"Hmph. I don't have friends. Only the weak need other people's strength."
Kaiba's words dropped the temperature in the room to freezing.
Kisaragi didn't argue. She just looked at him calmly.
"Maybe you're right, Kaiba. But there are some things that can't be done by one person alone—no matter how strong that person is."
Then she waved it off.
"We can debate philosophy later. Right now, the priority is getting proper rest."
She turned to Yugi and Joey.
"Yugi, Joey—come with us too. A room is still better than sleeping out on those communal bunks."
As she glanced toward the bunk area, she caught sight of Weevil Underwood and Rex Raptor curled up miserably in a corner.
While the bodyguard led them down the corridor, Kisaragi asked casually, "Weevil's the national runner-up, right? Doesn't he get a room too?"
"Yes," the bodyguard replied. "There were originally two rooms—one for the champion and one for the runner-up. But Mr. Underwood used improper methods during the tournament, so Mr. Pegasus revoked his privileges."
He hesitated, then added respectfully, "At present, both rooms are at your disposal, Miss Kisaragi. If you wish to let your friends stay in them, that's no problem."
Joey practically bounced.
"Awesome! Yugi, we've got rooms!"
Yugi nodded. "Yeah… thanks to Kisaragi."
The four of them stopped at the door.
"This is your room," the bodyguard said with a slight bow. "The room next door is also available for your use. If you need anything, contact the crew. I'll take my leave."
He departed.
"All right, don't just stand there—let's go in," Kisaragi said, opening the door.
The moment Joey stepped inside, his eyes lit up.
"Whoa… this place is luxury!"
Kaiba didn't even look impressed.
"Hmph. What a bumpkin."
"Kaiba—can you stop being such a jerk?!" Joey snapped.
"Joey, calm down," Yugi warned.
Kisaragi's voice cut through them both.
"You two, enough. Don't waste energy on something this stupid."
Joey shut his mouth immediately. Kaiba also fell silent.
Kisaragi turned to Yugi.
"By the way… why are you in this tournament too?"
Yugi's expression tightened.
"I received Pegasus's videotape. To force me to enter… he stole my grandpa's soul."
Kaiba's eyes narrowed. "You too?"
"Kaiba… don't tell me you also—" Yugi started.
"Yeah," Kisaragi answered for him. "Mokuba's soul was taken by Pegasus."
Yugi's face went pale.
"Mokuba too…"
Kisaragi's thoughts flickered.
So both Millennium hostages are here…
But another point didn't sit right.
In the original story, Pegasus targeted Yugi because Yugi had defeated Kaiba—yet in this timeline, Yugi and Kaiba hadn't even clashed.
So why did Pegasus go after Yugi anyway?
She exhaled slowly and smiled as if pushing the doubt aside.
"Looks like our objectives are aligned. How about we travel together once we reach Duelist Kingdom?"
"Okay!" Yugi agreed at once.
Joey nodded vigorously.
Kaiba, however, remained stubbornly quiet—his posture screamed resistance.
Kisaragi slid onto the seat beside him.
"Kaiba, I know you don't like moving with them. I'm not asking you to become their 'partner.' Just treat it like you're walking the same road. Don't interfere with each other. That's all."
Kaiba's expression finally loosened.
Kisaragi sighed internally.
Seriously… this man is exhausting. If he keeps opposing everything, I'm going to lose it.
Once the mood eased, Yugi and Joey began adjusting their decks.
"Joey," Yugi said, handing him a card, "take this. If something happens, it should help."
Joey stared at it. "Time Wizard? Thanks, Yugi."
Kisaragi's brow creased as she watched.
So the trap is already being laid…
Then she spoke to Joey directly.
"Joey, I've got some cards for you too. Your deck is seriously short on heavy hitters. If you run into a real top-tier duelist, you won't have the firepower to fight back."
She pulled out a stack—more than a few—and placed them in Joey's hands.
Joey's eyes bulged.
"This is… Red-Eyes Black Dragon! And other Red-Eyes monsters—plus spells and traps?!"
"I think you can bring out the full potential of the Red-Eyes line," Kisaragi said with a small smile. "I don't want you getting eliminated first and crawling back to Domino City alone."
Joey slammed a fist into his palm. "Don't worry! I, Joey Wheeler, don't go down easy!"
Kaiba's gaze flicked to the cards in Joey's hands, and for a second something like irritation flashed across his face—an unnamed heat.
But then he seemed to remember his newly rebuilt Blue-Eyes deck, and the feeling settled.
Kisaragi turned to Yugi.
"Yugi—I've got a few cards for you too."
She handed him another set.
Yugi stared down, eyes widening.
"These are all support cards for Dark Magician…"
He lowered his voice, speaking inwardly to the other presence within him.
"Other me… these will massively improve our deck."
"Agreed," the Pharaoh's voice answered in his mind. "This will make Dark Magician run far more smoothly. But… how does she know we play Dark Magician?"
Before Yugi could think further—
Knock, knock, knock.
The door rapped sharply.
A girl's face peeked in.
"Um… could we borrow your bathroom?"
It was Téa.
Joey's jaw dropped. "Téa?! And Tristan?! How are you guys here?!"
Téa's eyes widened as she took in the room.
"Yugi, Joey… and Kisaragi—and Kaiba?!"
"Come in," Kisaragi said. "Téa, didn't you say you needed the bathroom? Go ahead."
"Oh—right!" Téa dashed inside.
Joey turned to Tristan suspiciously.
"Wait, Tristan—how'd you even get on board? Non-participants shouldn't be allowed."
Tristan leaned closer and whispered, "Téa and I were worried about you two… so we snuck on."
Joey blinked. "You stowed away?"
Tristan looked around. "So… is this your room?"
"It's Kisaragi's," Joey explained. "She's the national champion, so she gets one."
Téa came back out.
"Thank you, Kisaragi."
"It's nothing," Kisaragi said warmly. "We're both girls—I get it. And don't be so polite. Just call me by my name."
"…Okay."
Kisaragi looked around at the headcount.
"All right, six people total. The room next door is empty, so the boys can squeeze in over there."
"Aww…" Joey let out a disappointed groan, the kind that came from pure instinct.
"I'm not going to the next room," Kaiba said flatly.
Everyone stared at him.
Kaiba didn't care.
"I'll sit outside. That way certain people won't get any ideas."
His eyes locked on Joey like a warning shot.
Joey's face went red—like he'd been caught thinking something he shouldn't.
Kisaragi sighed.
"Fine. Kaiba's the one person I trust not to do anything stupid."
She pointed at the others.
"Kaiba stays here. The rest of you boys—next door."
Yugi, Joey, and Tristan filed out.
Kisaragi went back into the room, returned with a blanket, and held it out to Kaiba.
"If you're cold out there, take this."
Kaiba accepted it, surprisingly quiet.
"…Thanks."
Off to the side, Téa watched them, heart practically floating.
Their relationship is really good…
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 90)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 95)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League (Chapter 80)
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter70)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter70)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter50)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter60)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 30
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 30
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