Skye Zaizen

"Aoi"

- I just want my brother to know that I can hold on my own.

Aoi Zaizen (, Zaizen Aoi) is a character appearing in the Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS anime. She is Yusaku's classmate and the younger step-sister of Akira Zaizen. In LINK VRAINS, she is a popular Charisma Duelist under the alias Blue Angel (ブルーエンジェル, Burū Enjeru). When working with Ghost Girl, she goes under the alias of Blue Girl.

Appearance
Aoi is a fair-skinned young woman with light brown hair in a bob-cut and yellow eyes. Her standard attire is a uniform that consists of a slate-colored jacket with a light blue trim, which she wears over a light yellow jumper. Underneath, she has a white dress shirt with a blue tie and heart-shaped clip. Aoi's uniform also includes a short black skirt with black socks that reach below her knee and brown shoes. When she was younger, Aoi would wear a yellow dress with a green shirt underneath. Her hair was styled similarly to her Blue Angel persona. Aoi also carried a doll of "Evilswarm Mandragora".

As Blue Angel, she takes on a appearance of magical girl, true to her name, she has very long blue hair which reaches her chest and is tied into two long strands with blue ribbons. Her eyes and eyebrows are also blue and she has a green clover tattoo on her right cheek. She wears a blue choker and pink heart-shaped winged earrings. Her outfit consists of a white sleeveless shirt with a blue necktie. Underneath, she wears a blue and pink dress with wing-shaped frills, and dark blue thigh-high socks. She wears dark and light blue boots with wings attached to each one. Lastly, she has a pair of white wings with pink heart-shaped and lavender clover-shaped patterns on each wing.

At home, Aoi's casual clothes include a blue and white t-shirt with pink accents, light blue shorts with a pink drawstring, and baby blue slippers.

Personality
Aoi is described as being very nice, polite, timid, and reserved on first sight. As a child, based on a picture of her, she is a shy girl, holding onto her mother. However, as a Charisma Duelist, Aoi becomes very active in LINK VRAINS. As Blue Angel, her personality is very bubbly, energetic and she is a smiling idol with a cheerful demeanor. She is very obedient to her older step-brother, Akira, but also wants to prove herself and is willing to show him that she can handle something on her own. She seems very distrustful of others, as she thinks most people only approach her for her connections to SOL Technologies. Despite this she is shown to be very grateful for people who have helped and saved her and she is also eager to help them in return.

Aoi was shown to be get annoyed and angry when Emma lectured her. This carried on inside LINK VRAINS as Blue Angel said she was in a bad mood and felt like beating someone. When Blue Angel worked out Baira was behind the virus which infected her, Blue Angel became more determined to beat her and said she couldn't forgive her.

Etymology
"Aoi" (葵) means "hollyhock", a plant associated with abundance and great fortune and was also the emblem of the Tokugawa family. "Aoi" may also be derived from (青い), a Japanese word for Blue, reflected by her alias, "Blue Angel". The characters that form "Zaizen" (財前) can be translated as "before wealth".

Abilities
In LINK VRAINS as Blue Angel she can summon and create a blue energy whip.

In a Speed Duel, Aoi can use the Skill "Trickstar Fraud", which allows her to discard a "Trickstar" monster during the opponent's turn in order to force them to draw until they have 3 cards in their hand.

History
Ten years prior to the story, Akira and Aoi's parents were married, and the two became siblings. But on their way to an anniversary, their parents died in a car accident. This left Akira and Aoi alone and their possessions were sold, including their manor. To provide a living for him and his sister, Akira often broke the law, but Aoi made him happy, and Akira swore to protect her smile. Aoi cried a lot for the disappearance of her parents, feeling alone and miserable. To cheer her up, Akira read her the story of "Blue Angel", which made Aoi happier. This also motivated her to become a hero of LINK VRAINS, under the alias of Blue Angel.

Hanoi
Aoi first appeared as Blue Angel and was about to face an unnamed Duelist in LINK VRAINS. Before she was able to begin the Duel, an unnamed Knight of Hanoi appeared. She ran away in fear, and was about to be attacked by "Cracking Dragon", but Playmaker arrived in time to save her. She then watched the Duel between Playmaker and the Knight, and when Playmaker fell from his D-Board, she returned her debt to him by throwing him back his D-Board with an energy whip she summoned. After Playmaker defeated the Knight, she and Go Onizuka approached him and challenged him to a Duel. He refused their challenge, claiming that he had no interest in either of them and left, much to their dismay.

After she defeated an unnamed opponent in a Speed Duel, she logged out of LINK VRAINS and went to watch the sunset. Meanwhile, Kolter and Yusaku discovered her Blue Angel persona and decided to track her down the following day at school, at Kolter's suggestion he do so to gain an audience with Akira. He watched her enter the Duel Club, and when he reluctantly joined in after her, she introduced herself. When he asked about the new Duel Disk model used by everyone in the club, Naoki Shima, another member, started bragging about how Akira had given them all the new Duel Disks, and Aoi shot him a stern glare. While Ai tried to start a conversation with the AI program in Aoi's Duel Disk, she noticed that Yusaku's Duel Disk was a card-loading model, the same as Playmaker's. She then asked to see Yusaku's Deck, and Yusaku handed it to her, though it was actually a dummy Deck and not his real one. After she looked at the cards, she politely handed it back with a word of thanks, but Naoki snatched it up and started laughing at the cards. She looked on as the club's president scolded Naoki for insulting the Deck, and Naoki apologized and gave it back to Yusaku. After school, Aoi returned home to her apartment, and the housemaid robot there told her that Akira would not come home because of work. She turned on the TV and saw him deflect press questions about Playmaker's Duel against Go. When he was asked if Blue Angel would Duel Playmaker next, he said no, at which point she turned the TV off.

That evening, she got a call from Akira, who asked her why she was unhappy, then told her to stop Speed Dueling immediately because it was dangerous and she could die, and because he cared about her. He also told her not to let anyone find out she was Blue Angel as it could jeopardize his position. She timidly replied that she understood and hung up, but then reflected on her resolve to show him that she could hold her own, and decided to Duel Playmaker. She entered LINK VRAINS and, after turning down several Duel requests, issued a public challenge to Playmaker to come out and Duel her, with Yusaku and Shoichi watching. Yusaku refused her challenge, as she was not a Knight of Hanoi. After waiting in vain for Playmaker to show up, she was instead approached by Specter, who claimed to be a fan of hers, but she realized he was lying. He told her he wanted her to defeat Playmaker, and gave her a card, which he told her would free her hidden desires. After he left, she wondered what she was doing there, apparently having no memory of the incident. She bumped into Yusaku again the next morning at school. Ai tried to talk to her Duel Disk again, but this time it gave an angry response, and Ai immediately realized something was wrong. As Aoi and Yusaku walked to class, she asked him why he had joined the Duel Club, not believing it was because he loved Dueling. When Yusaku asked her about her brother, she angrily told him that people only ever talked to her because they either wanted the new Duel Disk, or a job at SOL Technology after graduating. She told him not to bother asking because her brother wouldn't trust her, and ran off.

While in class, she received a text from "Playmaker" accepting her challenge, when it was actually sent by Ai. She excused herself, claiming she needed to go to the infirmary, but instead went to the rooftop to enter LINK VRAINS. When the Duel started, she felt a wave of excitement when she heard her fans cheering her on. Blue Angel started off splendidly, chipping away a considerable amount of Playmaker's LP and destroying "Decode Talker" even with his attempt at defense. Blue Angel then drew "Dark Angel" and started getting influenced by the Knights of Hanoi. As Playmaker made his move and was about to attack, Blue Angel used her Skill in tandem with her cards to attempt to defeat Playmaker, but was foiled. She then lost consciousness from the mental damage she received from Dark Angel, as "Encode Talker" finished her in one hit.

After the duel, Blue Angel fell into a coma. Playmaker then logged out and found a comatose Aoi on the roof. She was then rushed to the hospital. The doctors stated that they couldn't identify the reason or cure for Aoi's condition. Later Blue Angel's unconscious body was seen in a building within LINK VRAINS, during the confrontation between Akira, Playmaker and Varis, who stated that he would only give Aoi the removal program if Playmaker defeated him in a duel. Akira looked at her sister's unconscious LINK VRAINS avatar, noting how her fate depended in the Playmaker's Duel against Varis. Akira looked at his sister, concerned how Varis and Playmaker stopped their Speed Duel and entered the Data Storm.

With Varis' defeat, Playmaker acquired the virus-removal program. He approached Blue Angel's avatar and released the program, making her disappear. Ghost Girl explained she logged out, and Akira sensed Aoi was recovering. Akira came to Aoi's bed at the hospital, and watched as she woke up from her coma. Aoi apologized for her actions, but Akira just asked her to rest. While Akira cried that she was restored, Aoi smiled, seeing how much her brother cared for her. Since the incident in LINK VRAINS, Aoi did not show up at school, nor did she enter the network. Yusaku believed her brother simply restricted her the access to LINK VRAINS to prevent any further danger that could befall her. As predicted, Aoi was restricted by the robot at her apartment from leaving, per Akira's orders. She took a tablet and accessed LINK VRAINS network, in a shape of a digital butterfly. She overheard the conversation between Ghost Girl and Akira. After the latter logged off, Ghost Girl recognized the butterfly as Blue Angel, and offered her a chance to regain her reputation. She logged into the LINK VRAINS and stopped one of the AI prototypes from attacking Playmaker with her whip. She swore she would be the one to defeat Playmaker, and asked of the AI to stop their attacks. The AI prototype swore to eliminate her, too. Blue Angel promised to take them on and defeat them.

Playmaker muttered Blue Angel's name, who came to repay him for curing her. Playmaker claimed he never indebted her; regardless, Blue Angel started the Duel with the other AI prototype, and thought she'll be the one to defeat Playmaker. Blue Angel went with her usual tactic by using "Trickstar Light Stage" to summon "Trickstar Lilybell" and, with "Trickstar Candina", Link Summoned her "Trickstar Holly Angel". Special Summoning a "Trickstar Narkissus", Blue Angel had "Trickstar Holly Angel" and "Trickstar Light Stage" shave off the AI prototype's LP, and brought back "Trickstar Narkissus", along with "Trickstar Lycoris". As the AI prototype drew another card, another 400 LP was dealt to it as damage, while "Trickstar Holly Angel" increased its ATK, Blue Angel wished to sting the prototype even more. To halt Blue Angel's strategy, the AI prototype used "Abyss Invitation" to inflict 200 LP damage back to Blue Angel whenever the AI prototype is damaged. Like the other prototype, the AI Link Summoned "Tentacluster Nautilus", and destroyed two of his "Tentacluster Blastsucker" to inflict a total of 1200 LP damage.

Blue Angel noted the prototype fought her by using effect damage, and she would retaliate in a similar manner. The prototype banished two of his "Tentacluster Blastsucker", to shave Blue Angel's LP to 400, while it had 1500 LP left. The prototype brought back a "Tentacluster Blastsucker", and had it attack "Trickstar Lycoris", while Blue Angel noted it would destroy it on purpose and banish it to win the Duel. Using "Trickstar Cascade", Blue Angel negated the attack, preventing AI's victory. Blue Angel declared she wouldn't let the AI prototype gain another turn, as she drew a card. Bringing out "Trickstar Candina", Blue Angel Link Summoned "Trickstar Black Catbat", and dealt 200 LP to the prototype, who dealt the damage to her with "Abyss Invitation". "Trickstar Black Catbat" reduced "Tentcluster Blastsucker's" ATK, and Blue Angel's "Trickstar Temptation" returned it to the AI prototype's hand. Her "Trickstar" monsters defeated the AI prototype, banishing it. Blue Angel cheered and winked for her victory. She came to the data bank and hid, seeing her brother was with Ghost Girl and confronted Playmaker. She listened how Akira was actually demoted to help her out during the "Varis crisis". She also listened about Akira's story that he had to participate in illegal work to protect her.

Blue Angel was concerned when Akira got directly hit by "Decode Talker". As Akira tried to persuade Playmaker to stand down, Blue Angel came, surprising Akira for her arrival. Blue Angel wished to know about the story from ten years ago, too. She admitted she did not know what to Duel for, and felt this story would focus her on continuing forward. Blue Angel listened to the story, and was shocked to hear the children undertook cruel experiments, under the name Hanoi Project. She was also shocked to hear SOL Technologies' data bank contained the name of the mastermind behind the project. Blue Angel was amazed to see Playmaker turned the Duel with one card. "Firewall Dragon" attacked "Tindangle Acute Cerberus", and Blue Angel rushed to her brother. However, he protected her and fell down in defeat. Akira saw he could not do anything to stop Playmaker, but Blue Angel corrected him, as she knew what Akira was feeling. She noted nobody would stand up to Playmaker, and nobody would prevent her brother from protecting her.

Another
Aoi watched Go Onizuka battle Dr. Genome, and even logged in to LINK VRAINS. After Go won, Blue Angel joined his and Playmaker's alliance to stop the Knights of Hanoi. At school, Aoi joined the Duel Club, where Naoki voiced his concern of the Knights of Hanoi destroying LINK VRAINS. Hosoda forbade Naoki or anyone else to fight the Knights of Hanoi, or else he'd regret that. Thus, he disbanded the club until the problem was solved, and Aoi shushed Naoki from protesting. Aoi left, but listened how Naoki boasted about Playmaker fighting the Knights of Hanoi. At evening, Aoi and Akira ate dinner, since the latter could come back from work earlier due to his demotion. Aoi gloated, making Akira believe she did not like that. Seeing Kitamura developed the AI army to confront the Knights of Hanoi, Akira reminded them unlike Aoi, the AI-s could not be turned into Anothers, and forbade her to enter LINK VRAINS. Aoi was sad, but accepted Akira's demand. The two watched as Kitamura's AI army battled the Knights of Hanoi, but lost to two of elite members. Akira left to work, while Aoi wondered if she should join her friends in the fight, or to stay outside under Akira's protection.

After leaving school, Aoi heard some male students wondering why Blue Angel hasn't shown up in LINK VRAINS for a long time. She was then approached by Emma Bessho who wanted to talk to her but Aoi ignores her until the latter recognizes her as Blue Angel. Aoi then recognizes Emma as Ghost Girl, who asked her if she was done being Blue Angel and learned many people are waiting for her to show up in LINK VRAINS. Aoi then claim it is an exaggeration and she only fights for herself and not for others. Emma then reminded her the reason she became Blue Angel was because she wanted to gain her brother's attention and doesn't need Blue Angel anymore after realizing that Akira loves her. Emma then told Aoi its better she stop being Blue Angel unless she is not committed to her work and encourage her to do things that will make her happy and then left. Aoi then returned to home after the conversation with Emma and got furious and felt insulted on what Emma told her wondering who is she to give lecture on her and decided to log in to LINK VRAINS.

When Baira was about to turn Frog and Pigeon into Anothers, Blue Angel showed up and aggressively challenges Baira to a Duel, stating she was in a very bad mood. When a surprised Baira thought Blue Angel would never show up in LINK VRAINS, Blue Angel angrily questioned her is she going to give lecture to her. When Blue Angel learned she was used as a test subject to create the Another virus and Baria as its creator, she became furious and vowed to defeat her. The two Speed Dueled with Blue Angel activating "Trickstar Light Stage", adding "Trickstar Lilybell" to her hand and activates its effect to Special Summon it. She then Normal Summons "Trickstar Nightshade" and Link Summon "Trickstar Holly Angel". As "Nightshade" was used as a Link Material for the Link Summon of a "Trickstar" monster, Blue Angel activates its effect, Special Summoning it from the Graveyard. When Baira uses Current Corruption Virus, all of Blue Angel's monsters effects are negated and their ATK reduced to 0 for three turns.

Baira activated the effect of "Dark Mummy Surgical Forceps" which inflict 500 damage to Blue Angel. As Baira summoned "Surgical Forceps" which attacks "Holly Angel", Blue Angel activated the effect of "Trickstar Perennial", sending it to the GY to prevent "Holly Angel's" destruction. Blue Angel later drew "Trickstar Narkissus", and subsequently Normal Summon it to Link Summon "Trickstar Bella Madonna" and defeat Baira. After the duel, Baira approached her saying that she is back to LINK VRAINS. Blue Angel then told her all she did was defeat her and get her revenge on Baira, claiming she only fights for herself and was back only for today. Baira activated the removal program which cures the Another victims. She then told Blue Angel to look at the sky and both witness Another victims getting cured and logging out of LINK VRAINS. Blue Angel questioned her why did she activate the program. Baira claim that Blue Angel was able to change her heart and she may have fought for herself but can change those around her and encouraged her to carry hopes on others if she does she is fighting for everyone. The next day both Aoi and Akira watch the news about the Another victims getting cured while they were eating breakfast. Aoi felt guilty for disobeying Akira and attempt to apologize him for her actions but Akira was proud of her and praises her for saving the victims of Another. This made Aoi genuinely happy and she gave a cheerful smile to Akira. When Yusaku and Shoichi went to Kyoko Taki's apartment, who Dueled Blue Angel, a camera was filming them.

Aoi watched as an ominous tower appeared in LINK VRAINS, and wondered what was going on. Seeing avatars being absorbed, Aoi realized these people could not log out. She watched Spectre erasing Kitamura, and the former threatened to do this to anyone that dared entering LINK VRAINS. Being angry at him, Aoi logged in LINK VRAINS. She quickly met up with Go and Playmaker. She was fighting for everyone, as those people look up to her. Go exclaimed the same, since he was the hero that needed to protect LINK VRAINS. Ai noted how full of energy Go was. Go noted that was the Ignis, who yelled out he had a name, Ai. Playmaker explained he came to stop the Tower of Hanoi, rescue Ghost Girl and confront the mastermind, Varis. Blue Angel was shocked to hear Ghost Girl vanished, too, at the hands of Varis. Go asked about the data Ghost Girl gave to Playmaker, who reported Varis intended to destroy LINK VRAINS, using the tower. Blue Angel realized if the network would be destroyed, then all the people absorbed would be destroyed, too, hence why Playmaker exclaimed the importance of stopping the tower's completion, and Ai added it would prevent him from being erased. Go asked how to stop the tower, and was told Varis had to be defeated. Ai warned the time limit was six hours before the tower was completed. Go and Blue Angel promised to go there, but Playmaker replied it was better if they stayed home, in safety. This actually motivated Go and Blue Angel to protect the children and the absorbed people, including Ghost Girl.

Playmaker did not care, but asked of them to be careful. He reminded them one of them had to defeat Varis, who, according to Ghost Girl, wielded a powerful card. The trio promised to meet up against and went in different directions. She soon faced Spectre, who introduced himself, and told it was the second time they met. With a snap of his fingers, Spectre reminded Blue Angel of the incident, when he gave her "that card". Blue Angel accused him of giving her that computer virus, as Spectre noted he was "her fan". She demanded an explanation behind this, but Spectre refused to answer, thinking she would not understand, like combining hobbies and ideals. He exclaimed an idol like her would not understand his noble ideals. Since Varis ordered him to crush anyone that wanted to stop their plans, Spectre let Blue Angel escape. She refused, swearing to defeat him and Varis. Spectre thought a weakling like her could not defeat Varis, and promised a far worse fate than a computer virus should she lose, alerting her she would not be able to return to the real world. Blue Angel nevertheless promised to protect LINK VRAINS from the likes of him. The two initiated a Master Duel. Spectre Normal Summoned "Sunseed Genius Loci", and used it to Link Summon "Sunavalon Dryas".

Spectre explained his monster could not be targeted for attacks, but Blue Angel suspected there was more to it than that, while Spectre set a card. She asked about Ghost Girl's whereabouts, as Spectre joked that he hoped he would be Ghost Girl's friend, with a name like that. Blue Angel demanded a serious answer, as Spectre proclaimed Varis had defeated her, and was a part of Tower of Hanoi as data. He assured Blue Angel she would be a part of the tower, too. Blue Angel swore she would not allow Spectre to do that, by defeating him, which amused Spectre. Blue Angel started her turn by summoning two "Trickstar" monsters, and played "Trickstar Light Arena" to prevent Specter from activating his Set card, and brought out "Trickstar Holly Angel". Spectre noted its effects can damage him and strengthen "Holly Angel", as Blue Angel noted being too popular had its drawbacks. She revived "Trickstar Lilybell" and inflicted 200 LP damage on Spectre. However, she saw the tree started reacting, but Spectre ordered her to continue. "Lilybell" attacked Spectre directly, who announced his tree's effects have been triggered - Spectre Special Summoned a Link Monster, "Sunvine Gardna", which restored Spectre's LP back. Spectre took note that Blue Angel drew inspiration from the book named after her. Spectre admitted it was a good book, and read it out loud, claiming the character, "Blue Angel", shared the traits of Aoi Zaizen herself. He continued reading, pointing out that Aoi Zaizen also feels lonely and cries. To prevent that, Spectre knew Aoi Zaizen became Blue Angel, a hero of LINK VRAINS, to become popular. Blue Angel was angry Spectre dug up her past, who was nevertheless amused. Blue Angel identified him to be like the evil monsters in the book, as a "sad excuse for a human". She swore to defeat Spectre, who claimed it would be an honor. "Holly Angel" attacked "Sunvine Gardna", who protected Spectre by reducing 800 LP damage from that attack, as well as ending Blue Angel's Battle Phase. Blue Angel realized Spectre played a defensive Deck, who boasted it is an absolute defense. Blue Angel ended her turn with a Set card, while Spectre belittled her efforts.

Blue Angel planned on using "Trickstar Reincarnation", which would make Spectre draw 5 cards and two of her "Trickstar Lycoris" would inflict 2000 LP damage on him. His Set card, "Sunvine Burial", banished Blue Angel's "Trickstar Reincarnation" and all of her copies in her Deck. He predicted Blue Angel would use that to inflict a lot of damage on his LP through "Lycoris". Spectre claimed he opened Blue Angel's heart, finding that loneliness when Aoi was six years old, after the disappearance of her parents, soothed down when Akira read the "Blue Angel" book to her. Seeing Akira is her "treasure", Spectre knew Aoi fears losing that "treasure" the most. He proclaimed Blue Angel would lose everything, after she loses to him in this Duel. Spectre drew a card and was inflicted 400 LP damage, and used "Sunavalon Dryas" to bring out "Sunvine Healer", which restored his 500 LP back. Using "Sunvine Healer", Spectre's "Sunavalon Dryas" evolved into "Sunavalon Dryades", a Link-2 tree. He noted like Akira protects his sister, this tree protects Spectre. Blue Angel sensed Spectre was also alone, since he loved the book, but unlike her, he was not loved and became destructive, which is the source of his power. Spectre found Blue Angel a strange person to have noticed his traits. Still, this made to him clear that Blue Angel knew her purpose, and found it bad that she would not live up to that. He brought the "Sunseed Genius Loci", using it to Link Summon "Sunvine Thrasher", whose ATK was boosted to 2400. "Sunvine Thrasher" destroyed "Holly Angel" in a double K.O., but Specter revived the latter to "Sunavalon Drydes'" Link Marker. "Holly Angel" destroyed one of Blue Angel's "Trickstar Lycoris", and Spectre asked her how did it feel to be attacked by her own ace monster. Blue Angel wondered if there was a way to destroy his tree, and upon looking at her hand, found a new strategy.

Blue Angel Link Summoned "Trickstar Crimson Heart" and regained a bit of her LP. To stop "Sunavalon Dryades", Blue Angel raised its ATK by playing "Trickstar Bouquet", then had it sent to the Extra Deck with "Trickstar Temptation". She noted Spectre bore love towards the tree, but hatred as well, which was covered by the tree. Spectre admitted he sought love, but that love was never fulfilled. He claimed he was fine, even if he was scarred. He tempted Blue Angel, who fought for those that were hurt, for him, too, by negating "Trickstar Temptation" by the summoning of "Sunvine Maiden". Blue Angel was greately displeased her strategy failed, a failure Spectre commended to her lack of desire to understand him. He claimed he felt alone, at the bottom of a canyon, walking on a path without sound or light, and told she would never defeat him if she does not understand that. His tree evolved further into "Sunavalon Dryanome", and Link Summoned a "Sunvine Thrasher", who attacked "Trickstar Crimson Heart". While the latter was revived to Spectre's field, Blue Angel used "Trickstar Light Arena" to reverse the damage, gaining LP to 5000. With no defenses left, Blue Angel took 4000 LP damage from "Trickstar" monsters Spectre stole from her GY.

On her next turn, Blue Angel made three consecutive Link Summons to bring out "Trickstar Delfiendium". Returning the three banished "Trickstar Reincarnation" cards to her hand, Blue Angel's "Trickstar Delfiendium" gained 3000 ATK, though Spectre reminded her that his tree protected him. Blue Angel pointed out that all of "Sunavalon Dryanome's" Link Markers were occupied, and could not trigger its effect. Her "Trickstar Delfiendium" attacked, and Blue Angel realized she won. However, Spectre clapped for this strategy, with his LP intact, which shocked Blue Angel. He used "Sunavalon Dryanome" to reposition the attacked "Trickstar Crimson Heart" to a different Main Monster Zone and negated the attack. Since Blue Angel was unable to set "Trickstar Reincarnation" cards she obtained, Spectre noted she was unable to do anything and would finish her off and let her meet Ghost Girl soon. Blue Angel went defensive by returning "Trickstar Delfiendium" and "Trickstar Candina" to Special Summon two "Trickstar Lycoris". She bet on her strategy by playing "Trickstar Treat", which set the "Trickstar Reincarnation" from her hand, meaning Spectre would draw cards and take damage from "Trickstar Lycoris", at the cost of Blue Angel taking 1000 LP at the End Phase. Blue Angel noticed Spectre has been analyzing her, meaning he wanted some protection, too, from being alone. She declared the ultimate love was the blue love he sought out.

She swore to save Spectre, who dared her to just do that. Spectre took 1600 damage from Blue Angel's tactic, but he replenished LP by bringing out "Sunvine Healer". Blue Angel continued by setting a second copy of "Trickstar Reincarnation", halving Spectre's LP. Blue Angel noted even in cruelest hearts, people yearned for love, and played her final "Trickstar Reincarnation". Spectre started crying, demanding that Blue Angel saved her, but before that happened, Spectre played "Sunbloom Doom". Targeting "Trickstar Holly Angel", Spectre gained LP equal to the ATK of all monsters that shared the type, Fairy. Spectre noted Blue Angel didn't live up to her promise, who was terrified, as Spectre's LP raised to 8800 due to "Sunbloom Doom" and then fell to 7200 after "Trickstar Reincarnation" resolves, having lots of LP still remaining thanks to the LP gain from "Sunbloom Doom". He admitted that he did read the "Blue Angel" book, and found he had to defeat someone as pathetic enough to think that had to save him. He ripped the book, which was burnt down. Blue Angel questioned if tormenting her made Specter happy, who explained even if "Trickstar Treat" would deplete all of her LP, he would personally defeat her. Simply by banishing "Sunbloom Doom", Spectre destroyed Blue Angel's "Trickstar Lycoris" (whose Level equaled the number of Spell and Trap cards played during this turn), and inflicted 1000 LP to her. Spectre bid farewell to Aoi Zaizen, a girl that failed to become a Blue Angel, whose wings shattered at her defeat. Blue Angel fell down, making Spectre laugh maniacally.

Blue Angel was unconscious inside the network and outside after losing to Spectre, who mocked her efforts. Akira, who found her unconscious body in the real world, logged in to LINK VRAINS to save her. Akira quickly found her, but was trapped by Kiyoshi Kogami before he could reach her. Upon talking, Kogami left and Akira could do nothing but watch his sister get turned into data and sent to the Tower of Hanoi. As Spectre Dueled Playmaker, Blue Angel's data flew over and Spectre showed it off to Playmaker to prove his threat. Akira grasped the vines, sacrificing himself to let Playmaker win. He briefly thought of Aoi, and felt he would join her soon. With Varis' defeat, Playmaker stopped the Tower of Hanoi, which emitted the data back. Thus, Aoi and Akira woke up from their comas. Takeru Homura read the news made by the pigeon and frog about LINK VRAINS' heroes - Blue Angel, Gore and Playmaker - which motivated him to join and fight, too.

Unnamed arc
Yusaku took over Kolter's food truck. He was having trouble with cooking food, and was warned his frustrating look could turn away customers. Yusaku noticed Aoi was present, and replied he took over the culinary business while the owner was gone. Aoi wished to thank Yusaku for finding her when she was unconscious, and didn't have the chance to do so earlier. Yusaku believed anyone would've done the same. She asked for some coffee and hot dog, and doubted Yusaku would get any more customers that day. She later logged in the new LINK VRAINS, and ushered the crowd for the events and activities. Eventually, she noticed Playmaker came to LINK VRAINS, but wondered why would he log in. She was concerned for Playmaker's well being, seeing he faced a strange new foe. Much to her surprise, she saw a person with a new Ignis, and wondered who he was. When Soulburner summoned another copy of "Salamangreat Heatleo", Blue Angel wondered about the Reincarnation Link Summon the guy conducted.

Aoi passed by Takeru, who, from a distance, knew she was Blue Angel. Naoki reported to Aoi that the next club meeting would be held in a special room, while Takeru noted nobody knew she was the idol of LINK VRAINS. Later, she and Emma met with Akira at a gazebo.

Akira Zaizen
Aoi and Akira are step-siblings. He cares very deeply for Aoi due to their parents dying while they were young. Aoi, on the other hand, is shown to have a big brother complex and idolizes him. Akira is aware that she is Blue Angel, but fails to see her desire to gain recognition from him. Akira unknowingly neglects her due to him working to ensure she doesn't have any hardships. However, Akira has shown that Aoi is more important than his work as he risked his position to find a cure for her. He also seems protective of her, as seen when he questioned Yusaku about their relationship, or when he confronted Varis for the removal program.

Yusaku Fujiki (Playmaker)
Aoi and Yusaku are classmates, but only Yusaku is aware of her alter-ego. As "Blue Angel", Aoi is shown to develop an interest in Yusaku's alter-ego, "Playmaker", after he saved her from a "Cracking Dragon". She is shown to be grateful to "Playmaker" for saving her, and saved him in return after he fell from his D-Board. She also has a desire to defeat him in a Duel to prove herself.

Initially, Yusaku was interested in getting close to Aoi in order to obtain new leads regarding SOL Technology and his fight against Hanoi, but Aoi assumed that he, like many others, wanted a new Duel Disk or a job at SOL so she quickly dismissed him. Though she later approached him to say thank you for helping her when he help her while she was unconscious. She even ordered food from him while he was working Cafe Nagi, in a coy manner. Aoi is also hinted to have feelings for Yusaku after he took her to hospital  as she was shown to slightly blush while ordering a hot dog and coffee from him

Yusaku was shocked when he discovered that Aoi may have ties to the Knights of Hanoi showing that he never thought of her as enemy, but he was still willing to duel her. He was visibly disturbed when Hanoi's card began damaging Aoi so he rushed to end the Duel as quickly as possible, out of concern for her well being. After the Duel, Yusaku felt it was his responsibility to help Aoi recover from her coma and willingly walked into a trap set by Ghost Girl for the sake of saving her.

Yusaku's defeat of Varis allowed him to obtain the removal program which he used to awaken her. Following his Duel with Varis he immediately asked Kolter if Aoi was alright. After Aoi's recovery, Yusaku is shown to still be concerned about her safety and worried that she hadn't attended school for a long time. Ai also teases him for being worried about her.

After hearing about Yusaku's traumatic past, Aoi felt a great feeling of sympathy for him.

Emma Bessho (Ghost Girl)
Emma started to take an interest in Aoi after learning she is Blue Angel and Akira's sister. She has helped Aoi in many ways and shows concern for her well being.After learning that Blue Angel hasn't showed up in LINK VRAINS for a long time Emma then encouraged Aoi to go back to her sense however took her advice as a insult and became angry at Emma.After learning from Playmaker that Emma became a victim of Tower of Hanoi Aoi showed concern over her well being and determined to save her even demanding Spectre about her whereabouts.

Deck
Aoi uses a "Trickstar" Deck that incorporates Link Summoning. Her main strategy is to first gain card advantage while Summoning multiple "Trickstar" monsters, then use a combination of "Trickster Light Stage" and "Trickstar Lycoris" to inflict effect damage to the opponent multiple times a turn, while powering up "Trickstar Holly Angel" at the same time. Ai describes her Duel style as "poking with needles". Her tactics also include quickly assembling different "Trickstar" cards to perform a variety of combos.