Her Prom
Akiza's life was finally going great. After the war with the Dark Signers ended, she was able to move back in with her parents, found a new group of friends and returned to school with a brand new set of expectations. She knew that it would take time for her to get her life organized, but at least she was not alone anymore. When she returned to duel academy, Akiza still was talked about around school, but her new positive attitude ended the whispers in just few weeks.
Even though the young girl dedicated much of her energy and focus on her studies, Akiza did not participate in any other extracurricular activities. She did not find any purpose in participating in other school functions. She never bothered looking at flyers for fundraisers, joining clubs, playing sport, hitting up the lunchtime bake sale or attending rallies her school was hosting. There was simply no need and no time for any of that. However, that would all change when one day Akiza's mother struck up a conversation with her daughter in the kitchen.
"How was your mathematics test yesterday?" The older woman asked, while she was washing dishes.
Akiza, sitting at the kitchen table, looked up from her notes. "It was fine. I got stuck on a few problems, but it shouldn't hurt my grade in the class too much."
"That's good. Oh, I was looking at your school calendar the other day and saw there are a lot of events coming up this month, like the food drive and prom."
Akiza gripped her notes. She would never let anyone know that she loved the idea of dressing up and dancing. It was so cliche, but when she was little, Akiza dreamed of finding that perfect dress and dancing with that perfect guy. "You know I'm focusing on my grades. Those sort of things would take time away from studying."
"I know dear. But ask anyone and they would say to take advantage of this time in your life. Grades are not everything. You should go out and have some fun once and awhile."
Akiza sighed, closed her books and walked upstairs to her room. After she shutting her door behind her, Akiza flopped down on her bed. She really did wanted to go to prom, or at the least a formal dance. She even knew which boy she wanted to go with: Yusei Fudo. He had done so much to help her. From the moment they met, Akiza started to have feelings for the young man.
Yusei never went to school, so he probably had no idea what a prom really was. Plus, he was dead set on finishing the new engine before the WRGP, so there was no way Akiza could go with him.
Akiza laid on her bed and fantasized about Yusei coming up with a grand way of asking her to prom. She loved picturing the two of them dancing across the floor in formal attire. Yusei would stare into her ember eyes with his bright blue ones. He would wrap his arms around her and pull her in close. That was Akiza's dream. She imagined the whole night in her head, until she drifted off to sleep.
The next morning at school, it seemed that everyone was talking about the upcoming prom. Left and right, boys walked up to girls with flowers and asked them to accompany them. Akiza gazed at every boy asking a girl and imagined her and Yusei in their place. She felt sad for a nice boy from one of her classes who was turned down in front of his friends. Maybe she could ask someone in school, but who would be caught dead with her. No one treated her poorly in school, but she was still somewhat of an outcast to the boys.
Akiza left school that day, with the idea of prom still running around in her head. She decided to clear her mind by visiting some of her other friends at the garage. When she got there, Akiza walked down the steps and immediately saw the three guys working on their runners.
"Hey, Akiza." Crow was the first one to notice the girl.
"Hi, guys. How's the work on the engine going?" She asked with a smile.
"It's going. We might need a few more parts soon and I don't think they're parts we can scrap together." Yusei said, not taking his eyes off of the machine.
"Hopefully Jack won't spend all our money on coffee this week." Crow snickered.
"Give it a rest, Crow!" Jack started walking upstairs, getting tired of their age old fight.
"Not until you stop wasting our money. Anyway, I gotta run. I promised the kids I would visit them this afternoon. I'll see you later tonight, Yusei." Crow walked out of the garage, as well, leaving Akiza and Yusei alone together.
Yusei finally looked up from his work. "So, how's school going, Akiza?"
"It's going alright. I finally got all of my grades up. I do wish I didn't have so much work." Akiza stood besides Yusei. "I really just miss having time to relax."
"I'm sure you can handle it." Yusei smiled.
Akiza grabbed her arm. She always used to do that whenever she was nervous. Why was she always so nervous around Yusei? There was no reason why she should be. Or was there? "I hope. My mom is trying to get me to participate in more activities around school. I guess the major event coming up that everyone is obsessed with is prom." She was secretly glad she managed to slip that into the conversation.
"Do you plan on going?" Yusei asked, completely clueless.
She wanted act cool and not seem so desperate. "I'm not sure. No one has asked me yet and I don't know if I'll ask anyone."
"Well, I think you should go. I never got a chance for things like that growing up in Satellite." Yusei said.
Here it was. Her chance. She could ask him to go with her to prom. What would he say? Yusei did not come off as a guy who would attend things like prom. But, what would it hurt to ask? "Would...would you like to go with me? I mean-" Akiza bit her tongue.
Yusei's eyes widened. He defiantly did not expect her to ask that. He did not say anything at first, but then smiled. "Of course I'll go with you. It'll be fun."
Akiza's knees locked and her breathing stopped. She had just asked Yusei Fudo, her long-time crush, to prom and he said yes. Her ultimate day dream was unfolding right in front of her.
"Okay. I'll send you the date and time. And don't worry about the cost. I'll ask my dad." She smiled.
"Alright then."
Akiza could not wipe the smile off of her face. She ran the whole way home. Her mother was the first one to notice how happy her daughter was. Akiza told her everything that happened with Yusei and boy was it a great story to tell.
As Akiza was getting ready for bed, she started thinking about what she was going to wear for her prom night. What style dress should she get? What color would look good on her? What height heels? Should she even wear heals? How tall is Yusei? How should she do her hair? Then, Akiza realized she knew someone who would be perfect to help with her dilemma.
Akiza picked up her phone and called up an old friend. "Hello, Misty. It's Akiza...It's good to hear you too...I'm doing fine...Listen, I need your help...You see, I'm going to my school prom...With Yusei...I know right!" Akiza started getting giddy. "Yea, I really need your help...Really...Great! I'll see you then."
The next day, Akiza skipped her last class of the day so she could met up with Misty Tredwell. The two of them where going to to pick out Akiza's prom dress together. Misty, being a world famous super-model, had recently returned to the city from a photo shoot in Paris and really needed a break from her hectic routine.
"I can't believe I really asked him to go with me." Akiza admitted.
"I can. I saw the love you had for him written all over your face whenever someone said his name." Misty smiled. The two ex-enemies were walking through the city mall. Misty of course had to disguise herself, so no fans would surround them.
She then stopped and looked over to one specific store. "This is the place. It has great dresses that aren't too gaudy."
Akiza and Misty went into the beauty dress shop and immediately started looking through the racks for that perfect dress. After a few minutes of searching, the two came up with four different dress options that Akiza agreed to try on. Akiza jumped in a dressing room and Misty took a seat on the couch.
After a short minute, Akiza stepped out. "Okay, this one is nice, but..." The young girl was wearing a short, navy blue dress with a ruffled neckline.
Misty shook her head. "Not for prom. You need a nice long, formal dress." Akiza agreed, so she stepped back inside to try on the next dress. When she opened the door, Misty could not help but notice Akiza having to pick up the front of the dress to walk.
"That dress looks way to heavy to dance in and the color is a bit much." Misty told Akiza bluntly.
"I know. Light-green is not my color. It doesn't go with my hair." Akiza smiled and walked back inside. She had trouble deciding which of the last two dresses to come out in. However the more she thought about, she realized which one she really wanted. Akiza stepped out and Misty gasped.
"This one!"
"Defiantly."
Akiza started counting down the days until prom. Even though she was super excited for the upcoming dance, she did not want anyone to think she turned into some cheerleading girly girl. Akiza went over to the garage a number of times to talk to Yusei. He seemed to have everything together and even managed to rent a suit. Crow and Jack of course started teasing Yusei about going out with Akiza, but he did not seem to care.
Suddenly, prom was only a few hours away. Misty had gone over to Akiza's home to help the redhead with her hair and makeup. Akiza began to feel really nervous as the night approached. What if it was not everything she dreamed of? What if something went wrong?
As the time had come for Yusei to pick Akiza up, her father waited by the door with a stale look on his face. The senator gazed out the window and saw lights approaching his house. There was a knock at the door. The older man opened the front door to find Yusei Fudo, all dressed up and looking rather handsome.
"Hello sir." Yusei smiled. He tried not show the nervousness he felt under his skin.
"Hello, Yusei. Akiza should be right down. I am under the belief that you will bring my daughter home around midnight." Akiza's father really did like Yusei, but he felt like it was his job to give boys a hard time. Especially considering all that Akiza had been through.
"Of course. You have my wor..." Yusei's words trailed off as he noticed Akiza ascending down the stairs. The young girl was wearing a long, strapless, figure-hugging deep-red dress. Misty had curled her hair into a beautiful side bun, still leaving her signature long bangs free. She also had a more natural shade of makeup on.
"Hi Yusei." Akiza smiled. She imagined Yusei would look good in a suit, but not that good.
"Akiza, you look beautiful." Yusei could not stop smiling. To think, only a few months ago, Akiza said she hated Yusei and wanted to have nothing to do with him.
Akiza's mother walked in the room with her camera. "Before you two head out, how about just one picture?"
Yusei and Akiza stood tall next to each other as their picture was taken. Akiza just really wanted to get to the dance. The two said their final goodbyes to Akiza's parents and headed out. She thought sitting on Yusei's runner would be a struggle in a dress, but to her surprise, he borrowed Trudge's car for the night.
When they finally got to their destination, the two walked in together hand-in-hand. Akiza knew that people would be staring at them. It must be strange seeing the former Black Rose Witch and the Fortune Cup Champion going to a school prom together. But honestly, neither of them cared. They were just so happy to be spending time with one another.
Akiza lead the way to the dance floor. The music was already blasting and Akiza recognized a number of kids from her classes. Suddenly, Yusei spun her around and started dancing. Funny considering Yusei always said he did not dance.
"You look really beautiful tonight." Yusei spoke softly.
"Thank you. You look very nice too." Akiza replied. "I'm so glad you agreed to come with me."
"Anything for you." As the music turned to a slow dance song, Yusei smoothly pulled Akiza in.
Akiza now was really surprised to see that Yusei knew how to slow dance, even though all they were really doing was rocking side to side. Yusei moved his hands down around Akiza's waist and smiled at her. Akiza could feel a blush on her checks. She wrapped her hands around the back of his neck and smiled in return. All the noise and people around them seemed to fade away as the two moved across the floor.
"Akiza?"
"Yea?"
"Thanks for inviting me. It saved me a lot of stress." Yusei smiled.
Akiza did not know what he meant by 'stress'. "From Jack and Crow?" She figured.
The young man shock his head. "No. From figuring out how I was supposed to ask you out."
Akiza stared into Yusei's eyes, a bit confused. "What do you mean?"
Yusei took a moment before answering. "I've been wanting to take you out on a date for awhile now."
"Really?" Akiza would have jumped up and down in happiness if that did not mean stamping on his toes.
"Of course." Yusei gave the young girl a half smile, then moved in. He kissed Akiza on the checks and the two continued dancing.
To Akiza's disappointment, the night seemed to fly by. Before she knew it, her and Yusei were walking outside. Yusei lead his date to the car, and even held the door open for her like a true gentleman. Yusei jumped in the driver seat, when he noticed the time.
"Oh crap." He cursed under his breath.
"What?" Akiza asked.
"It's almost one in the morning. I promised your dad I would bring you home by midnight." Yusei stumbled around to get the car started.
Akiza laid her hands on top of Yusei's to stop his anxiety. "It's alright."
Yusei looked over at Akiza. She seemed very calm. Then, the fiery redhead leaned in and kissed Yusei's lips. It shook him a bit, but once he started to kiss back, it felt amazing.
Finally, after months of concealing their true feelings for each other, Yusei and Akiza were showing their true colors. Yusei pulled Akiza close, making her feel loved and wanted. Prom was fun and all, but nothing could compare to simply being with one another, kissing under the late moon light. Hopefully, Akiza's father would not get too mad.