It's the start of the new year, with the principal having gathered every student from every dorm to the duel arena. It was time for the yearly announcement, there for the benefit of the first years that had just arrived from the docks. Some second and third year students arrived later, however, but not without a scolding from the staff at the scene.

The principal steps forward after confirming every student has arrived. “Very well, it appears everyone is here!” He announced through his microphone, audibly clearing his throat after. 

“So, as you all know, another year dawn upon our esteemed academy. I am proud to have all of you as students, and to see all who were here last year back at the academy safe and sound. However, this year is not like the others. Regretfully, Mr. Masao Noboru, former head of the Fire dorm and veteran of the academy, has resigned. However, his replacement has arrived today alongside our first-year students,” the principal droned on, taking a step back.

“Please show yourself now, Ms. Nonaka.” He gestures over to one of the entrances, out of which a young woman gracefully walked. She took to the stage set up for the principal, taking the microphone in hand and looking up at the seated students.

“Ah, greetings everyone. My name is Nonoka Izumi, but just Izumi is fine.” The woman bowed politely before continuing.

“It’s… been a while since I’ve been here, honestly. I was just like all of you, sitting on one of those many seats, looking down at our principal’s boring speeches every year. I graduated about seven years ago here, from the Water dorm. I guess I was the winner of that year, but I don’t really feel like I deserved it all that much. Pro dueling has never really been a passion for me, so I quit and decided to study to become a teacher instead. It’s actually kind of a dream come true to be here again with all of you. It’s a little ironic I’ll be the head of the Fire dorm now, but I hope to learn as much from each of you as you’ll learn from me!”

“...Thank you, miss Nonaka. Your introduction was very… flattering.” The principal commented as he took the microphone back from the new teacher, mild annoyance reflecting in his body language. He cleared his throat again and threw out his free arm to the side, posturing as if he wants to give his students a big hug.

“Now, I won’t bother you any longer with one of my [i]boring[/i] speeches. I’m sure there’s one event you all can’t wait to see: Our yearly exhibition match! We were on a bit of a short notice, but we have a volunteer from the Synchro dorm. He wished to announce his opponent publically, so would you please take the stage for a moment?” 

Before the Principal had finished speaking a white blur had shot through the crowd at sonic speeds. They dashed their way through a maze of seats and down the stairwell, bolting straight through to the central stage and sliding to a halt once he was there. A student with short blonde hairs jumped up next to the principal and snatched the microphone away from him, sending a loud ringing noise echoing throughout the colosseum.

“Hahahaha! It is I, the great Ryuji Ryumine, strongest dragon tamer of Harmonia- nay, the world! There are but two of my eternal rivals seated among you, faux tamers who claims heir to my throne! But one of them has consistently challenged my greatness! One that stands out above all other dragon users! I challenge thee, o imposter of legend! Their name, etched into the minds of the common folk, merely whispered in the depths of night, oh that very name is…!”

“Ah, excuse me?” Izumi suddenly interrupted Ryuji’s grandstanding, gently picking up the microphone from his hands. “It may be a bit sudden, but I actually had an idea while I was on the way to here. Instead of showcasing the students this year, I’d like to propose a duel between two teachers. I don’t want my students to feel uneasy around me, so I’d like to show what I’m made of instead.”
 
“If that's the case, how about the teacher and student have a bout for ol’ times sake?!” a voice rang out from the crowd as a man rose up. It was none other than Wataru, current head of the Water dorm. “If you win, maybe I’ll even tell you the tale where I caught a 95 pound salmon using nothing but my fishing rod and a rickety rowboat!” the man boasted with boisterous laughter from the crowd, eliciting groans from the students seated around him.

“If that’s what you wish, then I have no objections. I’m sure nobody here will have any either,” the principal says, with the boy from Synchro behind him about to point dramatically in order to shout ‘Objection!’ “...other than Ryuji. Well, you two may take over from here. If you need me, I will be in my office.” he says, confident that Wataru knows how the arena works.

Soon enough, Wataru was facing Izumi in the central arena. The two biggest arenas had platforms to hoist the duelists up into the air once it’s registered both disks, giving both of them a good birds eye view of the field. Wataru stood steadfast with his fishing rod turned Duel Disk, while Izumi calmly glanced down at her old Academy-licensed Water-dorm modeled Duel Disk. The graceful design resembling the waves of the ocean still soothed her this many years down the line.

“Don’t think I’ll hold back because you were my top student 4 years ago,” Wataru said with complete confidence, even though he had gotten how long it had really been totally wrong. Izumi giggled a little in response, seeing as how her old teacher hadn’t changed one bit. Their voices resounded through the speakers all around the arena, with their expressions being visible on the monitors mounted all around.

“If you held back, you’d lose faster than the time you caught a shark while dueling a sailor on his boat,” Izumi joked, then pointed to her old mentor with a confident grin. “Since I’ve been gone for a while, it’s only fair I let you have the first turn!” 

The air was palpable in the stadium as a stiff breeze whooshed by, the match between teacher and student about to commence. Each of them took a deep breath before resolutely shouting:

[h3][b]”Duel!”[/b][/h3]

[u][b]Turn 1: Wataru[/b][/u]

4000 LP flashed next to both players in a transparent window. Wataru drew his first five cards, speaking to Izumi as he did.“If you insist, then I’ll take my turn!”

The man scanned his cards, grinning when he saw what his opening move was going to be..

“Wahahaaa! Prepare to be reunited with my terrifying Fish deck! I play my field spell: The Legendary Ocean from my hand!” Wataru declared, throwing down his spell card into a slot that opened from the side of his disk. An ancient ruin rose up from the ground, reaching all the way up to both duelists. The floor below became an ocean, submerging large parts of the structures.

“I don’t need to explain to you that a field spell stays on the field and gives both of us an effect! In this case, the WATER monsters in our hand have their levels decreased by one, allowing me to summon one of the fiercest, most terrifying ocean creatures! Appear, my [b]TERRORKING SALMON!![/b]”

Storm clouds formed above both duelist’s heads as lightning struck around Wataru, with the card he proudly thrust into the air glowing ominously. The waves below became violent and started to swirl, creating a vortex of water. Once the storm calmed a shadow was swimming down in the sea, springing up into the air very briefly to show the crowd a glimpse of its giant, scaly figure.

[b]Terrorking Salmon:[/b] 2400 ATK Level 5>4 WATER Fish

“GYAHAHA! Cower before the mighty salmon! Not only that, but my field spell’s effect activates to give all my WATER monsters an extra 200 ATK! I’ll set one card and end my turn!”

Wataru’s monster powered up as another card materialised behind it, the duelist taking a boisterous posture and having a broad grin directed straight at his opponent.

[b]Terrorking Salmon:[/b] 2400 > 2600 ATK

[b]Wataru’s Field:[/b] Terrorking Salmon, 1 Set card, A Legendary Ocean
[b]Wataru’s Hand:[/b] 2 cards

[u][b]Turn 2: Izumi[/b][/u]

“Salmon again? Hm... I could’ve sworn you did this same turn when we last dueled, say… back when I was a student?” Izumi playfully rebutted, giving Wataru a wink before placing her hand over her deck.

“Here I go, teach! Draw!”