Facing them head-on was Alexis Rhodes in her blue and white uniform.
"The welcome parties for each dorm should start soon. It'd be pretty rude if you were late, don't you think? You three."
Alexis placed one hand on her hip as she stood before them, her gaze mainly fixed on Chazz, Jaden, and Youmi. "What, already fighting on your first day at school?"
Seeing Alexis approach, Chazz lowered his Duel Disk. "You're overthinking it, Alexis. I simply wanted to see what kind of strength a student who defeated Professor Crowler yet still got assigned to Slifer Red could possibly have. But… you're right that it wouldn't be appropriate not to return in time for the welcome party. Jaden Yuki of Room 110, how about we have a duel on the open grounds after today's welcome party? I'll show you the true power of No.1."
"Oh! I never refuse a duel!" Jaden clenched a fist, then pulled out his Deck. "DUE—Ah, after the welcome party, huh? Then we'll talk later."
After saying goodbye to Alexis, Chazz headed toward the Obelisk Blue dorm, with two students whose names no one could remember quickly following behind him.
"Really, he still eats up praise like that. It's such a bad habit."
Alexis watched the three leave, then turned to Youmi and Jaden. "The Slifer Red welcome party should be starting soon, too. You two should hurry. And also… if it's just for convenience, I think you should totally ditch Chazz's duel invitation. With how competitive he is, win or lose, he'll cling to you afterward."
Hearing her advice, Jaden smiled—then suddenly remembered the announcement about the welcome party time. "Oh, thanks for the reminder. Still, I never refuse duels. Wouldn't it be great to have someone who'll duel with me all the time? Ah, is it almost time? Syrus, we gotta go!"
Saying that, he grabbed the out-of-breath Syrus and sprinted toward the dorm—took several steps—then suddenly screeched to a halt like he'd forgotten something, pivoting back around with his feet still shuffling. "Man, my memory! I forgot to ask—what's your name?"
"Alexis Rhodes. Just call me Alexis."
Muttering Alexis's name under his breath, Jaden hauled Syrus off toward the dorm.
"As for you…"
Alexis looked toward Youmi.
"I'm only staying in Slifer Red temporarily. I'm actually a Ra Yellow student. Professor Crowler said he could arrange a swap with a lower-ranked student or let me share a room, but since Red had an empty room, why not stay there?"
Having been asked this question for the nth time today, Youmi scratched his head, then took out his phone. On the screen, his assigned dorm was listed as "Ra Yellow."
"No, I don't mean that. A student like you has no reason to be in Red unless you offended Professor Crowler… otherwise, he'd probably want you moved to Blue as soon as possible."
Alexis hid a small laugh behind her hand. She had already asked around earlier out of curiosity about why Youmi was staying in Red.
"I mean, the way you're wearing your uniform. Sorry if it sounds rude, but you kinda look like a delinquent. The school doesn't have strict rules about the uniform, but just… don't wear only a cape over your upper body like before."
Thinking of the original outfit of "Fallen of Albaz" he had taken on earlier, Youmi felt a bit embarrassed. "Ah, well… there are complicated reasons for that. I won't get into it, haha… Anyway, it's getting late. I need to go to the Yellow welcome party first and then come back to Red to sleep~"
Just as Youmi was about to turn and leave, Alexis called out to him.
"Wait—are you close with Jaden and the others?"
Not expecting that question, Youmi tilted his head.
"Yeah, why?"
Alexis paused a moment, then said, "If that's the case, I have a suggestion."
…
About half an hour later, Slifer Red Dormitory.
"Wow, Ra Yellow's food is way better than ours! We only get miso soup, dried fish, and rice!"
Syrus shoveled food into his mouth—a bowl of rice and dishes Youmi had brought from Ra Yellow's welcome party. Because the Red dorm's food situation was terrible, he hadn't eaten much earlier and was still hungry. "Thanks, big bro Youmi!"
Youmi waved a hand. "Don't thank me, it was Alexis's idea. She told me Red's food was… lacking, so bringing some over wouldn't be a problem. Speaking of which—Jaden, Syrus said you had several extra bowls of rice at dinner, right? How are you still eating like this?"
He looked toward Jaden, who, despite supposedly having eaten plenty earlier, was scarfing down food like someone who hadn't eaten in days.
Jaden took a bite of steak and said with satisfaction, "Because this food tastes great too! How can I let it get cold!"
"So is Yellow's food better or Red's?"
"They both taste great!"
Youmi pressed a hand to his temple. Jaden's answer was exactly what he expected. "Shouldn't have asked… I can't tell if you have zero standards for food or you're just a flavor-blind idiot… probably not the latter."
He remembered Jaden once drawing the legendary Golden Sandwich. Someone like that should know what delicious food is.
After everyone had eaten their fill, Youmi, Jaden, and Syrus headed to the open grounds where they had agreed to meet Chazz, who had already been waiting for nearly thirty minutes.
"Sorry, sorry! Ate too much. Just finished digesting."
Jaden strolled up casually, standing directly across from Chazz as he equipped his new Duel Disk.
"Then let's hurry and duel. Time to settle this."
Though annoyed, Chazz wasn't petty enough to show it over such a small thing. He only put on his own Duel Disk and shot a sidelong glance at Jaden.
"The outcome's already decided, Red."
Because of the tardiness, his impression of Jaden had dropped—though he still didn't underestimate him.
"Huh? You're surrendering? I don't want to win without dueling…"
Jaden, oblivious as always, tugged at the hair by his temple.
"I'm saying you're guaranteed to lose, you idiot!"
With twitching eyebrows, Chazz angrily drew five cards from his Deck. He was going to properly discipline this clueless brat who had been mouthing off at him all day.
"DUEL!"
"Huh? DUEL!"
Turn.1
"Unlike those old Duel Disks, the new system already has built-in first/second turn selection. Looks like you're going first. Hurry up and set your field—then wait to be wiped out, Red."
Chazz glanced at the Duel Disk displaying "First Turn" for Jaden, crossed his arms, and let him play.
"Oh, fancy! Then I'll go first. Draw!"
Jaden drew a card, then slapped a swirling red-blue card onto the field. "I activate Polymerization from my hand! I fuse Elemental HERO Sparkman and Beastking of the Swamps to Fusion Summon Elemental HERO Absolute Zero!"
Dun! Dun!! Don!!!
The moment Jaden pulled out Absolute Zero, Youmi felt his heartbeat spike.
Then, remembering this era likely didn't have Masked HERO Acid, he pressed a hand to his chest to calm down. He had once suffered the terror of "Absolute Zero + Acid." He was traumatized.
"I Set two cards and end my turn~"
...
If you want to support, please consider Patreon, and read advanced chapters! Your support keeps this series going!
[Patreon.com/RedZTL]