"So you really were hiding here. I've been looking everywhere for you."
The vending machine outside the bathhouse was so discreet that Hoshino and Alexis had walked right past it earlier—otherwise, no one would skip the chance for a bottle of ice-cold milk after a bath.
"As long as I bring the cold milk back, I'll get to see Senpai's smile again~"
Humming a light tune as she inserted the coins, Alexis felt strangely happy running such a simple errand.
"Alexis."
A cold voice drifted over, making Alexis freeze mid-movent. She turned—and found Akasha standing behind her, also dressed in a yukata, having approached without a sound.
"Ah! Akasha, you scared ! Where did you go? You didn't join us in the hot spring. But since you're wearing a yukata now, you must have bathed on your own, right?"
"That's right. The hot spring here works wonders—it really lts away fatigue."
Without asking, Akasha pressed the milk button on the machine, picked up the bottle that dropped, opened it, and drank it all in one go.
"Ugh… my cold milk…" Alexis had only brought two coins. If Akasha drank one—and the other was for Hoshino—she would be left with none for herself.
Wiping a bit of milk from the corner of her lips, Akasha smiled faintly.
"Don't be so stingy. I only stole a bottle of milk… It's nothing compared to you quietly stealing sothing far more important from soone else."
"Huh?" Alexis blinked in confusion. "Akasha, what are you talking about?"
"You really don't get it? Or are you pretending not to? Co with ."
She tossed the empty bottle aside, grabbed Alexis by the wrist, and pulled her toward the opposite wing of the hallway—away from their rooms.
"W-wait—what are you doing?"
Alexis tried to pull away, but Akasha's grip was surprisingly strong, as if driven by sothing urgent.
"Just follow quietly, Alexis Rhodes."
The hallway they entered no longer resembled the inn's warm, luxurious interior. Dim, narrow, and unfamiliar, they turned corner after corner until Alexis completely lost her sense of direction.
"This inn has a hidden passage this deep inside? And Akasha—how do you even know where you're going?"
No reply. As if guided by an unseen force, Akasha walked forward without slowing down.
Alexis swallowed hard. The atmosphere grew heavier with every step, sending chills down her spine.
"Akasha, where are you taking ? This place is seriously creeping out…"
"We're here."
Releasing Alexis, Akasha stepped toward a faint blue glow at the end of the corridor.
"This is where we'll settle things, Alexis Rhodes!"
"…Why is there a Duel Arena hidden inside this inn?!"
Alexis stared in disbelief. Beyond the corridor stretched a Duel Field made entirely of shimring blue ice. In a hot-spring resort by an active volcano, this sight was surreal.
Akasha tossed Alexis a Duel Disk already loaded with her Deck, then strapped one onto her own arm and took her place at the far end of the icy arena.
Looking down at the Deck in the Duel Disk, Alexis frowned.
"Huh? Why is my Deck here? I'm sure I left it in my backpack in the room…"
"Don't say I'm picking on you. I'm only taking back what belongs to . And I'll be doing it using your Deck—to settle this seriously!"
"Settle it—here of all places?! At least tell what this is about! You've been acting weird since earlier, Akasha!"
With a sharp chanical whirl, both Duel Disks activated.
"After everything you've done, you still dare ask for an explanation? You stealing cat!"
[Akasha vs. Asuka]
[Duel—Start!]
"Since you're standing there stunned, I'll take the first turn!"
Akasha drew her opening hand and placed a Monster Card onto her Duel Disk.
"I Summon in Defense Position—Heroic Spirit – dea Lily!"
[Heroic Spirit – dea Lily ★★★★ (Level 4) | LIGHT | Spellcaster/Effect | ATK 1000 / DEF 1500]
Barefoot dea Lily stepped gracefully onto the field, a violet magic circle scanning Akasha's Deck.
"When Heroic Spirit – dea Lily is successfully Summoned, I can add 1 Spell/Trap card that lists 'dea' in its text from my Deck to my hand."
Catching the searched card, Akasha imdiately continued.
"Next, I activate the effect of Heroic Spirit – Nursery Rhy in my hand! If a 'Lily' monster is on the field, I can Special Summon this card!"
[Heroic Spirit – Nursery Rhy ★★★★ (Level 4) | DARK | Spellcaster/Effect | ATK 800 / DEF 800]
Climbing out of a pile of toys and snacks, Nursery Rhy pointed an accusatory finger at Asuka.
"You thieving little cat—today, the Hero of justice, Nursery Rhy, will punish you on Akasha's behalf!"
"S-stealing cat? What are you two even talking about?! I seriously don't understand…"
"Keep pretending, Alexis. Let's see how long that act lasts. When Nursery Rhy is Special Summoned, her effect lets add 1 Spell Card that lists 'Heroic Spirit' from my Deck to my hand."
Akasha added her second card. Unable to enter the Battle Phase on turn one, she set multiple cards.
"I Set 4 cards face-down. And lastly—dea Lily's effect activates: once per turn, I gain 1000 Life Points."
[Akasha LP: 4000 → 5000]
"My turn ends."
[Akasha: 2 Hand Cards | 4 Set Cards]
"Hm? What are you two doing here? Whoa—this Duel Arena is made of ice?! That's so cool!"
Jaden, dressed in a yukata with both hands tucked into his sleeves, peeked in from the corridor entrance, eyes sparkling with excitent.
"Oh, Akasha and Alexis, you're dueling? As expected of Obelisk Blue students—you never forget to train, even on a trip!"
"Jaden, why are you here?"
Both Akasha and Alexis turned toward him and spoke in unison.
Scratching the back of his head, Jaden laughed. "Ahaha, after the bath I got super hungry, so I went to look for the restaurant… but I got lost and sohow ended up here."
"To think you could get lost here of all places… That's so like you." Akasha pressed her fingers to her forehead, then sharply added, "But even if it's you, I won't allow anyone to interrupt this Duel!"
Jaden waved his hands frantically. "No, no, I won't interrupt! Actually, I ca at the perfect ti—I wanna see who's the strongest first-year in Obelisk Blue!"
There were only two top Obelisk Blue first-years: Akasha and Alexis. Jaden's comnt hit the mark—this Duel could indeed determine who was the strongest among them.
Rubbing his arms against the chill, Jaden continued, "But seriously, you're dueling in yukata… in a place this freezing? That's hardcore."
"My turn—Draw!"
As if the cold didn't affect her at all, Alexis steeled her resolve after hearing Jaden's words and began her turn.
"I don't know why you're challenging , Akasha, but I won't run away! Especially not from you—because if I aim to be the strongest female Duelist, then sooner or later, I'll have to face you head-on!"
Akasha's glare sharpened, her tone icy. "You sneak around behind my back, yet you dare say 'head-on'? Have you no sha?!"
Ignoring the incomprehensible accusation, Alexis slapped a Spell Card onto her Duel Disk.
"I'm familiar with your tactic style, Akasha! I activate the Spell Card—Harpie's Feather Duster!"
[Effect: Destroy all Spell/Trap cards your opponent controls.]
A green feather conjured a violent gust, surging toward Akasha's four face-down cards.
"If I clear your backrow, your trap-based strategies will collapse!"
"So that's the extent of your skill, Alexis?!"
Akasha pulled a card from her hand and slid it into her final empty Spell/Trap zone.
"The Counter Trap I searched last turn with dea's effect—Rule Breaker, activate!"
[If you control "Heroic Spirit – dea," you can activate this card from your hand.]
"(╯>д
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