"The seat next to Kaiba is still empty. Kisaragi-san, you'll sit there."
The homeroom teacher's words silenced the entire classroom.
Everyone could only watch as Kisaragi walked, step by step, toward Kaiba and sat down beside him.
What made it even stranger was this: Kaiba normally hated having anyone sit next to him. Even the teacher couldn't do anything about it—when arranging seats, they'd long since formed the habit of leaving the space beside Kaiba empty.
So when everyone assumed Kaiba was about to explode… he didn't react at all.
"What is going on? Kaiba doesn't let anyone sit near him, but—"
"You don't know? Kaiba-sama brought Kisaragi here today."
The class broke into whispers. Meanwhile, Jounouchi stared at Kaiba with undisguised hostility.
"Why does it have to be Kaiba of all people?!" he ground out through clenched teeth.
"I heard Kisaragi-san was brought here by Kaiba," Honda said. "There's even a rumor she's Kaiba's girlfriend."
"What?! Kaiba has a girlfriend—and she's that gorgeous?!" Jounouchi's resentment sharpened into pure rage.
Anzu chuckled. "Yugi, did you hear? They say Kisaragi-san is Kaiba's girlfriend. Honestly, they do look kind of compatible."
Yugi said nothing.
Behind him, a faint shadow appeared—an unseen figure rising from the Millennium Puzzle on his chest, watching Kisaragi.
"Other me…?" Yugi murmured.
The spirit didn't answer. He just kept staring at her.
"Do you know her?" Yugi asked quietly.
"I don't," the other voice said at last. "But I can feel the presence of a duelist in her… and the power of Duel Monster spirits."
"Monster spirits…" Yugi echoed.
At that moment, Kisaragi sensed a different kind of gaze. She turned and saw a boy with starfish-shaped hair looking at her—no, not him.
The invisible shadow beside him was looking at her.
She smiled and gave a small nod.
And then, at her side, a phantom shape appeared as well—an indistinct outline of Blue-Eyes White Dragon, staring back at Yugi.
"It's Blue-Eyes," the other voice said, eyes narrowing. "This girl has unusually strong spirit power."
Yugi's expression tightened.
Break Time
During recess, students swarmed around Kisaragi's desk. Even students from other classes crowded the doorway, craning their necks just to look.
"Kisaragi-san, where are you from? You look kind of mixed."
"Kisaragi-san, your hair is so pretty—tell me how you take care of it!"
The chatter came from all directions. For Kisaragi, it was torture. Back when she'd been a student, she was basically invisible—she had no idea how to deal with being the center of attention.
Then Kaiba's cold voice cut through the noise.
"Enough. You're loud."
His gaze alone was sharp enough to freeze people in place. The class knew the next step was Kaiba losing his temper, so they scattered at once.
"Thanks," Kisaragi said softly.
"It's nothing," Kaiba replied. "I don't like being surrounded either."
Watching them talk—watching Kaiba talk at all—left nearby students stunned.
"Look, Kaiba's still got that cold face… but his eyes are way gentler when he looks at Kisaragi."
"Seriously… I've never seen Kaiba this soft. I think I'm shipping them."
Hearing that, a vein throbbed in Jounouchi's temple. He stood and headed for Kisaragi's seat.
"Jounouchi, what are you doing?" Honda hissed.
"Introducing myself to the new transfer student," Jounouchi said with a smile that was clearly forced.
"Idiot," Anzu snapped. "If you don't want Kaiba to beat you up, don't go!"
"I don't care!" Jounouchi shot back and kept walking.
"That idiot…" Anzu muttered.
The Approach
Kisaragi and Kaiba were mid-conversation when a voice—uninvited and far too cheerful—cut in.
"Hi, Kisaragi-san. I'm Jounouchi Katsuya. Mind if we get to know each other?"
He smiled and offered his hand.
"Hello," Kisaragi replied evenly, extending her hand to shake.
But just before her fingers touched his—
Kaiba caught her wrist.
"You stray dog," Kaiba said flatly. "What do you think you're doing here?"
"Who're you calling a stray dog?!" Jounouchi snapped. "I'm just meeting a new classmate. What law says I can't talk to her?"
He turned to Kisaragi again, confidence returning to his face.
"Kisaragi-san, I've got two vouchers for a dessert shop. After school, I want to treat you to sweets."
Watch this, Kaiba, Jounouchi thought smugly. No girl can resist desserts. I'm going to get a date right in front of you.
Kisaragi could see what this was.
He was trying to pick her up—plain as day.
But in her mind, Jounouchi belonged with Mai Kujaku. She wasn't about to wedge herself into that.
And more importantly… she simply didn't feel that way about him.
So she answered directly.
"Better not. I don't really like sweets."
The moment she said it, Kaiba's expression relaxed.
And Jounouchi's face turned so awkward it almost hurt to look at.
"Hahahaha!" Honda burst out laughing behind him. "Jounouchi, you're awful at courting girls. Look—Kisaragi can enter this school with Kaiba. She's obviously seen the world. Your little tricks won't work on her."
"You moron—stop laughing!" Jounouchi barked back.
Anzu rubbed her forehead. "What an idiot. It's obvious Kaiba's interested in her, and Jounouchi still insists on barging in. Plus, if you compare Kaiba and Jounouchi… any normal girl would pick Kaiba."
Jounouchi still refused to quit. He plopped into the seat in front of Kisaragi.
"Come on. I've got two movie tickets too—how about I take you to a movie?"
Kinda amazing, Kisaragi thought dryly. Kaiba's nickname is dead-on. 'Stray dog'… he really does have that clingy simp energy.
Kaiba's voice dropped.
"Hey. Am I air to you? What gives you the right to ask Kisaragi out?"
"Whether I have the right is for Kisaragi to decide," Jounouchi shot back. "Why are you butting in?"
He leaned forward, eyes blazing, and produced his deck.
"If you're interested in her too, you can't stop me. If you want to stop me—then settle it with a duel!"
Jounouchi had disliked Kaiba for a long time—always acting high and mighty just because he was the president of Kaiba Entertainment. Now he finally had an excuse to challenge him.
Kaiba let out a low, amused sound.
"Oh? You're sure you want to duel me?"
"You scared?" Jounouchi taunted. "If you, the great president of Kaiba Entertainment, lose to me, your whole company's reputation takes a hit!"
Kaiba's eyes turned icy.
"If you insist on courting death… I'll oblige."
…
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 80)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 80)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League (Chapter 80)
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter50)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter50)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter50)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter50)
My patreon : patreon.com/queen_sin