"You… You're… Jaden Yuki?"
The familiar hairstyle and facial features—still bearing traces of youth despite some maturity—immediately connected in Hoshino's mind to the kid who had once used a HERO deck: Jaden Yuki.
But the young man standing before her now clearly wasn't the same energetic boy who had spent an entire afternoon pestering Akasha for a duel.
"Don't tell me... you're from the future?"
That Slifer Red dorm uniform she remembered from Duel Academy, combined with the futuristic Duel Disk on his arm, all but confirmed Hoshino's guess.
Jaden blinked a few times, confused. Truthfully, he hadn't fully processed the situation himself. Yet Hoshino had instantly figured it out just by looking at him.
"As expected of Sensei... It's like you see everything from a god's-eye view—no blind spots at all," Jaden laughed sheepishly, rubbing his nose.
What Jaden didn't know was that Hoshino had already become something of a veteran when it came to world-hopping and time travel. Compared to this newcomer to the "time travel" business, she had way more experience—and was naturally much more composed about it.
"So it's true. I just didn't expect future you to show up at a time like this. Did something serious happen at the Academy? Don't tell me... Paradox is causing trouble again?"
Maybe it was because of all the danger she'd faced recently, but Hoshino's thoughts instinctively jumped to worst-case scenarios.
"Nope! Everyone at the Academy is doing great~ Thanks to you, the place is always full of energy and laughter!"
Hoshino raised an eyebrow. "You make me sound like the class clown. Isn't that more Okita and Nobu's role?"
Jaden shook his head, a nostalgic smile on his face. "It's because everyone really trusts you, Sensei. You've always been there to save us. So this time... it's my turn."
(***)
[Future – Duel Academy Graduation Ceremony]
"Yugi-san, why did you call me out at a time like this? I'm worried Crowler-sensei is still throwing a fit..." Jaden scratched his head, puzzled.
During the graduation ceremony, Crowler had broken down in tears—too emotional to read the list of graduates. In the end, Hoshino had to drag him off stage.
The plan changed, and Chancellor Sheppard took over the role of announcing names.
But just as Jaden was waiting to hear his name called, Yugi had suddenly appeared and quietly led him away to a secluded spot on Duel Island.
"Congratulations on your graduation, Jaden-kun! In just three years, you've grown incredibly strong—beyond all expectations. As expected from a student of Hoshino."
Jaden bashfully scratched his head. Being praised by the legendary Yugi—what Duelist wouldn't be proud?
"So you came all the way from America for my graduation? I'm really touched! But even so... was it necessary to sneak around like this?"
"Yes, I did come for your graduation," Yugi replied with a meaningful smile.
"This is something Hoshino once asked me to do. Jaden—Duel Academy's strongest student—you are to receive a true graduation duel, one meant only for you."
"—And that duel is against the strongest Duelist!"
The sudden announcement of a "graduation duel" left Jaden both nervous and thrilled.
"Wait, the strongest Duelist... don't tell me... I'm going to duel you? Is that why you brought me here?"
Yugi shook his head gently and pulled three cards from his card case—the Egyptian God Cards, though specially crafted replica versions made by Pegasus.
"Wow! That's amazing, Yugi-san! Even if they're replicas, seeing all three God Cards together is a rare sight! A Duelist who uses them really is the strongest!"
Jaden was already itching to duel. Facing the legendary Yugi was a dream for countless Duelists.
"Sorry, Jaden-kun... but I'm not the one you're going to duel. And these God Cards can't actually be used in a Duel."
Seeing Jaden's look of surprise, Yugi scratched his starfish-like hair, looking a bit awkward.
"While the God Cards can't be used in battle, they do retain another power."
"Another power...? Wait—if you're not the one I'm dueling, then is there someone even stronger than you?"
Yugi arranged the three God Cards on the table in a triangle.
"Hoshino once told me... that in another timeline, there exists another Hoshino. One who not only defeated me and claimed the title of Duel King, but also singlehandedly took down Paradox. That Hoshino's power is on par with—if not greater than—the Egyptian Gods."
"Another Sensei... who's even stronger?"
"Exactly. And the other power these God Cards hold... is the ability to cross time and space. Now go, Jaden—have the greatest graduation duel of all!"
(***)
"So that's why you came from the future, huh?"
After hearing Jaden's story, Hoshino was sure: the Jaden in front of her had come from a future ten years ahead—a different timeline than her own.
In that world, Yugi was still the Duel King. There had been no Dartz threatening the world's destruction. Hoshino and her Alter had never been split by the Pyramid of Light.
Compared to the chaotic timeline she lived in now, his world was far more peaceful—at least, until Paradox showed up.
"I'm impressed you landed in the right timeline. The God Cards' time-traveling power is... pretty unreliable, from what I remember."
Jaden grinned innocently. "I wasn't really sure it would work either. But the moment I saw a younger Sensei muttering to herself in a place like this, I just knew—I was meant to be here."
"Meant to be here? You mean for your graduation duel?" Hoshino let out a small sigh. "Well, if you went through all that trouble to get here, I'd feel bad turning you down."
She slowly raised her Duel Disk.
Jaden mirrored her action, activating his futuristic version.
"No—I told you already, Sensei. You've always saved us. So this time, it's my turn to save you. I'm here to help you rediscover your smile through Dueling. That's why I came!"
Upon seeing the lonely expression on Hoshino's face and hearing her self-muttered words, Jaden made up his mind. Just as Hoshino had once helped him, now it was his turn—to protect the smile of the person who had taught him.
[Chiyuki Hoshino VS Jaden Yuki]
"Duel!"
And so, on the quiet streets of San Francisco in the early morning, teacher and student began their time-crossing duel.
"I'll take the first move, Sensei!"
Having drawn his opening card, Jaden slapped a monster from his hand onto his futuristic Duel Disk.
"I Normal Summon in Attack Position—Elemental HERO Blazeman!"
A blazing HERO materialized in a burst of flames, standing tall on Jaden's field.
[Elemental HERO Blazeman★★★★ (Level 4)][FIRE][Warrior/Effect][ATK 1200 / DEF 1800]Hoshino commented in mild surprise, "An Elemental HERO I haven't seen before. So after all these years, they've finally evolved beyond just vanillas."
Back when she watched a younger Jaden duel, Hoshino had noticed that while the Elemental HEROes could fuse into powerful monsters, their base forms were often low-stat vanillas—not exactly ideal.
But what pleased her even more was that, after all this time, Jaden was still using his HERO deck—keeping the promise he'd made as a boy to fight alongside his HEROes until he became the strongest Duelist.
"You're getting surprised a bit too early, Sensei~ The power of HEROes can awaken miracles!"
Jaden pointed at Blazeman and activated its effect:
[During your Main Phase: You can send 1 "Elemental HERO" monster from your Deck to the GY, except "Blazeman". This card gains the same Attribute, ATK, and DEF as the monster sent, until the end of this turn.]
"Thanks to Blazeman's effect, I send Elemental HERO Shadow Mist from my Deck to the GY. Until the end of the turn, Blazeman changes its Attribute and stats!"
Hoshino narrowed her eyes, analyzing the move.
"You can't attack on the first turn, so changing its attribute is pointless. What you really wanted was to send a monster to the graveyard, right?"
"Hehe, figured me out?" Jaden chuckled.
"When Shadow Mist is sent to the GY, I can add 1 'HERO' monster—except another Shadow Mist—from my Deck to my hand."
He searched through his Deck and added a card.
"The one I added is this—Elemental HERO Honest Neos!"
Jaden held up the card without hesitation. A majestic white HERO with elegant wings graced the image—Level 7, the highest-level HERO Hoshino had seen that wasn't a Fusion.
"Honest Neos's effect—by discarding it from the hand, a HERO on the field gains 2500 ATK until the end of the turn! And that even works during the opponent's turn."
Though it was still a HERO deck, the pressure exuded by this older Jaden's strategy was far greater than the boy she remembered.
"A hand trap that gives 2500 ATK... what an annoying effect."
Even with just 1200 base ATK, Blazeman could jump to 3700 in an instant—not even a Blue-Eyes White Dragon could stand against that.
"Finally, I set three cards face-down and end my turn!"
[Jaden's Field: 3 Set Cards | 3 Hand Cards]
"My turn. Draw!"
Drawing a card, Hoshino glanced across the field at Jaden.
"Hey, Jaden-kun, I've been wondering—your school uniform. That's the Slifer Red from Duel Academy, isn't it?"
At Duel Academy, dorm ranks were Kaiba's brainchild: Obelisk Blue at the top, followed by Ra Yellow, with Slifer Red for students who scored lowest.
"With your strength, you should've easily made it into Obelisk Blue. So... could it be—"
Entrance exams were split fifty-fifty between practical dueling and written tests. Jaden obviously aced the duels, which left only one explanation...
"—Wait, are you actually an idiot?"
"Ugh..."
Caught red-handed. Jaden winced but recovered quickly.
"I only got put in Red because I was late to the written exam! But honestly, I chose to stay in Red Dorm 'cause I really liked the vibe there~"
He smiled brightly, from the heart. It was clear he genuinely loved his life in Slifer Red.
"After all, more than a fancy environment, what matters most is being with your precious friends, right?"
"Friends, huh. That's a nice way to put it."
Maybe his smile was just that infectious, but Hoshino found herself thinking of Yugi, Jonouchi, and the others—and a smile crept onto her own lips.
"The bonds of friendship really can become an incredible power. Back when I was about to lose to Pegasus's shadow game, it was that warmth that saved me."
Hoshino inserted a Spell Card into her Duel Disk, starting her move.
"Then, Jaden-kun—let me see how much you've grown thanks to those friends you treasure! I activate the Spell Card—Light of Intellect!"[Light of Intellect – Spell Card Effect: Send 1 Spell/Trap card from your Deck that includes 'Heroic Spirit' in its name to the GY, or banish it.]
"I send Limited Banner to the grave. Since I have no monsters on the field, I can banish it to set Phantasm Summoning directly to my field."
With her spell set, Hoshino played a monster.
"I Normal Summon in Attack Position—Heroic Spirit – Cú Chulainn! Then I activate the set spell—Phantasm Summoning!"
[Heroic Spirit – Cú Chulainn ★★★★ (Level 4)][LIGHT][Warrior/Effect][ATK 1600 / DEF 1600]
The freshly summoned Cú stumbled out onto the field, glancing around in alarm—until pink starlight began to swirl around him.
Eyes wide in horror, he turned to Hoshino.
"No way, Master?! You're not going to make me wear that magical girl outfit like the red Archer, right?! Help!"
Just remembering Emiya's tight-fitting magical girl outfit made Hoshino's eyes throb. She never wanted to see that again.
"Don't worry, Cu-chan. This time, we're fusing with Illya! You're just assisting with the dream fusion!"
[Phantasm Summoning's Effect: You can banish 1 monster from your field to Fusion Summon a corresponding magical girl monster!]
Illya's fusion system allowed flexibility—banishing her or other materials to bring out magical girl variants.
Bathed in shimmering pink starlight, a petite, fair-skinned elementary schooler appeared in a slightly provocative blue outfit—cleansing Hoshino's mind of the trauma known as "Crossdressed Archer."
"Let's go! Fusion Summon—Magical Girl – Cú Chulainn Illya!"
(*****)
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