Slightly AU, canon-divergence in some parts of the story. Judai exists here too, but some things will change compared to the anime. The OC here is also in my other fic (Minuet of Darkness), but she will have a different background, as in parallel universes.

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Prologue

The opening ceremony of the year in the duel academy starts. The big saloon with the duel stage used for the practical duels is bustling with life. All the first year students present and a loud chattering spreads in the room as they talk before the event effectively starts.

Judai scratched his head with a bashful smile, feeling like a celebrity, a bunch of duelists surrounding him asking how he'd beat Chronos and about his deck, the sudden fame got him hooked into many talks.

"The last time someone beat a professor was a couple years ago!"

"Yeah! Isn't that guy the top student of the academy now?"

"Wow, that's a feat, Judai! Are you aiming to beat him too?"

Shou stood bored, some duelists pushing him slightly away from Judai, his brows curling up in frustration, he is pushed again a last time, bumping into someone else, the bulky person grabs his shoulders, helping him stand.

"My bad, are you fine?" The boy in question is a Ra yellow student with a large constitution and hair spiking to the side.

"I'm fine!"

He gestures and smiles wryly, his gaze cast down as the other boy goes away, then he looks up to the corridor on the first floor, a teal-haired boy stands there, his arms folded, looking at all the freshmen.

Shou averts his eyes upon seeing what seemed a glance coming from his older brother, turning around nervously.

At the same time, as the Kaiser's eyes blankly stare at his younger brother, a hand taps his shoulder, his arms unfolding in surprise, the blonde student is a familiar face.

"Asuka. Shouldn't you be there with the other first years?"

"I thought I might say hello since I saw you looking around. So, is there any student here that got your attention?" She supports her arms on the railway, bending over and analyzing the freshmen herself.

"Maybe… It's been a while since I saw professor Chronos lose a duel to a student…"

"Besides the time you beat him, you mean?" She remarked with a raised brow.

"It's a different case." He smiles briefly, dismissing the topic. "I also had other reasons to be watching the new students, you know?"

"You mean… Because of…?"

All she hears is his throat clearing hoarsely, not much else is needed for her to notice that was an uncomfortable topic, her eyes wandering around until they both hear squeaking voices of girls. From the entrance of the place a new student comes into the scene.

"A late comer, it seems not only Judai Yuki is lax on time matters."

"That student is…" Ryou's eyes squint slightly.

Both the first year girls and some second and third years gathered around, fawning and making a fuss over his entrance, the boy in question was silver-haired young-looking youngster, his eyes scanned the surroundings with certain indifference as he politely waved his hand around, like some sort of prince, a conceited grin on his face as the fans made space for him to walk.

"Would you look at that? You might lose your popular school boy spot to this one." A small tease with a hint of irony.

"I don't mind those titles." He retorts, his eyes following that boy waltzing through the room below.

"Don't tell me you just became his fan too?" Casting a side glance, she chuckles, questioning the trance he entered after seeing the new student.

He simply smiles faintly and keeps observing the other students. From down there, an obelisk blue student taps his feet impatiently, his arms crossed.

"Manjoume-san! Did you see it?! That new guy hoarded all the girls for himself, the nerve!" A black haired boy yells.

"Who cares? He is just another cocky brat that will soon face the reality of this school!"

"That's true! No way he can beat Manjoume-san!"

"But I heard only the Kaiser had this amount of popularity around here."

"I will beat that one too one day." Manjoume raises his nose up high, smirking while imagining his own victory in both duels.

"You might want to watch your mouth." A voice disrupts their conversation. "That one is a famous pro-duelist, Edo Phoenix. That's why he has so many fans. He was all over the pages on duel magazines in the latest weeks, though he only recently entered the major leagues, he has been a shooting star ever since his debut in the pro duel world."

Misawa's tone is a bit graver as he watches the crowd unfold to let the silver-haired pass by, the polite smile on Edo's face came off to him more as a sign of how trained he was to deal with fans and alike in front of the media.

"What do you know, Ra yellow?" Taiyou snorts miffed.

"Don't come acting all good and talk to us, know your place!" Raizou looked down on him.

"Suits you. But I warned you all, even the high ranks here mean nothing to a guy like him."

He shrugs off his shoulders and takes his leave, the other boys frowning at his insolence if even attempting a conversation in equal terms with him.

Meanwhile,

At the Osiris red dorm…

Daitokuji's glasses shine inside the dimly lit room, his eyes unseen under those lenses, he concentrates on a letter on his hands, a devious smirk coming to his lips as he reads it, the knock on his door brings him back to reality.

"The ceremony will start soon, Daitokuji-kun."

He throws the letter and envelope to the desk on the side and opens the door with a brilliant smile and a completely different mood than before.

"Ah, principal Samejima! Sorry, I was just reading some things and lost track of time…"

"Let's go! Tome-san prepared lunch boxes for all of us."

"Haha, I can't wait to eat it!"

He leaves, closing the door behind while laughing and talking. The letter left on the table had a short message written:

"I thought about your proposal and I believe it's best for me if I accept your suggestion. I know I missed the entrance exams, but if possible, I would like to go to the duel academy as a student, uncle. With care, Rie."

What this all means and which events will unfold in this place are yet to be seen, but this will be a hectic year for all the students.