Who Let Him Play Yu-Gi-Oh!

"Tell me something through the duel?"

Jaden's words left Chazz dumbfounded.

Is that true? How come I didn't feel it?

Chazz furrowed his brow, thinking hard.

If he gained anything from this duel, it was pain and frustration. No matter what monsters he summoned or how brilliant his plays, the opponent always brushed them aside as if it were nothing.

If there was any message, all Chazz got was:

—You really suck.

I didn't even go all out, and you were already down.

"Chazz, when you came back from the northern school, you gained not just new cards, but new friends, right?" Jaden said.

Chazz was stunned.

At first, he thought Jaden meant his new classmates, but soon realized—

He meant Duel Spirits.

"Yeah, like me! Your most reliable partner!"

Ojama Yellow Spirit popped out, wiggling his red underpants on Chazz's shoulder.

Still traumatized, Chazz wanted to tear him apart.

Damn, maybe I should just rip this idiot up...

"Right, that's it. I saw him appear several times during the duel," Jaden smiled. "So Chazz also gained a precious card spirit partner."

"Precious? Partner?"

Chazz looked at Ojama Yellow in disgust.

This thing?

Ojama Yellow whimpered: "Boss, did you forget our vows? Or have you moved on from me?"

"Get lost! I never made any promises to you!" Chazz shouted.

"So, Chazz, you have the spirit's power, but you didn't add it to your deck, did you?" Jaden asked. "Why?"

"Isn't that obvious?" Chazz said coldly. "There's no way I'd use that trash in such an important duel."

"But Kira used the Ojama deck and fought beautifully, didn't he?"

Kira: "..."

"There's no such thing as a useless card. They're just waiting for someone to unlock their potential," Jaden said. "Chazz has gotten strong, but you're still chasing power alone, right?

But I think duels need more than just power. Kira chose this deck and this way to duel you, to make that point."

He looked at Kira.

"Right, Kira?"

"Uh, yeah, more or less," Kira nodded seriously.

Well, since Jaden said so, let's go with it.

Can't just say I picked Ojama to humiliate Chazz 'cause it'd be fun...

"Yeah, that's right, Boss!"

Ojama Yellow danced, looking at Jaden and Kira with tears of gratitude as if they were the best people in the world.

"I can be useful too!

Look, Kira used my brothers to beat you to a pulp, left you totally destroyed—"

Chazz's veins popped again.

Maybe I really should rip this clown up...

"But Chazz fought beautifully too," Jaden stepped back, hands on hips, facing the audience.

"See? Everyone thinks so!"

The northern students chanted together:

"King! King! King! Chazz it up!!!"

The cheers thundered, shaking the roof.

 Chazz was stunned.

"But why?" he mumbled. "I lost..."

"Because everyone saw your strength and effort," Jaden smiled.

"Sometimes, the process matters too."

Chazz: "..."

"Don't be ridiculous," Slade said. "Losing is losing. Our dream—"

"You want Chazz to conquer the world of Duel Monsters, expand your influence and build the Princeton Empire, right?" Kira interrupted.

The brothers looked at him.

"You're not wrong. Sometimes results matter more than process," Kira said.

Jaden looked at him in surprise. "Kira..."

"But duels aren't just tools for victory or ladders to fame," Kira said. "To you, Chazz is just a tool.

Dueling is just a means to gain status and wealth. Because of that attitude and pressure, he can't move forward."

Chazz: "..."

He looked at Jaden and Kira, his eyes a little different now.

Jagger stepped forward, about to speak, but Slade stopped him.

He shook his head, and Slade fell silent, giving Chazz a last look.

The brothers left.

The Princeton Group and media soon departed.

It was time for the academy's reward.

"Now then, it's award time for Duel Academy vs. North Academy!"

Professor Crowler took the microphone, standing on the makeshift stage.

"Let's welcome the Academy's special prize hostess!"

Everyone was confused.

Academy hostess?

Is that a thing?

Then, the freshmen stared in shock as the heavily made-up, backless-dress-wearing Ms. Dorothy appeared.

"What!?"

The new students felt their eyes take psychic damage.

"And now, the winning Chancellor, please step up!"

Professor Crowler gestured.

Sheppard beamed as he stepped up, and Ms. Dorothy planted a lipstick-red kiss on his face. Sheppard grinned ear to ear.

Meanwhile, Chancellor Foster of the North Academy finally broke down, burying his face in Chazz's chest and bawling.

"Chazz! Next year, you must get stronger, even stronger!"

He sobbed.

"Next year, we must win! Ms. Dorothy, you have to stay with that bastard Sheppard for now, but wait for me—uwaaa!"

Seeing his Chancellor cry, Chazz hesitated, then said awkwardly:

"Uh, Chancellor, sorry. I've decided—I'll stay at the Main Campus from now on."

"Huh!?"

Foster turned to stone.

"Yeah, that's right," Chazz said. "I have unfinished business here."

Foster: "..."

So not only did he lose Ms. Dorothy's kiss this year, but his ace is defecting too?

PS: Bonus Chapter at 500 PS