Session I:

Atem's POV

Atem arrived at the pizzeria kicking little stones on the road. Five days ago he had won two tickets to the cinema, film at the choice, and since then he had been insisting Shizuka to go. Shizuka found an excuse at every opportunity, but today was the day that the tickets due.

They agreed that he passed looking for her at nine o'clock at night, so they had time to dinner something before leaving. The chosen film started at quarter past ten, and until quarter past twelve the next function would not start.

As he walked in he saw his girlfriend with maiden apron still taking the order at a table occupied by five young men. Then he approached with the hope that this would be the last she would attend.

Shizuka, with menu, notebook and pencil in hand turned around and smiled at him. With her head she made a move for him to follow her into the kitchen. Atem followed her, looking at his way how all the tables were occupied and a lot of them without having ordered yet.

"We'll have to wait a little" she said without looking at him, while she extended the note to one of the cookers. "I have to help here and I have to stay. My mother left. She will come back in half an hour."

"It is not supposed to be your brother who works at night? Why are you doing it?"

Shizuka walked toward another table as she explained.

"Not today. I do not know what's wrong with him. He came from the Academy and he locked himself in his room. Since this morning he has a terrible mood."

Atem was furious; since two weeks they didn't go anywhere and that day they finally could Jonouchi had to ruin everything. It was very clear that the responsibility was not hers, who didn't want to leave her mother alone, so he swallowed his anger and offered help.

"Great," Shizuka returned to the kitchen with him following her paces, "you can attend the cash register."

Atem stopped in his tracks.

"I was referring to help you with orders" he said.

Shizuka said high so those working in the kitchen heard.

"I do not think so. The chefs always complain that your handwriting is not understood." Her comment generated laughs in the whole sector, leaving Atem very clear that this was everyone's opinion. In no mood to argue, he insisted.

"Then I will deliver them."

"No, no, no" the youngest chef named Akiko left her task to watch him up and down mockingly. "I will not cook each order twice because you dump it to customers in their cloths."

And more laughter resounded. Atem could not believe that they exaggerated that way. That happened only once and it was the first time he had met the family of his girlfriend, so he was naturally nervous.

"Better you attend the register."

Shizuka took him by the shoulders and led him next to the cash register. Before he could say anything, she went to one of the many tables that were left.

After ten minutes passed and Shizuka did not approach even once looking for change, Atem took his cell and entered the chat. He didn't have private messages or comments on his site, so with nothing better to do he entered the public chat. It was not a comfortable page to chat, being a public site, messages were interspersed and it was difficult to follow a conversation. Atem preferred private messages. But the good thing about the public chat was that whatever you wrote there would be seen by almost everyone connected.

DominoChampion: Good night. Here is the link to my site completely dedicated to the selection team of Domino. There are images of the main players. Visit and comment, please.

One of the things he liked most of the chat was the possibility of building sites. His cell was not very good, the few images and songs that he possessed had been downloaded from there.

He had been registered more than one year in that chat and he had known about thirty people Domino. And he had almost practically compelled to all of them to comment on his site about the local selection team. He returned his attention to the local, noticing the silence that was suddenly generated. It was because of Jonouchi, who stormed out into the street.

"Damned."

Without giving him more attention, Atem looked in his friend list if anyone was connected. Then a notification appeared reporting him a new comment on his site.

Setockr: Great good site I always remember this match. It was the most exciting game I ever saw. Come on, Domino! Greetings from Tokyo!

The comment was of the user "Setockr" and it had been left in an image of one player about to kick a penalty. It was one of the last matches of the Qualifying selections of Japanese states. The six teams that won more points in a first stage of an all against all round were classified to a final round to define the champion. That game had been definitory for Domino, because draw or lose meant no chance of qualifying. The match had finished in a draw one to one at the ninety minutes, and in the second minute of the three additional, the referee sanctioned a penalty for Domino, which converted by the captain determined the victory of these passed the time. So it was remembered as a feat by fans of the selection which eventually was ranked the sixth and qualified to the hexagonal to dispute the following year.

Dominochampion: Hi, thanks for commenting on my site. I'm glad you like it. Are you from Domino?

That was the first comment on his site that he did not have to beg someone to write it. It was at least one good thing in a day of bad luck.

"I need change."

Shizuka placed the count above the phone screen and in her eyes appeared a reproachful for being paying attention to mobile and not to the box.

"Okay," he began to calculate the change. It was not his fault he was sent there, where there was nothing to do. He gave her change and Shizuka quickly deliver it. At least she wanted to end soon too.

Setockr: Hi. I'm from Domino, yes. Although since a year and half I'm living in Tokyo. It's great to find people from Domino; I checked yesterday and found almost none.

"Tokyo."

Atem knew that for residents of small and unknown states like Domino, the capital and its habitants generated some antipathy. He had noted with several people in the chat, so if Seto fulfilled this trend, living in Tokyo should be torture for him.

Dominochampion: Why did you move to Tokyo?

While he waited the return of Shizuka to the box, Atem reviewed the profile of Setockr. He was nineteen - two years older than himself - so when Domino won his last championship Seto would had five years. Perhaps he even remembered something. Atem just had three and he obviously did not remember anything.

Setockr: I had to move in with my father who works here. I had no place to stay in Domino. The nice thing about being here is that when the hexagonal starts and we win to Tokyo being local, I'll see the match, haha.

That was true. The hexagonal would be played in the capital after twenty-four years. And Seto predicted that history would repeat itself and Domino will be crowned at the capital state. He liked this guy more and more.

Dominochampion: I'd love to see that haha. They always believe they're champions before playing. Although they thrashed us in the Qualifying Stage...

The score had been three to zero. The worst game of the Domino team, whose captain was sent off just five minutes after the game started. Luckily Atem did not know any capital living in Domino.

Setockr: Don't remind me that. You do not know how they bragged with that game. They were unbearable, more than usual. But this time is going to be different. It is a decisive stage. The qualifying always costs us and we classify suffering. But in the Final Stage... rare time we did not stay on the podium.

What Seto just expressed was like the football related persons defined the game of the Domino selection. Classifying barely and emboldened in the final instances. Unlike the capitals, people were not shouting Domino victory before the championship started. But secretly, having classified, they believed their team was able to accomplish any feat.

Dominochampion: You got that right. They must be world champions in winning tournaments before even playing them.

"My mother had returned."

Shizuka was beside him taking off her apron. Atem hadn't noticed her until he heard her talk. He checked the time. Still quarter to quarter past ten. If rushing the walk, they would arrive in time.

"I'm going to the bathroom and then we left."

Correction. If they ran they'll arrive in time.

New friendship request: Setockr would like to be your friend. You can visit his profile to accept or reject his request via the link below.

Setockr: And we are world champions in ruining parties haha.

After that last message Atem decided to "sign" him for his selection of friends accepting the request.

Dominochampion: You're right. Let's hope so. I'm going out with my girlfriend, I hope she finally leave the bathroom in time, haha. Have a good time.

Setockr: Okay, you have fun. Although if you want to leave in time you should hit the door, haha bye...

Atem decided to do it. Once he had free tickets he wasn't going to waste them.