Synopsis: The entrance exams are already over, and time has passed. Now it's usual school life, but Hou seems not to be going so well for some reason...
A brief introduction of World Buddy Academia is seen as Hou narrates about it offscreen. Starting from the overview itself and the title, the facilities of the building (such as VR space, Main Hall, Cafeteria, and even an indoor Garden. All of the students are enjoying their school life during recess, lessons and etc.
Hou: World Buddy Academia...Recently developed, but with state-of-the-art facilities. (shows VR lab) Heck, it even has a VR lab. Doesn't this feel like your own dream school? It's a Buddyfighter Fantasy come true.
But then, suddenly, it moves to Hou and Garga, feeling completely down on Hou's bed in a room. They are both sitting on it with their hands mashed together on their legs. Their faces are completely blocked by Shadow.
Hou: Or at least, that's what I would say if I were my usual self. (3-second break) You probably wonder what happened to us. Let's rewind back 7 days earlier.
And thus, everything rewinds backwards very quickly. So many events are happening, and it's really fast that no one can keep up with them. It stops the moment it reaches the main hall. Everyone had gathered and sat down on chairs, with the Teachers standing on the side and Kei on stage in front of the podium.
Kei: (Testing Mic) Test, test. Ahem. Hello teachers and greetings to all buddyfighters, welcome once again to World Buddy Academia.
The crowd cheers.
Hou: So this is how it actually went down, but before that, cue the opening, please.
OP: Undead.
The scene continues from before.
Kei: Now, normally we have 500 students here due to the entrance exam, but now that it's over, the juniors from Helping Hands have transferred too. That's why there are even more people than usual.
While Kei continues his speech, everyone watches him calmly while sitting down.
Kei: But enough of that. Before I move on to the key parts, I want to wish you all and this school good luck in helping everyone become successful buddyfighters. Let's move forward to the future with bright hearts, no matter what.
The crowd cheers and claps their hands. Hou once again narrates offscreen.
Hou: (Offscreen) So yeah, the president just gave a speech and explained what our school's lifestyle is gonna be like. The rules are the same as before, but with a few changes. And further, there are DORMS.
As mentioned, in a separate building outside the school, there is a really tall and giant hostel. There are many different rooms, and the hallways are really long and wide in terms of width and length. Some of the rooms have bunk beds. The space in there is quite spacious. Cabinets, bathrooms are also included, and each room has a table for refreshments or whatever.
Hou: (Offscreen) Sparing the details, but the juniors don't need to stay in dorms because, yeah, they're juniors. And every single room consists of two people. You don't want to guess who my roommate is.
Apparently, the boasty young prince serves as Hou's roommate, much to Hou's awkwardness, as his servants are everywhere helping him. Half of the room has become Majestic. Like it's all Gold, jewelry, and whatever royalty stuff there.
Hou: (Offscreen) Yep...he's my roommate. Heck, half of the room is decorated to his liking. There's even a Mona Lisa painting, but with his face instead!!!
Hou looks at the Mona Lisa painting with just confusion and then looks back at the prince, who is crossing his arms and smirking at him.
Hou: Really?
Alexandre Ankh: Relax. I won't be much of a bother...{shady} or would I?
Hou: Hmm...(offscreen) I didn't pay attention to it first, but that last part haunted me deadly. Anyway, we were also separated into clans. Alpha, the daring and courageous. Beta, the mindful and wise. Gamma, the generous and humane. And lastly, Epsilon, the proud and transcendent.
Then Hou, Daryl, Masato, and Alexandre Ankh are shown, arms crossed, confident in front of their clan logos.
Hou: My clan is Alpha. Daryl is in Beta. Masato, Gamma. And Mr. Fancy Pants is literally Epsilon... oh dear. How did we get sorted? That's a story for another time.
At the ground floor of the Academia, there is a point system displayed on an LED screen at the end of the hallway.
Hou: And every time we do something amazing, we get clan points. The clan that has the most points at the end of this semester gains a ridiculously huge Trophy. And a free vacation to the Bahamas.
The classes are ongoing as usual. Students are paying attention to the teachers as they teach their subjects. There are even students taking classes in the Academia's indoor garden. (Yeah, you sometimes need to touch grass.)
Hou: All that's left is just classes, activities, bla bla bla. I give a 5-star for the environment but a 3-star for the learning part because everything taught here is quite complicated. And here's the hard part...the buddyfighting.
Elsewhere, everyone is battling against each other. Spells, Items, Monsters, and Impacts are cast everywhere as they go. The fights are so intense. There are even people fighting each other on playmats and every available table.
Hou: Now you might be wondering, "Dude, you're the Ace of Games. This should be a piece of cake." Well, it's not.
Flashback reveals so many people defeating Hou & Garga countless times, much to their dismay as they kneel down defeated on the ground.
Hou: For some reason, Garga and I kept losing. It's as if they knew our moves, predicting every single card we used. And because of that, we couldn't gain any Academia points. What are Academia points, you ask? This is what.
An app is being shown with the World Buddy Academia logo as its face, and how the Academia points work.
Hou: As the name implies, the Academia solely relies on buddyfights. Every time you win against a student, you gain 10000 points or whatever points you and your opponent bet on. You use them to buy school food and even booster packs to enhance your deck.
Food and drinks cost 500 points each. For booster packs, 1000 each. Booster boxes, 10000 each.
Hou: Yeah...it's literally pay to win. And if you don't have enough points, you can use cash to compensate them. But right now...
Hou holds up his wallet, and it's completely EMPTY, much to their chagrin. Their faces fall with dismay. No eyes and mouth whatsoever.
Hou: We Are Broke... (Back to present, freaking out) How is this happening??? It's been a week already, and yet we couldn't win a single fight at all.
Garga: I don't understand either. We even changed our deck multiple times, but still to no avail. At this rate, we will soon starve to death.
Hou: What are we going to do? My mom gave me that allowance, and I just spent it all. (sigh) We need a break. Let's just take a walk.
Garga nods in agreement. At the Academia's Ground Floor, Hou and Garga are walking side by side until a flyer flies in out of nowhere and splats onto his face.
Hou: Dowww. (Gets it off) What? (Read flyer) "How to beat Ace of Games 101? Do you have what it takes to defeat Teng Hou Ren, the not-so-coo—" (realize, eyes narrow) Wait a second.
Hou slowly reaches to the bottom right of the flyer and is shocked to see what's written on it. There is a chibi Alexandre giving a thumbs up with a text above that says "guaranteed" ???
Hou: "Written by...Alexandre Ankh" ????
Garga: WHAT? (Reads the flyer thoroughly) {shocked} THESE ARE ALL OF OUR STRATEGIES. HOW DARE HE LEAK THEM OUT!!!
Hou: So that's why we've been losing. I know he's obsessed with me. But not to THIS extent.
And adding the stroke to the camel's back is the prince himself, taunting and making fun of the two as he walks towards them with his bodyguards. His buddies are also there, but in SD form (they resemble bats, though).
Garga: {Angry} You've got nerve.
Alexandre Ankh: What? Am I not allowed to help people to my fullest?
Hou: {Disappointed} Not like this. No offense, your majesty, but there's a thing called privacy.
Alexandre Ankh: And there's a thing called being generous and helping everyone become a strong fighter. (snaps his fingers)
All of a sudden, his servants, out of nowhere, spread even more flyers while going, "Extra. Extra. Get your "How to beat Ace of Games" guide here!!! ". The papers spread like wildfire, moving along with the wind, with so many students attempting to catch them before Garga slices them to shreds with his sword at high speed while looking angry, much to their surprise.
Garga: Enough!!!
All of a sudden, an alarm just buzzes very loudly, and a bunch of teachers and even Kei Jigunji appear. Everyone's shocked.
Kei: What's going on here? (surprised) Huh? Hou Ren? What are you doing?
Hou: I didn't do anything!!! Shut the Alarm off.
Kei: (Stops the alarm with a button) Regardless, your buddy has a weapon in his hand, does he not? You should know that no weapons are allowed.
Garga: But (points at the prince) the prince started it Mr President. He—
Kei: (interrupts) I don't care. My office. Now. And that goes for you, too, Your Majesty.
Hou & Garga & Alexandre Ank: But...
30 minutes later...The three walk out of the president's office in dismay. Masato & Daryl run up to them.
Masato: Hou!!! Garga!!! What happened? We heard you got in trouble with the president.
Hou: If it makes you feel better, (points at the prince) "He" happened.
Garga: I'm really sorry, Hou. This one is on me. I shouldn't have been so hasty.
Alexandre Ankh: (crossed arms, selfish) Yeah, you were. You destroyed my flyers and got ME in trouble.
Hou: {Angry} Well, sorry, but what you did is like social bullying. Of course, he had to—
Daryl: (interrupts) Enough.
Hou, Garga, Alexandre Ankh: Huh?
Daryl: (arms beside his waist, disappointed) You know you're gonna get in further trouble if you start again.
Masato: Daryl's right. Get a grip, will you?
Alexandre Ankh: Well, here's the thing. I don't listen to commoners like you lot. I only listen to me, myself, and I.
Garga: {Angry} What did you just say?
Hou: {Angry} Okay, Mr Fancy Pants. You want to insult all of us, then buddyfight me again. I dare you.
Alexandre Ankh: Two letters. N. O. Fighting you right now is meaningless. And besides...(snaps fingers)
All of a sudden, a bunch of students come in and surround them in a battle stance, much to their surprise.
Alexandre Ankh: They would say the same thing.
Masato: What in the?
Daryl: Why so many?
Alexandre Ankh: I've recruited them, what else? If you want to fight me, get past them. But too bad, they also know of your fighting style. You'll lose, guaranteed.
Hou: Grr...
Alexandre Ankh: Bonus. I have a million Academia points and ranked top at this Academy.
All three Aces are shocked!!!
Masato: 1 million??? That's impossible.
Daryl: Did you cheat?
Alexandre Ankh: In Buddyfight, I play fair and square. And I'll say this once: (walks to Hou and grabs his chin) I have surpassed you in our last fight. And I will never. Ever...Fight you. Whatsoever. (Let's go and turn around and leave)
The students also leave with the prince, and everyone else just watches them there in stunned silence.
Garga: Did you both not receive flyers by chance?
Daryl: I did. But I paid no attention to it because that would be unfair.
Masato: Same. If I were to use that, that would be too easy.
Hou: This is Deja Vu.
Masato & Daryl: Huh?
Hou: Didn't this kind of thing occur before? Like that one time during you know what?
Daryl: You mean...{shocked} (remembers what Ranma did for him that time) Yes...You're correct.
Hou: (Nods) But at least Ranma wouldn't expose it to the entire world. He and that prince are similar, but I'd say Ranma is way more fair.
Masato: But still, what are you going to do? At this rate, you'll keep losing and losing.
Daryl: Yes. As my rival, you shouldn't be down in the dumps.
Hou: (sigh) We'll figure something out. We always do. (fists up) Just like beating a boss in a video game.
But then all of a sudden, Hou's stomach growls loudly, much to everyone's awkwardness, and Hou's eyes turn squiggly due to embarrassment. He then quickly acts up to them.
Hou: Can you guys buy some food for me? I'm starving.
Daryl & Masato: Uh...sure.
Later, nighttime arrived. Hou and Garga walk back to their dorm as they open the door. They notice that the prince is not there.
Hou: He's not here, huh?
Garga: Normally, he and his servants would be here helping him with homework and preparing for bed.
They remember that one time his servants ran around here and there helping him with homework and other important things. Noises were made nonstop, much to their dismay, as they were just standing at the front door watching.
Hou: Lucky for us then. Okay. I got to shower.
Hou walks to his cabinet and finds a t-shirt that's really familiar, to his small surprise.
Hou: This shirt...
Garga: (Comes in) Something wrong?
Hou: (grabs it) Garga...this is the same shirt I wore before coming here.
Garga: You mean...{shocked} (remembers the heist) The same shirt you wore during the library heist.
Hou: Yeah...and this reminds me of something. Do you remember what Professor Menjo said to us back then?
Garga: (nods) I do. But I think we need to go somewhere private first.
Hou nods, and together, they are at the hostel's rooftop. As their arms are on the balcony, the wind moves their hair and clothing. They stare at the school with stern eyes.
Garga: These are his exact words.
Flashback. During the Whisper moment at Menjo's HQ.
Menjo: You two may have gained a Shrine's power. But even after you evolved, its power resides within you. Meaning you can evolve once again. To do so, you two need to ask yourself deep down, besides your wish, what else do you want to do?
End of flashback.
Hou: What else do I want to do? I want to be universal, but...that's my only wish.
Garga: There's more to it than it meets the eye. Are you sure that's your only wish? If so, you said you want to be able to do anything. What is that "anything" you mean?
Hou: Well...games...videos...martial arts...buddyfights...like I want to surpass myself. That's what I meant by "anything".
Garga: But (turns) HOW do you want to surpass yourself?
Hou: Eh? (let go of the balcony) Ummm...well...training and...
Garga: "Training and..." ?
Hou: Ah?
Garga: See? You're already thinking about the 'how.' That's the key. Then again. I think we need to go old school again.
Hou: You mean?
Garga: Yes. We must train in other worlds. Just like old times.
Hou: {defeated} Of course. Though sometimes I feel like it's tedious work.
Garga then moves forward and taps on Hou's shoulders, much to his small surprise. While they're talking, a full moon slowly rises beside them.
Garga: Training doesn't always mean to get stronger. It means finding yourself and your purpose. Let me ask you this: What is your purpose? And how do you want to achieve it?
ED Plays.
Preview:
Hou: So, we decided to take a leave of absence and go back to old school once again. Next time, "The second wish". Therefore, Buddy... FIGHT!!!
Story End.
A bit of Trivia...
- The hostel has 6 floors in total, with a rooftop. The ground floor is for the teachers.
- The Academia app also keeps track of the fighters' data (such as deck profiles (private)), and reveals all fighters' rankings based on their points. It also has an AI to give them advice if necessary, even in Buddyfight.
- Subjects: English, Mathematics, Science, Buddyfight Strategy, History,
Physical Education, Music.
- Break time starts at 10:30 and ends at 11:15 for all students.
- Lunch for seniors starts at 1:30 and ends at 2:15.
- School ends at 4:15pm for seniors and 1 for juniors.
- Rules: No running in the hallways, no using the buddyfight stage without permission.
No violence, of course. Weapons are not allowed, and VR facilities must be booked before entering.
Confiscation of Devices will be included if used without permission.
Cannot use the stage at night unless you get special permission.
- 3 strikes equals detention. 5 strikes means suspension. 7 means expulsion.
- Daryl has 500000 Academia points. Masato has 250000 Academia points.
- Sorting was done on the day of enrollment. A Legend world monster was hired that day to check all of the students' hearts and sort them into the clans based on their virtues.