Silence fell over the training hall.
Some lowered their heads to pack up their decks, some pretended to study the training rules on the wall, and others simply stuffed their Duel Disks into their bags, ready to leave.
Yūki frowned at the sight.
"What's wrong with students these days? They avoid anyone strong. Have they lost even the most basic duelist spirit?"
A student from Ra Yellow Dormitory muttered by the door.
"The main issue is that after you win, your opponents usually lose something."
"What sort of thing?"
"Sometimes their hands, sometimes their decks, sometimes their Life Points."
"Isn't that perfectly normal?"
"Easy for you to say."
His companion beside him pulled him toward the exit.
"Stop arguing with Fujiwara. Let's go."
Yūki watched them leave, feeling somewhat frustrated.
These people had actually started avoiding duels.
Back when he had farmed Duel Coins at Third Municipal Academy, the Duel Club students had stepped up one after another, asking for rematches even after losing.
At Duel Academy, the students were stronger, but their dueling spirit had become more cautious instead.
After hearing about this, Bastion Misawa offered a thoroughly rational explanation.
"Their judgment is quite reasonable."
The two sat in a corner of the cafeteria. Bastion flipped through his notebook while analyzing footage of Yūki's recent duels.
"You have too many types of decks, and your tactics vary considerably. Ordinary students can't predict which deck you'll use. If they accept a duel without preparation, their chances of winning are very low."
"So they just won't duel?"
"For them, avoiding a high-risk opponent and spending that time preparing for the monthly exam or studying their decks offers greater returns."
Yūki put down his chopsticks.
"But shouldn't duelists rise to the challenge when they encounter a powerful opponent?"
Bastion adjusted his glasses.