Domino Middle School was filled students who were excited for the final bell to ring. The day was warm and bright, many of the students gathered around the window, gazing outside. Other students chatted about the upcoming weekend, some talked about the upcoming winter formal, and some gossiped about others. However, one small boy sat by himself in the corner, gazing out what small part of the window was left. Unlike his peers, Toni was excited for Monday. Monday meant that track season was going to start. Like his mother before him he was the track star of his school. And he couldn't wait to show why he was called the Track Star. Brushing his bright blond bangs back, he decided to take out his deck. He sat in his desk, looking over his deck amazed at the monster cards he had. Many cards he inherited from his dad and grandpa. And just like his predecessors, the game was easy for him to understand, but it wasn't as much fun since hardly anyone would duel him.
"Hey Toni." He looked up and spotted his best friend, Gael Valentine-Wheeler, taking the desk in front of him. Her dark blond curls bounced as she sat, her dark brown eyes looking at him excitedly. "Why ya all the way over here?"
Toni shrugged, putting his deck down. "I don't know, just wanted to stare out the window. I'm so excited for track on Monday." He grinned.
"I'm excited for Cheer leading try outs, and you can bet I'll be there cheering you on." She said, swaying her arms in the air like she was already in the squad. Toni shook his head, surprised that Gael wanted to try out for Cheerleading. Unlike her sisters, Gael was a tomboy; she wore jeans instead of skirts and dirty, ripped jackets over her school shirt, despised make up and doing her hair and never did her nails.
Then again, Cheerleading is a sport she hasn't done yet, Toni thought to himself.
" Do you have any plans after school today?" Gael asked, crossing her legs on a desk.
"Not much, maybe improve my deck but that's it. Why?" Toni asked, slipping on his blue jacket.
"Why don't you do something fun?" She asked, leaning forward. "Hey I know! Why don't I get a bunch of us together and shop at the Game Shop right after school! Who knows? Maybe we can get a few duels in." Her big, dark brown eyes were begging him to come. Toni thought for a moment, maybe his deck could wait.
"Sure-"
"Awesome. Let's go! I'll make the calls when we get out of here!" She grabbed his hand and pulled him out of his desk.
"Wait! What about the bell?" Toni asked, quickly grabbing his blue backpack.
The bell rang after he said it. Gael looked at him and giggled.
"What bell?" She swung her backpack onto her back and pulled Toni out of the classroom.
"Ok, but who are you calling?"
She stopped and said, "Well...basically those we call friends. Ya know, CJ, Moriah, Janny, those kids."
"Oh...ok." Toni said awkwardly, he didn't mind having friends over. But would his parents?
After walking a few blocks, Gael and Toni walked into the Game Shop. The new owner was busy cleaning the windows. His dark violet eyes caught the kids as they entered, and a smile spread across his lips.
"Hi, Dad." Toni waved.
"There you are Toni. Hello Gael."
"Hello Yugi." Gael waved with a smile. Toni looked outside the window and saw a small group of kids heading towards the Game Shop.
"Hey dad, my friends want to improve their decks. Is it cool that they come over?" Toni knew the answer. His dad didn't care if Toni's friends came over, if anything, he encouraged it.
"Yeah that's fine, gives your mom something to do." He stood up, brushed his hands together and yelled over his shoulder." Mari!"
"Yes?" A thin woman in a pink dress came from around the corner.
"Toni's friends are coming over soon. Would you mind getting some snacks for them?"Yugi asked nicely. Mari's hazel eyes lit up with joy.
"Ooo! I'll get on it right away!" She disappeared around the corner, a wave of blond hair trailed behind her.
"Thank you Mrs. Mutou!"Gael yelled and ran to the Dragon Card section. Then the door opened. A girl with bright blond hair tied up in a high bun, and violet-gray eyes walked in gracefully. Her black boots clanked as the door closed.
"I can't wait to see what other Harpie Cards there are."Krissie Valentine-Wheeler said. She set her purple purse down and walked over to the Winged Beast section.
"Hey, Sis." Gael said, not looking up.
"Hey." Krissie greeted, waving her hand in the air.
"Then I told him off." A voice said as the door opened. Yugi watched two girls enter his store; one was a skinny girl with tan skin, white blond hair down to her shoulders and gold color eyes. She wore a white tank top with brown shorts and gold flip flops. Yugi smirked at the gold accessories around her arms and her neck, items that were too familiar to him.
"But I thought you said he was cute." The other had white hair to her shoulders and bright silver eyes and muscular legs. They headed to the Trap and Spell Card Section.
"Hey Moriah and Janny." Toni waved, setting his bag down.
"Hi Toni." They said in unison. The door opened again, and two more kids walked in. One was a boy with black spiky hair and teal eyes. A dice earring dangled from his ear. The other was a girl with long black hair, dark blue eyes, and a serious expression on her face. She clutched a silver suitcase in her hand.
"Your dad's going to kill you CJ." Leigha sang, walking over to the Dragon section and waved to Toni.
"Yeah, but he's played with Duel Monster Cards. I think I'm allowed to at least look." CJ said, looking at the Machine Monster Cards Section. "What's up, T?" He greeted.
"Not much CJ." Toni greeted back slowly, backing towards the stairs to his room. Yugi grabbed his arm and gestured for him to join the others. However, Toni remained where he stood, feeling overwhelmed and anxious.
Yugi sighed and shook his head. He sat back and watched as his sons' friends look from one card to the next. Hoping to find a card they were looking for. Mari walked in with a plate full of cookies and a carton of juice. The kids ran over and took a cookie and a glass. Mari was smiling joyfully, she was happy to treat the kids to an after-school snack, it always brought her joy to see so many guest's. Yugi remembered that Mari didn't have many friends when she was in middle school. So, she was thrilled that Toni had a lot of friends.
Later on, that evening, the kids sat around the TV trading cards. Grandpa sat with them sharing stories of the past with Janny. Mari busied herself with making supper in the next room. Then, the door opened and a tall, well suited man with brown hair and dark blue eyes walked in. Yugi scoffed, he knew who the guy was and was surprised to see him.
"Wow, this is a surprise to see you Kaiba." Yugi stated, leaning on the desk. "Never thought I'd see you in here again."
Kaiba's dark blue eyes met Yugi's. Yugi pitied the business man; he had bags under his eyes, his face was a bit sullen, and his shirt wasn't button all the way. All the signs of an over worked man.
"Don't flatter yourself, Yugi. I'm only here to pick up my daughter, nothing else."Kaiba looked over as Leigha ran over.
"Hey, Dad. I'm ready to go." Leigha said, grabbing her backpack with the Blue Eyes White Dragon on it. As Leigha waved good bye and headed out the door, she slammed into someone coming in.
"Oof! Heya, kid."
"Sorry Mr. Ishtar, didn't see you there." Leigha apologized, moving around him. Kaiba followed along behind her to the limo and shut the door.
"I hate it when she calls me that, feels too weird." Marik whispered to himself, holding his helmet under his arm. "Hey Yugi, how've you been?"
"Been busy. You?" Yugi smiled a friendly smile and held out his hand.
"Pretty busy, myself. Being a father is a full-time job." He put out his hand and shook Yugi's hand." And speaking of being a father, come on Moriah. Her mom's actually home before dark, for once." Marik said, looking into the next room.
"Yes sir!" Moriah said, putting a strap on her shoulder.
"See ya guys later." Moriah said and walked out with Marik, who waved farewell to Yugi.
"Yeah, I better head back." CJ said with disappointment, grabbing his books off the counter. "Thanks again Yugi and Mari. See ya later Toni!" He ran out the door and down the street.
"We'd better get going, too, Gael. It's bad enough Phoebe got home without us, mom's gonna kill both of us." Krissie said, picking up her cards and her purse. Gael rolled her eyes and waved farewell.
"Thank you for the everything Toni, Yugi and Mari." Janny bowed and picked up her pink backpack. "Hey Gael, Krissie! Wait up! Can I walk with you?" And ran out the door.
Yugi smiled. His heart warmed to see kids were still interested in Duel Monsters. He thought that the new generation would have gotten bored with them, but thanks to the Tournaments, fashion trends with the names of monster's, kids keep collecting them. Just like what he did when he was a kid. Now that he thought about it, it has been awhile since he dueled.
"Yugi, Toni, Grandpa, come and eat supper." Mari said from the next room.
