"How long exactly have you been waiting to say that to someone?" Yugi inquired as Yami shrugged one shoulder, pulling her bag onto her other shoulder.
"A while." They left the office and Yugi began leading Yami to their first period.
"I don't think our introduction went well earlier." Yugi rubbed the back of her head awkwardly. "I'm Yugi Mutou."
"So you said," Yami sighed, nodding her head in a half-bow. "Yami Sennen."
After a few minutes of awkward silence, Yugi cleared her throat, "History first; be prepared."
"What for?" Yami raised an eyebrow in confusion as Yugi sighed.
"We're doing the history of Valentine's Day and Yoshikuni-sensei assigned a project that we need partners for. Every guy in the class is trying to get a girl, and most of the guys in the class aren't exactly..."
She trailed off, unwilling to finish, but Yami nodded in understanding. "Thanks. I'll keep that in mind."
Yugi smiled up at her. "But if you wanted to, we could-"
"I don't think so," Yami cut her off before pushing open the classroom door.
"You're late girls," Yoshikuni said as soon as they entered the classroom.
"Sorry, sensei." Yugi bowed. "Yami's new and I had to show her how to get here."
"Sit down, Mutou." Yugi scurried over to her seat. Yoshikuni's gaze found Yami. "So you're new?" Yami nodded. "Then introduce yourself to the class."
"Yes, sensei." Yami mentally sighed but stood in front of the class. "My name's Yami Sennen. Things didn't go well for me at my last school, so my parents enrolled me here instead. And before anyone asks, I have no interest in dating right now."
Several guys groaned but Yoshikuni smirked. "Very good. Now sit down. There's a spare seat next to Malik. Malik, raise your hand." A girl with shoulder-length blonde hair, tanned skin and lavender eyes raised her hand. As soon as Yami sat down, Yoshikuni began the lesson. "Saint Valentine's Day is celebrated on February the fourteenth every year in most countries, although it's still a working day. It began as a liturgical celebration of one or more early Christian saints known as Valentinus."
"Sensei?" Malik raised her hand. "If it's a Christian celebration, why do we need to learn about it?"
"Because it's a major part in world history, Ishtar," Yoshikuni snapped. "If you want to learn more about Buddhism or Shinto, I suggest you talk to Akimoto-sensei."
When Malik didn't speak again, Yoshikuni continued. "Modern romantic connotations were added several centuries later by poets. Several martyrdom stories were invented for the various Valentines that belonged to February fourteenth, and added to later martyrologies. One story states that he was imprisoned for performing weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry and for ministering to Christians, who were persecuted under the Roman Empire. Another story says that, during his imprisonment, he healed the daughter of his jailer, Asterius. Another story states that before his execution he wrote her a letter signed "Your Valentine" as a farewell. Today, Saint Valentine's Day is an official feast day in the Anglican Communion, as well as in the Lutheran Church. The Eastern Orthodox Church also celebrates Saint Valentine's Day, albeit on July sixth and July thirtieth, the former date in honour of the Roman presbyter Saint Valentine, and the latter date in honour of Hieromartyr Valentine, the Bishop of Interamna Now, get into groups of two for your projects."
"We should do something on how hearts look like girls' roba," one boy snickered, causing Yoshikuni to sigh.
Gazing at her class, Yoshikuni clapped her hands. "On second thoughts, the groups will be decided randomly. I'll be coming around with a hat and everyone will pick a random number from the hat. You will be partnered with whoever has the same number as you."
Surrounded by groans, Yami sighed before pulling a notebook out of her bag. The hat came around to her and she picked a number. One.
"Malik!" A blonde girl with spiked hair, dark lilac eyes and tanned skin that looked extremely like Malik called from across the room. "I've got seven!"
"So do I! I'll be right over, Marik!" Malik called in reply, pushing everything into her bag and walking towards the girl's desk.
Yami sighed and glanced up as a shadow fell over her desk. Yugi was standing awkwardly in front of her desk, a piece of paper in hand. "What number do you have?"
"One," Yami replied, holding up her paper.
A wide smile broke out over Yugi's face. "That means we're partners then!" She held up her own paper, revealing a number one.
Yami nodded and moved over so that there was enough room at the bench she was sitting on for Yugi to share the desk with her. "Fine; just don't get in my way."
