At Duel Academy—
"Welcome to Duel Academy!"
On the large electronic screen, a shiny bald head appeared in the frame—that was the principal of this Duel Academy, widely known as "Principal Shark Island."
At the moment, he was doing what every academy principal must do when facing new students—delivering an encouraging speech to welcome the incoming freshmen!
'So aside from me, thirty new students are enrolling this year…'
Looking to his right, where five rows of six students each stood—new students already dressed in uniforms that matched the color of their dormitories—Yuki, a rather unusual individual, thought to himself.
'That jellyfish-headed boy who also likes HERO cards… he seems like a troublemaker, different from the usual students!'
All the other twenty-nine students were attentively listening to Principal Shark Island's welcome speech—except for this dual-colored jellyfish-haired boy, who was standing there asleep!
Although Yuki himself wasn't particularly fond of these kinds of speeches either, at the very least he would still show a bit of respect on the surface.
'Student Number 110… and he uses a HERO deck too… I'll have to look into him later.'
Withdrawing his gaze, Yuki turned his attention back to the large screen. Judging by the look of things, it seemed like the speech would end in another minute or two.
…Dismissal…
—In the Principal's Office—
Knock knock knock!
"Come in."
Principal Shark Island, who was reviewing student records in his office, looked up when he heard the knocking and allowed the visitor to enter.
"How's it going lately, Uncle Shark Island?"
The sound of the door opening was accompanied by a somewhat familiar voice.
Looking up again, he saw a boy with wine-red hair tucked under a red cap walk through the door.
"Oh, it's Yuki! What brings you to visit your old uncle?"
Seeing that it was Yuki Principal Shark Island immediately set aside the student files in his hands and smiled warmly, beckoning the boy over.
"How's your father doing lately?"
"He's doing well. But recently, he had something important to take care of, so he went off to Egypt."
Yuki replied, then picked up the folder of student records and pointed at it as he asked:
"Uncle Shark, this file—it's the roster of new students this year, right?"
"Yeah, that's right. Why?"
"Hmm…"
Yuki frowned slightly, flipping through the papers quickly until he found the person he was looking for.
"Um, Uncle Shark, could you help me look into this person? I want more detailed information about him."
"Look someone up?"
Following Yuki pointing finger, he saw a half-body photo of a boy with jellyfish-shaped hair—sand-colored in the center, surrounded by dark brown edges.
"Yuki Judai… Oh, now I get it!"
Reading Judai's profile and thinking about the boy in front of him and his own deck choice, Principal Shark Island instantly understood why Yuki wanted more information.
HEROes attract HEROes!
"As a student from Osiris Red, barging into a newly built Duel Arena like this… If no one reminds them, they'll probably stir up a heap of trouble. Well, I guess I'll tag along and check it out."
Having made up his mind, Yuki lifted his foot and headed in the direction the two had disappeared. With his special status, he could probably help them avoid some unnecessary trouble.
—— Divider Line ——
"My name is Yuki Judai! Pleased to meet you!
Huh? Who's that guy?"
After introducing himself, Judai turned his head toward the top of the audience stands. There stood another boy in an Obelisk Blue uniform, with a hairstyle that screamed "I'm good at dueling."
"You mean you don't know Manjoume-san!?"
A glasses-wearing lackey looked at Judai with a shocked expression. When he saw Judai's genuinely clueless face, he sighed and said:
"Manjoume-san is in the same year as you, but in terms of ability and academic performance, he far surpasses you. He's the No.1 among the elites who advanced from the Junior Division!"
"That's right! And Manjoume-san is a man who's going to become the King of Duels in the future!"
Another lackey—this one with a plain face—added with even more flattery.
"???"
Listening to the two lackeys gush, and then glancing over at the boy named "Manjoume" about ten or twenty meters away, Yuki, who was watching from a hidden corner, slowly had several question marks pop up on his forehead.
Whether or not this was instigated by Manjoume himself, Yuki only had one thing to say—
What a big ego!
"So, the King of Duels… means being 'Number One,' right?"
Hearing that, Judai crossed his arms, puffed out his chest proudly, closed his eyes, and declared:
"If I'm the top student in the academy, then naturally, I'm the so-called King of Duels, right?"
Sho & the two lackeys: ???
What kind of bizarre logic is that…
At the same time, who also heard Judai's words clearly, nodded slightly and thought to himself:
'Mm~ As expected of a fellow HERO deck user—you've got to have that kind of spirit! I've found another quality Dad would be interested in.'
One was the No.1 among the first-year students in Obelisk Blue who no one had heard of before. The other was Judai, a HERO deck user from the lowest-ranked Osiris Red dorm.
But in Yuki's eyes, their evaluations were the complete opposite!
So——
This guy Yuki is double standard!,