Yu-Gi-Oh! The Pitfall Hero

The monkey, having successfully reunited with its companions, couldn't help but let out a heartfelt cry of joy. Its companions, too, jumped and skipped around it, celebrating its freedom from the bottom of their hearts…

"Everyone seems to be very happy..."

"Great!"

Seeing the happy ending before them, everyone couldn't help but smile with relief.

"Goodbye, monkey! Don't get caught again! Let's duel sometime!" Jaden Yuki waved his arm and made a challenge to the monkey, who had reunited with his companions. This time, the monkey's opponent was Yusei, but next time, it would be Jaden Yuki's turn.

“Puff!!!”

Waving the Duel Disk in its hand, the monkey gave Jaden Yuki a bright smile, and then disappeared into the vast forest with its companions.

"That was really close... If Daitokuji-sensei hadn't come, I don't know what would have happened to us..." Recalling the researchers' cruel expressions as they tore off their disguises, Momoe couldn't help but feel a lingering fear.

"Thank you, Daitokuji-sensei!" Asuka, with her earnest personality, expressed her heartfelt gratitude to Daitokuji-sensei, who was all smiles.

"No, no! I didn't do anything..." Seeing everyone's eyes on him, Master Daitokuji, waving his arms, couldn't help but say something humble.

Although his arrival did indeed resolve the crisis facing everyone, the decisive factor in this incident was Yusei, who won the duel with the monkey.

And if we really want to express our gratitude, we should thank the Pharaoh for stopping the security personnel from firing!

"Speaking of which, why did you come to this place, teacher?" Now that everything was settled, Yusei finally had time to ask Daitokuji-sensei, who had appeared here.

They skipped class to search for Manjoume, but instead of finding him, they got caught up in a series of events caused by a monkey on the way...

"Ah! Right, I came here to tell you guys... Manjoume has been found! He's safe and sound now..." Upon hearing Yusei's question, Daitokuji-sensei finally remembered the purpose of his visit.

Following in the footsteps of the Pharaoh, Master Daitokuji was searching for Yusei and his group when he happened to witness the researchers confronting the monkeys. He then stepped in to help them out of the predicament.

"What?! We found Manjoume! Is it true?" Upon hearing Daitokuji-sensei's words, Yuki Judai's face lit up with surprise.

"Thank goodness he didn't do anything foolish..." Asuka, relieved to learn that Manjoume was safe and sound, showed a relieved expression.

"Teacher, you seem to have something to say..." Seeing the hesitant expression on Daitokuji-sensei's face, Yusei couldn't help but ask, "Has something happened?"

"Well... we found Manjoume, but he's no longer on this island..."

"Hey?"

"Actually, after Manjoume's duel with Misawa, I was a little concerned about the boy's mental state, so I went to see Manjoume alone..." Feeling the breeze blowing from the distant sea, Master Daitokuji continued, "On the ship leaving the Duel Academy, I saw Manjoume's determined face in the distance. With that expression, it was clear that Manjoume wasn't planning to give up so easily..."

"I think... he must be planning to go somewhere to cultivate now!"

"Is that so? Manjoume has left..."

Gazing at the distant horizon, Yusei couldn't help but utter a sigh of emotion.

Speaking of which, his first opponent after arriving at the Duel Academy was Manjoume, who arrogantly challenged him. Yusei remembered that after winning the duel, he even received the card "Kite Robot" from Manjoume, which could block two direct attacks from the opponent...

Watching his former rivals leave, Yusei couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia.

Without a big sandbag by my side, I feel like something's missing...

226 Late-Night Visitor

Although Manjoume has many minor flaws, his excellence cannot be denied. After all, not everyone can become the No.1 in the junior high school of Duel Academy!

The fact that so many people care about him reflects his personal charm.

"It's okay! I believe that guy will definitely come back!"

Seeing the complex expression on Yusei's face, Judai Yuki mistakenly thought he was feeling sad and said encouragingly with a smile: "I believe that Manjoume is gazing at this blue sky just like us!"

"Um... Big brother, isn't what you're saying a bit far-fetched..." Marufuji Sho couldn't help but complain, looking at the optimistic expression on Yuki Judai's face.

"Haha... Is that so?" Scratching his head, Jaden Yuki realized that his words seemed a bit too optimistic.

"That is to say..."

"Hahaha……"

……

At the same time, on the deck of a small ferry in the Pacific Ocean, Manjoume, who was departing from the island where the Duel Academy was located on a regular ship, was watching the island slowly shrink in his field of vision with a look of reminiscence.

"Yusei... Misawa... Yujo Judai... Asuka..."

"Just you wait... I won't just end like this..."

"I'm going to secretly become stronger, and then amaze everyone! When I come back next time... I will..."

He stretched out his fist towards the empty space ahead, his face filled with unwavering determination, and silently resolved to become stronger.

……

Time flows.

Some time has passed since Manjoume left the Duel Academy.

As snowflakes drifted down from the sky, it was time for Duel Academy to begin its winter break.

Because of the holiday, many students chose to go home, so the island became somewhat deserted, with few students in sight.

Unlike holidays in China, Japanese schools have three holidays a year: a two-week spring break in March and April, a six-week summer break in July and September, and a two-week winter break from the end of the year to the beginning of the new year.

Since enrolling in Duel Academy in the fall, Yusei has unknowingly spent several months here.

That night, in the dining hall of Osiris Red Dormitory.

Yusei and his group, who remained at the Duel Academy, were gathered around their teacher, Daitokuji, enjoying a pleasant duel in the room while feeling the warmth emanating from the fireplace.

"...That's it! [Masked Hero Dark Claw] attacks [Dual Bicycle Robot]!"

"—Heroic Flash (Physical)!"

(Marufuji Sho's LP: 800 → 0)

"Ugh... I lost again!"

With Yusei's shout, a playful expression appeared on Tomokazu's face as he punched the invincible bicycle, sending it to another dimension and reducing Marufuji Sho's health to 0.

"I won! What an interesting duel!"

Yusei struck his signature taunting pose at Marufuji Sho, who was kneeling on the floor after his defeat, and then put away the black Streamer Duel Disk in his hand.

In this way, he swept through his roommates again.

"The duel is over... Next up is the routine communication session..."

After finishing his daily communication with the two sisters of the Amamiya family and catching up on each other's recent situations, the carefree Yu returned to the warm fireplace.

In this freezing weather, it's definitely more reassuring to be in a warm place!

"Ah! The rice cakes are finally ready..."

Hayato, who had been sitting by the stove ever since losing to Yusei, watching the mochi on the grill slowly puff up, couldn't help but wipe away the drool that was about to spill out.

For him, the outcome of the duel was irrelevant; being the first to taste the delicious rice cake was the most important thing.

"Meow?"

The Pharaoh, who was lying by the stove, looked at the rice cake slowly puffing up in front of him. He curiously peeked out to take a closer look, but was startled when the rice cake suddenly burst open. He jumped into the arms of the Daitokuji master.

"Hmm? Is it ready to eat?"

Watching Hayato put the baked mochi into his mouth, a look of utter blissful satisfaction spread across his face.

Yusei couldn't help but pick up the chopsticks placed to the side, pick up a piece of rice cake and put it in his mouth.

Chew, chew, chew...

"Hmm... the taste is not bad." Giving a fair assessment, Yusei once again reached for his chopsticks on the grill.

"Ah! That's the one I've been eyeing!"

Seeing Yusei snatch the mochi from in front of him, Jaden Yuki couldn't help but complain.

The same thing happened last time when Misawa treated everyone; Yusei's reaction was just too quick, there was no way he could beat me...

"Hehehe... Like I said, first come, first served~~~"

With a smug laugh, Yusei put another mochi into his mouth.

"Damn it... You'll definitely lose to me next time!"

Seeing the "funny" expression on Yusei's face, Jaden Yuki clenched his fist and focused his attention on the grill.

"Um...isn't anyone going to help me up?"

Watching everyone gather around the stove to snatch the baked rice cakes, Marufuji Sho, looking helpless, reluctantly stood up from the ground, dusted himself off, and then decided to join the "rice cake battle."

"Help me... Someone... someone please help me..."

Just as Marufuji Sho got up and was about to take a step, he suddenly heard hurried footsteps and a man's faint cry for help coming from the cafeteria entrance behind him.

Along with the cold wind outside, the man's cries for help were also carried into the warm cafeteria.

Before anyone could react, the man who had cried for help seemed to lose all his strength and collapsed with a thud against the cafeteria door.

"Huh? What's going on?"

Hearing the noise from outside the door, Yusei walked to the door and opened it. He looked at a weak boy in an Obelisk blue uniform lying in front of the door and couldn't help but show a puzzled expression.

"Whoa...what is that?"

The sudden appearance of a strange man outside the door at night startled Marufuji Sho.

He had just stood up when suddenly someone appeared behind him... If it weren't for the door blocking his way, Marufuji Sho would probably have wet himself on the spot...

"What... what happened?" Following Yusei and Marufuji Sho, Yuki Jaden, also looking puzzled, walked over.

"Psychic Shock..."

The boy, barely managing to sit up, suddenly appeared before everyone and uttered the name of a certain Duel Monster.

227 You reap what you sow!

"A telekinetic deterrent? The android Soga...?"