Blair froze.
For herself?
"Not just about coming to Duel Academy, and not just talking about you. All freshmen—no, all duelists should be like this.
"Since you chose this path, you should respect dueling itself. You don't duel for someone else. You duel for yourself," Kira said.
"I remember you came here before. To see Zane Truesdale, right?"
"Y-Yes," Blair said, embarrassed.
"See? You hadn't even met Zane back then. You didn't know him. Just like you hadn't met me either." Kira smiled.
Blair blushed. "I hadn't. But… I've watched your duels, and all your public talks…"
Kira shook his head, smiling.
It sounded like a crazed fan telling a singer, "I've listened to all your songs, so I know you."
"You're still young. You have a lot to learn and a long road ahead."
She might be called love-brained, but in the anime—whether about Zane or Jaden—it's more like idol worship. She first appears as an elementary schooler and is only middle-school age by the end, a clueless little kid. She just can't distinguish between idol fantasy and genuine feelings.
"But even if you're young, you've stepped onto this path and are already a duelist," Kira said calmly. "Once you're on this stage, age and gender don't matter. We're all the same—duelists."
"If I go easy on you because you're a girl or change my usual playstyle, that would be disrespectful to my opponent and to dueling itself, right?"
The students suddenly understood.
Blair stared blankly for a moment, then something stirred in her heart.
"Kira-sama… you did this to tell me that?"
Faculty and students began to chime in.
"Indeed. Once you enter the arena, whoever you are, you're just a duelist. You should give it your all."
Even the chancellor nodded in satisfaction.
Kira didn't forget to pass on something important to the newbies while dueling—truly the face of the academy.
Hmm… something feels off…
Only Misawa and Alexis, who knew Kira best, looked a bit odd.
Sure, the logic holds. You shouldn't take a duel lightly just because the opponent's a little girl.
But with all his decks to choose from, he just had to bring a terrifying Relinquished lineup. Hard to argue it wasn't on purpose…
"I—I understand!"
Blair gathered herself.
"Then I'll also go all out! My turn—draw!"
She drew.
"I activate the Spell Card 'Pot of Greed' to draw two cards."
"Then I Normal Summon 'Maiden in Love!'"
[Maiden in Love, ATK 800]
It was, of course, the one that bounced to her hand last turn.
"I also activate the Equip Spell 'Cupid's Kiss,' equipping it to one of my 'Maiden in Love!'"
The blonde little love god descended again with her Cupid's Arrow, glaring at Kira's field.
Blair took a deep breath.
Good—last turn I placed a Maiden Counter on Thousand-Eyes. This turn, I'll take that top win condition…
Eh?
She froze.
She noticed the abyssal dark energy constantly pouring from Thousand-Eyes, now blanketing her entire field without her knowing.
All three Maidens were shivering under the cold shadow, too scared to move.
"Seems you noticed," Kira chuckled. "Thousand-Eyes Restrict's other effect: while it's face-up, all monsters on your opponent's field cannot declare attacks." (Anime effect)
In the real card, it's "all monsters except Thousand-Eyes can't attack," not just the opponent's.
Blair: "!"
What? Even attacking is prohibited?
If she can't battle, she can't steal opposing monsters…
"A pity—one move short," Kira smiled.
The crowd: "…"
Misawa coughed. "The newbie learned a bit of the LOrd in Yellow's style, but… the demon is still a step ahead."
Alexis sighed. "I suddenly feel a little sorry for this girl."
"I set two and end my turn," Blair said helplessly.
"Then, if you're done, it's my turn again," Kira said slowly.
"My turn—draw."
Blair breathed, over and over.
Things had gone off script, but she wasn't dead yet.
No matter what, she still had three Maidens on the field. They can't be destroyed by battle. Add Spirit Barrier and she takes no battle damage. Even if her attacks are sealed and she can't take his monsters yet, she should be able to stall for quite a while.
She also had set cards.
With an unbreakable front line and backrow support…
At least this turn should be safe.
She'd look for a counterattack later…
"Thousand-Eyes Restrict's effect," Kira said. "Once per turn, absorb one of your monsters and gain its ATK.
"I absorb one 'Maiden in Love.'"
Darkness surged again from the Thousand-Eyes, that ghastly holo performance unfolding. The overwhelming dark swallowed the helpless girl.
Blair: "!"
This thing can equip more than one absorbed monster…
In the real card, it can only have one, but in the anime there's no cap stated for how many it can absorb as Equips—only that it can activate the absorb effect once per turn.
Of course, modern cards would likely say "You can only use this card name's effect once per turn."
In the ancient era of Yu-Gi-Oh!, "once per turn per card name" didn't exist.
Newcomers may struggle with "once per turn" versus "once per turn per card name," but no worries—
Kira was about to demonstrate exactly why "once per turn per card name" needed to be invented.
"I activate a set card!" Blair flipped her backrow. "Quick-Play Spell 'Effect Shut!' When a monster effect activates, negate that activation and destroy that monster!" (Anime card)
Even the mighty Thousand-Eyes couldn't withstand it; it shattered under Effect Shut.
"Oh? Not only an absolute front-line defense, but also strong effect negation in the back. Impressive," Kira nodded approvingly.
Then he narrowed his eyes and smiled. "So… how about the next one?"