really?
Yeah!
Vanguard is a game in which we fight with our imagined selves.
Wow, it sounds really exciting!
Right?
Okay, pull five cards from your deck and you're all set.
Each card actually has unique skills that you can utilize in your fight,
but this is just an introduction, so let's play without skills.
Okay.
Let me go first this time.
After all, I need to explain the rules.
The fight begins when we say "Stand up, Vanguard" and reveal our cards.
From that moment, we project ourselves on the unit and become Vanguards.
Are you ready?
Anytime. I'm all fired up!
Tell me about it.
Okay, here I go.
Yes!
Stand up, Vanguard!
I shall change it...
this fate.
Guiding with a radiant thread, as days grow dim
In nights where the unseen possibilities loom
The very essence of living gradually slips away
On a weathered chessboard, where colors have faded
I stand before you as you depart without conditions
What is it that I long for?
The concept of complete resistance seems implausible
Hanging above the looming fear
The die has been cast
And the enchantment of the bonfire persists, never ceasing to exist
Hey, don't you feel it that way?
Even if it's a fatal blow, it doesn't matter
The miraculous bell tolls
And the rain stained with decay
Propel me into a spiral of madness—a Rondo of Fate
The one who pierces through transcends parallel lines
Moving towards an unknown future
Even a withered voice can still sing its song
Simply because I wish to be with you
Show me what lies beyond the closing chapters
Awaken! Until the last day, together with you
Awaken! Until the final phase, within the verses of this song
Awaken! Until the last day, side by side with you
Awaken! Yes, perpetually weaving the tale
Today's
Featured Card!
Welcome to Cook Million!
That being said, I'm neither the owner nor a worker of this establishment.
However, using my secret art, I'm going to rent this place for a while.
So, what is my mission here at this place?
It's to introduce you to new cards!
So from the next episode, I'll summon a worthy unit and introduce them to you.
See you next time!
Fated Clash