Chapter 61: Club Name!

Tenjo Hikari was packing up his belongings in the Activity Club room.

The school had assigned them a small activity room—though "small" was a misnomer, as it actually consisted of five or six rooms, and including the duel arena, it was larger than the activity area Tenjo Hikari had in the Fusion Department.

Although the Duel Academy was wealthy and well-established, such a high-level activity room could not possibly be approved so quickly for a student club with fewer than ten members.

But—

As the academy's highest authority (in his own words), Professor Cronos had unlimited power!

What Tenjo Hikari was now packing were cards given to him by his teacher and several friends.

There were cards from the Ancient Machine series, as well as cards from other series, like Heroes and such.

Judai had a large collection of Hero cards, and Sanzou had a vast assortment of all sorts of random cards; they were happy to share them, and even more so if others joined.

After all, this was a true club—anyone willing to join could happily play cards within it. Even without a duel disk, just find any table, and Judai could play here all day.

His card addiction was real.

Moreover, this was one of the very few places where he could casually duel with Marufuji Ryo without being stopped by Blue Academy students—he liked it even more for that reason. Previously, Judai had gone to Blue Academy to challenge Marufuji Ryo to a duel, only to be shoved to the ground by the gatekeeper students and doused with cold water.

But given his superhuman physique, he wouldn't catch a cold anyway.

"This should be fine." After placing his things, Tenjo Hikari wiped a bit of sweat and noticed Marufuji Xiang tiptoeing nearby, looking furtive.

"Marufuji?" Tenjo Hikari raised an eyebrow and called out.

"Ah! Ah—Tenjo-senpai!" Marufuji Xiang was startled physically, stepped back two paces, and cried out in fear.

Earlier, Marufuji Xiang had joined everyone in applying to the Fusion Department, but upon hearing that Tenjo Hikari had invited Marufuji Ryo to join while in Citoye City, he dared not speak up again and withdrew his application.

He never knew how to face his older brother, especially after Judai had gone to another dimension for a tag duel, and Marufuji Ryo had stormed into Red Academy to tell Marufuji Xiang he absolutely could not follow—Judai should find someone trustworthy instead.

Only after that did Judai find Tenjo Hikari's duel fascinating and invite him to the other dimension, leading to their eventual friendship.

In short, this dimension's Marufuji Xiang feared his brother even more than his original counterpart.

One might say Marufuji Xiang was too timid, or that Marufuji Ryo was too protective of his younger brother.

After all, in the original story, when Marufuji Ryo was dueling the vampire card Kamura, he was clearly winning—but Kamura, to secure victory, kidnapped Marufuji Xiang's soul. To save his brother's life, Marufuji Ryo willingly lost the game and turned into a puppet.

As an older brother, he had absolutely no fault.

In fact, Marufuji Ryo himself had never had any flaws—otherwise he wouldn't have retained so many fans and "devotees" even after the original story ended.

But as always: Marufuji Ryo had no problems. Marufuji Ryo had a younger brother.

Oh, speaking of that—

Tenjo Hikari suddenly had an idea.

"Marufuji, you want to mend your relationship with your brother, right?"

"Uh, yes?"

He'd only come over these past few days because Judai had been around constantly; if his brother wasn't here, he might have reapplied.

"Then how about this: join the Fusion Department."

"C-can I?! I can join right now—"

"Wait, did you hear me? I said the Fusion Department."

"!? Ah, Tenjo-senpai, aren't you just leaving that place…?"

Tenjo Hikari rubbed his chin and said: "Precisely because I just left there, someone needs to be there."

"Huh?"

"I founded this new Fusion Department because the original Fusion Department isn't truly fused—and it's too bizarre. The upperclassmen there are strange, but conversely, those strange upperclassmen have real spirit.

You think your brother sees you as too cowardly, right? Isn't this the perfect chance to toughen you up?"

"I, I guess?"

"Besides, I won't be able to coexist peacefully with the original Fusion Department, right? When something happens, you'll definitely inform us, won't you?"

"I, I suppose?"

"Over the past two days, I've received numerous membership applications from students—mostly first-years, even quite a few from Blue Academy and some admirers of Kaiser… uh, those don't matter.

What matters is, if you join the Fusion Department now, it's like delivering coal in snow. You're Judai's friend; your joining will become a great promotional tool for them."

"W-will it?"

Why does he never give a straight answer…

Tenjo Hikari shook his head and continued: "And most importantly, you've always wanted to prove yourself to Kaiser, right? Joining the Fusion Department gives you the chance to duel us head-on. This—oh, look, here they come."

As Tenjo Hikari spoke, a group of students in purple uniforms gradually approached outside the activity room. Most had stern expressions, walking with synchronized steps and uniform movements—clearly well-trained.

The leader, Tenjo Hikari had met before: Shinrin Yō, a third-year student from the Duel Academy's Fusion Department.

"Shinrin-senpai, long time no see." Tenjo Hikari greeted.

"Long time no see." Shinrin Yō stood rigidly, but the students behind him looked far less composed.

Shinrin Yō glanced at Marufuji Xiang, who had cowered to the side, and frowned.

Kaiser's younger brother?

As Kaiser's younger brother, just a Red, how dare he still linger in the academy?

"Tenjo, immediately apply to disband your club."

"?"

Tenjo Hikari looked puzzled: "Did you take the wrong medicine?"

"The academy already has a Fusion Department. Establishing another one is completely unnecessary," Shinrin Yō said. "How could Professor Cronos approve such an application?"

"Senpai, you know how blunt Shinrin-kun always is," the Yellow Academy representative interjected, pulling him aside and smiling apologetically. "Tenjo, you know Shinrin's always this direct."

"The professor ordered us to come. Mainly, look—this Fusion Department and your new Fusion Department will confuse students, right?

At least give it a different name?"

"Like… Simple Fusion Department? Or Mechanical Fusion Department?"

"Senpai, you know why I left the Fusion Department—and why I founded this club!" Tenjo Hikari stared straight at the Yellow Academy rep until the man lowered his gaze, then said: "In my view, your Fusion Department isn't fused at all—it's not even an activity club!

The one that needs renaming isn't me—it's you!"

"Ah, come to think of it—"

He suddenly smiled thoughtfully.

"That's right—'New'? No, wrong. I'm a freshman, but I shouldn't be 'New Fusion'—I am Fusion itself!

Since you've come, let's settle this now. Starting today, you will rename it!

My club is the true Fusion Department!"

At the end, he pointed at Shinrin Yō with all his strength.

"You, this— you…" The representatives were speechless.

"Hmph." Shinrin Yō snorted, said nothing, and prepared to activate his duel disk.

"Wait, Shinrin—he's just a first-year!" Though they weren't guaranteed to beat Tenjo, still, upperclassmen bullying a freshman was inappropriate.

"My brother went to the Coliseum with Big Brother today," Marufuji Xiang mumbled, head drooping.

Both of them had serious card addictions, but also strong responsibility; seeing Sanzou's enthusiasm fade after barely two days, they dragged him off to the Coliseum.

"Don't misunderstand. Not as a student—but as the 【Department Head】!" Shinrin Yō glared fiercely at Tenjo Hikari. "Tenjo Hikari, stake the department's name—duel me!"

Marufuji Ryo may be the academy's top, but you, Tenjo Hikari, are merely the temporary first-year champion!

"I couldn't agree more!"

Tenjo Hikari ignored the Yellow Academy rep's interference, activated his duel disk, and shouted to Marufuji Xiang: "Go get Professor Cronos."

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(End of Chapter)