[Marufuji Ryo, LP 0]
Utterly defeated, Marufuji Ryo remained calm throughout, as if this outcome was entirely expected and he was quite content with it.
As Caesar of the academy, revered by countless students as the King, he wasn't disheartened by this powerless defeat in the least.
He might even have felt he greatly benefited from it, seeing a new horizon through this duel.
Marufuji Shou was dumbfounded for a while, struggling to accept reality: "Brother actually...lost?"
The brother he idolized the most, whom he revered like a deity, actually lost?
Asuka seemed equally surprised by the outcome: "That Ryo actually lost?"
The girl looked at that jellyfish-headed boy with even more complexity in her eyes.
Yuki Judai... just how strong is he?
Cronos, the elite professor of the academy also lost to him, and now even the strongest at the academy, Caesar, was thoroughly defeated by him...
And he's just a first-year student!
Doesn't this mean he'll be heading towards becoming the Duel King in the future?
Yet Judai seemed completely unaware of being worshipped and instead said as usual, "I won! That was an interesting duel!"
Marufuji Ryo also smiled, not disputing: "Yes, it was an interesting duel."
After a pause, he said seriously, "Respecting the opponent's duel, considering all possibilities of the opponent, and countering is the principle I always held to in dueling.
But Judai, today you once again showed me that there's always someone stronger. You made me see my own insignificance and realize that I could not be content with the confines of this academy.
I must thank you for that, Judai; you've shown me more possibilities for my future."
Judai: "?"
What respect...possibilities...what does he mean?
Judai blinked blankly.
What Marufuji Ryo said was a bit too much for his brain to comprehend...
As for Ryo's talk about respecting the opponent's duel, blocking possibilities, and whatnot...Judai completely hadn't thought about it.
It was just that Youyu-sensei had taught him, "It's more important to interrupt the opponent's actions than to immerse yourself in your duel."
Precisely because he remembered Youyu's teachings—because Judai wasn't very bright, he mostly learned through countless pitfalls—he carried a lot of seemingly meaningless cards in his deck.
The things after that were simple, he just needed to draw the most suitable card at the right time...
...this part apparently wasn't difficult.
After hearing his brother's words, Marufuji Shou was struck like lightning and suddenly realized.
Right! His brother's duels have always been centered on respecting the opponent!
Compared to that, Marufuji Shou often got too carried away, always subconsciously treating opponents like fools during duels, completely ignoring the potential of counter-attacks...
His brother must have had this duel to make him aware of that!
It must be like this!
"I understand now, Brother!" Marufuji Shou's gaze became firm, "I won't let you down anymore!"
Judai: "??"
You understand what? How do I not understand anything?
Asuka thought hard for a long time, and when she heard Ryo say "there's always someone stronger," her furrowed brow suddenly relaxed, and she understood something.
One of Caesar's favorite phrases over the past few years at the academy was "there's always someone stronger."
Whenever praised for how incredible he is, or even deified as an unparalleled Duelist, he would humbly decline, saying there's always someone stronger, at least he knew a junior who was much stronger than him.
For the past two years, he never mentioned that junior's name to anyone. Thus, the junior became something of a campus legend, known by all but known by none.
Considering that Marufuji Ryo and Judai seemed to know each other for a long time, and Ryo's attitude and admiration for Judai's strength, Asuka felt she might have discovered something tremendous—
—Yuki Judai could be that legendary junior!
The girl looked at Judai with a completely different gaze.
Before enrolling, she had already heard tales of "the legendary junior," never expecting he was right beside her all along!
If before, she suspected Ryo's praises for that junior were exaggerated, now she didn't at all.
Because in her view, Yuki Judai indeed was such an outstanding Duelist!
Asuka looked at Judai, slightly curled a smile at the corner of her mouth.
She wasn't the gossipy kind of girl; on the contrary, she could keep her mouth tightly closed when needed.
One reason was not to cause trouble to Judai's campus life. Also because... knowing his secret alone gave her a subtle sense of pride.
"I see." Asuka smiled, gave Marufuji Ryo a knowing glance, "I understand."
Judai: "???"
You understand what now?
What do all of you understand? How come only I seem not to understand anything?
"I will become stronger, Judai." Ryo patted his shoulder before leaving, "Looking forward to our next duel. Sooner or later, I will surpass you, Judai."
Judai came to his senses.
Although he couldn't make sense of the riddles spoken just now, they were soon forgotten. After all, nothing was more important than playing cards to Judai.
"Sure, I'm looking forward to our next duel too!" Judai waved happily.
...
Youyu sat in his room, nodding slightly as he watched this duel through the island's surveillance.
His student Judai truly had the poise of The Supreme King; the way he played cards had a bit of the master's charm.
A single "System Down" was akin to a divine stroke, followed by the precise finisher with a strong "Drop Off"...
Just then, Chinai had finished bathing, her silver-white hair dripping wet, wearing a light yellow nightgown, bringing with her a faint fragrance as she entered.
She leaned over Youyu's shoulder to glance at the screen and instantly became wary: "Who is this girl?"
At that moment, the screen showed Asuka just after Judai and the others had finished their game.
"That's a first-year student," Youyu said.
Oh, a student. Chinai sighed in relief but then her breath hitched.
Wait, a first-year student, meaning...she's only fifteen?
Chinai looked at Asuka's SIZE on the screen, then glanced down at her own flat chest...
A cup size tragedy.JPG.
Chinai pouted, turned her head, and walked away.
Youyu: "?"
What upset her now?
Sigh, women truly are incomprehensible.
If only they could state their thoughts as clearly as card effects on their face...