Yu-Gi-Oh! The Pitfall Hero

Hayato rubbed his fingers against his chin, a rare thoughtful expression on his face: "I have a feeling that Saotome is a bit suspicious!"

"Suspicious...is that so?" Upon hearing this, Judai Yuki's lips slowly curled into a smile: "My instincts tell me! Something interesting is about to happen!"

Driven by a burning desire to uncover the truth, and feeling his curiosity growing stronger, Jaden Yuki patted his underling on the shoulder: "Sho, come with me to uncover Saotome's secret!"

"Huh? Oh!" Sho Marufuji, who was slightly taken aback but was gradually getting used to his older brother's unconventional thinking, quickly realized what was going on and nodded to Judai Yuki.

Coincidentally, he was also quite interested in this matter.

Saotome Rei actually ascended to the Yellow Sun Goddess rank before me!

Unforgivable! Be...Saotome!

I'll seize this opportunity to catch you red-handed!

"Huh? You two just got back and you're already planning to go out?"

Seeing that Judai Yuki and Ryo Marufuji were about to leave, Hayato, who was feeling restless, quickly got out of bed: "Then... count me in! I'm going too!"

"Hehehe... Hayato, you're curious too, aren't you?" Jaden Yuki beckoned to Hayato, who was climbing off the bed, signaling him to hurry up and follow. He then opened the door to the room: "Well then, I hereby announce! The Osiris Red Expedition is to depart immediately!"

"Our goal is to uncover the secrets hidden within Saotome Rei!"

"Oh!"

"……Oh!"

Responding to Jaden Yuki were two voices with different tones.

Marufuji Sho and Hayato followed closely behind Yuki Jaden.

……

Osiris Red Dormitory, in the open space below the cliff, is the place where Jaden Yuki once dueled with Sho Marufuji.

In the past, Marufuji Sho, who had revealed his rebellious nature, was severely beaten by his own older brother here...

Meanwhile, Yusei, who had been called aside by Saotome Rei, was calmly gazing at the night sea alongside her.

Moonlight spilled onto the sea, leaving behind ripples of light.

A cool evening breeze was blowing.

Yusei glanced at the silent Saotome out of the corner of his eye, and after a moment's thought, broke the silence first: "Hmm...did you tie your hair up with a headscarf? I'm surprised you even thought of that..."

Judging from Saotome's current state, the hairpin is probably still with Caesar and hasn't been returned to her.

Ryo Marufuji, hurry up!

You're the man known as "Caesar"! How can you be so cowardly?

"Why...why did you help me hide my identity?" Without responding to Yusei's words, Saotome Rei asked the question she most wanted to know.

She knew from the very beginning that the man in front of her had already seen through her identity.

But at that time, he proactively told me that he would keep the secret and that I could ask him for help if I had any difficulties...

Clearly, doing this will not do him any good; it will only cause all sorts of trouble!

Saying such things to a stranger...

Is this guy named Yusei a complete idiot?

"Oh? You're starting to doubt this selfless help?" Seeing the puzzled look on Saotome Rei's face, Yusei couldn't help but think of his past self.

There's no such thing as a free lunch. It's only natural to be skeptical of such unsolicited kindness from others.

When Yusei first came into this world, he was very skeptical of Yui's helping hand.

He started off by saying, "I've got my eye on you!"

This is... how can it not arouse suspicion!

At the time, he even mistook Tiangong Jie for a gay man who coveted his body...

Although a series of events that followed revealed the fact that Amamiya was disguised as a man, and clarified the misunderstandings between the two...

But after that...

What Yusei experienced and felt... made him feel somewhat numb once again...

Various services including meals, accommodation, and information gathering...

It also comes with rare Pokémon cards, a custom-designed Duel Disk, and her rightful place as a special recruit at the Duel Academy...

Yusei received treatment that was practically royalty!

Miss Yui practically had "Yusei's biological mother" written all over her face...

It can be said that Yusei's ability to stand here and dominate in Duel Academy is not only due to his own strength, but also inseparable from Yui's support.

"Because someone helped me like this, I hope to pass on this feeling of gratitude to the next person."

Shrugging, Yusei gave his reason casually.

Whether Saotome Rei believed it or not, this was his truest thought.

Unlike the Overlord who walks alone to the end, Yusei in this timeline encounters the two sisters of the Tengu family and experiences the emotion called "love" and the beauty of humanity through them.

Therefore, he chose to embark on a path completely different from the "tyrannical way" of the overlord.

Do whatever you want, do whatever you want, and associate with whoever you want to know.

The common sense of the world cannot bind me.

No one has the right to decide my future!

"you……"

Silently observing Yusei's expression and sensing the true meaning conveyed in his words, Saotome Rei couldn't help but pause in surprise.

In order to find her first love, she traveled all the way from the main island to Duel Academy and worked hard to pass the transfer exam...

All of this was just so I could see that person again.

Despite this, she felt a sense of resonance with Yusei.

Oh...I see!

Like me, he also met the most important person in his life, someone he cherishes and protects.

Because he felt love, he was able to have the same feelings for the world and say those illogical things to himself.

“I think… you must have your own reasons for disguising yourself as a boy and coming to Duel Academy.” Seeing Saotome remain silent with her head down, Yusei continued, “Alright then! Rei… come and duel with me!”

"...A duel?" Upon hearing this, Saotome Rei looked up in Yusei's direction.

What she saw was his handsome, confident smile.

“Yes, a duel. If I win, tell me why you came here. If I lose, I'll grant you a reasonable request within my capabilities…” Yusei, smiling, wagged his finger in Saotome's direction. “As for you being discovered to be a girl during the day, I didn't see a thing…”

"I suppose Marufuji Ryo won't reveal your secret."

"……Well."

"...So, to uncover secrets and purposes, we have to duel? What is all this nonsense?"

Saotome Rei, somewhat amused and exasperated by Yusei's suggestion, said this but still took out her Duel Disk and put it on her left arm: "That's true, duels don't lie... So, I'll accept Yusei's proposal."

“Yes, that’s how duelists should be!” Nodding to Saotome Rei, Yusei then raised his black Streamer Duel Disk.

Under the moonlight, on the edge of a cliff, the duel between the two is about to begin.

……

"Hey, hey...did you two hear that? Their conversation..." Osiris, Red, and the other two, who were lying on the edge of the cliff, heard the whole conversation between the two.

Shocked, Marufuji Sho instinctively turned his gaze to Yuki Judai beside him.

Marufuji Sho nearly popped his eyes out when he learned the truth.

“Ah… this, this, this…”

Feeling that his brain cells were running low, Hayato gave up thinking and went into standby mode.

291 A girl in love is the strongest!

"Saotome Rei...is a girl?" Jaden Yuki scratched his head, a look of utter bewilderment on his face as he discovered this shocking fact.

Ah this...

This is truly an unexpected path!

No wonder she didn't want to shower with us, always making up all sorts of excuses to avoid it, and then sneaking out alone at night...

It turns out that "he" is actually "she," and the petite and adorable Saotome Rei is simply a cute girl!

That makes sense now!

No wonder, no wonder...

"Heh... Is this Yusei's style? Using a duel to solve problems, making Rei reveal her purpose..." Just as Yuki Jaden looked conflicted and scratched his head, several footsteps suddenly came from behind the three of them lying on the ground, along with a calm male voice.

"……elder brother!?"

This was a gasp from Marufuji Sho, who was extremely surprised that his older brother had come to Osiris Red so late at night.

"...Caesar?"

"Huh? Caesar... and Asuka? What are you doing here?"

Upon hearing the sound, Hayato and Jaden Yuki also turned to look behind them.

There, they spotted Ryo Marufuji standing not far behind them with his arms crossed, and Asuka beside him with one hand on her hip and a smile on her face.

"Everyone has different ways of doing things, and this behavior certainly has his own style..."

After saying this, Asuka looked down the cliff.

There, facing each other from afar, Yusei and Saotome Rei had begun their duel.

"Duel!" *2