"First featured match! Alexis Rhodes and Fujiwara Yūki, please proceed to the duel preparation area, na-no-ne!"
Cronos's urging shout came over the loudspeakers.
"Yūki! Go for it!!"
Jaden Yuki, who had made a special trip over from the Red Dormitory stands, suddenly jumped up and planted a hand on the railing beside Yūki, then waved both fists in the air, his face brimming with irrepressible excitement and fervor.
"Asuka's really good, too! And you're super strong, Yūki! Whichever of you wins, I'm behind you all the way! This duel is definitely going to be one huge, blood-pumping party!!"
Listening to Jaden's almost all-encompassing, indiscriminate cheering, Yūki's mouth twitched slightly. He turned toward this single-celled organism and teased him with amusement.
"Come on, Jaden, aren't you being a little too evenhanded with your cheering?"
"Who cheers like crazy for both sides right in front of the contestants? Whose cheering section are you supposed to be, anyway?"
Jaden chuckled and scratched his signature jellyfish hair without a care, his eyes clear and pure.
"Hehe, that's because you're both my good friends! Besides, for a true duelist, this is bound to be the most exciting duel!"
"Right, Yūki?"
Seeing Jaden as sunny and enthusiastic as ever, Yūki shook his head with a smile.
He had to admit, in the entire GX World, only a true duel fanatic like Jaden Yuki could say something so pure.
"All right, here's hoping you're right."
Yūki straightened the collar of his Obelisk Blue uniform and tidied his deck, then stood and headed toward the central Dueling Arena through the Obelisk Blue Dormitory's exclusive passage.
Yet just as he took two steps and entered the passageway-
"Hehehe... Yūki."
A gentle, rich, resonant voice sounded beside Yūki with a chuckle.
Yūki paused slightly and turned to look.
A rotund