This matter was far from over.
Not long after, KaibaCorp investigators arrived on the island to question all relevant personnel.
Not just the Principal—even Professor Crowler couldn't escape.
Naturally, both the Polymerization Club and the Fusion Club weren't exempt either.
Since the Polymerization Club had been established by Leo Akaba, it required a full investigation, while the Fusion Club, being their ideological opposite, only underwent some routine questioning.
But Amaki Hikaru was a different story.
Not only had he been a former member of the Polymerization Club, but he was also the Duelist who openly declared before three entire dimensions that "Fusion is the noblest summoning method." That made a detailed investigation unavoidable.
This had frightened Chazz Princeton quite a bit over the past few days. He confessed to classmates about their past "schemes" with Hikaru and revealed everything he had investigated about Leo Akaba, vouching repeatedly that Hikaru could never have been one of Leo Akaba's underlings.
"Ah, it's Young Master Princeton," said one of the men in black sunglasses. Hearing Chazz speak, they nodded but replied, "However, Young Master Princeton, regardless, Hikaru is practically the most iconic Fusion Duelist in our dimension. He must undergo an examination.
After all, when those people attacked, their battle cry was—"
He left the sentence unfinished.
But everyone present already knew it was:
"Fusion is the noblest summoning method."
"Damn it!" Jaden burst out, trying to grab Hikaru.
He absolutely refused to believe Hikaru had anything to do with Leo Akaba, and insisted they shouldn't investigate him.
After all, Hikaru wasn't a criminal. Why investigate him!?
That was the same as suspecting him!
"Jaden," Hikaru said, seeing Jaden react like this.
'Ah?'
Hikaru chuckled lightly.
"I appreciate your concern, but there's no need for this." Hikaru said, "I'm a Duelist, a Duelist pursuing Fusion.
"I'm known across all dimensions as an Ultimate Fusionist. So being investigated is only natural.
"But if you trust KaibaCorp, then I'm definitely innocent. If that's the case, why worry?
"As the gentlemen here said, at worst, I'll just join the tournament a little late."
"Hikaru, that's not the point here!" Bastion Misawa was sweating. "They're suspecting you of something you'd never do!"
"Ahem, please note, this is just for assistance in the investigation. Not because we suspect him," the two men in black clarified.
Seeing Hikaru's completely unconcerned expression, his friends had no idea what else to say.
"More importantly—I hope you all spend more time with Celina." Hikaru hesitated but finally said it aloud.
"That..." His friends exchanged glances and then fell silent.
Not that they suspected Celina.
With her personality, there was no way she could pull off any grand conspiracies or undercover sabotage.
She simply wasn't capable.
They just didn't know what to say.
Her father had launched a sudden assault, killing so many people. What would become of her now?
Over the past days, several students who had once benefited from Principal Sheppard had directly lashed out at Celina in anger, some even cursing her outright. Though she ignored them, could she really not be hurting?
Even though KaibaCorp had already investigated her and confirmed that, while she was Leo Akaba's daughter, she was more like a living Duel weapon to him than anything else... still, how many students could remain calm in their fury?
Because of Leo Akaba, the whole school and even many Duel Academy branches were now under a dark cloud. Even though most students only faced minor questioning, how could they face their families and friends under this atmosphere?
An Academy that had only recently begun gaining social acceptance was now under fire again. What would happen next?
Nobody knew.
They were all at a loss, each lost in their own thoughts.
Especially Jaden, who had been unnervingly cold these past few days, looking like he wanted to grind Leo Akaba's bones to dust.
And honestly... he probably could.
"Anyway, don't worry. I'll be fine." Hikaru waved casually, saying goodbye to his friends. "You guys go ahead. I'll catch up later. Don't let me collect 8 marks faster than you."
"Hah! What are you saying, Hikaru? We're leaving days ahead of you. We'll beat our opponents easily!" Chazz coughed and shouted with forced bravado.
The Fusion Club's mood had been oppressively weird lately.
Chazz had seen Jaden's golden eyes with his own eyes.
And with Celina being Leo Akaba's daughter, she hadn't been active in the club either.
If someone didn't lighten the mood soon, even breathing felt difficult.
"I'll definitely finish before you guys! This time, I'm going to be champion and claim my first-ever win!" Bastion chimed in too, following Chazz's lead to ease the tension.
Maybe only when talking about Duels could they feel alive again.
Hikaru laughed a few times and followed the two men in black to a designated classroom.
For the next several days, until the second day after the GX Tournament started, Hikaru would undergo repeated interrogations.
But the interrogators mostly knew Hikaru's situation. This was just a necessary procedure, something to show the outside world.
A chance for Hikaru to prove himself.
Hikaru didn't mind. On the way, he even ran into the Tyler sisters and other former Polymerization Club members. The Tyler sisters were surprised to see him and asked the men in black why Hikaru was here.
Beyond that, Hikaru noticed Syrus Truesdale sitting on a bench, head down, expressionless.
He seemed deep in thought. When he saw Hikaru, he gave a brief greeting and went back to staring at the ground.
Hikaru found it surprising.
He could feel something different in Syrus's aura.
Last week, Syrus had learned from Principal Sheppard's phone call that his brother, Zane Truesdale, had beaten him for the sake of "stronger Dueling," taking the sealed "Dark Cyber" Deck from the Cyber-Style Dojo and abandoning the long-cherished "Respect Dueling."
Then, just days later, Leo Akaba's assault dragged him and the entire Polymerization Club into this mess.
Whether this counted as imprisonment or some kind of "dragon-field awakening," Syrus had been reflecting deeply during his time here.
The interrogation lasted several days.
Hikaru even dueled some of the interrogator Duelists a few times. His "Fusion" earned high praise from many of them—Pure Fusion. Too pure. Completely different from Leo Akaba.
The gap was obvious to the naked eye.
Finally cleared, Hikaru exhaled deeply.
Though he'd been well-fed and housed, being stuck in a confined space was still stifling.
Luckily, his Spirits kept him company, so he wasn't too bored.
Returning to the Fusion Club to pack for the tournament, Hikaru stepped inside—and found, in what should have been an empty activity room, a red-clad, purple-ponytailed girl nervously making instant noodles.
The moment Hikaru opened the door, she fumbled, nearly knocking over the cup.
"Celina?"
Hikaru softly called out, bringing her back to her senses. She turned around, and when she saw Hikaru, her eyes blurred with tears. She dropped everything and, like a swallow returning home, ran straight into his arms, burying her face in his chest and holding him tightly, refusing to let go.
"It's okay... It's okay," Hikaru murmured gently, and soon, amidst the clatter, several voices rang out.
"Hikaru?"
"You're finally back, Hikaru!"
Hikaru's pupils shrank.
Jaden, Bastion, Chazz, Atticus, Alexis—they hadn't left for the tournament. They had stayed here waiting for him, bursting out when they heard Celina and Hikaru's voices.
Hikaru couldn't suppress his smile. The corners of his mouth just kept rising.
"Idiots... What if I went straight to the tournament? Were you planning to wait for me for half a year?"
"Besides, even if we go, we'd still have to split up and hunt down Duelists, right?"
Saying this, he laughed aloud.
"Well, anyway... Let's go."
...
Bonus @400 PS