"Youyu bro!"
Ed Phoenix moved swiftly, maneuvering through the fallen debris to approach.
"Are you okay, Youyu bro?"
But before Youyu could reply, he laughed at himself, "What am I saying, of course, you're fine."
After all, Youyu bro is the best in the world. He always firmly believed this.
The boy seemed to let go of his professional duelist persona—graceful, composed, unflappable—and instantly reverted to the shy, bashful little boy of the past.
"And you? Are you okay?" Youyu asked.
"Not injured," Ed smiled, "Thanks to you arriving in time."
"I came early to celebrate your championship win, didn't expect to run into this... thinking about it, what luck."
Ed glanced at the unconscious DD, "Who's this guy?"
"Just an ordinary duelist," Youyu said, "But it needs to be clarified how he got those cards. He's just a small fry, incapable of causing such a commotion."
Ed scrutinized the man for a moment, resting his chin seriously, "Doesn't look like a good person."
In the original timeline, you even acknowledged him as your dad.
Of course, that couldn't be said out loud.
"Alright, leave the rest to me." Youyu patted Ed's shoulder, "You don't need to worry."
"Oh."
With things left to Youyu bro, Ed was naturally at ease. But he didn't leave right away and hesitated for a moment, "By the way, Youyu bro, I'm about to turn fifteen soon."
"Oh? That's great."
Youyu was currently bent over, pulling out the card deck from the unconscious DD's hand. He unfolded the deck, browsing it while casually responding.
"Speaking of which, your birthday is coming up. How about coming to the Academy with your dad then, to celebrate?"
"Actually, Youyu-sensei, I've already made a decision," Ed said seriously.
Youyu glanced at him and noticed his serious expression.
"Decided on what?"
"I'm enrolling in Duel Academy tomorrow!"
Youyu stared at him for a while, making sure he wasn't joking.
"Huh?"
What's Ed's status now?
The new star of the pro circuit, the annual world champion!
Lots of Duel Academy students work tirelessly for three years, aiming for what? Isn't it to make a name in the pro circuit?
Just like Marufuji Ryo in the original story.
But this guy, who already has the world championship and stands at the top of the pro circuit, wants to go back to school?
Are you going there to study or to teach?
But Ed wasn't acting on impulse; enrolling in Duel Academy was something he'd decided long ago.
When he announced his decision, everyone around him, including his father and his manager, was shocked. His manager and some friends in the pro circle tried to dissuade him, saying it was a pure waste of time.
But Ed was stubborn about going to the academy to study, and nobody could persuade him.
According to the rules, once you turn fifteen, you can apply for the Duel Academy entrance exam. There's no regulation saying world champions can't participate!
Why can't I go?
Youyu glanced at Ed and casually asked, "So eager to enroll... could it be that you miss Judai?"
Ed's face immediately changed, "Youyu bro, what are you talking about? Who would miss that dueling idiot?"
His desire to go to the academy was simply to have more time with Youyu bro, to have the chance to learn from him.
It's absolutely nothing to do with that thick-skulled card-playing idiot!
"You're really not honest," Youyu sighed, "Back then, the two of you even shared the same meal and bed, nothing to be awkward about..."
"That... that was when we were kids," Ed said, looking awkward and mumbling something unclear.
Back then, there was a period when Judai and Ed were practically inseparable. The two kids stuck together no matter what they did, and no one could separate them.
Judai was probably the typical kind of rowdy kid back then, lively, full of energy, often noisy. Ed was the complete opposite, a quiet, shy little boy who would lower his head and not dare to say hello when meeting strangers.
Their little pair was mostly led by Judai. Whatever Judai wanted to do or wherever he wanted to go, Ed would just follow quietly, rarely voicing his own opinions or objections.
But unlike Yuki Judai, who often teetered on the edge of passing grades, Ed was a model student, with an exceptional memory and quick understanding across all subjects.
When he only got first in class, they'd call it a decline. From elementary school, he was the unwavering first in school.
Youyu had caught Judai more than once secretly copying Ed's homework—or in bolder times, even making Ed write for him.
Youyu couldn't let such a thing slide, and some punishment was inevitable—for both of them together.
Youyu not only gave them extra assignments but also required each of them to write a five-thousand-word apology.
Five thousand words is no small number.
Youyu once had a friend who was notorious in web literature and famously said that a thousand words a day were the human limit, two thousand was explosive, and three thousand inhuman.
If it were four thousand in a day, that'd be no human, but a tentacle monster.
...Of course, Youyu recalled, that friend never seemed to finish a proper book.
Even though Youyu hadn't agreed to take Ed as a student, he had taught him quite a lot, including Ed's current dueling strategy and card deck construction, most of which were taught by Youyu.
However, due to his father's work, Ed still needed to live in America, and Ed had to go with him. As they grew older, their interactions changed.
For instance…
Ed: Idiot.
Judai: The one who calls someone an idiot is the idiot!
Ed: Ha, let's duel then!
Judai: Fine, just what I wanted!
"..."
Not long after.
Judai: Ha! I won, what an interesting duel!
Ed: Damn, you got lucky this time...
Judai: You lost, so today you're the idiot! Nananana...
Ed: We didn't agree that the loser would be the idiot, did we?
Judai: Eh? (After thinking, he realized that's kind of true)
"..."
Remembering the silver-haired little boy who used to follow Judai everywhere, Youyu couldn't help but sigh at the current Ed.
Such an adorable boy, how did he grow into the shape of President Haima?
Besides, the President doesn't have only bad qualities! If you're going to learn something, why pick the tsundere part?