"Ah, it feels like I was just a bit off, Norne."
Professor Chronos squatted on the ground, doodling in circles.
Principal Samejima smiled and patted his shoulder: "Alright, Professor Chronos, your performance was already outstanding. After all, your opponent was Mr. Youyu, and you played very well."
"...That's true, Norne."
Actually, although Professor Greedy sometimes seems a bit scheming, he's quite a simple person. As a professor, he sometimes resembles a child, inexplicably somewhat endearing.
"The principal is correct." Youyu put away his Duel Disc and nodded, saying, "Next time there's a selection, I'll write a recommendation for you."
"Really?" Chronos' eyes lit up instantly, "That's great, Norne! With this, promotion, a raise, and becoming the principal aren't just dreams..."
"Hmm?" Principal Samejima raised an eyebrow.
Goodness, already eyeing the position I'm sitting on?
"Ah no, I mean..." Chronos realized he misspoke.
Principal Samejima thought briefly and said, "Professor Chronos, I thought about it, and perhaps your time at our school has been a bit short. Being rated as outstanding so quickly might not be convincing. Why not hold off for two years and give other teachers a chance..."
"Nani, how could it be!?" Chronos was struck by Raigeki.
Just the saying goes.
Life might be all about ups and downs, downs, downs, downs, downs...
"Cough, cough, alright, let's get down to business." The principal, preserving his own position, quickly changed the topic, "Mr. Youyu mentioned there's a task for us this time?"
"I wouldn't call it a task."
Youyu took a photo out from the inner pocket of his jacket, and both the principal's and professor's heads leaned in together.
It was a group photo of Youyu and a very cute girl. She wasn't tall, her little head barely reaching Youyu's nose. However, due to her proportions, her legs appeared extremely long with perfect shape.
She had eye-catching silver-white long hair, a slightly stiff expression on her little face, but cheeks rosily, with a hint of youthful allure, like an apple not yet ripe.
In the photo, she held onto Youyu's arm with both hands, her head resting on his shoulder, just like a little accessory.
"Oh oh, it's Miss Chinai." Principal Samejima nodded, resting his chin.
Professor Chronos nodded as well: "Seems very loving, Norne."
Youyu glanced at the photo in his hand, realizing something was off, and swiftly tucked it back into his coat.
"Sorry, took the wrong one, this is the one I meant to show." He then fished out another photo.
Chronos x Samejima, having been unintentionally shown off: "..."
However, Youyu nonchalantly acted as if nothing had happened.
This was the secret technique he learned from President Haima—
—As long as I'm not embarrassed, the embarrassment is someone else's.
"Cough, cough." Principal Samejima took the photo, and Professor Chronos leaned over.
This time, it looked like a passport photo, featuring a young boy in a black jacket. He had eyes as pure as clouds, crystal clear, possibly the brightest smile in the world, and an unforgettable jellyfish hairstyle.
"Oh? Isn't this Judai?"
Principal Samejima clearly remembered young Judai from the dojo days, though it had been many years, he recognized him instantly.
Yet Professor Chronos didn't know Judai: "Looks quite silly, Norne."
Principal Samejima glanced sideways at him, saying slowly: "This is Mr. Youyu's personally chosen disciple, named Yuki Judai."
"Mamma Mia!" Professor Chronos exclaimed, "Mr. Youyu, I didn't know..."
"It's alright." Youyu waved magnanimously, "What you said is actually true."
Indeed, he does seem quite silly, a typical hot-blooded fool...
"By the way, Judai should be around... fifteen this year, right?" Samejima began reminiscing, "He should be about the right age for enrollment now."
Interestingly, even though Yuki Judai hasn't enrolled yet, he's already a legend at Duel Academy.
This is largely thanks to Marufuji Ryo, who enrolled two years earlier.
Back then, Judai's one display of skills at the Cyber Style dojo truly shocked young Marufuji Ryo, who wasn't yet well-versed in drawing. Since then, Ryo regarded the jellyfish-haired boy, two years his junior, as the rival he yearned to pursue on his path of training.
Not long after, Marufuji Ryo mastered his drawing techniques, with the legendary 502 skill achieving mastery. He could precisely draw three Cyber Dragons and one Fusion at will from a 40-card deck, astonishing most card players who doubted he shuffled.
With such talent, Marufuji Ryo quickly drew widespread attention after entering the academy. Shortly, he became the school's leading figure, enjoying immense admiration from both teachers and students, earning the title "Caesar" to match his status.
Of course, this was a title given by outsiders. Ryo himself never grew conceited from this, always responding to compliments on his talent by saying, "My talent is really nothing."
"There are always more talented people," he often remarked. He frequently mentioned a junior outside, naturally born to draw perfectly, regularly opening with perfect hands, drawing miraculously as easily as eating and drinking, executing comebacks as if destined.
"Seems his age is about right now," Marufuji Ryo mused days ago, "Should be around enrollment time."
Nonetheless, Marufuji Ryo was perceptive. He knew Judai might someday arrive at this academy, and that excessive fame might weigh heavily on him. Thus, he never mentioned his junior's name to anyone.
Though few at the academy had heard of "Yuki Judai," his reputation was widespread in the Duel world.
"Now that you mention it, the new student selection exams are this month." Principal Samejima pondered, "Judai applied to our school too?"
"Indeed," Youyu affirmed.
"Well then." Principal Samejima assumed he understood, "I'll later speak with the admissions department, asking them to give special attention."
Given Youyu's status at the academy, finding connections and securing a backdoor for his sole student was perfectly reasonable, Principal Samejima fully understood.
At the time, instructing the evaluating teachers to ease up a bit...
"You might have misunderstood, Principal." Youyu smiled, "Actually, what I meant was to have Professor Chronos personally serve as Judai's examiner."
"Eh?"
The two were dumbfounded.
Professor Chronos was the academy's top-notch professor, renowned for his practical approach. Essentially, someone of his elite caliber wouldn't typically be an examiner for new students—that would be too harsh.
"And no need for the examiner's special card deck," Youyu said, "Just use the deck you just played with."
Chronos blinked, questioning if he heard correctly.
Having students face his Ancient Gear deck?
Why not include series convergence theorem proofs in elementary enrollment exams?
Others use connections to find backdoors, but your connections... seem more like entering a labyrinth?
"Well, it's possible..." Chronos vaguely replied.
"Also, here are a few cards you might find handy." Youyu handed Chronos some cards. Chronos took them and saw cards like "Chthonian Polymer" and "Fusion Restriction Area"...
Chthonian Polymer, Trap Card. When the opponent Fusion summons a monster, sacrifice monsters on the field, gaining control of the opponent's Fusion Monster.
Fusion Restriction Area, Continuous Trap. Fusion summons cannot occur while this card is present.
"Judai is best at Fusion Summoning, these cards will be useful," Youyu said earnestly.
Chronos: "..."
He slightly wondered if the jellyfish-head was really his disciple?
He felt like Youyu was giving Judai a hard time deliberately...