Fun Fact: Yuzu is cautiously optimistic about the existence of skunk apes.

Chapter Summary: While skipping class, Serena runs into Yuri.

"Glory on Duel Academia!" shouted their teacher.

"Glory on the Academia!" few students returned. They all seemed to have creepy smiles and dull eyes.

The other students in the classroom, those who had been there longer than those freshmen, didn't bother to salute. The enchantment of a school for dueling had long since faded. They were just hoping for class to end for the day, so they could finally be free.

Serena was one of those disenchanted students. She sat in her chair and rested her head on her hand, and her elbow on the table. Her eyes were also dull, but only because she was so bored with class.

The school was still her home, even after everything that had happened. It was her prison, but it was also where she grew up, and where she learned about the game she loved. The school was harsh in training, but it was also more fun, and had less classes.

She guessed that she couldn't complain, though; the students still worked to get glory, albeit as professional duelists. People were more free to form connections with others, and the pressure to do well was less extreme. The school was more nurturing and caring.

Really, it wasn't the same school as it once was. All of her old experience and education meant nothing here. And because of this, Serena felt like a stranger in a familiar land.

Some things didn't change, though; their lesson of the day was an introduction to the school's history, and they were learning about how the Fusion Dimension won the Dimensional War. They supposedly conquered all the other, violent dimensions, then created eternal peace. All while being fun and having a good time.

And after spending an insurmountably long time listening to this crap, Serena rose her hand and asked to be excused.

"Excuse me?" the teacher, Professor Satou asked. "Serena, right? This lesson isn't something you can afford to miss; it will be the basis of the entire class."

Serena looked down at her yellow school blazer, then back to the teacher. "Yeah, I can afford to miss it."

"And why is that?"

"Because I fought in the war," Serena responded. "I was a Lancer; I probably know more about the war than you."

Aside from the naive freshmen, all the students in the class laughed. Satou, however, looked very exhausted and frustrated.

"You can go, miss Hiiragi," the man groaned. "... Go right to the Chancellor's office, to explain why you're getting a detention."

A few students snickered, but Serena didn't care. She immediately rose from her seat, walked out of her row, and immediately headed out the door.

Like hell she was going to the office, though. Instead, Serena decided to ditch her class and seek out something familiar.

Serena walked down the hall, down a flight of stairs, and down another hall. And then she took a left, down another hall. She continued her journey until she headed to the school's garden.

Duel Academia's garden was a small, open enclosure. It was surrounded by buildings, but it was still out in the open. Students would often come and sit on the benches during their free time. At least, the students who did well could; students who did poorly were often punished severely.

As she stepped into the garden, she noted how empty it seemed. No students or faculty seemed to be there. But as her eyes were drawn to the birch tree in the center of the garden, she realized that there was one person with her.

Serena saw Yuya, arms folded, staring up at the tree. His regular school uniform/cape was replaced with Duel Academia's Obelisk Blue jacket. Somehow, it was also standing up like a cape.

Welp, this was awkward. But before she could turn around and make a getaway, the boy turned around to look at her.

"Yuya?" Serena asked. "What are you doing here?"

"Yuri," the boy corrected. "Hello, Sabrina."

"Serena."

"Yeah, 'kay," Yuri scoffed. "I didn't have my text book, so my teacher sent me out to get one from the supply room. Naturally, I took the opportunity to ditch class and hang out here."

"Why didn't you have your book?"

"I threw it at a passing bird this morning."

Yuri turned his gaze back to the tree. He ran a hand down the bark, sensually letting his fingers dance on the wood. Much to Serena's displeasure.

"You've been here before, right?" Yuri asked. "Doesn't Academia seem different? It's so boring now."

Serena nodded. "It's not the same school as it once was. But I suppose that's a good thing."

"A good thing?" Yuri chuckled. "Back then, I had the freedom to do as I please."

"But you had freedom. I didn't."

Serena walked towards Yuri. She passed him, moving around to the side of the tree. When she had Yuri's attention, she pointed to a small indentation on the tree.

It looked like claw marks, dug deep into the tree's bark.

"See those scratches?" Serena asked.

"Oh, the cat claws!" Yuri exclaimed. "Rumor had it that a student went crazy and clawed the tree, because they were such a stupid fucking loser that thought they could get rare cards from underneath the wood. God, could you imagine someone being that dense? Even Fusion's not that stupid."

Serena frowned. "I made those."

"I know."

Serena growled. "... A student told me about cats. I'd never seen one in person before, but they sounded amazing. They were fast, sneaky, predatory. And unlike dogs, they couldn't be trained to obey or do tricks."

"So you clawed the tree, like some sort of scratching post?"

"No, you idiot!" Serena snapped. "I used a knife I stole from the kitchen. How's a person going to leave these gashes?"

"Why would a person stab a tree?"

Serena paused for a moment. Then she said, "It was a way to get out my anger; whenever I was upset, I'd come and hurt something. Like a cat who scratches at a person they don't like."

Yuri was going to make a smart remark, but it didn't seem wise to say something then. But he could understand what Serena was talking about, so he gave her a polite nod to continue.

"Whenever I looked at these marks, I remembered how I felt when I made them. Trapped, angry, alone. And I wanted the marks to show people how I felt."

"Deep."

"So as bored as I am here, I just need to look at these marks to know how bad things used to be."

"Academia wasn't perfect for me either," Yuri grumbled. "I didn't have friends, or people who cared about me. But I'd take all that over this dull, everyday life we have now. I miss the Professor sending me on missions."

"Our childhood was robbed from us, Yuri," Serena told him. "What the Professor did was wrong."

Yuri sighed. "At least it was fun... But I understand what you mean about feeling trapped and alone."

Serena stared at Yuri's face. His eyes still held that sinister glare to them. How truthful he was, she wasn't sure. But he at least seemed unbothered, judging by his egao. Was that meant to but her at ease, or do the opposite? Serena had no freaking idea.

"It's nice, having someone who understands things," Yuri said to her.

Serena let out a small gasp. She raised an eyebrow and studied his face for some sort of tell.

Yuri went on, "Yuya tries to be my friend, but he just turns his back on me whenever I criticize Yusho. Yuto won't even talk to me. Fusion talks to me, but I don't think he trusts me, either."

"I can see why," Serena admitted. "You've given people every reason not to trust you."

Yuri frowned. His face became more bitter and angry.

"Tell me something, Serena," he said defensively. "We're talking right now, having a moment, getting to know each other. Would you trust me now?"

Serena paused. The question completely caught her off-guard. She had to think of an answer, because nothing jumped out at her right away.

She wasn't sure if this was a genuine question. His unhappy face suggested that he was being sincere. But the fact that she even had to question his actions made her doubt him.

The silence between them grew, and so did the tension between them. Yuri seemed more and more displeased as time flew by.

Yuri eventually broke the silence. "Whatever, it was a hypothetical. Like I actually care what a Ra Yellow thinks!"

He flashed her an egao, then turned towards the exit.

"Wait! Yuri!" Serena called out.

Yuri turned to look back at her. Now his face read mild annoyance.

"Maybe you're not so..." she hesitated to answer. "... I can say that I understand what it's like to be an outsider, too. Things haven't been the best between me and the other girls."

"Oh?" Yuri said, amused. "Is it because you tried to steal Yuzu's boy? Or because you hit Yugo?"

"... Both."

Yuri chuckled. "You deserve it, then."

But then, he turned his whole body around. A big egao grew on his face. "But let's face it: we're both huge screw-ups, aren't we?"

"Right?" Serena said ruefully. "I get it. I'm not as messed up a mess as you are, but I get it."

"The cat has claws!" Yuri exclaimed. "But it serves me right for trying to help Yuya realize that he deserves a better dad."

"What exactly happened between you and Yuya, anyway?"

"Yuya was looking forward to spending time with Daddy all day. Daddy cancels, breaks Yuya's heart. I tell try to point out how Yuya got a raw deal, and Yuri throws a bitch-fit because he has a mega-boner for dear old Egao Daddy."

"Did you use the words 'Egao Daddy' when you were talking to him?"

"I didn't think of that nickname until, like, the day after," Yuri replied.

"That sucks," said Serena. "The- the fighting-with-Yuya part, not the nickname part."

"I guess I deserved what I got, for daring to care about someone."

Serena folded her arms and leaned against the tree. She let a long, frustrated sigh, then slowly slid into a sitting position.

She looked up at Yuri. "Caring about sucks sometimes, Yuri. It sucks, and you get hurt, and then you have to deal with it.."

"See, what's what I miss most about the old Academia; I didn't have to care about people. I could just intimidate everyone, and card anyone I didn't like. Things were much more simple, and fun."

Yuri let out a small sigh, then continued, "I wish I could stop caring about people. My 'brothers' don't deserve my valuable time and effort."

Serena couldn't help but egao at that line. "Your time's not that valuable, Yuri. So I don't think you're wasting much of anything."

Yuri chuckled softly at that one. Serena couldn't help but egao a little more at his awkward, creepy little laugh.

"You're an asshole, Serena," Yuri said to her. "And that is just the kind of person I want to waste my valuable time on. But just for the afternoon; I can't dedicate my focus to just one peasant. That would destroy the hearts of my many lonely, unwashed fans."

"Don't do me any favors, Yuri," Serena responded. "But I guess it beats going to class."

"I was going to chuck rocks at some squirrels. You should come with me."

"As horrible as that sounds, I think I'd rather go get some lunch at the dining hall. Your treat."

Yuri frowned. "You greedy bitch... I'll buy your meal if you buy mine."

"Deal."

A/N: This fanfic is only about halfway done, so we have a shitton more to cover. That's why I've been streamlining the Class chapters to keep them shorter. This way, I can get chapters out quicker, and keep the story moving. But what do you guys think? Do you prefer longer chapters that come out a little later? Or do you like the short, quick bursts I've been doing lately?

Next time: Serena faces off against a bully who can bring down the thunder.