"Ah, there you are—found you, Hoshino!"
Amid the crowd, Anzu finally spotted that familiar petite white head and waved excitedly.
"Anzu, Shizuka!"
The two tall, cute, and charming girls had already drawn a sea of admiring glances around them.
Especially Anzu—ever since she began pursuing her dream of becoming a professional dancer, her aura had grown even more captivating. She had received more than a few attempts at flirting just walking through the festival.
"It was really hard finding you, Hoshino. This year's school festival feels even livelier than last year's," Shizuka said politely. Despite looking more mature than Hoshino, she still habitually spoke to her with respect.
Her reason was simple: her illness had only been cured thanks to Hoshino's desperate victory over Pegasus during Duelist Kingdom, which allowed her to receive Industrial Illusions' sponsorship for treatment.
"It's not just lively…" Anzu glanced around curiously. "Especially this area—there are way more people than usual. What's everyone crowding around for?"
"Heh heh, obviously because there's something good to see." Hoshino grinned mysteriously and pointed at the elegant temporary stage ahead.
[1st Duel Academy – Duel Queen Selection Event]
"So that's what everyone's here for! I thought the Red Dorm's events were already pulling huge crowds, but this is on another level. I mean, who could resist cute, pure high school girls?"
"Eh? There's an event like that? Sounds fun." Anzu gently flicked Hoshino's ahoge. "But this kind of event… is totally something you personally approved just for fun, right?"
It was true. Despite the name "Duel Queen Selection," it was essentially a beauty contest—no different from any standard school festival event. The judges simply picked whichever girl looked the sweetest and most adorable. It had absolutely nothing to do with duel monsters.
"No, no! Hoshino definitely set this up because she knew I was coming!"
From within the crowd, a blond man in sunglasses suddenly leapt out. "A Duel Queen contest—this is too good to miss!"
"Huh? That chin—?" Hoshino froze. Not even giant sunglasses could hide that familiar meme grin. "Jonouchi! Weren't you supposed to arrive this afternoon?!"
Jonouchi waved dramatically. "Of course I came early! I missed you too much! Opportunities to see you only come once a year! I simply had to come ahead of schedule!"
"What are you even talking about?" Anzu deadpanned.
"Onii-chan, it's because you act like this that Mai-neesan avoids you."
Shizuka stabbed him right in the heart with perfect accuracy.
"Jonouchi, did your chin… get even longer again?" Hoshino asked, mesmerized by the ever-evolving meme.
"By the way, where's Honda?" Shizuka asked, looking around anxiously. "Didn't he come with you?"
Looked like things between Honda and Shizuka were progressing well. They might even become the first couple in their group to reach a happy ending.
Jonouchi forced a stiff smile. "Honda… is probably still working…"
"He was supposed to arrive with you in the afternoon. That means you dumped all your work on Honda and ran off early by yourself," Anzu said bluntly.
"That's so mean, Jonouchi. Honda's basically becoming your tool guy," Hoshino added with disdain.
"My heart… so cold… I rushed here early for all of you, and this is how you treat a dear friend you haven't seen in ages?!"
Jonouchi collapsed emotionally, as if he had crashed headfirst into a wall of ice.
Anzu patted his shoulder. "It's not that we haven't seen you in a long time. We see you all the time. So it doesn't feel like a reunion."
As a superstar duelist in the Pro League, Jonouchi was practically a celebrity.
His matches were everywhere—TV, the internet, meme compilations—and his signature funny faces had become beloved reaction images among young duelists.
That was probably why he wore sunglasses—to avoid being recognized. After all, everyone attending Duel Academy's festival would be duelists, and duelists definitely knew who he was.
Hoshino nodded. "Exactly. Just last week I watched your duel with Aster Phoenix. That was dangerous, you know? You nearly got defeated by an old-era duelist."
"Aster Phoenix, huh…" Jonouchi's expression darkened for a moment.
"As the rising star of the Pro League, he's incredibly strong."
He frowned slightly, unusually serious.
"But maybe because he debuted with such a streak of wins, I feel something… unsettling in him. Like he's carrying a bad obsession. His future duels might be worth paying attention to."
"A bad obsession…?"
Hoshino quietly took mental note of it, recalling what Atticus had mentioned earlier—how memories of Aster at the American tournament were strangely vague. Combined, it felt… suspicious.
"Anyway! Enough heavy talk." Jonouchi switched moods instantly and looked toward the stage. "We're here to have fun! Cute, pure girl duelists… ahh, how nostalgic. Reminds me of when you were young, Hoshino."
Hoshino planted her hands on her hips, irritated. "Excuse me?? Are you saying I'm old now?!"
"Quite the opposite—if anything, you look younger these days."
Jonouchi stroked his chin. "Honestly, if I didn't look closely, I'd think you were a middle schooler."
Her companions who had fought alongside her during the Dartz Incident knew the reason—though of course, none of them minded. If anything, they found it cute.
"Isn't that a good thing? Aging is the enemy of all women~"
Anzu pulled Hoshino into a hug, patting her like a doting big sister. "Just stay cute forever. It feels healing just looking at you."
Buried between Anzu's soft hills, Hoshino muttered enviously, "If possible, I'd rather have your chest instead…"
.
...
...
"—And now, the moment you've all been waiting for! Hosted by Obelisk Blue: The Duel Academy Duel Queen Selection Contest begins now!"
"OOOOOOOH!!"
"FINALLY!!"
At the announcement, the long-awaited crowd erupted.
But strangely, even though this was supposed to be an event aimed at boys, the girls' screams were even louder.
"And hosting today's event—Atticus Rhodes!"
"Ahhh! Atticus-sama is so handsome!"
"Oh my god, it's Atticus-sama! I can't breathe!"
Hoshino squinted helplessly, unsure how to even respond to Atticus's flashy stage performance.
She had originally let him stay at the Academy to avoid the Shadow Rider and recover his health. But this guy… he was acting more high-profile than anyone—almost like he was terrified the villains wouldn't notice he had switched sides.
"And now, let's welcome our special guest judge—The King of the Academy, Zane Truesdale!"
"With how cold and aloof Zane is, there's no way he'd agree to judge something like this… it must be Atticus's doing."
Though the two were both revered as the "Twin Pillars of the Academy," they weren't rivals who hated one another. In fact, their relationship was very good. Atticus was one of the few people at the Academy whom Zane could genuinely call a close friend.
Forced into the judges' seat, Zane could only manage an awkward yet polite smile.
"Isn't that your brother, Syrus? He's actually judging something like this—pretty impressive."
"Yeah, but he doesn't look very willing…"
Because nearly all the midday crowd had gathered for the event, Jaden and the others—having escaped from the cosplay convention—left Dark Magician Girl and Mana at the Red Dorm to hold the fort and came over to witness the birth of Duel Academy's very first "Duel Queen."
More importantly, two of the most popular Obelisk Blue girls—Alexis and Akasha—had been forced to participate as compensation for the first-years not having an event of their own.
"Do we even have to compare? Akasha wins, obviously." Minazuki crossed his arms with absolute confidence. "I will ALWAYS side with cute, sharp-tongued blondes. When it comes to charm and sass, Akasha is the strongest!"
"Hmph! As expected of a bottom-rank Red Dorm student—your taste is absolute garbage."
A proud voice cut through the air, instantly shutting down Minazuki's claim. Dressed in the Obelisk Blue uniform, the newcomer tilted his chin upward with arrogant confidence at the Red Dorm group.
"For this year's Duel Queen, the champion will undeniably be the fairy of Obelisk Blue—Alexis!"
Minazuki frowned at the attitude. "Who is this clown? Why so arrogant?"
"Hmph, excellent question!" The man swung his arm dramatically and signaled to the lackeys behind him. "Tell them who I am!"
"One!"
"Ten!"
"Hundred!"
"Thousand!"
"—Chazz it up! That's who I am!"
Shouting his bizarre catchphrase, Chazz struck a pose he clearly believed to be incredibly cool.
"What an unbelievably lame entrance… 'Chazz it up'? Never heard such a cringey name." Minazuki shivered with disgust.
Chazz sneered. "Heh, typical bottom-rank nobodies. Not recognizing Alexis's overwhelming charm is one thing—but you don't even know me, an elite among Obelisk Blue elites! How embarrassing!"
Syrus corrected him calmly. "We know Alexis's charm, sure. But you… we really don't know."
"Ugh…" Chazz hadn't expected these Red Dorm losers to disrespect him—an elite—right to his face. His composure cracked as he turned away tsundere-style.
"Just watch! My goddess Alexis will claim the final victory!"
Jaden asked bluntly, "What do you mean 'final victory'? Do you even know the event rules?"
"Rules?" Chazz froze. "What rules? Isn't this just a popularity vote? Whatever the rules are, my heart belongs to Alexis!"
Jaden explained, "This Duel Queen contest uses two-person teams performing together. And actually… Alexis and Akasha are paired."
Minazuki immediately pounced. "And you were talking big about my taste a minute ago. Since Akasha and Asuka are debuting together, are you supporting them or not?"
"What?! Two-person teams?! There's a rule like that!?" Chazz bit his thumb, spiraling into emotional turmoil.
"My love for Alexis is pure and unwavering… but in this situation—what am I supposed to do? Is this the suffering of popular men…?"
Minazuki: "I think you're just talking nonsense."
…
"And that concludes the lively and adorable dance performance from second-years Sara and Kelly!"
Since Obelisk Blue had the most girls in the Academy, over a dozen cute volunteers joined the competition. Pairing them in twos was simply to save time.
"Well then, Judge Zane, what do you think?" Atticus asked, passing the mic to the very uncomfortable Zane.
"Hm. Very cute. Their movements were precise as well. I can tell they practiced hard."
"That's quite a high evaluation! Congratulations to the two contestants!"
Jonouchi, watching closely from the audience, sighed in admiration. "Good thing I ditched work today, or I'd have missed the chance to see energetic schoolgirls dance up close."
"But having several dance acts in a row is getting a bit repetitive." As a dancer in training, Anzu enjoyed the performances but still felt something was missing.
"Is Akasha coming up soon? I heard she's really popular," Shizuka asked Hoshino excitedly.
"I think they're next." Hoshino recalled the order. "But what will Alexis and Akasha perform? Did they secretly practice a dance too?"
"They're coming, they're coming!" Atticus hyped the crowd energetically.
"Introducing! The holder of the title 'Obelisk Fairy,' Alexis Rhodes! And the equally famous 'Obelisk Sprite,' Kashar Hawkins!"
The crowd erupted—clearly, their popularity was sky-high.
"So 'Fairy' and 'Sprite'… turns out they weren't referring to the same person…"
Akasha and Alexis stepped onto the stage under intense attention, each holding a wooden folding fan that immediately piqued the audience's interest.
Hoshino brightened. "A folding fan? Are they doing a fan dance? That would actually be really interesting."
Snapping her fan shut, Akasha tapped her palm lightly and beamed. "Today, the two of us will be performing a comedy skit!"
== ?
Why are you stealing Okita and Nobunaga's job!?