The students' laughter was deafening.
What reason was there?
What could possibly make someone abandon Amagi Hikaru, the pure Fusion duelist who defeated the previous Fusion Club leader, the first-year rep of the new generation, who boldly proclaimed "Fusion is the noblest Summoning Method" even when dueling against other-dimensional duelists, to follow Leo Akaba?
To the ordinary students, there was no question!
If you truly pursued Fusion Summoning and wanted to become a true Fusion specialist, then Hikaru's Fusion Club was the obvious choice.
As for the Polymerization Club, they could keep playing among themselves!
Though Celina was Leo Akaba's daughter, she clearly wasn't buying into any of that!
"That's not right, Miss Celina!" a student hurriedly spoke up. "You're Professor Akaba's daughter. You should join our Polymerization Club! We have many excellent teachers, much better than that petty Fusion Club!"
"Yeah, plus, the Fusion Club is our sworn enemy! Joining them would be aiding the enemy! At least think about Professor Akaba!"
"I just want to learn more powerful dueling techniques!" Celina answered bluntly. "I've seen his duels, he's amazing!"
She was always straightforward.
And, of course, they knew Hikaru was amazing!
The Fusion Army students exchanged helpless looks.
"Hey!" Chazz suddenly spoke up, catching a detail amidst the arguing. "You just said you wanted your Polymerization Club teachers to teach her? She's still a middle schooler!
According to the rules, she shouldn't even stay on the island! You can't possibly be thinking, no way, right? Even Professor Akaba wouldn't do that to his own daughter."
As he spoke, Chazz's voice grew smaller.
Thanks to his reminder, Hikaru recalled: in the original, Leo Akaba did keep Celina confined at the Academy for three years, barely letting anyone approach her!
More like imprisonment than sheltering!
Though in this world, Leo Akaba even acknowledged Celina as his daughter, which made it even stranger!
Hearing Chazz's deduction, his friends' eyes sharpened.
Despite his usual chuuni antics, Chazz had an amazing talent: keen observation and sharp analysis. His conclusions were often frighteningly accurate.
"Miss Celina, think carefully. Amagi Hikaru..."
"What's there to think about?" Celina rubbed her arm and said bluntly, "We'll settle it with a duel. For duelists, deciding things through duels is common sense!"
'Common sense.'
The Fusion Army students looked at each other awkwardly.
"You go."
"No, no, you go."
"Hey, hey, hey, I'm a second-year! I can't bully a first-year!"
They shoved each other, dodging the responsibility, none was willing to duel Hikaru.
Students in the crowd shook their heads, seeing the cowardice before even fighting.
Was this it?
These guys had been so arrogant before, yet now cowering at the sight of Hikaru?
As expected, these phony Fusion duelists needed to be taught a lesson by Hikaru!
Suddenly, the Fusion Club's lead student spotted Dark Magician Girl curiously peeking around nearby. His eyes lit up, and he pointed at her.
"How about her, Amagi! She just defeated Miss Celina. If you can beat her, we'll step aside!"
Dark Magician Girl pointed at herself in surprise. "Me?"
"Alright, alright!" Syrus shouted excitedly into a megaphone. "Everyone wants to see Dark Magician Girl duel again, right?"
"Yeah!!"
"Right, right!"
The students got fired up.
Seeing the enthusiasm, Dark Magician Girl chuckled, "Okay then, I'll join in~"
Hikaru found the logic a bit strange.
In truth, the Fusion students were just making excuses to escape embarrassment. Yet, unexpectedly, Celina seemed to agree earnestly, nodding.
"Makes sense. If you defeat the one who defeated me, by duelist hierarchy, you're stronger. So learning from you would be natural!
Mhm, totally logical!"
"Hikaru!" Zane hurried to Hikaru's side, whispering, "Be careful. That Dark Magician Girl, she's the real thing."
"Yeah, Hikaru!" Jaden added seriously. "What if she's one of the Shadow Riders? You need to be ready!"
Alexis also nodded solemnly. "If it's a Shadow Duel, students could be taken hostage!"
They were overthinking a bit.
No way Dark Magician Girl or her mentor would be villains, right?
Still, to reassure them, Hikaru called out, "Are you one of the Shadow Riders!?"
"Shadow Riders? I'm a Six-Star~~ My teacher is a Seven-Star!"
"I knew it!" Jaden instantly grabbed his Duel Disk, ready to jump in.
"No, no," Hikaru hurriedly stopped him. He turned back to Dark Magician Girl and clarified, "You mean your rank, your Duel Level stars?"
"Of course, what else?" She tilted her head, blinking adorably.
"So cute!!" Syrus and a group of students cheered.
"If that's the case, it's actually fine," Bastion, still in his tiger costume, nodded repeatedly. "Even though Hikaru claimed the 'Fusion Club' name, there's still a rival left.
If we recruit the daughter of the Polymerization Club's teacher, even if she's sent back to Middle Division later, it'll be a huge blow to the Polymerization Club!"
Hikaru wholeheartedly agreed.
Since founding the Fusion Club, Hikaru had held resentment toward the Fusion Army.
Now that he had a chance to strike at them, he wouldn't let it slip by.
Syrus swiftly cleared the dueling field, allowing Dark Magician Girl to stand atop the stage again.
"Go for it, Master!" Celina cheered from the side. "Teach me how to master Fusion!"
'Master, huh?' Hikaru awkwardly loaded his Deck into his Duel Disk.
"Duel!"
[Dark Magician Girl, LP: 4000]
[Hikaru, LP: 4000]
On the other side, Dark Magician Girl carefully scrutinized Hikaru from head to toe, then glanced at Jaden.
She tapped her forehead lightly with her right hand.
"Oh my, it's you!"
"!?" Hikaru was stunned. "You know me?"
"Yup! Chaos... ahem, a friend of mine told me about you," Dark Magician Girl warmed up by lightly shadowboxing. "Ahh, I almost forgot about that."
'She said 'Chaos', must be referring to Black Luster Soldier.'
Hikaru sighed.
Since it was Dark Magician Girl, the one who had contacted her must have been the warrior from the "Warriors' Realm."
Apparently, unlike the original, she came to the human world because of a request from the Black Luster Soldier, and ended up distracted, happily dueling with fans.
"In that case, this is a good opportunity." Dark Magician Girl winked, a golden star flashing in her eye, making the crowd gasp.
"If you win, I'll give you a really awesome card!"
"And, of course. I'll be serious too!"