【09 - Settling in and Dueling New People!】


One week in Heidi Hirazumi had settled quickly into the Duel Masters Academy. Normally she would've rushed around, introducing herself to all the other teenage duelists and made a great many friends by now. The fact she wasn't attending classes and doing rigorous strategy exercises with Narciel instead inhibited her ability to socialize. Often times her lunch breaks weren't matching up with everyone else's either, due to the fact she and her mentor were so involved with the training. When the school day was done Heidi had opportunity to be friendly and introduce herself to other people on campus.

"Hi! I'm Heidi!" she'd say, walking up to a group of four rifling through a deck of nature cards.

"Oh, the chosen fire duelist! Hi," and they'd all introduce themselves.

"Any of you guys fancy a duel?"

"Well, I'd give it a go cause you're the chosen fire duelist, but Kaijudo dueling is banned. We're only allowed to do it for exams, official championships or special principal-excused exceptions."

"Really?"

Believe it or not the white-uniformed teens weren't too interested in dueling in their free time. They had compulsory games every day in classes, and after Heidi's day-long training she could understand why they'd rather put their decks aside and do something else instead. They were only interested in playing non-Kaijudo duels with her simply because they knew she was the chosen fire duelist. Heidi didn't even get weekends off, unlike them.

While this academy was a lot like a palace: marble, lacquered wood, fountains and pillars, not all the kids were preppy and snobby. About half of them were just like normal teens, played video games, listened to music, played console games. They'd go out into the city but Heidi was 'highly recommended not to leave the school'.

"We can't keep you locked up in here, Heidi" Narciel had said "even though it'd be safer if we did. If you absolutely must leave the academy be sure you take Timothy, Soroban and Iwate with you and let me know beforehand. It's because we had lieutenants in the city specifically looking for you."

Heidi didn't go explore the city just yet, she still felt bad after running away before and almost getting captured by one of the lieutenants. On campus she introduced herself to a lot of people, but after word got around that she seemed friendly plenty of people came over and introduced themselves to her. It seemed that before her public duel with Tsukumo everyone had assumed she was just another Dawn of the Phoenix disciple. With Wembley gone and her among them their numbers remained four and they didn't wear the distinguishable white cloaks inside school property anyway. Mostly it was arrogant snobby kids that introduced themselves to Heidi, their hair perfectly styled, eyebrows plucked, skin and face soft like they'd never had to struggle in their lives. Impetuous and entitled.

She immediately could tell they wanted her for the acclaim, asking her to join parties or their social gatherings. It made her feel icky, she turned them down. Shockingly a few of them had tried blatantly hitting on her. The boys here were nothing like the boys from Ikebukuro High, and although they were glossy and airbrushed Heidi had never been hit on by a boy in her life – certainly not so obviously – so she made up excuses to flee.

One of the guys was superbly beautiful and didn't wear hair gel like the others. He was tall with black hair and cobalt-blue eyes, the darkest shade of blue Heidi had ever seen. She'd been sitting with friends under a wide oak tree and he'd fearlessly approached her again despite the fact she'd ran from him twice already. Timothy had launched up unexpectedly to glare the other guy down, their heights rivalled.

"She doesn't want to go on a date with you, pal. Leave her alone."

They looked close to exchanging blows but Heidi supposed the guy didn't want to risk cracking any of his artificially gleaming teeth. He left.

It was very nice for Heidi to associate with kids her age and learn about the games and movies they liked. As much as she appreciated Timothy, Soroban and Iwate… they were not enthralling company. They were too weird. Akin to home-schooled church kids whose parents never let them watch anything rated higher than PG. They didn't get things other teens did and they tended to make conversations weird whenever Heidi tried talking to other kids. She didn't want to be mean and tell them to leave her alone for a while, it seemed Narciel had told them to stay close to her, that or they considered her a friend. But apart from dueling and their situation they had nothing in common.

Heidi made some regular acquaintances but no close friends, probably due to those three being around and the fact her newfound fame was like a barrier. In the late afternoon she was with Timothy, Soroban and Iwate in a twin bunkbed room. Most students stayed in rooms like these and Heidi realized she was given a fancy guest room because of her title. She leaned back against the wall, sitting at the head of Soroban's bed while she sat over the edge further down. Timothy lounged on the bed opposite while Iwate typed away on a slim laptop.

"Hey Heidi, I figured out who you should be dueling!" the aqua-haired boy spoke up.

"What do you mean?"

"Tsukumo is top of the school and a prefect-"

"Urrrrrrrrrrr!" she slinked down and kicked the upper bed above her "don't say his name!"

"Look, I know you hate the guy, but you've restructured your deck to use strategy now. I think if you built up to it you could finally duel him again and take him down."

"Okay," she sighed in annoyance. "What are you thinking?"

"The prefect position is given to the highest scoring students at the DMA. There are four prefects, I'm guessing one boy and one girl, and then they have vice-prefects. The scores are publicly available on the school's intranet. I think instead of going for the top of the school you should challenge the lowest scoring prefect and then work your way up to the head boy."

"Hmm." Heidi considered. "Suppose it's a good way to duel someone strong other than Tsukumo." Turning she hopped off the bed "So who should I be versing?"

Iwate turned the laptop revealing a chubby guy with dark curly hair and thick glasses "His name is Tottori Weeb."

"Hm. Okay, he doesn't look too tough."

"He's coming fourth place in the entire school, Heidi." Soroban stated while Timothy shook his head.

"Hm, whatever. How am I supposed to find him?"

"Welll… it also says he's the founder of the DMA's official student Fantasy Roleplay Club… and so if we exit to the main page and search the recreational groups page… they meet at lunches in room F22."

"Roleplay club? He's a total nerd. Man beating him will be easy."

"Heidi he's coming fourth in the school!" Soroban repeated, exasperated.

"Well-" there was a loud knocking on the door. Since Heidi was up she went over and opened it "Narciel?"

"Oh good, you are here." The older man said.

"I thought we were done for the day?"

"Principal Engyo wants to see you in his office. Do you think you can make your own way there by now?"

"Ah, yeah. What does he want?"

"You'll have to find out for yourself. I'm off to play some croquet with the teaching staff, farewell." His robe fluttered after him as he turned away. Heidi faced the other three who were now standing.

"Guess I'll see you guys later?"

"Yeah."

"See ya, Heidi."

She closed the door behind her and made her way down the gleaming hall. There was a pit of embarrassment as Heidi recalled the last time she'd talked with Principal Engyo, yelling at him like she had before storming out. Nobody else would've been able to get away with doing that, she didn't want him thinking that's why she did it. After going down a flight of stairs and turning a few bends she knocked on his office door.

"Come in."

She opened the door "…you wanted to see me Principal Engyo."

"Yes Heidi, come on in." he was standing by his desk and facing the window. A large screen hanging off the wall, that hadn't been there last time.

"I wanted to say sorry about before… after Wembley, I just-"

"Not to worry," the old man spun around, his eyes looked friendly and twinkling. "I called you here because there is some new information for me to update you on. Also somebody wanted to see you." He happily pressed a button on a keyboard and suddenly Summer's face flashed across the screen.

"Ehhh?"

"Heidiiii!" the raven-haired woman gushed, face too close to the camera "Baby sis! Oh my gosh, how are you? You're a chosen fire duelist now! Why didn't you call?"

"Summer…" Heidi sighed "Hey Summer. It's good to see you. Us Hirazumi girls are bad at keeping in touch, but are there for each other when we need it, remember?"

"This is like totally different!" She leaned back and waved her arm. Heidi noticed she was wearing a full-body khaki tracksuit and wide-brim hat, she was under a tarp and behind her was the desert. "You've only just become one of the legendary heroes of the planet! I can't believe it! You always wanted to be a hero when you were younger but I had no idea this was going to happen!"

"Yeah it's pretty crazy…"

"So what's been going on? Are you okay? Safe?"

"Yeah, yeah it's fine. The DMA is a fortress, no one's getting through here. How's your excavation?"

"It's amazing." Quickly Summer forgot all about Heidi's situation and gazed up with starry-eyed enthusiasm "My team are all geniuses! Really impressive minds with such a passion for history! It's so hot here, we have to drink ten of these bottled waters a day just so we don't dehydrate, sweating so much out here! And we can't be out in the sun for more than two hours at a time or we can pass out from heat stroke!"

"Where are you again?"

"The centre of Augus, two-hundred kilometres west of the state-city. If you ever find yourself out here be sure you come see me, okay? I'll help with whatever you need. Have you spoken to Tailee?"

"Why would I have spoken to Tailee? I haven't even spoken to Grandpa."

"Her observatory is only on the other end of the city you're in, dunce!"

"Oh wow! I sometimes forget I'm not in Duextra anymore."

"She probably hasn't heard the news yet, that you're a chosen fire duelist and live so close by."

"Well it sure is hard to get a hold of her. Remember on her birthday we couldn't, and didn't hear from her until a week later?"

"That nerd is too busy studying planets through giant telescopes." Summer took a chug from her bottled water.

"How is that less nerdy than digging up fossils and ruins?"

"Yeah, yeah… well it was great seeing you baby sis! I already got to run but we'll catch up later! Sorry we don't have much reception out here. Take care and stay safe!" she blew a kiss.

"See ya Summer!" the call ended and Heidi let out another sigh while shaking her head "she never changes."

"I can see the family resemblance." Principal Engyo stated before his expression became serious "I appreciate you not wanting to worry your family, but there is something I need to tell you now it's just us."

"What is it…?"

The grey-haired man faced her in his faculty-attire, hands behind his back "Twice last night and again this morning our cyber security was under attack by an external force. Some kind of virus trying to hack our systems. I fear it may be the beginning of a planned attack."

"Oh crap…"

"Please be careful Heidi, it's possible that they could be watching us. If you leave the school grounds I think it's best you take one of the starships. Running off again could get you killed."

"I understand…"

"Good." He went to take a seat at his desk.

"Uh principal Engyo? Is it true that Kaijudo duels are against the rules here?"

"Yes. But not for you." He put his hands on the table. "Considering you very well could one day be fighting a Kaijudo duel against this planet's greatest enemy, perhaps over the fate of all Aurellia, you are pardoned to practice with whoever as much as you wish."

"Oh, good. I better go prepare then, tomorrow I have a prefect to duel!"

"Well all the best." He closed his eyes and smiled as she went to go "Give my regards to Tsukumo Kenji."

Heidi paused and growled before continuing out.

Lately she'd been waking up earlier. Not as early as her entourage, but early enough after all her intensive duel training was wiping her out. She awoke in time to get breakfast after showering and meeting up with Timothy, Soroban and Iwate. They ate at a populated table in the cafeteria with about a hundred other teens in the noisy room. On the other side Heidi could see the blonde arrogant Tsukumo, and at the closest side of his table was the black-haired cobalt-eyed boy, shooting glares at Timothy whom she was sitting next to.

The disciples did something else with their mornings as Heidi's sessions were always one-on-one with Narciel. At recess she joined them and they made their way to F22 inside the library room. Tall shelves that reached the ceiling. Heidi led the group with eagerness, banging on the shiny door and going to open it but finding it locked. She looked up again, the plaque was right.

"Password…" muffled a voice from inside.

"Uh, what?"

"Password."

"This is Heidi Hirazumi, the chosen fire duelist! I'm here to challenge Tottori Weeb to a duel!" she waited and there was a muffling beyond the door. The three disciples behind her exchanged looks before it was finally wrenched open.

Standing before them was the chubby teen wearing a fake beard and wizard hat "Well hello~"

"Are there girls out there?" another voice called "Seriously, girls?"

"Shut up, Nolan!" Tottori turned back to them "I don't think I've ever witnessed such a beautiful creature in my all days on this world."

Heidi sighed in irritation, she was so sick of getting hit on for being the fire duelist "Look buddy, I'm well aware that I'm not beautiful-"

"I wasn't talking to you!" he cut her off. "I was talking to her!"

"Me?" Soroban blinked in confusion.

"Yes, truly you are a magnificent spectacle to behold, my dear. I am Melphezer, enchanted wizard of the nine realms." He bowed in a showy way.

"You're Tottori Weeb and you're a prefect!" Heidi snapped "Kettou da, I challenge you!"

"Hm. So I see you didn't come here to roleplay." He pulled off his hat and beard.

"Uh, I'm very flattered Tottori…" Soroban said with an anxious smile "But I think I'm too old for you. I turn twenty-one next month…"

"I guess it's a preference. I always had a thing for my older sister's friends."

"Okay, ew." Heidi shook her head. "Look I challenged you! Kettou da, accept already!"

"We're not allowed to have Kaijudo duels in the school."

"I am. Principle Engyo said it was fine."

"Well in that case yoshi, I accept. But be warned my grade average is 96% wins!"

"That's pretty high." Iwate commented nervously.

"Let's go! Outside!" Heidi charged off immediately, eager for battle. Soon after her friends, opponent and his prop-disrobing friends also followed to crowd the match outside. A side-door led them out and Heidi could see several rows of preppy blue tennis courts, each separated by chain-link fencing. Of course this school has their own tennis courts… She didn't want to go around them so since they were empty she walked on in. "This tall fencing will probably keep the spectators safe from random monster attacks."

"Oooo Tottori's versing a girl!" someone heckled as they went to take their marks.

"Tell her that if you win she has to go on a date with you!" another geeky friend cupped his mouth to shout.

"Nah guys, I like 'em mature." Tottori answered, from the sidelines Soroban shivered.

Heidi's hand burned red while from across the net Tottori's burned blue. Two tables appeared and they set their decks after shuffling.

"Ikuzo! Shields up!"

"Koi! Let's do it!"

"This guy is annoying and weird… I'll show you to take me more seriously! I charge fire mana!"

"Oh I do take you seriously, chosen fire duelist" Tottori drew from his deck. "Even though you lost to Tsukumo. I wasn't there to see it but I heard. I guess now you're challenging the other prefects until you feel confident enough to try taking him down again? I charge water mana."

"Bastard!" she drew from her deck "I've been improving and training to save the world! My deck has strategies now. After I take you and the other prefects down I'm going for Tsukumo! I charge fire mana!"

"Tsukumo has a grade average of 99.5% wins. He's only lost like once since being here, and that was cause he kept drawing spells one time in the mid-term exams."

"Man he was not happy," someone else agreed, shaking their head behind the chain-link fencing.

"But let's see how you fair against the grand wizard Melphezer! I charge darkness mana then summon Kelp Candle!" the bioluminescent critter swam onto the field. "Whenever she blocks I can add one of the top four cards of my deck to my hand and rearrange the others!"

"I'm not going to let you block!" Heidi drew "I charge and summon Muramasa's Knife!" An electric pocket-knife gizmo bounced across the field.

"A xenoparts that can attack untapped creatures…" Tottori drew and examined his hand "It's stronger than my blocker but not stronger than this! I charge then summon Sea Mutant Dormel!" the multi-civilization being was a mix between a merfolk and hedrian with 4000 power.

"Alright!" Heidi drew and charged mana "I summon Cocco Lupia! Muramasa's Knife ike, attack Kelp Candle!" As her crowned orange bird flew out, the giant pocket-knife bounced and sparked, launching itself and extending many blades to impale the skittish cyber virus. "Turn end."

Tottori drew and added more water mana "Sea Mutant Dormel ike! Attack Muramasa's Knife!" the slithering slime-beast clawed apart its enemy, it exploded into parts.

"I charge and tap three to summon Bruiser Dragon!" This dragon was smaller than her others, molten and holding twin handguns. It roared, having 5000 power.

"Your fire birds are certainly good helpers for your dragons."

"Your move!"

"Hm." His cards untapped. "…I'll add more darkness mana then summon my Extreme Crawler!" An enormous oyster beast slithered out onto play, Sea Mutant Dormel's card popped off the tabletop and he caught it "She may return my other creatures to my hand but she's a 7000-point double-breaker!"

"I got something better…" Heidi drew from her deck, added mana then went to play the last card in her hand "I tap five then evolve my Cocco Lupia and Bruiser Dragon into Eternal Phoenix, Phoenix of the Dragon's Flame!" The burning bird with six orange wings rose up, aiming its twin swords ahead.

"The DM-13 Phoenix…? Wow." Tottori's silly roleplaying fascade fell for a moment.

"It's an 11,000 double-breaker that can also attack untapped creatures!" Heidi swished her arm. "Ike! Wipe out Extreme Crawler!" the phoenix blazed, sweeping forward and carving the earth eater apart. She jumped and fist-pumped "Yes! And that's why I'm the phoenix duelist!"

"How's being 'the phoenix duelist' different to me being 'grand wizard of the nine realms'?"

"Cause that's stupid!" Heidi yelled, pointing an angry finger.

"Alright…" he shrugged and drew "I got to say I'm impressed so far. You've been able to wipe out my monsters before I can use their effects or attack with them. But that's gonna change… I charge then summon Gigaslug!" the small orange chimera waddled forward on webbed legs, it looked like a chameleon with googly eyes and a toothed, snapping tail.

"Damn… only 1000-power but it's a blocker and a slayer…"

"No matter how great your monster is, if it battles a slayer" he made a cutthroat gesture over his fat neck with a thumb.

Heidi had no cards in her hand, she drew "I summon Totto Pipicchi!" the blazing goggled fire bird started circling her phoenix. "…I end my turn."

"I still have plenty of cards to play! I charge, now I tap six to summon Typhoon Crawler!" A one-eyed worm with a spinning body reared up with a guttural roar "It may only have 5000 power but it can't be attacked by fire creatures at all. From the looks of things, all your creatures are fire!"

Heidi clenched her fists, I don't think I have a spell that can destroy it either! She drew "Awesome! I cast Rumble Gate! My creatures gain 1000 power and can attack untapped creatures!" A mechanical furnace clunked up, charging her creatures with bolts of white electricity "I'll destroy another blocker before you can block with it! Totto Pipicchi ike!" The sparrow became a thin line of flame, burning through the ugly chimera but squealing afterward as the yellow-acid blood killed it. "Eternal Phoenix break two shields! Ike!" Her now 12,000 phoenix flew forward, using both swords to cut through two panels. Tottori grunted and shielded himself, glass pieces bouncing against the chain-link fencing behind him. After raising his head he added the cards to his hand and started his turn.

"I charge! Next I summon Tropic Crawler and Gigarayze!" A huge-mouthed blue fiend with horns on 3000 and a putrid green reptilian on 2000 trudged side-by-side into play. "Tropic Crawler is a blocker that forces you to return a creature to your hand when it blocks and Gigarayze lets me return a water creature from my graveyard to my hand…" he fished through the pile before adding his selection "Typhoon Crawler ike!" his largest spinning monster tore through one of Heidi's left shields.

"You're starting to piss me off, Merlin."

"It's Melphezer!"

"Whatever! I charge and summon Astrocomet Dragon!" Heidi's 6000-power dragon spread its mighty wingspan and roared, tongues of flame flickering out its mouth. "Eternal Phoenix ike, attack Tropic Crawler!" The blue fiend groaned as it was cleaved in two, Tottori scowling as his card flicked away.

"I summon Kelp Candle and another Gigaslug! With two blockers you can't stop me blocking now! And you'll never be able to beat Typhoon Crawler! Ike, attack her again!" the spinning invulnerable creature pulverized another shield with a guttural howl. "Gigarayze ike!" followed by the mutant reptile, slashing glass across the court.

"Dammit… they may only break one shield but I'll definitely be done for if I don't win in three more turns!" she drew "Alright! You're toast! I cast Burst Shot!" The mechanical robot wheeled up, aiming its cannon fingertips and firing holes through Gigarayze, Kelp Candle and Gigaslug. "Eternal Phoenix double-break! Ike!" Those six flaming wings propelled it forth, gold adornments swaying as it cut through another two shields at once. "Astrocomet Dragon-"

"Not so fast! I've got two shield triggers!" he showed her the cards as they reformed "Zombie Carnival and Proclamation of Death! I bring three chimeras from my graveyard back to my hand! You choose one of your creatures to destroy!"

"Fine!" Heidi narrowed her eyes at the tabletop "I choose Eternal Phoenix!"

"Wha-?"

"Astrocomet Dragon break his last shield! Ike!" The furious red-armored dragon reared its serpentine head and blazed a path of fire through the final shield. Tottori shrank away before straightening.

"You sacrificed your phoenix just to get my last shield?" he shrugged. "I summon two Gigaslugs!" his two orange googly-eyed creatures moved slowly on their webbed feet, tails snapping teeth. "Typhoon Crawler ike!" the one-eyed serpent smashed Heidi's fourth shield. Glass hit her table and bounced over her head while she covered her face.

"Heidi!"

"I'm okay!" she called back to her friends.

"Are you impressed by my skills, fair maiden?" he wiggled his eyebrows at Soroban who looked disgusted.

"You're losing!"

"Na-ah! I have two slayer-blockers and a creature she can't destroy! I'm going to win in two more turns, just wait!"

Heidi snarled and whipped out a card. She refused to lose to this roleplayer wizard-wannabe! "You really think this game is going to be over in two turns huh?"

"Why of course!"

"I couldn't agree more! When Eternal Phoenix leaves the field all non-evolution fire creatures in my graveyard come back to me, so I have a full hand again!" she added Bruiser Dragon to her mana zone.

"Uhhh…"

"I summon Muramasa's Knife, Cocco Lupia and Joe's Toolkit!" the two xenoparts bounced into play, either side of her crown-bearing fire bird. "Astrocomet Dragon ike todomeda!" The giant dragon opened its blazing mouth and Tottori jumped with a squeal.

"Gigaslug block!" he quickly turned the card. The chameleon-creature jumped into the stream of fire, burning up as its blood splatted Astrocomet Dragon. The huge creature reared back with a screech of pain, its tail whipping a hole through the taller chain-link fencing at the back of the courts before it faded out. "Sorry buddy… Uh-oh." Heidi looked at the damage her creature caused school property.

"Man that was close…" Tottori was relieved to see her dragon go. "If I'd frozen up and not blocked I would've died… that wouldn't have been a fun way to go…" he drew and surveyed the cards in his hand while Heidi watched closely "okay… I summon Gigarayze! I bring Kelp Candle back to my hand from the graveyard then I summon her as well! Typhoon Crawler break her last shield, ike!" The spinning creature pierced Heidi's last shield. No triggers, she added it to her hand.

"Okay, time for the deciding turn…" she took a deep breath, Tottori was nervous while the on-lookers leaned in with anticipation. She drew "Muramasa's Knife ike todomeda!"

"Kelp Candle block!"

"Joe's Toolkit ike todomeda!"

"Gigaslug block!"

"Cocco Lupia ike todomeda!"

"Ah shit."

The twirling firebird chirped happily, soaring above the other two fights and blazing with energy before barging Tottori. He gaped, thrown back against the chain-link fence behind him, bouncing forward and face-planting.

"Uh… guess I got carried away… you okay there, Melphezer?" Heidi called out and he slowly raised his arm, giving her the thumbs up. "Yes!" Heidi gathered her cards together while everyone ran out onto the court.

"Woah buddy, did you break your nose?"

"Huh?" Tottori reached up to touch the blood flowing down his chin.

"This probably wasn't the best place to duel…" Heidi looked over her shoulder at the tear her dragon caused in the fence.

"Don't suppose this could qualify me for a pity date?" the bleeding Tottori asked Soroban after his friends helped him sit up.

"Ah… no."

"Thanks for the duel, Tottori. And sorry about your nose!" Heidi turned away from him "That's one prefect down, three to go…"


AN: Oo I hope this was exciting! Acumashindorballomu wanted some romance so I guess you've got that here...? I need to work more on that =_= Anyway more school drama and villain stuff will soon ensue! I hope you don't mind the reprieve, but as always tell me how you feel in a review! As for your review ShiningAzureEmporer Tsukumo is not the chosen light duelist but he sure wishes he was. I'm going to try harder with the teen high school drama, gomenasai ~ Please tell me what you want to see more of or what kinda stuff, thanks ~