"Are you sure you can be this relaxed, Jaden?"

Although Akasha claimed she only cared about Hoshino's salary, she was clearly worried about Jaden too.

"Your written exam score was only 4 points, you know? That means if you lose even one duel and get docked 5 points, you'll be expelled immediately."

Jaden waved it off with a grin. "Relax! I just have to win the duel, right? Besides, it's a random draw—there's no guarantee I'll even get picked this time. Still, I can't help feeling excited~"

In truth, Hoshino was also worried about Jaden's score. That idiot probably hadn't realized yet that with only 4 points from the written exam, even one duel win wouldn't be enough—he'd have to make sure the team didn't lose, or else he'd take the -10 penalty and fall straight into expulsion range.

"Well, since it's random and there are plenty of students in Red Dorm, maybe he won't get picked," Hoshino muttered.

Soon, it was time to begin. The host responsible for drawing the matchups walked to the center of the dueling stage.

"Good afternoon, my dear students, na no ne! I'm your beloved host for today's Red vs. Yellow Dorm showdown—Professor Crowler, na no ne~!"

Hoshino froze, her expression darkening. "Oh, hell no. Why is that guy the host?! This is the first I've heard of this!"

"Now then, allow the fairest and most impartial person here—me—to draw the participants for this most important team battle, na no ne~"

Crowler reached his hand into a box filled with slips of paper marked with student ID numbers, closing his eyes and pretending to look all righteous and harmless.

Hoshino Alter murmured, "The more someone insists they're 'fair and impartial,' the more suspicious they sound. And seriously, who still uses paper slips for random draws in this day and age?"

"Let's see, na no ne… The first match—the vanguard duel! Representing the Ra Yellow Dorm, we have Kirito, versus from Slifer Red Dorm, Asuna!"

Hoshino blinked, staring at the pair walking to the center of the duel stage. "=_= What's with these names? Are we sure these two didn't just isekai here from another world?"

—Vanguard Duel: Begin!!—

"Trap Card, activate—Six Style – Dual Wield!"

[Six Style - Dual Wield – Trap Effect: If the only monster you control is 1 'Six Samurai' monster in face-up Attack Position: Target 2 cards your opponent controls; return those targets to the hand.]

"With Dual Wield's effect, I'll return your monster and your set card back to your hand, Asuna!"

"Damn…" Asuna grimaced. With both her only monster and her defensive set card gone, her field was completely exposed.

"It's over, Asuna! The Six Samurai – Nisashi, direct attack! Starburst Stream!!"

[The Six Samurai - Nisashi ATK 1400]

The twin-bladed warrior slashed mercilessly, cutting through Asuna's remaining Life Points.

"Ahhhhh!!"

[Asuna LP 1200 → 0]

"I lost… Kirito-kun…"

[Vanguard Duel Result: Winner – Ra Yellow's Kirito!]

Hoshino Alter crossed his arms. "≖_≖ Aibo, did we just witness a domestic violence scene?"

"≖_≖ Nah, there are too many things wrong here. I don't even know where to start…"

Hoshino facepalmed, too embarrassed to keep watching. "So we really lost the first match that easily… Typical Slifer Red. Not that I'm surprised."

Her wallet throbbed in pain. If this kept up and they lost without suspense, she wouldn't even make it to the captain match before her entire year's salary went up in smoke.

"Heeheehee, how unfortunate for Slifer Red~ Congratulations to Ra Yellow for taking the first win!"

Wearing a sly grin, Crowler reached back into the box to draw the next matchup.

"Next, the Second Duel! From Ra Yellow Dorm, we have Cola, versus from Slifer Red Dorm—Yuki Jaden!!"

The entire audience gasped. Hoshino's bad premonition came true. "They actually drew Jaden… This is going to be troublesome."

"Why's everyone acting like it's the end of the world? I'm not gonna lose this duel~!"

Brimming with confidence, Jaden activated his Duel Disk and leapt onto the stage without hesitation.

"That's the guy, right? The one who beat Professor Crowler in the entrance exam duel?"

"Yeah, but he only got 4 points on the written test. That's why he ended up in Red Dorm."

"So he managed to dodge every correct answer? That's impressive in its own way…"

As one of the most talked-about new students, Jaden's appearance immediately set the crowd buzzing.

His opponent, the Ra Yellow duelist Cola, looked far too mature to be a student.

"Heh-heh-heh, Jaden Yuki, huh? I've heard you're strong—but I've spent ten full minutes studying your tactics! I've got you all figured out!!"

—Second Duel: Begin!!—

"Fusion Summon! Come forth—Elemental HERO Mariner!"

[Elemental HERO Mariner ★★★★★ (Level 5)][WATER] [Warrior/Fusion/Effect][ATK 1400 / DEF 1000]

['Elemental HERO Bubbleman' + 'Elemental HERO Avian']

"Then I'll set one card! Mariner's effect activates! As long as there's a set card in my Spell & Trap Zone, he can attack your Life Points directly!"

Cola's face twisted in alarm. "Wait, if he can attack directly, doesn't that make all my monsters useless?!"

"Exactly! Which means this duel's already over! Mariner—Harpoon Machine Gun!!"

"Ahhhhh!!"

[Cola LP: 800 → 0]

[Second Duel Result: Winner – Slifer Red's Jaden Yuki!]

"I won! That was a fun duel~!"

Excited, Mizuki and Syrus swarmed around Jaden as he returned to the stands.

"That was awesome! You really are amazing, Jaden! Even against a Ra Yellow duelist, you made it look easy!"

"It's only one win, but you've fired up Red Dorm's spirit! You showed everyone that even the 'bottom dorm' isn't something to look down on!"

Akasha exchanged a glance with Hoshino and sighed. "These guys are way too optimistic. It's just one win."

Hoshino nodded. "Yeah. But now that Jaden's in this… this team battle isn't just about my yearly salary anymore. We have to win."

Jaden's current points: 4 + 5 = 9.

If Red Dorm lost the team battle, the -10 penalty would drop him to -1—meaning immediate expulsion.