Hikaru stayed at Funglow Corp for a few days and visited Rex Raptor during that time.
Though hospitalized, Rex's injuries weren't too serious. The long hospital stay was more due to the double blow of physical and mental strain.
According to the doctors, as long as his wrist checked out fine, he'd be discharged soon. Though the doctors occasionally muttered about how the wrist looked like it had suffered secondary trauma, leaving Rex visibly awkward.
Funglow Corp was extremely satisfied with the outcome of the duel. Many celebrated Hikaru avenging Rex by popping champagne and even streaking through the office. The company gave both the factory and the staff two days off.
The PR team told Hikaru that while the duel wasn't as hot-blooded as the last one, with a bit of editing combining clips from Hikaru and Rex's duels against Weevil, it would become a very watchable match for the audience.
A great boon for promotion.
More importantly, the launch of "Instant Fusion" instant noodles and GG was coming up. This duel was perfect as a pre-launch hype tool.
They'd even drafted the title already:
"Clash! The Absolute Fusionist VS The Legendary Duelist II: Battle Against the Insect King!"
So cringe...
Listening to this, Hikaru couldn't help but rub his temples, while Tierra burst out laughing.
After being called "Fusion Hermit" earlier, this was the second name that made her laugh that hard. Honestly, this goddess had a surprising amount of patience for the ramen company's antics.
With everything wrapped up, Hikaru boarded the ferry, treated it like a mini vacation for a day, and returned to Duel Academy.
The Academy was much livelier now.
After Zane's loss, that gloomy atmosphere only lasted a few weeks. Soon enough, the students moved on. No matter how idolized someone was, for energetic students, their own lives and happenings around them mattered far more.
As for post-graduation worries?
Who has time for that?
Amidst this cheerful mood, Hikaru greeted passing classmates while heading to the principal's office.
The moment he arrived, the door slammed open with a loud bang. Head Instructor Napoleon stormed out, yelling furiously.
"You'll regret this, Crowler!"
"I am the principal here, Napoleon!"
"Acting Principal! You're only the acting principal!"
"Still the principal!"
Acting Principal Crowler's snide reply made Napoleon jump in frustration. As Napoleon turned, he bumped right into Hikaru and stumbled back a few steps.
Noticing it was Hikaru, Napoleon forced a deep breath, squeezed out a smile, and said, "Ah, Hikaru-san, you're back. I watched your duel against Mr. Weevil Underwood. As expected of our Academy's greatest Fusion..."
"Sorry about that, Head Instructor," Hikaru interrupted, figuring the guy nearly fell.
"Ahem, no, no, it was my mistake." Napoleon waved it off. "You're here to see your mentor, aren't you? Hmph, Crowler, lucky bastard."
"It's Principal Crowler."
Grumbling, Napoleon stomped off.
Hikaru chuckled, waved him off, then coughed twice before stepping into the office.
Last time he came here, it was to report after being stuck in another dimension and the war with the Dark World army and HEROes.
This time, since he'd taken an extended leave, it was only right to report again.
Fortunately, Crowler was already familiar with the situation at Funglow Corp. After all, he signed Hikaru's contract as his legal guardian for the company.
Still, once Hikaru was back, Crowler subjected him to a long scolding.
Hikaru knew he deserved it. He'd missed way too many classes this term, so he didn't argue.
Once the academic nagging ended, Hikaru curiously asked what Crowler and Napoleon were arguing about earlier.
It turned out that after Hikaru set sail, Chazz Princeton had lost to Aster Phoenix. Napoleon tried to use that as justification to shut down Slifer Red.
Crowler had stubbornly stalled him for days.
Then, just yesterday, Jaden appeared out of nowhere, declared he would duel Aster again, and whipped out a bunch of cards nobody had ever seen before. With a narrow victory, he defeated Aster.
Naturally, their win-loss record became one win and one loss each, a tie.
Crowler seized on that as justification not to cancel Slifer Red, infuriating Napoleon into another shouting match before storming out.
"I see." Hikaru nodded. "What kind of cards did he use?"
"Hmm… Neo-Spacians?" Crowler looked skyward, clearly unsure himself.
Jaden had used a lot of weird, unfamiliar cards.
Hikaru nodded.
It seemed that the main timeline hadn't been disrupted. Despite the cards having been sent to another dimension, Jaden still obtained the Neo-Spacian series as he was meant to.
Though honestly… shouldn't it be called "New Dimension" instead?
Card games are mysterious.
In any case, Jaden's deck was now basically in its complete form.
"Alright, hurry back and catch up on your studies. I expect you not to fall behind on this exam," Crowler said.
"No problem, Professor. I won't neglect my main job as a student." Hikaru thumped his chest with a smile.
"Hah, that's Fusion as well, isn't it?"
Hikaru chuckled, nodded, and left the principal's office.
Meanwhile...
Napoleon stomped into his own office, kicked the door shut, strode to his chair, then jumped into it cross-legged like a spinning top.
His short, chubby frame made him look like a wobbling doll on the seat.
"Damn you, Crowler."
Grumbling, he fiddled with his mouse and browsed student files.
He had tried everything.
Who would've thought that after spacing out for so long post-defeat, Jaden would come back with a brand-new series and defeat Aster Phoenix?
Completely blindsided.
And Crowler, he completely ignored Napoleon's advice during all of this.
Not just because Napoleon's plans had been failing lately.
But because of that student, Amagi Hikaru.
Damn it.
Why was Crowler so lucky to gain the trust of students like Zane Truesdale and Amagi Hikaru?
With Zane graduated, Crowler still had Hikaru, a campus celebrity, product ambassador, and someone who had already dueled legendary duelists twice. With a student like that, of course, Crowler had the clout to go against him.
If this kept up, how was Napoleon supposed to implement his educational philosophy? How was he supposed to enact his vision?
Fuming, he glanced at an email from Sartorius, opened it briefly, then angrily closed it.
"Destiny?"
"Aster and Jaden are destined rivals?"
"What the hell is this nonsense..."
He slammed the email shut. Right then, a new message popped up.
"Huh? What's this? The Society of Light is moving in? Hmm... Hmm-hmm-hmm..."