Title: Loser
Author: Fenikkusu Ai
Rating: K+
Fandom: Yu-Gi-Oh Zexal
Character: Ryoga
Words: 212
Genre: Humor/Romance
Summary: Ryoga wondered how long it took to rebuild a broken reputation.
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh Zexal.
The whispers followed Ryoga everywhere.
"Did you hear?"
"Yeah. He cheated."
"What a scandal!"
"I wouldn't want a cheater for a friend."
A unison of lockers slammed as he approached. The self-righteous scorn emanating from the other students was overpowering. He sneered at their backs as they left him to his own unimportant routine.
Everyday, Ryoga coated himself in a new armor of pride and everyday the others slowly wore him down to the bone with their gossip. It was a long torturous social death. In the end, he knew that he would have to leave here. Start anew. If it was possible to find a place that didn't know his face or name.
At times like these, he tried to justify. Anyone would have done the same thing if they had the opportunity, right? The cards had been right there. He couldn't help it. It had been a one second decision that would haunt him forever.
But, they hadn't been given the opportunity. He had. And, he had messed it up. Now, he was the loser roaming the halls.
Ryoga wondered how long it took to rebuild a broken reputation; a topic no child should have to ponder.
But, he had been given the opportunity after all. Such a wasted opportunity...