The Slifer Red dorm was unusually peaceful on this quiet weekend morning. Sunlight seeped through the cracks in the aging wood, and the gentle sounds of the ocean waves lulled Jaden, Syrus, and Chumley into a rare, uninterrupted slumber.
The tranquil moment ended abruptly as a loud, rhythmic banging echoed through their dorm.
"Open up this door, or we'll break it down!" a female voice barked from the other side.
Groaning, Jaden rolled out of bed, stumbling over his scattered cards as Syrus whimpered, clutching his blanket tighter.
"Who the heck is that?" Jaden grumbled, scratching his head.
Syrus peeked from beneath his covers. "Do you think it's the lunch lady coming to yell at Chumley again?"
"Open up or we'll break this door down!" the voice demanded again, this time accompanied by a more menacing tone.
Jaden grinned and shouted back, "Oh yeah? You and what army?"
The response came swift and sharp. "The Disciplinary Action Squad army."
Jaden froze. Syrus let out a squeak, and Chumley rolled over, mumbling something about grilled cheese. Reluctantly, Jaden swung the door open to find a stern-faced young woman in a pristine campus uniform, her expression cold as ice.
"You, Jaden Yuki, and Syrus Truesdale are under campus arrest," she announced, pushing past him with authority.
"Campus arrest?" Jaden repeated. "What for?"
"For breaking into the abandoned dorm," she said bluntly. "You're both being summoned to Chancellor Sheppard's office. Now."
Syrus paled, his legs trembling. "W-we're getting expelled, aren't we?"
"Only if you're lucky," the woman replied, her smirk chilling.
In Chancellor Shepard's office, the tension was palpable. Jaden and Syrus were seated in front of Shepard's desk, the looming threat of expulsion hanging over them like a dark cloud. The Chancellor looked down at them, his glasses reflecting the light in an almost intimidating way.
"You two were caught near the abandoned dorm," Shepard said, tapping his fingers on his desk. "There's no denying that. According to academy policy, that's grounds for expulsion. The academy cannot afford to ignore this."
Syrus looked horrified. "But we didn't mean any harm! We were just... checking it out!"
Jaden nodded in agreement, his casual demeanor masking his growing concern. "Yeah! It's not like we were up to no good."
The door to the office suddenly creaked open, drawing everyone's attention. A tall figure stepped inside, his platinum blonde hair shimmering like silver under the harsh fluorescent lights. Ace Romanov. The transfer student from Russia. His intense blue-green eyes scanned the room, his cold, almost imperious presence sending a shiver through the air.
"I overheard the situation," Ace said smoothly, his voice tinged with a deep Russian accent. "Allow me to step in."
"Romanov…" Chancellor Shepard began, raising an eyebrow at the interruption. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm here to offer a different perspective," Ace replied coolly. He approached the desk with the confidence of someone used to getting what they wanted. "Jaden and Syrus are innocent. There's no concrete evidence that they broke any rules. No one has proven they were actually in the abandoned dorm, only that they were near it."
The disciplinary officer sneered. "But we have witnesses who say they were there."
Ace's eyes glinted as he continued. "I'd be careful with your witnesses. As it happens, there's something more important than your little accusations. I've been made aware that the academy doesn't want to draw attention to the abandoned dorm and its history. Am I correct, Chancellor?"
Chancellor Shepard sighed, knowing exactly where this was going. "That's classified information, Romanov."
"And if that information were to get out?" Ace pressed, his tone becoming more assertive. "How many parents do you think would be willing to send their children here if they knew what goes on? The academy's reputation would be at risk."
The room was silent for a moment, every one weighing Ace's words. The disciplinary officer shifted uncomfortably, realizing the gravity of the situation.
"You see," Ace continued, "the truth here is clear. Jaden and Syrus made a simple mistake. They were exploring an old building, something I'm sure many students have done before. But expelling them over this would be… detrimental to the academy. If you don't have solid proof, I would suggest dropping the charges."
The tension in the room was thick. Ace's ability to manipulate situations was uncanny, and it didn't take long for Chancellor Shepard to nod in agreement.
The disciplinarian scowled. "But rules are rules! They must face consequences!"
Ace smiled faintly, his ring glowing faintly under his glove. "Perhaps a lesser punishment? Say, a few extra hours of cleaning duty in the Slifer dorm? That should be sufficient to ensure they learn their lesson."
After a moment's pause, Sheppard nodded. "Very well. Cleaning duty it is. But let this be a warning, Yuki, Truesdale. Step out of line again, and you won't have Mr. Romanov here to bail you out."
Outside the office, Jaden and Syrus let out sighs of relief.
"Man, that was close!" Jaden exclaimed. "Ace, you saved our butts back there. Thanks!"
Syrus nodded rapidly. "Yeah, you were amazing! How did you even think of all that?"
Ace shrugged nonchalantly. "It was nothing. I simply dislike seeing fools punished unfairly. Though, in your case, 'foolish' might be an understatement."
Before Jaden could respond, Alexis approached her expression a mix of concern and relief. "I heard what happened. Are you guys okay?"
"We're fine!" Jaden said cheerfully. "Thanks to Ace here, we didn't get expelled."
"You did it," she said, walking up to him. "I heard what happened. You saved them."
Ace turned to her, his cold blue eyes meeting hers. "It was nothing. They were foolish to get caught in the first place."
Alexis smiled warmly, though there was something more in her expression, something deeper. "Still, you helped them out. And you didn't have to."
Ace gave her a small nod, his demeanor as stoic as ever. "They should be more careful not to get caught next time."
Behind him, Shaman of Tenyi appeared, her lips curling into a teasing smile. "Ace, you're blushing. Careful now, or Alexis might think you have a soft spot for her."
Ace shot her an icy glare, his voice dropping into Russian for a moment. "Enough."
Alexis tilted her head. "What did you say?"
"Nothing important," Ace replied smoothly, his voice returning to normal. "Just reminding myself to be patient with certain… individuals."
Later that day, Ace retreated to his dorm room, sitting by the window as the sunlight filtered through. His duel spirits materialized around him, their personalities as vibrant as ever.
"You know," Mo Ye began, twirling around the room, "Alexis was impressed with you. Maybe you should ask her out!"
Ace rolled his eyes. "Don't be ridiculous."
Chengying appeared beside him, his deep voice resonating like a protective father. "You did well today, Ace. But be cautious. Not everyone will be so easily swayed by words."
Ace nodded. "I know. This was a calculated risk."
Draco Berserker of the Tenyi growled from the corner. "I still think you should've challenged Sheppard to a duel. Nothing solves problems faster than raw power."
Shaman of Tenyi chuckled. "And that's why Ace doesn't listen to you, Berserker. Diplomacy is a more elegant weapon."
Ace allowed himself a small smile as his spirits bickered. Despite their differences, they were his constant companions—his true friends.
"Thank you," he murmured, his voice softer than usual.
Longyuan smirked. "Don't get too sentimental, Romanov. We've got work to do."
Ace glanced out the window, his thoughts drifting. Jaden, Alexis, his growing circle of connections—they were slowly chipping away at the walls he'd built around himself. Whether that was a good thing or not remained to be seen.