The President ultimately acquiesced to Youyu's public freeloading and his forced official trip.
...Well, there's nothing that can be done. Being good at playing cards means you can do whatever you like.
And besides, President Kaiba is currently too busy to bother with him.
Because the President is busy ambushing Yugi for a card duel...
At that time, Youyu had already slipped away, and he only heard about it later.
It's said that Duel King Muto Yugi was walking home from school with his good friend Jonouchi. Since school let out early, they planned to go to Yugi's shop to open some card packs and play some duels for fun.
Suddenly, the scene turned dramatic, with several black cars screeching to a halt in front of them.
People in black suits, looking just like movie villains, jumped out and quickly cleared the area, surrounding Yugi and Jonouchi. Kaiba Seto stepped out of the car like a final boss, holding a Duel Disc in hand.
A du↑el↓, Yugi! Duel me!
If you don't duel me today, don't think for a second you'll be leaving here!
The scene was reportedly quite spectacular, with countless bystanders gathering. The media were even alarmed, and this incident made the evening news and the following day's headlines.
Yugi was reportedly quite exasperated at the time, bluntly telling Kaiba that he wasn't in the mood to play cards and that he should go home.
Kaiba flew into a rage.
Don't think I didn't hear that. Before I came out, you were just planning to duel this Normal Monster for three hundred rounds, so why aren't you willing to duel me?
Besides, he had orchestrated such a grand scene, with so many cars and people just to block Yugi after school. If Yugi said, "I'm not in the mood" and he just headed back with his entourage, what a loss of face would that be?
No way!
The President stated that whether Yugi wanted to or not, he would have to duel today! And if necessary, even force wasn't out of the question.
Reluctantly, Yugi finally agreed to go with Kaiba, got in the car, and headed to Kaiba's company to settle the score.
The subsequent events weren't reported by the media.
After all, since no one from within Kaiba's company divulged the details of the duel or its outcome, the public had no way of knowing.
Of course, no revelations were needed; everyone could guess the result.
Those in the know understood.
Upon seeing the news the next day, people started discussing it.
"Kaiba Seto lost again, didn't he?"
"Yeah, seems like it. He's challenged the Duel King so many times but hasn't won a single time..."
"Of course. If Kaiba had won, he would have publicly announced it and claimed the title of Duel King or something. Since there hasn't been a peep, he was surely schooled by Muto Yugi again..."
"Poor thing, the President is in a pitiable state..."
"..."
And everyone's guess...turned out to be correct.
The President lost yet another time.
There's no help for it. Dealing with Youyu in a duel might be possible. As a President, if he prints more new cards, upgrades himself, and optimizes his card deck, there might actually be a chance for victory.
But against Yugi, no matter how many cards he prints, it may not help. It's like always falling short when carrying "Sakuretsu Armor"; it's the will of the Macro Cosmos, and Kaiba might never triumph over Yugi in his lifetime...
Youyu learned all this later from the news and newspapers.
At this moment, Youyu was once again aboard a private jet heading out... with Chinai by his side.
There was no way around it; Chinai was insistent on joining.
After all, she was a bit upset that Youyu didn't take her to Egypt last time.
It wasn't really about a particular motive; she just wanted to stay by his side more, even if just as a little accessory.
Important people always have to bring secretaries or assistants when they go out, don't they?
So why couldn't Youyu's little secretary be me?
Youyu didn't know that Chinai had already secretly started working towards being a "secretary." He just thought he was on a casual outing to cut some leeks, without any major boss like Anubis to deal with, so it should be safe, right?
So he simply brought Chinai along, considering it a sightseeing tour.
At a height of nine thousand meters, aboard the Kaiba Group's private jet, Chinai was quietly sitting by the window, playing with a small pendant around her neck with great affection.
...Indeed, it was one of the spiritual artifacts personally crafted by Youyu through alchemy.
Youyu sold all kinds of bizarre spiritual artifacts to his players, in all sorts of strange shapes, some sculpted with elephants or dog heads, others exclusive to Kuriboh Dragon, and even Blue-Eyes White Dragon limited edition designs...
However, the design he gave to Chinai was the most normal-looking, like a proper Protective Talisman.
When Youyu returned from Egypt and casually gave it to her, Chinai almost stopped breathing.
Because on what appeared to be a gem-like pendant... she saw Youyu's name!
What did this mean? It meant it was hand-made by him!
Chinai carefully accepted this small pendant, treating it like a treasure, refusing to part with it day or night, not even while bathing, sleeping, or using the restroom.
The pendant was handmade by Youyu, and his name was engraved on it. So by clutching it at night, she could round it up to imagine she was holding Youyu?
And so, ever since she received this Protective Talisman, Chinai has been...
...insomniac.
For several consecutive days, Chinai woke up with flushed little cheeks, bright and rosy, yet the dark circles under her eyes became increasingly pronounced, with no sense of why...
"Master, Master!"
The Dark Magician Girl, with her big beautiful eyes, leaned against the plane window, fluttering her long eyelashes.
"Look at that cloud, it's so weird! So white, so round, and so big!"
Like you? Youyu snarked inwardly.
Since Chinai accepted her role as "Youyu's personal spirit," the Dark Magician Girl didn't treat her as an outsider at all. Sometimes, when only Youyu and Chinai were around, she would come out for some fresh air.
Sometimes, the magical girl felt like a well-behaved and obedient husky that Youyu was raising, needing to stretch its legs every day or risk being blue and sad....
While the Dark Magician Girl was coming out for a breath of fresh air, she might have been feeling comfortable, but Chinai wasn't.
For example, when the Dark Magician Girl turned around, Chinai instinctively turned her head away.
No other reason really, just dizzy with her... envy...
Perhaps an illusion, but the Dark Magician Girl seemed even ... larger than the last time she'd seen her!
What on earth? A second growth spurt?
That's just not fair!
Chinai turned her head and stole a glance at the golden-haired magical girl happily leaning against the window, her long, white legs gently swaying back and forth, perfectly straight with a slight tension...
Catching just a glimpse of that scene, Chinai's gaze immediately snapped back as if electrocuted.
She realized that her problem of occasionally feeling dizzy had worsened, with symptoms intensifying and more triggers causing it.
She used to be dizzy only with envy, but now she's dizzy with envy of other things...
Youyu was unaware of Chinai's little girlish thoughts. If he knew, he might only shake his head in exasperation.
Why are you comparing yourself to her?
She doesn't need a brain, do you want to go without one too?