"So that's how it is, that's how it is. So you're saying that although you spotted that 'Aluber', you still let him get away?"
Having finished the makeup exam questions Professor Banner assigned him, Youmi twirled a ballpoint pen in his left hand. After hearing Fallen of Albaz's report, he tapped the desk with the pen.
"Then where did all those injuries on you come from?"
Youmi pointed at the various wounds on Fallen of Albaz's body, many of which were bite marks.
"Uh, boss, you really know how to hit a guy where it hurts..."
At the mention of this, the thoroughly soaked Fallen of Albaz raised his arm and pulled a crab off from beneath his elbow.
"After you finished dueling those maze brothers, the principal and the head instructor or something dragged those two out for a really long meal. I spent the entire afternoon tailing those two and keeping an eye out for a possible Aluber.
"And when I went to the shore outside to look for Aluber, I searched so long that I missed the last ferry. And... boss, since you don't give me any activity funds, I can't even rent a small boat."
Youmi's eyebrow lifted. "Then how did you end up getting on an outside ferry?"
Fallen of Albaz turned his head to the side. "The ticket seller Onee-san just let me on."
Youmi asked again, "Then why didn't you use that to borrow a small boat?"
Fallen of Albaz's mouth twitched, but he still said honestly: "Because the boat-rental boss is a buff guy who looks like an 'Invinciblestar'—The Final Warrior' type. Owing a favor to someone with that kind of build, especially a man, just feels way too dangerous."
"Alright, I more or less get it."
Even though Duel Spirits can teleport back remotely when needed, if they stray too far from their true body, it won't work.
In order to ensure he wouldn't be missing from Youmi's Deck when needed for duels, Fallen of Albaz hadn't brought his real body when manifesting, so he couldn't return like he had during the old dorm incident.
"Don't tell me you swam all the way back."
"Boss, what do you think?" Sitting cross-legged on the floor, Fallen of Albaz took a tiny hermit crab out of his hair. "Please, next time send Knight Onee-san or Kitt. I'm really not cut out for surveillance or tailing…"
"I'm back. I borrowed a hair dryer."
Dogmatika Fleurdelis, the Knighted—having taken off her armor—entered Youmi's dorm room in the form of Blazing Cartesia, the Virtuous, holding the hair dryer borrowed from Jaden Yuki's dorm.
"It seems they're busy dealing with a drunk over there. Looks like there's a parent–teacher conference going on.
"Anyway, I'll dry this kid first. Speaking of which… where's Ecclesia? I could've sworn I sensed her coming this way. How come she's not here?"
Youmi pulled two meal tickets out of his pocket.
"Because I defeated a famous Duelist, the principal gave me and Syrus some tickets we can use to eat at Obelisk Blue. The tickets are what matter, not the person, so I picked two and gave them to Kitt and Ecclesia. At this point, the food stores in the Blue dorm cafeteria are probably almost wiped out."
Youmi propped his cheek on one hand, spinning his pen, totally unconcerned about how much financial burden he had just inflicted on the school.
"Looks like I'll have to bring back a ball from the cafeteria later."
Using the hair dryer set to maximum heat and power—and ignoring Fallen of Albaz's yelps of hot hot hot—Blazing Cartesia pressed his chin to the ground with one hand and used the other to blow him dry up and down. "Don't move, or I'll shock you for a bit to make you behave."
Hearing that, Fallen of Albaz at once stopped struggling.
Among the card spirits currently in Youmi's Deck, she was the one he absolutely didn't dare go against. He'd been blasted by her so many times that he'd developed psychological trauma.
"You damn siscon old hag! Where'd a yellow rat like you come from?! Hot hot hot hot hot!!! Have mercy, I give up!"
Just as Fallen of Albaz was screaming in pain while Blazing Cartesia forced him down to blow-dry him, Youmi's door was suddenly knocked.
"Hm?"
Gesturing for Blazing Cartesia and Fallen of Albaz to hide, Youmi said, "Come in, it's unlocked."
Seeing his signal, Blazing Cartesia instantly switched off the dryer, tossed it to Youmi, grabbed Fallen of Albaz by the head with her left hand, and dragged him into the wardrobe.
"Old hag, you—mmph—!"
"Pardon the intrusion."
The person who came in was Obelisk Blue's absolute No.1—Zane Truesdale.
Although Youmi was very familiar with him, he hadn't had much direct interaction with him yet, so he feigned ignorance. "Hm? You… I remember you're from Obelisk Blue, the one called 'Kaiser,' Senior Zane Truesdale, right? What brings you to my dorm so late?"
"Seems I don't have to introduce myself. You probably already know—I'm Syrus's older brother and the one who dueled by your side in the Punishment Duel today."
Zane took out his signature ace, Cyber End Dragon, showed it briefly, then put it away. In this school, that card was basically his ID. "Youmi, you didn't take the monthly exam because you were injured during the old dorm intrusion incident, right?"
Not expecting that Zane had come because of that, Youmi blinked, then nodded.
Zane pulled out a document stamped by Duel Academy. "Because of your outstanding performance in the Punishment Duel, your opponent for the monthly exam was originally supposed to be someone from Ra Yellow.
"But the principal has now contacted me to duel you instead. If your performance in that duel remains excellent, the school will consider promoting you to Obelisk Blue next semester. I came today to inform you of this."
Youmi set down the endlessly spinning pen and asked, "So that means there's more?"
"Yes. First was business. Now is personal."
Zane gave a small nod, placed the document on Youmi's desk, and said, "I also came here to thank you for helping Syrus. I may be his brother, but I haven't guided him much. I knew he had untapped potential, so I left it for him to discover on his own. I only ever told him what not to do, but never helped him think.
"That said, today, after watching your duel, Syrus's growth truly astonished me. I must thank you sincerely."
With that, Zane bowed deeply.
"If that's the case, I think you may also need to visit Jaden~"
Youmi laughed and shook his head. "I should be thanking Syrus. If he hadn't volunteered, I might've had to take on both opponents in the Punishment Duel alone. I taught Syrus how to fight and how not to panic, but the courage to step up and help others—that's probably thanks to Jaden.
"That ability to smile no matter what, that optimism and drive to keep moving forward… even I'm a little influenced by it~"
Youmi pulled a photo from his drawer. Although he hadn't dueled often these days, he had spent a month at Duel Academy, far longer than his time in Duel City, so he'd gotten to know his classmates well. The photo showed him together with Jaden and Syrus.
On Syrus's face was no trace of timidity; only genuine joy and laughter.
"Looks like I really do need to visit his roommate. Now that official matters and personal thanks are conveyed… please prepare well. Your makeup exam is tomorrow at noon, Youmi. I look forward to possibly becoming your dormmate. You feel somewhat familiar to me, like my other friends."
"Well then, I'm flattered. To be praised by the 'Zane' himself like that~"
...
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