Duelists Never Surrender!

"If you don't believe me, say it again," Hara Shichi declared, pointing at the floor-to-ceiling window. "If I laugh again, I'll jump off this balcony."

"There's a big tree below the balcony that can catch you..." Ai grumbled resentfully.

"Uh... then if I laugh, I'll run twenty laps around the academy tomorrow?" Hara Shichi offered a new condition.

"Honestly... don't lie to me," Ai said, blushing as she avoided Hara Shichi's intense gaze. She curled up into a ball, hugging her knees like a furball, and softly opened her red lips, "Meow~"

Hara Shichi froze on the spot, seemingly unable to process what had just happened.

Seeing Hara Shichi's lack of reaction, Ai grew a little displeased. "Meow?"

Only then did Hara Shichi snap back to reality. He instinctively wiped away a non-existent bead of cold sweat from his forehead, turned his head away awkwardly, and coughed twice. "Enough, enough... you don't need to continue."

No, it's too cute. I can't handle it.

I can't let Ai continue like this, or I might become a lolicon!

What are you talking about? You're the one who told me to keep going.

Ai stood up indignantly. She took two steps to the edge of the bed, stood on her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around Hara Shichi's neck, and whispered into his ear, "Meow~ Meow meow~ Meow meow meow~"

In that instant, Hara Shichi felt as if a cute kitten was affectionately nuzzling him. But the faint, sweet scent and soft touch jolted him awake, and he almost stumbled back.

"Um... Ai, don't you think this is a bit too intimate?" Hara Shichi forced the impure thoughts out of his mind and forced a smile.

"Hm? Weren't we like this before?" Ai asked, confused.

But you didn't have a physical body back then!

"Are you... shy?" Ai giggled.

"No, impossible," Hara Shichi denied immediately.

"Ho... then how about this?" Ai lightly jumped, pressing her entire body against Hara Shichi.

She's quite flat, and it's a little pokey.

Hara Shichi wanted to say that and then try to brush it off with a joke.

But looking into Ai's smiling eyes, for some reason, his throat felt constricted, and the joke wouldn't come out.

"Alright, I admit I'm shy," Hara Shichi said softly. "Aren't you shy at all?"

"I... I'm a God who's lived for so, so many years! How could I possibly get shy?!" Ai's small, pink tongue almost tied itself in knots in her mouth. She quickly released her arms from around Hara Shichi, flew into the air, and coughed twice, seemingly trying to hide the blush on her face.

"Since that's the case, let's get some sleep early," Hara Shichi stretched. He was tired after a busy day.

"Wait, we can't rest yet," Ai quickly said.

"Is there something else we need to do?" Hara Shichi asked, puzzled.

"Yes, I want to go to the academy's central control system again," Ai nodded.

To put it bluntly, she wants to see if she can skim a little more off the top.

Chapter 92: "Our academy's teachers, whether male or female, aren't as short as you."

In the central control area, Hara Shichi entered, his hood pulled up, once again breaking the silence of the place.

"Foolish human, I didn't expect you to dare come here again." aaa76's faint blue phantom quickly materialized in mid-air, looking down at Hara Shichi expressionlessly.

"Didn't we agree to play cards together next time?!" Hara Shichi wasn't surprised to see the "girl" appear. Instead, he feigned shock.

"I never agreed to that. This is not a place you should be. Leave immediately," aaa76 coldly issued the expulsion order.

"Since I'm already here, don't rush me out so quickly." Hara Shichi walked to the control panel with practiced ease, inserted his hand into the port, and a familiar power surged into his palm.

"Mmm, nice, so comfortable. Is this what it feels like to get something for free?" Ai clapped her little hands in delight, her petite body beginning to emit a faint rainbow glow.

"Do you want to be apprehended by me again?" aaa76 looked at Hara Shichi, a flicker of red light in its eyes.

"See? You do want to play cards with me." Hara Shichi didn't particularly like the theories of dueling on this continent, but it was quite convenient sometimes.

Especially when doing bad things.

"Ridiculous human, you actually dare to be so arrogant after defeating me by luck last time?" aaa76 sneered.

Nonsense, this time is different.

Hara Shichi subconsciously reached for the deck at his waist. There was no one around this time. Although his Marincess deck was a stripped-down version, it shouldn't lose to a Blue-Eyes White Dragon.

"Why are you here again?"

A clear, cold voice rang out. Hara Shichi's hand, which was fiddling with his deck, stiffened slightly. He instinctively turned his head, and a somewhat familiar figure appeared behind him.

The black-haired girl still wore her white mask, and a red Duel Disk was strapped to her arm, just like the last time they met. However, this time Hara Shichi inexplicably smelled a faint, lingering fragrance, like milk, emitting a light aroma, mixed with the freshness of morning dew.

"Why are you here again?" Hara Shichi retorted.

The black-haired girl ignored Hara Shichi's question. She walked to his side, extended her right hand, and inserted it into the port.

"Why don't you say something about her?" Hara Shichi asked aaa76.

aaa76 remained silent for a moment, then continued in its synthesized voice, "I am merely an alarm system, not an anti-theft system. The amount she has stolen is insufficient to trigger an alarm."

After speaking, aaa76 gave Hara Shichi a meaningful look, implying that he was too greedy. If he hadn't stolen so much at once last time, it wouldn't have bothered to manage him.

"Ahem," Hara Shichi coughed twice and gave Ai a look.

"Don't worry, I understand the concept of taking things slow," Ai gave Hara Shichi a thumbs-up.

The two continued to quietly "farm" there until Hara Shichi suddenly remembered something and asked, "Did you watch that duel today?"

"What duel?" the black-haired girl replied indifferently.

"The duel between first-year student Hara Shichi and third-year student Kiritani Aki." Hara Shichi avoided using terms like "classmate" or "senpai" to avoid revealing his identity.

"I didn't watch it," the black-haired girl stated concisely.

"..." Hara Shichi fell silent.

Fortunately, the girl added, "But I heard about it. Didn't some student named Hara Shichi win?"

"That's right. What do you think about that?" Hara Shichi probed.

"It's just the outcome of a duel. What else is there to think about?" the black-haired girl said dismissively.

"I mean... do you think that student named Hara Shichi could win a spot on the main team? Or rather... do you think he could defeat Crimson Lotus?" Hara Shichi inquired.

"Impossible," the black-haired girl stated directly.

Hara Shichi was slightly surprised by her bluntness.

"You're that sure?"

"Mhm."

"Any reason why?" Hara Shichi asked, confused.

"No reason," the black-haired girl's voice was devoid of emotion.

"Then do you think you can defeat that Crimson Lotus?" Hara Shichi changed the subject instead of pressing further.

"Can I defeat Crimson Lotus?"

The pretty face beneath the black-haired girl's mask contorted strangely.

Can I defeat myself?

What a weird question.

Wait...

The black-haired girl gently tucked a strand of black hair behind her shoulder and said teasingly, "Say, you're not trying to ask if I plan to join your team, are you? Classmate↗ Hara↘ Shichi↘?"

"Pfft!"

Hara Shichi's heart skipped a beat, and his muscles instantly tensed.

"W-what are you talking about? I don't quite understand..." Hara Shichi guiltily looked at the floor, trying to hide his face more effectively.

"Stop pretending. It's useless even if you stick your head to the ground," Crimson Lotus chuckled. "I knew this the first time I met you."

"I think it would be better if you made a hasty decision," Hara Shichi said, though cold sweat was already beading on his forehead.

"Your Duel Disk is too flashy," Crimson Lotus pointed out.

"It's silver and small, engraved with patterns, pictures, and unknown runes. There are already very few Duelists in Duelist Academy who use silver Duel Disks, and yours has obvious markings..." Crimson Lotus couldn't help but cover her stomach, laughing. "Pfft, you didn't actually think you were hiding well, did you?"

"..."

"Impossible... Usually, when I duel, people stay so far away... And who would be bored enough to pay attention to whether a Duel Disk has patterns on it..." Hara Shichi, who used his Duel Disk every day, hadn't noticed this himself. It was only after Ai reminded him that he realized it.

"You probably don't know yet. There's a group of fans in the academy who follow your duels. They've collected quite a few photos and information about you. Never mind the patterns on your Duel Disk; your height and weight aren't secrets to them. They probably even know exactly how many hairs you have," Crimson Lotus continued.

"..."

"Aren't you going to take off your hood?" Crimson Lotus pressed on.

"Please let me keep this last shred of defiance." Hara Shichi clutched his hood, his dark eyes glaring fiercely at Ai beside him.

Ai, you're the worst!

Ai, currently enjoying absorbing Duel Power, saw Hara Shichi glance over, chuckled, and stuck out her pink tongue, attempting to get away with cuteness.

"So, what's your answer?" Hara Shichi continued.

"Why invite me? Maybe I'm actually a teacher," Crimson Lotus said noncommittally.

"No teacher in our school, male or female, is as short as you," Hara Shichi said, shaking his head as he looked at the girl who only reached his chin.

"..."

Crimson Lotus suddenly felt the urge to summon her Crimson Lotus Beast and let this man experience the feeling of a direct hit with 16,000 attack power.

Chapter 93: What hot-blooded anime protagonist has a cheat skill as lame as yours?

"I refuse."

The girl's answer was unequivocal.

It was an undeniable answer.

Who would go fight themselves?

"Won't you reconsider? There's a spot on the main team. The rewards for this year's National Higher Academy Tournament are very generous," Hara Shichi continued to persuade.

I already have a spot on the main team.

Crimson Lotus rolled her eyes, clearly annoyed.

"No thanks, I'm not interested in the National Higher Academy Tournament," Crimson Lotus repeated what Nero had told her earlier that evening.

"Alright then," Hara Shichi said with a hint of regret, but he didn't push it.

Come to think of it, this is the second time I've been rejected, isn't it?

Could it be that Ai was right, and there's something wrong with me?

A quiet period of "wool-pulling" followed, until Crimson Lotus withdrew her hand and said to Hara Shichi, "I've got enough for now, I'm heading off."

Hara Shichi glanced at Ai, who still looked like she wanted more, and said to Crimson Lotus, "You go ahead then, I'll stay a bit longer."

"Mm, and also..." Crimson Lotus hesitated for a moment, then after some internal struggle, she spoke to Hara Shichi, "About your team members, don't worry. Someone more suitable than me will join."

"Thanks," Hara Shichi took it as Crimson Lotus trying to comfort him.

"You can leave too," aaa76 suddenly said.

"Why do I feel like you're treating me differently?" Hara Shichi frowned suspiciously.

aaa76 watched Crimson Lotus gradually disappear, its voice, usually devoid of fluctuation, seemed to carry a slight tremor. "Because this is necessary for her, unavoidable. But you are not."

Hara Shichi couldn't refute that, but...

"It's one thing for you, an alarm system, to have high intelligence, but why do I feel like you also possess something called 'emotions'?" Hara Shichi eyed aaa76 suspiciously.

"Are 'emotions' exclusive to humans?" aaa76 asked expressionlessly. "Can't other species possess 'emotions'?"

"Can't I possess 'emotions'?"

Wait... 'emotions' aren't exclusive to humans, obviously, but you're clearly not even a biological organism!

You have to understand, the technological development on this continent isn't that high. Smartphones aren't even common yet, and color televisions have only just appeared... Many areas still rely on sending letters to communicate.