8 The Impossible Duel

After lunch, the three walked back to classes together. Sakura noticed, with burning irritation, that Yasu seemed enamored by Lucifer as he lazily strolled along with the other two. What irritated her slightly more was that Yasu had accepted Sakura easily as well. She could see Yasu's Divine aura; it didn't swirl with any hatred or anger or irritation; Yasu had simply accepted Sakura as a companion and she could clearly see that.

None of them could tell where this tentative 'friendship' would lead, but at the start of their journey, Yasu held no issues with Sakura's arrival. Secretly however, Sakura also admired Yasu; for the first time in her life, she had met a girl who surpassed her in terms of sheer power. Just a normal, short, peasant girl...yet she stood taller than a Tojo in battle. Sakura relaxed her momentarily clenched fist. 'For now. I WILL surpass you, Yasu...I have to. I can't fail my family again.'

The three reached their class and Lucifer just as lazily as before, slid the door open and walked inside. He didn't miss his classmates slightly tensing up as soon as he stepped into view, and his sharp eyes immediately caught why.

"What the hell?" muttered Sakura in disbelief as she walked over to Lucifer's desk at the back of the class. His entire table was covered in mountain Shukuto-Kodo Student Identification Cards. Soft, plush white leather for covers and embossed with the SK coat-of-arms in real gold, they were littered all over his desk forming a chaotic mountain of white booklets.

"I.D. cards." said Yasu, slowly, picking at the huge pile. "You've been issued-"

"a duel." said Sakura, horrified.

"By...what? Fifty people?" asked Yasu, opening I.D. card after I.D. card. Lucifer noticed her hands got a little frantic as that number formed in her mind.

"This is SK's traditional way of challenging each other to a duel as well." whispered Sakura. "Because back in the olden days, students only competed with each other's expulsion from the academy as a wager, so it was tradition to give each other their I.D. cards as a symbol of confidence in victory."

"Ah," said Lucifer almost bored as he leisurely collapsed on his chair. "Doesn't mean they had to make such a mess on my table."

Sakura's eyes widened with dread. 'Does he not understand how serious this was?' "Lucifer! You don't understand!" she said hurriedly. "You've been challenged by ALL of these people. There's even some third and second year student IDs in this pile. All FIFTY of these people now officially want to duel you."

"I know." said Lucifer yawning. Sakura stared at him, unable to believe her ears at how unbothered he was by this news.

"Fifty-one." said a voice behind them.

Sakura and Yasu wheeled around in shock, as Lucifer looked up and his eyes flashed. Haruto Miyazaki stood behind them, his white leather I.D. card in his hands. "I wanted to issue you this duel to your face, Night." he said, his voice restrained. "You said some pretty bold stuff at the Entrance Ceremony. A mere Demon challenged my pride as a Divine...challenged all the Divines.", he said, his eyes burning behind those sleek glasses. "So...I accept. You said you could beat any of us, right? Well, here I am, Demon." His gaze fixed Lucifer's eyes. "Are you gonna accept the challenge? A fair fight in a dueling hall just like all the others before us. Let's settle this on the first day itself; see the true value behind your arrogance, Lucifer. On the first day itself, I, the Divine Miyazaki challenges you, Demon!"

A wide smile spread over Lucifer's smile, and in horror, Sakura saw his dark aura return around him. "Fine then." He said, his grin gleaming dangerously. "But since this is such a special occasion what with the first duel of the year, why don't we have one of those?" he asked. "A Group Duel?"

"Lucifer, what are yo-"

Haruto smiled mirthlessly. In just one day, Lucifer had outwitted the entire class into selecting a President of his choice and now he had also gotten the two most powerful First-Year girls on his side, ready to fight their own for him. With them fighting as his lieutenants, it would be a tough fight. "Oh, you've heard of Group Duels?", he whispered ominously. "Very well." a grin spread over his face. "Assemble your team, and we will have a war of-"

"Don't need one." said Lucifer, his smile burning with arrogance as his aura deepened "I will slaughter you all on my own."