Sera's got a serious conspiracy-theory streak. / Those skinny little arms and legs-she obviously has no strength.

"What are you thinking? The school is pretty relaxed about this stuff. The teachers don't care," Shirano Rin said, casually drawing another letter. "Keep going, keep going. Next one."

"Really? We won't get scolded?" Tamako asked timidly.

"It's fine, it's fine." Seeing that Tamako was still worried, Shirano Rin added a couple more lines into the microphone.

"All right, Onishi-kun, I can already feel your passion for Teacher Alice. But the people who like Teacher Alice could circle the academy twice. If you want to win the goddess's favor, defeat the other suitors in a duel first!"

"Now, let's look at the next letter." Shirano Rin gave Tamako a look, signaling her to hurry up.

"The next one is... from first-year Class 3, Onishi..."

"This guy really wrote twenty letters? Skip it, skip it." Shirano Rin waved her hand.

"No, it's from Oonishi Sawano." Tamako gently shook her head and continued. "Hello, hosts. I'm Oonishi Sawano from first-year Class 3. Recently, I discovered that there are so many students surnamed Oonishi at our school. Whenever I hear someone call out 'Onishi-kun' on the road, I can't help turning around. Then I feel incredibly awkward when I realize they weren't calling me. But if they really were calling me and I didn't turn around, wouldn't that be rude? This problem has been troubling me greatly."

"Huh? It's actually a normal letter." Shirano Rin spoke into the microphone. "Now that Onishi-kun mentions it, I've noticed there are a lot of Onishis around too. There's even a girl named Oonishi Akina in our class. But running into people with the same surname at school is perfectly normal. If it really bothers you, why not just call people by their given names? Or give yourself a nickname like Onishi Number One?"

"Senpai, there's more at the end of this letter," Tamako said.

"After much thought, I finally found a solution. As long as I eliminate all the other Onishi students, I'll be the only Onishi-kun left. Therefore, I sincerely invite every Onishi student to a duel tournament this Saturday in the Gymnasium, called 'The True Onishi-kun.' Only the final victor may continue using the surname Oonishi. Everyone else may neither refer to themselves as Onishi-kun within the school nor respond when others call for Onishi-kun."

"Come on! Duel! Only the winner may bear the name 'Onishi-kun'! Of course, that person will undoubtedly be me!"

"Wow, Onishi-kun is really fired up. Too bad I'm not an Oonishi, or I'd want to join this competition and give it a try." Shirano Rin tugged at the corner of her mouth, forcing a smile.

"Next is a letter from Tanigiri Rika of second-year Class 1... It's about why there are several large trees behind the boys' dormitory, but none behind the girls' dormitory..."

"That's dangerous, isn't it? What if some bad person has ill intentions?"

"From Axon of third-year Class 3: I don't know who took the Formula Synchron I left in the classroom. I'm just letting everyone know that card is a printed card I use to practice deckbuilding ideas. I don't actually own such a rare card. Whoever 'picked it up,' please don't use it in a duel. It would be embarrassing if you couldn't summon it."

"Huh? There are people at school who 'pick up' cards and don't return them?" Tamako said in shock.

"Axon is way too nice. If it were me, I'd dig three feet into the ground to find that guy." Shirano Rin spoke listlessly. Then she glanced at the clock in the broadcasting room, yawned, and quietly whispered into Tamako's ear, "Get ready to wrap up."

"Wait, I still have one more letter." Tamako took a pristine white letter from her pocket.

"Hm? This letter came from your pocket..."

"Hara Shichi asked me to do it," Tamako said quietly. "We're in the same class."

"Huh? That guy is in your class?" Shirano Rin narrowed her eyes. "What's he like?"

"He's... he's just like that." Tamako turned her face away.

"Hehe, that's quite the ambiguous answer." Shirano Rin teased her, but then she caught sight of a line on the letter, and the smile vanished from her face.

Tamako picked up her cup and took a sip of water before continuing. "Today's lunch break broadcast is about to end. Next is our final letter. Students whose letters were not read, please don't lose heart. The broadcasting station's mailbox is always open to everyone, and we welcome your submissions."

"You've worked hard today. I'll read the last letter." Shirano Rin calmly held out her hand.

"Huh? No, it's okay. Please let me do it." Tamako's little face stiffened for a moment before she smiled.

"Idiot." Shirano Rin lightly flicked Tamako's forehead. "I've never met this Hara Shichi, but if he gave you this letter, it definitely isn't anything good."

No matter how slow Tamako was, she sensed that something was wrong. Looking at the letter in her hands, she immediately understood everything.

"He was hesitating in front of the mailbox, so I asked for the letter he was holding." Tamako first defended Hara Shichi, then looked seriously at Shirano Rin. "I already promised him I'd read it on today's broadcast."

"Idiot."

Shirano Rin said helplessly. Then she spoke into the microphone. "Oh my, what a coincidence. The sender of our final letter is none other than Hara Shichi, the transfer student who has recently been making quite a name for himself at school. Let's see what he has to say."

Tamako swallowed and softly read from the paper.

"Hello, everyone. I'm Hara Shichi from first-year Class 1. The annual National Higher Academy Tournament will begin soon. As a duelist, I also want to stand on that stage and win honor for the academy. But the Head Teacher told me that our academy's tournament roster was finalized three months ago. Adding me to the starting team now would not only affect the coordination the team had cultivated over a long period, but might also create conflict and friction with the other members..."

Tamako paused there before continuing. "But considering that I missed it because I transferred too late, the Head Teacher is willing to give me an opportunity."

"As long as I gather four teammates and defeat the academy's starting team in a headcount-format match before the end of the month, my team will become the starting team and represent the academy in the National Higher Academy Tournament."

"I have already gathered three teammates. I only need one more."

"If you, like me, are full of confidence in your dueling skills."

"If you, like me, want to contribute your strength to the academy."

"If you, like me, want to stand on the stage of the National Higher Academy Tournament."

"Then please come to Training Room 7 near the teaching building. We will welcome you there."

Sera's Conspiracy Theory Is Acting Up Again

Inside the Crimson Lotus Society's lounge, Crimson Lotus sat quietly in a chair after finishing her duel practice, gently playing with the cards in her hand using her long, fair fingers.

Bang!

The lounge door was shoved open, and a gray-haired boy in a pale gold uniform stormed inside. He strode up to Crimson Lotus, looked down at her, and said in a low voice, "Hey, was what that brat said true? How come I never heard about this?"

"I don't mind getting some practice in before the National Higher Academy Tournament, but being provoked for no reason by some lowerclassman does make me unhappy." Another blond boy with long hair and somewhat effeminate features leaned against the doorframe, smiling without warmth.

"Is it just the two of you?" Crimson Lotus asked coolly.

"What do you mean?" the gray-haired boy frowned.

"What Hara Shichi said is indeed true. The board already notified me long ago." Crimson Lotus remained expressionless.

"Then why didn't we know?" the blond boy asked flatly.

"Kurosawa and Rekdi didn't know either. Have you considered why neither of them came rushing over to demand an explanation from me like you two did?" Crimson Lotus raised her head, a trace of disdain flashing through her crimson eyes. "Because they know they won't lose."

"You mean I'm afraid I'll lose?" The gray-haired boy's expression darkened.

"I'm merely stating a fact." Crimson Lotus propped up her chin, her long eyelashes trembling faintly. "Why not go straight to Training Room 7 now and make Hara Shichi lose miserably in front of everyone? Then I imagine no one will be willing to join his team."

"You don't need to remind me. I was already planning to." With a cold snort, the gray-haired boy turned and left the lounge.

"And you? Do you have any other questions?" Crimson Lotus looked at the blond boy.

"Since someone is willing to deal with it, I have no questions. But... didn't the board forbid us from dueling privately before the tournament?" The blond boy narrowed his eyes.

"I'm not dueling privately. What does that have to do with me?" A slight smile crossed Crimson Lotus's lips, and an invisible pressure radiated from her petite body. "Or are you saying you want to try 'dueling privately' with me right now?"

"...Tch." The blond boy clicked his tongue and left the lounge as well.

"Hara Shichi... I was already planning to let you go, yet you came knocking on my door yourself... Then I'll see you in a duel." Recalling the visibly declining Duel Power inside the energy pillar that night, Crimson Lotus felt a thread of vigilance rise in her heart.

A duelist at that level was not someone Kiritani Aki could handle.

Crimson Lotus lowered her eyes to the Crimson Beast Ta-Isha in her hand and let out a quiet sigh.

Who would have thought another unforeseen complication would arise at a time like this... Fine. I just need to deal with it.

"I enter the Battle Phase. Flower Princess Chopstick, attack directly!" Yukikaze commanded.

"Ahhhhhhh!"

Amid her opponent's screams, Yukikaze won the duel.

"Thanks for the effort. Take a break." Hara Shichi handed her some water from the side.

"I'm fine. Still, I didn't expect so many people to come." Yukikaze looked a little embarrassed. Ever since earlier, quite a few students had been staring at her in surprise, as if saying they never expected her to be here—and to be acting as an "examiner."

That was right. An "examiner."

There were simply too many people who wanted to join, but only one spot remained. So Yukikaze, Julie, and Sera served as examiners. As long as someone defeated any one of the three, or earned their approval, they could become the final member.

"In that case, why don't you come take over for us?" Julie said as she dueled with ease.

Her ace dragon Ruin and Varon Gaus were already on her field, while she still held a Gorgonic Guardian in her hand. Barring surprises, she would wrap up this duel very soon.

"Exactly. You talk a good game, but you've just been standing around watching the whole time." Sera waved her overly long sleeves in dissatisfaction. Today, she had put on her white school uniform for the first time in a while. However, it was so oversized that she looked less like she was wearing clothes and more like a child who had been accidentally wrapped in a pile of scrap cloth while playing with rags.

"You've been standing around watching too, haven't you?" Julie rolled her eyes playfully.

"Oh my, I'm scared of dueling in front of so many people." Sera stuck out her tongue.

"Compared to being an 'examiner,' I have something more important to do." Hara Shichi spread his hands helplessly.

"What important thing?" Yukikaze blinked curiously.

"Have you seen any third-year students come up for an 'assessment' so far?" Hara Shichi countered.

"No. There are barely even any second-years." Yukikaze shook her head. Most of those who came to duel were familiar first-year faces.

"Because everyone is still 'waiting and seeing,'" Sera said, looking at the students lined up on the other side. "The Starting Roster Spot is certainly tempting, but there's one condition—we actually have to be able to defeat the Crimson Lotus Society's starting team."

"If you hadn't been building reputation and goodwill by giving them free duel training every day, little brother, I'm afraid not even the first-years would have come," Sera sneered.

"Huh? Is that true? Hara Shichi was actually dueling with everyone just to build his reputation?" Yukikaze asked in shock.

"Don't listen to Sera-senpai. She's always coming up with conspiracy theories." Hara Shichi said irritably.

At that moment, a commotion rose from the doorway. Then a gray-haired boy in a gold uniform pushed through the crowd and walked straight toward Hara Shichi.

"Oh, the person you were waiting for has arrived." Sera nudged Hara Shichi with her elbow maliciously. "Are you ready, little brother?"

"I've been ready for a long time." Hara Shichi took the deck from his waist and placed it onto his silver Duel Disk.

"That guy is Kiritani Aki, the one I mentioned before." Julie, who had just finished her duel, suddenly spoke up. "He uses a going-second OTK deck—Cyber Dragon. If you get to choose who goes first, remember to choose second. Going-first Cyber Dragon isn't much of a threat to you."

Hara Shichi shook his head and said quietly, "Thanks for the reminder, but if I win by resorting to that kind of trick, it won't mean anything."

That was right. He not only had to win this duel, but win with absolute strength, openly and fairly.

Only then would the watching students be willing to believe in him and follow him.

With that thought, Hara Shichi slowly walked toward the central duel field—the ground he had reserved long ago.

Small Arms and Legs—Doesn't Look Like Much Strength

Inside Training Room 7, Julie, who had just finished a duel, did not continue with the next student. Instead, she turned her gaze toward a certain spot.

Or rather, every eye in the training room was currently focused on the duel field at its center.

"That's... third-year Kiritani Aki-senpai, isn't it?" A student couldn't help blurting out as they watched the two people draw closer.

"Sure enough. I knew those people from the Crimson Lotus Society wouldn't just tolerate Hara Shichi's provocation."

"But they're sending out a heavyweight right away? Feels like Hara Shichi might be done for this time."

"Kiritani Aki-senpai is an internal member of the Crimson Lotus Society and one of the academy's starting team members. He uses a Cyber Dragon deck famous for its high attack power and overwhelming force. I heard that once he gets to go second, the duel becomes completely suspense-free. No one can stop his lethal push!"

"I dueled him in last semester's grade tournament. Cyber End Dragon at four thousand attack, plus Limiter Removal—that's a full eight thousand attack! It's embarrassing, but I really couldn't hold it in back then. I came."

"Eight thousand attack?! I'd come too."

"I'd just join the club."

"Hm?!"

The people around him glanced at the guy who said "join the club" and silently took a step back.

"Looks like you came prepared." Kiritani Aki had realized after leaving the lounge that Crimson Lotus had set him up, but he wouldn't lose anyway. The National Higher Academy Tournament still needed him to compete. What could the board do to him?

"Of course." Hara Shichi raised his Duel Disk.

No more words were needed. The two exchanged a glance and shouted in unison.

"Duel."

"Duel!"

Beep!

Hara Shichi's Duel Disk lit up.

"Looks like you're lucky. Choose to go second, unless you want to lose too quickly." Kiritani Aki raised an eyebrow.

"No need. I choose to go first." Hara Shichi shook his head and drew five cards from his deck.

This move immediately stirred up the onlookers.

"Oh no, Kiritani Aki got to go second. I can't bear to watch anymore."

"Did I hear that wrong? He said second just now, right? He chose to go second, right?"

"He actually wants to confront Kiritani Aki-senpai's going-second OTK head-on? That courage alone is enough to earn my respect!"

"I think Hara Shichi must have a reason for daring to choose first..."

Kiritani Aki's expression darkened at once. Choosing to go first despite knowing his opponent ran a going-second OTK deck—if it wasn't because his deck had an enormous advantage going first, then it was... a naked provocation!