Chapter 11 - Turn 11 - M 1800 | A 2600

               Millie wipes a bit of sweat from her hand off on her jacket before drawing her next card - Blessed Winds. It didn’t help her out just yet, but… It could stand to help her in a pinch. Of course - she wasn’t sure how much leeway she had left to be put in a pinch. Every major move Annie has made has put her at a steep disadvantage; could she even survive another? And that comment about how she couldn’t hide from Kendama…
 
               Millie was nervous, but she looked down at Rosemary on the table - the card glittering before her. For the first time, Millie could stand to deal  some real damage - only Annie had that privilege prior; all the damage that had been dealt to Millie and Annie herself had been through Annie’s own actions. With Rosemary on her side… Maybe she’d earn the initiative? 
 
               “Snrrk.” Millie begins, lowering Blessed Winds down to the field, face down. “I shet a card. Now, Roshemary helped me lasht turn - now it’sh my time to return the favor. I activate Aroma Garden - she gainsh 500 attack, and I gain 500 life pointsh. Because of that - Dried Winds activates. I don’t need to attack to deshtroy Double Yoyo!” 
 
               With a soft groan, Annie moves the card from the field to the graveyard - and the students gathered around the duel begin to murmur again.
 
               “I thought she was done for, but…”
               “Hey, maybe she’s got a chance? Dried Winds is doing some work…”
               “Not even the last guy lasted this long against the president, maybe  the class president has some skills after all?”
 
               Millie blushed a little as she continued her turn. “Now, that there’sh nothing in the way, I…” Millie looks up to Annie and feels compelled to blurt out “Sh-shorry, but…” Shaking her head, she points toward the club president. “R-ro-roshemary attacksh you d-directly.”
 
               “Ooh, that’s gotta hurt…”
               “Just a little more, and she might win!”
               “Hey, the duel ain’t over yet…”
 
               Annie raises a hand to her forehead, groaning - but transitioning into a bit of a chuckle. “Uuuugh… I guess I should be glad you’ve only got weak monsters in your deck, or that could’ve ended things right here and now…” 
 
               Millie sits up a little. “Th-they’re not weak! They…” She puffs out her cheeks a little. “I… C-can’t force them t-to be shtrong on their own, that’s not fair to them… But if I t-try my besht in a duel - if I p-plan and use them the besht ways I can, if I… T-treat them right, we’ll win - snrrt - together!”
 
               Annie shakes her head, smirking. “Before this… Wouldn’t you have thought that sentiment was… A little childish?”
 
               Looking down to her cards, Millie nods bashfully. “M-maybe, but… I don’t think sho now. That’sh all that’sh important.” Motioning to the table, Millie concludes. “It’sh your turn.”