Mash woke up groggily from his bed, he looked around to see it's his own familiar dorm room, and right next to him was Lovely who was still sleeping soundly, she clings tightly on Mash left arm like it was a really soft pillow.
Mash then begins to stare at the ceiling and processed the strange dream where he just met God.
"…Man…" Mash muttered. "That was a really strange but useful dream…"
Mash rubbed his eyes with his free hand, still feeling sleepy. "Welp, today is Sunday right? No class, so might as well get some extra sleep."
Mash lie back down on his bed, relaxing himself as he was about to close his eyes. But, just as he was about to doze off...
DUP. DUP. DUP. DUP.
Heavy footsteps can be heard outside his dorm room. Mash eyes twitched under the noise but he pressed a pillow on his ears to ease it.
DUP. DUP. DUP. BRAK! BRAK! BRAK!
From footsteps it suddenly turned to someone trying to kill the door with their fist. It was coming from Jaden's room, Mash heard.
"OPEN THIS DOOR RIGHT NOW OR WE'LL BUST IT DOWN!"
A furious female voice boomed from outside, loud enough that even Lovely's eyelids twitched in annoyance. Mash groaned, smashing the pillow harder against his ear.
"JADEN YUKI AND SYRUS TRUESDALE YOU TWO WILL BE—"
BRAK!!!
Mash kicked his door open so hard it slammed the wall and ricocheted back. His hair was a mess, his face was tired, and he just want some quality sleep.
"WHICH SON OF A BITCH IS SHOUTING LIKE A MOTHERFUCKER THIS EARLY IN THE MORNING!????"
Then he look to his right, and was surprised.
He saw Jaden and Syrus were being escorted out of their dorm by a squad of men in black trooper uniforms. And in the middle of them stood a stern-looking woman with curly black hair and a blackish-green uniform.
She was glaring daggers at Mash.
"You must be Justin Mash," the Chairman growled. "I heard a lot about you and that mouth of yours."
"So?" Mash snapped back without hesitation. "Who the fuck are you even!?"
You could physically see The Chairman veins bulged on her forehead.
"I'M THE CHAIRMAN! THE LEADER OF THE DISCIPLINARY ACTION SQUAD! A GROUP THAT DEALS AND PUNISH STUDENTs WHO COMMITTED SERIOUS CRIMES!"
"Oh." Mash just remembered, "Shit, Its already episode 7!?"
[Well, it should be obvious that episode 7 immediately starts a day after episode 5 and 6, which is what happened last night. And it starts with Jaden and Syrus getting escorted because Dr. Crowler snitched on us about going to the abandoned dorm, because he's a stalker, that son of a—]
"JUSTIN MASH! YOU ARE ALSO ON THE LIST OF COMMITTING A SERIOUS CRIME! YOU'LL COME WITH US!"
"What!? Me too!?" Mash yelped.
But before he could argue, inhumanly strong troopers grabbed him and hauled him to the truck like a misbehaving cat.
---
A few moments later...
Mash, Jaden and Syrus was standing on the interrogation room, a room surrounded on all sides by giant screens displaying the faces of every teachers in the academy, some of which that Mash know of are: Chancellor Sheppard, The Chairman and Dr. Crowler.
"What expelled!?" Jaden and Syrus shouted at the same time.
"That's right." The Chairman said coldly from her screen, "At night, there was a report that three students one of whom was Mash, Jaden, and Syrus entered the close-off forbidden dorm."
"And not only that, after further investigation, several major damages was found inside of the dormitory, one of which was several craters of explosion alongside chunks of the wall being destroyed." The Chairman added.
"With this kind of evidence... I think that expulsion is the correct punishment for these students! So that others does not do the same mistakes as them!"
"Oh suck a dog's dick you damn bitch!" Mash snapped.
Every teacher in the room flinched at Mash's profanity.
"AND YOU ESPECIALLY, MASH!" the Chairman was enraged. "SHOULD NOT EVEN STEP FOOT ON THIS ISLAND EVER AGAIN! Not only there was several reports of you assaulting, extorting and bullying many Obelisk Blue students!"
"Good." Mash said flatly.
"But, there are also reports that you being extremely disrespectful to a teacher! And then there's that mouth of yours!" The Chairman was furious, as she can be heard slapping her own desk.
"I declare that Mash shall be expelled immediately right now!"
Jaden and Syrus was staring at Mash concerned, however, Mash wasn't fazed at all. He just kept his smug grin up because he know... that they can't do anything.
"Unfortunately..." Chancellor Sheppard sighed, "We... can't expel Mash. Or even let him leave the island."
"HUH!?" Jaden and Syrus shouted.
"WHAT!?" the Chairman screeched. "WHY!?"
"It's... from Sir Kaiba himself…" the Chancellor replied. "He gave strict orders to me that, Justin Mash must not, under any circumstances, be expelled or removed from the island."
"FROM SIR KAIBA HIMSELF!???" the other teachers shouted in shock.
Jaden slowly looked at Mash, stunned. "Dude… what are you…?"
"I'm that guy, Jay," Mash said, grinning smugly. He then turned to the Chairman's screen with a really, really annoying smirk of his
"Hear that!? You can't expel me or make me step out of the island~" Mash stuck his tongue out at her.
"Lil Bitch~"
"Tch!" the Chairman clicked her tongue, the bulge in her veins was also very visible.
"However…" Chancellor Sheppard continued, "All of those charges are still serious charges, including the trespassing of the forbidden dorm last night. Which is why..."
"I'll have you punished by needing to repeat a year."
"PLEASE HAVE MERCY ON THIS INNOCENT POOR SOUL!" Mash instantly collapsed to his knees dramatically.
The entire room felt silent.
"I WOULD RATHER DIE THAN HAVE ANOTHER YEAR LOOKING AT THIS POT OF FREAK AGAIN!" Mash shouted, pointing at Crowler.
"What did you say!?" Crowler felt insulted.
"Uhh…" Jaden stepped in awkwardly. "What my friend here is saying… is there any way for us to atone for our punishment without expelling us?"
"Yes actually, there is..." Crowler said with a sinister smile. " We're no tyrants after all. So... why don't we arrange them something... Sporting."
"Sporting?" Jaden tilted his head.
"Well... How about this." Dr. Crowler clapped his hands on the screen. "You, Jaden alongside Syrus, will have a tag duel against two pro duelist. If you two manage to win you'll get away Scott free. However, lose and it's IMMEDIATE EXPULSION!!"
"WHAT!?" Syrus yelped, trembling. "Me and Jaden… tag duel against pro duelists!?"
Meanwhile Mash raised his hand lazily.
"Uhh… what about me?"
"You'll duel against a pro duelist alone," Crowler announced.
Mash shrugged."Ok."
[Ok!? Just OK!?]
The entire teacher stared at him like he was clinically insane.
---
Mash, Jaden, and Syrus stepped out of the Academy building. Morning sunlight washed over the three as they walked down the stone path back toward the dorms.
"Me and Jay... tag duel against a pro duelist!?" Syrus clutched his head, practically shaking. "This is a disaster!!!"
"Hey, hey, it's fine, Sy." Jaden said, patting his back in an attempt to calm him. "I'm sure we'll figure this out!"
"Yeah… you two can figure it out together..." Mash muttered with a tragic expression. "But what about me who needs to duel a pro duelist alone!? This is such a disaster!!!!"
Jaden and Syrus both stopped walking and stared at him blankly.
"I'm more concerned about the guy you're facing than you, man…" Jaden said.
"Also Mash… stop the sad acting," Syrus added flatly.
Mash clicked his tongue. "Tch, is it really that easy to see my cover?"
Before anyone could reply—
"MISS LABRYNTH!! PLEASE STOP!!"
A familiar panicked voice came from down the path. All three of them turned toward the voice.
Marching toward the Academy like a horror villain emerging from the woods… was Lovely Labrynth. She carried her silver battle axe over her shoulder, with eyes filled with murderous intent.
Alexis ran behind her in pure distress.
"Please don't stop me, Lexy~" Lovely said in a disturbingly sweet voice, with a creepy wide smile. "I just want to talk to them~"
Behind her, Winged Kuriboh flapped after her, holding a tiny silver pitchfork with an angry expression.
"KURI! KURI!!!" Winged Kuriboh unleashed it's terrifying warcry.
"Not you too, Winged Kuriboh!" Alexis tried to stop, but they kept going past her like a ghost. "Urrgh—!"
Jaden saw what happened and cupped his hands around his mouth. "Hey, Alexis! What are ya doin'!?"
"Yeah, sup, Alexis!" Mash shouted.
Lovely and Winged Kuriboh froze mid-march.
"Darling!?" Lovely whipped her head toward Mash's voice.
"Kuri!?" Winged Kuriboh spun toward Jaden.
"Huh?" Both boys blinked as two fast-moving blurs launched straight toward them.
"Hup!" Jaden braced himself just in time as Winged Kuriboh slammed into his chest and hugged him tightly.
"Kuri!" Winged Kuriboh chirped.
"Haha! Hey there, buddy!" Jaden laughed, petting him.
Meanwhile—
"GAAAAHHHHKKKK!!!"
Mash was caught in a spine-crushing hug from Lovely. She squeezed him like a python squeezing it's prey.
"Ohhh, Darling!!! I missed you so much!!! Even if it's only for a moment!!" Lovely cried dramatically, hugging him even tighter.
Mash's eyes bulged. "Y-y-y-yeah…! I miss you too…! Now please...!"
She released him only a split second before he went unconscious.
Mash fell to his knees, gasping for breath. "Hah… I thought I was gonna die…"
"Hehe~ Sorry, Darling~," Lovely said, patting his head lightly. "I got a little too excited~."
Syrus watched Jaden and Mash bonding with their respective Duel Spirit partner. For some reason, there was a spark of jealousy in his heart. Like he wants one too...
Alexis approached him, arms crossed.
"Sy?" she asked gently. "Are you okay?"
"Y-y-yeah! I'm fine!" Syrus startled, he adjusted his glasses. "Alexis? What are you doing here?"
"I heard that you three got yourselves into trouble so bad the disciplinary squad had to mobilize," Alexis said with a sigh. "I came to check on you guys… then I saw Miss Labrynth and Winged Kuriboh walking toward the school talking about burning it down till it's flat."
"Eh!? Really, buddy!?" Jaden looked down at Winged Kuriboh.
"Kur... ri?" Winged Kuriboh tilted his head innocently, while secretly tossing the little silver pitchfork aside.
"Well, anyway..." Alexis continued, "What happened?"
Mash's stomach growled loudly.
"I... think we should continue this at the dorms cafeteria…" Mash muttered. "I need breakfast."
Jaden's and Syrus's stomachs growled the same thought.
"Yeah… I'm starving!" Jaden said.
"Mmh…" Syrus nodded.
"HO HO~! First one there gets extra food~!" Lovely declared, then immediately scooped Mash into her arms like a bride. "Let's go~!"
---
In the Slifer Red Cafeteria...
"EXPELLED?!"
Chumley's shouted too loud, earning him several annoyed looks from other students eating breakfast.
"Not too loud, Chumley," Alexis scolded from across the table.
She leaned forward. "So… you three must duel against a pro duelist to avoid punishment?"
"And... Sy-boy and Jay-jay are gonna tag up~?" Lovely asked, spinning a spoon in her fingers.
"Yeah, that's basically the gist of it." Mash said while eating his sardine.
"Waaah!!!" Syrus threw his hands up. "I'm definitely gonna make us lose and get us expelled, Jaden!!! I Should've just told them to just expire me, not you too!"
"Aw, c'mon, Sy… didn't I tell you everything will be alright?" Jaden reassured him with his usual bright grin.
"Yeah! And you two get the better deal because I'm dueling solo against a pro duelist!" Mash pointed at himself dramatically. "Oh no!!! This is such a disaster!!!"
Everyone stared at him deadpan.
Except Lovely, who dabbed a fake tear from her eye. "Aw… poor Darling~."
"You know… I'm more concerned about the pro duelist dueling you than you losing, Mash." Alexis said.
Jaden slammed a hand on the table. "That's what I'm saying!"
"Okay... but still though." Mash turned to look at Syrus.
"Huh?" Syrus choked on his drink.
"I feel like it's really going to be fine... after all, Jaden will use my given cards-"
"Oh absolutely not, man," Jaden cut him off instantly.
"Oh c'mon, Jaden!" Mash groaned. "Don't make this another Titan incident where you almost died because the enemy used my world cards."
Jaden shrugged. "If they use it, then I'll use it. But I have a feeling these pros don't have your world cards. And I'm willing to bet on it."
Mash sighed. "Tch, fine." He took a sip of water. "But I still think it'll be fine regardless."
"Mmm..." Syrus stared down at his knees, trembling. "B-b-but… what if I make a mistake in the tag-duel… and that costs us everything?"
Mash leaned back. "Then just change your deck to something better. Vehicroids are a shit archetype."
"HEY!" Syrus shot up in anger.
"Oh, not this again…" Jaden groaned. "We're not doing this again, Mash. Syrus deck is not trash."
"But, I'm not wrong though!" Mash snapped back. "Vehicroid if used in a pure deck is basically a trash deck. It's only good when it's used in some other deck with specific strategies, like a stall strategy from submarineroid. Even it's boss monster is trash."
"{Steam Gyroid} is basically a large investment for a 2200 Attack vanilla fusion monster, and {Super Vehicroid Jumbo Drill} is a hassle to get out since it needs three specific monsters to fuse!"
"Nope! I don't want to hear this!" Syrus covered his ears.
"Yeah, dude." Jaden backs Syrus up. "There is no such thing as a trash deck! As long as you have the heart of the cards, any deck is good!"
"Look Jaden, I'm gonna be for real with ya." Mash pointed at Syrus. "Syrus is a first rate duelist wielding a fourth rate deck, and because of that he devolves into a fourth rate duelist wielding a fourth rate deck."
"So what would happen if Syrus we're to use a good deck!?"
"Please stop this, Mash." Alexis said coldly. "You don't need to go as far as insult him too."
"I didn't insult him! I was trying to help!" Mash snapped.
Lovely gently placed a hand on Mash's shoulder. "Darling… I know you want the best for him. But… this isn't the right timing."
Mash exhaled, calming himself. "Yeah… you're right, Lovely. It's my bad for losing my cool. Sorry, Sy."
Syrus stared for a moment… then nodded silently.
Jaden leaned forward suddenly, grin widening.
"Alright! Enough of this! How about we do something that'll actually help, Syrus?"
"Hm?" Everyone perked up, curious.
---
For those of you who don't know, The Slifer Red dorm actually sits on top of a ledge overlooking, and on that ledge there is actually a path down towards a stone terrace that sits just above the ocean waters and waves.
The place is usually use to chill, look at the ocean, and also... flat enough for a duel.
This morning, waves rolled in and crashed rhythmically against the terrace as Jaden and Syrus faced each other, duel disks in hand and ready.
"Alright, Sy!" Jaden called out with his usual bright energy. "Get your game on! This is gonna be a fun spar!"
"Y-Yeah…" Syrus murmured, eyes fixed on the ground. "I guess… we should have some fun before we get expelled…"
"What was that?" Jaden blinked.
"Uhh... Nothing!"
Up on the cliff above them, Mash, Lovely, Alexis, and Chumley watched from the ledge.
"Go for it, Sy!" Chumley yelled, waving a meaty arm.
"Just do your best!" Alexis cupped her hands.
"Yeah~ Yeah~! Go Syrus, go~!" Lovely cheered, somehow already wielding pompoms made of silver threads. She glanced at Mash. "He's going to beat Jaden, right? Right?"
Mash rubbed the back of his head. "If this goes like the anime…"
"He loses."
"Ehhh!? Isn't that terrible!?" Lovely gasped.
"Yeah, well… sometimes the best lessons hurt." Mash shrugged, "Although..." Mash then frowned as he looked more closely at Syrus.
Syrus... looked like he already gave up. His shoulder's was hunched, his eyes was looking away from the field, and he looked like someone who is bracing himself to losing instead of putting up an actual fight.
[Now that I think about it... The only thing holding him back...]
[Is himself...]
Mash thought for a moment and then sighed. The black ring in his index finger glowed brightly, and a swirling black portal materialized open beside him.
"Darling?" Lovely tilted her head, curious. "Where are you going?"
"Just to someone who needs help." Mash stepped into the portal.
Down below, Syrus stared at his trembling hands as doubts piled up.
[Am I even good enough for this?]
[Am I anywhere near Jay's level… or even Mash's…?]
[Or even my brother...]
Suddenly, a hand tapped his shoulder.
Syrus flinched and turned around to see Mash stepping out of a black portal behind him, with a confident smirk on his face.
"M-Mash!?" Syrus yelped.
"Syrus…" Mash gave him a small, confident grin and jerked a thumb at himself.
"let me coach you."
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Hey everyone, IG here!
I lied, lol.
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