Heroic Spirit Deck in Yu-Gi-Oh!

"This is the Obelisk Blue girls' dormitory. If Hoshino-nee is back, we might find her here~"

The ornate European-style building with its signature blue roof stood proudly before them. At the center of a fountain out front was a stone statue of a Blue-Eyes White Dragon, its sleek and flowing form radiating an almost gentle elegance. Unlike the ferocious and intimidating version Kaiba Corp had showcased in the past, this statue seemed to exude a strange warmth.

Staring at the distinctly artistic rendition of Blue-Eyes, Hoshino couldn't help but twitch at the corner of her mouth. "What exactly has Kaiba been through all these years? His love for Blue-Eyes White Dragon is getting... stranger."

"Shall we head inside?" Jonouchi casually patted Ryota on the shoulder. The two exchanged a glance and began walking straight toward the dormitory doors.

SLAM!

"What the heck are you two thinking?!" Akasha delivered a flying kick that sent them stumbling back. "Even in times like these, men like you have no business entering the girls' dormitory!"

Hoshino crossed her arms and shot Jonouchi a look of disdain. "You already have Mai as your girlfriend, and you still want to barge into the girls' dorm? I'll be sure to report this to her, you know~"

"Please don't!" At the mention of Mai, Jonouchi immediately wilted. "If my allowance gets docked again, I won't even have enough to buy card packs this month!"

What a disgraceful member of the world's top duelists, being so tightly controlled over his card pack budget by his girlfriend.

"Forget it, Jonouchi. Let's just wander around and kill some time," Ryota laughed, clapping him on the back. "If we run into any familiar pro duelists, I'll introduce you!"

The professional dueling circuit was both vast and small. It was vast because skilled duelists spanned the globe, from local city tournaments to world-class competitions. Yet, it was also small, as only a handful achieved legendary status—names like Jonouchi and Yugi Muto being among them.

As Ryota dragged him away, Jonouchi muttered under his breath, "But I'd rather visit the Obelisk Blue girls' dormitory than meet more duelists…"

"Alright, Hoshino-chan, let's head in and look for Hoshino-nee." Akasha grabbed Hoshino's hand, then tilted her head thoughtfully. "This is so confusing. How about I just call you 'Hoshino' and call the other one 'Sensei'? That's what I call her in class anyway~"

"'Sensei'?" Hoshino repeated, feeling an odd sense of awkwardness. It wasn't that she disliked the title, but she doubted she could live up to the weight of it.

"By the way, am I allowed in?" Musashi pointed to herself, a questioning look on her face.

"Of course! You're a girl, right~?" Akasha replied without hesitation, then mischievously added, "Unless… you're the same species of Astolfo?"

Musashi puffed out her chest proudly. "I'm 100% a genuine women! If you don't believe me, feel free to check!"

And how exactly am I supposed to check? I kind of want to know… Hoshino thought silently.

The interior of the Obelisk Blue dormitory mirrored its luxurious exterior. The European-style decor featured bold colors, intricate designs, and an air of opulence that felt more like a five-star hotel than a student dormitory. Hoshino couldn't help but marvel at Kaiba Corp's seemingly bottomless budget.

However, the lavish surroundings couldn't mask the tension hanging over the dorm. The usually radiant and polished Obelisk Blue girls looked like battle-worn soldiers, their faces tired, their spirits dampened.

Injured students were everywhere. Those walking the hallways were likely lightly wounded, while the severely injured were confined to their rooms.

"Akasha, you're back~" A gentle voice called out. The speaker was a black-haired girl with one eye wrapped in gauze. Her otherwise cute face looked a bit awkward with the bandage.

"Yeah~" Akasha nodded. "Have you seen Sensei? I have something to discuss with her."

"Not yet," the black-haired girl replied, a flicker of worry in her uncovered eye. "But, Akasha, you mustn't argue with her again. Everyone's already so anxious."

"Don't worry, I won't argue with her again~" Akasha reassured her with a grin, then quietly muttered, "Probably…" Though she hadn't figured out how to face her teacher, her kind heart made her prioritize easing others' concerns.

The girl visibly relaxed at Akasha's assurance, smiled, and excused herself, giving a polite nod to Hoshino and Musashi as she left.

"It seems she's not back yet~" Akasha turned to Hoshino. "How about taking a break in my room first? My bed is super big and soft!"

I know you're just showing off, but that still sounded weird.

After walking down several hallways, Akasha stopped in front of a door marked Room 4396.

"Come on in, Hoshino, and make yourself at home. Sorry for the mess—I didn't really clean up this morning~" Akasha chuckled nervously as she opened the door.

The room's decor matched the luxurious style of the dorm, but its grandeur was completely overshadowed by the chaos inside.

Hoshino stepped in, took a deep breath, and sighed. "Akasha-chan, do you live in a dumpster?"

Despite the elegant furniture, the floor was littered with clothes and personal items. Half-eaten snacks and soda cans cluttered the table, and the sink was overflowing with dishes. Duel Monster cards were strewn across every surface, creating a minefield of holographic doom.

"How is anyone supposed to sit down without getting stabbed by a card?"

Musashi, both stunned and slightly impressed, muttered, "This… This is amazing. In every possible way. It's like a training ground."

"It's not a training ground!" Akasha pouted indignantly. "Come on, it's no big deal! Humans are adaptable creatures who can overcome anything with a bit of effort!"

Like a bulldozer, Akasha quickly cleared a space big enough for three people to sit.

Proudly plopping down, she patted the empty spot beside her. "See? Problem solved! Have a seat~"

"Yeah, totally solved," Hoshino replied with a strained smile, her crescent-shaped eyes radiating eerie calm. "Solved, my foot! Stand up!"

.

..

...

"Hoshino is so strict, even stricter than Sensei~~ sob sob," Akasha whined as she reluctantly began cleaning her room under Hoshino's stern supervision.

Despite being a self-proclaimed shut-in, Hoshino was surprisingly meticulous about keeping her space tidy. Back in her old home, her wall of figurines was arranged with surgical precision and kept spotless, and even her room in Domino City was cleaned daily without fail.

"Living in a mess like this would put anyone in a bad mood," Hoshino commented matter-of-factly as she surveyed the chaos.

Since Akasha was injured, Hoshino couldn't bear to watch her clean up alone. Besides, the state of the room was far beyond what one person could handle. With nothing better to do, the three of them—Hoshino, Akasha, and Musashi—worked like a whirlwind to restore order.

Finally, after clearing most of the trash, the room began to resemble a proper Obelisk Blue dorm room.

Collapsing onto the now-cleared sofa, Akasha looked completely drained. "I'm telling you, Hoshino, even if it's clean now, it'll only stay this way for a few days at most. I'm very confident about that."

Please keep that confidence to yourself, thank you, Hoshino thought dryly as she tossed Akasha's last pair of panties into the washing machine.

Musashi, nodding in approval, added sagely, "Inner peace is crucial for peak performance. A tranquil mind is essential for achieving excellence, especially in skills that require precision, control, and mental clarity, like swordsmanship."

"But I'm not a swordsman~" Akasha retorted lazily as she slid from slouching to lying face-down on the couch, her chin resting on the armrest. She glanced at Hoshino with a playful smirk. "By the way, no matter the situation, you're always so particular about certain things, Hoshino."

"Hmm? I feel like I'm a pretty laid-back person," Hoshino replied.

"Hehe, maybe it's exactly because of your personality that you were destined to become a teacher~"

"Destined to become a teacher…" Hoshino murmured, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

Having seen her future self, Hoshino couldn't help but feel the weight of self-doubt pressing on her. Could she really live up to the responsibilities of being a teacher?

"Akasha-chan, do you think I'm a qualified teacher?" she asked softly.

Akasha instantly saw through Hoshino's unease. Her crafty eyes sparkled with mischief as she jumped off the couch.

"Hoshino, just sit here for a moment. I'm going to get something great for you!" Akasha pressed Hoshino back onto the sofa before diving into her cluttered cabinet with great enthusiasm.

"What's this girl up to now?" Hoshino muttered, baffled.

"This sofa is so big and soft… Definitely worthy of the Obelisk Blue dormitory!" Relaxing despite her confusion, Hoshino began to enjoy the luxurious comfort.

"Found it! Whew~" Akasha finally emerged, holding an old, dusty item she'd pulled from the bottom of a box. She blew off the dust with gusto.

"Try this on! It'll definitely suit you~"

"What is it? Uh…" Hoshino's question trailed off as Akasha gently lifted her long white hair and placed a pair of black, non-prescription glasses on her face. The simple frames exuded an intellectual vibe and surprisingly complemented Hoshino's deep red eyes, as though they were made for her.

"See? I knew it would suit you! Oh, by the way, I think these glasses originally belonged to you," Akasha said with a playful grin.

Hoshino touched the glasses, intrigued. "Really? Do they look good? I want to see!"

"Pfft~" Musashi burst into laughter. "You kind of look like Mash now, Master~"

"Do I? Mash is adorable, and glasses definitely make her even cuter," Hoshino thought, realizing the transformative magic of glasses.

"Don't move yet! Let me tie up your hair." Producing another mystery item from her seemingly bottomless bag, Akasha started styling Hoshino's hair.

Hoshino's soft, wavy white locks were naturally beautiful and rarely needed much effort to style. Curious about what Akasha was planning, she sat still and let her work.

…

"All done! It's perfect—absolutely spot-on!"

After Akasha's handiwork, Hoshino found herself wearing an Obelisk Blue uniform, complete with platform insoles Akasha had ordered online.

"So that's why you seemed taller than me—it was these insoles!" Hoshino exclaimed, glaring accusingly at Akasha.

Akasha giggled. "So, what do you think? You asked me if you're a qualified teacher, right? Well, why don't you experience it for yourself?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Before Hoshino could process what was happening, Akasha pushed her out into the hallway.

"Take care of the room, Musashi! We'll be back soon!" Akasha called over her shoulder.

"Have fun, Master! Be careful~" Musashi, fully at home, flopped onto the sofa and munched happily on Akasha's leftover snacks.

Pushed into the dormitory hallway, Hoshino looked panicked. "So suddenly?! Where are we even going?"

"Nowhere far! Just around the dorm, hehe~" Akasha replied nonchalantly.

As they strolled through the hallways, Hoshino noticed a subtle shift in the atmosphere. The students, who had seemed downcast earlier, now wore curious and hopeful expressions.

"Sensei? You're back!"

"Looks like you made up with Akasha! We were so worried about you two~"

"Are you feeling better now?"

"I heard you dueled Professor Crowler again! If you still have the energy to duel, you must be doing just fine, Sensei!"

"If you're feeling strong, then the Academy must be safe! I feel so much more reassured now!"

Hoshino quickly realized Akasha's scheme. Her current outfit mimicked that of her future self, making it impossible for the students to notice any difference.

More importantly, the mere presence of "Hoshino" seemed to lift the students' spirits. In the midst of crisis and despair, she symbolized hope and stability.

"Hoshino, you asked if you're a good teacher, right? Well, this is your answer~" Akasha said softly.

"I see… That's such a relief," Hoshino murmured. The students' warm smiles seemed to wash away her anxiety.

However, the crowd of students began to grow, bombarding her with questions. Nervous about being exposed, Hoshino didn't dare say a word.

"What's going on here? Why is everyone gathered together?"

A voice rang out from the end of the hallway—a voice Hoshino knew better than any other.

One of the students gasped, their eyes wide in shock.

"Huh?! Imposter?!"

(*****)

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