Yu-Gi-Oh! The Pitfall Hero

Ryo Marufuji: "..."

Saotome: "(╬◣д◢)!!!"

Ok……

Even a pig would know there's someone under the bed in this situation...

"..."

Having been betrayed by his incompetent teammate, Yusei crawled out from under the bed, still holding Rei Saotome in his arms.

"Yusei? And...you're Rei?"

Because of Saotome's violent struggle, the large beret that Saotome Rei used to cover her head, as well as the hairpin used to tie her hair, fell to the ground when she stood up.

What was revealed to Ryo Marufuji and Yusei at that moment was Saotome Ri's long, glossy black hair that reached her waist.

At this moment, no matter how you look at her, she is an extremely cute girl, with absolutely no boyish features whatsoever...

Looking at Yusei's miserable expression and Saotome Rei, who was staring at him with a face full of shame and anger after he had released her, Marufuji Ryo couldn't help but cover his head.

"Xiao Li...why are you here?"

Leaving Yusei aside for now... seeing this little girl who used to idolize him suddenly appear before him, Marufuji Ryo suddenly felt a long-lost headache.

"Ah! Lord Liang..."

"not good!"

Saotome Rei, who was being stared at by Marufuji Ryo, crossed her arms over her chest, and her cheeks immediately flushed red.

Under Yusei's bewildered gaze, she suddenly realized what was happening, abruptly picked up the beret from the ground, and rushed towards the open balcony, disappearing in an instant just as she had come in.

"???" Looking in the direction Saotome Rei had left, Yusei, who was quite speechless at her bewildering behavior, couldn't help but ask Marufuji Ryo, who was standing silently with his arms crossed, "Judging from your reactions just now... do you two know each other?"

“…You could say that.”

Marufuji nodded perfunctorily at Yusei's question, seemingly unwilling to discuss the topic further. He then pointed to his room door: "Yusei, I roughly understand what happened with the deck..."

"When you go out later, don't climb over the wall like Xiao Li did. Just go through the front door and exit from the entrance."

"Ah... oh..."

He hadn't even said anything yet... and Marufu Ryo already understood?

It seems this isn't the first time he's seen his deck in this situation!

For Marufuji Ryo, Saotome Rei was probably like the mischievous little brat next door...

She had been somewhat troubled by this before. She originally thought that coming to the Duel Academy would allow her to get rid of all sorts of messy things and devote all her energy to dueling...

But then, I saw that little devil who was giving me a headache again...

"I understand! I understand..."

No further explanation is needed; I, You, have completely figured out the relationship between the two of you!

Yusei, who was well aware of the destructive power of mischievous children, looked at the fresh teeth marks on his palm with a little saliva and couldn't help but show an expression of agreement to Marufuji Ryo.

It could give even the composed Caesar a headache...

Saotome Rei, little sister...you're really something!

“I don’t know what you’ve figured out… but we don’t have any complicated relationship…” Caesar said, bending down to pick up the hairpin that Saotome Rei had left on the ground, and then handing it to Yusei: “If you have the chance, please return this to him for me.”

In Marufuji Ryo’s hand was a beautifully crafted black and gold hairpin.

It was because of this hairpin that Saotome Rei was able to comb her long black hair up and wrap it inside her beret, pretending that she was just a cute boy.

In a time when hairpins are scarce, if she still intends to conceal her true gender, she must immediately find a suitable substitute.

"Hmm..." Looking at the hairpin in front of him, Yusei hesitated for a moment before raising his head to look into Marufuji Ryo's eyes: "It would be better if you handed this to her yourself."

"Tell her your true thoughts, and then return the hairpin to her. That's what you, Marufuji Ryo, should do."

“That makes sense…” Upon hearing Yusei’s reply, Marufuji Ryo paused for a moment, then withdrew his hand and put Saotome Rei’s hairpin into the pocket at his waist.

Ryo Marufuji: "Then let's do as you say."

Yusei: "Yeah, that's it."

After nodding in agreement with Ryo Marufuji, Yusei opened the door and left the boys' dormitory in Obelisk Blue.

"Why... that guy..."

Watching Yusei's departing figure, Saotome Rei, who was hiding in the bushes observing him, couldn't help but sigh.

290 You treat me like a brother.

That night, at Duel Academy, under the lighthouse by the harbor.

After listening to Yusei's advice and carefully considering his feelings, Marufuji Ryo decided to tell Saotome Rei his true feelings and is waiting for Asuka's arrival here.

Originally, he didn't want too many people to know about his embarrassing moments.

However, feeling completely unfamiliar with relationships between men and women, he cautiously considered that he really needed a girl to give him some advice before taking any concrete action.

How can I politely reject a girl's advances?

This is a rather perplexing question.

Since both Yusei and he are men, they need to hear the women's opinions on this matter.

With this in mind, Marufuji Ryo began to diligently search through his network of contacts.

However... in the end, he had to admit a sad truth...

It seems that the only girl he can claim to know is his currently missing best friend—Tenjōin Fubuki's younger sister, Tenjōin Asuka…

As for those fangirls who are arguing about wanting to "have his babies"...

Just don’t mention it!

"Ugh... this is giving me a headache... why is Xiao Li at Duel Academy... she's clearly..."

Pressing his head, Ryo Marufuji wore a rather troubled expression.

In the realm of duels, he is known as "Caesar," the man who stands at the pinnacle of the Duel Academy.

However, when it comes to romance... he's a complete novice...

Rather, the fact that Marufuji Ryo, who reigns supreme in the dueling arena, gives him a major headache just thinking about who he might become romantically entangled with...

Why fall in love?

Isn't playing cards fun?

I'm going to be the King of Duel, women are just a nuisance!

……

"It's rare for you to call me over."

As footsteps sounded, Asuka's figure emerged from the shadows and appeared in the lighthouse's glow: "It's about my brother... Is there any new information?"

After Fubuki's sudden disappearance, the two who were searching for her would often exchange information at the lighthouse at night.

To outsiders, they looked like a couple who often met in secret.

However, in reality, it is not like that at all.

Ryo Marufuji finds romance troublesome and has absolutely no interest in it.

As for Asuka, she only regarded Marufuji Ryo as an older brother.

You treat me like a brother.

That's pretty much the gist of their relationship.

"No... that's not it... I called you here today for something else..." As Asuka approached him and gazed at him with her clear eyes, Marufuji Ryo's face showed a rare look of struggle.

After hesitating for a moment, he took out the hairpin that Saotome Rei had left in his room during the day and showed it to Asuka: "Actually, there's something I'd like to ask your opinion on..."

"A girl's hairpin... Could it be..." Asuka, somewhat surprised by the exquisite hairpin in Marufuji Ryo's hand, widened her eyes involuntarily: "Could it be that the man known as Caesar has someone he likes...?"

If that's the case, it's a big deal!

I wonder how many girls who secretly admire him will be heartbroken because of this...

If they found out who Marufuji Ryo is in love with... that young lady who's Marufuji Ryo's number one female fan and uses the [Frog Deck]... she'd definitely be the first to get upset and go after that girl!

"No, that's not it..." Seeing Asuka's misunderstanding, Ryo quickly shook his head: "Actually, it was during the day, Yusei and Rei..."

And so, Marufuji Ryo slowly began to explain to Asuka, who was smiling at him, what had happened around him during the day.

When he mentioned seeing Yusei and Saotome Rei clinging to each other as they crawled out from under his bed, Marufuji Ryo seemed to notice that Asuka's smile stiffened for a moment, though he wasn't sure if it was just his imagination...

……

...

On the other side, in the Osiris Red Dormitory.

"Ah! That feels so good~ I really should have a bottle of milk right after taking a shower!"

While drying her hair with a towel, Yuki Jaden tilted her head back and brought the milk bottle to her lips, beginning to savor this delicious treat.

"Huh? Is it just Hayato alone?...Where's Yusei? And Saotome isn't here either..."

Marufuji Sho, who had returned from the bathhouse with Yuki Judai, glanced at the state of the room and couldn't help but ask.

He had originally planned to remind the asteroids to take a shower.

"Oh? Yusei! He just went out with Saotome, they seemed to have something to talk about?"

Upon hearing Marufuji Sho's voice, Hayato, who was lying on the bed, answered.

"He went out... Is something wrong?"

Placing the milk bottle on the table, Jaden Yuki, looking puzzled, couldn't help but ask, "Could it be that Yusei is planning to ask Saotome himself why he didn't go to the bath with everyone?"

"Well...who knows?"

Hayato helplessly shrugged, indicating that he was just a bystander and had no idea what the two of them were doing out there.

"Speaking of which, I remember it was Saotome who took the initiative to ask Yusei out..."