A small store, nighttime.
"Draw a card!"
Judai draws a card from the two remaining cards in Sho Marufuji's hand.
Ace of Hearts.
Sho Marufuji is left with one Joker card.
"Won again." Judai leans back in his chair, looking satisfied.
Sho Marufuji sighs, "As expected of you, big brother, you're unbeatable no matter what card you draw. You're like a cheat when it comes to playing old maid..."
Judai turns to look at Yugen, who is focused on writing a report at the computer: "Hey, Yugen, want to join a game? It's super fun."
"I'll pass." Yugen smiles, "Just a bit more on this theory report."
The Red Dormitory trio instantly deflated like balloons.
"Ugh, there's still a report to do..." Judai scratches his head.
Sho Marufuji: "Big brother, how about we go back and work on the report..."
"That's not gonna happen." Judai shakes his head repeatedly, "How can we let the pesky bread thief get away?"
"But it's just a piece of bread, I think the report is more important..."
Judai insists: "It's not due until the day after tomorrow anyway, we have the whole day tomorrow. It's not too late to start tomorrow."
Sho Marufuji sighs, "You always say that, big brother..."
Judai then looks curiously at Asuka, who is also sitting behind them reading a book: "Speaking of, why are you here? Are you also after that bread thief?"
"Don't be silly, just had some free time." Asuka replies.
Yugen glances at her but says nothing.
Auntie Tami comes in with a tray of rice balls, "Great work, everyone. Come have dinner."
"Oh oh, Auntie Tami's rice balls!" Judai exclaims excitedly.
Auntie Tami chuckles, "There's plum, bean, and salmon fillings. But they all look the same from the outside..."
"I get it, it's like drawing rice balls. Alright, watch me draw a salmon one!"
Judai rubs his hands together.
"My turn, draw a rice ball!"
Without hesitation, he picks one, takes a bite, and then shows the filling with satisfaction: "Salmon summoned successfully."
Sho Marufuji is amazed: "As always, with the divine right hand, big brother..."
Judai, feeling content with his state, smiles and looks at Yugen, "How about it, want me to draw you a salmon too?"
"Thanks, but no need."
Yugen smiles, steps forward, and casually grabs one.
It's also salmon-filled.
"Ha, you're not bad either." Judai pats his back, "As expected, strong duelists share something in common."
Yugen smiles without replying.
"..."
Late night.
The small store is closed and dark, surrounded by silence, broken occasionally by the sound of insects and a gentle breeze. The store's shutters are tightly shut, like a sleeping fortress.
Until a faint sound breaks the silence.
The heavy shutters, under the moonlight, initially tremble slightly, emitting a "squeak" noise as they rub together.
Then, bit by bit, they're lifted by some strange force.
A shadow, crouched outside the door, uses brute arm strength to lift the heavy shutters, creating a gap just wide enough for a person to pass through.
The crowd hiding in the dark can't help but be surprised at this sight.
What kind of strange strength is this?
Lifting a locked shutter by arm strength, is this even human?
Yugen falls into contemplation as well.
The anime's claim that playing cards strengthens the body seems true, playing cards might indeed make someone a superman. No wonder President Kaiba can freefall from helicopters and land like a superhero without any issues, it's all from playing cards...
"That's enough!"
The lights snap on, and Judai jumps out to lead the confrontation.
Sure enough, standing in the center of the store is a muscular wild man, with messy long hair and a bare, robust, tan upper body, looking just like Tarzan.
The wild man is startled, quickly turns, and runs, darting through the way he came. The crowd hiding in the dark also reveal themselves and chase after him.
However, the scene outside surprises everyone even more.
The wild man rushes outside, leaps onto a tree, swings grasping a vine, and heads into the woods. At the apex of the swing, he lets go, leaps, grabs a thick branch with both arms, flips elegantly, and leaps forward again, grabbing another vine, swinging farther and farther away.
Sho Marufuji is dumbfounded.
"What is this? Tarzan?"
This physical strength, this exaggerated action, can a human really do this?
"Kurikuri!"
Feathered Chestnut Ball floats out.
"Yes, I know, partner." Judai nods, "Let's take the shortcut."
Since the man has shown himself and has been targeted by the elf, it'll be hard for him to escape. No matter how strong this wild man is, he can't keep running forever.
After a series of swings in the forest, the wild man jumps down from the tree, catches his breath, only to quickly hear voices from the nearby shrubs.
Judai and the others soon catch up.
The wild man is startled, tries to get up and run again, but Auntie Tami calls to him: "Oyama? Is that you?"
The wild man stops.
"It's really you." Auntie Tami is surprised.
Judai is puzzled: "You know each other?"
"Taira Oyama, he was a student of Obelisk Blue." Auntie Tami replies, "He suddenly disappeared a year ago, didn't expect to find him here..."
Asuka immediately pays attention.
She thought that this incident might be related to the Academy's missing students.
Could this person be linked to her missing brother...
"It's not a disappearance, it's training." Oyama says in a deep voice, "The me of today is already transformed compared to a year ago.
Though I always scored first in theory in Obelisk Blue, I could never draw the right card in practical duels...no, it's worse than that!
The more critical the duel, the stronger the opponent, the more I drew cards completely contrary to the situation!"
He seems to be lost in unbearable memories.
"The turning point was a year ago, in that crucial practical exam. My opponent summoned Artificial Human Soga in the first turn, and I...I drew five Trap Cards as my starting hand!"
Everyone: "......"
That truly is...unfortunate.
Yugen seems to somewhat understand.
Indeed, constantly having bad hands would drive anyone crazy.
And in this world, card hands are not just probability; it's also metaphysics. In Academy terms, Oyama's "Aura" was too weak.
Whenever he met a capable opponent, his aura was suppressed, hence frequent card hand accidents.
"Later one day, I realized the true essence of drawing cards lies in nature! So, for the past year, I've been training in the deep mountains, becoming one with nature, and now I've finally mastered it!"
"Is that really the case?" Yugen smiles.
"What?" Oyama frowns.
"Though you drew the Golden Egg Bread for a week straight, you always did it before the event began, so what does that prove? You didn't have any competition, did you?"
Yugen smiles.
"Drawing before anyone else can do anything, isn't that a single-player game? Duels aren't a solo game, how can you prove you're better than others that way?"
"What?"
Oyama says in a deep voice.
"Are you questioning my training results?"
"I wouldn't dare, I'm just saying your method of testing might be unscientific."
"Then how would you do it?"
"If you ask me, only practice can prove the truth, and only a duel can validate training."
Yugen picks up the Duel Disc and smiles.
"How about it, want to give it a try?"
"Ho? Interesting." Oyama chuckles, "You're right. Indeed, everything is for winning the duel. If I can't improve in actual battles, then this year's training is meaningless.
Alright, I accept."
"Duel!" x2
Judai opens his mouth to say something, but realizes he missed the best moment.
Ah, that's exactly what I wanted to say too.
Why does it feel like another game got taken away from me...