A new semester, a new school life, but before that, it's all about new students entering the school.
Originally, recruiting new students should happen after the semester starts. Just like last year, when Tenjo Hikari had just crossed over, found an opportunity to write an application, and then participated in an Integration Department duel, finally joining the Integration Department.
But after last year's events, the current minister of the Integration Department, who was a sophomore in Blue Academy last year, resolved to never let Tenjo Hikari outshine him like last year.
Thus, before the semester even began, he immediately organized people from the Integration Department to launch a new "offensive."
That is, before new students enter, hurry up and recruit some newcomers.
Last year's events are vivid in his memory; back then, the Integration Department was thriving, with numerous staff in the Activity Department, countless third-year seniors, and talented seniors like Kambayashi Kaname. Each of the academy's representative seniors had their talents, yet despite all this, they were defeated by Tenjo Hikari.
As of now.
Last year's seniors have graduated, joining the Fusion Army and starting their efforts for the Dimension enterprise. He, as the second-year representative, has now become the minister of the Integration Department, and the pressure is palpable.
Although there are third-year members graduating from the Fusion Department as well, the problem is, the difference in numbers is way too big!
Last year's third-year students were the core and most numerous in the Integration Department, those who had followed Professor Akuma the longest, while there were only a few third-year students on Tenjo Hikari's Fusion Department side.
The only silver lining is that Caesar Ryo from the Fusion Department also graduated.
Otherwise, he couldn't imagine a chance to defeat the Fusion Department.
Both sides' situations are laid out here; last year, the Integration Department could still outshine the Fusion Department in some areas, such as student numbers, venues, cards, and Dimension Gate.
Now, their student numbers have sharply reduced, while Tenjo Hikari's side has several students who won in the S Dimension Friendship Cup; notably Tenjo Hikari, Yuki Judai, and Manjome Jun—everyone witnessed their remarkable performance in the Friendship Cup. Tenjo Hikari again declared to the world, "Fusion is the noblest form of summoning," and Yuki Judai spoke boldly in front of two worlds, saying, "Won, that was a fun duel," with a hint of sarcasm.
In comparison, it's Manjome Jun, with his less amiable demeanor and continual grunting, who seems the most "normal."
It's essential to know that incoming students of Duel Academy are not the bookish kind oblivious to the outside world; every student is a "Duelist." They've undoubtedly watched the Friendship Cup.
Thus, regardless of fame or battle prowess...
He lacks the confidence to compare with Tenjo Hikari's Fusion Department. Moreover, it's rumored that Tenjo Hikari and Manjome Jun have already secured investments to expand the Fusion Department immediately—even the venue might catch up to theirs.
If they don't seize the moment now, what's the plan for the future?
Besides, he's not blindly doing this.
The entire summer, while Tenjo Hikari and others were dueling in the Other Dimension, he took the opportunity to research, study carefully, and organize the situation between both sides.
Therefore, he prepared a triple plan to recruit more students.
The first phase.
Promote fusion supremacy but deliberately omit Tenjo Hikari, while telling all students that joining their Activity Department grants them a special deck.
Though Tenjo Hikari's side has Professor Cronos backing them, who can also temporarily provide "Ancient Gear" decks to ordinary Activity Department members within the campus.
But they have one advantage!
They previously received the professor's gift of "Gladiator Beast" deck, and now, all Fusion Department members no longer use Ancient Gear decks but Gladiator Beast decks—the reasons partly being that Tenjo Hikari's side can't provide Gladiator Beasts, and partly because...
Machines battling Tenjo Hikari is indeed difficult.
Beyond that, they also began offering other small gifts.
Such as various peculiar dolls of lions, wolves, and tigers, supposedly also Monster Cards from certain decks, which might feature in their Integration Department's giveaway cards in the future.
He and other Integration Department members set up a large welcome booth at the campus entrance, not actively recruiting but eagerly explaining their benefits to any curious freshman, then waiting for them to decide.
Upon successfully "coaxing" a new student into joining the Integration Department, he noticed a group approaching them.
It was Tenjo Hikari, Manjome Jun, Tenjouin Fubuki, and Mitsuzawa… something?
Along with some regular students from the Fusion Department joining the commotion.
His heart skipped a beat.
He then hastily coughed, waved, and said: "Isn't this Minister Tenjo? Long time no see, I'm the new minister of the Integration Department, Fukami Subaru."
Tenjo Hikari raised an eyebrow.
Ah, last year's sophomore Blue Academy senior.
Honestly, it's a bit disappointing.
He was quite friendly with the Integration Department's 2nd-year Yellow Academy senior; if that person had become the new minister, he might have a chance to thoroughly deal with the Integration Department.
Of course, it's just a hope; given that, Akaba would definitely choose someone from Blue Academy as the new minister.
Tenjo Hikari scanned around, and a freshman recognized him, immediately exclaiming.
"Absolute Fusion Master!"
"Tenjo Hikari?!"
"Wow, Senior Tenjo, it's really you!!"
A group of freshmen forgot the ongoing chat with the Integration Department, excitedly surrounded Tenjo Hikari, even pushing Mitsuzawa Daichi aside.
"Hey...…" Mitsuzawa was speechless, sweating, almost tripping.
He doesn't have much presence but this...?
Meanwhile, Tenjo Hikari and Manjome attempted to escape the crowd.
Fukami Subaru watching from the side was envious.
But he knows very well.
Tenjo Hikari's popularity is justified, as he gained immense fame in the Dimension Friendship Cup, the "Absolute Fusion Master" title spread by many online. Plus, he actually possesses the legendary "Dark Magician" card, causing students' enthusiastic reception upon his appearance—absolutely normal.
This passionate reception lasted several minutes, eventually calmed by Tenjouin Fubuki, who humorously guided Tenjo Hikari on how to handle such situations.
"Senior Tenjo, will joining the Fusion Department allow us to see the Dark Magician card?!"
"Senior Tenjo, can joining the Fusion Department make us like you, able to use Fusion?!"
"Senior Tenjo, I want to become a Fusion Master too!"
A bunch of freshmen, without even inquiring about the Fusion Department, eagerly readied their applications, far simpler than the Integration Department, which struggled to recruit even a single newcomer.
Even the newcomer painstakingly recruited by Fukami Subaru was watching Tenjo Hikari, hesitating, betraying his thoughts.
Perhaps it's better to join Tenjo Hikari's Fusion Department for new decks?
"Damn it—Tenjo Hikari!!"
Tenjo Hikari chuckled somewhat awkwardly.
How to say this?
He merely came to check the situation, finding the Integration Department merely conducting normal recruitment, there's little he can do; yet it turned out like this.
This is the "call to action" driven by fame and performance.
Any new student about to enroll, anyone remotely curious about fusion, surely heard of the "Absolute Fusion Master" Tenjo Hikari!
Seeing Tenjo Hikari merely using his "image" to sway numerous newcomers, Fukami Subaru felt like cursing internally.
Damned Tenjo Hikari; their Integration Department can't catch a break when he appears!
But—
He still has the second phase plan!