Hikari Tenjo was tidying up things in the Activity Department.
The school had given them a small activity room — though it was called small, it actually had four or five rooms, including a Dueling Arena, which was bigger than the Fusion Department's activity area where Hikari Tenjo was before.
Even though Duel Academy is a huge institution, allocating this level of activity room so quickly to a student society of less than ten members wasn't really feasible.
However —
As the academy's highest authority (self-proclaimed), Professor Cronos' power is unlimited!
What Hikari Tenjo was sorting now was the cards given by teachers and a few friends.
There were cards from the Ancient Gear series and other series, like Hero cards and so on.
Judai had tons of Hero Cards, Mitsuzawa also had a vast collection of random cards, and they were more than happy to share if others were willing to join.
After all, this was a true sense of a club, where anyone wanting to join could happily play cards. They didn't even need a Duel Disk, just grabbing a random table would allow Judai to play all day.
His card addiction was real.
Moreover, this was one of the rare places where he could casually duel with Ryo Marufuji without being stopped by the Blue Academy students, which made him enjoy it even more — before this, Judai once went to Blue Academy to find Ryo Marufuji to duel, only to be pushed to the ground by the gatekeeping students of Blue Academy and drenched in cold water.
But thanks to his superhuman constitution, he wouldn't get sick anyway.
"It should be fine here." After placing the items properly, Hikari Tenjo wiped his sweat slightly and noticed Shou Marufuji sneaking around and looking quite suspicious.
"Marufuji?" Hikari Tenjo raised an eyebrow and called out.
"Ah! Ah — Tenjo-san." Shou Marufuji was physically startled, taking two steps back and yelling out in terror when called.
Previously, Shou Marufuji had followed everyone's enthusiasm to apply for the Fusion Department, but after hearing that Hikari Tenjo invited Ryo Marufuji when he was in Domino City, he didn't dare speak further, and his application stalled.
He never knew how to face his brother, especially after Judai prepared to go to the Other Dimension for a tag duel, and Ryo Marufuji suddenly barged into Red Academy to tell Shou Marufuji he must not follow and advised Judai to find someone trustworthy.
After that, it was because Judai found watching Hikari Tenjo's duels extremely interesting, invited Hikari to Other Dimension, and from there they became friends.
In short, this dimension's Shou Marufuji was even more fearful of his brother than the original story.
Not sure if Shou Marufuji was too timid, or Ryo Marufuji was too protective of his brother.
To know, in the original work, Ryo Marufuji during the duel with Vampire Camilla was clearly in the lead, but Camilla, to win, kidnapped Shou Marufuji's soul, and for his brother's life, Ryo Marufuji willingly lost the game, turning himself into a doll.
As a brother, he absolutely had no issues.
Rather, it's precisely because Ryo Marufuji never had issues that even after the original work concluded, he left behind so many fans and "faith."
But still, as they say, Ryo Marufuji has no issues, but Ryo Marufuji has a brother.
Oh, speaking of which —
Hikari Tenjo suddenly had an idea.
"Marufuji, you want to get along with your brother, right?"
"Uh, yes?"
He had merely come this way to take a look because Judai had been around these days, but would probably apply again if his brother wasn't present.
"So how about this, you join the Fusion Department."
"Ca- Can I! I can join right now —"
"Uh, did you hear me correctly? It's the Fusion Department."
"!? Ah, Tenjo-san, didn't you just leave that place…"
Hikari Tenjo rubbed his chin, saying, "It's because I just left there that someone needs to be there."
"Huh?"
"I established the New Fusion Department mainly because the Fusion Department wasn't quite 'fused,' and it was too weird. Those seniors inside were strange, yet on the flip side, they were quite spirited.
You feel your brother has always thought you're too timid, right? Isn't this a good exercise for you?"
"Is, is it?"
"Also, establishing a New Fusion Department surely can't coexist peacefully with the Fusion Department, right? If anything stirs, you'd definitely let us know, wouldn't you?"
"Well, possibly?"
"Over the last couple of days, I've gradually received membership applications from quite a few freshmen, even many students from Blue Academy as well as some girls admiring Caesar… uh, that's beside the point.
The main thing is, at this time, you joining the Fusion Department would be like giving help in a snowstorm, as you're friends with Judai, joining the Fusion Department would definitely become good publicity for them."
"Would it?"
No clear answer…
Hikari Tenjo shook his head and continued, "Also, what's most important, you always wanted to prove yourself to Caesar, right? Joining the Fusion Department will give you a chance to officially duel with us. This — oh, look at that, here they come now."
With Hikari Tenjo's persuasion, a group of students in purple uniforms gradually gathered outside the activity room, most looking serious, their steps and movements uniform, appearing well-trained.
The leading student, whom Hikari Tenjo had seen before, was Kambayashi Kaname, a senior in the Fusion Department in his third year at Duel Academy.
"Senior Kambayashi, long time no see." Hikari Tenjo greeted.
"Long time no see." Kambayashi Kaname stood rigidly, but the representatives from the various academies behind him looked far less composed.
Kambayashi Kaname glanced at the frightened Shou Marufuji who shrank to the side, frowning.
Caesar's brother?
As Caesar's brother, being a Red, how did he have the nerve to stay in the academy?
"Tenjo, you must immediately apply to disband the society."
"?"
Hikari Tenjo looked puzzled, "Did you take the wrong medication?"
"The academy already has a Fusion Department; establishing a new Fusion Department is completely unnecessary," Kambayashi Kaname said. "Professor Cronos actually approved this kind of application from you."
"Hey hey hey, minister," the Yellow Academy representative next to him couldn't bear to watch any longer and quickly pulled him aside, then with a congenial smile said to Hikari Tenjo, "Tenjo, you know Kambayashi-san is always so straightforward.
It's the professor; the professor ordered us to come. Mainly, you see, the Fusion Department and the New Fusion Department could easily confuse classmates, right?
You should at least call it something else?
Like, uh, Instant Fusion Department? Or Mechanical Fusion Department?"
"Senior, you should know why I left the Fusion Department and why I established this society!" Hikari Tenjo stared directly at the Yellow Academy representative, who looked down in guilt, then said, "In my opinion, your Fusion Department neither fuses nor is an Activity Department!
The one needing a name change is not me but you!
Ah, speaking of which, also —"
He suddenly smiled thoughtfully.
"Ah yes, New? No, that's not right. I am a freshman, but I shouldn't be the new fusion— I am the fusion!
Since you're here, let's take this opportunity. Starting today, change your name!
My society is the Fusion Department!"
Finally, he pointed with all his strength at Kambayashi Kaname,
"You, this — you…" The representatives were at a loss for words.
"Hmph." Kambayashi Kaname sneered, preparing to don his Duel Disk without speaking further.
"Wait, Kambayashi, he's just a first-year student," though they too couldn't necessarily guarantee a victory over Hikari Tenjo, as seniors it would be inappropriate to bully a freshman.
"Brother is at the arena with the eldest brother today," Shou Marufuji muttered sullenly from the side.
Their card addiction was indeed great, but their sense of responsibility was also strong. Upon seeing Mitsuzawa wandering after only a few days of enthusiasm in the department, they scooped him up to the arena.
"Don't get it twisted. This isn't as a student, but as the [Minister]!" Kambayashi Kaname fixed a blazing gaze on Hikari Tenjo, "Hikari Tenjo, let's duel with the society's name at stake!"
Ryo Marufuji is indeed the academy's number one, but you, Hikari Tenjo, are just a mere first-year number one! And that's only temporary!
"I'd love that!"
Hikari Tenjo didn't mind the Yellow Academy representative's interference, promptly lighting his Duel Disk and shouting to Shou Marufuji: "Go call Professor Cronos."