It was just like Ryo said before - the crowd wanted to see him and Rika in the finals and the organizers of the tournament made their wish come true. Ryo and Rika didn't have to duel in the semi-finals yet. Kazu and Kenta were so happy about that, that they actually played a few really good games against some random people.
'That wasn't bad, Kazu. You can be king's jester now, hahaha ...' Rika made him a compliment.
'Oh so funny!' Kazu rolled his eyes and tried to remember, if Rika ever made a joke before. Well, she is acting weird the last few days ...
Ryo approached them and Kazu was carefully observing the king and the queen. 'So, Rika, you're first.'
'Yeah .. I got that fat guy that's showing all his shining cards to other players thinking he can beat me with that.'
Ryo and Kenta giggled. 'Well, you better win, I don't want to fight him in the finals.'
Rika was just about to say something, when the lights went off and the host appeared on the stage. 'It is time to start with the semi-finals! Here they are, our semi-finalists! Nonaka Rika, also known as the Digimon Queen, and Tanaka Shin, her opponent!! Let me hear some applause people!!'
The crowd started to scream Rika and Shin's names and applaud them.
'Good luck,' Ryo's voice whispered the words in her ear and her face became a little red.
'Go Rika, you can do it! C'mooon!!' Kazu and Kenta yelled behind her and she stopped thinking about him. She has to win this.

The fight wasn't very interesting. At least not for Rika. She knew Shin's deck, since he was showing it in public all the time and she soon realised, that Shin didn't care so much for the strategies, his only concern were his cards and if they're rare enough to impress the best female card player. They were on a big stage and the host was the only one, who was with them. The audience was in front of the stage and you couldn't really see them because of the darkness.
'That's it, ladies and gentlemen!! We have our first finalist!! RIKA NONAKA!! Please stand up!!!' the host informed the crowd about her last deadly move and her supporters were screaming and jumping again. Rika stood up and shook hands with Shin, who wasn't really disappointed about his lost.
'Let's take a one hour break before the second match! We'll see you at five with Akiyama Ryo and Ishikawa Taku!'
Rika went back to her friends. Kazu and Kenta congratulated her and went searching for their opponents.
'Nice job,' Ryo said.
'Thanks. You'd do the same.'
'So ...'
'Yeah?'
'Do you have a minute?'
'Err, yeah, sure. You said you wanted to talk to me.'
'Yeah .. mmm, let's leave this place. It's too crowded.'
They were almost at the door when a journalist approached them.
'Oh crap,' Ryo whispered.
'Heey, guuys, I'm writing for a game magazin. It's called Player,' the journalist said.
How originally ...
'I was wondering, if I can ask you a few questions! The readers would be thrilled, if they read an interview about you too!'
'Well, we could talk about it tomorrow after the finals ...' Ryo suggested but the journalist wanted them now.
'Yeah I know .. I hope we will talk tomorrow, too. But I'd like to talk to Rika, if I may, I want to hear what she thought of the game and what she feels about the finals and about you ...'
What I feel about him ...?
'We can talk about that later-'
'It's ok, Rika, we'll talk after the interview. It's not that important anyway,' Ryo said and noded to the journalist.
'Can I make an interview with you, Ryo, after your game?'
'Sure, I'll wait for you at the stage. We'll see you,' he said and touched Rika's hand. She got goose bumps and immediately suggested the journalist to go for a cup of tea, before the woman could notice Ryo's effect on her.

Kazu and Kenta were watching them in the corner.
'Why are we spying on them??' Kenta asked his best friend.
'Because they act weird and that just annoys me.'
'It's none of our business what they're doing!'
'So what! I want to see what's going on!'
'Ok fine .. Rika is a little strange .. She's just too nice. That's just wrong ...'
'See?? We have to take them apart until tomorrow! After the game they can do whatever they want!'

'So what's your relationship with Ryo?' the journalist asked her first question.
'We're friends.'
'Yeah I noticed that,' she said and giggled.
'Why are you giggling?'
'Oh, it's nothing ...'
'If it was nothing, you wouldn't be giggling.'
'Hahah, you're right. Well, it's just so obvious that he likes you and you like hi-'
'Next question.'

The host called Ryo and his opponent to the stage right after Rika came back from the interview. I wonder, if she'll ask him the same questions ... I wonder what he'll answer if she does ...'
'There you are!'
'Huh?' it was Kazu. He grabbed her hand and took her to the other side of the hall, where Kenta was guarding two extra seats. Some players wanted to take the two seats but as soon as they saw Rika, they went away. Rika thanked Kenta and sat down.
The game was over in fifteen minutes. Ryo won and it looked like his opponent was going to cry but he managed to get off the stage without tears (a few minutes later somebody heard strange crying voices at the toilet).
'Ryo has that interview now, shouldn't we go and eat something?' Kazu suggested.
'We can wait for him and then all go together.'
'C'mon, he'll join us later. We're starving!'
'Yeah, c'mon Rika!' Kenta helped his friend.
'Ok .. whatever.'
Ryo joined them in some restaurant half an hour later. The three of them congratulated him for his win and Kazu couldn't stop talking about the finals. When he went to the bathroom, Rika finally got the chance to ask Ryo about his interview.
'It was ok .. She was really curious, that journalist.' Rika's heart was getting louder.
'Oh? What did she ask you ...?'
'That's so interesting, Ryo!' Kenta suddenly yelled and they both flinched. 'You have to teach us that move you made at the end of the duel today! That was really impressive!!'
'Kenta, why are you yelling?' Rika asked him a little annoyed.
'I'm not yelling, I'm- Kazu! Thang god you're back!' Kenta said, shut up and blushed a bit. Kazu seemed to be really proud of his friend. He did his job, even though he sounded a little strange.
Rika and Ryo glanced at one another and Kazu started to talk again.
Coincidence or not, Ryo didn't get the chance that day to talk to Rika. Kazu or Kenta were always somewhere around him and when they finally went to bed, Rika was already sleeping.
'I guess, it'll have to wait 'til tomorrow then ...' he said to himself and went to bed.
'Yes, we did it, Kenta,' Kazu told his friend after the door behind Ryo had closed.