Professor Crowler's office.
Sunlight stread through the window, bathing the room in a warm golden glow. The green plants on the windowsill shimred in the light.
To be honest, Kira was surprised when Professor Crowler invited him in for afternoon tea. He figured his grades were fine and he hadn't offended the professor, so he shouldn't be getting the problem student treatnt.
But he quickly realized he was overthinking things.
"Fujiki Kira, you've been here two weeks now. Are you settling in okay?"
Crowler tried hard to look gentle and kind, but with his unique features, he still looked like a grinning Pot of Greed.
"It's great, Professor," Kira replied with a smile.
It's just that my classmates seem to be struggling to keep up...
"Mmm, that's good, no? If you have any problems, let know anyti, whether it's about studying or life."
Honestly, Kira's impression of Crowler was pretty good. Part of how he'd earned so many credits in the first two weeks was thanks to Crowler giving him chances to answer questions and demonstrate in class—always with a credit reward for good performance.
In stark contrast, Jaden had nearly run out of credits from deductions for skipping class, sleeping in class, snoring in the front row, failing quizzes... Kira figured most of those deductions ca from Crowler, probably with a bit of a personal grudge.
Maybe for the professor, a good student taking a nap in class was so dedicated he studies even in his sleep, while Jaden was just always sleeping in class.
"I've recomnded you for the school's honors program, and the Chancellor has already approved it," Crowler said with a smile. "As long as you keep all your grades above ninety, you'll get extra credits every month.
And although you're still in Ra Yellow, your card shop priority will be the sa as Obelisk Blue. Of course, with your grades, moving up to Obelisk Blue is just a matter of ti!"
"Thank you, Professor."
Kira paused, rembering sothing.
"Oh, by the way, I have a question."
"Go ahead, don't be shy," Crowler said, fingers steepled under his chin, looking even more like a pot.
Kira did his best not to think about that. "Well, there are so cards I've been waiting for, but the school shop never seems to have them. Is there another way to get rare cards?"
"Hmm..."
Crowler hesitated.
"You can make a list and I'll check for you, but don't get your hopes up. Even teachers usually have to go through the school shop. If the academy doesn't have them, it's unlikely there's any other channel."
"I see." Kira nodded.
Makes sense. If there were an easier way to get rare cards than the Duel Academy shop, everyone would be doing it.
"But the campus clubs are starting recruitnt soon," Crowler added. "Maybe you could check one out."
"Clubs?" Kira blinked.
What do clubs have to do with rare cards?
"Oh, you're a freshman, so you might not know. Many student clubs have their card inventories," Crowler explained. "They use them as prizes for club events or as perks for recruiting new mbers.
So of these are even discontinued or out-of-print cards, or cards the shop rarely stocks, or niche cards only useful in certain decks."
Now Kira was interested.
So, so cards that briefly appeared in the shop and then disappeared might have ended up in a club's inventory. Joining the right club could an a shot at those cards—or even getting them for free.
"Clubs also get budgets and credit quotas, so you can earn extra credits by participating in club activities."
Crowler thought for a mont.
"For you, I'd recomnd the Duel Club—it's the most popular club focused on dueling.
Sparring with the academy's best will help you improve."
Indeed. Luck draws are sothing you have to practice. The stronger your opponent, the better you'll get at playing under pressure.
"Thanks, Professor."
After finishing their tea, Kira left Crowler's office.
The Duel Club...
He rembered seeing an ad—they were holding a recruitnt event tomorrow at noon.
Might as well check it out.
...
The next day, Duel Arena.
It was the classic venue Kira had seen in the ani so many tis, but in real life, the place seed even bigger.
A huge square arena surrounded by ringed seating, already buzzing with students.
Today, the Duel Club rented the arena for their recruitnt event. And of course, that ant dueling.
The event hadn't started yet, so Kira looked around and quickly spotted a familiar face.
"Chazz-sama is just unstoppable!" his two lackeys gushed.
"Hmph, obviously," Chazz smirked, legs crossed, looking as arrogant as ever.
"With Zane not around, the Duel Club's strength is pretty average. Once I join, things will change. Let's just hope the others aren't dead weight."
"Zane Truesdale was the academy's top duelist and a forr club mber. But now that he was a busy third-year, he rarely showed up.
As Chazz basked in his coolness and his lackeys' praise, a familiar voice piped up from behind him.
"Hey, Chazz, you're looking confident these days."
That teasing tone—could it be—
Chazz whipped around and saw Kira's sunny, handso grin.
He spun so hard he fell out of his chair.
His lackeys gasped, "Boss! Why are you under the chair again?!"
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First Goal: 100 PS; 1 extra Chapter.
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