"Today, Judai Yuki and others entered a restricted special dormitory, violating academy regulations. The circumstances are severe."
Judai and Sho Marufuji stood in the center of a spacious room, surrounded by enormous screens. Behind each screen was a high-ranking official of the academy, including Principal Samejima and Professor Chronos.
"I'm sorry, I'll listen to whatever you say," Judai said with clasped hands, his attitude sincere. "Please give me a chance."
In truth, the matter of whether he'd be expelled might not have bothered Judai all that much. What he likely cared more about was that if he were kicked out of the Duel Academy, he wouldn't have as many interesting opponents to duel with.
"Since the slacker has begged so much, I shall graciously grant you this special opportunity, n'kay?" Professor Chronos said with a grinning face. "I will arrange a team penalty duel as soon as possible. No problem with that, is there?"
Judai: "Eh? Team penalty... duel?"
"Precisely. Judai Yuki and Sho Marufuji, you will engage in a dormitory duel as a team representing your dormitory. If you win, you will be acquitted."
Judai's spirits immediately lifted at the mention of a duel, instantly forgetting the impending expulsion crisis.
"A dormitory duel? Sounds interesting!"
"Eh?" Sho Marufuji whispered, "Does this feel a bit off, Big Bro?"
Professor Chronos: "Principal, you see, he himself has agreed."
Principal Samejima pondered: "Hmm, in that case, there's nothing more to be done."
"Excellent!" Professor Chronos was very happy. "Then you two just await notification. I will arrange the opponents for the dormitory duel as soon as possible, n'kay!"
"..."
After the first class, Yu Xuan sat in the Academic Affairs Department office. The long-legged female teacher politely welcomed him in and even brewed him tea.
The morning sunlight slanted into the Academic Affairs Department office, golden specks dancing on the wooden floor, as if draped in a warm carpet. The exquisite ceramic teacup steamed, and the fragrant tea mixed with the faint scent wafting in from outside the window.
"...That's probably all I needed to ask." The female teacher said with a polite smile. "Thank you for coming all this way, Yu Xuan."
"Not at all." Yu Xuan waved his hand. "Cooperating with the academy's investigation is simply what I should do."
"However, please still be careful. The abandoned dormitory is a dangerous area, and the school rules strictly prohibit entry. We'll let it slide this time, but don't casually go to such dangerous places next time."
"You have my word, I absolutely won't next time." Yu Xuan thumped his chest and promised.
"That's good." The female teacher took a sip of tea and smiled slightly. "I've heard that Yu Xuan is the rising star of the academy, one of the most brilliant freshmen this year. If anything were to happen to you, the academy would have a hard time explaining it."
"Thank you for your concern, Teacher."
"Oh, one last side note." The female teacher sat up straight, leaned forward, looking mysterious. Then she lowered her voice and asked. "They say you're friends with that Kaiba Seto? Is that true?"
"Hmm, I do know him." Yu Xuan mused for a moment. Saying they were friends might be an exaggeration. But to say they weren't close felt wrong, especially since he had received quite a few benefits from the CEO. So, he'd just accept it as it was. Having three more years at the academy, there was nothing wrong with having a strong backer.
The female teacher didn't say anything more on the matter, but her expression clearly showed "how terrifying." Regardless of the fact that this Duel Academy was largely founded with the CEO's money, even without that connection, Kaiba Seto's status in this world needed no further explanation. Saying your backer was a high-ranking politician might not even be as effective as knowing the CEO.
"By the way, I heard the Academic Affairs Department's final decision for punishment is a dormitory duel?" Yu Xuan asked.
"Oh, that. Only Judai Yuki, as the mastermind, and Sho Marufuji, his dormmate, need to accept it." The female teacher chuckled. "You don't need to worry."
"I heard, is it possible that legendary duelists will be invited as opponents?"
The female teacher was surprised: "How do you know that... Oh, did Professor Chronos reveal it to you?" Inviting legendary duelists to participate was originally Chronos's idea. Even the principal hadn't been informed yet; currently, he had only discussed it with the Academic Affairs Department. Moreover, the matter was still in the planning stages, and it was unknown if anyone could even be invited.
However, the long-legged female teacher immediately remembered that Yu Xuan was also a special charge of Chronos. Perhaps the professor had let it slip during a conversation.
"So, if they win, they should get a lot of academic credits, right?"
The female teacher paused: "Uh, well, probably." Although it was a penalty duel, the planned opponents were legendary duelists after all. If Judai and his team lost, they would naturally be expelled. But if they could win, it would be a huge prestige boost for the academy, and it would be unreasonable not to give rewards.
Yu Xuan took a deep breath: "Teacher, I am ashamed!"
Female Teacher: "?" Why are you ashamed?
"Actually, I didn't go to the dormitory with Judai and the others. I took it upon myself to trespass into the restricted area and just happened to meet them. "Yu Xuan said with a look of guilt. "So, I wasn't incited; I'm equally a mastermind as Judai Yuki. On the contrary, everyone else in his dorm was merely an accomplice, so I should rightfully be the one to receive punishment!"
The female teacher opened her mouth, stifled for a long time before speaking.
"This... Haha, it's good that you know your mistake, it's good. In view of Yu Xuan's sincere attitude in admitting his mistake, the punishment will be waived..."
Yu Xuan raised an eyebrow.
"No, it can't be waived! What would other students think in the future? Where would the dignity of our school rules be placed? Wouldn't this set an example for others that 'violating school rules is no big deal'?"
Female Teacher: "..."
She wanted to say, we're not classmates, aren't our lines reversed? How can someone actually fight to be punished?
"Cough, cough, I'm glad you have this awareness," she said. "But once the Academic Affairs Department makes a decision, it cannot be changed, and it also concerns the dignity of the Academic Affairs Department. So, let's just let it go this time..."
Yu Xuan put on a regretful expression.
"Is that so? Alright, I understand." He then stood up, bowed, and left.
Seeing that he was no longer pestering her and finally preparing to leave, the long-legged female teacher breathed a sigh of relief.
Are you kidding? If you participate in the penalty duel and lose, can we really expel you? If Yu Xuan and Judai both lost in a tag duel, it wouldn't look good for the academy's reputation to expel one and not the other. So what would be the point of the penalty duel then?
It's a good thing this kid isn't pestering me anymore.
Just as she thought this, she heard Yu Xuan's voice from the hallway, just outside the door.
"Hello? Is that Mokuba? It's me... So, about trespassing into the restricted area earlier, the academy arranged a team duel as punishment, but they're not letting me play... ah, no, they're not giving me a chance to atone. But I've thought about it over and over and feel so guilty, so I wanted to ask if you could contact the board of directors to ask the academy to give me a chance to bear the responsibility with my friends..."
Pfft—
The long-legged female teacher spluttered. The tea she had just drunk sprayed far away. She quickly got up and chased him out: "Student, wait! We can still discuss this..."
Yu Xuan turned, feigning surprise, and put down his phone: "Huh? Teacher, why are you out here?" The moment he put down his phone, the sharp-eyed female teacher noticed that the phone wasn't even turned on.
Female Teacher: "..."
She had been played.
Actually, Yu Xuan hadn't intended to call Mokuba for such a small matter anyway.
"So, Teacher, you mean I can accept the punishment now?"
The female teacher waved her hand weakly: "Fine."
Forget it, whatever happens, happens. She no longer cared.
On the same day, Principal's Office.
Koala-bro Hayato was confessing to Principal Samejima: "I was also in that abandoned dorm, so please let me be on Judai's team! Let me accept the punishment!"
"Me too!" Asuka Tenjoin entered the office at this moment. "I also went to the abandoned dorm last night, I just wasn't discovered." Asuka said seriously, "Please punish me as well."
Asuka currently had a good impression of Judai, but she could also tell at a glance that Sho Marufuji beside him was useless. Partnering Judai with Sho Marufuji was simply having him drag a burden. Even if Judai was as strong as he was, she couldn't help but worry a little. So, she wanted to take Sho's place, which would increase Judai's chances of winning no matter what.
Principal Samejima smiled: "I understand your intentions. However, how to administer punishment is something the Academic Affairs Department has already finalized, and in this school, once the Academic Affairs Department makes a decision, it will absolutely not be casually changed."
Asuka and Koala-bro exchanged glances, both showing helpless expressions. They had heard of the Academic Affairs Department's reputation. It was said they were a group of ruthless individuals. They usually only appeared in serious situations and were known for their swift and decisive actions. If the Academic Affairs Department had decided this...
However, just at this moment, the automatic door opened. The female teacher from the Academic Affairs Department entered the office.
"Principal Samejima, the Academic Affairs Department has called an emergency internal meeting and wishes to request a withdrawal of the punishment decision regarding the abandoned dormitory incident." She said, "We are preparing to re-designate Fujiki Yusaku and Judai Yuki as a team for a tag duel."
Principal Samejima: "?"
Asuka x Hayato: "??"
Wait, what happened to the Academic Affairs Department's decision being absolute? What happened to it being set in stone and unchangeable? Wasn't it a matter of your Academic Affairs Department's dignity?
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