"This is... the gap between me and senpai... and the academy's duelists, huh."

If she said she wasn't frustrated, that would've been a lie.

Alexis had thought that even if she couldn't win, she'd at least be able to give Hoshino some trouble.

But to her shock, the duel ended with her being completely overwhelmed—while Hoshino didn't even lose a single Life Point.

"Senpai, you really didn't hold back at all, huh... or, wait—you didn't hold back, right?"

Alexis tried to comfort herself.

If she lost this badly and Hoshino had still been holding back, she might've just lost the will to duel entirely.

Scratching her cheek, Hoshino forced a small smile and replied awkwardly,

"Y-Yeah... let's call it a pretty satisfying duel."

She knew she had gone easy during parts of the match—but she'd never tell a student that.

The last thing she wanted was to discourage them from dueling.

[Duelist Rank Evaluation Complete]

[Alexis Rhodes – Duelist Rank: B+]

[Reward: 55 Saint Quartz]

A B+ rank—once upon a time, that would've been considered elite.

But with how far Duel Monsters had evolved, the overall standards had risen, and now that level was only considered excellent, not exceptional.

Of course, among students, Alexis was still one of the best—one of the few standing at the peak of Duel Academy's pyramid.

"I didn't expect this year's freshmen to be this strong," Hoshino said with a smile. "Aside from Jaden and Akasha, there's you too, Alexis. The academy's future is looking brighter by the day."

"Senpai, you're the future of the academy," Alexis replied earnestly.

She still couldn't understand how someone this powerful—someone who might even surpass her brother—hadn't been mentioned by anyone before she enrolled.

"Haha... someone like me can't decide the academy's future. That's for the younger generation."

"Pfft, younger generation? Senpai, you really are funny."

Watching the small, adorable senpai speak so seriously like an "old lady" hit Alexis right in the heart.

Her smile came naturally.

Before she could catch up to her, she decided she'd first follow in Hoshino's footsteps.

As Alexis gazed at Hoshino's silver hair shimmering under the moonlight reflected on the lake, a familiar flutter stirred within her chest.

"Honestly... this romantic atmosphere is too much. Let's go back, senpai."

Trying to steady her emotions, Alexis quickly looked away before she embarrassed herself further.

Then, as if remembering something, Hoshino asked,

"Oh right. Before the duel, you said that if I lost, I'd have to promise you something. What was that, exactly? If it's not too much, I can still agree to it now."

"You'd still agree... even now!?"

The unexpected offer sent Alexis's mind into chaos.

Originally, she had only planned to ask something simple—like which junior senpai liked the most.

But now... if she asked her out on a date, would senpai actually say yes?

Or... would that be too much?

"Hmm? What's wrong?"

After a long, painful moment of indecision, Alexis finally sighed and shook her head.

"No, senpai. I'll ask again when I've caught up to you."

There was still time—plenty of it.

For now, just being able to duel under the moonlight with her senpai was already more than enough to make her happy.

3:00 A.M. — Duel Academy Faculty Office.

The lights were still on.

"Curse that meddling Headmistress! If not for her interference, that failure would've been expelled already, buonononono!"

Still showing no sign of remorse, Crowler scribbled furiously at his desk.

The sly grin from earlier was long gone—replaced by pure exhaustion from overwork.

"Mamma mia...! This ten-thousand-word reflection! At this rate, even if I wrote ten thousand words a day, it's inhuman! Buonononono!!"

Ever since returning to his office, Crowler hadn't stopped writing.

Now, it was less of a punishment and more like swallowing broken glass with a smile.

"But that failure... what's his relationship with the Headmistress anyway? To think he's getting special treatment! Looks like I can't use my usual 'special methods' to expel the slackers anymore, buonononono!"

Muttering to himself, Crowler booted up his computer and checked his emails.

A wicked grin crept back onto his tired face.

"But the heavens never close all doors! Even if I can't use underhanded tactics, the upcoming Team Battle is the perfect chance to kick those Slifer Red slackers out once and for all, buonononono!"

[Notice: Mid-Month Team Duel – Ra Yellow vs. Slifer Red]

[Students' starting points will be based on their most recent written exam scores to reflect both practical and theoretical ability.]

Crowler burst into laughter.

"Written exams, hmm? If I recall correctly, that failure only got four points!

If they lose even a single match, his score will drop into the negatives—and then he'll be expelled! Truly, the gods favor me! Hiahiahia~~~!!"

The dark hallway outside his office echoed with Crowler's deranged laughter.

"No, no, focus! I have to finish this reflection, buonononono..."

Meanwhile, at the Obelisk Blue dormitory—Alexis's room.

Tossing and turning in bed, Alexis hugged her pillow tight, her face glowing red.

"There's no way I can sleep... My head's full of senpai...

Why did I turn her down when she offered to grant my wish?!"

She buried her face into the pillow with a groan.

"So curious... I need to know which junior senpai actually likes..."

Was it Jaden? Akasha? Or someone else entirely?

When senpai received that love letter earlier and said, 'We don't really know each other yet,'—

Alexis suddenly realized she didn't even know what year senpai was in... or which dorm she stayed in!

Her thoughts spiraled endlessly, filling her head with confusion and regret.

"〒▽〒 Ahhhh, I wish I could just knock myself out! Why did I try to act cool?!"

.

..

...

The next morning—

"(￢＿￢), you look awful. Didn't sleep last night?"

Akasha asked, glancing over from the next seat.

Rubbing her eyes, Alexis forced a wry smile. The dark circles under her usually bright eyes were impossible to hide.

"Hehe... yeah, couldn't sleep much. Oh, by the way, Akasha, can I ask you something?"

"Hm? What is it?"

"Do you... like senpai?"

"(ﾟ▽ﾟ*) Like her? Of course I do—I love her!"

Akasha answered cheerfully without a moment's hesitation.

"Yeah... makes sense. Senpai's cute, strong, and amazing at dueling—who wouldn't like her?"

Alexis sighed, realizing it was a pretty meaningless question.

"No, no, Alexis," Akasha said, shaking her head seriously.

"I mean the kind of like where... I want to sleep with Hoshino-nee."

"Pfffft—!!!"