"Welcome to Saint Star Duel Academy!"
Upperclassmen were already lined up at the campus gates, greeting the incoming students with bright smiles and boundless energy.
"So this is Saint Star…"The moment the new students disembarked, they were met with the sight of towering, majestic academy buildings stretching across the horizon.
They'd seen it on TV, in news feeds, and in countless photos—but standing here in person, as part of it… the emotions were incomparable.
Li You stepped off the aircraft and took in the campus with sharp interest.
Just then, a girl in a pristine white uniform approached him. Her golden hair fell past her shoulders, and she exuded a gallant, commanding air.
Even at a glance, her presence was overwhelming—an aura of intensity cloaked in elegance.
She smiled brightly at him."You must be Li You, this year's freshman top scorer, right? I'm Bai Shengxue, a second-year student. It's a pleasure to meet you. I'll be guiding you and your group on a little tour of the campus."
As her name suggested, Bai Shengxue had skin like snow, delicate yet radiant. She smelled faintly of jasmine as she passed.
Everyone in the group offered polite nods."Thank you, Senior Bai!"
"No need to be so formal," she said warmly. "Just call me Bai Xue, or 'Senior Bai Xue' if you like."
With that, she led them out of the air terminal and into the heart of the academy grounds.
Li You noticed that other freshmen were also being led around by upperclassmen, but their uniforms were all uniquely colored—though the cuts were similar, the color schemes varied widely.
He tilted his head."Senior, why do all your uniforms look so different?"
Bai Xue smiled, tugging at her collar."Our academy doesn't have a strict dress code. Students can personalize their uniforms however they like."
"But—" she gestured at her own outfit "—the color scheme reflects your specialized discipline."
"For example, I'm in the Synchro Department, so my uniform is white. Fusion students wear purple. Xyz duelists wear black. Link specialists wear navy blue."
"I see," Li You nodded thoughtfully.
Long Xingdou pumped his fist. "Then our Satisfying Squad is all going white!"
Jiuyou Tianma grinned. "I'm definitely in black. What about you, Li You?"
To their surprise, Li You shook his head and smiled."I chose white."
"Eh?!"Everyone turned toward him, wide-eyed.
Yin Xingren frowned."But your deck's core is Fusion and Ritual—'Blue-Eyes' support. Your Extra Deck is full of Xyz cards like 'Galaxy-Eyes,' and you've even used a Link Monster before…"
"Ritual, Fusion, Xyz, Link—you've covered all the summoning types. But you haven't shown us a single Synchro. Why would you choose Synchro white?"
Li You raised an eyebrow."Says who? I'm a devoted Synchro duelist."
A moment of stunned silence.
"…There's a Synchro version of 'Blue-Eyes'?""Are you trolling us?"
But Bai Xue lit up with delight."Really? You're joining the Synchro Department? That's wonderful! We've been short on talent lately, so it's a huge boost to have someone like you—and your teammates—join us."
Just then, several sleek motorcycles sped past on a dedicated high-speed lane, sparking light and roaring wind in their wake.
Long Xingdou's eyes gleamed."Are those… D-Wheels?!"
Bai Xue nodded with a proud smile."Yep! That's our Synchro specialty—D-Wheels. Riding duels are our signature style. There's nothing more romantic for a Synchro duelist."
Jiuyou Tianma raised a brow."Why the hell do you need motorcycles to play a card game?"
Li You and Xingdou responded in perfect sync:"How else would you duel if not on a bike?!"
"???"Tianma looked utterly lost.
Bai Xue turned to Li You, intrigued."You're into Riding Duels too?"
Li You smirked."Of course. I love going full throttle—nothing beats the rush."
"Great!" Bai Xue clapped her hands. "You don't have a D-Wheel license yet, do you? The academy offers driving courses. I'll help you train until you're ready for the track."
Li You's eyes lit up."Seriously? Thanks, Senpai!"
She continued guiding the group through the campus, pointing out major landmarks as they passed.
"That's the Xyz Division Building. Over there's the Link Department. And that one's the Synchro Tower."
"This is the gymnasium, that's the Exhibition Hall, and to the right is the Fine Arts Wing."
"That dome-shaped structure is the Combat Arena—it's equipped with cutting-edge full-immersion dueling systems. It simulates actual impact from monster battles. Great for hardcore matches."
"Awesome—we've got to try that."
"Definitely! And over there's our food court. It offers dishes from all over the world, so students from every region can feel at home."
"This here is the Banquet Hall. Tonight's Opening Ceremony will be held there—starts at 8 PM sharp. Don't miss it!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
"And finally, this is the freshman dormitory block. Everyone gets a private room, furnished like a five-star hotel. Head to the lobby and scan your duel disk to register. That'll unlock your personal suite."
"Take some time to rest, then join us tonight to meet your classmates. It'll be your first step into the next three years."
"Thank you, Senior Bai Xue!"
"No problem at all."
They were still buzzing with excitement as they entered the lavish dorm complex.
At the front desk, each student scanned their duel disk to register. The system instantly ran a full-body 3D scan, recording physical specs and asking for a preferred uniform color—this would determine their department placement.
A voice echoed from the terminal:
"Measurements complete. New uniforms will be delivered to each dorm room within forty minutes. Please confirm delivery."
Li You didn't hesitate—he picked white.
Long Xingdou blinked."You're really joining the Synchro Department?"
Jiuyou Tianma groaned."Man… I was hoping to fight alongside you in Xyz."
Zhang Xingyi clapped him on the shoulder."Cheer up—look at the bright side. Without Li You around, that's one less monster to fight in midterms. You'll rack up more points."
Tianma's eyes sparkled."Hey, you're right! Ha! Good luck in Synchro land, suckers!"
Liu Xinghun turned toward Li You, serious now."But if you join Synchro, you'll be required to use a Synchro-focused deck in exams. You sure you've got that summoning style down?"
Li You shrugged and smiled."Guess you'll find out soon enough."