A new life at duel academy

A young man lay sprawled across his bed, cigarette smoke swirling lazily in the air around him. His gaze flickered to the digital clock on his bedside table, its red numbers glowing ominously in the dim light. He picked up his phone and dialed a number, taking a deep breath as the line connected.

"Hello, Sheppard here, Chancellor of Duel Academy," a gruff voice responded.

"Hello," the young man said, a hint of determination in his voice. "I would like to enroll at your school."

"Sorry, but applications are closed, and exams are currently taking place. You'll have to try again next year."

The man felt a spark of frustration but quickly quelled it. "How much will it take?"

"What?" Sheppard asked, confusion lacing his tone.

"I asked how much money you would take to enroll me in the school."

"Listen... who am I even talking to, first of all?"

"The name is Kai Yuri."

"Listen, Mr. Yuri, I don't take bribes, and we also select students based on merit and skills."

Kai leaned back, his expression unfazed. "What if I offered you $10,000?"

There was a long pause on the other end. "…what?"

"I'll pay $50,000. I'm sure this money could be quite useful to your academy."

Sheppard's silence stretched on for several seconds before he responded, the disbelief palpable in his tone. "…you will still have to take an exam, though."

"And why is that?"

"The exams are used to determine which dorm a student will be placed in."

"Dorm?" Kai echoed, intrigued.

"Yes, we have three dorms at the school: Obelisk Blue, Slifer Red, and Ra Yellow. Obelisk is the highest tier, while Slifer is the lowest."

"Interesting system you have… but I'm not doing those exams."

"Then I will have no choice but to place you in Slifer, since I have no clue about your dueling capabilities or your performance in the written exam."

"Fine by me. But is there a way to differentiate which students belong to which dorm?"

"Yes, we have colored uniforms matching each dorm's colors."

"I'm not wearing the Slifer Red uniform. I hate the color red. I'll wear whatever I want."

"I mean, there isn't exactly a rule forcing you to wear red. It's just a way to identify the dorm."

"Fine then... I guess everything is sorted out, Chancellor."

"Yes. Tomorrow at 8 a.m. will be the departure for Duel Academy. You will need to go to Kaiba Dorm. There, helicopters will transport you here."

"Anyways, I think you should have received the money."

"Uhm... ye—" call ended.

Kai leaned back against his pillow, exhaling a plume of smoke as he stared at the ceiling, contemplating the fresh start ahead of him. "Oh well, I guess tomorrow marks the beginning of a new life, huh?" His thoughts drifted as he awaited the dawn, excitement and uncertainty bubbling beneath the surface.

The Next Day

Kai revved the engine of his motorcycle, the roar of the machine cutting through the morning air as he sped toward Kaiba Dorm. He arrived at 7:00 a.m., hoping to beat the crowds. However, as he parked and dismounted, he quickly realized his hopes had been in vain. A throng of students milled about, their chatter filling the air like a swarm of bees.

'Guess everyone here is impatient, huh?' he sighed inwardly, scanning the crowd.

Everywhere he looked, students wore their uniforms with pride—shades of blue, red, and yellow clashing against the backdrop of the dorm's sleek architecture. Yet what surprised him most was the attention he drew. Eyes darted toward him, particularly from the girls, who whispered and giggled amongst themselves, their gazes lingering on him.

"Hey, look at this guy; he's kinda hot."

"Yeah, check out that physique."

"His eyes are so pretty and weird—two colors!"

"Is he even supposed to be here? I don't remember him from the practical exam."

Kai felt a flush of embarrassment rise in his cheeks. 'Great, just what I need—being the center of attention on my first day.'

"Excuse me, young man."

Kai turned to find a tall man with slicked-back hair and a flashy suit standing before him.

"Yes?"

"I am Dr. Vellian Crowler, head teacher at Duel Academy. Can I see your administration letter?"

"Sure, doc." Kai pulled out his phone, quickly navigating to the notification confirming his acceptance.

Crowler peered at the screen, his expression shifting from authority to confusion. "Uhm... no... everything seems fine."

"So?" Kai asked, his impatience creeping in.

"You are free to go," Crowler replied, a hint of bewilderment still lingering in his tone.

"Thank you." Kai sighed in relief, moving toward a bench to sit and collect his thoughts.

Time seemed to stretch on as he waited, anxiety gnawing at him while the other students chatted excitedly. It took nearly an hour and thirty-five minutes before his name echoed through the crowd, along with instructions on which helicopter to board.

As he climbed aboard, he was met with a surprising sight. Most of the passengers were clad in Obelisk Blue uniforms, their confident postures suggesting they were seasoned duelists. He settled into a random seat, hoping to avoid any unwanted attention.

First Person POV

"Hey, excuse me, what's your name?"

I turned to find a girl with bright blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes looking at me.

"Kai. What's yours?"

"Oh, I'm Mindy, and this is Jasmine," she said, gesturing to her friend, who waved enthusiastically.

"Hey~," Jasmine chimed, her energy infectious.

"And this one is Alexis… Alexis Rhodes. She was one of the best duelists at Duel Prep School."

"Sup," I said, acknowledging Alexis with a nod.

"Hey," she replied, her demeanor cool and collected.

"So, you guys are all from Duel Prep, huh?"

"Yeah, we are all from Duel Prep. How about you?" Mindy asked, genuine curiosity evident in her voice.

"No," I replied, trying to keep my tone casual.

"Oh, so this is your first time attending a dueling school?" Jasmine chimed in, her enthusiasm unwavering.

"Yeah."

"Oh, trust me, you will enjoy it a lot. It's quite fun," she reassured me, her excitement bubbling over.

We continued chatting, laughter punctuating our conversation as we shared stories about our dueling experiences, hopes for the upcoming school year, and what we expected from Duel Academy.

"How about you, Kai?" Alexis asked, a glimmer of interest in her eyes. "What kind of duelist are you?"

"Honestly, I'm just getting started," I admitted, a hint of uncertainty creeping into my voice. "But I've got a few tricks up my sleeve."

"Tricks?" Mindy leaned in, intrigued.

"Yeah, nothing too fancy, but I've been practicing."

As we shared our aspirations and fears, I could feel the camaraderie building between us. These students were more than just classmates; they felt like potential allies, each with their own unique stories and talents.

The hour passed quickly, and before I knew it, the helicopter began its descent. The towering structures of Duel Academy loomed closer, a striking blend of modern architecture and ancient dueling lore. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement, the promise of new adventures ahead.

As we disembarked, I took a moment to absorb my surroundings. Duel Academy was more than just a school; it was a battleground for dreams, where friendships would be forged, rivalries would ignite, and destinies would intertwine.

"Welcome to Duel Academy!" Jasmine squealed, her enthusiasm infectious as she grabbed my arm, pulling me toward the entrance.

"Let's make this a year to remember," I said, a newfound determination coursing through me as I stepped into my new life.