This Hextech Duel Master is a pro at getting targets.

"That's too much! You're too modest, You Shuo!"

"My God... Last time I said I wanted to test You Shuo's strength..."

You Shuo smiled amicably and said, "Would you like to play a few more rounds now, Jonouchi?"

Katsuya Jonouchi said seriously and confidently, "Of course! But let me open a few packs of new cards first!"

At this moment, Masaki Kyoko couldn't help but ask, "Yushuo, it seems you didn't come to school again today?"

You Shuo nodded and replied with a smile, "Yes, I plan to participate in the National Duelist Tournament in a while, and I have already asked for leave."

Tongshiye Middle School has always been very tolerant and open to various cultural and recreational competitions. After confirming You Shuo's true level and that he did not intend to skip class, the school directly granted him a holiday.

A hint of sadness flickered in Masaki Kyoko's eyes.

original……

is that so……

During the day, Nosaka Miho wasn't worried at all...

He also mentioned that he would take some time off to go on vacation...

It seems the two are planning to go out and participate in the competition together...

Kyoko Masaki knew she shouldn't interfere in their relationship, but she had been trying her best to suppress her feelings for Yu Shuo these past two days...

Whenever she felt happy or sad because of You Shuo, she would constantly remind herself—he's Nosaka Miho's boyfriend, she shouldn't feel this way…

But when she recalls the scene in the storage room, the feeling of being pulled into a corner by You Shuo, and the scene of You Shuo knocking down that lewd fat man in one move and taking the DV camera for her, Masaki Kyoko feels an uncontrollable urge.

Just as Masaki Kyoko was feeling sad, the unreliable Jonouchi Katsuya started shouting excitedly again.

"What?!"

"The National Duelist Tournament?!"

"Hey? There are promotional posters in Grandpa's shop, how come I didn't see them last time!"

"and many more……"

"The prize money is that high?!"

"I want to participate too!!!"

Upon seeing the high prize money, Katsuki Jounouchi completely lost control.

At this moment, Sugoroku Muto said coldly, "Participating in the competition with the sole purpose of winning the prize money, you're up to no good!"

Katsuya Jonouchi's excitement wasn't simply due to his greed for the huge prize money; rather, it was because his younger sister, Shizuka, was suffering from an eye disease and urgently needed money for surgery, otherwise she would become permanently blind.

Jonouchi Katsu didn't directly state the reason, but simply asked Muto Sugoroku where to register.

The rest of the story follows the same plot as in the original novel.

In order to participate in the competition, Katsuya Jonouchi also became the student of Yugi Muto's grandfather, Sugoroku Muto, and began intensive training starting tonight.

As for the others...

Honda carefully selected several packs of cards, but came up empty-handed.

To express his gratitude on behalf of his grandfather, Yugi gave Yushuo a fairly good rare card.

“Yushuo,” Yugi Muto said sincerely, “Although this card is far less valuable than Blue-Eyes White Dragon, I hope it can help you achieve good results in the competition. Consider it a thank-you gift from your grandfather and me.”

You Shuo took the card and his eyes lit up immediately.

This is an extremely rare ritual magic card with a price tag of over 500,000 – Jera's Ritual!

In the current era, Ritual Monster Cards and Fusion Monster Cards do not exist as physical cards; their information and data are recorded in rulebooks and duel systems.

The monster summoned by this Jera ritual is a powerful demon with an attack power of 2800 points—Jera!

Chapter Twenty: We Can't Just Eat Anything Anymore

【Gera】

[Eight Stars]

[Dark Attribute/Demon Race]

Attack/Defense: 2800/2300

This is a high-level demon monster.

During the Duel Kingdom era, many monster races possess unique hidden characteristics.

For example, dragon monsters are never countered, and bird monsters generally possess the ability to fly, which effectively counters monsters that cannot fly in battle...

In contrast, the Demon race is more direct and domineering. When a Demon monster launches its main attack, its attack power increases by 30%, and this hidden characteristic can be stacked with the type advantage/disadvantage relationship!

Generally speaking, there aren't many monsters that the Demon race can counter, but once the opportunity arises, it can provide a 60% attack power boost!

Yu Shuo's eyes lit up when he saw the rare Ritual Spell Card that Yugi Muto had sent him.

good……

That's a really good card!

In this era, any spell card can be activated at speed 2.

This Zeratul Ritual can not only Special Summon powerful monsters, but can also be used at specific times to dodge opponent's attacks and effects.

"Thank you, Yugi. I will use this card to win the next duel."

You Shuo smiled amicably.

Yugi Muto was also very happy.

Meanwhile, Masaki Kyoko frowned slightly, feeling a pang of sadness as she thought about how Yu Shuo and Nosaka Miho would soon be going to participate in the competition together.

night.

Katsuya Jonouchi stayed at Yugi's house to learn dueling from Sugoroku Muto.

Honda Hiroshi didn't get any good cards and went back early.

You Shuo was about to return to his school dormitory, while Masaki Kyoko was planning to go home, so the two of them walked together toward the bus stop.

A refreshing night breeze ruffled Masaki Kyoko's hair, and under the streetlights, her delicate and pretty face looked somewhat adorable, though this adorableness carried a hint of hesitation and inner conflict.

When they first started walking together, Masaki Kyoko tried to find topics to talk about, but as they chatted, she stopped talking, probably because she suddenly thought of Yu Shuo and Nosaka Miho.

"Maki Kyoko's favorability rating is surprisingly high..."

You Shuo thought to himself.

"I have enough cards now, there's no need to deliberately lower my favorability just to get more cards."

"Furthermore, once I defeat the Insect Moth, I can go for another Hextech gacha pull."

"Instead of deliberately distancing herself from Kyoko Masaki,"

"It would be better to..."

"Beep beep——————"

Suddenly, the horn of an electric scooter blared urgently.

Distracted, Kyoko Masaki didn't notice the red light and walked onto the zebra crossing.

Seeing that the deliveryman was about to bump into Masaki Kyoko, You Shuo immediately pulled Masaki Kyoko back.

Under the pale yellow streetlights, Masaki Kyoko's light brown hair fluttered slightly. She was startled and felt herself being pulled around and then bumped into someone's arms.

In the cool night wind, the man embraced her; his firm chest and muscles felt so familiar, as if she had felt them not long ago…

"You, You Shuo?!"

Kyoko Masaki's face turned red instantly.

"No, no, no!"

"We can't!"

"You're Nosaka Miho's boyfriend, we absolutely can't..."

Masaki Kyoko said in a panic, instinctively trying to push Yu Shuo away, but her body was very honest. She didn't use much force and was still somewhat reluctant to stay in Yu Shuo's arms.

Yu Shuo's embrace made Masaki Kyoko both excited and joyful, but at the same time, she was also incredibly afraid and conflicted.

As a friend...

She can't do that...

"Xingzi, you were daydreaming just now, you almost got hit by a car," You Shuo said softly with a smile.

Kyoko Masaki was taken aback and looked at the food deliveryman who had almost crashed into the roadside while trying to avoid him before she realized what had happened.

So, it turns out You Shuo wasn't confessing his feelings...

You Shuo is protecting himself...

What was I doing just now?!

With her face as red as an apple, Masaki Kyoko quickly apologized to the deliveryman, her heart pounding.

You Shuo chuckled and asked, "Xingzi, what did you just say was unacceptable?"

Kyoko Masaki's face turned bright red: "I...I misunderstood..."

"What misunderstanding?" You Shuo pressed.

Kyoko Masaki had no idea how to explain. She exclaimed "Oh dear!" and forced a nonchalant air: "What do you think?! Anyone would be startled if they were suddenly hugged!!"

You Shuo said, "I was quite startled just now."

"Huh?" Masaki Kyoko looked up at Yu Shuo.

You Shuo said, "That was dangerous just now. You were almost hit. I would be worried if you were injured."

Upon hearing this, Kyoko Masaki's gaze flickered.

Worry……

What does You Shuo mean by these words...?

Is he trying to show that he cares about me?

Or is it because she's Miho's best friend that she...?

Kyoko Masaki was caught off guard.

You Shuo pointed to the traffic light across the street and laughed, "Let's go, the light's green."

Unable to stop her mind from wandering, Masaki Kyoko followed Yu Shuo across the road.

In the short zebra crossing, several dramatic scenes unfolded in her mind.

When they reached the other side, Masaki Kyoko took a deep breath and said with red eyes, "Yu Shuo, maybe I'm being too sensitive, or maybe I've misunderstood something."

"However, you can't say things like 'I'm quite worried' anymore, especially at school."

"You're Miho's boyfriend, saying that will lead to misunderstandings."

"I... I don't want you and Miho to be affected."

"I don't want to be seen as...that kind of girl..."

When Kyoko Masaki said these words, she felt incredibly bitter.

You Shuo listened patiently.

He knew that Kyoko Masaki was a girl with very strong moral values; she was definitely not the type to knowingly become a mistress.

If I were to take the initiative to express my desire to develop a deeper relationship with her now, she would definitely lose interest in me, and the image I had previously cultivated would be completely destroyed.

You Shuo was not in a hurry.

Of course, he wouldn't give up on a girl as beautiful and outstanding as Kyoko Masaki.

only……

We must proceed step by step according to the plan.

Soon, the weekend arrived.

With the seven-day leave he took, You Shuo had a total of nine days off. Nosaka Miho also took leave; she had already bought tickets and planned to go with You Shuo to participate in the National Duelist Tournament.