Aki's room (next day)

Aki POV

With the sound of the alarm blaring, I pick myself up from bed and began to groggily walk towards my closet to get the first thing I need: Yusei's card. I picked it up and kissed it before going outside my room to freshen myself up.

"I hope I'll bump into Yusei today or better yet, have some classes with him," I thought as I began to hum a simple tune to myself.

Poppo Time

Yusei POV

As soon as I heard Jack and Crow's heated argument, something about girls and coffee I think, I stood up and stretched, letting out a yawn. I fixed my bed before going out of my room to take a shower. As soon as I reached the door, I see my deck on my desk, the top card still as foreign to me as ever: Black Rose.

"Better find her today; she must be worried sick about losing her card," I thought to myself as a series of cusses and slurs greeted my morning.

Izinski kitchen

NormalPOV

"You're looking cheery today. Excited to meet your boyfriend again?" Akiza's mom teased.

"First thing in the morning and you want to talk about this again mom? Seriously, this is too much," Aki said, pouring herself a bowl of cereal.

"Let your mother have some fun dear. Though, try to make sure that I and your dad don't get any surprises. We're still too young to be grandparents after all," her mother giggled as she teased her daughter.

"MOM! Please behave yourself!" Aki shouted to her, looking red like a strawberry. Her mother left her chuckling, saying she's going to watch the morning news.

(Half an hour later, the bus came by to pick Akiza up. She said goodbye to her mother and hurriedly climbed aboard the waiting vehicle)

School bus

Aki POV

As soon as I stepped foot, I gave a warm greeting to Fred the bus driver and looked for Carly. I immediately spotted her in our same seat, talking to the twins from behind it. I approached them and gave them a warm greeting.

"Morning Carly and to you guys too, Luna, Leo," I said as I took my seat.

"Looks like someone woke up pretty chirpy today. Dream anything wet last night Akiza?" Carly asked, not believing how dirty her mind is. I just rolled my eyes and struck up a conversation with the twins.

"Hey Luna, Leo, do you know what you guys are having today?" I asked them.

"Just some boring lecture about the history of Duel Monsters I guess. How lame," Leo said, his face clearly showing his disinterest in the lesson.

"Leo, you should learn to pay attention to these kind of things," his sister Luna responded. "People like Yugi, Seto and Joey should get you fired up considering they are considered as the Three Legends of Duel Monsters."

"Pfft, legends. I could beat all three of them at once in a single turn," Leon said, puffing up his chest.

"Sure you can Leo and while you're at it, maybe you can learn to tie your shoes," Luna said sarcastically.

I watched them bicker about knots and shoes before I felt someone tugging at my blazer. It was Carly. I turned around to face a pissed Carly.

"Fine then Akiza," whispered Carly to me, "I won't give you some of these as punishment for you ignoring me." She took out what seems to be a set of photos and showed them to me.

I gasped, seeing that they're all pictures of me and Yusei, kissing and some photos of me tracing the outline of his face. I made a grab for them but Carly stowed it away from my reach.

"Please let me have one Carly," I begged her.

"No, you ignored me and I was hurt. Suffer my pain," she replied gloatingly.

"I'm really sorry Carly. It's just that my mom kept teasing me ever since I came back yesterday so I just had it rough. Please don't do this to me," I pleaded her with big teary eyes.

"What's in it for me then if I give this to you?" she asked me, still smiling at me.

"I don't know but I'll do anything just please," I'm practically bowing down in front of her now.

"Hmmm… I don't know," mused Carly, tapping her chin.

"I can also tell you why Yusei didn't duel yesterday," I said, hoping that it might get her interested.

"If you put it that way then I'm okay with it," she finally agreed.

"YES!" I shout, jumping out of my seat, causing everyone to stare at me.

"Sorry, got a little excited," I explained before taking my seat as I heard Carly laughing beside me.

"That was typical of you Akiza," Carly said to me, tearing up because of laughing.

"Fine, make fun of me all you want. Can I now have the pictures?" I asked her.

"Sure but only if you promise not to just suddenly profess your undying love to Yusei. And absolutely control yourself," Carly said sternly.

"Fine, I promise, not that those things are going to happen," I replied, stretching out my hand. She gave all the pictures except one; the photo of me hugging Yusei like a teddy bear who was still knocked out.

"Carly, I already promised didn't I?" I said but I was looking at the photos.

"Oh, this?" she said, pointing to the last photo in her hand, "I'll give this to you as a reward for behaving until the day ends so that it could help your self-control."

"I am in control of myself," I told her as I looked straight into her eyes.

"Then stop drooling, you'll ruin your clothes," she retorted. It was only when I felt a drop of saliva hit my leg did I notice. I quickly wiped the drool away from my leg and mouth.

"And also hide those pictures in a safe place," Carly said. I nodded at her, still can't believe that Yusei and I have our first unofficial set of photos. I stashed them away in an old notebook of mine and placed it at the bottom of my bag.

"Thank you so much Carly. You are the best friend a girl could have," I squealed.

"I know. Now, tell me why Yusei didn't duel yesterday," she replied. I just took out a card from my deck and showed it to her. Her reaction was priceless. Sitting there, her mouth open with strands of her hair coming in different directions, she continued to stare at the card.

"I-Is t-that Stardust?" she asked disbelievingly. I only nodded. Just then, I heard Luna's voice.

"Akiza, why do you have Yusei's card?"

I turned to look at her and was faced with a pair of eyes that clearly tells 'how suspicious'.