Di.M.H; "I know, I know, two stories in one day. It's crazy but here's another short story for you. Please R&R and remember to...LIVE ON!"

Secret Admirer

#

Mana walked through the school gate as she heard girls talking about the hottest guy in school Atem Muto. Mana wished that he would acknowledge her existence. She would give anything for him to notice her. She walked toward her locker as she noticed him. He was standing with his friends chatting away. She stared at him as he chuckled at a joke that someone made. Anzu Mazaki jabbed his arm making him chuckle more.

Mana reached her locker and began to unlock it without taking her eyes off him. He was so handsome in her eyes. She couldn't see anyone but him as boyfriend material. She turned to her locker to find a letter from her secret admirer. She had been getting letters from this person for about a few months now. She had no idea who they were. She pulled out the letter to read it; whoever they were, they were romantic.

Your beautiful smile always lights up my world. When I see you it makes my heart race. You're my one true love. I hope to tell you how I feel for you in person someday.

There wasn't a name as usual. She shook her head as she exchanged her shoes and headed to school while taking a glance at Atem as she walked by his locker. She hoped that he would see her as girlfriend material someday.

#

Atem laughed as Jonouchi made a joke about Kaiba being kind as a brick wall. The group had run into him earlier that day which what was lead to the joke. Atem glanced over to see his crush Mana entering the building. She looked beautiful as always. He smiled at the sight of her. Anzu had noticed him staring and jabbed his arm.

"Daydreaming again Romeo," she teased making him chuckle.

She always gave him a hard time about his crush on Mana since they were kids. Yugi was snickering at his girlfriend's comment. Atem watched as Mana pulled out the love letter that he had written for her last night. He would write love letters and slip them into her locker when he enters the school. He watched as she read the letter before walking off. He turned as Yugi said something to him. He glanced out the corner of his eyes to see her staring at him.

"We better get going," Anzu said checking the time on her watch, "we'll get in trouble if we don't head to class now."

"You're right, let's go," said Bakura.

"Hey I'll race ya guys," Jonouchi called before running off.

"What the hell dude," Honda called out running after him.

"Do you want to tell them that there's a teacher just ahead," Anzu asked.

"It's too late for that," Yugi replied as the teacher shouted at them to stop running.

"Let's go," said Atem picking up his bag.

"Say, Atem are you going to tell Mana your feelings," Anzu asked as they walked to class.

"That's none of your business Anzu," Atem replied.

"Oh come on, I've known that you've been crushing on her for years. You should make a move before someone else does."

They walked into the classroom to join the others. Anzu kept bugging him about talking to Mana about his crush. Atem would just avoid the subject or would find some other way out of the conservation. Yugi and Bakura were talking to the other boys as they spoke.

"Look, she's right there," said Anzu pointing to where Mana was sitting, "you could ask her to join you for lunch and I'll make sure that the guys don't infer."

"Are ya talkin' about his crush on Mana again," Honda asked.

"Yep," Anzu replied smiling.

"Ya know," said Jonouchi, "You don't have any completion for her. Not many guys want to date her. You got time to woo her but then again you already are with your love letters."

Atem rolled his eyes. Yugi had caught him writing a love letter a few nights ago and accidently let it slip to the others. Atem wasn't mad at his little brother for letting it slip since he knew that they would find out sooner or later. Atem sat down a few desks away from Mana. He glanced over at her to see that she was staring at him. A blush appeared on her face as she noticed him staring. She looked away quickly with her face red as a tomato.

Atem smiled finding it cute. The teacher walked into the room as the bell rang and called everyone's attention to the front. Atem turned around while glancing at her every so often. Mana was looking ahead while glancing at him once in a while too. Atem felt the urge to flash her a smile. He looked back at the board as the teacher continued on with the lecture.

#

Atem sat at his desk in his bedroom with another blink sheet of paper in front of him. He wanted to keep his feelings for Mana hidden for as long as he could. Many girls were trying to ask him out and it could get very annoying. He didn't want Mana to be targeted by some of his crazy fan girls according to Yugi that he had. He heard his door open and Yugi stepped into the room holding something under his arm. Atem looked at him as he set it down onto the desk. He realized that it was a puzzle where you could write a message on for someone and then have them solve the puzzle. He looked at his brother with a raised brow.

"I figured that might help," he said, "You could write down a message for Mana and put it in her desk."

"Didn't you get into trouble when you and the other two did this," Atem reminded him.

"Yeah I know but this might help earn some extra points with her."

"Or this could give her a clue of who I am."

"I don't think that Mana would try to play detective."

Atem chuckled knowing that his brother was right. Yugi smiled before leaving the room. Atem looked down at the puzzle. He could write down how he truly felt but no words or actions could descript his feelings for Mana. He sighed as he figured that this was as a good time as any to write down a message that could go beyond what he had written in the past.

I wish that someday you understand just how much I love you, Mana.

#

Mana walked to her locker the next day to open it. She noticed another letter inside. She reached inside pulling it out. She unfolded the paper and read the words written on the paper as she had done many times before.

My love, I've always counted the minutes until I can see your beautiful face again. If there is one thing that keeps me going it's you. I've left a surface for you in your desk so when you go to class look inside. I love you forever.

Mana raised a brow in confused. What was this about a surprise? Was her admirer in her class? Did they know what room she was in? Were they stalking her? So many questions went through her head at that moment.

"Hey Mana," said a voice.

Mana jumped back when she recognized the voice. She looked to see Atem Muto standing there leaning against the locker next to hers.

"H-hey Atem," she replied nervously.

Oh my god, he's so close! I think that I might faint!

"You got plans for lunch?"

"N-no,"

"Great, the others and I were hoping that you would join us for lunch on the roof."

"S-sure,"

He's actually asking me to lunch.

"Great see you then."

"R-right, s-see ya there."

She noticed a smile on his face as he chuckled before walking away to join his friends. She watched as he walked away. She looked down at the letter. She did want to know who her admirer was but she would take any chance to be with Atem.

I have to find out who my admirer is and turn them down gently. My heart belongs to Atem.

She walked down the hall heading to class. She walked into the classroom to find that there weren't that many people in the room. She walked to her desk and reached inside to feel something large. She pulled it out to find a large box that was wrapped in blue wrapping paper with a green bow that matched her eyes. She could see a card underneath the bow.

She pulled it out to see that it was her admirer's handwriting. She opened the card to find a message writing inside.

Don't open right away, wait until you get home.

Mana was confused but stuffed it into her bag. She looked as Atem and his friends entered the classroom. They were laughing as they were sharing an inside joke between them. She sat there looking at Atem as he walked toward his desk. He sat down at his desk with his brother talking to him about something. Yugi sat down at his desk which was next to Atem's. The two brothers continued their conservation until the teacher came into the room.

#

Mana sat on the roof with Atem and his friends. They were very nice to her while most avoid her. To most people she was the 'weird girl' and they wanted nothing to do with her but this group was different. They treated her like a person and not some crazy person. She looked at Atem as he ate his lunch while having a chat with Bakura.

"Hey Mana," said Anzu drawing her attention.

"Yeah what's up Anzu?"

"There's a rumor going around that you have a secret admirer, is that true?'

Mana spat out her drink. How did she know that? Was it really a rumor or did she notice since their lockers were close to her?

"H-how did you know," she asked.

"Well, it's a rumor going around school, right guys?"

"Yep," Jonouchi replied, "You got any idea who it could be?"

"I'm not sure but the thing is that I like someone else."

She glanced over at Atem as he was eating his lunch. She was hoping that he was listening to the conservation. She was hoping that he would catch her hint.

"Oh really," Anzu asked, "That's interesting to hear."

She glanced over at Atem knowing at he was listening. Atem's heart had sunk to the floor when he heard that Mana liked someone else. It hurt to hear that the girl that he loves was interested in another guy. Atem hoped that whoever this guy was that he knew how lucky he was to earn Mana's affections. He thought about snitching back the puzzle from her.

The question was how could he do that without her knowing that he was her admirer. She would no doubt freak out to learn that it's him. He sighed as he pretended not to listen while his whole world was falling apart at the moment. His heart was shattering to pieces and there was no way for them to be restored. Yugi gave him a sorrowful look as he was feeling his pain.

#

Mana sat at her desk that was in her room to unwrap the present that she had received from her admirer. She looked to see that it was a puzzle. She sat there looking at the pieces that were broken up. She wasn't one for puzzles but she remembered that Anzu had mentioned that Yugi had given her a puzzle with a message that he written on it for her.

Mana wondered if her admirer could have gotten it from the game shop. She noticed a note that was inside the box with the puzzle pieces. She picked it up to read it.

I've decided that it's best that you know the truth of my feelings for you. Please solve the puzzle to find my hidden message for you my love.

Mana looked at the pieces and began to put them together. She wondered what the message could be. Were they going to reveal themselves now? If she could figure out who it was then maybe she could turn them down gently. She began to solve the puzzle while having a little trouble in the process. She was getting impatient but she had to do this.

She had to find out what the message said. She was getting close now as Atem's face flashed in her mind. If she was going to be his girlfriend someday then she had to turn down her admirer. Atem was the only boy for her in this world or any world for that matter. After many failed attempts she was able to put the puzzle together.

Her eyes widened as she read the message. This wasn't what she was expecting at all. She had no idea that he would feel this way.

Mana,

My love for you can't be disrupted by words or actions alone. I've decided that I can't be without you anymore. Mana, my beautiful love; will you be my girlfriend?

Atem Muto.

Mana's jaw dropped. Atem was her secret admirer. He was crushing on her like she was him. She couldn't believe it; her crush turned her feelings. She stared at the message again. This had to be a dream; there was no way that Atem could ever love her like she does him. She heard her brother calling her saying that someone was there to see her.

She stood up and walked toward the stairs to see Atem standing there with Yugi and their grandfather in the living room. Mana's eyes landed on Atem as her brother was talking with Sugoroku about something but she wasn't paying attention. The two walked into the kitchen leaving the boys in the living room.

Yugi looked to see Mana standing on the stairs. He smiled as he greeted her. Atem spun around to face her. Mana's face turned red. He was wanting to be her boyfriend. Atem turned to Yugi and said something but she couldn't hear it. Yugi nodded and asked where the bathroom was. Mana gestured toward the hall upstairs where the bathroom was.

"Thanks," said Yugi as he went upstairs.

Atem stood there rubbing the back of his head. He prayed that she didn't' solve the puzzle yet. He was hoping to get it before she could solve it and read the message. His grandfather was going to return something that he borrowed from Mana's brother and the boys decided to go with him. Atem had asked Yugi to grab the puzzle while he kept Mana busy. Yugi knew that Atem was thinking about what she said at lunch.

He was hoping to save them both the embarrassment of the message that was written on the puzzle. He stood there trying to think of what to say to her. He could only stare at the girl that stolen his heart. If Mana didn't return his feelings then he would be fine with being friends. He wasn't going to force her into something that she didn't want. He was hoping that the man that she did like would treat with the respect that she deserved. Mana looked away from him as those words entered her mind. She wanted to say yes but it was awkward to see him just after she got his message.

"H-hey Atem," she said.

"Hey," he replied looking away from her.

He couldn't look at her. Mana was the most beautiful girl in the world and he couldn't bare it if he wasn't the one that she wanted.

"Um, w-why don't you h-have a seat," she said.

He nodded before sitting down on the couch. Mana sat down beside him. Atem kept looking away from her. He was afraid if he looked at her then he would do something that he would regret or scare her away from him. He heard his phone go off. He pulled it out from his pocket to see a message from Yugi. He realized that he was too late; she had solved the puzzle and saw the message. He began to beat himself up mentally after reading the text.

"Um, Atem…"

"Yes,"

"I've got…..your message…"

"I'm sorry that wasn't…."

"I love you too."

He froze. Did she really say that? Did she really love him too? He turned to face her. Mana was looking at him. He wanted to take her into his arms and kiss her at that moment. He went to reach for her when Yugi came down the stairs and noticed them staring at each other. He cleared his throat. Atem looked up at him. Yugi mouthed that he was sorry to him. Before any of them could say anything their grandfather came back.

"Alright boys," he said, "it's time to go. Your mother would be mad if we're late for dinner."

"Right," Atem replied standing up.

Mana looked at him as he followed his family to the door. He looked over his shoulder at her before leaving the house after his brother and grandfather. Mana groaned as she buried her face into her hands. She finally knew how Atem felt about her but the question was now; where do they go from here? What was the next step? Do they go out or do they pretend that nothing happened between them? She didn't know.

"Mana, dinner," her brother called.

Mana sighed and stood up to her feet. She would worry about it later at school when she sees him next time.

#

Mana stared at the message that was on the puzzle lying on her desk. She was glad to know that the boy that she had a crush on liked her back. She reread the message several times that night. She was letting them sink in. She was happy that he returned her feelings but what happens now? She wasn't sure. She heard her phone going off.

She grabbed it from her nightstand. She looked to see that it was a text from Atem. She looked at the message before she opened the message to read it.

Would you go out with me on Saturday?

She smiled at the text. She glanced at the message on her desk before she replied to the text. This was the best thing that happened to her.

Yes, I would love to.