Title: Surely Win
Ship: Junko x Momoe
Chapters: 1-1||Words: 1,099
Genre: Romance||Rated: G
Challenges: Pairing Diversity Boot Camp, YGO, #24, embace; Yu-Gi-Oh GX Rare Pairs Week 2022, day #6, morning/post-canon
Notes: This is set some years post-canon.
Summary: Junko has faith in Momoe's efforts. Sometimes one's faith is best expressed by chocolate.

Junko opened her eyes as she reached to turn off the alarm clock. She would have far preferred rolling over and going back to sleep, but that wasn't going to happen. Not today, of all days.

Momoe's arm slipped around her and soft lips brushed against her ear. "Why did you even turn that on? We don't need it."

Junko admired Momoe's half-sleepy eyes before leaning forward to brush her lover with her own lips. Kisses were important when one first woke up. "Breakfast. We still need it."

"Why?" Momoe shrugged, snuggling a little closer. "I think we can skip it once. It wouldn't be the first time."

"No, but I'm making it special this morning," Junko pointed out. At least she wanted to. If Momoe didn't let her out of bed, then she wasn't going to get the chance to cook anything at all. Momoe didn't move. "I need to get up."

Momoe didn't look interested in moving out of bed, at least not any time soon. Truth to tell, Junko wasn't surprised about that. Momoe had been up very late studying for her next exam, and she could use all the sleep she could get. Which was also why Junko wanted to make breakfast for her. She also had a surprise hidden that she hoped Momoe would like.

Everything had changed so much since their graduation from Duel Academia. Both had intended to attend the teaching school - only to find that neither of them was that interested in teaching. Seeing Asuka finding her own path as a researcher helped them both decide what it was they really wanted to do. Momoe delved into duel medicine, centering on the problems that could come from flawed duel disks. Thankfully the problems they'd experienced in school - such as duel zombies and one's energy being drained - didn't come up that often. But she learned how to deal with similar situations regardless. One never knew when the information could be useful.

Junko herself started studying law as it related to dueling. She'd seen what happened to Hell Kaiser Ryou and that urged her to finding ways to deal with the underground and what it could do to the unprepared. Some newly graduated pro duelists needed help getting their contracts sorted out to their benefit as well. Most of the managers didn't expect a woman who wasn't yet twenty-five to know how to work a contract. Those she enjoyed working with the most. Being underestimated could be such an advantage.

What had changed the most was their relationship. Junko had always been aware she found both men and women attractive - they were all so interesting, how could she ever pick? With travel to the other dimensions something of a possibility, or at least looking to become one as technology advanced, she thought there could be even more options one day.

Two years earlier, she and Momoe had encountered one another at college, and gone out for drinks together. One thing led to another, and now the two of them settled close to one another. Junko breathed in the scent of Momoe's hair and wondered if she might have the chance to brush it later. Then she sighed again.

"Momoe. I need to make breakfast." Her stomach rumbled in perfect time with her words, and Momoe grumbled a little, shifting to give her more space.

"Is it that important?"

"Yes." Junko leaned forward enough to kiss her on the temple, then slipped out of bed and grabbed her robe before heading to start her morning. She knew what Momoe liked to eat, and she'd always rather had a taste for traditional foods herself. So she put together familiar foods - steamed rice, miso soup, grilled fish, natto, and a quick salad, along with some hot green tea. By the time she set it all up on their table, Momoe had gotten out of bed and wandered in here, eyeing the breakfast with unabashed hunger.

"Good morning!" Junko chirped, relentlessly cheerful. Momoe smiled a little at that before she sat down, and the two of them shared breakfast. They didn't do it like this every morning; their schedules very seldom lined up enough for that. But on those rare days when they could, both enjoyed spending the time together like this.

Once they finished, Momoe started to gather up the dishes and set them near the sink, while Junko handled the rest of the morning chores. When they settled back down, she had something hidden up her sleeve. Momoe kept giving her study area looks, but Junko wasn't going to let her go off there just yet.

"I got these for you. I thought you'd like them," she said, slipping a bag into Momoe's hands. Momoe stared down at the bag; she'd bought it on purpose so Momoe couldn't guess what the actual gift was until she opened it. Momoe pulled the silver ribbon binding it closed carefully, and peered inside with all the curiosity of a child.

The noise she made could not be described. Something on the order of a squeal, but so much higher, and then Momoe flung her arms around her and hugged her close. "You found them! You really did!"

"Of course!" Junko hugged back. "I promised I would, didn't I?" She'd had to look for weeks to locate these particular flavors, but she'd succeeded in the end. Six KitKats rested in the bag, all six the royal milk tea flavor - the flavor that Momoe liked the best. Momoe smiled brilliantly before tucking them away.

"I'll enjoy one later," she promised, the light of anticipation in her eyes. "I should really study..." She didn't look all that enthused, and Junko had something better in mind regardless. She knew Momoe needed to be ready for the exams, but being ready also included having taken proper breaks. Asuka had mentioned that in her last e-mails and Junko believed her. It did seem to help more than she would have expected a few years earlier. Age did indeed bring wisdom.

So now she wrapped her fingers around Momoe's and squeezed ever so gently, enjoying the warmth they shared. "Let's go for a walk first. Get some fresh air, clear our heads, then I can help you study."

Tension visibly flowed out of Momoe as she nodded. "All right." Holding her prized candy close to her, she headed to go change clothes, Junko following in her wake. It wasn't even close to noon yet and she thought it was already going to be one of the best days ever.

The End

Notes: KitKats have been considered a good luck charm in Japan for university exams for a few years now. Look up KitKats in Japan for more information, including where I got the title. Momoe and Junko were done dirty by the anime. Teaching is important but it always seems to be the default job for a lot of female characaters. So in my headcanon, Momoe is a doctor who focuses on duel related injuries and Junko deals with duel-based law. Asuka has become a researcher after deciding teaching isn't for her either. While Manjoume's ex-lackeys become teachers. Ever notice most of the teachers at DA are guys anyway?