Chapter Text
Across the Classroom
Alexis Rhodes had finally secured a placement at an orphanage as a teacher’s aide. With only half a year left in her teaching degree, failing the practical placement would set her back an entire semester. She felt a quiet determination settle over her; she wouldn’t let herself—or the next generation of duelists—down.
Stepping out of the cab, Alexis raised an eyebrow at the building in front of her. “Is this the right place? It looks… far too fancy for an orphanage,” she muttered to herself.
The driver glanced at her. “GPS says it’s correct. That’s all I can tell you.”
Alexis pressed three fingers to her forehead. “Well… I guess there’s only one way to find out.” She paid the fare and walked through the glass doors.
Inside, she was greeted by a woman with curly hair and a warm smile.
“You must be Miss Rhodes. I’m Miss Springston, head teacher here,” the woman said, extending a hand.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Springston,” Alexis replied politely.
Miss Springston gestured for her to follow. “Before the children start class, I’ll need you to sign some paperwork. And… the benefactor of this orphanage will be stopping by after your first session. He mentioned he knows you personally.”
Alexis froze for a moment, a faint smile forming. “Aster Phoenix, isn’t it?” she murmured.
Miss Springston blinked. “Yes, he said he’s looking forward to seeing you again.”
Alexis exhaled softly. Of course. She hadn’t expected him here, of all places. But Aster Phoenix had a way of turning up in the most unexpected situations.
She gestured toward a classroom down the hall. “I’ll be helping with the more energetic group today. One student in particular never seems to give up.”
Alexis’s chest tightened slightly with nostalgia. “That’s alright… I’ve met someone like that before,” she murmured quietly, recalling the competitive days at Duel Academy.
The classroom was already lively when they entered. An eight-year-old boy shot forward, bouncing on the balls of his feet.
“New lady! Can you duel me?” he shouted, full of uncontainable energy.
Miss Springston stepped forward, her tone firm but gentle. “Jack, that’s not polite. What would Mr. Phoenix think if he saw that?”
Jack’s face fell. “He… he’d say that’s naughty. Not what a pro would do,” he said sheepishly.
Alexis knelt slightly to meet him at eye level. “Hello, Jack. I’m Miss Rhodes. So, you want to be a pro duelist when you grow up?”
Jack puffed out his chest with pride. “Yes! I’m gonna be the best!”
Alexis smiled warmly, her calm and patient demeanor instantly putting him at ease. “That’s a wonderful goal. But remember—the most important part of dueling isn’t just winning. It’s about learning, thinking carefully, and knowing when to take risks.” She pulled a small deck of beginner dueling cards from her bag. “Today, we’re going to practice some fun dueling skills. Who wants to try first?”
Jack’s hand shot up immediately. “Me! Me!”
“Alright,” Alexis said with a gentle smile. “We’ll do a friendly practice duel. Don’t worry about winning—we’re just learning today.”
He set up his cards eagerly on the small desk in front of him, eyes shining with determination. Alexis moved between the other students, helping them arrange their cards properly, explaining the basic rules in simple terms, and giving gentle guidance as they learned. Her calm, precise instructions contrasted beautifully with Jack’s boundless energy, but the kids quickly warmed to her.
When Jack made a daring move that didn’t quite work, he frowned. “Oh no! Did I do it wrong?”
Alexis smiled reassuringly. “Not at all, Jack. Even Pro-Duelist’s make mistakes sometimes. What matters is how you respond and think about your next move.”
Jack’s face lit up again. “I can do it! I’ll try something else!”
Miss Springston, standing quietly at the doorway, whispered to herself, “She really has a way with these children.”
Suddenly, the distant sound of a sleek car pulling up outside caught everyone’s attention. Jack’s eyes widened. “Is that him? Is Aster Phoenix here?”
Miss Springston’s eyes twinkled. “Yes. Class, let’s take a short break before our visitor arrives.”
The children groaned in playful protest. “A break?” Jack whined. “But I’m winning!”
Alexis laughed softly. “We’ll finish soon, I promise. Let’s get some fresh air first.”
As the children ran to the small playground outside, Alexis adjusted her cardigan and took a deep breath. Aster Phoenix. After all these years… She hadn’t expected to see him here, but she had no doubt he would bring his usual… sharp charm.
The door opened, and a tall figure stepped inside. His grey hair was sectioned in two layers, the bangs forming one layer that framed his face, and the rest cascading behind. His sharp blue eyes, positioned between the layers closest to his face, scanned the room with a confident, assessing gaze.
“Alexis,” he said, voice smooth with a teasing edge, “so you’re the one teaching these future prodigies?”
Alexis smiled faintly, the hint of amusement in her eyes. “Aster. I should’ve known you’d be here. What brings you to a primary school orphanage?”
He smirked, one hand casually in his pocket. “Even Pro’s have to check on the next generation of duelists. And I couldn’t resist seeing how ‘The Queen of Obelisk Blue handles a classroom.”
Alexis raised an eyebrow, calm and collected. “So you’re here to supervise me, then?”
“Of course not,” he said, though the smirk remained. “Just… making sure you don’t let Jack run wild.”
Jack, still bouncing on the playground, spotted him through the window and shouted, “It’s Aster Phoenix! I’m gonna be the best duelist ever!”
Alexis shook her head with a fond smile. This was going to be an interesting day…