## Chapter 23: You Like Her So Much, Why Not Just Confess Directly? The Two's Great Love Operation
After tidying up the Cards on the Duel Platform and putting away his Deck, Hayato descended the rising steps of the Duel Platform and came before Yugi and the others, who had been waiting for a long time.
"Congratulations, Hayato-kun." Yugi, Anzu, and Honda congratulated Hayato on his victory. Hayato returned a cheerful smile. "I won! It was a really interesting Duel."
"Congrats, Hayato." Jonouchi also congratulated him, but the expression on his face was a bit strange. "But the final victory wasn't decided by Monsters, but by a Spell Card or something. It feels weird, isn't this Duel Monsters?"
"That's not the way to put it, Jonouchi-kun. Spell Cards are an important part of Duel Monsters. Because Monsters symbolize Power, while Magic symbolizes Wisdom," Yugi explained his understanding of Duel Monsters to Jonouchi. "A battle of Power is certainly important, but Magic is also one of the keys to victory or defeat. Only someone who possesses both Power and Wisdom can go further and achieve the final victory."
"To put it another way, 'Spell Cards are part of Duel Monsters, play or don't'," Hayato summarized Yugi's meaning in his own words, sighing inwardly, 'Just now, when I finished him off with [Goblin Thief], everyone else was so pure while I was so underhanded, I felt a little embarrassed. But Yugi, you actually think it's only natural. As expected of you, Trap King.'
It's no wonder that the future Yugi's Deck construction would be so underhanded, being able to calmly accept such "unconventional" victory methods. Perhaps all the Duelists of Yugi's era will have his classic "T" formation etched into their DNA?
Thinking that he must get a [Royal Flush] if he ever Dueled Yugi in the future, Hayato noticed the other side of the Duel Platform. Manjoume Shouji, defeated in the Duel, walked down dejectedly.
Seeing the opponent walk towards him in frustration, Hayato tilted his head and asked, "Is there something else, Student Manjoume?"
"I won't give up on pursuing 'Little Ribbon' just like that." He slightly perked up and said a harsh word, but quickly wilted again. Manjoume Shouji sighed, "I carry the honor of Manjoume, and although I really want to say that, I have to accept the loss as per the wager. I will give up on pursuing Nosaka Miho."
He looked up at Hayato. Excellent academic performance, handsome appearance, good family background, and even Duel Monsters was so strong. Although Shouji was very unwilling, he still accepted the fact of his defeat.
Hayato saw the unwillingness in his eyes, hesitated slightly, and then spoke, "Um, I wanted to clarify something first—did you misunderstand something from the beginning? I have no intention of pursuing 'Little Ribbon'."
"After winning the Duel, you're still going to humiliate me without any honor, Hayato Kobayashi!" Manjoume's emotions seemed very agitated. "How dare you say you have no intention of pursuing Nosaka Miho? You clearly even touched hands with her using the excuse of 'returning the Camera'!"
No, touching hands means wanting to pursue someone? Manjoume Shouji's strange logic amused Hayato. "Do you think I wanted to return the Camera? To be honest, while I do think she's quite pretty, I don't have any thoughts of liking her or wanting to date her."
"How could anyone not want to date Student Nosaka!"
Hayato turned his head in confusion. He seemed to have heard that sentence in stereo? As if two voices were speaking at the same time.
In reality, there really were two people speaking. Besides Manjoume Shouji, the other person speaking was none other than Hiroshi Honda, who was standing behind Hayato.
"Student Nosaka is so pretty, her personality is good, and she knows how to dress up. How could anyone not like her!" Honda's current reaction was just like a fan whose favorite idol was said to have padded breasts, his emotions were extremely agitated.
"You guy, could it be!?" Manjoume looked at Honda with a stunned expression.
Hayato spread his hands helplessly. "You guessed it right. The one who likes 'Little Ribbon' isn't me, it's this guy. He was the one who borrowed the Camera from 'Little Ribbon', but when it came time to return it, he lost his courage, so I helped him return it."
However, Manjoume Shouji's attention was no longer on Hayato, but instead, he looked at Honda with disdain.
"After all that, my Love Rival isn't Hayato Kobayashi, but a guy like you?" Covering his forehead, Manjoume looked like he had a headache. "Ahhh, this is too embarrassing. If I had known it was a guy like this, I wouldn't have been nervous from the start!"
"Exactly, Hayato doesn't want to pursue Student Nosaka, you were wrong from the begi—" Honda subconsciously responded, but halfway through, he reacted. "Hey, you bastard! Are you saying I'm not a threat!"
"Isn't that obvious!" Manjoume Shouji regained his confident posture from before the Duel. "Whether it's academic performance, reputation in School, or appearance, I undoubtedly surpass you, right?"
Anzu watched the two "Love Rivals" start a staring contest, and she rubbed her forehead helplessly. She turned her head and curiously asked Yugi and Jonouchi, "These two guys are really... Oh right, Yugi, Jonouchi, do you guys also like Student Nosaka?"
"Well, I have a pretty good impression of 'Little Ribbon'. I feel like she's quite popular in School. However, as for a Girlfriend or something, she's not in my Strike Zone," Jonouchi scratched the back of his head. "For me, I prefer more mature women, preferably beautiful women with Golden Long Hair and a Good Figure. It would be even better if she liked Duel Monsters."
Golden Long Hair, Good Figure, beautiful Duelist... I suspect you're hinting at Kujaku Mai. Listening to Jonouchi's description, Hayato couldn't help but think of the classic CP of Jonouchi and Kujaku Mai.
"For me, I don't think Stats or anything are that important. When it comes to dating, having compatible personalities is more important," Yugi also stated his understanding of romance. "As for Student Nosaka, I have the same view as Jonouchi. I appreciate her, but I don't have any thoughts of pursuing her."
"Then there's even less need to mention me. Besides, aren't we still students right now? At least until I have enough income to support two people's lives, I don't want to date," Hayato said, conveniently quoting a famous line from someone decades later. "I'm going to become the Strongest Duelist, Women are a hindrance."
While the four of them were chatting, Manjoume Shouji and Honda were still arguing:
"My family is rich!"
"Who doesn't have some money!"
"I'm super strong at Duel Monsters!"
"You still lost to Hayato!"
"I'm handsomer than you!"
"Bullshit!"
Hayato was annoyed by the two's kindergarten-level comparison and couldn't help but speak up, "You two both like 'Little Ribbon', so why don't you just go and Confess to her directly? What's the point of arguing endlessly here?"
As soon as Hayato said this, the actions of the two who had been chattering non-stop immediately paused.