"What did you say!?"
Mr. Stein, who had maintained a calm demeanor until now, instantly erupted in rage, eyes spitting fire.
But Kira met his gaze without a hint of fear, and repeated clearly and calmly:
"I said, no offense, but your class really is garbage."
A vein bulged on Stein's forehead.
Since leaving the pro scene—since he could no longer fight on the dueling stage—teaching at Duel Academy has been his everything. It means that much to him, which is why in the original story he so resented Jaden for it.
And all Jaden did was fail to be a good role model and lead other students astray.
But this guy in front of him just called it garbage to his face!
Tolerate it?
How could he possibly tolerate that!?
Stein's face darkened. "You'd better know what you're saying, Fujiki Kira."
"I do," Kira said coolly. "I didn't choose your class because I find it worthless. Maybe it's the essence you distilled from years in the pro scene, but for me, your experience is hidebound, with no ideas worth referencing and no training method that actually improves anything."
He paused, smiled lightly, and added:
"Also, while you blame your failure on me, the truth is no one would have attended your class to begin with. Want to know why?
"Because your class is boring and useless. Even without me setting an example, the students would naturally make the same choice.
"And by the way, your course isn't the only one I skipped—there are plenty of others I'm not interested in. But did those professors end up with literally no one attending, like you?"
Stein: "…"
"And take Professor Lyman, who's no longer with us," Kira sighed. "He was the professor I respected and liked most at the academy. I didn't miss a single lesson in his Alchemy class—never late, never left early.
"But look, even though I attended every one, his class still had low attendance. So why didn't my Duel King title work there?"
Stein gritted his teeth and said nothing.
"Face reality, professor. The truth is: you're weak," Kira said coldly. "You were a pro—you should understand. In the professional world, being weak is the original sin.
"In the world of education, failure is the same.
"I don't question your passion or the effort you poured into teaching. I respect that. But to be blunt, you're just bad at it. You're not suited for this job.
"In fact…"
He paused, and smiled.
"I've been considering suggesting to the Chancellor that you be reassigned to a non-instructor position. Honestly, you're not suited for this—maybe not even for Duel Academy."
Stein was trembling all over, about to explode.
He glared icily at Kira. "Do you really think Duel Academy is yours, Fujiki Kira?"
"I'm just making reasonable suggestions as a student who cares about the academy's development. Besides…"
Kira tilted his head curiously.
"Isn't it?"
"Wrrrrrrrry!"
Stein's rage boiled over; he could no longer hold back and snapped his Duel Disk open.
"As expected, we'll settle this by dueling—just as I foresaw," Kira smiled and opened his Duel Disk as well.
He'd seen the unusual dark influence on Stein from the start.
If he wasn't mistaken, it was Yubel's aura.
Yubel excels at amplifying the darkness in people's hearts—bringing latent dark thoughts to the surface, twisting them into anger so they do things they'd normally only contemplate.
Stein had been influenced that way. Maybe Yubel lent some power to Professor Viper, who then inflamed the darkness in Stein's heart to probe Kira.
Talking someone down with words alone is protagonist-with-armor stuff. Purging that influence is more reliably done with a duel.
"Duel!" x2
[Kira, LP 4000]
[Stein, LP 4000]
"I'll go first. Draw!"
Stein's eyes were bloodshot—he started the duel already in the red.
"I Normal Summon 'Scabbed Scar Knight'!"
The moment the monster was summoned, a sinister atmosphere settled over the field; even the air felt heavier.
In swirling smoke, a heavily armored knight rose, his armor covered in scars like a veteran's medals. Some cracks were so severe that fragments occasionally broke off and fell.
[Scabbed Scar Knight, ATK 0]
Kira immediately saw a spirit dwelled within this monster. Years of battles had left it damaged; it had been steeped in a darkened heart—giving off a baleful aura.
This is an anime-only card with no real print, a symbol of Mr. Stein's heart as a duelist, and his ace.
"I set one card and end my turn."
"Scar Knight—the ace that fought by your side in the pro scene, right?"
Kira said.
"In that case, I should bring out a monster worthy of that opponent…
My turn. Draw!"
He drew, then solemnly summoned a monster from his hand.
"I Normal Summon these guys. Come on out—
—The Dark Scorpion Burglars!"
One card slapped onto the disk, and several monsters sprang out at once. A handful of thieves tumbled onto the field, chattering noisily.
"Watch it, we count as one monster right now, one zone to share!" Don Zaloog's rough voice barked. "Chick, I mean you—watch your step! You're out of the zone!"
Chick scrambled back. "S-Sorry, boss!"
Meanae made a face. "Boss, could you move a little? Your revolver is poking me…"
Zaloog's old face reddened. "Sorry, it's cramped…"
[Dark Scorpion Burglars, ATK 1000]
Stein's eyes widened.
These jokers are worthy opponents for me?
He suddenly felt like the other guy was deliberately insulting him again…
"Battle," Kira ordered. "Dark Scorpion Burglars, attack 'Scabbed Scar Knight'!"
"You heard the boss!" Zaloog bellowed.
"Charge!" Gorg bellowed.
The Scorpions charged, guns blazing, hammers swinging, whips cracking. They surrounded the ATK 0 knight and pinned him to the ground for a righteous group beatdown.
Righteous_Gang_Beating.JPG.