The academy rooftop.
Yu-Gi-Oh! 10 sat on the rooftop, eating bread, silently looking at the scenery in the distance.
Yubel's phantom floated silently beside 10.
Watching this silent young man.
Yubel crossed his arms, his eyes slightly sullen.
The power of the King of Games, while giving 10 tremendous abilities.
Also gave 10 a kind of aloofness that was difficult for ordinary people to approach.
Now, the only one who could truly get close to Yu-Gi-Oh! 10.
Perhaps it was Yubel, the spirit, right?
But even so.
Many times, Yubel didn't quite understand 10's inner thoughts.
But, it didn't matter.
To Yubel.
He just needed to be Yu-Gi-Oh! 10.
“Someone is coming.”
Suddenly, Yubel's eyes moved, and he spoke.
Yu-Gi-Oh! 10 glanced at the wooden door of the rooftop.
The wooden door was slowly pushed open, and a tall, handsome, stern young man in a blue school uniform walked out.
Light blue hair, an indifferent expression.
Made Yu-Gi-Oh! 10 recognize this person immediately.
Duel Academy's Year Three No. 1.
In the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX storyline, the man who was second in popularity to 10, and was known as Kaiser.
Ryo Marufuji.
How could he be here.
Yu-Gi-Oh! 10's brows furrowed slightly.
He was slightly unhappy that his peaceful time was interrupted.
And, as if he hadn't expected anyone else to be on the rooftop.
Ryo Marufuji's expression was also slightly surprised.
He looked at Yu-Gi-Oh! 10 and remained silent for a moment, then slowly said.
“You… are Yu-Gi-Oh! 10, right?”
Yu-Gi-Oh! 10's fame shot up during last year's Duel Tournament.
Now, any Duelist, more or less, would know this name.
“Yeah.” Yu-Gi-Oh! 10 responded casually, throwing his bag of bread into the nearby trash can.
“You are, Kaiser Ryo?”
Glancing at Ryo Marufuji, 10 asked.
“Yeah.”
The same calm response.
Then.
The two seemed to have no common language.
Neither was particularly talkative.
Perhaps.
The 10 of the early series, with his optimistic personality and affable side, would quickly strike up a conversation with Ryo Marufuji.
But the 10 of today had already become the future '20'.
He was no longer the kind of person who could easily connect with others.
However, though they had nothing to say.
Yu-Gi-Oh! 10 did not choose to leave.
The academy's rooftop had been Yu-Gi-Oh! 10's own 'secret base' since the start of the school year.
Whether he was alone, eating, or skipping class to sleep.
It had always been in this place.
There was no reason for 10 to leave just because there was an outsider, to give his 'secret base' to someone else.
Drinking bottled water, Yu-Gi-Oh! 10 sat cross-legged on the roof, looking at the cityscape in the distance.
While Ryo Marufuji silently stood by the railing with his arms crossed, as if he were relaxing.
“......”
An awkward silence.
Besides the sound of the breeze, almost no other sound could be heard.
Yubel watched behind 10, feeling slightly speechless.
These two people's personalities.
Were strangely similar.
Both were the type who were outwardly cold, but inwardly stubborn.
If just one of them had taken a step back, left the rooftop.
It wouldn't be so awkward now.
Right?
Now, it was as if these two were just competing.
Whoever left the rooftop first, whoever lost.
With that thought, the two remained motionless, neither having any intention of leaving early.
“...... By the way, today is the day the Year One monthly exams are released, aren't you going to see how you did?”
In terms of who was colder, Ryo Marufuji finally lost to the King of Games.
He glanced at Yu-Gi-Oh! 10 and spoke first.
“Those grades, no need to see them… Otherwise, being a Year Three, you wouldn't be here on the day the Year Three exam results are released.”
Yu-Gi-Oh! 10 said indifferently.
Ryo Marufuji's eyes moved.
Yu-Gi-Oh! 10's words stimulated Ryo Marufuji's inner feelings in some way.
He could feel that Yu-Gi-Oh! 10 was similar to him.
Whether in personality.
Or in some aspects of their inner selves…
Thinking about it.
Ryo Marufuji looked at Yu-Gi-Oh! 10 with a bit more of a kindred spirit in his eyes.
Not bad.
This was the kindred spirit between geniuses.
Geniuses are proud.
Even if Ryo Marufuji tried to appear easygoing.
But the arrogance in his heart would never disappear.
Therefore, many people gathered around Ryo Marufuji on a daily basis.
But the loneliness in his heart was something no one could understand.
Except for this person.
Yu-Gi-Oh! 10…
Interesting.
What a fascinating guy.