A black car was parked outside of school.
Sawatari's three lackeys were arguing with Gongenzaka. It was clear that from the expressions of lackeys, they had very confidence in their arguments. All Gongenzaka could do was fight back with his trust in Yuya. Not with a definitive proof.
A woman in pink woman's suit stepped out from car. With the help from bodyguard, Nakajima, to open the door.
She explained everything properly.
A short but shocking conversation followed. The people of Youshow Duel School were forced to listen and, to an extent, accept the accusation.
The claim was that Yuya had attacked Shingo Sawatari.
There was no real proof, since the accusation was based only on Sawatari's word and his lackeys. However, one detail changed everything. The lackeys pointed at Yuzu, claiming she witnessed the assault. Yuzu's sudden loss of confidence and inability to argue back gave them all the leverage they needed.
This was exactly what Himika wanted. She shot a quick glare at Ryo, who remained unbothered. For now, she let things flow according to her plan.
The group moved to the Youshow School meeting room. Though the school had not been renovated in a long time, the room was surprisingly fine and sophisticated.
As they were talking, Ryo could imagine those lackeys of Shingo Sawatari were probably getting super rare cards from Himika through Nakajima for playing along with this, not as to give justice to Sawatari.
As they talked, Shuzo quickly became overwhelmed by Himika's sharp words. He was completely dominated until he turned to Yuya and Yuzu to confirm the truth.
Yuya rejected the accusation completely. Yuzu wanted to do the same, but she lacked the confidence to speak up. However, when Yuya told Yuzu with absolute confidence that he hadn't done it, it gave her strength. She joined him, declaring Yuya was innocent, and the kids supported them.
Seeing his students stand together, Shuzo's face cracked smile.
Himika remained unmoved. She stated that even a minor complaint involving LDS would bring a heavy blow to their school.
Shuzo tried his hardest to call it a misunderstanding, insisting that Youshow School and Yuya had nothing to do with it.
But Himika raised her voice. To her, it was about LDS's name being tarnished. To erase this dishonor, she demanded a duel between the two schools. Her intensity was so strong that everyone felt the heat of her resolve.
If Yoshow School won, the matter would be forgotten. But if LDS won, the Youshow Duel School would belong to LDS—along with Yuya and his Pendulum cards.
Except for Ryo, the entire room fell into chaos.
However, with the school on the line, Shuzo stopped being intimidated. He stood his ground and spoke firmly. He brought up the fact that LDS had been buying duel schools all over the world, and asked if this incident was just a setup by LDS.
Himika denied the accusation straight-on, without hesitation. Yet, she openly admitted she was taking advantage of the opportunity. No matter how ruthless Himika was, she was not a liar. She spoke with confidence but always told the raw truth.
She explained that LDS already controlled the Fusion, Synchro, and Xyz courses. This was a perfect chance to get a fourth pillar: Pendulum Summoning. She criticized Youshow for keeping such a treasure to themselves, calling it monopolization. LDS would use the mechanic to its fullest and teach it to students from all over the world.
She pointed to the kids that even they had been drawn to Youshow because of the Pendulum Summon. Which was true to a extent.
If LDS used this opportunity to teach Pendulum Summoning, students from all over the world would surely apply.
Ryo watched from the back of the room, silently observing without saying a word.
The kids asked how LDS expected to teach Pendulum Summoning without Yuya's cards. Himika answered smoothly that as long as they had Yuya's cards to test and analyze and as subjects, LDS will solve that problem.
Her motives ran deeper than just taking the school. Certainly, securing Pendulum would bring immense profit to LDS, but it would also make it easier to investigate Yuya. As the son of Yusho Sakaki—a man Himika believed was a betrayer of the Standard Dimension—Yuya was a threat. To her, this was a strategic move to eliminate a major future problem.
Yuya protested fiercely, stating that dueling is never meant to be used as a weapon. He refused to hand over Youshow or Pendulum Summoning to anyone. His father, Yusho, had built this school to teach entertainment dueling to bring joy to people. Yuya would not let someone use money and power for personal benefit.
His speech left a bitter taste in Himika's mouth.
Gongenzaka and the others wholeheartedly agreed with Yuya. Gongenzaka was especially vocal, and everyone eagerly agreed to duel and win against LDS.
"But you are an outsider, Gongenzaka. You can't participate." Sora interrupted with moving his lolipop slightly.
Gongenzaka froze on the spot, arguing that leaving him out is completely unacceptable.
"We don't know how Ryo plays, let alone if he's good enough to defeat them," Sora said with a bright smile, biting his lollipop. "So me, Yuzu, and Yuya will do it."
"It seems everyone is on the same page." Himika said with a smile.
"I am on the exact same page as my students," Shuzo stated with resolution. Together, everyone—except Ryo—declared, "We are not handing over Youshow School!"
Himika let out a loose chuckle. "Well then, let's begin. My duelists will match yours; they are all from Junior Youth class as well. Just like yours "
...
Everyone moved outside to Youshow School's open backyard training field. Three students stepped out from the waiting LDS vehicle, and Ryo recognized them on the spot.
"It will be a three-versus-three match. The first side to get two wins resolves the matter. Who will come first?" Himika asked.
Yuya stepped forward.
"Naturally," Himika laughed slightly. "Others look unreliable, so taking the first win as insurance to lower the value of losing the next duel is—"
"Hey, old lady! Don't underestimate me!" Sora yelled, though Yuzu quickly calmed him down.
"I will go first, then," a boy stepped forward from the LDS side. "Hokuto Shijima, from the LDS Xyz course."
Hearing the word "Xyz" made Yuzu uneasy.
Tatsuya quickly searched Hokuto's record on his tablet, and the Youshow people, except Ryo, crowded around to look. To their shock, Hokuto had 58 matches and 53 wins. Even worse, those 53 wins were an unbroken consecutive streak. He had only lost his first five matches, making him this year's absolute favorite duelist. But it also meant he lost the first five matches continuosly.
"Even if he is the favorite, it doesn't matter. There is no need to fear!" Shuzo cheered, trying to pump Yuya up. "Show them your strength, Yuya! Get your hot blood boiling!"
Both Shuzo and Yuya made the exact same energetic pose.
Except for Hokuto and Yuya, everyone moved to the watching area.
"Our students can duel in any situation, so please choose whichever field you want." Himika said.
"In any situation, huh?" Shuzo thought. The name "Hokuto" gave him an idea. "Then this!"
A field of glowing stars and constellations formed from particles.
Hokuto was at a loss for words before shouting. "You had to give me the exact field I am best at!"
Shuzo instantly felt depressed by his mistake, and the Youshow students groaned in disappointment. Saying it is common sense considering his name is after a constellation.
"It doesn't matter what the field is! I will win to protect Youshow School and my dad's dueling!" Yuya announced.
The kids from Youshow cheered with action duel maxim in unison.
"Duelists meet on the battlefield! Along with their monsters, they'll kick the ground and fly through the sky! To move around the field! Witness dueling's greatest evolution! Action...!"
"DUEL!"
Hokuto fought with confidence and cornered Yuya to a dangerous point, but through quick thinking and clever card choices, Yuya ultimately won the duel.
...
A young man in a hoodie jacket and red glasses walked. His face was shadowed by his hood as the open backyard training field of Youshow School came into his vision. His gaze locked onto his destination.