Manjoume angrily went to Professor Chronos de Medici to request another Duel with Judai Yuki to restore his pride, but the professor refused. The reason was simple. Even if he went, he would probably just lose again, so he should worry about his grades instead, or he might soon drop to Ra-Yellow Dormitory.
The news struck Manjoume like a bolt from the blue. Drop to Yellow Dormitory? Him, a top elite? He could not accept that.
The next day, no one saw Manjoume again.
After hearing about it, Yugen guessed that Manjoume had likely taken a boat out to sea. Next would come a shipwreck, drifting to Duel Academy North Campus, and there he would encounter his destined Spirit 'Ojama Yellow'.
Yes, that was simply the world line correcting itself. It had nothing to do with him.
On Judai Yuki's side, he was quite enthusiastic. After hearing about Manjoume's disappearance, he went searching through the nearby forest. Halfway through, he ran into a monkey wearing a Duel Disk, and upon discovering that he could actually Duel the monkey, Judai Yuki immediately forgot all about his missing Sworn Brothers and happily started playing cards.
According to the anime, there was a research institute on Duel Academy's island studying whether monkeys had higher Spirit Affinity than humans. The researchers' main task was to teach monkeys how to Duel.
You could never imagine what strange facilities were hidden on this island.
For Yugen, daily life now consisted of classes and printing cards. In his spare time, he studied and conducted research in his own laboratory with colleagues, having invited Daidouji to serve as their supervising instructor.
Practicing drawing cards was also a key focus. He felt that his ability to draw the right card at the right time had improved significantly since enrollment, and drawing cards itself was a process of harmonizing the Duelist, the Deck, and the Spirits.
Of course, practicing alone was not enough. Real combat was essential, so Yugen set a rule in his training schedule that he would have at least one practical Duel every day.
However, he ran into a small problem when it came to finding opponents.
His first choice was naturally the Duel Department, since Duel exchanges were the club's purpose. Yet as he diligently showed up for daily Duels, a strange phenomenon began to appear.
Whenever he caught an opponent and started a Duel, a crowd would quickly gather around, chatting and laughing as if watching a show. The atmosphere was relaxed and cheerful.
But as soon as his opponent put on a mask of suffering and collapsed in defeat, and a satisfied Yugen turned to look for the next, ahem, respectable opponent, the crowd would instantly scatter. Some claimed they had soup cooking, others said their girlfriend was calling, and some remembered laundry they forgot to collect.
In the blink of an eye, everyone was gone.
Yugen began to reflect. Maybe constantly targeting the same group was not appropriate. Perhaps it was time to expand his pool of targets.
One day during routine lab work, while chatting with his two colleagues, he casually brought up the issue.
"The new students at Duel Academy really make no sense," Yugen said, shaking his head. "If they are not willing to Duel, why even come to Duel Academy? None of them are motivated."
Daichi Misawa and Asuka Tenjoin exchanged looks.
They felt that Yugen had a point, but at the same time, if the opponent was him, it was understandable that people were reluctant.
"Well, it does not have to be the Duel Department," Asuka Tenjoin said. "This is Duel Academy, after all. Even though there are different clubs, most of them allow free challenges. The tennis club even held an internal competition last week. Oh, and I heard that the Duel Academy Student Council also held one. Their internal Rare Cards inventory is said to be quite good, and their extra credits and administrative authority are higher than other departments."
Yugen suddenly shot to his feet, startling her.
"What is it?"
"Asuka Tenjoin, you are a genius," he said seriously.
Asuka Tenjoin blinked. Was she?
Before she could respond properly, Yugen had already begun packing his things.
"By the way, where is the Student Council office? Are they still recruiting?"
"Uh, second floor of the teaching building. The sign is on the left of the stairs," Daichi Misawa replied, looking somewhat strange.
"Thanks. I have something to do today, so I will head out first. See you tomorrow."
Yugen smiled and left the room.
Daichi Misawa and Asuka Tenjoin looked at each other again.
For a brief moment, Asuka Tenjoin could not help but wonder if she had accidentally said something she should not have.
Duel Academy, Student Council Office.
"Hmm? Senior?"
When Yugen stepped into the office, he looked slightly surprised. The beautiful senior at the desk also looked up in surprise.
It was Seika Kohinata.
She had won Miss Duel Academy for two consecutive years, only to be pushed down in her third year by the newcomer Asuka Tenjoin from Duel Academy. After that, she seemed to awaken some strange new trait.
"So you're also a member of Duel Academy Student Council, Senior," Yugen said in realization.
"Of course. I'm the president of Duel Academy Student Council. There's no one more suitable for management than the queen of Duel Academy." Seika Kohinata brushed her hair back and asked, "What do you need with Duel Academy Student Council?"
She had a faint sense that something was wrong.
Yugen was a little surprised. He had not expected this senior to be the head of Duel Academy Student Council. And she was someone he already knew.
"Oh, nothing much. I just wanted to ask if Duel Academy Student Council is recruiting," he said.
Seika Kohinata frowned.
They were recruiting. This year, Duel Academy Student Council was indeed short on staff. But they were only recruiting people.
Since the start of the semester, they had all heard about the situation in Duel Department. Ever since a certain freshman joined, the atmosphere there had become hard to describe. The new students who entered Duel Department this year had been full of complaints, and many had developed an unusual resistance to the idea of going to the club to play cards.
In past years, Duel Department had been known as the most card addicted club in Duel Academy. Yet now, the newcomers seemed afraid of it. Strangely, students from other clubs had become more interested in watching Duel Department's Duels, and some members of Duel Academy Student Council would sneak over to watch and come back smiling.
As one of the earliest members of Yugen Fujiki Victims Association within Duel Academy, Seika Kohinata had a good idea why this was happening.
And now the culprit was standing in front of her, acting innocent, applying to join Duel Academy Student Council.
What was he planning? Was he going to turn Duel Academy Student Council into the next Duel Department?
The thought made her shiver. The fear of being controlled by 'Lava Golem' and 'Torture Wheel' surfaced in her mind again.
She had intended to say that recruitment was closed.
But a nearby Duel Academy Student Council officer suddenly lit up. "Oh? You want to join? That's great. We're seriously short on people right now."
Seika Kohinata glared at him.
You talk too much.
The officer looked confused. Weren't they recruiting?
"That's great, then." Yugen smiled. "I'll be in your care from now on."
Now that the words were out, Seika Kohinata could not refuse. She had heard about this junior's abilities. Even the famously overbearing Academic Affairs Office treated him politely. A small organization like Duel Academy Student Council could not stop him if he wanted to join, or leave.
"Fine. Then welcome, Yugen Fujiki, to Duel Academy Student Council."
Her voice sounded weak. There was no warmth in it.
The officer immediately started clapping, but as he did, he replayed the name in his mind. Yugen Fujiki. Where had he heard it before?
His smile froze.
In an instant, he understood why the president had opposed recruiting new members during a manpower shortage.
A chill ran down his back.