Yu-Gi-Oh! GX - Chapter 009

Best Friends is the ninhth chapter of the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX manga. It was first printed in Japanese in the V Jump magazine and in English in the Shonen Jump magazine. Both of which were printed in volume 1 of the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX graphic novels afterwards.

Summary
Midori Hibiki encounters Chazz Princeton observing Jaden Yuki and Syrus Truesdale's duel from a distance after school hours. She asks him what is going on, and when he tells her that Syrus is dueling to avoid expulsion, she is shocked and cannot believe the news.

Syrus, having equipped Transformation, recalls his brother saying that he was too kind to be a duelist, and thinks that his "kindness" is now sealed beneath the armor. Jaden attempts to attack Sho with Inferno, but Sho turns Flame Burst's attack into a direct attack and destroys the monster, impressing Jaden.

Syrus recalls Jaden asking him why he calls him "bro" when he has a real brother. Syrus remembers that Jaden's passion for dueling reminded him of his brother. He wants to become as good as both of his "brothers", and is thus determined to stay at the academy. Jaden draws Mystical Space Typhoon, which, by destroying Transformation and causing Syrus to take the damage he should have taken, would guarantee his victory, but remembers that if Syrus loses, he will be expelled. Syrus admits that the duel was fun, and demands that he not hold back. Jaden plays Mystical Space Typhoon, but Syrus guards himself against the effect by using Carrieroid's ability to remove the card from the game while keeping it in effect.

Syrus manages to summon the very powerful Armoroid next, which, while vulnerable once its Roid components are removed, is able to outclass Jaden's monster and damage Jaden even when his monsters are in defense mode. The development convinces Jaden that Syrus will win, and he initially seems content with just losing his deck so his friend can stay at the academy, but then remembers that he was entrusted with the deck. He then activates Pot of Greed, summoning Elemental Hero Voltic, which can return cards removed from the game into the graveyard, enabling it to break Syrus's transformation. Syrus, realizing that he has been defeated, says that he has never had such a fun duel, and will do what it takes to return. Jaden uses Hero Solidarity to destroy two of Syrus' spell cards and attacks Syrus's Armoroid with Voltic, the attack breaking Syrus's transformation and defeating him. As his armor fades away, Syrus realizes that he could not change what he was, even with the armor.

Jaden protests Syrus having to be expelled over one zero. Midori arrives to state that Syrus actually did not get a zero, as the preliminary reports gave him one for not putting his name on the test, but the final reports show him getting the highest score in the class, thus preventing him from being expelled. Jaden celebrates Syrus' staying at the school with his friends until Midori gives him bad news- unlike Syrus, he did in fact, fail, and must retake the test.

Duels
(Duel resumes from previous chapter)
 * Jaden (4000 LP): Draws an unknown card. Summons Woodsman (2000 DEF) in Defense Mode, and activates Oil to return Lady Heat from the graveyard


 * Syrus (3400 LP): Draws an unknown card. Summons Shuttleroid (1000 ATK) in attack mode.


 * Jaden (4000 LP): Draws Polymerization. Fuses Lady Heat and Heat to summon Inferno (2300 ATK) in Attack mode. Attacks Shuttleroid, but Syrus activates Shuttleroid's special ability. Transformation destroys Inferno.


 * Syrus (3400 LP): Draws and summons Carrieroid.


 * Jaden (4000 LP): Draws Mystical Space Typhoon. He plays it, but Syrus uses Carrieroid's special ability, removing it from play to protect it. Shuttleroid damages Jaden for 1000 points, reducing his LP to 3000.


 * Syrus (3400 LP): Combines his three Roids to make Armoroid Combo Summon (2700 ATK). Attacks Woodsman in Defense Mode, and with his ability, reduces Jaden's life points by 1350 to 1650.


 * Jaden (1650 LP): Plays Pot of Greed and draws Elemental Hero Voltic (1000 ATK) and Hero Solidarity. Equips Voltic with Voltic Spear, increasing its ATK to 2000, and uses Hero Solidarity to sacrifice two heroes to eliminate two of Syrus' Roids, reducing Armoroid's ATK to 1500. He attacks Armoroid with Voltic, reducing Syrus' LP to 2900. Syrus's Transformation is placed in the Graveyard as a result of Voltic's ability, and he takes damage equal to the destroyed Stratos and Inferno's ATK, (4100 total).

(Jaden wins the duel)