"Hey, Jou," Yuugi tugged on Jounouchi's shirt hesitantly. "I gotta tell you something."
Jounouchi waited, letting their other friends walk a few feet ahead as he stayed behind with Yuugi. "What is it, bud?" he asked.
"I can't go with you guys to the cafe today," Yuugi admitted.
Jounouchi frowned. "Hey, but- you know how much Anzu's been lookin' forward to it."
Yuugi put his hands together and bowed. "Please!" he said. "I know, so please don't tell her this, but-" Yuugi put his hands down. His voice grew meek. "I have a date."
Jounouchi's eyes went wide. First, his mouth dropped open, and then it turned into a huge grin. "What! No way!" He put Yuugi in a chokehold. "Yuugi, you sly dog!"
Yuugi grabbed at Jounouchi's arm, sputtering for air. Jounouchi released him.
"It's okay, I understand. I won't tell anyone!" Jounouchi gave a proud grin, puffing out his chest. "My little Yuugi has come so far..."
Yuugi smiled sheepishly. "Y-yeah... Well... I have to go now! Thank you again!" He started walking the other direction of the group. Jounouchi waved to him, calling out, "Go get 'em!"
After he was a few streets away from the group, Yuugi sighed. I don't think Jounouchi-kun would be as excited if he knew who my date was with. He stopped walking in front of a large house, where his "date" was waiting in... surprisingly casual clothing, all things considered.
"Yuugi."
"Hello, Kaiba-kun..." Yuugi waved shyly. When Kaiba had said he was taking Yuugi to dinner, Yuugi hadn't thought much of the implications at the time because he had been much to preoccupied with the fact that Kaiba was being straightforward and polite with him for once.
Actually, if Yuugi was honest, he still wasn't sure that Kaiba wasn't planning anything, and that had been part of why he'd left his friends. He didn't want anything weird to happen to them.
Again.
Kaiba cleared his throat, pulling slightly at the collar of his dark turtleneck. "S-so, are you ready to go, then?"
Yuugi took a deep breath. This must just be Kaiba's way of making up and trying to be friends, Yuugi assured himself. After all, he is super rich. Rich people love fancy formal dinners.
Yuugi looked up at Kaiba. "Yes," he said. "...or, um, I think so."
Kaiba quirked an eyebrow at his uncertain response, but opened the back door to the white car in front of them, motioning for Yuugi to get in.
Yuugi did so hesitantly, as the past few times he'd shared a car with Kaiba had been terrifying at best and involved kidnapping at worst. Don't think like that! he scolded himself. Kaiba is trying to move past this! Have more faith in him.
Kaiba shut the door once they were both seated, and they were off.
Neither of them spoke during the car ride, except for Kaiba giving an occasional instruction to their driver. It was like Kaiba was incapable of even thinking of looking at Yuugi, and it made him feel invisible, although he's not sure what they would talk about, had they spoken. It was a long ride, and Yuugi was thankful once they arrived at their destination.
He hopped out of the car, bracing himself for a large restaurant where the menu prices would make him physically ill, but instead he was at…
"Burger World?" Yuugi asked.
Kaiba's eye twitched slightly, just enough for Yuugi to pick up... something. Kaiba's expressions were such that he wasn't really sure what to read it as. Annoyance, maybe?
"You eat here a lot," Kaiba said flatly.
"Oh. Yeah, I guess."
"You. Like it," Kaiba said.
He's trying to take you to someplace you like, idiot! Yuugi was trying not to kick himself. Of course Kaiba would take him somewhere he actually liked! A fancy restaurant would just make Yuugi uncomfortable. He caught Kaiba's furrowed eyebrows, realizing his reaction probably made it sound like he hated the place.
He brightened up instantly. "Yes! I love this place, I can help you order if you want?" Yuugi offered. That seemed to help, because instead of looking grumpy and regretful, Kaiba now just looked grumpy, which was how he always looked, and was therefore an improvement.
"W-well, let's go inside," Yuugi said. Kaiba followed him in.
I guess I should be thankful we're not at a fancy restaurant, I'm not dressed for that anyway, Yuugi thought sadly once they were seated, as he looked over his outfit, a t-shirt and black jeans. Kaiba was wearing a plain turtleneck and it still made him look like a rich model; and his height didn't help at all. It just wasn't fair. Yuugi could be wearing anything and he'd just look like an elementary schooler.
Kaiba was glaring at the menu.
"Um, Kaiba-kun, what's wrong?" Yuugi asked.
"It's all burgers, aren't they just all the same greasy thing?" Kaiba asked.
"Well... you're the one who brought us to Burger World," Yuugi pointed out.
"Hmph." Kaiba continued to stare down the menu.
Yuugi scooted closer to Kaiba, pointing at his menu. "I usually get this," he said, "and a milkshake. They're really good! But... I guess I'm not sure you'd like it," Yuugi said dejectedly.
"Why would you point it out just to say you don't think I'd like it," Kaiba said.
Ah, I made him upset, Yuugi frowned. "Sorry. I wanted to help."
Kaiba rolled his eyes.
However, when their waiter came and Yuugi ordered, Kaiba got the same thing.
"You're gonna try it?" Yuugi asked, surprised.
Kaiba rested his head in one hand, propped up on the table. "If I don't like it, I'm making you eat it." He wasn't looking at Yuugi, but Yuugi swore that Kaiba was blushing.
I feel like Kaiba-kun and I should be talking right now, but I don't know what about... This feels too awkward... and he won't even look at me... Yuugi sighed.
Yami poked into his thoughts. Talk about Duel Monsters! You guys both like that, he offered.
Yuugi made a face.
"So, Kaiba-kun," Yuugi began. Kaiba glanced at him. This is going to be a long dinner. "...I know you like the Blue Eyes, so... Do you know about the game mats?"
Kaiba sat upright at the mention of the Blue Eyes White Dragon. "Yes," he says. "I have many copies. I also have a collector's edition with matching card sleeves."
"Oh," Yuugi said. Of course he'd have all that! What a stupid question. However, Kaiba wasn't talking in that Obviously-I'm-Rich voice, but instead he seemed... Excited. Yuugi bit his lip in thought. "Well... I don't know if they have any for the Dark Magician, but I have this poster of him! My grandpa got some to sell at the store."
"Well, there's a Dark Magician trio mat," Kaiba said. "You didn't see about that? I'm surprised."
"No, I didn't hear about that! You mean it has three of the Dark Magician?" Yuugi asked.
"No, it has the Dark Magician, the Dark Magician Girl, and the Magician of Black Chaos. I'm surprised you're not more in touch with the merchandise," Kaiba said, almost scoldingly, as if he expected Yuugi to be better. To be... more nerdy-er.
Yuugi flushed. "Oh, wow! I wish I could see it, though... The Dark Magician really is my favorite card," he said, embarrassed.
Their food was put on the table.
I guess it is really easy to talk to him when it's about Duel Monsters. But I wish we could talk about other stuff, too... Yuugi thought while sipping his milkshake. Kaiba was preoccupied with cutting his burger into bite sized chunks with a knife and fork.
"Kaiba-kun... do you not just eat it with your hands?" Yuugi asked.
"I don't usually eat these, period," Kaiba said. He sounded like he was struggling. It was a sad sight.
"I'm sorry. If you don't like these, you shouldn't make yourself eat it," Yuugi said, disheartened.
"I only get these when Mokuba wants to eat fast food," Kaiba went on to explain, not seeming to notice Yuugi being dejected.
"Well, usually you just eat like this," Yuugi said, demonstrating as his took a bite out of his burger.
Kaiba took a quick look at him, and then averted his gaze. "...I see."
"Does Mokuba-kun like stuff like this?" Yuugi began, but Kaiba was trying to eat his burger in the Normal Way and didn't seem to hear Yuugi. He looked a little dead inside.
Don't strain yourself, thought Yuugi, watching Kaiba as he picked at his own food. I'm starting to worry about you.
The rest of their meal went back to silence, and while it still felt awkward, Yuugi was fairly certain by this point that Kaiba wasn't plotting anything. It was starting to get dark outside, and he was finishing up his shake, and Kaiba was still making a slightly strained expression as he finished his meal. Yuugi decided to leave him be, because he worried if he brought it up Kaiba might start blushing again, and that was a little too painful to look at.
a/n - hello! this is my first post to , I hope you enjoy! this is just a short one shot I wrote a while ago, but I thought I might post it. feel free to leave a review, I have some more fics in the works that I hope to post soon!