She couldn't believe her eyes.
That guy forced the examiner into discarding fifteen cards straight to their deck in one move, effectively ending the game.
Using Morphing Jar, then using Card Destruction, and then Magical Stone Excavation to bring another Card Destruction from the graveyard to use it again was something straight out of a duel puzzle.
Most duelists she knew probably couldn't pull something like this and mess up.
But this was different.
He executed the move flawlessly and, from the looks of it, hadn't played the game in years.
It was a masterful play from all accounts, defying convention and turning the duel on its head.
But for some reason, that move was... irritating.
She frowned as she watched the examiner's cards fly into his graveyard as if each card were her own.
"How is this even possible?" The freshman muttered under her breath; her voice tinged with disbelief and a touch of annoyance.
The unorthodox duelist's play triggered something within her.
She couldn't place her finger on it, but she could have sworn she went against someone like him as a kid.
The loss she suffered was infuriating to say the least.
Her gaze shifted to her childhood friend, Zane Truesdale, whose eyes were fixed on the duel, which was a rare sight to behold.
On the contrary, however, she crossed her arms and was disinterested in the duel now.
It was an interesting dynamic switch, as she was usually the one to comment on any interesting plays while Zane would watch with that bored look he was known for.
This switch in demeanor caused her childhood friend to speak up.
"Intriguing, isn't it? This duelist's unorthodox style is captivating. It's rare to see a mill deck with that much finesse."
Nevertheless, she decided to be the devil's advocate for this one.
"Yeah, unorthodox is one way to describe it. But it's also reckless. Forcing the opponent into discarding cards and using cards like Needle Worm and Morphing Jar can easily blow up in his face." She pointed out.
She wasn't wrong, though, Morphing Jar's effect was very powerful and enough to win duels, but it also gave the opponent the tools they needed to win.
Needle Worm was effectively a dead card if the duelist didn't have the right defenses set up to protect themselves.
Despite her words and unspoken reasoning, she saw a rare smirk creep onto her cool, relaxed friend.
"Reckless, perhaps, but it's also oddly bold and innovative. This duelist challenges the usual conventions of attacking and defending, instead forcing opponents out of their comfort zones. I find this strategy fascinating."
Seeing Zane supporting such a strategy conjured an uneasy feeling within her.
She wasn't quite sure why this duelist had gotten on her nerves, but even she couldn't help but agree with him somewhat.
Regardless, she continued to play her role.
"Fascinating? All I see is a total disregard for structure and proper dueling strategies. It's annoying!" She hissed with venom.
The Obelisk Blue student gripped her arms as she continued to watch the duel.
"Hahaha..." The senior student chuckled, which caught her off-guard. "Sometimes, Alexis, having the unexpected breeds some interesting breakthroughs. This duelist's style is disruptive, forcing opponents to adapt on the fly and question their own strategies. Sure, the examiner was able to get some attacks here and there, but he needed to switch up his strategy halfway into the duel."
Seeing her childhood friend defend this... guy was unusually vexing for her.
In all her years of knowing him, she knew that he was one to respect the cards and their purpose, respecting tradition and dueling with honor.
Witnessing a blatant mockery of that should be enough for Zane to dismiss that duelist.
Instead, he is intrigued by him, frustrating her.
"That's true, but dueling is an art that requires discipline, careful planning, and respect for the rules. This guy's methods are just chaotic and disrespectful." She fired back, hoping to sway her friend to her views.
Zane's eyes continued to gaze at the duel intently.
"Chaotic, yes, but within chaos lies the potential for brilliance. This duelist's ability to force opponents into discarding cards creates opportunities for unexpected comebacks and powerful counterattacks." He countered, nodding along with the final gambit the examiner was evoking.
Her friend did bring up a good point; being unpredictable and forcing the opponent into disarray can create some interesting plays, but dueling shouldn't devolve into something like this.
"Hmph. I've always believed in the importance of structure and tradition. Dueling is art, disciplined and beautiful, not some crazy, chaotic experiment, Zane."
The use of his name and stern tone made her childhood glance at her.
But once again, she was surprised by the rare smirk transforming into a small smile.
"Structure and tradition have their place in dueling, which I agree with. But you shouldn't underestimate innovation and adaptability. Unorthodox methods allow dueling to evolve into the next level of games." He stated with a knowing smile.
The freshman examined the duel below with a scowl, hoping to prove him wrong somehow.
She wasn't quite sure why she wanted to prove a point against Zane.
What he was saying did make sense, but it still grated on her nerves and left a bad taste in her mouth.
Right now, the examiner had activated Heavy Storm to annihilate the duelist's back row, but his Gravekeeper's Servant remained up.
"Weird, I never thought I would see someone use Spell Reflector to keep that spell up..."
The examiner attacked the duelist's face-down monster, another Needle Worm again, enough to deck him out.
She rolled her eyes at the trick and weird strategy he was using, but he saw that he was wide open.
"Huh, it looks like that's it. His souped-up Giga Gagagigo should be enough to close out the duel." She uttered to herself before looking back Zane.
Even though the duel was pretty much over, Zane's eyes didn't leave the battlefield.
"Maybe you got a point on having different approaches to dueling. But with such a strategy, it's ironic to see him lose to sheer firepower." She mused, now deciding to look around for another dueling exam. "I just don't see him winning with such recklessness."
When he didn't respond and continued to look, she followed suit.
The freshman Blue widened her eyes with what she saw.
The Giga Gagagigo stood still, axe in hand, watching the duelist draw another card.
"He can't attack because he has no cards left. The duelist's Gravekeeper's Servant is what is stopping him from attacking." He explained before looking back at her. "That's the beauty of it, Alexis. Success in dueling isn't solely determined by tradition; it's about pushing boundaries, taking risks, and unlocking hidden potentials."
The examiner then put his hand on his duel disk to signify that he had decked out, letting the duelist win.
She was sure that the duelist would have lost, given he was left completely defenseless, but instead, he had managed to win.
"He... he won? Even though it was stacked against him? That's... I can't believe it."
There wasn't much else to see other than that freshman winning by the skin of his teeth.
However, seeing such a victory with a playstyle was surreal enough to question what had happened.
"Hidden potential locked behind different dueling styles and strategies, huh?" She muttered.
She couldn't help but let out a sharp exhale at seeing him win.
"I don't think I'll understand how he managed to win like that."
Her eyes gazed on the newly minted freshman, turning off his duel disk and walking back up the stairs.
"Hmm, you have that look again. It's something I haven't seen in a while." Zane pointed out, which caught her attention. "Are you thinking of keeping on an eye on that guy?"
The thought of monitoring or watching him made her skin crawl.
"Pff, as if I need to." She scoffed.
Deep down, however, there was a gnawing doubt at her convictions.
She couldn't ignore the teeny, tiny flicker of the fascination of that duelist's style that had begun to ember.
Sure, it challenged the ideals she believed in and offered a glimpse into a different approach to dueling that pushed boundaries and embraced the unexpected.
This strange, internal conflict intensified as memories of her own childhood duels resurfaced.
One particular duel still held a place in her heart, a stinging defeat that shook her beliefs and confidence.
She remembered facing an opponent that dueled like the freshman below, employing unconventional tactics, catching her off guard, and ultimately leading to her defeat.
The face of that child duelist, now lost to time, flashed briefly in her head.
Just thinking about that duel still annoys me. She thought to herself.
Her gaze shifted back to Zane, his knowing smile hinting at his understanding of her internal struggle.
It was as if he, too, sensed this odd connection between that child and this duelist who had won.
Her cheeks threatened to flare up because she bawled her eyes out and forced her childhood friends to comfort her.
Of course, it was a duel that was played for fun, and it was an inevitable break to a winning streak she had, but...
That frustration of loss lingered, despite happening years ago, and his victory had stirred those suppressed emotions anew.
She had hoped that Zane wouldn't bring this up, but instead, she was greeted by an unexpected playful smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Hey, remember that one time you cried for hours after you lost?" He reminisced. "Your brother had no idea how to calm you down, and we got one of the worst scoldings from your mom."
For a split second, the mention of her brother made her uneasy, but given the context, it was something to think about.
"I-I was a kid, alright?! You didn't have to bring that up!" She cried, her cheeks now flushing with a bright shade of pink.
Her friend had only chuckled softly in response.
"Well, that was possibly the last time I have seen you lose your composure. Maybe this freshman will provide the same challenge that brings out that fire in you."
She couldn't help but crack a smile from this; it had been so long since she had cried over anything like that before.
If anything, her tears from before served as a reminder of her growth and resilience, a testament to her determination.
Despite Zane's somewhat interested gaze at the both of them, she still glared at the freshman from afar.
To Zane, this was a rare phenomenon.
A possible rivalry between the two might be possible, especially since their beliefs seemed to clash.
His gaze focused on his friend, and he smirked again.
A clash between tradition and innovation. It'll be fascinating to see how this rivalry unfolds and what it means for the evolution of their dueling styles.
Knowing Alexis, she would rather bottle everything inside of her, even if it's causing more harm than good.
She's like that, even when we were kids.
But I never thought I would see the day when she seriously considered disregarding that belief just because of this one duel.
She still hasn't forgotten that duel she had a long time ago...
The senior Obelisk focused his attention on the freshman, who was now sitting down.
His victory against the professor was no accident.
That freshman's ability to think outside the box and force the duel onto his terms may have caught Alexis off guard, but it is a welcome change.
The kid's got a lot of untapped potential.
It may help Alexis reach new heights if this turns into a rivalry.
In fact, it will be interesting to see their beliefs evolve when they inevitably cross paths along the way.
Looks like only time will tell what will happen later.
That Hero duelist...
Why does he remind me of Hibiki?
Sure, I remember using him using Elemental Heroes, but nothing like what that guy was using.
Strange...
Did we ever meet before?
I was currently seated with Bastion on a small plane flying towards the distant Duel Academy Island.
My mind was currently preoccupied with that devastating one-attack kill made by that Hero duelist.
The rhythmic hum of the engines and the occasional pocket of turbulence made the whole experience somewhat memorable.
Through the small window next to me, I had a clear view of the large, expansive ocean, sparkling below us with some tiny islands and wisps of white clouds dotting the view.
"Interesting, so you mentioned that you hadn't played Duel Monsters since you were a child, correct? How did you manage to build such an unconventional deck, then? Unless you were a prodigy, it would be unlikely to use such cards to force a deck out." Misawa surmised.
Yeah, he has a point.
There would be a time when I wouldn't want to force myself to dump my hand and draw new cards, even if I had the advantage.
I leaned back in my seat and gazed at the photogenic sea and sky.
It felt like I was drifting through worlds, time, and space for a moment.
What may have felt like hours was only a couple of seconds.
I let out a sigh and gave him a small but tired smile, who was patiently waiting for me to continue.
"When I was a kid, Duel Monsters was something I could fall back to when things got... rough—an escape, a way to forget about my problems just for a little bit. Sometimes, I felt like I didn't want to follow established strategies, so I wanted to play on my own terms. You know, with a little unpredictability and chaos."
Bastion listened attentively as if he was captivated by my rambling.
Great, I think I'm doing it again...
Might as well roll with it.
"I loved the idea of making my opponent confuse them or making them play differently than usual. The thrill of pulling off an unexpected play... it's incredibly addicting." I answered, to which he slowly nodded in thought.
His brows knit in thought as he stroked his chin, trying to understand my messy word choice.
"And that philosophy influenced the way you built your deck?"
For a moment, I felt the many duels I had as a kid now starting to flood my mind.
Every loss and win was a learning experience in tweaking my deck further.
"Yeah, I liked being unconventional and unpredictable, decks that disrupt the normal flow of the game, things that challenge the status quo. In a way, it's like shaking up the game, showing others that there are other ways to play the game."
I couldn't help the evergrowing smile that was creeping onto my lips.
Seeing those kids being surprised by my strategy was also so fun.
Hmm, there were a few that managed to outplay me, but there was one duel, in particular, that kind of stopped me from dueling like that again, in turn making me stop playing for years.
"That's quite the unconventional approach to dueling..." Bastion slowly summarized. "But I can see the potential. It challenges your opponent to adapt quickly, disrupting their carefully laid plans. In that unpredictability, there lies a lot of strategic potential."
I gave him a snap, showing him that he understood what I was talking about.
"Finally, someone who speaks English," I added. "That's pretty much it, really. Instead of overpowering the opponent with sheer firepower, outlasting them with stall cards, or setting up a perfect strategy... It's more about throwing them in disarray, making them question their tactics. It's kinda like, uh... stepping into the unknown or something."
Wait, the unknown?
Where did that come from?
"How interesting. I'll have to see if I can add that element to my strategy. I will admit I am the type of player who will make the perfect plan to deal with any situation." He stated. "Though, I will need to experiment and see if your theory can hold up, if you don't mind, of course."
I shook my head.
"No, not at all. I don't mind having a few friendly duels here and there." I obliged. "If anything, I kind of want to play Duel Monsters a little more now. I totally forgot how much fun it was. But not today, though, hehe."
He chuckled as well.
"That's very much understandable. I don't think I would be able to duel you without making the proper preparations first."
We continued to chat as the plane continued its journey across the azure expanse.
Despite our differing perspectives in dueling, it looked like we had a shared love for the game in general.
I had a feeling that he and I were going to be friends.
After touching down, the sun was now at its full height, and with it, the heat was starting to bear down on us.
Fortunately for us, we were ushered inside and told to change into our new uniforms.
Or, in our case, put on the jackets.
However, when I examined the jackets they gave to us, I couldn't help but feel somewhat uncomfortable.
The material and style of the jacket were completely fine as it is; if anything, it looked decent.
But the color was what irked me.
Why is this...
Piss yellow?
The color of the jackets we got was practically piss yellow, but that didn't seem to bother anyone wearing them.
"What's the matter, Sora?" I heard Bastion ask me.
I turned to see him sporting the yellow jacket, confused by my reluctance to wear it.
Jeez, it looks tackier in person.
Why did they think that this color would be good on the eyes?!
"Nothing, nothing. It's just, well, the color of the jacket is a bit... y'know. Doesn't it bother you a little?"
He arched an eyebrow at this and examined the clothing.
"Bother me? No, not at all. Why would it?" He asked back. "As far as I can tell, there doesn't seem to be any dirt and whatnot with these uniforms."
Wha-?
So wait, this only bothers me?
Or is he messing with me?
"I mean, doesn't it remind you of anything? I don't know, something... unpleasant, maybe?" I pressed, hoping he would see what I was thinking.
Bastion gazed at his uniform once more, twisting and turning to new perspectives in an effort to understand me.
Nevertheless, he simply shook his head and shrugged.
"No, not really. I don't find anything unpleasant. It's just a color, Sora."
...
OK, so maybe Bastion is not the best choice for fashion sense.
Let's see if anyone else is talking about this.
I looked around, and to my surprise, there was no one else that shared this strange association of mine.
If anything, they seem to be perfectly content with their uniforms.
W-What...?
"Just a color, huh?" I muttered, now defeated. "Yeah, I guess it is a color."
I couldn't help but grimace at my jacket before finally putting it on.
Looks like I am a Ra Yellow now, wearing a urine-colored jacket.
I gave myself a once over and tried to see it through their perspectives, but I couldn't.
With a sigh, I put my hands on my hips and walked over to my friend.
"Hmph, guess I'll need to rethink my fashion sense, huh?"
Bastion tittered from my odd perspective and gave me a friendly pat on the shoulder.
"Or maybe, you'll start a new fashion trend, chap. Who knows?"
We shared a good-natured laugh, our sense of humor being one of the things that we had in common.
Even though I was wearing this, it helped me forget about how serious things had been for a while.
This is a good change of pace...
We then moved on to the auditorium, with our bags being placed into our dorms, for the introductory speech by the chancellor.
Bastion and I join the throng of students gathering in the auditorium, looking for two vacant seats for us to sit.
As we searched, there was murmuring chatter of eager students filling the room, creating this palpable atmosphere of excitement.
"Ah! That's a good spot, don't you think? Let's sit there!" My friend pointed to what was in the middle of the room.
I gave him a quick nod, and we began trekking to the two seats there.
Once we sat down, it didn't take long for the massive screen at the end of the auditorium to light up with an image of an old bald man with a beard.
On second thought, he isn't that old...
The crowd silenced immediately once he took the stage, to which he began his welcoming speech.
He spoke on and on about the history of Duel Academy, the honor of being chosen, and the many challenges that lay ahead.
You know, boring stuff.
My eyes wandered to the other students sitting with us, which were Obelisk Blues.
They were wearing the same coats from when I first entered the dueling center, and there wasn't much to go off.
Other than the coats being up to knee level, that color definitely looks nice.
A nice dark shade of blue...
On the other hand, there were some students wearing jackets similar to ours, except it was a bright red color.
Those must be the Slifer Reds.
Why are they not sitting down with us?
From afar, it looked like they were sitting in their own designated spots, but that didn't seem to be the case.
If anything, it felt like they were being segregated.
Jeez, I know the school has its own hierarchy system, but I didn't think it would be this bad!
To complete the scene, all there needed to be were some smug Obelisk Blues or even Yellows spitting spitballs or throwing crumpled pieces of paper at them while the Chancellor continued his speech.
But there wasn't anything like that so far.
I took a glimpse at what Bastion was doing and saw he had the same focused look from earlier when he was watching the duels below him.
Maybe I should take a page from him then...
And so I decided to pay attention to the bland and uninteresting speech the chancellor had prepared for us.
Despite this, my mind begins to wander.
But suddenly, I felt a weird sensation pass over me as if telling me something was amiss.
This feeling...
Am I being watched?
My gaze roamed the auditorium, passing over the many unfamiliar faces, and I saw there was a separate section for the girls.
Huh, I forgot that they were even here.
And it looks like they are completely cut off from us guys.
I scanned the crowd of admittedly cute girls before coming across one that looked unpleasant.
She wasn't ugly or anything, but she had this slightly irritated frown that seemed to be targeting me.
Wait, she is looking at me!
Her expression was unreadable from here, but it looked like she was staring at me.
Or rather, glaring at me.
I felt a knot starting to tie up in my stomach as I felt her heated eyes on me.
There's a girl glaring at me, and I have no idea why!
What did I do?!
I'm pretty sure I didn't talk to her or anything!
The intensity of her eyes was disconcerting, and for a moment, I had no idea how to react visibly.
I was getting desperate to escape her gaze.
Wait!
Maybe she's not glaring at me!
And I got just the plan!
I gently elbowed my friend.
"Psst, Bastion," I whispered, hoping to catch his attention. "Pssst, dude..."
He wordlessly looked at me expectantly.
"Could we maybe... switch seats? I can't really hear the Chancellor's speech from here."
My friend gave me a quick nod, and we switched seats.
"Thanks, man."
Bastion gave an affirmative grunt and returned to paying attention to the speech.
It doesn't feel like I can feel her gaze any more.
But I should at least make sure.
I stole another glance at the girl's section, and to my surprise, she wasn't glaring but looked confused.
And that was enough for me.
I let out a relieved sigh.
So I was right; she wasn't looking at me.
That's good.
I really don't want to piss off any of the girls of this academy.
There's a good chance they will bring me a world of pain...
I could feel my body starting to relax, so I refocused on the long speech he was still giving.
As Chancellor Shepard went on about the many struggles the schools had to endure over the years of its formation, that feeling returned.
That prickly sensation on the back of my neck, only this time, was a lot more heated.
Uh, oh...
I slowly turned my head to face her direction, and lo and behold, her eyes met mine.
This time, without a sliver of doubt, she was definitely glaring at me, and this time she added a little bit of disgust too.
"That's great..." I muttered to myself, slumping into my seat.
The first day in a new school and I somehow made an enemy.
And from the looks of it, she is probably one of the top students, no less.
Ugh, man...
This is going to be one hell of a semester.
As we headed outside, I quickly said my goodbyes to Bastion and decided to go into my dorms to think of a strategy.
For a moment, I heard a guy shout, "Hey! Wait up!" to me, but I figured it wasn't for me.
And not to mention, it wasn't Bastion who shouted that either, so it definitely wasn't for me.
"Come on, I just wanna talk!"
Still, I didn't want to take any chances as I felt my paranoia starting to override my sense of reason, so I decided to sprint away from the campus.
I need something to smooth things over with that girl.
But there are a lot of problems with that.
First off, I have no idea who she is.
I mean, yeah, we are in the same grade, and she's in Obelisk Blue, but that's pretty much all I know about her.
Her name's practically the most important of the puzzle that I don't know about!
Secondly, I have no idea why she is pissed.
We never spoke to each other on the plane ride, and I know that I didn't annoy her during the speech.
Did we see each other in the dueling exams?
Even then, that's too speculatory.
And third, how am I supposed to apologize to her?!
Walking up to her and apologizing without any idea is a recipe for disaster.
Not to mention how weird it would be.
As I exited the school grounds, a fourth problem began to arise.
I have no clue where the dorms are since I didn't pay attention...
Oh, wait, I totally forgot!
I pulled out a small device with a small screen, stylus, and keyboard.
This could be a good way to find my way there.
In the back of my mind, I hoped this would prove as a distraction from a tricky situation I was stuck in.
With my PDA in hand, I fiddled around with it to find the location of my dorm, which was surprisingly nearby.
As I came up to the dorms, I was somewhat impressed by the building.
It was a yellow building, thankfully not painted in the same hue as its uniforms, and looked to be much bigger than the apartment building I used to live in.
There was also a cafeteria that was separate from the dormitory, not too far away.
My PDA then showed me what room I was going to be in, which was located on the lower levels compared to the dorms upstairs.
This meant sophomores and seniors rose up the floors as they advanced through the school years.
The dueling center gave me a key before we departed, so I pulled it out and unlocked the locks.
Once I opened the locks, I turned the knob and marveled at the room before me.
Huh, I thought I would be bunking with someone, but it looks like that's the case.
Especially since there's only one bed.
The room was cozy and compact, with the walls having soft, pastel colors creating a peaceful ambiance.
Not to mention a large window, allowing natural light and casting this warm glow on the room, amplifying its tranquility.
Said bed was equipped with clean, crisp linens against a wall, which was practically inviting me to lay down and possibly sleep.
This...
This is definitely a step up compared to my apartment.
Now I kinda don't want to come back home!
I took off my sneakers and jacket before sitting down on the soft bed.
Whoa!
This is way softer than my futon!
If anything, I can maybe fall asleep and...
...
Damn it, there's no way I can forget about her, right?
Seeing those brown eyes focusing and looking into my soul will haunt me for a bit, huh?
With a groan, I rested my head on the unexpectedly soft bed, nursing the incoming headache.
My eyes stared at the ceiling above as I struggled to brainstorm how to fix this problem.
If I don't fix this problem, it'll be my neck.
Maybe literally, too...
That sucks...
Hey, I might as well give Ms. Hibiki a call.
Maybe she might have some advice.
Since there was practically no service on this island, the closest I could do was have a video call with her.
This was done through Koyo's PDA, which he brought home as souvenirs.
After a little bit of messing with the settings, I was able to send a voice chat request to Koyo's PDA and awaited her response.
To my surprise, she picked up almost immediately.
Since her PDA was an older model, her video didn't pop up, which probably meant the same for me.
"Ah, Kazzy! You made it in! I knew you would make it! How's Obelisk Blue, Kazzy?" She greeted me with her usual cheery demeanor. "And you here you thought you wouldn't make it in! Haha!"
I grinned at how I was practically eating my words.
"Yeah, yeah. I thought my rustiness would catch up to me in the duel, but I guess I was wrong. Anyway, the academy's neat so far. I made a friend, and uh..."
I don't want to hamper the mood, but I need her help.
And so, I filled her in on what had happened so far and the unexpected encounter with that girl who I hadn't met before.
"Oh, my. That does sound odd. And you're certain you've never met this girl before?"
I tried to think of the one time that I did, but I kept coming blank.
"Yeah, I'm sure. The only time we were even near each other was on the plane ride... I think. But even then, I never spoke a word to her."
There was a moment of silence on the line as Ms. Hibiki digested the information.
"Hmm, well... Kazzy, it's not easy to know why someone might be upset if we don't fully understand what's happening. For all we know, she could be dealing with her own problems, and the one way to vent would be to glare at someone, that is you. Either way, I think you should go speak to her." She sagely advised.
I rubbed my arm as I held the PDA in my hand.
"But, Ms. Hibiki, I don't know her name, let alone her problem with me..."
She laughed at my concern, not out of scorn but out of goodwill.
"Kazzy, I know it sounds difficult, but believe me, dear. It will work once you speak with her. Start by introducing yourself, be polite and kind, ask her about the situation, and show your resolve to fix things. Most girls like a direct and confident man, ya hear?"
As always, Ms. Hibiki's advice is wise and soothing.
It doesn't alleviate my nervousness about facing this girl, but it gives me something to work with.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. Thanks, Ms. Hibiki. I appreciate it." I thanked her with immense gratitude.
I'll have to think of something to confront her.
Huh, it really isn't that bad now that I think about it.
"You're welcome, Kazzy."
We chatted for a little while before I decided to end the conversation, saying I would like to get started with packing.
She understood, and we said our goodbyes before hanging up.
I got to work on unpacking my things from my luggage, which had been conveniently placed in the corner of my room.
I hadn't many belongings in the first place, so it didn't take too long.
Good thing I did my laundry a day before packing...
Once I was done packing, I heard my PDA beep on top of my bed, so I investigated.
The display showed that I had received a text message from Bastion.
"Hello, Sora. I hope I sent this message to you properly. I'm in dorm room 141. Which one is yours?"
141?
My room's 140, so that must mean...
I opened up the display and began typing away at my message.
"Yep, you sent the message, alright. I'm in dorm room 140."
I sent the message not soon after there was knocking at my door.
That must be Bastion.
With a smirk, I walked up to the door and opened it.
"A bit of a coincidence that we're dormmates, eh?" I preemptively remarked before realizing that I wasn't talking to him.
It all fell apart when I saw not guys but two unfamiliar girls.
What the heck?
"Err, hello..." I weakly greeted. "Do you need something?"
Wait, are girls supposed to be in these dorms?
One of the girls steps forward; her arms crossed and a stern expression on her face.
I had a notion she would try to start a duel right her in the hallway.
But fortunately, the other girl seemed to be a bit more reasonable with a soft but curious expression, despite standing behind her.
"You're that guy from the auditorium, right?" The stern brown-haired girl asked; her tone was more accusatory than inquisitive.
That guy?
What does that mean?
Jeez, talking with two girls looking to interrogate about something is like stepping into a duel with a full set of trap cards.
"I'm afraid... I don't understand. What do you mean?"
The girls exchanged a quick look before turning their attention back to me.
"We're friends of Alexis," The softer-spoken girl explains with a noticeable valley-girl accent. "We noticed her looking at you during the Chancellor's speech."
Her name's Alexis?
So that's the girl who's been giving me the stink eye?
"And from the looks of it, it was a friendly one. So, we wanted to know what you did to upset her." The brown-haired girl continues, her gaze piercing into mine.
This was practically the first time I had been caught off guard by someone so direct that my words failed me.
Remember what Ms. Hibiki said.
I have to be genuine about this sort of thing.
"I..." I began to mutter before returning the brown-haired girl's gaze. "I didn't do anything. If anything, this is my first time hearing of her name."
The girls seemed to have been taken aback by my response, with the brown-haired girl being more surprised than her counterpart, so they traded looks.
"Y-You don't know who Alexis is?" The soft-spoken girl repeated with a hint of disbelief in her voice.
I shook my head and focused my gaze on her eyes, which had startled her for some reason.
"No, I never met her before." I reaffirmed. "But hey, if I've unknowingly upset her, then I would like to apologize."
At my words, the brown-haired girl's eyes narrowed at me.
"Fine. You can apologize to her. In-person. Right now." She demanded as she took another step into my comfort zone.
I was about to protest this unfair but direct methodology when a familiar voice rang out.
"Sora!" Bastion greeted me with a warm smile, walking up to me with his uniform all buttoned up. "There you are. The feast is about to begin, so we better get going. Shall we?"
I flashed him an ever-grateful smile at him before turning to the girls. "Look, I really am sorry. I promise I'll apologize to Alexis in person, but I need to go right now."
They traded one glance at each other, to which the brown-haired girl sighed.
"You better not run away from this, OK? I'll cut you some slack since you were honest about this. Thanks for your time."
I gave them a nod, a gesture of respect, and turned to follow Bastion while they turned to leave.
He gave me a teasing grin as we walked down the hallway.
"So, you're being persecuted already, hmm? Just like the olden days." He joked, which made me chuckle wholeheartedly.
Who would have thought he would have a sense of humor?
"Hah! It really does feel like it." I played along before patting him on the shoulder. "Thanks for the save, man. I appreciate it."
He nodded and patted me on the shoulder as well.
"Anytime, chap. Now let's pick up the pace, shall we? I haven't had a proper meal ever since I left home."
I grinned back at him.
"For sure, let's go."
As we entered the grand dining hall, a wave of chatter and laughter hit us.
Students were mingling about, their conversations filling the air with a buzz of excitement and camaraderie.
The sight was heartening, students of all years and dorms coming together to celebrate the start of a new academic year.
Tables were laden with food, the aroma wafting through the hall and making my stomach growl.
At the front of the hall, Professor Sartyr, the head of Ra Yellow, was overseeing the serving of the feast.
His enthusiastic gestures and warm smiles added to the welcoming atmosphere.
I spotted lobsters, salads of various kinds, and jugs of juices on the buffet tables.
Wow...
Duel Academy really pulls out all the stops when it comes to this, huh?
It was a grand sight that made me even more eager to join the celebrations.
"Lobsters...! What a fine delicacy! I can't resist!" Bastion giddily exclaimed as he stared at the red crustacean with ravenous eyes, his excitement palpable.
Lobsters, huh?
"Huh, you're into lobsters, aren't you?" I asked, a little curious about his uncharacteristic behavior. "I never really had lobsters; I'm guessing you like them?"
He turned to me as if he felt a fire within ignite once again, just like the time we were discussing different Greek philosophers or... theorems.
"Like them? No, my good man. I love them! Their fascinating anatomy, how they readily adapt to their environment, and the intricate flavors they possess... Not to mention the various meals that can be prepared by one. This is truly a feast befitting Ra Yellow! I'm sure no one will mind if I start feasting a little early..."
I rubbed the back of my head from Bastion's strange but believable passion for lobster.
His energy was infectious, and I couldn't suppress a good smirk from this side of him.
Geniuses like him tend to have weird quirks, and lobsters are one of them.
We made our way to a vacant table, sliding into the seats and glancing around the room, the ambient noise of the room creating a cheerful backdrop.
"You know what? Knock yourself out, man. I'm sure no one's gonna mind." I assured the now-focused Bastion.
His eyes were squarely on the lobster itself, prodding it with the utensils provided.
Yeah...
Maybe I should let him at it.
I could see the gleaming faces of fellow Ra Yellow students, their eyes reflecting their excitement for the feast and the year to come.
Just as we started to serve ourselves, a voice echoed through the hall, causing the noise to die down.
It was Professor Sartyr, a microphone in hand, standing at the front of the hall.
"May I have your attention, please!" He announced, his voice booming through the hall.
The chatter died down, all eyes turning to the professor.
"Before we officially start the feast, I would like to acknowledge a particular student. A newly minted freshman."
The room was silent, everyone waiting with bated breath.
"Bastion Misawa," the professor called out with a proud smile. "For achieving the highest score in the written exams."
I turned to look at Bastion, who had just managed to take a bite of lobster.
Choking a little, he quickly swallowed his food and stood up, surprised and slightly embarrassed.
The hall erupted into cheers and applause as he sheepishly made his way toward Professor Sartyr.
As the applause died down, the professor raised his hand for a handshake, which Bastion took.
With a firm handshake, he raised his glass for a cheer.
"To Bastion Misawa, for scoring the highest in our dorm! Please give him a round of applause!"
The students of Ra Yellow clapped once more, which caused Bastion to give a deep bow of respect to us.
The professor looked at him expectantly as if requesting he would give a few words before finally starting the feast.
Given how he was focused on the lobster from before, he was baffled at the turn of events.
His staggered eyes met mine, at a loss for what to do.
Maybe I'll give him the same advice that Ms. Hibiki gave me.
I balled up a fist and patted it against my chest, trying to tell him to be proud of his accomplishment and keep his head held high.
He gave me a grateful nod and took the microphone from the professor.
"Thank you for having me, Professor Sartyr. I am grateful to be in Ra Yellow and hope to learn from each and every one of you. Together, we will define what it means to be a Ra Yellow!" The genius confidently and coherently rallied.
His public speaking skills pleasantly surprised me, so I started giving him applause, with many following after.
I couldn't help but wince as I did since I may have patted my chest a little too hard.
Ugh, that pain still hasn't healed up, huh?
That's weird.
Bastion returned to our table, and he gave me a grateful smile, thanking me for the help.
With that, the feast began in full swing.
Lobsters were cracked open, salads served, and juice poured into glasses.
Conversation flowed easily, and everyone was eager to enjoy the feast and celebrate the start of the academic year.
Through it all, I couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction and anticipation.
I was really here, at Duel Academy, starting on a journey that promised to be full of duels, friendships, and maybe even a few mischiefs here and there.
But for now, I was content to enjoy the feast, knowing that tomorrow would bring its own adventures.
And not before long, tomorrow came as quickly as it stayed.
The alarm clock blared at me as if telling me to wake up and get ready for the day.
I took a look at the clock, and I felt a rush of adrenaline.
Oh, crap...
My eyes blinked themselves awake, trying to get rid of the drowsiness as fast as they could.
I'm late!
The time on the alarm clock didn't lie and proudly moved a minute forward as if taunting me.
It's 7:46!
Class starts at 8:30!
Ugh, late on my first day back to school!
How am I explaining to the teacher that I overslept?!
In a flurry of motion, I was out of bed, scrambling to get my piss-yellow jacket on, my mind already preparing apologies for being late on the very first day.
But as I caught my breath, the details of my room sunk in.
...
...
...
Wait, where am I?
This wasn't my old bedroom, and there were no old posters, no stacks of old textbooks, nothing to signify to me that I was home.
I took a few deep breaths to calm myself down to realize that I wasn't home and was in a Ra Yellow dorm.
Right, class starts pretty late, if I remember right.
It starts around 10 AM.
So that means...
I let out a relieved sigh of relief.
Looks like I have plenty of time before class starts.
With that, I slowed down and started my usual morning routine in a much calmer manner.
After a quick shower and refreshing up, I dressed in my yellow Ra uniform, still not used to the bright color.
Sure, the uniform is comfortable and stylish, but I wish the color were darker or something.
As I was about to leave my room, I texted Bastion via PDA, hoping we could walk together.
It's been a while since I had a friend like him.
Even though we met for a day, I like that he is pretty cool to be with.
All my other friends had...
I shook my head from my depressive thoughts and forced myself to look outside.
The sun streamed in through my window, casting the room in a golden hue; the trees rustled gently, birds singing as they took flight.
I was at the campus of Duel Academy, and this was a new beginning for me.
My PDA pinged as it received a message.
"Good morning. I volunteered to help some of the Ra Yellow professors set up for the first day. So, unfortunately, I won't be able to walk with you to campus. Perhaps we can walk back to the dorms after classes are over?"
Aw, man.
Oh well, I might as well take the time to ease myself before heading to campus.
I exited the room and decided to pick up some breakfast in the cafeteria.
As I made my way toward the facility, the excited chatter of students filled the air.
Some discussed strategies, others exchanged tales from their summer break or chilled out to the cool morning air.
I entered the Ra Yellow cafeteria and was quickly astonished by the bustling hub of the activity.
Students milled about, grabbing their meals and chatting with their friends.
There was a large banner of the Ra Yellow symbol, proudly displayed at one end of the building, radiating a warm hue of sunlight yellow that was nothing like the color that we had to wear, that matched the spirit of the dorm.
Seriously?
That's the perfect color for our uniforms!
Shrugging it off, I made my way toward the food section and was surprised by the selection on offer.
The food was nothing opulent like Obelisk Blue's, with their lavish buffets, but it was far from the basic meals the Slifer Reds had.
Heh, as if I am going to go there.
Their behavior is enough reason not to be a part of those jerks.
There were several food stations scattered around the cafeteria, each serving different types of breakfast items.
A fresh fruit bar filled to the brim with apples, oranges, and bananas, along with exotic options like mangoes and kiwis.
Next to it was a station serving a variety of cereals and granola, with the added option of milk and yogurt available for those wanting to create their own breakfast bowls.
A hot food station was offering several types of breakfast sandwiches, ranging from the classic bacon, egg, and cheese to a veggie-packed frittata on a whole grain roll.
For those with a sweet tooth, there was a station serving fresh pancakes and waffles, complete with a range of toppings like syrup, fresh fruit competes, and whipped cream.
The aroma of fresh coffee wafted through the cafeteria's beverage station, where juices and teas were also available.
Haha!
Why would I ever want to move to another dorm?!
This has the perfect breakfast foods and then some!
As I loaded up a tray with a bit of everything, I felt a sense of gratitude.
Ra Yellow, it seemed, took care of its students well.
With my plate full and a fresh cup of coffee in hand, I found a table and fueled up for the day.
This was a great way to start my first day in the Academy and made me eager for what lay ahead.
Then again...
I would much rather have Ms. Hibiki's homemade cooking.
She could whip up something way faster and better than I ever could, and it would leave me wanting seconds.
After eating my breakfast in peace, I returned back to my dorm and made sure I packed everything I needed.
With a satisfied stomach and energized spirit, I slung my bag over my shoulder; I set out for my first day at the academy.
The day was just beginning, and I was eager to explore the campus and familiarize myself with my new surroundings.
Hey, the sun isn't as annoying as it once was.
Strange, aren't the UV readings higher in parts of the world?
It must be because I'm on a tropical island.
Walking along the paths that meandered around Ra Yellow's campus, I enjoyed the serene atmosphere.
Duel Academy's campus was obviously much more than a collection of classrooms and dormitories; it was like its own small town.
As the trees swayed from the wind, their leaves a lush, verdant green against the bright morning sky.
Despite being early, there were already a handful of students outside, preparing for the day.
Some were engaged in practice duels, their cards catching the morning light as they were deftly played.
Others were scattered in small study groups, textbooks, and notebooks before them.
Wait, does my earlier statement about carrying a duel disk everywhere I go still matter?
Ugh, I kind of don't want to carry a duel disk on my arm, no matter small.
Sure, it got delivered to my dorm, but I hadn't really used it or anything.
And it might be the one way to get new cards other than using cold, hard cash; something called Duel Points.
If I want to stay in Ra Yellow, then I have to make sure my deck is in top shape.
A mill deck can only get me so far...
I groaned, feeling a slight headache coming up because of this revelation.
It's true that I was having a little fun in my exam, but I dislike the idea that a card game determines how far I will get in school.
A school based on dueling...
Well, whatever, I'll keep balling.
Besides, having friends might make this experience all the more comfortable.
Everyone around me seemed dedicated and eager to learn, duel, and grow, inspiring me.
Yet, despite the bustling activity around me, my walk felt somewhat... lonely.
It wasn't an unfamiliar feeling, as I had experienced this emotion for some time now.
After all, I had just arrived, and it was too soon to form any close bonds, but I longed for some kind of connection.
Part of the fun of this school was meeting fellow duelists, sharing strategies, and engaging in friendly competition.
All of it seemed more exciting and enjoyable when done by friends.
As I strolled along, my mind filled with anticipation for what lay ahead, I spotted a familiar face from the entrance exam standing ahead.
Hey, that must be the Hero player from the exams...
A guy with wild, two-tone brown hair, dressed in the red jacket of Slifer Red, was walking with a kid(?) with turquoise-colored hair.
Uh...
Deja vu?
I had seen that kid before, right?
As I stared at the pale blue-haired child, he happened to turn to me by chance and flinched from my gaze.
Damn, I was staring for too long...
What's wrong with me?
I swiftly turned my attention elsewhere and slowed my pace toward the campus.
Where have I seen that kid?
Hmm...
My mind finally clicked on where I had seen him before.
Ah, right, the duel ex-!
"HEY!" Someone shouted, catching my attention.
It was the Hero duelist who had this rather goofy but determined expression on his face.
Without much of a warning, he started sprinting towards me with frightening speed.
In an instant, my body responded to the sudden, unexpected charge; my fight-or-flight instincts activated!
Fight him?!
Am I nuts?!
So, I chose flight.
"W-Wha-What the-?!" I yelped, turned on my heels, and began to sprint in the opposite direction.
My heart pounded in my chest, not entirely from exertion but also from the sheer absurdity and surprise of the situation.
Why is he chasing me?!
"J-Jaden! Wh-Why are you chasing him?! Heeey! Wait up!" A voice added, which was probably the kid that I foolishly stared at.
Yeah, why is he?!
"I'm not letting this guy slip away again, Sy! That's why!" He called back; his voice filled with a strange determination that only added to my confusion and alarm.
Why would he say that? What does he mean by 'let him slip away'?
Do I look like a rare trading card?!
I mean, sure, if I was a floating Chaos Emperor Dragon, then-
Ugh, what am I thinking?!
With my mind a whirlwind of questions and my lungs straining to keep up with my sprinting pace, I could only hope that this strange chase would end sooner rather than later.
I could hear the rush of air in my ears as I dashed away, my heartbeat a loud drum in my chest.
My primary instinct was to outrun this freak and keep running.
But this guy, jeez, he's fast!
Just the sound of his steps gaining on me, the sound of it alone sending jolts of panic coursing through me.
"C-Come on! Just hold up a sec!" He hollered, his voice starting to get winded by the speed and length of our run.
If there is anything I can have some modicum of pride in, it is my stamina.
No, not like that!
I-I think...
My general stamina was tempered by long hours of physical labor from my previous part-time job, so keeping this pace wasn't a big deal.
The usually tranquil pathway seemed like a never-ending track as we sprinted, the trees and morning birds now just a blur.
I could start to feel a little winded from the constant sprint, but adrenaline was alleviating any fatigue I had accumulated.
There was no way I could just stop and face him, not when he bolted at me like a bull seeing red.
I can see the irony there...
"Ha... Hah... Haugh...! W-Why are you g-guys running...?!" The companion shouted, wheezing a note of exhaustion as he struggled to keep up. "C-Can't we ta-haugh- talk this out?! C'moooonnn...!"
I quickly glanced back and saw that the Hero player was still intent on chasing me, reinforcing my will to keep running.
"Yeah, I would love to, but this guy is chasing me!" I shouted back.
But before the nutjob could respond, I heard someone let out a gasp, curse, and then a loud thump of someone falling over.
At that point, my instinct was overridden by the need to help the poor kid, so I skidded and immediately ran back to the two.
"Syrus!" I heard him call out as I saw him sprawled out on the pavement, whining from the fatigue.
I took a deep breath and dropped to my knees beside him.
"Hey, are you good?" I asked, reaching out to help him sit up.
He was panting heavily, struggling to catch his breath, his face flushed and streaked with sweat.
But despite this, he managed to give me a weak nod.
"I-I'm... fine." He panted, leaning back on his hands. "Just... Just need a moment..."
Relief washed over me as I saw that he wasn't injured, just exhausted from our mad dash.
So, his name's Syrus.
I felt a sharp pang of guilt- he had only been running because of me.
"I'm sorry, Syrus." I apologized. "I didn't mean for you to get dragged into this."
Before I could respond, the perpetrator had caught up to us, huffing and puffing.
He looked at Syrus with concern, then looked quizzically at me.
"I'm kinda thankful that you stopped running." He remarked, his tone much lighter now. "Thanks for checking up on Sy."
My eyes worriedly glanced over to the now recovering kid.
"Hey, don't mention it. Any decent person would check up on someone who fell and not keep running." I replied before giving Syrus a friendly pat on the back and looking up at him.
The guy who initiated the chase expression flashed a wave of remorse as he offered his hand to his companion.
Syrus took his hand and was pulled up.
"Sorry, Sy. I didn't mean for you to get hurt." He apologized earnestly.
I couldn't help but frown at this.
Before Syrus could even respond, I interrupted him.
"Hey, I was the one who ran." I elaborated, hoping to take the blame.
I had a feeling that it wasn't going to be easy to do so.
"Nah, man. It's my fault." The Hero duelist quickly counteracted, shaking his head. "I should've given you a heads up before I just started running after you."
I tilted my head slightly, my eyes narrowing at his genuine words and sincere gaze.
"Nah, it's my fault." I quickly countered. "I mean, I'm the one who started running like a jumpy Nimble Momonga in the first place, right?"
This back-and-forth of ours continued, neither one of us willing to let the other take the blame for the incident.
"No, I should have approached you normally. Without the running part."
"And maybe I shouldn't have assumed the worst and bolted."
The "name game" went on for another minute or so, with each of us refusing to let the other shoulder the responsibility.
If anything, the exchanges became increasingly light-hearted and ridiculous, almost turning into a competition of who could come up with the most absurd claim.
"OK, OK, let's agree on this. It was my fault because I was actually trying to chase a butterfly that flew past you," The duelist exclaimed, wearing a big grin.
I crossed my arms and grinned back.
"And I must have mistaken you for a stampeding Gilasaurus. Thus, I ran." I retorted, joining in the absurdity, trying not to laugh at how stupid this was.
Our mini-debate was put to an end by the sound of Syru's infectious laughter.
Wiping tears from his eyes, he managed to say, "You guys... are seriously arguing about who's to blame...! That's so funny! You guys are hilarious, ahaha!"
From that, the dam burst, causing the two of us let out some boisterous laughter.
We couldn't help but agree; we were all so caught up in being the "guilty" one that we didn't realize how utterly ridiculous the argument, or rather the situation was in the first place.
"Yeah... this is a pretty stupid argument anyway, haha!" He agreed before putting his fist up. "Name's Jaden Yuki, bro, next King of Games!"
King of Games?
So he's gonna be better than the pros, huh?
I bumped his fist and met his brown eyes with a warm smile.
"Kazuyuki Sora, the next salaryman."
Right then, under the clear blue sky with the campus bustling around us, a strange sense of camaraderie seemed to be formed.
It was as if the morning's unexpected event had somehow turned into a bonding moment.
Who would've thought that a sudden, reckless chase could lead to such an odd connection?
I can only wonder what else this academy has to offer me...
AN: And that's a wrap. Sorry that there wasn't any dueling in this chapter. I wished to focus on world-building and expanding on the character interactions, maybe revealing different perspectives compared to the canon.
There will be duels in the next chapter if you guys are interested, along with some mysteries that I wish to reveal as we progress the story slowly.
Any feedback would be much appreciated. Even a simple word of encouragement would help me greatly. It might even help with writing the next chapter too.
Let me know if you guys want more.