Notes:
This takes place after episode 85 involving Zora's son and the clock.
Push
"Yusei, why did you push me away from Leo, today?" Aki asked standing over Yusei looking down thoughtfully, even if she was fairly clueless of what he was doing exactly. She would ask questions from time to time, mostly remembering little after he finished. He never seemed to mind her company even as the hours dwindled away and the others had long ago gone to bed or home. The newly fixed cuckoo clock chimed the late hour as Yusei tinkered with the engine.
At the question, Yusei put down his tools and looked around at the musty worn garage for a time appearing unsettled. The truth was Yusei had long ago given up a rather nasty unpleasant habit. When he barely reached Martha's knees, Yusei, usually the most behaved of her charges, had one thing and one thing only that would set him off, he never let anyone touch anything that he fixed. True, he would share anything else from his food to his own little creations. There was a connection that one made when one salvaged what was irrecoverable. He never wanted what he fixed to get hurt again from misuse. So, his young mind developed a protective resolve to keep his contraptions working. At times, He reacted violently, often pushing others away and reclaiming the object if it was taken, or if they handled it roughly. His worst offense involved punching Jack in a fury that amazed everyone. Crow spilled the remainder of his Ramen to the floor. Martha sternly ordered a confession from Jack for the crime must have been serious for Yusei to look so betrayed. Martha did need to restrain Yusei who aimed for another blow. Jack was still wide eyed with shock.
Jack had not only taken Yusei's unmangled, repainted, bicycle that took days to restore but crashed it and in a panic buried it under masses of various debris. Yusei spent many frantic days searching for it and, with the help of Crow and the other children, finally found it. Yusei was shaking clenching at the disheveled bike, and Jack tried to casually denounce the act by admitting to it and apologizing. After all, Yusei was forgiving and he tolerated Jack's sometimes unscrupulous actions thousands of times since they met. Jack never thought there was something that was unforgivable even by Yusei's low standards.
What finally tamed Yusei's malice toward Jack and broke his old pattern was an unexpected gesture from Jack and Crow. Before, Yusei spent his time building, alone, even fishing for parts himself which could prove long and tedious. The following day his crippled bike was standing on a makeshift holder, and Crow and Jack stood around a plethora of items that could be used to repair the bike looking clueless as to what to do with said parts.
"Your holding it wrong." Yusei snapped at Jack politely fixing Jack's grip on the wrench.
"Well, we don't know a lot about this stuff, but we'd like to help." Crow muttered trying to force the replacement wheel into the proper socket.
"No, this way" Yusei lodged the wheel in. They began to work harmoniously with avid advice from Yusei now and again. Martha peeking in saw the issue resolved and returned later to hand snacks as well as give a stern talk to Yusei. Yet, it was strange for Yusei smiled. He liked that he wasn't alone in this, and they found all these useful parts for him. As he shared his experience building with his friends, the paranoia went away.
"We will come back tomorrow, Crow and Jack. We should head back." For a moment, Jack and Yusei exchanged glances. Jack nodded acknowledging that he was forgiven. They did finish repairing the bike within the week, and Yusei became tolerant and eventually accepting of others around such projects.
As ridiculous as the prospect was, in Yusei's mind, he fixed Aki who suffered for years, twice. Leo, a fellow tinkerer, was known to break things. The old urge ever so briefly returned, and he pushed them apart. He shouldn't have to fix her a third time in his opinion. He would protect his friend and her, patched up, soul, even from such inconsequential threats.
"He needed to apologize to Zora. He was getting distracted." Aki nodded fingering the engine absently.
"Don't touch that." Aki withdrew her hand quickly stepping back respectfully. Yusei sighed, embarrassed. It would take a few days for the old habit to stop creeping into his system. Pulling her closer, he handed her a screw driver. She seemed disappointed for some reason.
"Let me show you how to work on the engine." Yusei might as well teach her a bit. She seemed interested enough. She constantly asked questions and stayed well into the night when she didn't have school. Aki listened and did as told. She was corrected, and close to nodding off at times as light seeped into the blanket of night. The former witch found she loved the little smiles she received when she performed admirably. Yusei did soon realize how long they had been up crafting the engine.
"The sun is rising. I shouldn't have kept you here this long." Stretching, he stood putting away his tools. He would sleep in and quietly enjoy the astonished looks he would receive from Jack and Crow in the morning.
"Yusei." Aki mumbled still on the ground.
"Yes." He redirected his attention to the sprawled figure below him. Noticing her closed eyes, he picked her up deciding to go ahead and take her home himself. Tired as he was, one of his precious projects needed attention. Sleep could wait. After all, a mechanics' work is never done.
Judai: You got into 5ds?
Me: Your going to be smug for a while because I complained so much aren't you?
Judai: How many times did you picture Yusei crashing mentally?
Me: A lot but that was before I discovered he's practically saint. (X
Judai: Hah, you don't stand by your convictions. (Walking away)
Me: (Feebly) Yeah, I occasionally will read comments on episodes and someone asked why did Usei push Leo out of the way? I started thinking about it and led to the creation of this.