"Clack!"
The heavy steel gangway slammed onto the concrete dock, kicking up a small ring of white dust.
The icebreaker's hatch stood wide open. The biting cold of the far north seemed to pour out through the passage, lending a grim edge to the sunny island dock.
Ichise, the principal of the North Campus, was the first to step onto the gangway.
He was a lean old man with a goatee, wrapped in a thick white mink coat. His steps were steady, and a smile of assured victory curved his lips.
"Samejima, how have you been?"
Ichise walked down the gangway and extended his right hand with a hollow smile.
"It's been over half a year, and the sea breeze at your Duel Academy headquarters still makes a man's bones go soft."
"Hahaha, you're joking, my old friend."
Principal Samejima cheerfully took his hand and shook it firmly.
"The southern sunshine may be nourishing, but our youngsters' bones are plenty strong. You, on the other hand, have come all this way from the ice and snow. After such an exhausting journey, do take care not to freeze that old back of yours."
The two veteran duelists, whose combined ages exceeded a hundred, shook hands warmly before the cameras, each smiling more kindly than the other. Yet even the referee beside them could clearly hear the faint cracks of their finger bones as they secretly vied for strength.
"Let's dispense with the small talk."
Principal Ichise released his hand and straightened his coat collar, a fierce gleam flashing in his eyes.
"That agreement about our schools' Friendly Match... you haven't forgotten, have you, Samejima?"
"Of course not."
Samejima's smile remained unchanged as the corners of his eyes lifted slightly.
"If the North Campus wins, headquarters will surrender forty percent of its