In the following days, Tenjo Hikari's school life wasn't much affected.
Every day, he attended classes as usual, learning card theory, endgame strategies, alchemy, and various other chaotic body techniques...
Of course, aside from that, the most important thing was dueling with other students in the Fusion Department to "build relationships" and, incidentally, gain enough power to print cards.
Dueling isn't an unusual thing at Duel Academy, and it's a daily occurrence in the Fusion Department. However, after playing cards for a few days, Tenjo Hikari gradually realized that there were serious conflicts within the Fusion Department.
During these days, Tenjo Hikari had never seen "Akaba Leo," the professor in charge of the Fusion Department. Most of the time, activities were arranged by the seniors in the department, under which he could clearly feel the "exclusion."
Although everyone wore the purple uniforms symbolizing fusion, some purples were evidently "more noble" than others.
That is... the students from Blue Academy.
Every day, during every activity, whether it's deck experience or the "Simulation Dimension" which doesn't exist in the original work but exists in this world, the students from Red and Yellow Academy aren't included. Older Red and Yellow Fusion Department students seem to have always accepted this as a given and just endured it.
First-year students want to resist, but whenever this happens, they're arranged to face strong opponents, ending up beaten to the point of disgrace and ultimately forced to accept humiliating recognition.
Students of Duel Academy naturally settle disputes through dueling. Since you've lost, what more excuses are you looking for!?
Tenjo Hikari couldn't help but shake his head at this thought.
Clearly, they are students of the Fusion Department, yet they cling to previous ideas.
Purity is too low.
Tenjo Hikari wasn't interested in these matters, nor did he have the intention of standing up for others. He was here merely for convenience, for the Ancient Gear Deck.
On this day, he was casually watching and searching for opponents in the Fusion Department's Dueling Hall.
After a few days of research, he had discovered that he could only "earn power" once a day. However, the stronger the duelist, the more "power" they provided.
Even defeating duelists with little skill didn't seem to gain much power, wasting the chance for that day. So although he planned to duel today, he didn't want to rush in carelessly.
Just as he was thinking this, he suddenly noticed a card on the ground in front of him. Curious, he picked it up and took a look, feeling a bit surprised.
"Ancient Gear Golem??" He scratched his head in confusion. Although Ancient Gear Golem isn't the rarest rare card in this world, it's still a rare card with the same ATK as [Blue-Eyes White Dragon]. How could anyone casually throw it away?
As he thought of this, someone outside suddenly shouted, "Ah, it's Senior Ryu's Ancient Gear Golem!"
"We've found the thief!"
?
Tenjo Hikari looked at the several fellow department students who had suddenly appeared around him, feeling utterly baffled, "What are you talking about? I just picked it up casually. Since you know the owner, why don't you give it to him?"
A group of Blue Academy students heard Tenjo Hikari's words and were instantly stunned.
The script doesn't match?
Faced with a rare card like Ancient Gear Golem, whose ATK matches that of Blue-Eyes White Dragon, instead of hiding it immediately, he actually intended to hand it over!?
What's with your reaction? That's a card comparable to Blue-Eyes White Dragon!
"What's wrong? Didn't you say it was Senior Ryu's card? Losing a card would make anyone anxious, right?"
Tenjo Hikari hadn't truly considered any schemes or tricks going on. He simply thought about how nervous one would be if they lost a card of their own and was ready to walk over to hand it over.
"I heard we've found the card thief?"
As the situation was tense, a tall figure with a shoulder patch, obviously a senior student, walked over and spoke coldly.
"Are you Senior Ryu? I just picked this up..."
"Hmph, Yellow Academy, still doesn't admit stealing." Ryu directly interrupted Tenjo Hikari.
Tenjo tilted his head: "Why don't we check the surveillance?"
"..." Ryu paused momentarily, coughed, and continued, "People like you don't deserve to be part of our Fusion Army!"
At this moment, Tenjo Hikari understood completely.
He glanced at several fellow students of similar grade and thought through it anew: "I see. The card was deliberately dropped, to trick other students into picking it up and keeping it, then falsely accuse them of theft?
Hmph... That's quite a serious crime."
Stealing a card is the ultimate evil in a duelist's worldview! If you bear such a reputation, you're finished for life!
But Tenjo Hikari wasn't afraid.
This Ryu, at least a second-year student, should provide considerable "power" in a duel.
"Alright, alright. Stop beating around the bush," Tenjo Hikari directly interrupted their act, "You just want to get rid of me? Say it plainly, what's the big deal!
Being with a bunch of bugs like you doesn't make me happy."
"What did you say!"
"Did I say anything wrong!" Tenjo Hikari raised his voice and shouted angrily, "Look at what kind of things you've done! Spending every day bullying and suppressing other students. People like you are completely focusing on the highest supreme concept of [Polymerization]!
Your concept of fusion isn't pure enough!
How can fusion work well with bugs like you!?"
Oh?
Huh?
The group was suddenly dumbfounded, staring at Tenjo Hikari as if their brains were deprived of oxygen, utterly unable to respond.
No, fellow students came to the Fusion Department thinking that Fusion Summoning was strong, but none believed you'd react this crazily.
Due to Tenjo Hikari's shouts, some other students couldn't help but come over, previously unaware of what had happened, but a glance from some senior students instantly revealed the situation.
The same old trick.
Ryu often played this trick to drive away students who displeased him.
Several senior Red and Yellow Academy students instantly clenched their fists, angrily looking toward Ryu.
While some Blue Academy students disliked Ryu's behavior too, Ryu was from their "own group," and seeing the situation turn into an argument, they quickly gathered on his side, creating a significant numerical gap, which seemed to surround Tenjo Hikari's side instantly. This scared some senior Red and Yellow Academy students into retreating, but those new Red and Yellow students who were constantly bullied became more determined to support Tenjo Hikari loudly.
Tenjo Hikari waved his left hand, the Duel Disk automatically unfolding. He stood before the rare few allies and shouted directly at the opposition: "Stop playing these deceitful games, Senior!
Since we are students of Duel Academy, let's settle everything with a duel!
You and I, right here, right now, will duel!
If you win, I'll directly quit the Fusion Department, and from now on, never step into it again!"
Ryu's face was clouded as Tenjo Hikari publicly exposed his plot, leaving him humiliated. Now, hearing Tenjo Hikari propose this, he maliciously nodded.
"Then, if I win—then you must apologize to me in front of all Fusion Department students! And this card will be mine; you're not worthy to use it! How's that!"
Quitting the department and the card.
The former means three years of backroom gossip and bullying, while the latter is a card the Academy loans to students for three years.
The two may not be equivalent.
So adding this "apology" isn't strange, Ryu can accept it.
Yet he couldn't help but speak maliciously, "Heh, thought you were high and mighty, but you still covet my card?"
"If you want to think that way, fine by me." Tenjo Hikari sneered, looking at a Red Academy student nearby, saying, "Classmate, please contact Professor Cronos and ask him to keep this card safe, I hope he can be the judge of this duel!"