In the next few days, the learning life of Hikaru was not involved much.
He attended classes as usual, studying card theory, endgames, alchemy, and various miscellaneous martial arts...
Aside from all this, the most important thing, of course, was dueling with other students in the Fusion Club to "build relationships" and, by the way, to gain enough power to imprint cards.
Dueling was not a rare thing at Duel dorm, and in the Fusion Club, it was something that happened every day. However, after playing a few rounds in the Club, Hikaru gradually realized that there were also serious conflicts within the Fusion Club.
During these few days, Hikaru had never seen "Leo Akaba," the professor in charge of the Fusion Club. Most of the time, the senior students of the Fusion Club arranged activities, and during these activities, he could feel the "exclusion."
Although everyone wore the purple uniform that symbolized fusion, some shades of purple were apparently more "noble" than others.
They were... students from the Blue dorm.
Every day, at every activity, whether it was a deck experience or "simulated otherworlds," something that wasn't in the original but existed in this world, there was no place for students from the Red or Yellow dorms.
Even those upperclassmen from the Red and Yellow Fusion Club students seemed to have tacitly accepted this, just enduring it.
First-year students wanted to resist, but whenever this happened, they were assigned powerful opponents, then beaten to a pulp, and in the end, could only humbly acknowledge it.
Students at Duel Academy naturally settled matters with duels. Since you lost, what excuse would you have?
Hikaru shook his head when he thought of this.
He was undoubtedly a Fusion Club member but still retained the old mindset.
Hikaru wasn't interested in these matters, nor did he have any thoughts of standing up for others, and was here simply for convenience and the Ancient Gear deck.
That day, as usual, he watched and searched for opponents in the Fusion Club's duel hall.
And, after several days of research, he had already discovered that he could only "grind" power once a day, but the more formidable the duelist, the more "power" they provided.
Even if he won against some duelists with no real skill, he wouldn't feel like he gained much power, and he'd waste a day's opportunity. So today, even though he was going to duel, he didn't want to just jump into it carelessly.
While thinking this, he suddenly noticed a card had dropped to the ground in front of him. Curiously, he picked it up and, at a glance, was somewhat surprised.
"Ancient Gear Golem?" A question mark appeared above his head.
Although the Ancient Gear Golem wasn't the rarest card in this world, it was still a rare card with the same attack points as the Blue-Eyes White Dragon. How could someone just throw it away?
While thinking this, someone outside suddenly shouted, "Ah, it's Senpai Ryu's Ancient Gear Golem!"
"Found the thief!"
'?'
Hikaru looked at the several students from his Club who had suddenly appeared around him, feeling puzzled.
"What are you talking about? I just picked it up. Since you know the owner, why don't you just take it to them?"
A group of Blue dorm students were stunned when they heard Hikaru's words.
The script wasn't right…
Facing a rare card like the Ancient Gear Golem, which had attack points comparable to the Blue-Eyes White Dragon, he didn't immediately hide it but instead seemed ready to hand it over?
'What kind of reaction is this? That's a card comparable to the Blue-Eyes White Dragon!'
"What's wrong? Didn't you say it was Senpai Ryu's card? If he lost his card, he must be very worried, right?"
For a moment, Hikaru didn't even consider any conspiracies or schemes.
He simply put himself in the other person's shoes, if he lost a card, he'd be anxious too, so naturally he walked over, ready to hand the card over.
"I heard they caught the card thief?"
As the situation remained tense, a tall student with an epaulet on his shoulder—evidently a senior—walked over and spoke coldly.
"You're senpai Ryu? I just picked this up…"
"Hmph, Yellow is just being Yellow. Even after stealing, you won't admit it." Ryu directly interrupted Hikaru.
Hikaru tilted his head. "Why don't we check the surveillance footage?"
"..." Ryu fell silent for a moment, coughed, then continued, "A guy like you doesn't deserve to be part of our Fusion army!"
At this, Hikaru fully understood.
He glanced at a few students from his year, then went over the situation in his mind from the beginning.
"I see. So you deliberately dropped the card, hoping to trick someone into picking it up and keeping it, then frame them for stealing? Haah… This is a serious crime."
In the worldview of duelists, stealing cards was an unforgivable sin, and if someone got branded with such a reputation, their life would be ruined!
But Hikaru was not afraid.
This guy named Ryu was at least a second-year student, and if Hikaru dueled him, he should be able to gain a decent amount of "power."
"Alright, alright, cut the nonsense." Hikaru directly interrupted their little act. "Isn't this just about trying to drive me away? Just say it outright. What's the big deal?
Being around a bunch of bugs like you doesn't make me happy either."
"What did you say!?"
"Did I say anything wrong!?" Hikaru raised his voice and roared angrily. "Look at all the great things you've been doing! All you ever do is bully and suppress other students. With that kind of attitude, you're not even focusing on the supreme art of Fusion!
Your understanding of fusion is nowhere near pure enough! How could fusion ever thrive with parasites like you around!?"
"Huh?"
"What?"
Their group was instantly left speechless, their brains short-circuiting as if deprived of oxygen, they had no idea how to respond.
'Wait, hold on. Everyone joined the Fusion Club just because fusion summoning is strong—who the hell thinks about it this seriously!?'
Because of Hikaru's loud outburst, other students gathered around them. They didn't know what was going on before, but the upperclassmen only needed a glance to understand the case.
The same old trick.
Ryu often used this trick to drive away students who displeased him.
Some upperclassmen from the Red and Yellow dorms clenched their fists, glaring at Ryu in anger.
While some students from the Blue dorm also disapproved of Ryu's methods, he was still "one of their own." Seeing that an argument was about to break out, they quickly sided with him.
The sudden shift in numbers created an overwhelming disparity as if they could encircle Hikaru's group in an instant. This frightened some of the upperclassmen from the Red and Yellow dorms, making them hesitate.
However, the bullied Red and Yellow freshmen only became more determined, shouting in support of Hikaru.
Hikaru swung his left hand, and his duel disk automatically unfolded. Standing in front of his few allies, he directly shouted at the opposing side.
"Enough with these petty schemes, senpai! Since we're students of Duel Academy, let's settle everything with a duel! You and me, right here, right now!
If you win, I'll withdraw from the Fusion Club immediately and never step foot in it again!"
Ryu's face darkened. Being exposed by Hikaru in front of everyone humiliated him. Now, hearing Hikaru's challenge, he let out a sinister chuckle and nodded.
"Then, let's reverse it. If I win—you must apologize to me in front of all the Fusion Club students! And this card will belong to me. You don't deserve to use it! How about that?"
Leaving the Club versus a single card.
The former meant three years of being the target of gossip and bullying. The latter was a card the Academy loaned to students for three years.
They weren't necessarily fair, so adding the "apology" wasn't unexpected, and Ryu could easily accept the bet.
Yet, Ryu still sneered maliciously, "Hah, and here I thought you were all high and mighty. Turns out you're just after my card."
"Think whatever you want." Hikaru scoffed, then turned to a student from the Red dorm and said, "Hey, can you contact Professor Crowler for me? I want him to hold onto this card and act as the referee for this duel."
***
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