Because there was simply no space left in the dorm, Youmi originally planned to let the Butler and Lady Lab sleep on her bed while she made do on a chair for the night, but the Butler firmly insisted that he did not need rest.
Under normal circumstances, with the help of Ten Thousand Dragon, the Duel Spirits around Youmi could travel back and forth between their own world and Youmi's side just like during Duel City.
However, it seemed that due to the special magnetic field of the island where Duel Academy was located, traveling between the two worlds now required either the gate to the Spirit World or leaving the island altogether.
Of course, since they were bound to cards, the Spirits could also rest within the cards themselves. According to Fallen of Albaz, however, that state was not very comfortable.
Left with no other choice, Youmi brought over two chairs for the Butler, and herself spent the night making do together with Lady Lab, under the strange gaze of Chamber Dragonmaid.
When she woke up, she felt sore all over, as if she might fall apart at any moment.
"You look so pretty, but how can your sleeping posture be that terrifying… ow!"
Pressing on her lower back, Youmi wailed as she stepped out of her dorm, only to be startled the instant she saw the jellyfish head in front of her. "Jaden, why are you blocking us first thing in the morning? Kitt, didn't you notice this?"
Youmi tried to turn back toward Kitt, only to find her standing awkwardly beside Jaden, holding a camera that was sparking with electricity.
"Sorry, Boss. I don't know why the camera suddenly went all white, so I came over to check it, and then I got spotted by this guy."
Springans Kitt stuck out her tongue apologetically and lightly knocked her own head with her right hand. "Got tricked by that guy's Winged Kuriboh~"
Jaden scratched his head and said to Youmi, "So Duel Monsters really do exist… this girl is a Duel Monster, right?
"And you, Yuyumi, are actually Youmi, aren't you? That 'Youmi' from before was actually the Spirit of Fallen of Albaz who, for some reason, looked exactly like you, right~"
Since he already knew, Youmi had no intention of keeping up the act anymore.
After all, her identity had already been exposed by all sorts of people before. Still, she was curious how Jaden could be so certain that Kitt and Fallen of Albaz were Spirits. "How did you know?"
"I'm not really sure myself, but lately it feels like I can understand Winged Kuriboh better and better.
"Plus, before this, there was actually a blonde girl who kept coming to your dorm, right? She wasn't wearing the same uniform as Alexis. I heard she was always holding meal tickets and heading toward our dorm. And I also picked this up."
Jaden pulled out a pendant that was only half intact from his pocket—the Dark Item he obtained in the anime.
"After you left last night, I ran into someone who claimed they wanted to carry out a 'Shadow Game'. I beat him pretty easily, and then picked this up."
Youmi glanced at Lady Lab, who was still sleeping behind the door, and said in surprise, "Huh, something like that happened too? I was so busy dealing with Lady Lab that I forgot to come tell you."
"It's fine, it's fine. It was an easy win anyway, but still a really interesting Duel. Heroes always win!"
Jaden raised his right thumb and pointed it at himself, looking smug. "Anyways, Youmi, you're really something else. Back in Duel City, you looked exactly like Lady Lab, and you used a Labrynth Deck focused on Trap Cards. When you came to the Academy, you changed your appearance, took on a male identity, and used a Fiend-type Deck to take the entrance exam."
"There's a complicated reason behind that—"
Youmi was about to brush it off with 'there were complicated reasons behind that', but Jaden waved his hand first. "As your friend, I won't pry into your secrets. I came to tell you something. Because of the commotion yesterday when Seto Kaiba suddenly showed up and displayed his Deck, classes are suspended for today.
"And Principal Sheppard seems to be looking for us—Professor Banner let me know."
Youmi, of course, knew that Lady Lab hadn't returned the Deck. She felt a bit awkward, but she caught the important part of what Jaden said.
"Looking for us at a time like this… could it be…"
In Youmi's memory, this should have been the start of the Seven Stars Arc, or rather, the Sacred Beasts Arc.
However, Chazz had only gone to the satellite school a few days ago, and the exchange tournament hadn't even happened yet. How could the Sacred Beasts' plot suddenly begin?
Had she taken Chazz's role instead?
"I've already been told about Youmi by Principal Sheppard, nya. Don't worry, I won't go blabbing about it, nya~"
Professor Banner, who himself was one of the Seven Stars seeking to seize the Sacred Beasts, popped out from the side and greeted Youmi.
With questions in mind, Youmi followed Jaden and Professor Banner toward the principal's office, running into Alexis and Bastion along the way.
The latter glanced at Youmi and, very considerately, did not mention last night's events. Instead, he sent Youmi a text message asking to talk later.
Youmi gave a small nod and exchanged a look with Bastion.
"Hm? And who is this child?"
Alexis looked at Youmi, who was standing beside Jaden in a maid outfit, with a puzzled expression.
"Don't ask. I'm Youmi."
Youmi turned her head a little, not daring to meet Alexis' gaze.
The group maintained a delicate silence until they arrived in front of Principal Sheppard's office.
Outside the office, Professor Crowler greeted Youmi with an odd expression, clearly still unable to sort out how to deal with her. "Isn't this… rumored to be Youmi's younger sister? Uh, ah…"
Quickly cutting off Professor Crowler's skin-crawling greeting, Youmi said, "Everyone here knows I'm the Youmi from this Academy, so Professor Crowler, you really don't need to act so strangely. Just treat me the same as usual, okay, Professor Mamma Mia~"
Holding a cat named 'Pharaoh', Professor Banner joked, "Looks like Professor Crowler still hasn't quite adjusted yet, nya… Youmi, Principal Sheppard said for you to go in first and see him."
"Hm? Alright…"
Not expecting any special arrangements for herself, Youmi nodded. She lightly knocked on the principal's office door and, after receiving permission, went in alone.
Looking at Principal Sheppard, who didn't have a single hair on his head, Youmi asked, "I heard you wanted to see me. What did you want to talk about? Could it be about the 'Sacred Beasts' and the 'Seven Stars'?"
Originally, she hadn't been this sure, but outside the door just now were Zane, Jaden, Alexis, Bastion, Professor Crowler, and Professor Banner.
Counting seven people in total, aside from her replacing Chazz's position, it was almost a complete recreation of the lineup. If it wasn't about the Sacred Beasts, what else could it be?
Principal Sheppard looked very surprised that Youmi already knew all this. "You already know about the Sacred Beasts?"
"I always have my own information channels. After all, you already know my true identity." Youmi tilted her head and smiled at Principal Sheppard. "So I'm probably not wrong."
After thinking for a moment, as if he had sorted through his thoughts, Principal Sheppard nodded. "Should I say it's worthy of the legendary Duel King? You not only know about the existence of the Sacred Beasts, but even about the Seven Stars… However, that's only part of why I called you here."
He took out a briefcase from under his desk and placed it on top.
"Actually, the reason I had you come in first today is to entrust you with the three cards sealed within this Academy."
As he spoke, Principal Sheppard unlocked the briefcase's combination lock and fingerprint lock, then opened it toward Youmi.
"This is…"
Inside the case were three tightly packed card bricks.
And within those card bricks were the three Divine Cards that should have been buried in the ruins during the Memories of the Pharaoh arc: Slifer the Sky Dragon, The Winged Dragon of Ra, and Obelisk the Tormentor.
"After five years, these three cards are now returned to you, Lady Youmi."
...
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