Chapter 24: Around Every Couple, There Are Always a Few Singles Offering Relationship Advice
Because of Chumley's unintentional remark, Tristan and Chazz Princeton began a "strategic contest" with "winning over Little Ribbon" as the victory condition.
"You guys have to help me, Joey, Chumley, Yugi!" Tristan was full of worry. "That Chazz Princeton, relying on his family being school board members, plans to confess to Miho at the next cultural festival!"
"A public confession? While the cultural festival lets you let loose, the teachers will be there, right?" Yugi asked, a bit puzzled. "Doesn't Chazz Princeton worry about getting caught?"
"That's why I said, his family are school board members."
"Oh, right. Then he really doesn't have to worry about being disciplined at all." Joey slapped his palm. "That guy is so cunning."
"So, help me come up with a plan, otherwise 'Little Ribbon' will definitely be snatched away by him!" Tristan said, feeling incredibly wronged.
Téa on the side imagined the scene that might unfold at the cultural festival – on the highly anticipated cultural festival performance stage, XX, dressed in a white suit, would fearlessly disregard worldly gazes, offering 9999 roses to her with a deeply affectionate expression, confessing publicly.
"If he really confesses at the cultural festival, putting myself in her shoes, I might just say yes too." Téa voiced her opinion, though she didn't reveal who the person confessing to her in her Mind was. Had she not decided on his appearance? Or was she too embarrassed to say it out loud?
"Right? To use his family's advantage, how despicable." Tristan recalled Chazz Princeton's smug expression when he announced his confession plan. And supposedly, he even got the inspiration from his Duel with Chumley. "As long as you can pluck the fruits of ultimate success, no method is despicable," that's what that guy said.
"There's no helping you, Tristan." Unaware that he was the one who came up with such an idea for Chazz Princeton, Chumley pulled a paper handgun out of his backpack. "Bang bang bang bang~"
"M1917 American-made Smith & Wesson!"
"Uh, what?" Tristan looked at the paper handgun Chumley placed in his hand.
"With this, no one can refuse your confession. Go, Tristan, for your happiness!"
"What kind of happiness is obtained by threatening someone with a handgun?!" Tristan retorted indignantly. "Besides, this thing is made of paper!"
"Ah, you found out."
"You didn't even try to hide it, no normal person would fall for that!"
"Alright, alright, just kidding." Chumley took back the paper gun from Tristan's hand. It was, after all, the result of an entire afternoon's effort. "Since you don't really like that idea, do you want to hear another one?"
"Something a little more serious, please..." Tristan glanced at Yugi and Joey, considered it for a moment, and felt that only Chumley could give him relationship advice. He just hoped it would be more reliable than that "paper handgun" from earlier.
"If you want the other person to accept your confession, you ultimately need your feelings to resonate with their Mind for you two to get together." Although Chumley had never been in a relationship, it's well-known that the more single you are, the better you are at giving emotional advice. "In other words, you just need to find a way to let the other person feel your true feelings."
"You say it so easily, am I supposed to rip out my heart?"
Téa sighed, "Tristan, you're really dense, haven't you figured out what Chumley means? He means you just need to give her gifts that represent your feelings, like a jar filled with 1000 Thousand Paper Cranes, or a small figurine you made of her."
Tristan spread his hands helplessly. "Do I look like someone good at crafts?"
"Tristan is good at destruction, but asking him to do small crafts is probably too much for him, right?" Joey echoed.
"Um, how about we find someone good at crafts to make it for you?" Yugi came up with an idea, which made Tristan involuntarily shift his attention to Chumley, who was amusing himself with the paper handgun after offering his advice.
Noticing Tristan's gaze, Chumley immediately stood straight and put away the handgun. "Don't look at me, even though I can fold Thousand Paper Cranes and little stars, 1000 is too many. Besides, if you don't make it yourself, how can you convey your true feelings? You might as well just buy one."
"Ah, speaking of which, I think I know what would be suitable to give." Yugi clapped his hands, having thought of a good idea. "Yesterday on TV, I saw the female protagonist confess to the male protagonist, giving him a Pure White Puzzle with her feelings written on it."
"That's a good idea. It's just, Pure White Puzzles aren't easy to find, are they? And if there are too many pieces, what if 'Little Ribbon' can't put it together?" Joey thought about it and felt Yugi's idea was great.
"Grandpa has recently received a batch of white Puzzles, and there aren't too many of them."
"Hmm, I have reason to suspect you're drumming up business for your family, Yugi-boy."
————Dozing off and dreaming of an Opening Hand Five Exodia Pieces————
Because of Yugi's suspiciously business-boosting suggestion, after Joey finished his daily cleaning duties, the group headed to Yugi's house after school.
"Grandpa, I'm home~"
Hearing Yugi's energetic voice, Grandpa Sugoroku, who was standing behind the counter as usual, responded, "Oh, you're back, Yugi."
"We're bothering you too." Following Yugi, Tristan walked in, followed by Téa, Joey, and Chumley.
"Not at all, our house is quite big, you're all welcome to come and play." Grandpa Sugoroku greeted them warmly.
After Tristan stated his purpose, he followed Grandpa Sugoroku to the Inventory to get the "Love's Sure Kill! Confession's Pure White Puzzle" that had just arrived at the shop and hadn't been put on display yet. One couldn't help but complain, with such a targeted product name, the price of the white Puzzle could at least double. Grandpa Sugoroku had a bit of business acumen, after all.
During the wait, the bored group once again started a Duel Monsters Game, but this time the Players were Joey and Yugi. This was Joey's Nth "comeback Duel" against Yugi, and although both sides had just drawn their Hand, Chumley had only one answer in his Mind for the final result.
Without much interest in watching the clash between (*Shadow of the Six Samurai - Shien*)'s meager 800 ATK and (*Dark King of the Abyss*)'s 1500 ATK, Chumley opened the System. Immediately, several large lines of text appeared:
[Congratulations on achieving a Duel victory, and congratulations on finally winning a Match
This Duel's Score was:
3200 DP—
Reversal Victory (Achieved victory when Life Points were lower than the Opponent's at the start of the Turn): 2500
Activated 3 Spell Cards: 100 DP
Weak Resistance (Caused over 1000 Damage in one Attack Declaration): 300 DP
Reaper (Used Effect Damage for the final blow): 300 DP
Do you want to use Novice Reward - Score Doubler? (Remaining uses: 10)]
Double it, double it for me!
Chumley didn't hesitate at all, directly clicking the [Yes] button, then watched as a full 6400 DP was added to his original 2500 DP Balance.
He now had a total of 8900 DP, just 100 DP short of being able to exchange for a slightly cheaper UR Card.
But as soon as the text from the previous Duel settlement with Chazz Princeton disappeared, Chumley noticed that in the four Templates, the [Achievement] and [Shop] areas simultaneously lit up with golden borders.
(end of chapter)