Rei froze.
For herself?
"Not just when it comes to coming to Duel Academy, and not just you. All new students—no, all duelists—should be like this.
"Since you chose this path, you should hold respect for dueling itself. You don't duel for anyone else. You duel for yourself."
Kira said.
"I remember you came to Duel Academy before. To see Zane Truesdale, right?"
"Y-Yes." Rei nodded awkwardly.
"Look, you hadn't even met Ryo back then, and you didn't know anything about him. Just like how you hadn't met me before either." Kira smiled.
Rei blushed as she protested, "I hadn't met you. But... but I'd watched your duels, and all of your public speeches..."
Kira smiled and shook his head.
The way she said it was like an obsessive fan telling a singer, "I've heard every song you've sung, so I know you."
"You're still young. You have much to learn and a long road ahead."
Rei might have seemed lovestruck, but in the anime, whether it was Kaiser or Judai, what she felt was more like admiration. After all, she had only been an elementary schooler when she first appeared, and even by the end, she was only middle-school age—a little girl who knew nothing. She simply couldn't tell the difference between fantasies about an idol and genuine romantic feelings.
"But although you're young, you've already stepped onto this path. You're already a duelist." Kira spoke calmly. "Since you've entered this Field, age doesn't matter, nor does gender. Our identities are all treated equally. We are duelists."
"If I went easy on you because you're a girl, or changed my usual tactical style, that would be disrespectful to my opponent—and to dueling itself, wouldn't it?"
The students suddenly understood.
Rei was also stunned for a moment, then her heart