Yu-Gi-Oh: Fusion Is the Noblest Summoning Method!

Hikaru shuffled his deck in the waiting room.

His current deck had been "updated" quite a bit. Though it still lacked a cohesive core engine, he felt it was at least usable by someone unfamiliar with it. Whether or not it could win was another matter, but at least it could function.

Promotion within the academy...

Upgrading from a lower dorm to a higher one, like Red to Yellow, or Yellow to Blue, was something indeed established in the original series.

Normally, students in Obelisk Blue were promoted straight from the junior division. Chazz was a prime example. Even someone like Bastion, who ranked first in entrance exams and had an excellent dueling performance, could only start in Ra Yellow.

And in the original, Syrus was explicitly shown to progress from Slifer Red to Ra Yellow, then to Obelisk Blue.

Though Hikaru still couldn't figure out how someone like Syrus, who napped through class with Jaden, managed to get promoted.

Maybe Jaden truly slept through class on purpose, while Syrus secretly studied hard and impressed everyone behind the scenes.

Either way, promotions weren't that big a deal; they happened.

So;

Hikaru picked up his deck and leaned back in his chair.

"Why are there so many humans outside?" Tierra floated in the air, peeking out the window before turning to ask him. "This isn't a big deal, right?"

Right.

This really wasn't a big deal.

To be honest, ever since Funglow Corporation began sponsoring him, Hikaru hadn't lacked for money. He no longer had to eat bread crusts or mooch cafeteria leftovers while studying and researching.

His base of operations wasn't even in the dorms anymore; it was the Grand Universe Workshop.

So even if he were promoted from Yellow to Blue, the main benefit, a larger, more luxurious dorm room, meant nothing to him.

Promotion? Didn't matter.

At his current level of reputation, no one in Obelisk Blue would dare boss him around anyway.

While Hikaru was deep in thought, back in the principal's office, two staff members were having a heated argument.

One of them was Professor Crowler, familiar to Hikaru as the Pot of Greed professor. The other was a stocky, balding man in formal attire with a curled mustache- Head Instructor Napoleon.

The "Head Instructor" role was effectively the vice principal. While Principal Sheppard was away on business, Crowler had been temporarily appointed as acting principal, with Napoleon as his assistant.

Now, the two were clashing.

"Zane Truesdale lost a crucial duel. We need a new direction," Napoleon said. "Frankly, we should just shut down the Slifer Red dorm entirely!"

"Mamma mia! How can you say that! Even poor students deserve a place to grow! What? Do you want them camping in the wilderness!?"

"Then expel them. Duel Academy doesn't need those failures," Napoleon retorted. "We've finally secured corporate partners and investors. They need to see results. Slifer Red is a stain!"

"Super Mamma mia...n-no-no-no, this," Crowler shook his head like a spinning roulette. "The mission of this school is always education. If we abandon that, if we treat students like tools and commodities, how can we call this a school!?"

He argued passionately.

No matter what...

Napoleon's view was far too extreme.

Crowler didn't like some Red students either, but this was beyond reason.

As they bickered, they heard cheering and enthusiastic shouts outside. Napoleon paused to listen.

"That the student you're betting on?"

"That's right. Amagi Hikaru. The strongest, most refined Fusionist in Duel Academy, he's our new apex!" Crowler declared.

He immediately got up and headed outside, with Napoleon following.

Crowler intercepted Hikaru at the stage. Hikaru bowed and asked if something was wrong.

Crowler hesitated, then smiled, "Don't feel pressured, Hikaru. Just duel as you normally would."

"Understood. Thank you, Professor," Hikaru said without probing further.

He could tell Crowler had something on his mind, though, since Napoleon was right there, this wasn't the time to ask.

He nodded to Napoleon and proceeded to the arena.

Napoleon, who had been away all year, hadn't seen Hikaru before. But now that he had, his first impression was decent.

"If he loses to Professor Rox, then per our agreement, you'll adopt my strategy."

Crowler remained silent.

Rox, a professor loyal to Leo Akaba, taught dimensional theory to second-years and had impressive dueling achievements. He was far too strong for a promotion duel opponent.

Per school rules, Hikaru should have faced a third-year Obelisk Blue student.

Still, Crowler had struck a deal with Napoleon: regardless of the outcome, Hikaru would be promoted to Blue.

Their wager stemmed from a prior argument. Napoleon believed the academy needed a complete overhaul, cutting out failures and restarting admissions.

Zane's loss had left students demoralized. They'd lost focus. Sponsors were getting skeptical.

So Napoleon wanted radical change.

Crowler, unwilling to let students lose their place of growth, nominated Hikaru as the academy's new pinnacle.

Over the past year, Hikaru and his friends had taught Crowler many things. They helped him realize that education wasn't just about grades, it was about life and the future. Even Red students had potential. Casting them out would be a mistake.

He still believed Zane would return stronger than ever.

That said, he didn't want Hikaru to shoulder this burden, so he said nothing.

Unfortunately, his silence was in vain.

Because as Hikaru stepped onto the stage, students packed the stands, cheering his name. Their gloom from Zane's defeat vanished.

After all, Hikaru's duels were always bizarre, unique, and fun. Perfect for lifting spirits.

This was part of why Crowler timed the duel to coincide with the arrival of the American Branch students, no favoritism.

What Crowler didn't expect, though, was for Napoleon to hijack the Academy's stream while he was backstage.

Before Crowler could stop him, Napoleon publicly revealed their wager.

Now, every student knew this wasn't just a promotion test.

This duel would determine the future direction of Duel Academy.

Debates, cheers, shouts, and curses, they all reached Hikaru as he saw a teacher in a purple uniform take the stage.

"How could they dump something so important on Hikaru!?" Bastion shot to his feet. "I'm going to talk to Napoleon!"

Chazz slammed the table. "What does the school's future have to do with Hikaru!? This isn't his burden!"

The Tyler Sisters exchanged glances, eyes gleaming with intrigue. For two thrill-seekers, this kind of action on day one was pure excitement.

'So this was it.'

Hikaru understood everything now.

This had happened in the original, but back then, it was Crowler and Napoleon dueling over Slifer Red's fate.

Thinking that, Hikaru smiled. Amidst the worried stares, he looked up at the roof camera and shouted:

"Don't worry, Professor!"

"No matter what kind of duel it is, I won't back down!"

"I'll give everyone my answer!"