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The Abandoned Dorm.
It was a forbidden zone known to everyone at Duel Academy.
Legend had it that Shadow Duels had once been conducted there, resulting in the mysterious disappearance of several students. Duel Academy had strictly suppressed the matter, ensuring that very few people in the outside world knew anything about it.
Kosuke Kunisaki.
Thirty years old.
He was once a Pro Duelist, but now he was nothing more than a tabloid reporter. He made his living selling duelist gossip and insider rumors to generate traffic. The primary reason for his fall from the heights of the professional dueling world to this pathetic state was his duel against Seto Kaiba. The crushing defeat he suffered that day was a trauma he could never forget.
"As long as I can sneak into Duel Academy, investigate the missing students, and sell that intel to the outside... heh, I'll definitely make a killing."
Sneaking into the academy from the cliffs, a flash of greed flickered in Kosuke Kunisaki's eyes.
But before that, I need to find a way to blend in...
He crept toward the Slifer Red dorm near the shore. In the laundry room, he casually swiped a Slifer Red uniform with the number 24 on it and pulled it on. Although his middle-aged appearance looked completely out of place in a student uniform, it didn't matter.
As long as he got the intel...
Thinking of this, a surge of excitement rose within him. He could already see himself stepping back into high society on the back of this scoop.
However, having just arrived, Kosuke Kunisaki was still unfamiliar with his surroundings. Seeing an Obelisk Blue student in the corridor ahead, he immediately ran up, scratching his head with a practiced smile. "Ah, excuse me"
"Hmm?"
The response he received was an incredibly hostile glare.
"Get lost, Slifer Red trash!"
Pushed aside so hard he stumbled, Kosuke Kunisaki watched the Obelisk Blue student walk away, looking utterly dazed.
"What's going on? Is the hierarchy between students in this academy really that distinct?"
Only then did he realize that the clothes he had stolen were perhaps a bad omen.
Scratching his head and wondering if he should go find another outfit, a massive crowd ahead caught his attention.
"The nominations for the School Representative are out! Everyone, come and vote!"
"Is Jaden Yuki's name on the list? Hey, there's no doubt about it Jaden Yuki is definitely going to win."
"Regardless, we have to go through the motions of voting. Hey, I'm casting my vote for Jaden Yuki!"
Watching the students crowd together, scrambling to cast their votes, Kosuke Kunisaki curiously leaned in. On the large screen, he saw a photo of a youth wearing a red jacket with a brown jellyfish-style haircut.
[Jaden Yuki]
[Votes: 1200+]
The number was still rising. It seemed this person held immense influence among the students.
"Wait, isn't this guy wearing red too?"
Looking at the red jacket Jaden was wearing in the photo, Kosuke Kunisaki was baffled.
So, your discrimination isn't based on uniform color? It's based on looks?
"Wait, come to think of it... that name, Jaden Yuki... I think I..."
Rubbing his stubbled chin, Kosuke Kunisaki stared at Jaden's photo on the screen, his mind momentarily blanking out.
That's right! Jaden Yuki!
Wasn't he that genius duelist active in the professional world three years ago?!
Although he had vanished from the scene after that interrupted professional league three years prior, his terrifying record had ensured his name remained etched in dueling history.
"Wait, what's going on? Why would such a famous person come to a place like Duel Academy, which is basically just children playing house?"
"Damn, this news is a hundred times bigger than some student disappearances!"
Kosuke Kunisaki hurriedly took out his camera and snapped several photos in secret.
Jaden Yuki's disappearance had always been a mystery to the public. His countless fans had spent the last few years searching for even the slightest trace of him. Some said the youth had given up dueling to become an ordinary person; others claimed he had been scouted by secret organizations to become a private duelist.
But now, the secret was out!
"Haha! If I sell this story, I'll make a fortune."
Kosuke Kunisaki was overjoyed. However, he still intended to investigate the missing students. After all, no one ever complained about having too much money.
Stowing his camera, he prepared to find someone else to ask about the disappearances. Since the ones in blue were hard to deal with, he decided to find someone wearing red like himself.
As he thought this, he saw a youth in a red jacket walking down the corridor with his hands in his pockets.
"Hey, classmate ahead!"
Kosuke Kunisaki quickly put on a smile and waved as he chased after him.
"Hmm?"
However, the youth turned his head with cold indifference. For a fleeting second, a dark golden light flashed in his pupils.
"Hiss!"
What a cold gaze...
Kosuke Kunisaki's body trembled. He suddenly felt as if his fate was being gripped by another's hand. But the feeling vanished as quickly as it had come, disappearing the moment the light in the youth's eyes faded.
"You... You're Jaden Yuki?"
Only now did Kosuke Kunisaki recognize the boy. The brown jellyfish hair and that icy expression... it was definitely the legendary Jaden Yuki!
However, Jaden didn't spare a second thought for this middle-aged "student" in red. It wasn't that he didn't recognize him; Jaden had identified Kosuke Kunisaki the moment he saw him.
To think I'd run into this plot point by chance...
Once Jaden confirmed that Kosuke Kunisaki wasn't possessed by a Spirit, he lost all interest. A tabloid reporter had nothing to do with him.
As for the secrets of Duel Academy, Jaden had already consulted with Chancellor Sheppard shortly after enrolling. Various sensitive pieces of information had been moved out of the academy's hangar to avoid being discovered by people like Kunisaki. Therefore, no matter how much Kunisaki investigated, the most he would get were a few photos of the Abandoned Dorm's entrance.
"Hey, Jaden Yuki!"
Seeing that Jaden was ignoring him, Kosuke Kunisaki hurried to catch up.
"Is something wrong?" Jaden frowned, looking at the man with annoyance.
Feeling the chill emanating from the youth, Kosuke Kunisaki's heart skipped a beat. He no longer dared to look at this boy as if he were just some random kid.
"Uh, well, Jaden Yuki, I... I'm a fan of your dueling! Could I... could I get an autograph?"
Suppreessing his fear, Kosuke Kunisaki scratched his head and spoke with a forced grin. Of course, he wasn't a fan. How could a man nearly thirty years old worship a teenager? However, Jaden Yuki's autograph was worth a lot of money. If he could just get one...
"I refuse."
Jaden left only those two cold words before turning to walk away.
Watching Jaden's receding back, Kosuke Kunisaki stood there dazed.
Wait.
When other stars meet fans, even if they're reluctant, they usually put on a show of being warm. But you...
Isn't your ego a bit too big? Or rather, you didn't even take me seriously, did you?
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