Yu-Gi-Oh! Heroes

Should I continue to live here, or... end it all and choose to leave the campus and enter the society?

This is a problem.

……

Duel Academy Headquarters.

Today's class is an art class taught by Huashan, the dormitory supervisor of the Sun God Yellow Dormitory.

What was different from before was that Hayato, who usually had little presence, showed his superb painting skills in this class, and painted beautiful scenery such as "Sunrise at Ayers Rock", attracting many people to come forward and watch.

The sacred place of the indigenous people, which is called the center of the world, is an extremely special place for Hayato. He engraved it on the drawing paper almost exactly.

"Ahem... Moshi Moshi... Maeda, Maeda, come to the principal's office for a moment."

Just as Hayato, who was surrounded by the crowd, was scratching his head and enjoying this rare highlight moment, a broadcast from Professor Chronos suddenly woke him up from his dream.

Hearing this voice, Hayato's body shuddered instinctively and he came back to his senses from his fantasy.

Yugi Judai: "...Hayato? What does the principal want to talk to you about?"

Yusei: "Using the campus radio during class time must be a very important matter, right?"

Hayato: "I don't know either, maybe it's about... promotion..."

Hayato shook his head, waved goodbye to everyone with a doubtful attitude, and went to the principal's office alone.

Looking at his back as he left alone, Youxing and Yucheng Judai looked at each other and fell into silence.

……

Standing near the principal's office, Hayato did not rush to the sensor door, but first prayed towards the sky.

After doing all this, he took a step forward and prepared to enter the principal's office.

However, the moment he opened the door, Hayato saw Principal Samejima sitting calmly behind his desk waiting for him, and Professor Chronos standing beside him with his arms behind his back, staring at him with a scrutinizing look.

"You're here, Maeda... Well, come here, I have something to tell you." Principal Samejima nodded to Hayato who walked in, motioning him to come closer and not to stand at the door in such a restrained manner.

"Um...Is there something you want to talk about? Is it about promotion?"

With a nervous attitude, Hayato walked forward and tried to express his doubts.

He was troubled at the moment and his thoughts were rather negative.

In his inherent understanding, the principal called him over specifically, which meant that there must be something important to announce to him.

As for his own affairs, the only bad things that happened to him so far are things like repeating a grade or dropping out of school.

It's impossible to suddenly tell him "You're a good young man, you have a bright future, I'm promoting you to Obelisk Blue" or something like that...

"Ah, that..." Realizing Hayato's inner thoughts, Principal Samejima smiled knowingly and said, "The reason I called you here today is not for this matter, but to discuss your future..."

"My...future?"

"Yes, that's it." Principal Samejima said this and took out a card and handed it to Hayato.

"…Isn't this it?" Hayato took the card and while staring at it, his expression turned into deep surprise.

After all, the scene in the card seemed extremely familiar to him.

Just now in the art class, he drew a similar scene with his own hands.

"The card you designed earlier won the competition held by the International Fantasy Club (the company of the father of Duel Monsters, Bekas)..." Folding his arms and leaning back on the chair, Principal Samejima looked directly at Hayato's face and continued, "So, President Bekas specifically told me that he had chosen you."

"Are you serious?"

"It's true~ Hayato boy~~~"

Upon learning of this unexpected surprise, Hayato instinctively felt suspicious.

Subconsciously, he began to doubt the accuracy of this information.

However, before he could sort out his thoughts, the figure of Becas suddenly jumped out from the monitor next to him.

The father of Duel Monsters, the former owner of the Millennium Eye, who spoke in broken English, now had only one eye and covered his face with long white hair. He smiled mysteriously at the dazed Hayato, "Good Imagination~ Your work is really great~~~!!!"

"President Bekas?!"

Doubt turned into certainty. Hayato walked closer to the monitor. Due to excessive shock, his mouth opened so wide that an apple could almost fit in it.

That celebrity who often appears on TV actually went out of his way to talk to me...

Oh my God! I swear this scene, just like the pigs raised by Mrs. Mary next door can climb trees, is simply an abnormal event that cannot happen in reality!

"So Good~ I am very interested in your work, so I will officially adopt it as a Duel Monster card~"

At this point, Bekas put his head close to the monitor and pointed in the direction of Hayato: "And... If Duel Academy can recommend you, then I hope you can officially join our company as a card designer~"

"Well, that's it, Hayato-boy~ I look forward to your answer~~~"

After saying what he wanted to say, the freed Bekas cut off the video call, leaving Hayato with a confused look on his face.

Maeda Hayato: “…”

Staring at the monitor that had gone black again, Hayato stood there motionless, his consciousness still in a confused state.

what's the situation……

Not long ago, I was struggling on the brink of death, worrying about the future.

In the blink of an eye, I was spotted by a world-class company and received the best offer (employment notice)...

This...isn't this really a dream?

"Ahem... That's it." After clearing his throat, Principal Samejima said to Hayato, "I recognize your talent, so I plan to recommend you to the International Fantasy Club."

“Ahhh…thank you!”

Hayato, who had just woken up from a dream, finally reacted and quickly expressed his gratitude.

International Fantasy Society...

An industry giant that stands on par with Haima Entertainment Group.

In modern society, it is probably equivalent to large multinational companies such as "Apple", "Google" and "Fruit".

Being noticed by the president of a large company and even being specially invited, Hayato's future and prospects are obviously bright.

"Principal Samejima, please wait a moment!"

Just as Hayato's future was about to be determined, Professor Chronos, who had been silent all this time, suddenly interrupted their conversation.

"What is it? Professor Chronos?"

Looking at Professor Chronos standing beside him, Principal Samejima couldn't help but ask, "Uh...if you are planning to stop..."

"Humph! Maeda... is a student who has failed a grade. I really can't recommend such a backward and poor student!"

Professor Chronos waved his hand to interrupt the principal's speech, glanced at the smirking Koala Man, and said harsh words: "In order to obtain the qualification for recommendation, in addition to the principal, my attitude as a professor is also very important... Maeda, if you want to get my recognition, then you must beat me in tomorrow's practical test!"

"If you can't even do this, then there's no point in letting you go out and embarrass yourself... You know, the International Fantasy Club is not a place that anyone can go to!"

Hayato: "A practical exam... How could I possibly beat Professor Chronos..."

Professor Chronos: "...If you give up, you will be expelled! Are you trying to say that you don't even have the courage to challenge me?"

Hayato: "Well...I..."

"Hmm... what Professor Chronos said makes sense."

Nodding in agreement, Principal Samejima, who was persuaded, placed his hands on his cheeks and said to Hayato, "Maeda, although the situation is very serious, please do your best in this practical skills test."

"I think, whether successful or not, this will be a very valuable life experience for you."

"...By the way, I have no intention of letting you down!" As if he was afraid that Hayato wasn't under enough pressure, Professor Chronos raised the corners of his mouth and revealed a standard villain smile: "Hehehehehe... I am very~very much looking forward to tomorrow~!"

"..."

……

"That's great! Hayato, your drawing was made into a card!"

"Yeah! That International Fantasy Club's president, Becas...actually came here in person to poach people!"

"International Fantasy Club... isn't that the place you've always wanted to go? Ahhh... I didn't realize you were so well hidden, Hayato!"

“Hehehe…boy, when you become rich in the future, don’t forget us!”

"Well...but...the prerequisite is that I have to defeat Professor Chronos!"

When Maeda Hayato returned to the dormitory from the principal's office, he was immediately picked up and questioned by Yusei and his group who had been waiting for a long time.

After learning that he was valued by a big shot and got the offer in advance, everyone expressed their congratulations.

Being able to display his talents to his heart's content on a stage that suits him...

In any case, this is an extremely rare opportunity for Hayato.

Perhaps his life will also undergo major changes because of this turning point...

434 Sunrise at Ayers Rock (5K)

The next day, at the Duel Academy's dedicated duel venue.

Hayato, who adjusted his mindset and made adequate preparations, finally came to the crossroads of fate, surrounded by his roommates, and chose the thorny road to face difficulties and obstacles.

After organizing the deck and wearing the duel disk, Koala Man stood on the duel field, facing Professor Chronos opposite him. He felt extremely peaceful in his heart.

If he wins this duel, a new path will appear before him.

Infinite possibilities will continue to extend along his future path.

There is no option to fail, and no plan for after defeat.

"Let us see your strength... Hayato!" Yuki Judai, who was sitting in the front of the audience seats with Yusei and the others, shouted loudly to Hayato in the duel arena: "Like I told you before, you have to have confidence in yourself!"

"Hey? Brother, aren't you worried about Hayato's condition?"

As a younger brother, Marufuji Sho couldn't help but ask: "Why do I feel... that you are putting pressure on Hayato?"

"What are you talking about? Xiang!"

Clenching his right hand into a fist and placing it in front of his mouth, Yujo Judai said with a smile: "That guy Hayato... will definitely give us an interesting duel, right?"

Judai Yuki, who has been living a smooth life so far, cannot understand what I am trying to express.

Unlike Yuki Judai, who is the chosen one, ordinary people like Hayato are completely incomparable.

If the person standing on the duel field at this moment was Yusei or Yuki Judai, then Marufuji Sho would obviously not have such concerns.

But if it was Hayato, then the situation would be completely different.

"It's an interesting duel, isn't it? But if you don't win the promotion exam, then there's no point in that!"

Touching his chin, Yusei expressed his opinion: "Well... Hayato should not be a match for Professor Chronos. In other words, there is a high probability that this duel will be a losing one."

On one side is holding the Dark Medieval deck, a powerful deck with extremely high hits and bursts, while the other side is a deck composed of various muscular animals, and the eldest brother is also a blank fusion monster.

No matter how you look at it, there's no way Hayato can be a match for Professor Chronos!

"Ahem... Maeda, anyway, this is it. According to the previous agreement, your promotion duel will begin now." Professor Chronos adjusted his hair, with a rare serious expression, speaking ruthlessly to the koala man in a drake voice: "If you want to leave here and want to go to a broader stage, then defeat me~ Yes!"

"...Yes!" Mustering up his courage, Hayato answered as loudly as he could.

"Good! Very spirited!" Nodding with satisfaction at Hayato's answer, Professor Chronos continued, "Then I'll give you the first chance to attack."

Youxing: “…”

Hearing this, Youxing's mouth twitched involuntarily, and his expression began to become quite interesting.

Wow... Professor, you are so smart!

He is clearly in an advantageous position, yet he still acts humble and charitable, just taking advantage of the honest person who doesn't know tactics.

"Well, please give me your advice!" Before realizing Professor Chronos's plan, Hayato raised his arms and prepared for a duel.

"...duel!"

"...duel!"

(Maeda Hayato LP: 4000)