And so, about a week of peaceful life passed.
What puzzled Yuto was that Téa hadn't been walking home with him these past few days.
What's more, Mrs. Gardner said Téa had been coming home late every night. Just what was going on…
"Hey, Yuto, wanna go check out that new Burger World sometime?" Joey asked Yuto.
"I heard their burgers are really good!" Yugi chimed in.
"Miho wants to go too!" Even the usually cold Tristan didn't object this time, instantly turning into a simp and echoing Miho.
"Wait—guys, are you talking about Burger World?"
The usually quick‑to‑leave‑after‑school Téa unusually came over.
"Téa, you want to go too? By the way, you haven't been walking with me these days. Perfect timing, let's all go together."
Yuto invited her, hoping to keep their bond intact.
"Don't be ridiculous. I heard the food there is awful! And people even got sick from eating it. I'm absolutely not going!"
'…That's a strong reaction.'
Yuto racked his brain for the plot of Yu‑Gi‑Oh!, but the last time he watched the TV Asahi version was when he was little, and he couldn't remember.
"The teacher said it already: a fugitive's been active around here lately. It's better for everyone to go straight home after school!" Téa added.
"Oh, right! I heard the city's been a mess because of that criminal!"
Miho picked up the thread, while Joey said impatiently, "You guys are cowards. It's just one fugitive, right?"
Of course, Miho's simp No. 1, Tristan, had to speak up for his queen, which led to an argument with Joey. Yugi tried to calm things down.
"Then after school, I'll walk you home, alright?"
Yuto offered to escort Téa, but her expression suddenly turned strange.
"Uh, well... forget it, I... I've got other things to do!"
She ran out of the classroom.
'What could she be up to?' Yuto wondered when Joey hooked an arm around his neck.
"Hey, you don't think your tigress has a side guy, do you?"
"No way. I know her."
Still, what was Téa hiding from him?
"Really? But you two haven't gone home together in ages…" Tristan added.
"Then let's follow her and find out. C'mon!"
The three of them tailed Téa like a bunch of creeps.
They followed her all the way until they saw her go into the new fast‑food joint—Burger World.
They went closer. The automatic doors slid open, and there was Téa at the entrance, striking a pose.
"Welcome to Burger World! Eh?!"
"She's working."
"Yep, working."
"So she's working?"
Their reactions varied, but Téa quickly pulled herself together.
"Running short on money lately?" Yuto asked.
"I still have some cash on hand. Want me to spot you?"
Téa shook her head. Yuto did earn a decent amount from submitting articles to card game magazines; albeit, she wasn't working because she was broke, nor did she want to rely on him.
"Customers? Is there a problem?" the shift manager came over.
"No, nothing. I'll seat them right away."
Téa led the three of them to a table.
Soon, she brought over their food.
"Since you found out, I won't hide it anymore. I'm working here to save money. After graduation, I want to go to America—to New York, to study dance. So…"
"Mm, I get it. But your English…"
"Yuto, don't rub salt in it... I'll study hard," Téa said softly, almost like she was pouting.
After their brief chat, Téa returned to the entrance to continue working.
Yuto took a bite of his burger. 'Hey, it's pretty good'—even the buns taste freshly baked.
"This burger's great."
Just then, a middle‑aged man walked to the center of the restaurant, flashing an ID.
"Sorry to disturb you all. A fugitive may be hiding here. The staff will check everyone's legs—the fugitive has a scar on his right leg. Please cooperate."
"No other clues? A scar usually heals fast," a customer commented.
"Well, according to his medical records, the fugitive is allergic to eggs."
Téa's eyes lit up, and she said loudly:
"Oh? That's easy then! Our burgers all have egg in them!"
A man sitting in the corner suddenly began trembling. The officer walked over.
"Sir, are you alright?"
"Shut up—leave me alone!"
The man shot to his feet, trying to bolt, but the officer grabbed him. His mask and wig fell to the floor.
"Semoku! You're under arrest!"
"Get me an ambulance! Call an ambulance! I don't want to die!"
The fugitive, Semoku, screamed, while Téa laughed from the side.
"Idiot—that was a lie. Our buns are 100% wheat flour."
"What?! Damn it!"
Humiliated, Semoku broke free from the officer and lunged forward—only to knock the manager to the ground.
He noticed the manager's leg had a scar. So that was it! No wonder the recent jobs ended with empty safes—it was someone else committing thefts under his name!
"This guy's the real criminal! Him!"
Of course, the officer didn't believe him, hauling Semoku up, while Semoku clung to the manager's clothes.
Rip—!
The green uniform tore, revealing a spider tattoo underneath.
"Th‑That tattoo..."
"It's Yellow Spider Kilo!" the officer shouted.
Realizing his cover was blown, Kilo sprang up, snatched the gun from Semoku's belt, and took Téa hostage.
Yuto, who had only been watching, couldn't sit still anymore.
"Téa!"
"Don't move! Or she dies!"
'Damn this guy!'
Seeing Kilo's side turned toward him, Yuto crouched low and moved back quietly.
"Everyone on the floor!"
Kilo blindfolded Téa with a yellow ribbon. Everyone had no choice but to obey and get down.
Abruptly, then, the officer noticed someone behind Kilo—Yuto creeping closer. Yuto winked at him.
The officer understood and nodded slightly. Yellow Spider Kilo was muttering:
"When humans can't see anything..."
'Now!'
Yuto lunged. He grabbed Kilo's hand, forcing control, while the officer drew his gun.
Bang! Bang!
Bang!
Three shots rang out, then silence.
Blindfolded, Téa curled up on the floor, trembling in fear. She felt something warm dripping onto her face.
Who won? Was it the police… or Kilo? She felt someone undoing her blindfold.
"It's okay now... it's okay..."
A big hand patted her head. The ribbon came off, and when she opened her eyes, Yuto's face was right there.
"Yuto... Yuto!"
Téa threw herself into his arms, sobbing.
Yuto pulled some napkins from the table.
"Here—lift your head. Let me wipe your face; it got splattered with something dirty."
Obediently, Téa lifted her head, looking at the boy she loved from up close. Her cheeks flushed red.
"Honestly..."
His courage in saving her, his gentle care afterward… both were too unfair!
She couldn't pull away from him now…
…
The day after the incident, Téa was walking home with Yuto again.
She'd quit her job at Burger World. Yuto had set her up with some freelance work writing for a fashion magazine, which meant they could spend more time together again.
...
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