[3rd POV]
Above an endless stretch of glittering ocean, a passenger helicopter cut through the sky, its blades thundering steadily after nearly twenty-four hours of travel. At first there had been nothing but water in every direction, an unbroken blue horizon that blurred into the clouds. But now, at last, something rose from the sea.
Academy Island.
Inside the helicopter, students pressed eagerly toward the windows despite the cramped space. Gasps and excited chatter filled the cabin as the island grew larger with every passing second. From above, the campus looked almost unreal! White buildings gleaming beneath the sun, grand towers rising proudly on it's side, and behind it all was a massive volcano exhaling a thin, constant stream of smoke into the sky.
Then a sharp buzzer announcement can be heard inside the helicopter radio.
"bzzt! attention, new duel academy students!" The helicopter pilot greeted. "If you look outside your right of the window, you will see your new home far away from home! now, now, I know you're excited but, don't shove, quiet aside and fasten your seatbelt! Because we... Are going to land!"
[Mash POV]
As the rustling settled and seatbelts clicked into place, I leaned toward the window to get my first proper look at the island that would supposedly define the next three years of my life.
"Bastion, get your bitch ass face off the window!" I muttered under my breath. "I want to see the academy firsthand, not through the back of your head like we're on a concert!"
"Alright, alright." Bastion said softspokenly.
When he finally shifted, I caught a clear view of the academy and I had to admit, it was impressive.
The campus sprawled across the island like a miniature kingdom. And the academy building almost looked like a castle itself, meanwhile further inland I could make out what had to be Blue, yellow and red dormitories arranged across the landscape.
Wow. It's actually huge. And all of this is coming straight from Kaiba's wallet? The guy really does treat money like drinking water.
Still… I squinted at the smoking volcano. I don't like that. I really don't like that. It's like a death flag that was being waved so casually.
A few minutes later, the helicopter touched down with a heavy jolt, and one by one we disembarked onto solid ground. After landing, we were marched along a paved path for what felt like twenty minutes before reaching the main academy building.
After checking for registrations, were issued our uniforms, the clothes we'd be wearing for the next three years, and then we all were directed toward an auditorium for the opening ceremony and was told to wait while standing in a line.
[And we've been standing... FOR 30 MINUTES!!! HURRY THE FUCK UP ALREADY!!!] Mash was getting irritated, his legs feels like spaghetti.
Meanwhile, in front of us, there was a really large monitor screen to which after a bit of static, we were all jumpscared by a bald man with a friendly expression.
It was Chancellor Shepard, the headmaster of Duel Academy.
He delivered a long speech about tradition, honor, dorm systems, and how we were the future of dueling with bright paths ahead of us... Blah blah blah... We'll skip this part.
Alright. Ceremony over. Time for the real priority.
Outfit check.
I glanced down at myself.
It's literally if a [Insert generic male MC] were to wear a Slifer Red uniform. Except that my eyes were about one hundred and twenty percent larger than average, and my chin was sharp enough that it could probably cut diamonds.
I sighed.
After the ceremony, we were instructed to head toward our assigned dorms and get settled in. I already knew what was coming. I had watched the anime, after all. Slifer Red dorm wasn't exactly famous for luxury. More like "budget japanese apartment with questionable plumbing and a shared outdoor bath."
I shoved my hands into my pockets as I walked away from the academy building.
I'm starting to regret intentionally bombing the written exam just to land in Slifer Red. Each second that passed, I'm starting to regret ever flunking that test intentionally...
[3rd POV]
Jaden and Syrus were perched comfortably atop a stone statue of Baby Dragon, their legs dangling over the edge as they scrolled through their Duel Academy PDAs, looking at their own personal information.
Jaden leaned back against the statue's smooth stone wing. "Well, I don't know about you, Sy, but it looks like I'm in the Slifer Red dorm!"
Syrus looked up from his screen, his expression instantly brightening. "That's awesome! Same here with me!" he said, relief and excitement mixing in his voice.
Before the two could celebrate further, Bastion casually strolled into view to these two airheads.
Jaden waved enthusiastically. "Hey, Bastion! You're in Red too?"
"Hm… let me check..." Bastion replied mildly. He glanced down at himself, brushing a hand over the fabric of his uniform as though examining a scientific specimen. "Yellow sleeves. Yellow buttons. Yellow trim... I don't believe so."
Jaden blinked once. Then he looked down at his own jacket. The red fabric. The red sleeves.
His eyes widened in sudden realization. "Ooooh… so that's why Sy and I are in Red."
Bastion stared at him for a long, silent moment. "Please don't tell me you just figured that out just now."
Jaden's face scrunched into a pout. "So what!? Ever think I might be colorblind?"
Out of nowhere, an arm hooked around Bastion's neck, nearly pulling him off balance.
"Well, duh, Mr. Obvious!" Mash's voice rang out as he appeared behind him, grinning from ear to ear. He gave Bastion a playful squeeze before shifting his attention to Jaden. "Even if you were joking about being colorblind, I'd still believe it!"
"Ah- Mash!" Bastion straightened himself, clearly startled. "You really must stop materializing out of thin air." But then Bastion eyes glanced down at Mash red uniform.
Bastion eyes widen. "N-no way... You're-"
Jaden's jaw dropped. "Mash! You're a Slifer Red too?!"
Mash shot him a proud thumbs-up. "You bet I am!"
Syrus tilted his head in confusion. "Wow, Mash. I thought you'd be Ra Yellow… or maybe even Obelisk Blue. Especially after using 'that' technique against Professor Crowler during the practical exam."
Bastion folded his arms, nodding. "I assumed the same. However," he added with a faint smirk, "this is also the same individual who placed dead last on the written exam. Despite defeating- no, utterly demolishing, Professor Crowler in the practical exam. Because of his, Last place grades... The academy's scoring system placed him in Slifer Red."
Mash rubbed the back of his head with an awkward chuckle. "Heh… yeah, maybe I should've studied a bit for that exam... (Lie) But think about it, if I'd been placed in Ra Yellow or higher, wouldn't Jaden be there too? After all, we both defeated Professor Crowler and his Ancient Ass Golem."
Jaden crossed his arms thoughtfully. "Hmm… yeah, that does make sense."
"Perhaps," Bastion replied. "But there is a distinct difference between Jaden's victory and yours."
Syrus blinked. "What difference?"
"You see, Syrus." Bastion glanced between them. "Jaden here defeated Professor Crowler in a duel. You, Mash... What you did to him is almost on the same level as psychological torture and humiliation with that… strategy of yours."
Mash immediately pointed at him. "Hey! It has a name! It's called the Lovely Lock!"
Syrus scratched his cheek awkwardly. "I don't know, Mash… For a strategy like that, the name's kind… un-intimidating."
Jaden snickered. "Yeah. For something that horrifying, calling it 'Lovely' just feels wrong."
Mash huffed, as he dramatically jumped onto the baby dragon statue "I don't care! I'll make this entire academy tremble just by hearing its name!"
"FEAR THE LOVELY LO—AUGH!"
His foot suddenly slipped, sending him tumbling down. He landed face-first onto the gravel with a loud thud.
Jaden, Syrus, and Bastion immediately burst into laughter.
Bastion, still chuckling, cleared his throat. "In any case, we should probably head to our respective dorms."
Jaden hopped down from the statue, stretching his arms over his head and cracking his knuckles. "Alright, Bastion. We'll see you at the dorms."
Bastion smiled faintly. "I doubt that. After all, you 3 dorms are over there."
He pointed toward the distant edge of the island.
Jaden, Mash, and Syrus followed his finger.
Far off in the distance, sitting at the cliff edges of the island, was a lone structure that looked suspiciously like a worn-out storage shed pretending to be a dormitory.
[Mash POV]
We walked through the dirt path leading to the Slifer Red dorm, and the moment it came into full view, I felt my soul leave my body.
It was not a grand manor like the Ra Yellow's polished estate. Nor was it the towering castle on top of a lake like the Obelisk Blue's absurdly fancy fortress. No...
This shit was a cheap, run-down Japanese apartment complex with peeling paint and the architectural charisma of a storage shed. I stopped at the foot of the stairs and stared at it with lifeless eyes.
All of my life choices lead me to this.
I... Mash, just Mash. Deliberately bombed the written exam and scored a literal fucking zero despite having the ability to ace it perfectly… just so I could live here?
I could've been sleeping on a king-sized bed in Obelisk Blue. With Marbled floors, massive room, and a giant fancy bathtub filled with hot water and bubbly soap. But nope, this is my reality now.
I sighed.
[Well… I'm too deep in the rabbit hole now. Might as well commit.]
With a another sigh, I climbed the creaking stairs of our budget-tier dorm and spotted Jaden and Syrus leaning against the railing, gazing out at the ocean horizon like they were in the scene of that titanic movie.
"Jaden! Syrus! Found your room yet?" I called out.
They turned toward me, faces lighting up.
"We already did!" Jaden said with a grin. "And guess what?"
"We're roommates!" Syrus announced, practically vibrating with excitement.
"Wow..." I replied, my expression turned more deader than a zombie. "How nice of you two to be roommates... Yey."
Syrus nodded excitedly. "Yeah! Kinda weird how me and Jaden met at the entrance exam and now we're sharing a room?! You think we were somehow connected to each other in some ancient life, Jaden!? You know, like maybe you were an Egyptian Pharaoh and I was the Guardian Pharaoh?"
I raised an eyebrow. "No offense, but-"
"That's just lame," Jaden finished bluntly.
Syrus frowned, folding his arms. "It could be true."
Jaden waved him off. "Forget that. Anyway, Mash, where's your room?"
I glanced at their door number, then at the one right next to it. "Oh my, looks like I'm your neighbor, my room's right beside yours. You guys wouldn't mind if I crashed to your room sometimes, right?"
Jaden smirked. "Crash whenever you want, dude! Alright, we're heading in now."
He pushed the door open and stepped inside. Syrus followed, but paused to wave at me. "Bye, Mash! Hope you get some good roommates!" Before shutting the door close.
I stared at it for a long second.
[Ah… damn.]
[Each dorm room in Slifer Red houses 3 students. And Jaden's dorm room here is full because there is Jaden, Syrus, and that fatass whose name I forgor... so, the dorm room that I would be in, is basically gonna be some random background students...]
[Fuckin great.]
I walked to my dorm room door, a little bit of unease creeps in. After all, this is uncharted territory right now, and my knowledge of watching yugioh GX anime is basically useless at this moment.
I take a deep breath, my right hand holding the door handle.
"Well… here goes nothing."
I pushed the door open, and inside...
Was empty.
I stepped inside cautiously. The walls were painted in an obnoxious shade of orange, And the floor was covered in cheap-looking red carpet. A three-tier bunk bed stood in the corner of the room, alongside three identical desks that were lined up neatly, each with a lamp and a rickety rolling chair that looked like it would break at any moment, finally a large wardrobe loomed ominously against the wall.
I frowned.
[Strange... did they go out?]
And then a Ding sound can be heard on my ears, and the system {mission} window was automatically opened.
My eyes widen at the system tabs
{Missions:– Survive all 4 seasons of GX: 0/4Reward: 100,000 credits
– Meet and settle in your dorm: COMPLETEDReward: 1,000 credits
– (NEW!) Shoo away the guard!: 0/3Info: Tonight, Jaden Yuki will be challenged by Chazz Princeton! In the anime, three guards interrupt the duel, leaving it unresolved. Please shoo them away!Reward: 1,000 credits
[CLAIM ALL]More missions coming soon!}
The 1,000 credits were nice. But "shoo away the guard"?
How exactly am I supposed to shoo away trained academy security? I'm sixteen for fuck sake...
Still, I tapped [CLAIM ALL], and felt the slight buzz of credits being added to my balance before closing the system window. Shaking my head, I turned back toward the room and ran my fingers over the mattress of the bottom bunk. The second my hand touched the fabric—
WOOSH—WOOSH!
Two shadows burst out from the wardrobe behind me.
I spun around instantly.
Two boys in Slifer Red uniforms stood there, striking overly dramatic poses. One had short, spiky red hair. The other had short, spiky blue hair. Their faces were nearly identical, save for a small mole under the red-haired one's eye.
I took a defensive step back. "Who the hell are you guys?! Some kind of circus bandits?!"
The red-haired guy flinched and gasped dramatically, pressing a hand to his chest like I had personally offended his entire family lineage.
"How rude!! We are the seniors of this room and have been here longer than you! Shouldn't you be the one introducing yourself?!"
[These fuckers....]
I forced a polite smile, though inside, I felt nothing but disrespect. "Ah… I see… I am very sorry about my rudeness. The name's Mash- just Mash! Pleased to meet you."
I extended my hand for a handshake, attempting to be civil, only for the blue-haired guy to slap it away without hesitation. The sharp sting shot up my palm.
[OUCH! that hurt! what the fuck did I do, dipshit?! I was being polite, you know!?]
The blue-haired guy scoffed. "Dont get all friendly-friendly, slave..."
My eye twitched.
[Excuse me?]
The red-haired guy took a dramatic step forward, placing a hand on his hip while smirking like he was about to drop the most self-important introduction of the century.
Beside him, the blue-haired one slid into position with equal dramatics, striking a pose so exaggerated it looked rehearsed in front of a mirror. They moved in perfect sync, clearly proud of whatever nonsense they were about to unleash.
The redhead jabbed a thumb toward his chest. "Behold! The most handsome in all of Slifer Red, Akaza Rokket!"
The blue-haired one followed immediately, pointing at himself with a cocky grin. "And I am the most dangerous in all of Slifer Red, Azaka Rokket! And together…"
Akaza spun dramatically and thrust a finger at me as if accusing me of crimes against fashion. "We make trouble!"
Azaka leaned in, eyes gleaming. "And make it double!"
I stared at them in complete silence, my expression flat enough to be used as a level surface.
[What the fuck is this team rocket type shit]
They held the pose for a few extra seconds, clearly expecting applause, gasps, or at the very least a tremble of fear. Receiving none, they simply reset and planted their hands on their hips again, grinning as though they had just delivered the most legendary entrance in Duel Academy history.
"We are the Twin Rokkets!" they shouted in unison. "And unless you want to be our slave, you must defeat both of us in a 2v1 Tag Team Duel!"
Azaka stepped forward, eyes narrowing with smug delight. "The rules are simple-!"
Akaza cut him off, flashing an overconfident grin. "Each of us will have 8,000 Life Points. You, however, will only have 4,000 Life Points...! To win, you must deplete both of ours! Which... Is an Impossible task! AHAHAHAHA!"
I crossed my arms, unimpressed. "So because it's a two-versus-one, I get two turns per cycle, right? The order would be Akaza, me, Azaka, me. That sound about right?"
Akaza waved a dismissive hand. "Hmph. Interpret it however you like. It won't change the outcome. You will lose and serve us for the rest of your Academy days! AHAHAHAHA!"
I sighed, pulling my duel disk out of my backpack and slotting in my deck. Across from me, the Twin Rokkets did the same, their cocky expressions making my irritation grow. "Hey! If I win this duel, you two will be my 'slaves', alright?"
I let out a slow breath and pulled my duel disk from my backpack, snapping it onto my arm with a practiced motion before sliding my deck into place. Across from me, the Twin Rokkets did the same, their smug expressions growing by the second.
"Fine," I said calmly. "But if I win, you two are my 'slaves.' Deal?"
Akaza's grin widened. "That is, of course, if you can defeat us."
Azaka pointed at me, barely containing his laughter. "Which is practically impossible!"
They broke into another round of synchronized cackling, convinced they had already secured victory.
---
"..."
Four turns later, it was over.
It wasn't even interesting. My Lovely Labrynth and her 2 servants just TKO them after a little bit of setup. I OTK team rocket Jessie at turn 2, and did the same with team rocket James here on turn 4.
These morons did nothing but normal summon 1 single 1,000–1,600 ATK Normal Monsters. No Spell Cards. No Trap Cards. Nothing. I don't know how these idiots think of themselves as "the strongest in Slifer Red Dorm," but holy shit, that duel was tragic.
When the holograms faded and the duel disks powered down, the Twin Rokkets stood frozen in place, eyes wide, mouths slightly open. Their earlier bravado had evaporated completely, leaving behind nothing but stunned disbelief.
I stretched casually, rolling my shoulders and cracking my knuckles before flashing them a slow, satisfied grin.
"Alright," I said lightly, "first order as your new master..."
I pointed at the door with my thumb.
"get out."
They blinked at me, still struggling to process what had just happened.
"This room is mine now," I continued, my tone firm. "You two are banned from stepping foot in here again. Ever."
The color drained from their faces.
"NOW SCRAM!!!"
They didn't argue this time and just like that, Slifer Red Dorm lost two of its self-proclaimed "strongest" duelists.
The room, blessedly, was finally quiet.
And entirely mine.