The worst had come to pass for Jeanne. Her transfer was successful, and her documents were all accounted for. She had missed about three weeks of normal student days, and she had to pick up the pieces from the proctors that had just finished giving her uniform to her. The long day of tests and admissions was finally over, though she knew everything today was nothing short of formality. There was no way her mother wouldn't pull some strings in one way or the other, but that itself wasn't a gesture of kindness to her kin, but as a gesture of political pressure in the name of the Leonhart family.
Sighing, she exited the ship and walked a few steps on the dock. She turned around when she gauged the distance right, and waved goodbye to Madeline who was overlooking from the port side of the deck. Her maid bowed respectfully toward her even after she had left the vicinity. From the busy harbor, she had to walk across a long and tall suspension bridge a small tourist town would have. Central Duel Academia, if nothing else, had gone all out with their first impression. The bridge itself was magnificent, and properly maintained at least once a week. Although Jeanne had no eyes for these particular things, even she would be able to spot something so well-maintained. She had a knack for hard work, as it reminded her of Cyr. Although most anything positive reminded Jeanne of her.
Jeanne wasn't alone in her trip toward the island's center. Accompanied by a teacher different from her proctor, it made her excessively on-guard. Her parents ought to plant their wiles somehow, and it was something she had her eyes and senses fully activated for. Maybe she was being overly paranoid, but could anyone blame her when she was the heir of the Leonhart family?
She eyed the woman who was taking broad strides in-front of her. She was clearly pressed for time. Jeanne hazarded a guess that her transfer had taken a longer time than she had expected, and the slow bureaucracy didn't help matters. Her expression when looked from the side was a mix of annoyance and tiredness. The sun was about to set, and she probably needed to do more paperwork after this. Jeanne sympathized and was about to ask if she could help with anything, but then the teacher turned to her.
"No, it's not about you, sweetheart. I just need my beauty bath!" the teacher sighed. "But I think I forgot to prepare the bathtub."
Jeanne was taken aback. How did she know what she was talking about?
"You're a bit too obvious, honey," the teacher giggled. They were still power-walking through the bridge, but there was no sign of fatigue in her voice or on her face. Meanwhile, Jeanne was having a harder time than her teacher. "A poker face is something you should have as a duelist! That's lesson number one!"
Jeanne was that obvious afterall.
She rubbed her cheeks and pondered whether her empathic nature made her too easy to figure out, but then the teacher continued with her on-the-fly lecture.
"Don't worry. You're not that obvious except to me. I'm just that good at reading people's intentions," the woman winked. "Also, you don't need to be so on-guard when around the teachers. We don't condone cheap tricks. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about, yes?"
Jeanne was silenced, but a smile formed in exchange with her frown.
"I'm sorry for doubting you, teacher." Jeanne apologized with a bow, but her feet were still keeping up with the teacher's face. "My name is Jeanne Leonhart. I'll be under your guidance for a few years. Please, treat me well."
"Good introduction!" The teacher smirked. She wanted to give her brightest smile for Jeanne, but she could not due to the impromptu exercise. "My name is Emi Ayukawa. Just call me Miss Emi, okay? You're going to love it in Duel Academia, I'm sure."
"I'm sure I'm going to love it here, Miss Emi."
Though Jeanne said that, she wasn't too trusting of Miss Emi to open up to her about everything. However, if she knew about the condition and politics of the Leonhart matriarchy, she ought to confide in her if nothing else. Although, she needed a friend who she could trust with her problems. A teacher is not a friend; that was something she had engraved in her heart from the time she was tutored by her family's lapdogs.
Also, the academy needed on-site transportations like small buses to travel between locations. If she could pull a few strings with her influence, that would be what she would do first thing in the morning.
As they exited the bridge, she found herself in solid ground. After a thorough inspection from a stationary disciplinary officer, Jeanne and Miss Emi walked toward the center of the island. They followed a premade path that was well maintained and quite populated. More than a few glances were directed toward her. Jeanne found it annoying, but it was expected for a new girl in the academy. She had not worn her uniform either, so it was probably justified for them to scout the newest addition to duel academia.
In any case. She had walked for close to thirty minutes now. How far were they going? And before Jeanne was able to ask, Miss Emi had already answered her.
"The girl's dorm is just past this path, Jeanne. Hold on just a bit longer, alright?"
Emi reassured, though her own breathing had become slightly ragged.
Jeanne nodded, though her legs were very close to giving out. She wasn't going to test how good Miss Emi was at guessing what she wanted to ask or what she was thinking. It was obvious that both of them were a bit too tired to do anything but walk the walk. The sun was about to set as they walked an intersection which led toward a giant dome-shaped building far in the distance and moved closer toward the forest.
And so another ten minute passed.
"A duelist should have ample stamina, Jeanne," Miss Emi said without a huff in her voice, although sweat began to form on her youthful face. "We have to dive a few more distances to reach the Obelisk Blue Girls Dorm. So try to keep up, okay?"
Jeanne, who had no more stamina to reply, just nodded in mild defeat.
After Miss Emi had taken Jeanne inside the Obelisk Blue dorm, she was given a flash introduction of the lobby, the dining hall, the public bath, and her room. Meanwhile, Miss Emi excused herself in a hurry for her late on-schedule bath time.
She didn't find Miss Emi's behavior normal in the least bit, that is, until she had taken a dip inside the public bath.
When Jeanne read the brochure for Duel Academy which Madeline gave her, she wasn't expecting a full-blown hot spring public bath at all.
The public bath of Obelisk Blue Girls' dorm was huge, fittingly as it should be able to hold at least a hundred female students at a time. There were shower spots where guests would be able to clean their body, which Jeanne used before dipping inside the hot spring, and even saunas that were open during the weekends. Cyr wasn't joking when she said Kaiba Corp. didn't skim on the rich pleasantries. This would be paradise for lower class people who enrolled into this academia, moreso if they were girls.
Jeanne couldn't resist checking that first thing after she had settled her luggages and belongings to her dorm room. She was giddy, as giddy as she was when she was seven years old. Disrobing her whole clothes in the locker room, she let herself into the bath with a pair of towels and a single ring tied to a dangling chain around her neck.
"Oh. My. Goodness," Jeanne squealed as she exhaled as loudly as she could. The bath was empty anyway, so she wasn't holding back. "Now I understand why Miss Emi wanted her beauty bath. This is heavenly."
A pleasant feeling began to well up inside her stomach. The therapeutic effects of spring's warmth began to course inside her body. She stretched her arms above, pulling her bones by pushing both of her fingers together as far as she could. A few grunts later, her upper body was relaxed enough that Jeanne couldn't resist the urge to transfer those blissful feelings toward her lower body.
She sunk herself, just enough for her to breathe and see clearly. She pushed her long legs one limb at a time forward, and moaned when the bones inside her body lost their stressed rigidity. She wiggled her toes, and shook her legs, just for the sweet aftereffects that recoursed all over her body once more.
With a few neck tilts, the crack that she heard sounded like music in her ears. She placed both of her arms on the hot spring's pillow off to one edge of the spring and exhaled blissfully once again.
Her bathroom back home was massive, but this went over and beyond her expectations. There was a shower room inside her dorm room, but she would rather take her morning and evening bath here when given the chance.
Then, the door she came through opened. From there came three figures shrouded in steam. From the silhouette behind those natural heat barriers, Jeanne was sure all three of them were girls. Two of them had a less than ideal proportion, which was Cyr's proportion, but the girl in the middle came close to Cyr's own measurement, except her breast wasn't that bouncy.
For posterity, Cyr didn't lose in that regard. Jeanne preferred her breasts a bit on the modest side. Honestly, Jeanne preferred Cyr's everything over the leader of the girl pack who were strutting calmly toward the spring.
It was then that one of the girls behind the leader gasped and pointed at Jeanne.
"Alexis, watch out," her tone was tomboyish, but it held next to no candles when compared to Cyr's melodious tones. "There's some peeping tom in the spring."
"Is there anyone here?"
Every one of the girls were instantly on their guard.
With a few times mulling it over, Jeanne knew they loved their bathing time. As a fellow hot spring enjoyer, Jeanne thought that it would be proper to reply to them in an inviting sort of way. In a moment of unguarded joy, she called back in response.
"Water's fine. Come in."
The other girls didn't reply, but their footsteps started getting closer. They were wary at first, but when the pack leader went to one of the shower spots and the other girls followed, Jeanne knew she was in the clear. She cleansed herself from dust and grime first of course, the other girls followed suit without forgetting their soaps and shampoos, and Jeanne would take offense had they not done them first.
It was a ritual of trust, among hot spring goers, to clean themselves before going to bathe together.
Jeanne waited with bated breath as an impeccably hourglass figure appeared from beyond the steam.
When their eyes met, something sparked. Jeanne was sure she just met the queen bee of the Obelisk Blue Dorm. Her posses trailed behind her as if they were orbiting behind Venus. Her hair color reminded Jeanne of the planet, and the words almost escaped her mouth.
"I haven't seen you around," the blonde-haired girl greeted with a warm smile. She slowly submerged herself into the spring, not afraid of confrontation. Meanwhile, her two followers stayed as far away from Jeanne with their guards up. "Were you the new transfer student Miss Emi talked about?"
"We had a transfer student?" The raven-haired girl behind her said, a finger pressed against her cheek as she looked up while in thought. "I didn't know that."
"You were busy fawning over handsome men during the morning meeting again, didn't you?"
The auburn-haired girl replied with a nasty jab, but the raven-haired girl responded with a smirk.
"That's because those men are handsome!"
"Pardon the girls behind me," the blonde-haired girl apologized. "My name is Asuka Tenjoin. The black-haired girl behind me is Momoe Hamaguchi, and the red-haired girl is Junko Makurada. I hope it's not too awkward to have our introduction in the bath."
"On the contrary, It should be quite the interesting thing to remember," Jeanne replied as classily as she could muster in a hot spring bath. With an outstretched hand, Jeanne continued. "I'm Jeanne Leonhart. You can call me Jeanne."
"Hey, wait a second," Momoe gasped. She approached Jeanne closer from her safety spot behind Asuka. "What's that ring you got there, Jeanne?"
"This?" Jeanne smirked as she proudly held the ring with her fingers. She looked at Momoe with the biggest grin she could. "I gave this to my fiance a few days ago."
"Oh my gosh, girl!" Momoe squealed, "You're engaged? That's absolutely wonderful."
"Well, I couldn't make it more obvious than that, could I?" Jeanne calmly slid down the hot spring. She wanted to gush about Cyr more, but she wasn't about to spill the whole truth to her. "What about you, Momoe? Did you manage to find anyone?"
Junko gave Jeanne a mean look, instinctively knowing Momoe was being mocked.
Asuka gave it a pass, but there was a slight change in her overall atmosphere. She thought that transfering from a prestigious school ought to stress her, so she forgave the slight if only for that moment.
Momoe, however, answered very blatantly.
"I had my eyes on Misawa from Ra Yellow for a while, but him insisting on ranking up to Obelisk after he reached his goal felt too stuffy for me. I like cute guys that are handsome, talented in a duel, and very proactive in their career," Momoe shook her head. "Being too wishy-washy like that isn't good for my heart."
"Really now?"
"It's true! Recently he had a duel with Manjoume from Obelisk Blue and won!"
At the mention of Manjoume, Jeanne sat straight. Her vision went clear and her pupils dilated. Asuka picked up on this inconsistency and was about to pursue the topic, but then a group of Obelisk Blue Girls appeared for their evening bath.
"Oh, and I think Misawa's going to fight Judai from Osiris Red. His look is average at best, but his dueling skills and power plays are intense!" Momoe rambled on, completely ignoring Jeanne who was getting up from her spot in the spring.
In the midst of the crowd, Jeanne managed to slip away.
"One of the Manjoume family members went to Duel Academia too?" Jeanne mused as she wore her uniform over herself. "I'll have to tell Cyr all about it later."
Her mind refreshed and her body clothed, she walked back into her room.
After she was set up with her belongings, she was introduced to her roommate.
Wearing her uniform, the girl presented herself like a delicate girl. She wasn't frail, but she seemed sensitive to her appearance. Her hair was a short neat cut which covered her forehead. Its brown hazelnut palette complimented her matching-colored eyes. Both set were showing a welcoming look toward the newly-transferred.
Yuki Kato was her name, and she was delighted to have a roommate with her. Not all of the girls in the dormitory had a roommate, most female duelists went to another, more prestigious academy, aimed for girls.
Yuki settled on Duel Academia because of its comparably low tuition and job benefits after she graduated. Her domestic situation was under control, but she wouldn't mind a five figure job in the future.
Jeanne had a lot of fun conversing with Yuki, but when she was called by Miss Emi, Yuki's smile turned to a big grin.
"You're going to love this!" She said, as her enthusiasm rubbed on Jeanne.
The two of them walked down to the lobby, where the darkness was potent. As Yuki flashed a light, it was the signal for the incoming event.
Every light in the lobby was turned on simultaneously. Before the fountain of the lobby, Miss Emi had held a plate of chocolate cake. Behind her were the whole squad of Obelisk Blue girls, welcoming Jeanne with two bangs of confettis.
"Good job on passing the test, transferee!" Everyone said cheerfully.
Jeanne had a big smile on her face.
"Awww, thanks, girls. You guys are so sweet!"
With a step and a hop, Jeanne walked down the stairs and hugged Miss Emi. She didn't mind, but this was the first time anyone had hugged her over this. A few more girls joined the hugging and Jeanne just couldn't get enough of it.
Jeanne hoped that Cyr wouldn't mind her fiance hugging or being hugged by other women.
If she would, Jeanne would have some big apologizing to do.
The party went merrily as Jeanne began being spoon fed with a lot of food and shoved a straw for a variety of drinks. She realized it was a newcomer's welcoming party, but the girls here were so handsy it even surprised her!
Not long afterward, she was able to break free from the girls swarming around her, where Yuki had waited near the food tables.
"Found you," she giggled.
"You found me," Jeanne responded. Awkwardly. She picked up a plate and tongs before continuing, while her hands were busy navigating a selection of food and sweets on the table. "This party's pretty cool. Did you arrange all this?"
"Not just me, no. Everyone pitched in to help. For example, these food on the table was made by the girls in the cooking club."
"No way," Jeanne looked at the food on her plate. All of them looked like a three-star restaurant's dinner food. "All of these look so well-made. They tasted absolutely delightful too."
"I'll be sure to introduce them if I ever see them."
"Cool."
Then from Jeanne's six; a new challenger.
"Surprised, Jeanne?" Momoe appeared from behind two students. "Miss Emi actually had this planned for every new transfer student. It's rare for girls to take any interest in dueling, afterall."
"That's why I want to make this a stay you can remember!" Miss Emi happily followed. "Come, come, enjoy the festivity! We have beverages, stylish food, and delicious cookies and cakes! I had to splurge a little bit since this is the first time a girl had transferred!"
"I'll take you up on that offer, Miss Emi. Thank you."
Miss Emi picked up a glass of grape juice and raised the glass. Following her, each girl raised their own glasses. With the preamble finished, it was time of nightly leisure.
As the party went on, Jeanne was asked about her fiance. Apparently, gossip traveled fast in the Blue Girls Dorm. Jeanne thought it was because there were no other sources of girly talk in a long while.
Unsure what to do, Jeanne eyed her duel disk she carried just in case something like this would happen on her first day. She wondered if it was polite for her to settle things with a duel. Afterall, in her previous academy, she wasn't encouraged to do so.
Then, again, as if she had read her mind, Miss Emi pulled out a duel disk from one nondescript bag and handed it to the nearest student.
"Now, now, girls. You're all students of Duel Academia. Any disagreement between us will be settled with a duel," she said as she looked at Jeanne and winked. It was as if she knew what was going on with Jeanne's circumstances and gave the healthier alternative. "Whoever wins against our new transfer Jeanne here will be able to know her secret fiance. Now isn't that a good reason for a welcoming duel?"
"Gee, Miss Emi," Jeanne readied her duel disk. "This is perfect. Any contender can come straight at me."
From inside the crowd of female students, Momoe raised her hand.
"I'll go first!"
Momoe walked out front with the lent duel disk ready.
"I'm getting those deets out of you, new girl," she said in a villainous tone. Jeanne knew she was messing around, but she was just not built to be a villain no matter what. "With this new deck I made, I am invincible."
"We'll see about that, gossip girl," Jeanne readied her duel disk in response. She came here to play, and she brought the winning bat. If she perceived Momoe correctly, the next duel would be a simple walk in the park. "You better get ready to lose."
Their battle cry echoed throughout the lobby in unison.
"Duel!"
Turn 01:
Momoe:
4000 Life Points
5 Cards in Hand
Jeanne:
4000 Life Points
5 Cards in Hand
"I'm the challenger, so I'll go first!" Momoe drew a card. "Draw, and I summon Sky Scout in his attack mode!"
The figure of a humanoid bird with raven hair and feathers appeared above Momoe. His dark and brooding look was not lost to everyone that saw it. Though Jeanne was more concerned with its 1800 attack points. She had thought Momoe to be the local school ditz, but it seemed she had thought her wrong.
Not a second later, one face-down card appeared behind the humanoid bird monster.
"I set one card and end my turn. Let's see what you got, new girl!"
It was a welcoming gift for the new girl.
She had to take it.
"Enough with the villainous act, Momoe," Jeanne retorted. "A cute princess type like you ought to act nobler than that."
"Momoe? A princess?" From the gallery, Junko held back a laugh. "Jeanne, you better have those eyes checked. She's nothing like a princess."
"Junko you meanie!" Momoe pouted. "I'm going to blab about your crush to everyone on this campus!"
"D-Don't get hasty there, Momoe."
As the whole onlookers laughed at their back and forth, the turn shifted to Jeanne's
Turn 02:
Momoe:
4000 Life Points
4 Cards in Hand
Jeanne:
4000 Life Points
5 Cards in Hand
"Draw!" Jeanne picked up a spell card: Mystical Space Typhoon. A card which she activated in a heartbeat. "During my stand-by phase, I activate from my hand a spell card: Mystical Space Typhoon!"
"Lucky girl. She had a backrow-removal already in her hand." Asuka couldn't help but chime in with a comment of her own. "This will give her free reign over Momoe."
"And it's Mystical Space Typhoon too, which is a limited card," Yuki Kato, Jeanne's roommate, added in as Asuka's co-commentator. "The chance of drawing Mystical Space Typhoon on her first turn ought to be slim."
"Momoe's just unlucky," Asuka nodded. "That's all."
Momoe's eyes widened as a card in the field was destroyed, her set trap card. Sakuretsu Armor was successfully sent from the field to the graveyard. Without any backrow in the back, Jeanne proceeded to pick up where she left off and into her main phase.
"Main phase time. From my hand, I activate Upstart Goblin!" A figure of a rotund goblin with a big smirk appeared before Momoe and sprinkled some coins into her duel disk's life indicator. It rose one thousand higher than Jeanne's own. "With its effect, by giving my opponent one thousand life points, I can draw one card from my deck."
"Thank you for the gift! Now I don't have to worry too much about losing this game."
Momoe's response made Jeanne smirk.
"Oh, but you should. I'll be taking what's due on this turn. Ready?" Without stopping, Jeanne placed a card onto the monster zone of her duel disk. "I play a monster card from my hand. I summon Marauding Captain in attack mode."
A figure of a blonde-haired knight in dirty armor appeared. Its skinny exterior hid within him a great and undying determination. As he appeared on the field, he swung his sword forward and pointed it at the Sky Scout. He was ready to strike whenever, even if he was outmatched.
"His appearance has called forth a friend. From my hand, I special summon Valkyrian Knight in attack mode!" With a simple placement of a card on her duel disk, another monster appeared and it was stronger than Sky Scout. "Prepare yourself, Momoe. I'm far from done."
The female knight in shining armor pointed her blade toward Sky Scout. On closer inspection, she was pointing through the monster and toward its master instead. Momoe, who was unsure what would come next, could only brace herself for the worst.
"That's not good," Momoe grimaced.
With the field now two against one, there were a lot of ways for Jeanne to win. Out of all those possibilities, she chose one she was the most confident with.
"I activate two equip spell cards in sequence. First I play the card Megamorph and equip the card on Valkyrian Warrior. Then, I play the card United We Stand and equip the card on Marauding Captain."
Valkyrian Knight's eyes shone brightly as energy began to well inside her. In a burst of strength, she raised her blade and it became twice as large as it was once before. Her arms were pulsating with strength, and she was ready for the fight ahead.
Marauding Captain had jolts of lightning coming out from his sword as it became linked to Valkyrian Knights. As if mimicking her growth, Marauding Captain tore off through his armor and became a shirtless hunk which netted a few squeals from the ladies. As he striked a macho pose, gone was the frail figure that everyone had known before.
"Next, I play the card Axe of Despair and equip it on Marauding Captain."
Now seeing the picture, Asuka sighed. She realized how outclassed Momoe was, both in strategy and execution. Had she not drawn the backrow removal, Asuka believed that Jeanne would be able to circumvent it with another option..
"She definitely knew her deck," Yuki added. "That combo play was pretty good."
"Momoe's just underestimating the new girl and paid the price, that's all," Junko grabbed Yuki by the shoulder as she defended her friend's pride. "I'll show her what an Obelisk Blue Girl is made out of next."
Asuka looked at Junko with a kind smile, but her eyes were unsure of her friend.
With the clear winner already decided, the rest of the duel went by in a flash.
"Battle phase!"
Without hesitation, Valkyrian Knight cleaved Sky Scout in one horizontal mountain slasher. One dead Sky Scout had cost Momoe 2000 of her life points, and In-between Valkyrian Knight becoming weaker than a living skeleton, Marauding Knight rushed forward and posed menacingly before Momoe, causing her to fall down and lose 3600 of her life points.
Momoe:
0 Life Points Remaining
Jeanne:
Winner
"Owie!" Momoe shrieked as she fell down. "Girl, you're really playing this game to win, aren't you?"
"Of course," Jeanne picked up her cards from her duel disk and shuffled them back to her deck. "I won't go easy on someone I respected."
Momoe pointed to herself.
"Of course it's you, silly," Jeanne walked toward Momoe and kneeled down, holding up a hand for Momoe to grab. Maybe there was something wrong with her, or it was the current atmosphere, but Momoe took her hand and allowed Jeanne to pull her up. "You're a friend, remember? Should I treat you without?"
Blushing a bit, Momoe looked to the side as she replied with "Well, I guess being treated nicely is better."
Jeanne smirked.
Both of them were now standing, and the girls clapped and cheered. Not long after, Junko stepped out from the crowd. She took the duel disk from Momoe and inserted her own deck in. With the duel disk activated, the gauntlet of duels continued once more.
"I'm not much into idle gossip, but if Momoe is desperate enough to duel you for it then she must be on to something good." The duel disk whirred and Junko was ready for battle. "Mind if I tell Momoe your secret if I win?"
"Not at all," Jeanne replied as her duel disk shuffled her deck. "But only if you win, Junko."
"Oh, you remembered my name?"
"I'm good with names," Jeanne paused as her duel disk stopped in sync. "Especially the name of a pretty lady such as you."
"Yeah, yeah, mock me all you want," Junko's deck had stopped shuffling, and it signaled the start of their battle. "I'll slam you to the ground."
"I'm serious though," Jeanne scowled.
But Junko ignored her and continued. Jeanne had no choice but to play along.
"Duel!"
"I'll take a page from Momoe's book and go first," Junko placed her right hand's index and middle finger on the top of her deck before she slid one out of the pile. "I draw."
Turn 01
Junko:
4000 Life Points
6 Cards in Hand
Jeanne:
4000 Life Points
5 Cards in Hand
She took a second to look at her cards, unsure of what to play first. After a few more seconds of deliberation, her expression lit up. Junko played a card on the monster zone, which summoned a humanoid female draped in a golden robe with wings which burst in flames. As it landed on the clean and polished floor of the girl's dorm lobby, she quickly disappeared into a flaming orb, which transformed into a spiraling wind made of flame.
"Firstly, I normal summon Hand of Nephthys, which then I used its own effect. From my deck, a monster appears!" The flaming orb slowly transcends its shape and ascends into its higher form. A silhouette of a bird with shining gold armor and bright red flames appeared before the two duelists, and all the spectators were locked in amazement. "Come forth bathed in your sacred fire! The time of judgment is now. Arise, o Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys!"
Jeanne quietly swallowed her saliva. A 2400 beater on the first turn, and it was not a shabby monster to boot. It had no protection from destruction effects, but it benefited so much more from being destroyed it ought to be avoided at all cost. The phoenix by design was an immortal bird, and this Phoenix had that and some more.
"I set three set cards and end my turn. Your move, Jeanne."
"You're not making this easier for me, aren't you?"
"And why should I?" Junko snidely sighed. "Look, I know I should be taking it easy against the newbie, but the newbie had defeated Momoe in one turn. Of course I'm going to get serious with you."
Although she was honest, her honesty still hurt.
"I guess I can't let up with you girls. It's my turn, and I draw!"
Turn 02
Junko:
1 Card in Hand
4000 Life Points
Jeanne:
6 Cards in Hand
4000 Life Points
No backrow removals.
Just her luck,
With her cards in her hand, however, she could work her situation somehow. If Destiny Boy would say something about her situation right now, he would say to believe in her deck.
In this situation, her deck didn't have many outs. She had focused all of her cards on power plays. That Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys Card was one of many nigh-unsurmountable walls that her deck could ever face. She thought nigh-unsurmountable because there was one way which she would be able to win from this situation, and that would only be feasible once she knew what those backrow cards were. If any of those three set cards were cards that disrupted her battle phase, she would not survive another turn.
With a deep breath and a clear thought, she resumed her turn.
For now, there was only one play she was able to do.
"I set one monster card face down and one card face down," she couldn't hide the frown on her face. "Then I end my turn."
"Can't be explosive with all of my set cards, can you?" Junko held her hand before her mouth and laughed a noblewoman's laugh. "I hope you're ready to lose that secret of yours!"
"We'll see about that," Jeanne grinned. "You won't know my secret until I lose the duel, afterall."
Junko wouldn't have it any other way.
"Then I'll start my turn with a draw."
Turn 03
Junko:
2 Cards in Hand
4000 Life Points
Jeanne:
4 Cards in Hand
4000 Life Points
She took the top card of her deck, looked at it, and added it to her hand. Her field presence was already overwhelming; after shutting out Jeanne's movement the turn prior, Junko had the right to at least gloat, and gloat she did.
"Quite the subpar play you're having there, Jeanne. Are you sure you're ready for my next onslaught?" Junko knew this much was still acceptable as a mid-dueling banter, and she did try not to overdo it with the snide. Nevertheless, sometimes her adrenaline got her too little too riled up. "I'm sure you don't have anything to outplay me, so why don't you just surrender already?"
"Well, that's up to me to decide," Jeanne smiled. "And it's your job to make me."
"Your wish shall be granted," Junko pressed a button, which made a compartment from the side of her duel disk slide open. She placed a green-colored card on the compartment before it retracted with the card in place. Soon after, the Obelisk Blue Girl's lobby had changed ever so slightly to darkening wasteland with gray skies. "From my hand, I activate the field spell card; Harpie's Hunting Ground."
"That's a nice play she did there. That card lets her destroy one face-up or set spell card and trap card on the field." Miss Emi's words made most of the spectators turn to her. This was the first time she had spoken since the start of Jeanne's gauntlet of a duel, afterall. "But I wonder if she would notice something crucial there?"
With Miss Emi's expectant look, Jeanne had to answer her expectation.
"I flip open my set card; Compulsory Evacuation Device!"
The smile on Miss Emi's face had grown wider. She was trying her best not to squeal from a calculated option which Jeanne had taken. Most students who knew why Jeanne had activated her set card at that point remained silent, but those who didn't know viewed it as a newbie's misplay.
"So Jeanne chose to return Sacred Phoenix to Junko's hand," Yuki commented. "But why did she choose that timing?"
Miss Emi looked at Asuka. The blonde-haired beauty was smiling, knowing the answer full well. She knew those smiles a little too well.
"Would you try to hazard a guess, Asuka?"
"It's because Harpie's Hunting Ground was activated," Asuka said without hesitation. Her eyes were glued to the two duelists trying to outsmart the other as she spoke. "Junko's field card is one of the key cards used in Harpie's deck. Not only does it allow for a bigger field presence, if Junko were to summon a Harpie monster into the field, she would be able to destroy one of the opponent's set spell or trap card on the field."
"But Compulsory Evacuation Device is a trap card with quick effect. Even if the effect of Harpie's Hunting Ground is activated, targeting the set trap card, couldn't Jeanne just activate it? The effect will still go through, no?"
"No, Yuki, you have to think about it."
"You know who I am, Asuka?"
"I know most of the girls in the same year as me," Asuka smiled at Yuki. "But getting back on topic. The reason why Jeanne used the trap card at this time is to seal Junko's normal and special summon."
Yuki pondered what she meant for a few moments before she realized something. Her face lit up as she turned toward Asuka with a knowing grin. Her eyes were sparkling as she explained what she found out to Asuka.
"If she were to summon a Harpie Lady, Junko would have to destroy her own spell and trap cards!"
"Bingo!" Asuka gave Yuki a thumbs up. "That girl, Jeanne, had a good sense for dueling."
Hearing their explanation, Junko realized that she was in a deadlock of either waiting a turn for a second opinion, or going minus two from an unfortunate misplay. The board had her still in control, but she was now in the middle of a pickle. For now, she needed to resolve one chain effect that was triggered prior. Before she proceeded, she had to activate one card in response to Jeanne's card.
"In response to the activation of your trap card, I will negate that with this card: Dark Bribe," Junko declared as a large image of a man receiving a bribe appeared from one of her three set cards. Her expression didn't falter, but her evil act had cracked a little bit. "You can draw one card. I negate the activation of the trap card Compulsory Evacuation Device that you controlled."
Her smile undiminished, Jeanne placed her negated trap card into her graveyard.
Junko looked at the last card on her hand, and it was a monster card. The Harpie Lady for her turn to the fray, but the field spell made Junko second guess her next action. If she summoned it, she would have to destroy one spell or trap card on the field. If she were to choose, she would have to destroy Harpie's Hunting Ground, but Jeanne's deck would leave her better off keeping one Harpie Lady in her hand.
The clock ticked. A minute of staredown had passed. Junko was still in thought as the threat of Jeanne's set monster card loomed in her future.
On her field stood the mighty Sacred Phoenix of the Nephthys which could easily destroy her set card. However, if she guessed the card wrong, it ought to leave her worse from wear than before.
She took her deep breath; with eyes looking straight ahead she had made her decision.
"Battle Phase!" Junko declared. "I attack your set monster card with my Sacred Phoenix of the Nephthys!"
The phoenix glowed in its radiant golden light as flame began to burst out from its wings. From Jeanne's side of the field, a monster card in a face-down defense mode appeared. What the Phoenix attacked with impunity was a blonde warrior under a disheveled and worn out clothes. The girl shrieked as flames reigned all over her flesh, burning her alive. Her raven-colored hat and cape was eaten by the inferno which left nothing in its place as the heroine met her tragic end.
As her shriek disappeared in a burst of stars, something else appeared in-place of the female warrior. A scantily-clad red-haired woman brimming with muscles. Her tanned skin and her unyielding posture had proven herself a capable and an experienced warrior. A lonesome sword in her hand, which she pointed at the Phoenix, she stood ready to receive any blows.
"Using the effect of Warrior Lady of the Wasteland which resolves in my graveyard, I special summon Amazoness Swords Woman from my deck." She looked at Junko, expecting her to say something in response to Swords Woman's summoning. "Any response to that, Junko?"
Junko bit her lip as she reluctantly answered with a silent "No."
She gazed at her set backrow cards.
One was Hysteric Party, a trap card that she had set up to enable a set play in the future. If she played her cards right, she would be able to special summon a swarm of Harpie Ladies into the field. However, with the situation on the board, she could safely say she would not be able to execute it in the present duel.
The other trap was Trap Hole, a trap card which will respond to the normal summon of a monster with an attack above 1000 points. Amazoness Swords Woman had 1500 attack points, but she was special summoned onto the field. If she were normal summoned, Junko would have sent her to the grave where her comrade was a moment ago.
Then a laugh escaped from Jeanne's mouth.
"Are you mocking me, newbie?"
"Sorry Junko," Jeanne giggled. Fun was written all over her face as she continued. "It's just that, I need to call my fiance after this and describe this duel in detail. My fiance uses a deck with a lot of trap cards, you see, so if you're wondering how I had an uncanny instinct for it, you know the answer for it."
"So that's why," Miss Emi nodded. "Junko's just fighting a more skilled opponent than her. It's no wonder she's getting pushed back despite the difference in card power. I wonder just how strong this fiance of hers is. Must be a pro duelist or some sort of that"
"But you haven't won yet, Jeanne," Junko sneered. "Until my life points become zero, you can't take the W just yet."
"Oh, I'll take the W next turn, alright."
"Impudent-" As there was nothing she could do to retort her taunt with, Junko angrily continued. "Fine. Do your worst! I'm ending my turn!"
"Then without further ado, draw!"
Turn 04
Junko:
1 Card in Hand
4000 Life Points
Jeanne:
6 Cards in Hand
4000 Life Points
With six cards in hand, she was ready. Her starting hand was unfortunate, but a good deck had a couple of non-standard tricks for every miscellaneous situation. Her time playing with Cyr had served her well, what with her playing a lot of counter traps to Jeanne's spells and traps.
"In my hand I have a total of four equip cards. Axe of Despair, Mage Power, Malevolent Nuzzler, and Black Pendant. That would be enough, I'm sure."
"Let's see," Yuki started counting with her fingers as her helping tool. "Amazoness Swords Woman has 1500 attack points. That's 1500 plus 1000 plus 2000 plus 700 plus 500. That's a 5700 beater!"
"But Sacred Phoenix of the Nephthys has 2400 attack points," Asuka interjected. "That still leaves Junko with 700 life points to spare."
"I guess that's not enough then," Yuki sighed.
"Not quite," Jeanne commented to both of them. "Sure, if I equip them all to Swords Woman, I'd be 700 short. However, what if I don't equip those cards to Amazoness Swords Woman?"
She played four cards to her set card zone, one at a time with Mage Power played last, all of them equip cards directed to Sacred Phoenix of the Nephthys. With a 4200 boost, the sacred bird had turned into a gigantic form of itself with equip spells lodged into its chest. Now it glided in the air as a 6600 beatstick monster.
"Now I'll say this before you can gloat, Junko; Amazoness Swords Woman has an effect where any battle damage I would take would be taken by my opponent instead. It might be a bit overkill, but I'm going to play around Emergency Provision here."
"Man, you're strong," Junko sighed. "Go ahead, end the duel."
"With pleasure!" Jeanne declared her battle phase. "I'm sorry Amazoness Swords Woman, but your sacrifice will grant us our victory! I attack your Sacred Phoenix of the Nephthys with Amazoness Swords Woman!"
With her lone Amazoness destroyed against a 6600 phoenix, Junko's life points had swiftly lowered to zero by 5100 points. She even anticipated a play wherein Junko would get another turn.
Junko:
0 Life Points Remaining
Jeanne:
Winner
Jeanne walked closer to Junko, and reached out her hand for a fist bump. Junko happily obliged as a satisfied smile permeated on her face. Both of them were satisfied with the result. Even if Junko had regretted her inability to win, she was content with being defeated in such a roundabout way.
Without missing a beat, Jeanne asked for Junko's duel disk. She was not sure what was going to happen, but when Jeanne's eyes were locking toward Asuka, Junko figured she had to humor her. After she received the duel disk, she promptly walked toward Asuka and placed it on Asuka's palm.
"I challenge you, Asuka Tenjoin. May I receive the honor of dueling you?"
Jeanne bowed in a ladylike manner.
Asuka smirked.
"I refuse."
Jeanne, unsure of what Asuka answered with, asked her again.
"Like I've told you before, Jeanne Leonhart," Asuka retained her smirk. "I refuse."
"And your reason being what, exactly? This had better be a good reason."
"We'll meet tomorrow after class at 4:30 PM. Class will end at 4:00, so that'll give you ample time to prepare, no?" Asuka handed the duel disk back to Jeanne. "And besides, wouldn't it be better for the whole campus to know of such a talented new recruit in the Obelisk Blue Girls' dorm? This'll be a hoot!"
"A hoot?"
That was one phrasal verb she didn't expect Asuka to say.
"Yes, a hoot," Asuka reached out to Jeanne for a fistbump. "See you tomorrow, Jeanne. I'm heading in first, okay?"
Jeanne answered her request by meeting her own fist with Asuka's.
"You can count on it."
"See you then!" Asuka began to walk to her room while she waved Jeanne goodbye.
After Asuka disappeared when she turned right at the end of a long hallway, Jeanne couldn't help but squeal. She pumped her arms before her chest giddily, it felt like she was reliving her sixth birthday again.
"I'm psyched! I so, so can't wait for tomorrow to come!"
"Whoa, didn't take you for the hyper type, Jeanne," Junko commented. "Figured you would be one of those sheltered lady types who's really good at dueling and only that."
"First of all, rude. Second of all, I can cook and do housework. Third and finally, I'm good at managing my finances."
"Well, you are from the Leonhart family," Momoe nodded. "Your family had a lot of shares in the companies going up and up afterall. Must be rough having to inherit that after you graduate, huh?"
Jeanne placed her finger on the outline of the ring under her uniform.
"Not really, no," Jeanne shook her head. "I can make it work, somehow."
"Figures," Momoe grinned in a cat-like manner. "Especially when you have a lovely and reliable fiance, right?"
"That's right, I-"
Realization hit her as she was about to utter something that would not be so easily forgotten.
"Momoe, that's dirty."
"I have to shoot my shots, right?"
"Fair."
Not a moment later, a dangerous foe approached from Jeanne's six. She was blindsided by her assault and was caught unaware. Now that she was at close proximity, Jeanne had no other choice but to surrender at her mercy. Miss Emi Ayukawa's mercy.
"Oh girl, you've done it now!" Miss Emi giggled as she hugged Jeanne, roping her arms around her body as if Jeanne was as soft as a pillow. Had she not been her dorm's head, she would have smacked her for harassment. "You precocious child, you."
Jeanne started to count the first fifty prime numbers.
"Aren't you lucky, Jeanne? Asuka rarely took interest in her peers, you know? Especially on someone's first day!"
"What are you talking about, Miss Emi?" Junko and Momoe said before they sighed, both actions in synchronized union.
"Asuka's very friendly with all of us," Junko couldn't help but cringe as she looked at Miss Emi with pity. "Don't try to start something you can't take responsibility for later."
"Yeah," Momoe agreed. Her tone of voice reflected the hours she had experienced regarding this topic in particular. "Especially when it'll bite us in the bum more than it will bite yours."
Miss Emi laughed before she marked the end of the newcomer's welcoming party. As she told every student still in the lobby to return to their room, she made sure that Jeanne would return last. She needed to talk to her in one of the counseling rooms.
The room itself wasn't that grand. It wasn't packed with decorations. Jeanne thought that whoever made the room had aimed for something close to a nurse's office and a therapist's work room instead of a counseling room. When Miss Emi excused herself to go to the back of the room and came back with a nurse coat, Jeanne had understood why she was very good at handling and knowing the kids under her watch.
"You're a nurse."
"I have a license to operate as the on-site doctor too if required," Miss Emi proudly boasted. "I've mastered both the necessary biological and psychological field of treatment for that. Do you think I'm some kind of a quack doctor?"
"No," Jeanne shook her head. "I thought you were a psychic."
"Oh come now, do I look like I have the Millenium Necklace?"
As much as Jeanne would love to humor her, it felt oddly fitting for Miss Emi to wear the power of one such powerful item under her belt. With all that explanation, Jeanne relented that Miss Emi was a natural at what she did best.
"Anyway, I'm here to do your post-arrival health check-up. For the boys, they get their timeslot in the early morning a day after. For girls, I usually check them up a few hours before they sleep. Since you've passed the health check at the ship while en route to here, I'm going to check if your body has acclimated to this island."
From her office's cupboard, she took out a few tools to help the check-up session. A tool to observe her respiration, a tool to observe her sight, and even a little hammer to test her reflexes. With the check-up cleared, Miss Emi gave Jeanne a few packets of medicines.
"That's an immunity booster," Miss Emi added. "Drink it before you go to bed, alright?"
"I will," Jeanne bowed. "Thank you for all your help today, Miss Emi. I really liked your surprise party too."
"Don't mention it dearie. Now turn off for the night as soon as possible, okay?" It's almost half past eight!"
Jeanne nodded before she exited the room.
Tomorrow would be the first day Jeanne would officially be at school. That was the thought she had when she traveled back to her room. The once festive lobby had only a few students loitering around. It seemed they were sneakily eating the leftovers of the cake and drink, which when she thought about it, Jeanne had not had more than a few bites off of.
Not that she was that hungry either way.
But those were some exquisite foods.
One of the girls over by the food table waved at Jeanne.
Her blonde hair certainly made the girl easier for Jeanne to recognize. Though not as pretty as Cyr's hair, the girl who waved at Jeanne had taken good care of her hair appearance too.
"Hey," she called. "Nice dueling there. We'll be there tomorrow to root for you girls, alright?"
Seemed like Jeanne had already gotten herself a fan.
"I appreciate it!"
The walk toward her room was interrupted when her personal digital assistant beeped inside her pocket. This was a standard issue from the academy, but Jeanne had tampered with it as per Cyr's instruction. While on that note, the caller was indeed the same person.
Jeanne brushed her fringe to the side as she looked for an empty place to chat with her fiance. She wouldn't lie that finding a good place to hide was exhilarating. Her heart was thumping so hard she thought it would burst.
Finally, she found an open veranda with a moon overlooking the view in the distance.
Now that she was safe from prying ears, she picked up her phone.
"Right on the dot, my lonely princess," Jeanne smacked her lips against air. "How are you this fine evening?"
A giggle was heard from the other side. Jeanne quietly pumped her fist on her side for that. Everytime Cyr laughed on the other end, that was a win for her.
"I'm good, Jeanne," the tone of her voice was brimming with happiness. "How's my dashing knight in shining armor?"
"I've just dueled some strong girls, Cyr," Jeanne couldn't help but let out a laugh. "Not going to lie, these academia girls are no joke. I had to give it my all just to survive. I'll tell you everything that happened to me today too, are you ready?"
The voice on the other side couldn't be seen by Jeanne, but she knew her princess was nodding along with her recounted experience today. Cyr was a good listener, and Jeanne knew from the sound of the machineries that painted the atmosphere on the other side, she had a gift for being very easy to talk to. Of course, this was one of the qualities which made Jeanne fell in love with her in the first place.
Her talk went on and on, until Jeanne stopped.
"Why the sudden pause, my love?"
Jeanne looked at the moon that hung above her.
"Nothing, it's just, could you open a window and look at the moon for me?"
Jeanne's request was strange, but not unreasonable. Cyr thought she should humor her, and humor her she did. From Jeanne's ear, she had heard the sound of Cyr walking out of her lab and into somewhere with a window, where she opened a window which gave a clear view of the moon.
"I see it now," Cyr said from across the ocean. "Now what?"
"I'm seeing the moon you're seeing right now, but it's strange," Jeanne chuckled. "All I could think about was how you're even prettier than it."
She could hear something crashing from the other end of the line, which gave her a scare for a second, but she calmed herself once Cyr was talking to her again.
"Smoothtalker."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
A calming silence sweeped the air between the two of them. They stayed in silence for a few moments, enjoying the time that extended to infinity between them. Both of them were content with their situation, but they wished they had more time together.
"It's late," Cyr said. "I'll call you at the same time tomorrow."
"Of course," Jeanne nodded. Her arms were now on the veranda's railing, though her eyes were on her PDA. "I love you, Cyr. You will always be my lovely princess."
"And I will love you forevermore, my knight."
With the sound of a smooch from the other side, Cyr ended the call. It left Jeanne with a red and flushed face, but knowing Jeanne she could live with it.
She should get ready for tomorrow.
Tomorrow went by in one swift motion to the next.
Jeanne had expected herself too busy to come on time to fight Asuka in the Duel Arena, but after her fumbled introduction to Chancellor Samejima, everything had gone surprisingly well. She had finished the necessary documents to give to the chancellor, and everything else related to her background had been checked out. It was nice enough for him to not keep her too long in his office and opted her to join the first class of the day as soon as possible.
So she did.
When she entered the classroom, it was 7:45. Fifteen minutes away before class started and she was early.
She really did have a lot more free time than she expected.
She figured there would be no harm introducing herself to her future classmates.
Jeanne's eyes wandered around.
There was a familiar figure who waved back at her. Asuka's smile was as bright as ever. Maybe being the number one idol of the Obelisk Blue Girls Dorm was not a tall tale afterall. Jeanne quickly walked down the stairs to near the teacher's podium. Would all of her classes happen in this class-auditorium? If so, this would be amazing for her.
"So we're classmates, huh?"
"All of the first years share their dueling classes together," Asuka laughed. "Did you seriously not know this before?"
"I'm thinking of learning things as I go along," Jeanne shrugged. "But it is nice I'll be having the same class as you, Junko, and Momoe."
"Don't forget Yuki's also a classmate, Jeanne."
"How could I forget about my roommate?"
When the discussion stopped, Jeanne's eyes wandered to the figure behind Asuka. It was a male taller than her, with a different uniform than the usual Obelisk Blue Boys. She figured he was someone special, especially when he began locking eyes with her.
He's strong. Jeanne had realized that much at least.
"Oh you two, quit glaring at each other."
"Sorry," the tall male said. "I'm not really good with words."
"I can tell," Jeanne swallowed her spit. "You're better with dueling, aren't you?"
Ryo smirked.
Jeanne replied with her own.
The staring contest began once more.
Asuka had no choice but to break them away, though she had managed to snuck in a sigh toward the two of them while she was at it.
"This guy's harmless, I assure you Jeanne," Asuka began. "You might have known him before this, Jeanne. He's Ryo Marufuji. People here called him Kaiser. Also, you should be nice to your elders. He's a third year student, you know?"
Jeanne nodded.
"I've heard of you, Kaiser," Jeanne extended her hand for a handshake. "It's nice being acquainted with you this way. Though I would rather be acquainted with you in some... other way. If you know what I mean."
Ryo's upcoming smile was thin, but there was the slightest curve of her mouth which resembled a smile.
"Asuka had told me about you before. She said you're a battle junkie of some sort," Ryo's words were nothing but demeaning, but they were compliments to her. It was how he said them that made Jeanne sure. Of course, he accepted her hand with a handshake. "Good luck on your duel with Asuka. She's not called the strongest of the Blue Girls Dorm Freshman for nothing."
"I'll try to live up to your expectations," Jeanne nodded.
After a wave from Asuka and a nod from Ryo, Jeanne went to the next Obelisk Blue student in the room. She had seen him somewhere else before, though she had never met him face-to-face yet. Her mother had tried to set up for the two of them to meet, but every time she tried I always skimped out with the same excuse every time.
"Hey."
Jeanne's call made the boy turn to her and smiled a wide grin.
"I see you're the newest addition to our Girl's Squad," the boy began. His eyes looked all over Jeanne. Her hair, how she wore her uniform, her entire self. "Wearing pants under your uniform's skirt? What are you, a boy? You won't find my kind of girl wearing them."
As the boy reclined on his chair, Jeanne began to fume.
Jeanne felt the edge of her cheek twitch in response. As she cringed at the black-haired man in his Obelisk Blue coat, she took a deep breath and replied.
"I'll talk to you later."
"Take your time, toots. All girls return to Jun Manjoume sooner than later!" He started to laugh. "See you later!"
"See you never," Jeanne clicked her tongue. Her legs quickly took her far away from the self-serving jerk. To think she had placed one Manjoume above the others. A bitter smell of reality finally woke her up from her idealism.
Still high on her enraged coattail, she then began walking toward the boy in the yellow uniform. She had heard of it from Miss Emi before. Those with that uniform were a part of the Ra Yellow dorm. Plus, the boy who was so earnestly looking at his textbook and preparing his stationery could not be bad in any way.
"Hey."
The boy looked around before he pointed to himself.
"Me?"
"Who else, silly?" Jeanne couldn't help but giggle. "I'm new here. Just transferred yesterday, but my first on-site class will be today."
"Well, who do I have the honor of meeting with?"
"Jeanne, that's my name. I'm Jeanne Leonhart," she extended her hand for another handshake. "And who do I have the pleasure of meeting, good sir?"
"Daichi Misawa," the boy replied as he extended his hand to meet hers for a handshake. "I'm charmed to meet a lady such as you, Jeanne Leonhart."
"Flattery will get you everywhere, Daichi."
"Then I will say one more thing, Jeanne," Daichi kept his smiling face all the way. "I think how you dress yourselves looked really good, but that's just my biased opinion."
Jeanne had decided then and there that she and Daichi would become fast friends.
"Are you doing your round of introductions, Jeanne?" Daichi inquired. The good-natured boy inside him wanted to help his new friend as soon as possible. "Who have you introduced yourself to?"
"I've gotten acquainted with Asuka by the teacher's platform over there." Jeanne waved to Asuka, who waved back at her. She tried it with Ryo, but he only stared at her with a dumbfounded look. She guessed he wasn't in the mood to play along. Then she turned around, where a boy in an Obelisk Blue coat lazily sat idly in his chair. "And that guy."
"Jun Manjoume, huh?"
Daichi had sent him a nasty look, before he returned his gaze to Jeanne.
"Nothing that much good ever comes from him."
"Didn't you beat him a few days ago?" Jeanne scoffed. "How can one man be so arrogant to his peers?"
He nodded, then he continued.
"Being a Manjoume comes with their sets of baggage," Daichi reminded. He then followed with something a proper student like him wouldn't say to a stranger like Jeanne. "Though just between you and me, I'd happily slug him with my own two hands myself if permitted."
"And why are you telling me all that?"
"I'm not doing it to try and impress you, no," Daichi reassured. "I'm saying all this to help you understand how much I hate his guts."
"Damn, Daichi," Jeanne whistled. "You're very vindictive of him that much?"
"He threw away one of my decks to the ocean."
Jeanne made an audible gasp.
"Alright, screw that guy," Jeanne hissed. "You're a good friend, Daichi."
"Same to you, Jeanne," Daichi said. "To a beautiful friendship."
"To a beautiful friendship."
Jeanne and Daichi enjoyed a little bit of time chattering about the latest trend in Duel Academia, from the decks that people played to the select few duelists which interested him. There were a few names she recognized already, two of them to be exact, Kaiser Ryo and Asuka Tenjoin. Then there was one duelist which she hadn't heard the name of: Judai Yuki.
"Judai Yuki?" She wondered. "What kind of guy made you so fancy of him?"
Daichi pointed a few meters below his desk area. The end of his index finger met with a boy in a red vest and brown hair. He was laughing alongside two people which Jeanne presumed to be his friend. The three of them donned the same color as each other, with the bigger man wearing a white-red variant.
She figured the man was a third-year like Ryo, but this Judai was still a first year.
Still, Jeanne couldn't believe what she saw.
"That guy?" Jeanne eyed Judai questioningly. "He doesn't look that tough."
"Looks can be very deceiving, Jeanne," Daichi chuckled. "I wouldn't blame you if you lost to him. He is number one, afterall."
Jeanne's eyes widened.
"You're pulling my leg!"
Daichi shook his head.
"I wouldn't do that to a friend," he reminded her. "Go on, talk to him. Then you'll see he means business."
No matter what, Jeanne couldn't believe that he would be the first-ranked out of all the freshmen. However, if Daichi truly meant what he had said then she had to check him out as soon as possible. What time would be appropriate if not now? So she stormed her way down the stairs and walked toward the boy with brown hair and greeted with a loud "What's up, guys?"
"Are you talking to us?" The boy with blue hair pointed to himself.
What did he have in common with Daichi, Jeanne mused.
"Well, I don't see any other guys over here, Sho," Judai, the boy with brown hair, quickly roped his arm around Sho's shoulder. He let out a big grin as he looked at Jeanne. "So I guess the girl's talking to us now."
"Well, um, hi there," Jeanne was lost for words. Maybe she had just bitten more than she could chew with this conversation. "My name is Jeanne, Jeanne Leonhart. I'm just making my rounds around the classroom and introducing myself. Anything I should know about you guys?"
"Sho Marufuji," the blue-haired short-height said enthusiastically. "Say, if you'd like to duel, I'll happily take you on!"
Jeanne nodded.
"Maybe next time, Sho."
Sho secretly pumped his fist in the air, to the confusion of Jeanne.
"Hayato Maeda," the one in the white-red vest mentioned. "I'm actually repeating my first year after I flunked out, but Judai and Sho here have been helping me progress bit by bit. I hope we can be friends despite that."
"Of course not, Hayato," Jeanne extended her hand for a handshake with him. "I love hard-working people myself! I'd love to shake hands with you."
"Oh," Hayato could feel her cheeks redden. "First time I've ever shook hands with a girl other than my Mom."
As their palms linked, a bond was formed. Though Hayato's palm was as sweaty as he could be, Jeanne was okay with it. She was genuine about liking people who worked hard. Cyr was the hardest worker of them all, and seeing people do their best let her remember how Cyr did her best too.
"Hey, no fair, Hayato!" Sho suddenly shouted as he cut between their handshakes. "If you're getting a handshake, then I'm getting one too!"
Jeanne had a wry smile on her face.
"Sorry Sho, but cutting in line like that isn't cool," she shook her head. "Maybe next time, okay?"
There was no malice in Jeanne's tone, but Sho had definitely felt dejected.
"And you must be number one," Jeanne turned her sight to Judai. "I must say, I don't know what Daichi has seen in you, but I'm willing to believe him."
She extended her hand for a handshake.
"Let's shake hands, Judai."
"So, Misawa had told you about me, huh?" Judai accepted her handshake. "And you're already on a first-name basis? Look at you two."
"Yep, already best friends," Jeanne laughed.
Their grips tightened against each other's hands. They were locking each other by the gaze in a staring contest. If Judai had offended him somehow, she did not realize it. Still, even now, she didn't understand how he was "Number 1" as Daichi put it. The chancellor had said before that the Osiris Red was a special gathering of underachievers, but Jeanne recognized how feisty Judai felt. He was a go-getter.
If it were any other days, she would quickly ask Judai for a spar.
"Alright, bro, you can let go of the pretty lady's hand, now," Sho loudly and annoyedly groaned. "Clearly you're bothering Miss Jeanne over here."
"Sho," Judai looked at him in a disappointed older brother sort of way. Jeanne wondered what was that about, but only after she released Judai's hand did she realize how Sho acted before. Then Judai continued. "You don't have to try so hard, you know?"
"Here," Jeanne extended her hand. "Sorry if I offended you, Sho. How about a hand shake?"
"Yes!" Sho happily shook Jeanne's hand. "What made you change your mind, Miss Jeanne?"
How pathetic you looked like right now. That thought was not exclusive. Judai had that thought in his mind too.
Jeanne's formal introduction was cut short when a few more students began pouring in from the entrance. It seemed she had used up all of her 15 minutes to spare down to the last second.
"Alright, class, settle down!" From behind the crowd of students there was a blonde man in an Obelisk Blue professor coat. "Today we have a busy day ahead of us, so get seated at your desks! Third and second year students please go to your own homeroom for a special announcement."
"Chronos is here," Judai said. "So I guess that's that, Jeanne."
"Likewise," Jeanne let go of Sho's sweaty hand and wiped it on a table closest to her. "You owe me one for this."
Judai could only placate a silent smile as Jeanne went to her assigned seat. The hardest part for a new student like her was to find the row where her desk and chair were. In hindsight a class of auditorium like this was more complicated than it should be.
At least the classroom smelled really nice and accommodating.
Her classroom clapped to her introduction. Jeanne's debut could not be any better. Seated next to her roommate was probably something the academy had organized for her, and she was grateful for it. Though she did not know the girl seated opposite of her roommate, she looked like a cute girl.
The morning to afternoon classes were easily circumvented. Being an heir to the Leonhart family meant she had to learn many things which was required of her thirteen years of age.
She did not want to admit it, but her mother had the right idea.
It was the alchemy class that had her stumped. The teacher reminded everyone, and mostly Jeanne, that alchemy was the start of all fusion and ritual summoning back in ancient egypt.
But this would be the present day.
Why would they need an alchemy class?
Though she said and complained, she was still enjoying a class where they made homemade cotton candy. In a way, she was utterly defeated by the curriculum. She did not even realize the carrot and the stick hanging above her.
Then finally, came the time for Asuka and Jeanne to duel.
The Duel Arena was located inside the main campus building. It was built with both convenience and spectacle in mind as it was designed like a gladiator's arena. A stage was propped up in the center of the dome-like room with spectators' seat surrounding it. While the spectators were mentioned, this scheduled duel of theirs had attracted enough onlookers to near full capacity.
"Almost a full house," Asuka mentioned. "I could feel the pressure in the air."
As Asuka said that, Jeanne saw Yuki and Daichi at their seats in the gallery view. Now that she took a closer look, Ryo was there too standing behind the last seat of the gallery. She scanned a few more if she saw anyone she was familiar with, but she found no one else.
Sho did not count. Even if he was the most spirited in cheering her. That only made her cringe instead.
"You said it, Asuka," Jeanne shivered. Not because it was cold, but because it was nerve-wracking. "All of these people are going to scream and shout. I don't think I could take it."
"Stage fright?"
Asuka activated her blue-dorm duel disk.
If Jeanne had her memory right, only a few outstanding duelists of their years were awarded a duel disk with the color of their dorm. Asuka was just cut above the rest in her first years.
Still, that was not a concern for Jeanne. The worst had come to pass for her, afterall.
"And pass your invitation for a duel?" Jeanne shook her head. "I'm not going to miss this one for the world."
With Asuka's smile growing wider and wider, Jeanne's duel disk roared.
The two of them were staring at each other on the dueling platform. The spectators on their gallery seats were cheering on the two of them, though it was evident that Asuka had gotten more support than Jeanne. Soon after a few moments of silence, Miss Emi came out from the entrance and stood to the side as their preceding dueling judge.
Now that the air felt official, Miss Emi raised her arm. Like a referee, she made sure that both duelists were ready before she lowered her arm in a swift motion. At her signal, the two female duelists drew five cards from their respective deck and declared loudly.
"Duel!"
The crowd exploded into cheers.
"You can go first, Jeanne," Asuka gestured. "I insist."
"Then don't mind if I do!" Jeanne nodded. With a practiced movement, she calmly drew the top card of her deck. "Draw!"
Turn 01
Jeanne:
6 Cards in Hand
4000 Life Points
Asuka:
5 Cards in Hand
4000 Life Points
Jeanne started her turn by playing a green-colored card from her hand. When she activated the card, an image of a gathering of knights appeared. After a single card was placed on Jeanne's hand, the image disappeared.
"I activated the Reinforcement of the Army," she declared. "This lets me take one level 4 or lower warrior monster card from my deck and add it into my hand."
Without missing a beat, Jeanne played another monster than the one she added. It was a blonde-haired rugged knight with dirty but experienced armor.
"I summon a Marauding Knight to the field, which lets me summon a level 4 warrior monster to the field!" Jeanne placed a card which depicted a gallant blonde-haired knight in a red dress. "I summon Command Knight in attack position!"
From the gallery, Yuki and Daichi nodded.
Now Jeanne had two monsters, both at 1600 attack power. Plus, Asuka would not be easily defeating the monster which made Marauding Captain gain 400 attack points. She had to defeat the captain first and foremost.
Then two cards in the back appeared face-down.
"I set two cards face down and end my turn."
It was a solid turn. The audience thought so too. However, the luck of the game never stayed on only a solid field. The luck of the game stayed with people who drew their luck in the lot.
Asuka's hand at the start of the duel was where the luck of the game had resided.
"If that's the end of your turn," Asuka slid her hand out of the top of her deck with one card in-between her middle and index finger. "Then I'll draw."
Turn 02
Jeanne:
2 Cards in Hand
4000 Life Points
Asuka:
6 Cards in Hand
4000 Life Points
"I must say first and foremost, Jeanne," Asuka began her idle chatter. "Two monsters on the field by the end of her turn, each 1600 in attack power. That's not something I could easily dismantle."
She added a card to her hand. It was the card she had drawn on her draw phase. Continuing that, Asuka arranged the cards in her hand and stopped when she was satisfied.
"Gonna throw in the towel already?"
Asuka shook her head with a bright smirk on her face. She was ready for the situation, especially with how good her hand looked. From her hand, she mimicked her first move akin to Jeanne, but this one required two other cards from her hand.
"No, but I can make you. From my hand, I activate the spell card Polymerization!" From her hand, she sent to her graveyard one Etoile Cyber and Blade Skater. A purple card appeared from inside of her duel disk and Asuka picked it up. "With the condition fulfilled, I fusion summon Cyber Blader!"
Suddenly, the duel arena darkened. After a few minutes of chatter from the gallery, a spotlight appeared from thin air. All of the lights were focused on one majestic figure of a woman which appeared from a purple card on Asuka's side of the field. Her battle armor ready, the woman posed an ice skater pose as she rode the win as if they were ice. She danced and twirled around the arena, enchanting everyone who caught a glimpse of the Cyber Blader.
As she ended her loop on the circuit, she stopped in the air as if she was on ice. In one quick leg twirl, she leapt into the air and landed nicely where the purple card she appeared was.
As the final blow, Cyber Blader blew a kiss toward Jeanne and she was smitten.
"I have to say," Jeanne quieted her heart. "That's one cute monster card you got there."
"It's my ace monster card," Asuka replied. "And it's not only cute, it's also powerful."
Jeanne looked at the monster again, whose attack power was now at 4200. Jeanne's eyes widened. Etoile Cyber had 1200 attack points and Blade Skater had 1400 attack points. How did it result in a 4200 attack monster?
"Surprised? When you have exactly two monsters, the attack of Cyber Blader becomes doubled. And not its original attack too," Asuka explained as she equipped an equip spell card to Cyber Blader. "If I equip Axe of Despair to Cyber Blader now, she'll gain 2000 extra attack points!"
An axe floated down and Cyber Blader caught it. In that instant, when the beautiful monster held the axe in her hand, an unbelievable amount of energy began coursing throughout her body. Even after she held in her hand a grotesque axe, her beauty had not declined even by the littlest bit.
"That's insane," Jeanne couldn't help but let out a wry laugh. None of her monsters had a strong enough power against that. "And I presume you're going to attack now?"
Asuka's smile told Jeanne so much.
"Battle phase. My Cyber Blader attacks your Marauding Captain for game!"
"I have no choice but to activate my trap card: Dust Tornado!" A pile of dust on the field gradually turned into a tornado of dust, which blasted the axe out of Cyber Blader's hand. "With its effect, I destroy your Axe of Despair. Now I won't lose all my life points from taking that attack."
"But you still take damage."
Getting the full brunt of a 4200 attack point monster card, even when shielded by a monster, it still stung. She needed to toughen up against 2600 points of damage.
With her duel disk's life point indicator moving as far down as 1400 life points left, Jeanne was not sure what to think. Her body, however, felt the highest sense of excitement. As she sent her Marauding Captain to her graveyard, the crowd cheered for Asuka.
"I set one card with the effect of Dust Tornado."
That was the only thing Jeanne could do.
"Good job dodging that finishing blow," Asuka complimented. Two cards were then set face-down. "I set two cards face down and end my turn."
Now that Jeanne was left with only Command Knight on her field, Cyber Blader's attack became her normal attack point. Now with the momentum on Asuka's side, it was an uphill battle for Jeanne. Still, there was no other way but forward.
Jeanne had sensed the two cards which Asuka set and determined it dangerous. Cyber Blader wouldn't be her first priority.
"I draw."
Turn 03
Jeanne:
2 Cards in Hand
1400 Life Points
Asuka:
1 Card in Hand
4000 Life Points
The card Jeanne had drawn wasn't the card she needed, but it wasn't an entirely useless card. Without pause, she entered her main phase and summoned another Command Knight in attack position.
"Now that I have two Command Knight on the field, you cannot attack my monsters!" Jeanne looked at the two reverse cards that haunted Jeanne by existing. "All I have to do now is to dismantle your reverse cards. I place the other Command Knight into defense position. With everything set on the board, I'll end my turn!"
The two knights were now closely shielding their master. Their shield was steady. Their presence screamed the heart of Jeanne. She wanted to survive another turn, and that was a wish which the two monsters were able to grant for her.
"Quite a short turn there, Jeanne," Asuka taunted. "Usually your deck is a bit more explosive, no?"
"We all have our off days, Asuka."
The two Command Knights had begun locking their sights toward the Cyber Blader. It seemed their gaze was welcomed by the Cyber Blader herself. The two knights could only brace themselves.
"Fair enough," Asuka placed her finger on top of her deck and drew one card from the top. "It's my turn, and I draw."
Turn 04
Jeanne:
1 Card in Hand
1400 Life Points
Asuka:
2 Cards in Hand
4000 Life Points
There wasn't really much she could do. In her hand there wasn't any front row removal card. Even if she had a 4200 beater on her side of the field, it meant nothing if she couldn't attack with it.
Both duelists stared at each other.
From Jeanne's perspective, Asuka was as calm as she could be. The tiding of this duel was on her side the whole time, it was no wonder that she was not bothered nor was she inconvenienced at the slightest. She thought that Asuka was a strong duelist. No amount of hype the student had sold was enough to fully describe her overall dueling prowess. She would go as far as to say that she was jealous of her dueling skills.
From Asuka's perspective, Jeanne was in trouble. Her troubled expression as well as her slouching figure told her that Jeanne was unsure of what to do next. Stalling worked for now, of course, and she agreed on that decision. However, Asuka had already thought of a few ways where she could push through the unattackable barrier. Her deck was designed in part to destroy these kinds of strategy, afterall.
Thus, the staring contest continued.
It was surprising to Jeanne when Asuka relented.
"It seems you can take a breather, Jeanne," Asuka said. "I don't quite have an out for that combo."
Jeanne breathed a sigh of relief.
Then her brief moment of respite ended when a single face-down card appeared to the left of all Asuka's others.
"I set one more card face down and end my turn."
The crowd around the gallery had quieted down. However, Jeanne knew some of them were about to boo her for stalling. When that happened, Jeanne knew she had to toughen it up.
Now Asuka had three set cards on her side of the field. It was not getting easier for Jeanne.
"Then it's my turn," Jeanne drew one card from her deck. "I draw!"
Turn 05
Jeanne:
2 Cards in Hand
1400 Life Points
Asuka:
2 Cards in Hand
4000 Life Points
Command Knight which was summoned last turn was now on the defensive. They were now safe to destroy, though Jeanne preferred if they lived for another turn.
The hardest part about dueling when a lot of eyes were glued on her was saying end turn without doing anything meaningful.
She looked to the stands. Yuki had a worried look toward her. Daichi was calmly analyzing the field. Ryo in the back was gazing toward the field. Sho had cheered her on as loudly as he did in her first turn. For those gestures combined, Jeanne knew she had to swallow her pride to live another turn.
"I end my turn."
And the crowd watching the duel had begun talking amongst themselves. Jeanne braced herself for the round of discouragement in a few moments, but Asuka had another plan for their next activity.
"Don't worry, I'll make it exciting again," Asuka calmly said. "I draw."
Turn 06
Jeanne:
2 Cards in Hand
1400 Life Points
Asuka:
3 Cards in Hand
4000 Life Points
"I got the cards I need, it seemed," Asuka's top deck was just what she needed, and all the card needed to activate was a single cost of a one discard. "An evolution of Raigeki; from my hand I play the card Lightning Vortex."
The audience gasped as Asuka summoned a whirlpool of darkness followed by a dance of clouds climbing the arena's sky. Then, a row of lightning hammered down and disintegrated everything in its path.
After the dust settled, a lone girl appeared. Jeanne's unattackable barrier had disappeared. Two of her Command Knights were safely sent to the graveyard. No cards were activated in response to Asuka's spell card.
Jeanne was now the prime target for Asuka's attack. It seemed that everyone had moved toward the edge of their seat as they were ready to witness the newcomer's defeat.
Still, those who had paid attention knew she still had two cards in her back row.
"Let's see if your reverse cards could save you now!" Instead of fretting over them, Asuka had decided to charge straight at them. Now at her battle phase, she sent her only monster to attack her opponent. "You should pack your bags, because you're going to the defeated corner, Jeanne Leonheart!"
Not a flash sooner, Cyber Blader was already in-front of Jeanne. She spun her legs in a ballerina spin before sending the sharp end of her skating shoe toward Jeanne's neck. Had it not been for a card which came in-between her and Asuka's monster, Jeanne would feel the sensation of her head rolling a few miles away into the audience stand.
She always forgot that duel monster was an inherently violent game.
"Before the attack connected, I activated a quick-play spell card: Book of Moon," with a big sigh, Jeanne activated one of her two set cards. "I, of course, target your Cyber Blader."
By the power of the spell inside the book of moon, Jeanne made the Cyber Blader kneel down as its appearance turned into a face-down card in defense mode. Or so the card would have adhered to it, if Asuka didn't open up her own reverse card.
"Not so fast, I activate the effect of my counter trap card: Magic Jammer!" Asuka, on autopilot, sent a card from her hand as the cost for activating Magic Jammer. "This lets me negate your spell card's activation by discarding one card."
A noxious purple smoke appeared from inside the book, which threatened to render the book unusable.
"Unless you have something to counter this, you'll have to taste your defeat!"
"That's precisely something I can deal with," Jeanne flipped up another of her previously set reverse cards. This time it was her second and final one, depicting something that looked like a switch-blade. "I activate the effect of my own counter trap card: Seven Tools of the Bandit!"
From the stand, both Jeanne and Asuka could hear someone exclaiming "How clever," in a very enthusiastic manner.
"By paying 1000 life points, I can negate one of my opponent's trap activation," Jeanne explained. Though she did not like it, the life point counter of her duel disk began lowering into a dangerous number. Still, if she had not activated that card, it was the loser's corner for her. That was something she needed to avoid. "Then, after I have negated the card's activation, it is destroyed!"
With the explosion of Magic Jammer, Cyber Blader was now stuck in an unfortunate position. In Asuka's field, there were still two more cards in need of Jeanne's attention, but her thinned-out hand made her ease up even if only for a single moment.
"I guess you do earn a brief rest," Asuka, none too worried, continued with her turn. "I don't even need to set a card. I'll end my turn!"
The cheer from the crowd was loud. Asuka had brought the excitement back into the duel from them. Now, the ball was once again passed onto Jeanne's court. The next draw ought to decide the tide of the battle.
"It's all riding on this card," Jeanne placed her hope into that single card she drew. "Draw!"
Turn 07
Jeanne:
3 Cards in Hand
400 Life Points
Asuka:
1 Card in Hand
4000 Life Points
"Now, you better remember the effect of Cyber Blader," Asuka made her recall the card that was now face-down on her side of the field. Jeanne had done anything but draw her first card. "You did remember her effect, yes?"
"If I have one monster, Cyber Blader couldn't be destroyed by battle."
"That's right."
"So all I have to do is summon two monsters to the field," Jeanne had already found her answer, but Asuka's reminder helped just a little bit. "And I have just the right card for that!"
"Then what are you waiting for?" Asuka called Jeanne's bluff. "Summon the card."
"Prepare to be amazed!"
When Jeanne looked at the card she drew, she knew she had drawn the winning card. There was only one thing she needed to do: Play it. From her hand, she summoned a monster card in attack position. The form it took was a pair of court jesters, whose colors were black and red respectively, with a matching-colored spear to their overall appearance.
"I normal summon the Imperial Bower," As soon as Jeanne named the card, everyone in the audience gasped. Throughout the duel, they were led to believe she was playing a warrior deck, but when the twin monster appeared, they knew she was playing something else entirely. As soon as the monster appeared, however, they soon bowed out in exchange of two different monsters. "Then, I activated their monster effects to summon two monsters to the field: Queen's Knight and King's Knight."
Asuka's eyes widened at the revelation. She was fighting against a Face-Card Musketeers duelist all this time. Even then, she knew the duelist before her had not used her full power just yet.
What would it take to make her go all out, Asuka wondered.
While Asuka thought that, however, the whole arena was in a total uproar. They thought the musketeers were cards exclusive to Yugi Muto, so the fact that a random nobody had an extension to the face-cards made them talk. Yuki and Daichi were astounded by the revelation, so was Sho who was busy telling Judai and Hayato beside him the full history of the musketeers.
Having second thoughts about her decision, Jeanne sighed. She did not want to summon the monster card if she did not have to. The situation at hand, however, proved it hard for her to do anything but.
"I knew I shouldn't have summoned it here," Jeanne sighed.
"But you have no choice, right?" Asuka chuckled. Her hand was over her mouth as she let out a light laugh. "If you don't do it, you'll lose to me."
"Yeah," Jeanne nodded. "You're strong, Asuka. I'll give you that. But I'm taking you down with all I have now. Get ready!"
"Bring it on!"
The crowd began chattering once more, but once Jeanne continued her turn, they looked at the duel once more.
"I attack the face-down Cyber Blader with my Queen's Knight!"
In the stands, Daichi was busy explaining to Yuki Kato why it was a smart play to use Book of Moon against Cyber Blader. While Jeanne had one two monsters, Cyber Blader was indestructible by battle. So using Imperial Bower was a sure way for Jeanne to summon two monsters to circumvent that battle destruction. While when she had two monsters Cyber Blader had double the attack, it did not have double the defense.
All of that happened while the fight was in motion.
The knight with the face of a king leapt into the air and stabbed the face-down card with one full thrust of his sword. The card flipped face-up and a figure of Cyber Blader impaled by the Queen's Knight's Sword screamed as she became one with oblivion. Since it was an attack to a defense position monster, Asuka did not receive any battle damage.
"Then, with my King's Knight, I attack Asuka directly!"
However, as he was about to strike a clean bow on Asuka's abdomen, a trap card was flipped face up.
"I activated my set card: Compulsory Evacuation Device!" Asuka made the charging King's Knight dive into the evacuation device where it was sent back to Jeanne's hand once again. "With this, your King's Knight returns to your hand."
Jeanne was silent.
Maybe she was overthinking it, but Asuka's action just now was suspicious. Why would she return her card back to her? She could take the damage just as easily since she had 4000 life points to spare. Losing 1600 of them wouldn't mean much to her. Unless she was aiming for something else entirely.
The problem is, she didn't know what.
"Just in-case, I set one card and end my turn."
Asuka's smile never wavered.
She was a strong duelist. Stronger than Jeanne expected her to be. The other students weren't joking around when they said she was the best freshman girl on campus. Even now, Jeanne could just barely squeak by to survive another turn.
When Asuka declared her draw phase, Jeanne was bracing for the worst that Asuka could dish out to her.
"I draw!"
Turn 08
Jeanne:
2 Cards in Hand
400 Life Points
Asuka:
2 Cards in Hand
4000 Life Points
"I'm sorry Jeanne," Asuka gave Jeanne a sad smile. "It looks like our fun ends here. I think I drew my winning card."
"So you have, huh?"
Asuka nodded.
She placed one monster card onto the field. A hologram appeared of a pink-haired girl in her white and bright battle dress, which looked like a dancing attire, twirling menacingly into battle. Her red visor hid a bright and mischievous pair of eyes which drilled her sight right into Jeanne's head. At that moment, Jeanne felt fully threatened by the little girl and her weaponized dancing.
"From my hand, I normal summon Cyber Tutu!" Asuka quickly changed her phase as she declared her invitation to battle. "Cyber Tutu might only have 1000 attack points, but that's exactly why she's my winning card! If my opponent's monsters have higher attack points than she does, Cyber Tutu can attack my opponent directly!"
Cyber Tutu did what she was ordered and went hop, skip, and spin mid-air toward Jeanne. She had jumped over Queen's Knight with quite an air between them. With the force of her own rotation, she had calculated her leg's landing point being Jeanne's body.
Jeanne's eyes widened.
She was expecting it, but it still took her by surprise when Asuka managed to draw it.
The whole arena was watching as Cyber Tutu blitzed past Queen's Knight in a heartbeat. Jeanne was in a dangerous position right now and the audience knew it. At the edge of their seats, they were waiting for her to make her reversal.
Jeanne was ready to meet their expectations.
"At the start of Cyber Tutu's battle step, I activated my set quick-play spell card!" Jeanne hurriedly activated her card. Her shaking hand almost pressed the wrong button by mistake. The spell card showed the image of a boar rushing head-long into a fight The card was Rush Recklessly. "This card can increase the attack power of a single card on the field by 700 points. I choose Cyber Tutu as its target."
Daichi was, once again, explaining to Yuki Kato why Jeanne had done such an action. Jeanne couldn't hear him from the stand, but he was very excited about it. Now that Cyber Tutu had 1700 attack points, it cannot possibly attack directly when Queen's Knight was face-up with 1500 attack points on Jeanne's side of the field. Moreover, because it was activated during the battle step, Asuka was forced to replay Cyber Tutu's attack.
Yuki Kato, unsure what to say, decided to watch the duel with even more intensity than before.
As Queen's Knight took a running charge toward Jeanne, she had her shield up to anticipate Asuka's attacking monster. Now, with the knight shielding her queen in battle, there was a split-second between the impact of Cyber Tutu's charge against Queen's Knight's steel. This prompted the ballerina warrior to retract her leg and stop her spinning kick in exchange with both of her knees facing toward the Queen's Knight's temple.
As the mortality of the knight had come to light, Jeanne was left with only 200 life points left. Cyber Tutu's attack point then returned to normal.
Sooner than Jeanne had thought, Asuka began to talk.
"I must say," she started. "I wasn't sure you'd be able to survive for another turn."
"Honestly, I'm not sure how I was able to survive for eight turn and counting," Jeanne breathed raggedly. "When we first met, I thought you were all bark and no bite, Asuka, but now I know you can certainly bite."
"Sorry, Jeanne, but I'm not a dog," Asuka retorted. "If you want to compare me to something, compare me to a warrior."
"Yeah, you're one strong warrior all right!"
Asuka's hand moved to set one card from her hand. She was now back to having two set cards on the field. However, her hand held zero cards. Meanwhile she had a monster card in her hand with one other card that would benefit it greatly. The next turn ought to be the right time for Jeanne to strike.
And that was a moment she was about to capitalize!
"This might be it, Asuka."
"Go for it, Jeanne."
Jeanne nodded, and her fingers moved to draw one card from the top of her deck.
"I draw!"
Turn 09
Jeanne:
3 Cards in Hand
200 Life Points
Asuka:
0 Cards in Hand
4000 Life Points
"On my stand-by phase, I activate Mystical Space Typhoon!" Jeanne pointed at the face-down set card on Asuka's back row. It was the same card that she had set the previous turn. "If my hunch is right, that is a trap card that would destroy the monster I summoned this turn."
When the card was destroyed, it was revealed as the Bottomless Trap Hole.
The audience cheered as the card was graciously sent to the graveyard by Asuka.
"Good call, but is that all?"
Asuka's taunt did not fall on deaf ears.
Jeanne had considered the possibility of another card that would disrupt her play. Still, the situation forced her to play on the attack. If she did not summon her monster now, Asuka would attack and win with Cyber Tutu in her next turn.
For Jeanne it was now or never.
"From my hand, I normal summon King's Knight!"
The crowd began to cheer for the appearance of the face-card musketeer. This was the cheering that she needed. That one final push before the victory lap. When King's Knight had his summoning resolved, Jeanne was more than ready to go all in.
"I equip my King's Knight with the equip spell card Megamorph!" Jeanne then continued with her explanation. "When I have less life points than my opponent, the attack point of a monster I equip it to becomes doubled. That's not all, by doubling the attack of King's Knight, I'd be able to play around the summoning of Cyber Blader next turn!"
"So you have already anticipated Cyber Blader returning to the field? Clever."
"This might not end the duel just yet," Jeanne declared. "But this will let me grasp the winning momentum. King's Knight, attack Cyber Tutu!"
As King's Knight charged its impeccable body toward Cyber Tutu, she had won. There was nothing else that she could do, not after she had used up all the cards in her hand. When she declared her attack, Jeanne had already lost.
"Sorry Jeanne. You've outmaneuvered against my cards very nicely. However, it was simply not enough," Asuka was ready for this moment. She had set up this situation the moment she had bounced back Jeanne's King's Knight back to her hand. "The moment that King's Knight attacked Cyber Tutu, I activate Doble Passe!"
The lead-up to this moment was simple.
Asuka had set up Doble Passe on her first turn at play.
She knew if she used it at an incorrect moment, Jeanne would be able to counter it.
So she waited for the right time.
And that right time was now.
What happened next had finished in a flash. One flash where Jeanne had lost all of her life points. Doble Passe was a trap card that turned King's Knight's attack into a direct attack instead of destroying Cyber Tutu. In exchange to that, the attack point of Cyber Tutu was dealt as effect damage to Jeanne's life point.
When King's Knight's sword impaled Asuka in her chest, Cyber Tutu had drilled the tip of her shoe into Jeanne's cranium.
Even if Asuka was dealt 3200 attack points worth of damage directly, but with only 200 life points left, Jeanne could not survive 1000 attack points worth of cranium crusher.
The winner of the duel was decided then and there.
Asuka Tenjoin was the winner.
Jeanne:
0 Life Points Remaining
Asuka:
Winner
The silence became deafening.
Everyone in the audience was too stunned, too surprised at what was happening on the stage of the duel arena. Those that cheered on the new girl were struck with disbelief. Those that cheered for Asuka were in awe of her dueling prowess.
Then, as if time had resumed, Jeanne was sent by the shockwave of Cyber Tutu's attack.
It was the work of solid vision, but it felt real enough that Jeanne fell down from the impact of Cyber Tutu's attack.
Though a big bright smile had adorned her face.
Asuka walked close to Jeanne and extended her hand. "Can you stand up?"
Jeanne grabbed Asuka by her palm and accepted her help. "I don't think I can do it by myself. So thanks."
"Don't mention it."
When the two of them stood on their own two feet, the crowd started cheering. It seemed the final turn had everyone glued to the edge of their seat. All of them were as excited as the next person. Jeanne couldn't help but to wave at them, and their cheering only grew louder.
"Is it always like this every day?"
Asuka nodded. "It's like this and more."
"I think I'll enjoy living here," Jeanne mentioned. "Especially with you to duel here."
"Next time, I'm dueling you outside of Duel Arena," Asuka laughed. "I'm not even sure why I had to make our duel as official as it was."
Jeanne and Asuka looked at each other before they laughed together.
"Well, I had fun, Asuka," Jeanne extended her fist toward Asuka. "That was a fine duel all around. It's a shame I lost, but what's done is done."
Asuka bumped her fist against Jeanne.
"Same here, Jeanne. Next time, you can come at me after you have reworked your deck."
Jeanne's smile widened.
"You can count on it."
A few moments later, something popped into Asuka's head. It was partially the reason why she had challenged her to a duel in the first place. Last night, both Junko and Momoe had asked the details for Jeanne's fiance. Personally, Asuka was not that interested in it, but she won their duels so she ought to at least know.
"Hey, was the deal still valid?" Asuka questioned vaguely. She was hoping that Jeanne would forget it by now and she would deny it soon after, but when Jeanne motioned for Asuka to come closer for a whisper, she became intrigued.
She figured, why not?
But when she heard her secret, her face became as red as it could be. She looked at Jeanne. Everything about Jeanne. Before she whispered something toward Jeanne's ear.
Jeanne nodded.
A big smoke exploded from Jeanne's head.
At least it looked like it happened to Jeanne.
Still blushing, both of them returned to accept the cheer of everyone in the arena. Asuka, now beet red, was unsure of how to take the information in. It was a big secret that was entrusted by her friend. She had better keep it close to her at all cost.
Jeanne, meanwhile, was fully relishing in the cheer of the crowd. She lost the duel today, but tomorrow and the next day will be a better day.
She couldn't possibly wait for what the future would bring for her!
A/N:
Hey guys, it's me, the author. Thank you very much for reading the whole thing! I'm doing exceptionally well right now, and it was partially why I was ready to write the continuation of this fanfiction I haven't continued in a long while.
I was only thinking of making a short chapter, but it soon snowballed into this long fanfiction. In any case, I had fun writing this and I hope Jeanne's journey to having a happy life would continue!
I hope you guys are fine without too much yuri action in this chapter. Jeanne is very serious about being as pure as she can for her wifey.
Let me know what you think about this chapter by giving it a review or sending me a dm. Thanks a lot for the few reviews that I got. They are forever my treasure.
As with the previous chapter, I'm going to list all the cards that the duelists used. Starting from Jeanne, then Momoe, then Junko, then Asuka.
Jeanne
Marauding Captain
EARTH
Level 3
Warrior/Effect
ATK 1200/DEF 400
Your opponent cannot target Warrior monsters for attacks, except this one. When this card is Normal Summoned: You can Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower monster from your hand.
Valkyrian Knight
FIRE
Level 4
Warrior/Effect
ATK 1900/DEF 1200
Monsters your opponent controls cannot target face-up Warrior-Type monsters for attacks, except "Valkyrian Knight". When this card is destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard: You can banish 1 Warrior-Type monster and this card from your Graveyard, then target 1 Level 5 or higher Warrior-Type monster in your Graveyard; Special Summon that target.
Warrior Lady of the Wasteland
EARTH
Level 4
Warrior/Effect
ATK 1100/DEF 1200
When this card is destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard: You can Special Summon 1 EARTH Warrior-Type monster with 1500 or less ATK from your Deck, in face-up Attack Position.
Amazoness Swords Woman
EARTH
Level 4
Warrior/Effect
ATK 1500/DEF 1600
Your opponent takes any battle damage you would have taken from battles involving this card instead.
Command Knight
FIRE
Level 4
Warrior/Effect
ATK 1200/DEF 1900
All Warrior-Type monsters you control gain 400 ATK. If you control another monster, monsters your opponent controls cannot target this card for an attack.
A/N: All of these are just basic staple warrior monsters you can encounter back in the day. Not much to say here, but these monsters do help set up some good beatdown plays around each other.
Imperial Bower
LIGHT
Level 4
Warrior/Effect
ATK 1500/DEF 1500
If you control no other monsters: You can Tribute this card; take 2 different monsters from your Deck among "Queen's Knight", "King's Knight", and/or "Jack's Knight", and either add to your hand or Special Summon each monster. You can only use this effect of "Imperial Bower" once per turn.
Queen's Knight
LIGHT
Level 4
Warrior/Normal
ATK 1500/DEF 1600
This knight catches her opponents off guard, dominating them with swift yet graceful attacks.
King's Knight
LIGHT
Level 4
Warrior/Effect
ATK 1600/DEF 1400
When this card is Normal Summoned while you control "Queen's Knight": You can Special Summon 1 "Jack's Knight" from your Deck.
A/N: Sadly, Jack's Knight didn't appear in this chapter. As you might have guessed, I was over the moon when they announced a new Faceketeer support way back when. It was as if Konami knew what I wanted out of them, and I gladly bought their schtick up. In the current meta-game, the support cards are used to summon Osiris the Sky Dragon, but I don't think I'll let Jeanne summon a God Card with Thunderspeed Summon.
Mystical Space Typhoon
Quick-Play Spell Card
Target 1 Spell/Trap card on the field; destroy that target
A/N: This card is very good for its time. A free destroy one back row card was really rare for its time, and to keep it from being too strong I opted to keep it limited in this universe.
Upstart Goblin
Spell Card
Draw 1 card, then your opponent gains 1000 LP.
A/N: A simple combo-piece for Jeanne's OTK set-up. If she uses this card, chances are she's going to always top-deck a Megamorph. (Ha ha)
Reinforcement of the Army
Spell Card
Add 1 Level 4 or lower Warrior monster from your Deck to your hand.
Book of Moon
Quick-Play Spell Card
Target 1 face-up monster on the field; change that target to face-down Defense Position.
Rush Recklessly
Quick-Play Spell Card
Target 1 face-up monster on the field; it gains 700 ATK until the end of this turn.
A/N: I'm surprised I've only written so little normal spell cards being used by Jeanne. I blame the staples.
Megamorph
Equip Spell Card
While your LP is lower than your opponent's, the equipped monster's ATK becomes double its original ATK. While your LP is higher, the equipped monster's ATK becomes half its original ATK.
United We Stand
Equip Spell Card
The equipped monster gains 800 ATK/DEF for each face-up monster you control.
Axe of Despair
Equip Spell Card
(This card is always treated as an "Archfiend" card.)
The equipped monster gains 1000 ATK. When this card is sent from the field to the Graveyard: You can Tribute 1 monster; place this card on the top of your Deck.
Mage Power
Equip Spell Card
The equipped monster gains 500 ATK/DEF for each Spell/Trap you control.
Malevolent Nuzzler
Equip Spell Card
The equipped monster gains 700 ATK. When this card is sent from the field to the Graveyard: You can pay 500 LP; place this card on the top of the Deck.
Black Pendant
Equip Spell Card
The equipped monster gains 500 ATK. When this card is sent from the field to the Graveyard: Inflict 500 damage to your opponent.
Compulsory Evacuation Device
Trap Card
Target 1 monster on the field; return that target to the hand.
Dust Tornado
Target 1 Spell/Trap Card your opponent controls; destroy that target, then you can Set 1 Spell/Trap Card from your hand.
Seven Tools of the Bandit
Counter Trap Card
When a Trap Card is activated: Pay 1000 LP; negate the activation, and if you do, destroy it.
A/N: Axe of Despair and Compulsory Evacuation Device is shared with Asuka. I'm not double-dipping on it.
Momoe
Sky Scout
WIND
Level 4
Winged-Beast/Normal
ATK 1800/DEF 600
With eyes like a hawk and a flying speed exceeding Mach 5, this monster is a master of the sky.
Sakuretsu Armor
Trap Card
When an opponent's monster declares an attack: Target the attacking monster; destroy that target.
A/N: If I have more chances to write more Momoe in the future, I'll give her the justice she deserves. For now, I hope you won't mind making her a punching bag for Jeanne. By the way, her whole deck revolves around swarming her field with handsome monsters. The only problem is if she could swarm the field fast enough. Ha ha.
Junko
Hand of Nephthys
WIND
Level 2
Spellcaster/Effect
ATK 600/DEF 600
You can Tribute this card and 1 other monster; Special Summon 1 "Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys" from your hand or Deck.
Sacred Phoenix of the Nephthys
FIRE
Level 8
Winged-Beast/Effect
ATK 2400/DEF 1600
Once per turn, during your next Standby Phase after this card was destroyed by a card effect and sent to the GY: Special Summon this card from the GY. If you do: Destroy all Spells and Traps on the field.
Harpie's Hunting Ground
Field Spell Card
All Winged Beast monsters gain 200 ATK/DEF. If any "Harpie Lady" or "Harpie Lady Sisters" is Normal or Special Summoned: The player who conducted the Summon targets 1 Spell/Trap on the field; that player destroys that target.
Trap Hole
Trap Card
When your opponent Normal or Flip Summons 1 monster with 1000 or more ATK: Target that monster; destroy that target.
Dark Bribe
Counter Trap Card
When an opponent's Spell/Trap Card is activated: Your opponent draws 1 card, also negate the Spell/Trap activation, and if you do, destroy it.
Hysteric Party
Continuous Trap Card
Activate this card by discarding 1 card; Special Summon as many copies of "Harpie Lady" as possible from your Graveyard. When this face-up card leaves the field, destroy those monsters.
A/N: I want to write more Junko. Decidedly, I had thought a lot more than I should about which deck Junko should play with. She ended up with a Nephthys + Harpie Lady deck. Surely, she would be a hype contender that way.
Asuka
Blade Skater
EARTH
Level 4
Warrior/Normal
ATK 1400/DEF 1500
An image of beauty on the ice, this gorgeous warrior rips her opponents into pieces with her stylish Accel Slicer attack.
Etoile Cyber
EARTH
Level 4
Warrior/Effect
ATK 1200/DEF 1600
If this card attacks your opponent directly, it gains 500 ATK during the Damage Step only.
Cyber Tutu
EARTH
Level 3
Warrior/Effect
ATK 1000/DEF 1000
If the ATK of each monster your opponent controls is higher than the ATK of this card, this card can attack your opponent directly.
Cyber Blader
EARTH
Level 7
Warrior/Fusion/Effect
ATK 2100/DEF 800
"Etoile Cyber" + "Blade Skater"
A Fusion Summon of this card can only be conducted with the above Fusion Material Monsters. While your opponent controls only 1 monster, this card cannot be destroyed by battle. While your opponent controls only 2 monsters, double this card's ATK. While your opponent controls only 3 monsters, negate the effects of your opponent's Spell, Trap, and Effect Monster Cards.
A/N: If you played Cyber Blader back in its halcyon days, you will find that this card is super strong. All it needs are cards which will give her protection from effect destruction. A really strong card overall, except for her defense.
Polymerization
Spell Card
Fusion Summon 1 Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck, using monsters from your hand or field as Fusion Material.
Lightning Vortex
Spell Card
Discard 1 card; destroy all face-up monsters your opponent controls.
Bottomless Trap Hole
Trap Card
When your opponent Summons a monster(s) with 1500 or more ATK: Destroy that monster(s) with 1500 or more ATK, and if you do, banish it.
Doble Passe
Trap Card
When an opponent's monster declares an attack on a face-up Attack Position monster you control: Make your opponent's attack a direct attack instead and inflict damage to your opponent equal to the ATK of the attack target you control. Also, that monster you control can attack your opponent directly during your next turn.
Magic Jammer
Counter Trap Card
When a Spell Card is activated: Discard 1 card; negate the activation, and if you do, destroy it.
A/N: Asuka's deck is just an aggressive version of her anime deck. I like Asuka, but she has some very questionable deck building. It was mostly luck that she was able to start her turn with fusion summoning Cyber Blader, but Yugioh is mostly a game of luck anyway, ha ha.
If I miss any card, do tell me about it!
See you guys next time! Bye-Bye~!
"Is it on?"
Jeanne began fiddling with her PDA, which stood on a steel-frame stand on the veranda's marble railing.
"Yeah, it's on."
With her signal, Jeanne took a few steps back. She made sure that the PDA did not fall off the opposite of the veranda's entrance. She would be very surprised if her PDA could survive a two storey fall.
This was the first time they had set up a video call with each other, and Jeanne had to say that it was a whole new experience even for her. She did not know something so small held so much power in it to allow something like this. With Cyr's help, a standard issue Duel Academia's PDA had transformed into a multipurpose digital gadget.
"I've watched your duel today," Cyr said as she sipped from a cup of tea. "That was a fine loss."
"Asuka's just too strong, my princess," Jeanne sheepishly laughed. "And speaking of Asuka, I brought someone with me today."
The figure of a blonde girl appeared from the dorm's hall. She was not in uniform, but in her pajamas. Cyr almost spat out her tea, mostly from how sudden her appearance was. She had seen her through the security camera feed, but looking at her up close she had to acknowledge how beautiful she was.
Jeanne was now in the same veranda she was on yesterday. This time, Asuka was with her. To the surprise of Cyr, who was watching on the other side of the video call, it was very much unexpected.
"Hi, Miss Kim," Asuka started. She was doing her best to be as polite as she could. "I'm Asuka Tenjoin. Your fiance, Miss Leonhart, has given me an opportunity to learn of your relationship."
"You can call me Cyr, it's fine," Cyr chuckled. "Soon enough, I won't need that name anyway."
Asuka blushed once more.
Then, after a few moments of silence, she managed to speak again.
"It's nice to meet you, Cyr."
Cyr nodded, then she eyed Jeanne.
"Elaborate."
"Yes ma'am," Jeanne cleared her throat and saluted. Cyr was fearless today, and dangerous. Jeanne had better answered her as best as she could. "So, where do I begin? Basically, I decided to divulge our secrets to Asuka. Don't worry, she's a good friend who can keep secrets!"
Cyr raised her eyebrow.
"How much do you know?" Cyr turned to Asuka.
"Well," Asuka turned her head to the side, furiously blushing all the while. "I know that you two are in that kind of relationship. However, in my opinion, I think people can freely love whoever they want to love. To be honest, the love you have together is really... romantic."
Cyr couldn't help but smile at that.
So she knew that much, Cyr thought as she sipped from her late-night tea once again. Jeanne wasn't outed to the whole campus yet, so she felt Asuka as a trustworthy individual at least. Not much she could do but move forward, she guessed.
She poured another cup of tea for herself.
"Take good care of my stupid prince," Cyr smiled to Asuka's reaction. Another sip of her tea to calm her down, she returned her gaze toward Jeanne. "She could be a handful sometimes, but she always means well."
Asuka nodded.
"However, that's not all this is for, right Asuka?" Cyr quickly became serious once more. "If my hunch is right, you're going to ask me something related to the academy."
Asuka looked at Jeanne, and she demanded an explanation.
"She's been spying on the academy to make sure I'm safe," Jeanne explained. "I've noticed the odd ways those cameras have been eyeing me. She must've looked into your profile, Asuka."
"That's a breach of privacy!"
Smugly, Cyr shook her head.
"I'm not interested in anyone but my sweet prince," Cyr haughtily responded. "Rest assured, all I have in my pockets are recordings with Jeanne as the feature."
Asuka sighed.
She didn't know what to say anymore.
If she were already this deep, there was nothing to worry about moving forward in this direction.
"You must be familiar with the incident which occured in this Duel Academia. Students have gone missing, and it was not an isolated incident," Asuka's explanation piqued the interest of Cyr. Jeanne had heard it a few hours ago, right after they exited the duel arena and was walking back toward the dorm. Still, no matter how much she had heard Asuka talk about her situation, she was never not sympathetic about it. "I want you to find the whereabouts of my brother. His name is Fubuki Tenjoin, and he's been missing for close to a year."
