Yu-Gi-Oh! The Pitfall Hero

"You two seem quite close?"

"It seems that entrusting it to you back then was the right decision~"

Upon hearing Kuriboh's voice, Ms. Yui teased in a slightly mocking tone.

"Is this really okay, Hayato?!"

"Give up your dream of becoming a duelist so easily!"

Just as Yusei was about to say something, a loud shout from Yuki Jaden, filled with confusion, suddenly came from inside the room.

Yusei, whose conversation had been interrupted by the voice, cast a slightly apologetic glance at Ms. Yui.

Realizing the seriousness of the situation, he immediately turned and went back into the room after seeing Miss Jie nod to him with an understanding look on her face.

"Hayato...is he crying?"

Upon returning to his room, Yusei immediately saw Jaden Yuki supporting Hayato's shoulder, and Hayato turning around with tears streaming down his face, having stopped tidying up.

"Hayato, what's wrong with you...?"

Seeing Hayato's overwhelming grief, Jaden instinctively withdrew his hand from Hayato's shoulder. His initial confusion and anger were replaced by a sudden surprise.

He had initially thought that Hayato, like when they first met, had given up his dream of becoming a duelist and chosen to lie down and wait to die, but seeing his current condition, it was clear that was not the case.

“I’ve never seriously considered becoming a duelist…”

"They just numb themselves with thoughts like 'Ah~ I wish I could become one~' without actually putting in the effort..."

Wiping away the tears from the corners of his eyes, Hayato, with a resolute expression, looked up at the direction out the window and said, "But now it's different! For the first time, I seriously feel that I need to start working hard!"

"At that time, I heard the voice of the Duel Spirit."

Looking at Hayato, who seemed to have made up his mind, Yusei couldn't help but ask, "Hayato, have you properly conveyed this idea to your father?"

"How could I possibly tell!" Upon hearing Yusei's question, Hayato's face immediately contorted with utter terror. "You all saw it, didn't you! Just how terrifying my dad is..."

“(⊙o⊙)……That’s true…”

Remembering that burly, bear-like man—Maeda Mozan—everyone couldn't help but nod in agreement.

That beast-like appearance clearly indicates that he's the type who won't listen to advice.

"In that case, let's go find the principal!"

Suddenly, Jaden Yuki, with a flash of inspiration, proposed a seemingly feasible plan.

"Hey?"

Hayato was taken aback when he heard what Jaden Yuki said.

"Hmm... I think we can give it a try."

Yusei also voted in favor of Jaden Yuki's proposal.

If it were Principal Samejima, the person in charge of this academy, who were to persuade him, even a stubborn man like Maeda Mozan should have respected his opinion.

"Alright! It's decided then!"

Having received approval for his proposal, Judai Yuki rushed to the administrator's office where Daitokuji-sensei was located.

It just so happens that Miss Jie also plans to discuss the matter of the planet with Principal Samejima.

And so, along with Yusei and Tengu, the group set off in a grand procession toward the principal's office.

……

"That's the situation. Is there any way to prevent Hayato from dropping out of school?"

Inside the Duel Academy's principal's office, Jaden Yuki, who had led the charge, gave Principal Samejima a brief explanation of the events leading up to the incident, while the others waited quietly on the sidelines.

"By the way... I've been wanting to ask this for a while now."

"Who exactly are you people? And what is Hayato's relationship with you?"

Maeda Mozan, his face full of impatience, crossed his arms and asked Yusei and his group with a questioning look.

Apart from Tengu Yu, whom he had previously introduced, and Daitokuji-sensei, whom he already knew, everyone else was just a stranger to him.

He hadn't wanted to come to the principal's office, but he was practically dragged there by Yusei and his gang of men.

Therefore, he naturally wouldn't give them a friendly look at this moment.

"Tenth Generation, it's your turn!"

Yusei reached out and patted Jaden Yuki on the shoulder, indicating that it was time for him, as the captain, to speak.

"My name is Yuki Judai." After nodding to Yusei, Yuki Judai fearlessly met the fierce-looking Maeda Mazan's gaze.

"The two people next to me are Yusei and Sho Marufuji. We are both roommates of Hayato in the same dormitory."

Yuki Judai introduced the two bodyguards beside him to Maeda Masan.

The three of them stood facing off against Maeda Masazan, who had his arms crossed, without backing down.

Hayato, who was directly involved, cowered behind Yusei and Jaden Yuki, just like Sho Marufuji had when facing Caesar.

168. There's no problem that a duel can't solve!

Principal Samejima had a pretty good idea of ​​Yusei's purpose in coming.

After all, it was he who personally called and invited Tengu Kyo, who was the recommender, to come.

To his surprise, not only Yusei, but also Yuki Jaden and the others came along, and something else happened.

Hayato Maeda, who narrowly escaped the riot at the old school building, is now facing expulsion.

Although the school did not punish him, Hayato's domineering father seemed to intend to take Hayato back with him.

This is getting a bit tricky...

In this situation, it's a family matter and doesn't fall under the school's jurisdiction.

Even the principal can't easily interfere...

If the parents don't want their children to study here anymore, you can't just stop them from leaving, can you?

As for advice...

As mentioned earlier, a brute like Maeda Mozan is not the type to listen to your grand principles.

Once he's decided to do it, he won't easily change his mind.

After listening to Judai Yuki's general account, Principal Samejima finally understood the current situation.

"Yu Cheng... I can understand how you feel."

Principal Samejima rested his chin on his hand, a thoughtful expression on his face, and slowly said, "But this matter concerns Hayato's family, and it's not the same kind of trouble you caused before..."

"If irrelevant people interrupt..."

Judging from Principal Samejima's words, he intends to stay out of it.

Yusei glanced at the frowning Jaden Yuki, and was about to say something when Maeda Mozan, standing opposite them, suddenly spoke up: "Alright! I can let Hayato go..."

"Oh?"

Upon hearing Maeda Mozan suddenly relent, everyone turned to look at him.

Even Principal Samejima, who had initially intended to remain uninvolved, showed an expression of interest.

"...But there's a condition."

"condition?"

Lowering his muscular arms from his chest, Maeda Mozan gave the crowd a mysterious smile, "Duel with me, Hayato!"

"Huh?" Upon hearing his father's words, Hayato, who was hiding behind the group, instinctively peeked out, his face showing utter surprise.

“If you win, then pretend I never said anything, and you can stay at the Duel Academy.” After saying this, Maeda Mozan suddenly changed the subject, pointing a finger at Hayato and saying, “But if you lose, then come home with me right now!”

"So? Are you willing to accept it?"

With a ferocious, beast-like expression on his face, Maeda Mozan began to put pressure on his son.

Based on his understanding of Hayato, this one move alone should be enough to make him want to back down.

"..."

"...I accept!"

However, to Maeda Mozan's surprise, under the pressure he exerted, Hayato, although he instinctively took a few steps back and wanted to give up the duel, ultimately showed him a resolute expression and said something that surprised him greatly.

"Oh?"

Seeing the changes in his son, Maeda Mozan couldn't help but reveal a playful expression.

"Alright, the duel will be set for tomorrow morning."

"Is this alright, Principal?"

Maeda Mozan cast a questioning glance at Principal Samejima, after all, this was their home turf, and basic etiquette had to be observed.

"Hmm... a duel? That's definitely a proposal that's a good way for the Duel Academy to solve problems!"

"I think it's excellent!"

Principal Samejima nodded in agreement at Maeda Mozan's proposal for a duel.

"Then it's decided." Having received approval, Maeda Mozan left the principal's office.

Before leaving, he glanced in the direction of Yusei and his group, seemingly lost in thought.

"Yusei, do you want to leave with us?"

With the matter temporarily settled, Jaden Yuki, who was about to leave, asked Yusei a question.

"What do you mean? Do you want to come back with us?"

Upon hearing Jaden Yuki's words, Yusei turned his gaze to Yui Amamiya, who had been waiting quietly since the beginning.

"Well... I have some things to discuss with the principal. You guys go back first."

Miss Yu smiled at Yusei, then said, "By the way, don't worry about accommodation. I've booked a hotel on the island. I'll come to see you tomorrow."