Hara Shichi said nothing.
"Think carefully. If you use this card now, won't you be exposing your trump card? Wouldn't it be better to save it for a more important duel later?"
"It's different." Hara Shichi shook his head. "If I rely on the owl to block Kiritani Aki's attack, the others won't be convinced. Only a complete crushing victory will work."
"Tch, do whatever you want. Use it, then." Ai turned her head away irritably.
"I don't know what you're sulking about..." Hara Shichi muttered as he sent the card in his hand to the Graveyard. "I chain Ghost Ogre's effect. When a monster on the field activates its effect, or when a face-up Spell or Trap Card on the field activates its effect, I can send this card from my hand or field to the Graveyard to activate it. Destroy that card on the field."
"Whoosh!"
The white-haired Ghost Ogre descended expressionlessly from the sky, gripping a silver-glinting blade. With one downward slash, she cleaved the massive Chimeratech Rampage Dragon in two!
Bang!
The remnants of Chimeratech Rampage Dragon crackled for a moment before violently exploding, blasting Kiritani Aki, who was closest to it, into a soot-covered mess.
As for Ghost Ogre?
After cutting down the dragon, Ghost Ogre went to the Graveyard.
As the white mist from the explosion dispersed, the enormous duel arena fell so quiet that a pin could be heard dropping. At last, a student swallowed hard and said in a trembling voice:
"Th-that was... the hand trap our teacher talked about in class, right?"
"No doubt about it. A card activated from the hand, impossible to guard against... I heard even many Professional Duelists don't have cards like that..."
"Wait, doesn't that mean the situation has completely turned around?!"
Everyone looked toward Kiritani Aki. He stood there blankly, apparently still unable to process what had happened.
After a long while, he finally said bitterly, "Because of Ghost Ogre's effect, Chimeratech Rampage Dragon was destroyed. However, Chimeratech Rampage Dragon's effect still activates. I send Cyber Dragon Core and Cyber Dragon Drei from my Deck to the Graveyard, then activate Cyber Dragon Core's effect to add one 'Cyber Dragon' from my Deck to my hand."
"He's still making plays?" Ai said in surprise. Anyone normal would know this duel was already over, right?
"Aren't Duelists just like that?" Hara Shichi nodded in agreement. "Until the very end, they won't surrender."
"That's because he doesn't know we can finish him off next turn." Ai dismissed it. "Once he sees our two Tiramisu of the Tiara send his only remaining monster back to the Deck, he'll immediately face reality and surrender with his hands up."
Once again, Hara Shichi did not respond.
He had only been in this world for less than a month, and this was also his first time dueling the man before him. He did not want to judge him so casually.
"I end my turn. Because of Power Bond's side effect, I take 2100 LP of damage."
A powerful current struck Kiritani Aki, making him grunt in pain. He gritted his teeth and looked at the Cyber Dragon he had added to his hand, still wanting to struggle on.
"Mm." Hara Shichi nodded and reached out his hand. "My turn, draw."
Did You Forget Something Important? Like... Meow Meow Meow?
"I Normal Summon Madolche Madeleine."
Madolche Madeleine tugged down her oversized witch hat, hiding her lovely face as she hurried onto the duel field.
She would not be staying on the field for long anyway. She would either step into a trap or become Xyz Material, so who was she showing her face to?
"I activate Madolche Madeleine's effect and add Madolche Puddingcess from my Deck to my hand."
"Madolche Madeleine has 1400 ATK. Flashy Track Star's ATK dropped to 1500 after activating its effect, and the owl also has 1500 ATK..." Kiritani Aki silently observed the field. It seemed there still was not a monster capable of surpassing Chimeratech Rampage Dragon's ATK?
That meant... there was still hope?!
Hope flashed in Kiritani Aki's eyes.
"I activate the owl's effect. I banish Ghost Ogre from my Graveyard and Special Summon Madolche Messenger from my Deck." Hara Shichi continued his play.
"Next, I activate Madolche Messenger's effect and add Mewfeuille Castle from my Deck to my hand."
"Th-this isn't right, is it?" Ai's little face showed a startled expression.
"What isn't right?" Hara Shichi paused slightly, holding Mewfeuille Castle as he gently turned his head to ask.
"At a time like this, getting Madolche Ticket, overlaying for Tiramisu of the Tiara, activating its effect to trigger Madolche Ticket, then Special Summoning Madolche Messenger a second time and searching Mewfeuille Castle would obviously be more profitable." Although Ai was not a Duelist who used Marincess, after watching Hara Shichi duel so many times, she more or less understood how the Marincess Deck should be played.
"But if I activate Mewfeuille Castle here, I can enter the Battle Phase and attack directly for the win."
If he could kill his opponent directly, why go through a flashy pile of extra plays?
Only then did Ai understand the seriousness of the problem.
"You... don't plan to summon Tiramisu of the Tiara?" Ai asked solemnly.
"I don't." Hara Shichi honestly shook his head.
The two stared wide-eyed at each other, and even the space around them fell silent. Madolche Madeleine, meanwhile, curiously turned back toward Hara Shichi, seemingly asking whether she could really remain on the field until the end this time.
Smack.
Ai's small hand landed on Hara Shichi's shoulder. Lowering her head, she said in a deep voice, "There are two Level 4 monsters. It's time, Hara Shichi!"
Hara Shichi looked at the colorful aura lighting up over his shoulder and asked in confusion, "But there's actually no need..."
"Ah! What do you mean?! You don't need me?" Ai puffed out her cheeks in anger.
"No, I didn't mean that. I meant there's no need for an Xyz Summon."
"Then you don't need me!"
How did she equate herself with Xyz Summoning?!
Hara Shichi helplessly looked toward the duel field and raised his hand. "I overlay the monsters on my field..."
"Hehehe, I knew it."
A chilling voice sounded from beneath the hat.
Hara Shichi shuddered and looked at Madolche Madeleine on the field. Uncertain, he asked, "Was that... Madolche Madeleine talking just now?"
"Impossible. Cards simply imprinted with Duel Power generally do not possess their own intelligence." Ai flatly denied it. "Come on, hurry up. As a Duelist, how can you not summon your ace during a duel?!"
"Fine..." Hara Shichi hesitantly glanced at Madolche Madeleine on the field before continuing, "I overlay Madolche Madeleine and Madolche Messenger on my field. With two monsters, I construct the Xyz Network. Xyz Summon—Tiramisu of the Tiara!"
A sweet fragrance flowed through the air. Tiramisu still sat elegantly in her chair, lightly waving her petite scepter as though ready at any moment to cast her "bounce, bounce, bounce" magic.
Watching the Xyz Monster appear on his opponent's field, Kiritani Aki knew the tide had turned beyond recovery. The hand holding his Duel Disk slowly lowered, but he did not surrender. Instead, he stood tall with a faint smile.
"Looks like you've won this duel, but I won't allow myself to surrender like this." Kiritani Aki raised his head resolutely and spread his arms, seemingly intending to put up no defense at all. "So attack me directly! I'm ready!"
"What a strange guy." Hara Shichi glanced at Ai. "But if that's the case, then I win."
"Tch, so what if you won?" Ai said indifferently. It was not as though she had placed any bet.
"I won last time too, right? When are you going to make your meowing payment?" Seeming to recall something, Hara Shichi's dark eyes shifted slightly as he pressed her further.
"Meowing payment? What meowing payment?" Ai asked blankly. She truly did not remember anything like that.
"The night we went to the back mountain, we bet on why Yukikaze had called me out." Hara Shichi remembered it perfectly clearly.
"That... how do you remember something like that so clearly?!" Ai's little face immediately reddened like a ripe tomato. She turned away awkwardly and said in a tiny voice, "We'll... we'll talk about it when we get back. Duel first, duel now!"
"I'm afraid you'll claim you forgot again once we get back. How about you pay up tonight?" Hara Shichi had no intention of letting Ai off so easily.
"Don't you trust me?! Fine... tonight it is..." Ai said bashfully.
Having received a definite answer, Hara Shichi looked back at the duel field with satisfaction. "I activate Tiramisu of the Tiara's effect. I detach one Xyz Material, return Madolche Puddingcess and Madolche Messenger from my Graveyard to the Deck, then choose your Chimeratech Rampage Dragon and return it to the Deck!"
"A non-targeting double bounce... no matter how many times I see it, it still feels ridiculous. Kiritani Aki is completely done for now." Julie watched Kiritani Aki on the field sympathetically.
"It's not that serious, is it? He only lost one duel." Yukikaze said awkwardly.
"Hahaha! He came looking to pick a fight, only to get utterly crushed by his opponent. This is going to be entertaining. I wonder whether he'll be kicked right out of the starting roster?" Sera said gleefully.
Returned to the Deck?
Kiritani Aki froze slightly. He stared straight at the black-uniformed youth before him, and for some reason, he felt a strange sense of familiarity.
Synchro Summoning Flashy Track Star, using Book of Moon to set his own monster, the unpredictable Ghost Ogre, and an ace Xyz Monster with a non-targeting double bounce... one trick after another. This guy... might really be able to defeat that woman, Crimson Lotus.
No, no, what was he thinking? Kiritani Aki shook his head self-mockingly. Crimson Lotus was his captain, after all. How could he praise others while undermining his own side?
He had merely lost this duel and was now wishing for others to lose to the Duelist before him too, so that his own defeat would not seem quite so pathetic.
What a shameless thought.
"I enter the Battle Phase. Owl, attack directly!"
The expected tidal wave crashed toward him. Kiritani Aki spread his arms and faced it head-on.
Thud.
Kiritani Aki was blasted high into the air before crashing heavily to the ground.
win: Hara Shichi.
Oh, Your Face Is Red?
"Splash!"
Crimson Lotus lightly tested the water's steaming surface with her fair, pearl-like toes. Only after confirming the temperature did she slowly remove the towel wrapped around her petite body and ease herself into the enormous pool.
Not long after, soft footsteps sounded. Nero entered expressionlessly, wrapped in a towel. Seeing the towel beside the bath, her brows furrowed slightly. "Don't leave your towel lying on the floor."
"I've never soaked in a hot spring before. How was I supposed to know where to put it?" Crimson Lotus replied carelessly.
Yes, despite being inside the school, there was an artificial hot spring here.
Of course, this was a privilege reserved for starting roster members. Ordinary students could only obediently huddle in their cramped bathtubs and take hot baths.
Nero's lips moved, but she said nothing. She simply entered the water as well, sat beside Crimson Lotus, and said calmly, "Kiritani Aki lost to Hara Shichi."
"That was to be expected." Crimson Lotus's lips curved slightly upward. "Next, I'll find a way to speak with the board and have you replace Kiritani Aki as a starting roster member."
"I don't care about a Starting Roster Spot in the National Higher Academy Tournament." Nero shook her head. "I only wanted to tell you that in a few weeks, the Arisa Family will send someone to take me back."
As she said this, Nero's expression dimmed slightly. She looked up at Crimson Lotus, seemingly expecting her to say something.
"Didn't Hara Shichi return your Deck to you?" Crimson Lotus froze for a moment. Although Nero had rejected Hara Shichi's invitation at the time, Hara Shichi had still rushed forward and returned her Deck to her.
"But I did lose that Card Gambling Duel." Nero lowered her head and spoke slowly. "Not only did I rashly wager my own Deck, I was utterly defeated by my opponent. Afterward, my Deck was even returned to me... To the Arisa Family, that is probably an immense humiliation. The family believes they can no longer let me continue studying outside."
"I'll win." Crimson Lotus suddenly said.
"No matter who comes, I won't let them take you away." Crimson Lotus patted Nero's little head. "So don't worry."
"Mm, thank you." Nero's lips lifted in an almost imperceptible curve, but Crimson Lotus understood. Nero had smiled.
"By the way, Crimson Lotus, why do you dye your hair red during the day?" Nero reached out in confusion and touched Crimson Lotus's glossy black hair. "Isn't black hair pretty?"
Nero's own hair was black as well, so she thought it would be nice if Crimson Lotus could keep black hair like hers.
"Yes... why do I show myself with red hair during the day?" Crimson Lotus lazily leaned against the pool wall, a faint smile appearing on her delicate, playful face.
Perhaps... she wanted to be special.
At the same time, in the boys' dormitory.
Hara Shichi had just finished bathing and walked out of the bathroom.
Unlike girls, boys naturally took less time bathing.
The moment Hara Shichi entered the bedroom, he saw Ai sitting in a duck-sitting pose atop the soft bedsheets. Her thighs beneath her pale blue dress nervously rubbed together, and she looked at him with a flushed face.
"What's wrong with you?" Hara Shichi asked strangely.
Ai glared at Hara Shichi in embarrassed anger. Then, her rosy little lips slowly blossomed like a flower.
"Meow~"
Hara Shichi could not help bursting into laughter.
"Ah! You actually laughed!" Ai grabbed a pillow beside her and hurled it at Hara Shichi.
Hara Shichi hurriedly caught the pillow and apologized, "Sorry, I really couldn't hold it in after seeing that. How about... you do it one more time?"
"No! I already fulfilled my promise!" Ai sniffled, her large eyes red-rimmed and glistening with tears. "I finally worked up the courage, but you actually... actually..."
"Sorry, sorry, please forgive me!" Hara Shichi pressed his hands together in apology. "You were really cute just now. I only laughed because I was too surprised."
"Liar. You definitely thought I looked ridiculous!" Ai pouted.
Before you continue