Chapter One: The Decision
"Attention all Duel Academy students. This is a reminder that the Academy Prom is in two weeks time. The theme is 'Rose Garden.' You can purchase tickets in the office until the end of this week. Thank you."With that announcement, the final bell rang. Students poured out of the academy doors and out into the bustling City of New Domino, more commonly called New Domino City. Among the flow of students was Akiza Izinski, who was talking to her father on her cell phone with anxious expression on her face. As she stepped out into the blazing sunlight, she closed the phone and sighed. She sat down on one of the benches outside of the academy and rested her head on her hand, staring down at the sidewalk.
What am I going to do now? She thought fretfully, twirling a strand of her red hair around her finger. With my duel runner still broken and daddy stuck at work, how will I get home?
"Hey, Akiza!" A young voice called. Akiza looked up and saw Leo and Luna running towards her.
"So, you're still coming to our place later, right?" Leo asked excitedly. "I'm really, really, really going too need some help with my homework tonight. Dr. Heitmann gave us, like, a truckload to do!"
"I'm sorry, Leo," Akiza said sadly, looking away from his hopeful face. "I'm not sure if I'm going anywhere today."
"Why not?" Luna asked, sitting next to her friend. "Is everything okay, Akiza?"
"Well," Akiza began, "right now I'm not even sure if I'm going to be able to get home. You see, my duel runner broke down over the weekend, and we haven't sent it in to get fixed yet. My dad was going to do it today and drop it off here, but he got an emergency call at work and had to leave it in a hurry. My mom can't bring it because she doesn't know a thing about duel runners."
"Couldn't your dad come and pick you up?" Leo asked desperately. He really needed help with his homework!
"He can't," Akiza said, hating to see Leo look so disappointed. "He's still working, and he took the family car, so my mom can't come either. I would take a bus, but I didn't think to bring any money this morning."
"That's not good," The twins said that the same time. Luna patted her friend's hand comfortingly.
"No, it's not," Akiza sighed, squeezing Luna's hand. Then she stood up. "It looks like I'll be walking today."
"But, Akiza, you live, like, ten miles away!" Leo cried.
Akiza chuckled half-heartedly. "It's not quite that far, Leo, but it's definitely not close. But what other choice do I have?"
Her question was answered by the revving of a familiar engine. The three friends turned to see a black and yellow duel runner come up the street and stop right in front of them. The person riding it looked up and smiled.
"It's Yusei!" Leo cried with delighted surprise.
Yusei Fudo's black, yellow-streaked hair spiked back up as he took of his helmet, and his intelligent blue eyes sparkled in the sunlight as he smiled at Akiza. She smiled back, feeling her cheeks go pink.
"Hi, Yusei," she said happily.
"Hey, Akiza. Hi, Luna and Leo."
"Hey, Yusei!" Luna said cheerfully. "What are you doing here?"
"And why do you have Crow's runner?" Leo asked curiously."I'm here because I got a call from your dad, Akiza," Yusei answered, pulling an extra helmet out of a compartment on the runner and tossing it to the rose duelist. "He asked me to give you a ride home."
"He did?" Akiza asked in surprise.
Yusei just nodded. That's one of the things Akiza found interesting about Yusei; he never said too much.
"But why didn't you just use your own runner?" Leo asked, looking up at Yusei. "Why are you using Crow's?"
"Yeah, doesn't he need it for work?" asked Luna.
"Crow finished his deliveries early today, so he let me borrow his runner. It's easier to carry passengers on this one."
"Oh, I knew that," Leo said, smiling goofily. "So, does this mean that you guys are still coming over to our place tonight? Cause I could use some help on my duel board too, Yusei."
"As far as I know, we are," replied Yusei.
"It looks like it," Akiza said with a smile.
"Alright!" Leo yelled, pumping his fist. "I'd better go get my room cleaned up then. See ya, Yusei! Bye, Akiza!"
"See you guys tonight!" Luna called as she ran after her brother, disappearing into the crowd.
"So, are you ready to go, Akiza?" Yusei asked, putting his helmet back on and starting the engine.
"Yes, I'm ready," Akiza replied. She pulled on the spare helmet and climbed onto the runner behind Yusei.
"Hold on tight!" Yusei shouted over the roar of the engine. Akiza felt her face get hot again as she wrapped her arms around his waist, but she was glad she did as Yusei shot off away from the school and merged in with the oncoming traffic.
As Akiza watched the city whip past her, she remembered her first time on a duel runner. Yusei was being kidnapped at the time, and he was trapped in the back of a moving van. Akiza came to his rescue (for once!), and they both ended up escaping on his runner. She could still remember how she had refused to get on at first, but somehow, Yusei had convinced her that it was the only way. Then they ran into Sherry, the first female turbo duelist that Akiza had ever met. Sherry forced Yusei into a turbo duel, and Akiza decided to stay with Yusei and watch the duel up close; it had felt like something that she needed to see. Akiza remembered the excitement and wonder she had felt as she got her first taste of the turbo dueling world. She remembered Sherry telling her that turbo duelists, through the wind and speed of the duel, came to know and understand each other's hearts, their pain and anger, their deepest wishes and desires, and, most of all, their motivation for dueling. After that first look into the world of riding duels, Akiza was hooked. She wanted to understand this world better, to know more about it, and to be a part of after that, with Yusei's help, she got her license and became a turbo duelist.
But Akiza had never told him the most important reason for which she had wanted to become a turbo duelist. She wanted not only to understand turbo dueling itself, but she had wanted to understand Yusei better. She wanted to know him better.
She had wanted to be closer to him.
It was Yusei Fudo who had reached out to her in her days as the Black Rose. He had shown her the true meanings of friendship and trust when she thought the world was full of nothing but hate and pain. He was the only one who was able to wake her from her coma after her first duel with the Dark Signer, Misty. He had helped bring her family back together. He had helped to reveal the true purpose of the Arcadia Movement. It was his voice that had called to her when she was trapped under Sayer's control. Yusei had saved her, not only from Sayer, but from herself. He had removed the mask she had been hiding behind for years. This list could go on and on forever!
But most of all, Yusei had been her first true friend.
Akiza hadn't realized it at first, but she had been in love with Yusei ever since they had first met; it was the whole "Love at First Sight" deal. When they had first looked each other in the eye all those months ago, she had felt a spark between them. She had sensed something different in him; different from Sayer, from her father, from any other man she had ever met. In his shockingly blue eyes, she had seen kindness and mercy, selflessness and caring. But she had also seen mystery and confusion, and hints of a troubled past. She had been both surprised and scared her, but at the same time, she was intrigued about the way they had connected right on the spot. Had he seen anything in her eyes the way she had looked into his? Had he felt the same things she had felt? Had he recognized her as the Black Rose from the night he had seen her duel? Did he think that she was a witch, just like everyone else?
So many questions had gone through her mind in those few seconds their eyes had met, and she hadn't known the answers to any of them. But one thing was for sure: there was more to Yusei Fudo than his criminal mark and his skill on a duel runner.
At first, Akiza had refused to trust him. What she had sensed in him, though she would never admit it, had frightened her. She did not know what it was or what it meant, so she resorted herself to hating him and his Crimson Dragon mark. Sayer had said not to trust those with a mark like hers, and, back then, his word had been law to her. But, after their first duel during the Fortune Cup tournament, she was even more surprised by him. He had really fought for her and really tried to help her. No one, not even Sayer, had ever done anything like that for her. For the first time in years, he had removed the mask she had been hiding behind for years and showed her that there was still good in the world. He hadn't seen her as a dangerous witch, but as a normal person who needed a good friend. Akiza had left that arena that day more confused and amazed by him than before.
For days after that, Akiza had found her mind distracted. It became hard for her to focus, and she began struggling in her training. Sayer had noticed, of course, and he had approached her about it. Sayer knew her better than anyone, and he didn't need her to tell him that Yusei was the distraction. He greatly discouraged this, but Akiza couldn't help it. Yusei had reached out to her when she had thought the whole world was against her. Despite herself, she had wanted to get to know him better. To understand him. To find out what made him tick.
Soon after that, Akiza had her first encounter with the Dark Signers. Misty's accusations during their duel had cut her to the core. That, plus losing Sayer to the shadows and seeing her father for the first time in years, had brought her down to her knees in even more pain and anger. She had dueled Yusei again, hurting both him and her family as she tried to finally get them out of her life. She had told Yusei that she couldn't be saved. She had felt that, without Sayer, she was completely alone in the world. But Yusei had proved her wrong. Once again, he showed her the strength of bonds and friendship. He, along with her father, had brought her back from that terrible state of hatred and agony. After that duel, Akiza finally accepted Yusei, her family, and her place as a Signer.
She had still struggled, though; especially during her second duel with Misty. The thought that she had been responsible for the death of Misty's brother had brought back some of her old pain and doubt. Then Sayer had showed up again, making things even worse by unleashed her powers against her will, bringing her under his control. He had brought the Black Rose back out of her, and, for a moment, she had forgotten who she truly was. But, once again, Yusei came to her rescue. It still amazed Akiza how Yusei had been able to call her out Sayer's spell when no one else could. How had he done it? Akiza never fully understood how he did it, but now she thought that it was just who Yusei was. He was the type of person that could bring out the best in others, reveal truths to them that they had never even considered before.
Soon after that, Yusei, along with Jack and Crow, dueled and defeated Goodwin, ending the powers of Darkness forever and saving those who had been taken by the Dark Signers. Akiza's friendship with Yusei grew stronger as days... weeks... months passed. With it, Akiza's feelings toward Yusei also flourished, growing stronger with each passing day. The more she learned about him, about his interests, his hobbies, and even his theories about life and friendship, the more she fell in love with him. She had thought that she knew Yusei like the back of her hand.
Until the day he had dueled Sherry.
After that duel, Akiza had wanted to have a better understanding of the world of riding duels - the world Yusei took such a big part of. She wanted to see and feel the same things: the speed, the rush of the wind, the adrenaline. So, she decided that she would acquire a license.
It hadn't been easy, of course. Akiza had known that it would be a challenge; she had so many bruises and sore spots after those first few classes that she was still sore weeks afterward. But Yusei, as always, was right there to help her out. He gave her pointers and tips, he coached her as she practiced, and he came and supported her during her classes. She still remembered when he had taken her to the skating rink to teach her balance. It had been their first date...
No! Akiza thought to herself. Bad Akiza! That was not a date! It was just for practice. No one had called it a date.
But it had really felt like a date. The atmosphere was full of fun and laughter, and she had enjoyed it immensely. Could it have been something that had gone unsaid, something unofficial? Akiza remembered when she had first tried to move in her roller blades, and ended up falling against Yusei chest, right into his arms... They had been so close, and the expression on Yusei's face... he had always been hard to read, but she could have sworn that she had seen something in those piercing-but-calm blue eyes that she had never seen before...
Oh, stop it Akiza, she thought bitterly as Yusei approached her house. You're getting ahead of yourself. You should know better than that.
"Ok, we're here," Yusei said as he turned off the engine and pulled of his helmet. Akiza loosened her hold on Yusei and climbed off the bike, giving him back the spare helmet.
"Thanks for the ride, Yusei," She said with a polite smile. "I really appreciated it."
"No problem, Akiza," Yusei replied. Akiza expected him to pull out of the driveway and leave, but instead, he climbed of the bike as well.
"So your dad told me that you had a problem with your bike," he said. Akiza recognized his business face (the expression he had whenever there was something to be fixed).
"Yeah," Akiza replied sheepishly, feeling stupid for breaking her runner so soon after getting it. "I'm not sure what's wrong with it. The engine makes a funny noise when I start it, and it doesn't go when I try to ride it."
"What kind of a noise is it making?"
"It's a kind of rattling noise. It sounds like something's loose in the engine. We were going to take it to a shop to get fixed."
"Maybe I could come take a look at it." Yusei offered.
"Oh, that's okay, you don't have to," said Akiza, waving away his offer. "I'm sure you're busy with preparations for the WRGP. I don't want to be a bother."
"It's no bother," Yusei replied, grinning at the thought of a challenge. "Really, it's not. I just need to go back to the garage and get my tool box. Crow wanted his runner back ASAP, anyway. Plus, I'll do it free of charge."
"Yusei, I couldn't let you do that!" Akiza cried.
"Akiza, I designed that runner; I know it like the back of my hand. It'll only take a few minutes to find the problem and fix it. You'll save time and money."
"But I can't let you do it for free! I have to pay you somehow."
"Don't be ridiculous, Akiza. What are friends for?" He smiled. That smile... it practically made Akiza's heart melt. It was difficult for her to maintain a straight face.
"Are you sure?" She asked, folding her arms across her chest.
"Absolutely," Yusei confirmed. He pulled his helmet back on and clambered on Crow's runner. "I'll just go grab my tool box and give Crow back his runner. I'll be back in 10 minutes tops."
"Ok, Yusei," Akiza sighed. "See you in a bit,"
Yusei nodded to her and pulled out of the driveway, heading back to the garage where he lived with Jack and Crow.
He's so stubborn sometimes, Akiza thought, shaking her head as she watched him leave. But she smiled. And he's so willing to help his friends. I'm very glad that I can call him my friend.
Akiza walked back to the house and went up to her room to changed from her duel academy uniform to her usual clothes. After changing, she skipped back down the stairs and into the kitchen to get a quick snack. She hummed to herself as she grabbed an apple from the fridge and poured herself a glass of water.
"What are you so happy about?" a female voice asked from behind her.
Akiza turned and saw her mother coming in from the living room. The woman smiled brightly at her daughter as she approached her. She was wearing an apron over her house dress, and a broom was in her hand; apparently, she had just been cleaning. Akiza strongly resembled her mother. They had the same shade of dark red hair, even though they both wore it differently: Akiza's hair was short, about chin-length, except for her bangs, which went down to her elbows, although she kept most of it rolled up in her hair pin that she used to stabilize her powers, while Mrs. Izinski's hair was long, about waist length, with short bangs in the front that framed her face. They both had the same fair skin, the same face shape, the same petite, agile figure (although Mrs. Izinski wasn't as agile as she used to be), and the same shade of golden brown eyes. However, Mrs. Izinski's age was finally starting to show. There were laugh lines on her face, and her eyes crinkled a little at the corners when she smiled, and her hair was duller, with a few strands of gray beginning to show. But she still had the spirit of a much younger woman, and Akiza loved everything about her.
Akiza smiled back at her mother, happy to see her. During her time at home, Akiza had gotten to know her mother a lot better than she had when she was a little girl. They were now like best friends, a relationship she had never imagined she could have with her mother. But she wasn't complaining; after so many years of thinking that her parents didn't care about her or want her around, Akiza was very happy with the new relationship she had with her mother.
"No reason," Akiza said, leaning back against the counter, taking a bite out of her apple. "I guess I'm just in a good mood."
"Oh, are you?" Mrs. Izinski asked with a knowing smile. She leaned the broom against the door leading to the entryway and wiped her hands on her apron. "Is there a particular reason why?"
Akiza just shrugged, not liking the smile on her mother's face. That was the one problem with her mother: she could be a bit nosy.
"Your dad called. He told me that you were getting a ride home from Yusei today," Mrs. Izinski said simply as she pulled on a pair of gloves and began washing dishes.
"Mm-hmm," was all that Akiza said, taking another bite of apple and looking at her mom curiously. Where was she going with this?
"So," her mother pressed, "how was it?"
Akiza swallowed her apple and pondered her question. "It was fine, I guess," she finally answered. "I'm used to riding duel runners now, so it wasn't anything different than usual."
"Oh really?" Her mom asked inquiringly, as if looking for more information.
"Yes, really," Akiza answered, starting to get annoyed. She grabbed her water and started to head out of the kitchen, saying, "I think I'm going to go to my room and start on my homework."
She was almost out of the kitchen when her mother called, "So have you asked Yusei to take you to prom yet?"
"WHAT?" Akiza whirled around, forgetting about the broom her mom had left in the doorway and knocking her legs against it. She lost her balance and fell backwards, getting her legs tangled in the broom handle and spilling water all over herself. Before she knew it, Akiza was flat on her back with her hair, face, and the front of her shirt soaked with water.
"Akiza! Are you okay?" Her mother cried, rushing over to help her daughter. Akiza kicked the broom away and allowed her mother to help her up. She didn't answer her question, however; instead, she asked one of her own.
"What makes you think I would ask Yusei to the PROM?" She nearly shouted as she rung water out of her bangs.
"I just thought that you liked him, that's all," Mrs. Izinski answered, grabbing a dish towel from the counter and helping to wipe up the water.
"I-I do! I mean, we're just friends! I mean-"
Mrs. Izinski chuckled. "Oh, my sweet little rose, it's okay! I understand how you feel. Everyone goes through their first crush at some point in their life time. I was no different when I met your father."
"But... but..." Akiza stammered. Then she finally gave up, lowering her head and refusing to meet her mother's gaze.
"Am I really that obvious?" she whispered, afraid of the answer.
"Oh, sweetheart," Akiza's mother said soothingly as she lead her daughter to the living room, setting her down on the couch. "No, you're not obvious. I just know you so well that I can tell."
"But mom, if you noticed, than others must have-"
"Honey, it's nothing to be ashamed of!" Mrs. Izinski declared, sitting down next to her daughter and turning her face towards her. "It's only natural that you would like Yusei. I mean, looking at everything he's done for you... not to mention he isn't very hard to look at, either."
"Mother!" Akiza gasped.
"I'm just stating the facts, sweetie." Mrs. Izinski said with a shrug, smoothing her daughter's hair. Akiza leaned back into the cushions, her arms folded across her chest.
"But, Mom, I can't ask Yusei to prom," Akiza stated.
"Why not?"
"I just don't go to things like dances and proms. It's not really my thing."
"'Your thing'?""Yeah. I'm not that kind of a girl, mom: I don't care about trying to look pretty, or impress guys, or gossip, or being popular, or any of that typical teenage girl stuff. And I definitely don't care about going to dances. All I need to be happy is my deck, my family and my friends. And besides, why would Yusei want to take me to prom? What if he says no?"
"Why on Earth would he say no?" Akiza's mom inquired. "You two share something special. You're one of his best friends!"
"That's another thing!" Akiza sat up and turned towards her mother. "What if we start dating, and then something happens and we break up? I don't want to lose his friendship! It's one of the most precious things I have right now, and I don't know what I would do without him! I don't want to mess things up between us. I couldn't bear to lose him."
"Sweetheart, I've seen the way Yusei looks at you, and the way he smiles when you two are together," Mrs. Izinski answered, brushing her fingers against her daughter's cheek. "If you ask me, I think he's crazy about you."
"Really?" Akiza inquired, taking her mothers hand and looking her directly in the eye. "Do you really, truly think so?"
"Yes, my little rose, I do," She answered with sincerity. "You don't have to take my word for it, but I've always had a good understanding of the minds of men." When Akiza raised her eyebrows at her, she continued, "Really! Believe it or not, a long time ago, I was one of those boy-crazy teenage girls in high school. Just ask your father."
Akiza continued to stare, trying to find any trace of a lie or a doubt in her mother's eyes. When she was satisfied that her mother meant what she said, she relaxed.
"I don't know," Akiza said, still uncertain. She sat forward, her elbows on her knees, her chin in her hands. "I've never gone to anything like this... except for the opening of the WRGP. But the prom is different. It's just not my place."
"You'll never know until you try, Akiza," Her mother said, patting her daughter's shoulder. "And your place doesn't have to be in a duel arena. You can go out and have fun and experience new things. It's okay to let go every once in a while."
Akiza furrowed her eyebrows, thinking. What would happen if she asked Yusei to the prom? It couldn't hurt to at least ask. They could go together just as friends. It didn't have to be a date, if that made Yusei feel uncomfortable. But then again, what if... just what if... Yusei would want it to be a date? What if her mother was right, and Yusei did like her? Would they be able to risk their friendship? Would it be worth it?
Then her mind flashed back to everything they had been through. Every time Yusei had been there for her. Everything he had gone through to help her and protect her. She recalled every smile... every touch... every helping hand. And in that moment, she knew it would be worth it.
"Ok," She finally said, sitting up and looking at her mom, her brown eyes full of determination. "I'll do it. I'll ask Yusei to be my date for prom."
Yusei Fudo zoomed down the freeway on Crow's runner. He could hear the wind whistling around him as he cut through the air like a knife, and he could feel the rush of speed as he passed through the busy traffic of the city (that was something Yusei actually missed about living in the Satellite: the space and the lack of crowds). But his mind wasn't as focused on these things as it usually was, and it wasn't just because he was used to them. Only part of his brain focused on the ride; the larger part was thinking about Akiza.
He had known that there was something special about her since they first met. When they had first looked each other in the eye, he had seen something in her that he couldn't quite place. There was darkness and pain, sure signs of a past much more difficult than his had been, but behind that anger there was light and hope, though it was very dim. Yusei had known immediately that she was the Black Rose, and possibly a Signer. He had also known that she was a troubled soul seeking guidance and light, no matter how much she had denied it. There was a kindness in her that had been hidden for a long time, buried under the pain of her past. Yusei knew that it was his duty, not only as a fellow Signer, but as a fellow duelist and a fellow human being, to be her friend, to help her, to protect her, and to be there for her when she needed a friend.
So he fought for her. He fought, and he fought, and he never gave up on her, even when everyone, including Akiza herself, had given up. No one had understood why it was so important to him. At times Yusei himself hadn't understood why her happiness meant so much to him. But now, after everything they had been through together, after so many months of being close friends, he thought he understood.
Yusei was crushing - BIG TIME - on Akiza Izinski.
The change Yusei had seen blossom in her during these past months was tremendous. She had gone from being the Black Rose to being a true, caring friend. She could control her powers and her emotions now. The mask was gone, and that light Yusei had seen buried inside her now shone bright and clear whenever he looked into her amazing brown eyes. She was kind and gentle, but still as strong and courageous as she had ever been. She never backed down from a challenge. When she found something she wanted, she went for it with all her might and she never gave up on it. She had proved that when she had decided to get her turbo dueling license. Yusei looked back on those long hours of coaching and training, and he remembered them as some of the best moments in his life. Building her duel runner had been one of Yusei's favorite projects. One moment that stood out particularly to Yusei was when he took her to the skate park for the first time. Their first date...
Yusei shook his head. Knock it off, Yusei! That was not a date. That was practice. Training, just like everything else had been.
But he couldn't help but relive when Akiza had fallen into him on her first attempt at skating. He remembered the feel of her in his arms; the look in her eyes when their faces had been so close... there had been something there that hadn't been there before, something that she had never shown, even though it had obviously been there for a long time... Yusei couldn't help but wonder if she had seen that same something in him, because he had a funny feeling that his expression had mirrored hers...
BEEEEEEEEEEP
Yusei was awoken from his thoughts to see a big truck coming right at him. Yusei cried out and swerved sharply back into his lane, just barely avoiding a very painful wreck. He shook himself as the truck driver leaned out the window and started cursing at him. Yusei shouted an apology and continued his journey, focusing more on the road.
A few minutes later, he pulled into the garage that he, Jack, and Crow called home and hopped of the runner. Crow and Jack were sitting in their make-shift kitchen at the table; Jack was sipping a cup of coffee and reading the paper, and Crow was looking through his deck, most likely thinking of new dueling strategies. They both looked up and Yusei entered.
"About time you got here, Yus!" Crow said, leaning back in his chair. "I was beginning to worry. I thought something might have happened to my runner."
Yusei smiled and decided not to tell Crow about the incident with the truck as he pounded fists with him.
"I just came to bring your runner back, Crow," Yusei told his friend, walking over to the fridge and pouring himself a glass of milk. "I'll be going back to Akiza's house in a bit."
"And why is that?" Jack asked, looking up from his paper and raising an eyebrow.
"Something's wrong with her runner, and I offered to fix it."
"Oh, reeeally?" Crow asked mischievously. Yusei looked at him over the top of his glass.
"Yes, really. Why?"
"Oh, no reason. Just thought you might have other reasons for wanting to go to Akiza's house."
Yusei put his glass down and folded his arms across his chest, leaning against the counter. "I'm sure I don't know what you mean."
Jack scoffed. "Oh, sure you don't, Yusei. Do you really think we're that stupid?"
"What are you guys talking about?"
"Have you asked Akiza to the prom yet?" Crow blurt out, a huge grin spreading across his marked face.
"WHAT?" Yusei yelled, his eyes widening.
"Oh, come on, Yus, you know what I'm talking about," Crow said. He got off the chair and stood before his stunned friend, still smiling goofily. "The Academy is hosting a prom. Aren't you going to ask Akiza to be your date?"
Yusei's heart was hammering. "How did you guys know about that?"
Jack folded his paper and tossed it at him without even looking. Yusei caught it and opened it, and on the front page, just below a big story about the WRGP, there was an article about the Duel Academy hosting it's first prom in almost twenty years. It was designed to bring the youth of New Domino City and the Satellite together. Like many other things, it was celebrating the union of the two cities, now connected by the Daedalus Bridge, which Yusei, along with Crow and Jack, had helped to build. The article said the school was inviting all teens and adults, even those who didn't attend the Academy, to come.
"So?" Crow pressed, looking at Yusei eagerly. "Are you taking Akiza or what?"
Yusei shook his head, not in answer, but in bewilderment. He hadn't felt this surprised since Martha pulled the "Maybe you and Akiza will go on a date" stunt when Akiza was hospitalized after her first duel with Misty. In fact, he had been considering asking Akiza to the prom, but he would never, ever admit these feelings to his friends. They would never let him hear the end of it.
"Don't be crazy, Crow," Yusei finally answered, laying the paper aside and folding his arms across his chest.
Crow punched Yusei lightly in the shoulder, "Come on, Yus, we all now that you like Akiza! How long is it gonna be before you finally break the ice?"
Yusei blinked. Am I that obvious?"Don't be stupid, Crow," Yusei said, but his shaky voice betrayed him. Crow snickered, but Jack finally got up and stood before Yusei, arms folded, his violet eyes dark and glaring.
"No, Yusei, don't you be stupid," He said forcefully. "Don't go acting like we're blind idiots, okay? We're your closest friends. We're practically your brothers. We know you inside and out and whether you like it or not, you can't hide your feelings from us."
"And besides, did you see the theme for the prom?" Crow chimed in, grabbing the paper and pointing at the article. "Rose Garden! It couldn't be more perfect for your first official date!"
"But- But-" Yusei could feel his composure slipping. "Why on Earth would Akiza want to-"
"Of course she would want to!" Crow cried, his gray eyes bright with excitement. "Why wouldn't she? You guys have something special. You should see what you guys are like together from our point of view. It's awesome! It's obvious that the two of you were meant to be!"
"Don't be so dramatic," Yusei muttered as he walked passed them and out of the kitchen. Crow and Jack followed him as Yusei began gathering his tools and shoving them in his tool box.
"Crow's right, Yusei," Jack said. "You and Akiza share a special bond. You can't seriously let an opportunity like this slip by!"
"And besides," Crow said, giving Jack a mischievous look, "Jack's finally going get up the courage to ask Carly, so you and Akiza can keep them company. It'll be a double date! Isn't that right, Jack?"
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?" Jack yelled, grabbing Crow by the front of his shirt and lifting him into the air. If anyone other than Crow had been picked up by an angry Jack Atlas, they would be terrified. But Crow, who got this kind of treatment on a daily basis, just smirked under Jack's dangerous glare. Yusei debated on whether or not he should intervene, but he decided not to get involved this time; Crow had asked for it.
"Ooookaay," said Yusei, picking up his tool box and pushing his runner outside. "I'll catch you guys later."
His two friends didn't say anything as Yusei left the garage. As he rode back to Akiza's house, he couldn't help but think about what they had said. Maybe he should take Akiza to the prom. Despite what he had said, Yusei really, really, really liked her. It would be a good opportunity, as Jack had said, and he shouldn't let it just slip away.
But then again, what if Akiza refused him? What if it ruined their friendship? Could he risk that? Should he risk that?
Suddenly, Yusei's mind flashed back to everything he had been through with Akiza. The first time he saw her. Their first duel. Everything that happened with the Dark Signers. His kidnapping. Her training to be a turbo duelist. Them at the skate park. Her falling into his arms and looking up at him with that peculiar expression in her eyes...
"I'll do it," Yusei told himself out loud. "I'll ask Akiza to prom."