Title: In The Blue
Characters: Juudai, Ryou
Chapters: 1-1||Words: 1,005
Genre: General||Rated: G
Challenges: Diversity Writing: YGO GX: alternate/divergent timelines: D7, 1-shot; Mini-fic Masterclass, GX, #5, the AT Tracks; Include The Word Boot Camp, YGO, #31, hang; GX Month 2021, day #12, Weapon Change
Notes: I rather enjoyed thinking about this one and I hav some ideas for later in the series spinning off from this (Manjoume's reaction to the Red dorm is going to be very different). But that will be in the far-flung future.
Summary: When you defeat the second in command of Duel Academia, the rules can be bent for you – even if you end up wishing that they weren't. Yuuki Juudai is in Obelisk Blue.

Juudai adjusted the fit of the blue uniform and wished that he could chuck it into the nearest trashcan. He hated how it felt on him - far too clean, just a smidge too tight, especially around his neck, and he kept getting the feeling if he tried to relax, the uniform would just force him to stand up straight all by itself.

How in the world had he ended up in Obelisk Blue? Not that he had really cared too much about what dorm he'd end up in, but he'd sort of assumed it would be Red or Yellow. Everything he'd ever heard told him that there were two ways to get into the Blue dorm - if you went to the associated high school or if you got promoted from one of the lower dorms. But he hadn't done either one. He wasn't supposed to be here.

And yet here he was.

Maybe because I beat Chronos-sensei? That was the only thing he could think of. Sometimes he could see the teacher giving him a very measuring look when he thought Juudai wasn't looking. He didn't know what else to call it.

With a deep sigh he flung himself on the bed, wincing as the uniform once again rubbed him the wrong way. The bed was way too soft, too. He rested his head on his folded arms and sighed. I kinda wish I hadn't if this is what it got me.

Juudai wondered if he could take a nap or if someone would come in there to wake him up right when he didn't want to be. He couldn't sleep in class - the other Blues poked him whenever he closed his eyes for more than a few minutes. They didn't like him being there as much as he didn't like being there, but they refused to let him bring them down.

He stifled a yawn again. Maybe he'd head down to the Red dorm to talk to Shou. Shou might even let him take a nap there! Wouldn't it have been awesome if he'd been assigned there? He could sleep whenever he wanted. He'd been told quite firmly that he couldn't let his grades drop below a certain level - they wouldn't put him down in Red, oh, no. He would be expelled.

That had to be Chronos-sensei's doing too. Juudai wondered if he should go and ask him why he wanted him in Blue so badly.

No. He'd probably find out, and Juudai wasn't all that certain if he wanted to.

Just as he slid off the bed and started for the door, a firm knock sounded. Juudai sighed; just what he'd expected. He wondered who it might be, and headed to find out.

The person who stood there he sort of knew, because the other first year Blues told him about some of the older Blues. This was Marufuji Ryou, the Kaiser of the school.

"Yuuki Juudai?" Kaiser asked, one eyebrow quirked. Juudai nodded, more than a little confused. "May I come in?"

"Uh, sure," Juudai said, taking a step back. "Is there something I can do for you?"

"Actually, I'm here to do something for you." The Kaiser observed Juudai. He wore his uniform as if it were the regal garb of a king, not some sort of prison meant to incapacitate him. Juudai wondered if he could ever learn to wear his uniform like that. "Chronos-sensei assigned me to be your - teacher, of sorts." Juudai thought he saw the faintest hint of a lip curl but it wasn't there enough for him to be sure.

He had a very bright reaction to that, of course. "Huh?"

"You are not the usual sort of Blue student we have," Kaiser pointed out. "Therefore, you need someone to make sure you fit into the Blue dorm."

Fitting in was the very last thing that Juudai wanted to do. He wrinkled his nose and shook his head. "I'd rather go to the Red dorm. That looks pretty cool." And maybe he'd not have all those people staring at him even when he wasn't dueling. He expected them to watch when he dueled. He didn't want them staring at any other time.

"I'm afraid that's not an option." Kaiser shook his head. "Chronos-sensei informed me that he pulled a few strings to have you in our dorm, out of respect for your skills. I saw that you defeated him. That's very rare. He even used one of his best monsters against you and you still did."

Juudai wanted to be proud of that. He just couldn't bring himself to be, not since it had landed him here. "So that means I can't ever leave?"

Kaiser shook his head quietly once more. Juudai dropped down onto his too-soft bed and groaned. He thought he'd be happy here in Duel Academia, dueling all the best. He'd never cared about what dorm he might be in, but now that he was in the best dorm, it didn't feel right. Like the world twisted out of its proper course.

"It isn't that bad being an Obelisk Blue," Kaiser tried to point out. "I can show you the benefits."

Juudai wondered if he were trying to sound kinder. He wasn't sure of how successful Kaiser was at it. But at lest he tried. Juudai looked over at him.

"The food's good?" He suggested. It was kind of rich and he wasn't sure if he liked it all, but it was good. Kaiser chuckled softly.

"So I have noticed." He gestured for Juudai to get up. "But I can show you other places round here, and things to do."

Juudai pulled himself to his feet. If he couldn't go hang out in Red, at least he could have some company, and he had herd about how skilled at dueling Kaiser was. Maybe if they hung out for a while, he'd be able to duel him? Worth a try.

And it gave him something to look forward to.

The End

Notes: SilvorMoon and I worked out some of the details here, such as Ryou being Juudai's "mentor". I am making the most evil giggling noises!