Yugen's first week at the academy passed by with great joy and richness.
His interactions with his new roommates in the Yellow dorm went smoothly. His undefeated winning streak for an entire week earned him quite a few extra credits, and with his active participation and frequent answering of questions in class, Yugen spent all the credits he earned by the end of the first week on cards.
The academy's card stock also changed almost daily, with cards constantly being bought and new ones continuously added. So, checking the inventory several times a day had become part of his routine.
Of course, the card buying system also had a card tagging feature. Students could tag the cards they wanted and add them to their favorites. Once a rare card that was out of stock was replenished, a notification would immediately be sent to each student's terminal device.
However, if many people were eyeing the same card, getting it depended on speed and luck.
This time, Yugen mainly exchanged for two cards:
[Necro Gardna Level 3, ATK 600, DEF 1300
Effect: During your opponent's turn, banish this card from your Graveyard. This turn, one of your opponent's monster's attacks is negated.]
A life-saving divine artifact of the GX era, no need to say more. In the later stages of the anime, this card saved Jaden countless times. At the same time, in reality, it was even banned due to its excessively high usage rate.
[Electromagnetic Turtle Level 4, ATK 0, DEF 1800
Effect: During your opponent's Battle Phase, banish this card from your Graveyard. End that Battle Phase.]
This card is even older, a life-saving divine artifact of Yami Yugi in the DM era, an ancestral grave. At a glance, its effect is even stronger than Necro Gardna. It didn't get banned back then completely because it was actualized into a physical card later, escaping the ban list.
Because he was too afraid of pain, he went all out on hand traps and grave effects. After all, in this world, he might occasionally have to face life-or-death duels, so he could never have enough life-saving divine artifacts in various forms.
His first week's earnings were spent at lightning speed, making Yugen deeply realize that credits were something that were earned and immediately spent. He couldn't be lazy for even a moment. So, he immediately set his sights on the next victim. Oh no, on the next duelist he was about to get to know.
He casually handled his other classes that week, but only the card drawing lessons were somewhat serious. After a week, he now felt he had some knack for it, which was why he was so excited to find someone to try it out with.
Then the problem arose again. After the next round of duelists was decided, he roamed around for several laps after lunch, but couldn't find anyone.
He wondered if it was just an illusion, but Yugen felt as if the opponents he was matched with in each round weren't very enthusiastic.
Illogical. This was Duel Academy, where everyone who got in was supposed to be a dueling fanatic, right? They had cards, but they wouldn't duel.
Unable to find anyone quickly, he had to temporarily give up. After all, the monk could run, but not the temple. Could the opponent not return to their dorm?
Just as he was coming out of the cafeteria after finishing his meal, he ran into a group of students.
"You're Yugen, right?"
"That's me, what's up?"
"I'm Nakamura from the student council. By the way, why haven't you voted? There are only five freshmen left who haven't voted!"
Yugen was stunned: "What vote?"
"Miss Duel Academy! It's an annual election project at the beginning of the school year. Oh, never mind, hurry up and come with me to the hall, okay?"
Yugen: "?"
Confused, he followed the student council member, Nakamura, into the auditorium. He saw that it was already bustling with people, students in red, yellow, and blue uniforms packed the entire hall.
Under the spotlight on the stage stood several tall and beautiful female students. Each of them was exquisitely beautiful, and looking around, their figures were like mountains gathered and waves surging, varying in size, shape, distance, and height, but their strides were that of C-tier strong individuals. Their fair legs seemed to reflect light under the lamps.
The hall was filled with cheers, making Yugen mistakenly think he had stumbled into some large-scale fan meeting.
After the student council guy's explanation, he suddenly understood. It seemed that while he was tirelessly immersed in studying, the other students had been swept into the surging "Miss Duel Academy" election.
With that explanation, he finally had a slight impression. This seemed to be a plot point from the GX Manga, where the votes for the academy's two-time reigning star senior, Kohinata Seika, and the newly enrolled freshman, Tenjoin Asuka, were tied. Then, upon investigation, it was found that there was exactly one last student who hadn't voted, and that student happened to be Jaden Yuki. So, the Miss Academy pageant inexplicably turned into a duel betting on Jaden's crucial single vote.
However, according to this student council guy, there were still five people who hadn't voted yet.
At this moment, the atmosphere between senior Kohinata Seika and Tenjoin Asuka was a bit tense. Originally, this event, held at the beginning of the school year, was geared towards older students, as logically, few freshmen would know anyone in the academy.
But no one expected that this year, a junior who had just arrived a week ago would catch up to her in votes, directly threatening her goal of a third consecutive victory, and also threatening her reputation.
She couldn't accept losing this time.
What was even more annoying was that Tenjoin Asuka hadn't even come to the hall at first; she was later forcibly dragged by her two roommates.
"Fine, I forfeit," Asuka suddenly waved her hand. "I never wanted to participate in this kind of event anyway. Junko and the others just put my name down without my permission. I'm withdrawing, so there's no more argument, right?"
Logically, with that, this year's champion would undoubtedly be Kohinata Seika, but the senior's face immediately changed color upon hearing this.
What a joke! Wouldn't that make her three consecutive victories seem like a handout from a junior?
"No, you can't withdraw," she blurted out without thinking.
Asuka frowned: "Then what do you want?"
"Heh heh, trying to play hard to get to win the final vote, are we? You have a beautiful figure, but your mind is quite complicated," Seika said coldly, crossing her arms.
Asuka frowned, before she could say anything, Yugen, who had been brought to the front row by the student council to watch the show, chuckled and interjected: "Oh? So the senior actually thinks Tenjoin is very beautiful, huh?"
Senior Seika's cheeks immediately reddened, and she became a bit flustered: "I... I didn't! That's not what I meant! Don't talk nonsense!"
Many onlookers nearby let out a "Y~" sound, as if they smelled gossip.
Seeing that the situation was about to be led astray by some meddler who appeared out of nowhere, Seika quickly changed the subject: "Ha, I've heard about you, Tenjoin Asuka.
When you were in junior high, I heard you were caught between two rich young masters, being ambiguous and unclear..."
"That's old news, unfounded rumors," Asuka said expressionlessly. "I am a duelist, and only a duelist. I came here to duel, not for anything else, and of course, I have no interest in this 'Miss Academy' thing. I've never cared what other people like to see or how they spread rumors."
"Hmph, you certainly know how to talk..."
Senior Seika's words were interrupted again by Yugen from the crowd: "Oh, so the senior has been paying attention to Asuka since junior high. Impressive, that's been a long time, hasn't it?"
The onlookers once again collectively let out a "Y~" sound.
Senior Seika's face reddened again: "I... I haven't! So annoying!"
Then she quickly shifted her attention to Yugen.
"You! Who are you? Are you this woman's companion?"
Asuka: "No, I think we probably haven't met before..."
Or rather, she did have an impression of Yugen from watching his entrance exam, but she felt that he probably didn't know her.
Student council member Nakamura quickly explained: "Ah, this is Yugen. He's one of the five freshmen who haven't voted yet..."
Seika: "!"
Huh, this person holds one of the extremely important five remaining votes. Judging from his continuous taunting of her just now, the probability of him voting for the other side seems higher.
However, Yugen actually didn't care who won or lost. He just thought since he was here, he might as well say a few words and find some fun.
He was just thinking about who to duel, and it would be even better if the opponent broke down and wanted to duel him.
Kohinata Seika's face darkened: "How about this, let's duel, with your vote as the stake.
If I win, that vote goes to me. If I lose, that vote goes to that woman. How about it?"
As expected, the duel came.
He knew that in this academy, everyone would duel at the slightest disagreement. Whatever the issue, it would ultimately be resolved through a duel.
But before he could respond, Asuka suddenly interrupted sternly: "Wait, I object."
Senior Seika frowned: "Didn't you say you weren't interested? What other opinions do you have?"
"Yes, I'm not interested in this competition itself. But I cannot accept that matters related to me are decided entirely by others," Asuka said resolutely.
Student council member Nakamura started sweating: "Ah, well, how about this. Why don't the two of you just duel directly, and whoever wins gets an extra vote?"
Kohinata Seika glared at him.
What a joke! Duel with this woman?
Tenjoin Asuka was very famous during her junior high days; she knew that much. Many people said that Asuka should be the strongest freshman this year, even Manjome Jun might not be her match.
Wait, speaking of Manjome...
Suddenly, she felt like she had heard the name Fujiki Yugen somewhere before?
Turning to look at Yugen again, Seika was greatly startled.
Damn it, could it be the newcomer who was said to have continuously defeated Manjome Jun and the legendary duelist Dinosaur Ryuzaki in the Moonlight Cup before enrollment, winning the championship?
How the heck could anyone beat that?
Just as she felt she was getting into trouble, she didn't speak, but then heard Asuka shake her head and say: "No, if I can choose, I want to duel Yugen."
Seika: "?"
Asuka continued: "If I win, then according to my previous request, my name will be removed from the list.
If I lose, then you get an extra vote. Is that okay?"
Seika: "? ? ?"
What kind of thought process does this woman have? Is there such a good thing?
Wouldn't that mean she benefits regardless of winning or losing?
Seika was overjoyed, just about to tell her not to change her mind, when she heard Yugen interrupt: "No, I think that's unfair. How about this, I'll duel each of you separately. Whoever wins, the vote goes to them.
If I win both, then I'll decide who to vote for myself.
If I lose both, then as Asuka said, she forfeits.
However, the condition is that these two duels will not only decide the competition results but also count for credits. The winner can receive five credits from the loser, no problem?"
Yugen, who had duels to play, indicated that he didn't want a choice between two; he wanted both duels.
Seika: "!"
She gritted her teeth and looked at Yugen.
You're intentionally trying to pick a fight with me, aren't you?