Mokuba sighed as his teacher droned on and on about accounting – something Mokuba had never liked, and hoped he wouldn't need in the future. Instead, he was thinking about dinner the night before. All Seto had said about Yuugi was "to each his own" – it didn't sound good, but it was the closest thing to a blessing that Mokuba was going to get. It was more than he had expected.
The bell rang, and Mokuba practically jumped out of his seat, grabbing his bag and slinging it over his shoulder. He didn't plan to go to his next class; he couldn't concentrate. Instead, he went to the front office; Anzu had taken over some the school's secretarial work, and if she was alone, she usually let him skip there. He waited until the bell rang to signal the beginning of class before entering.
"Hello, how may I help…" Anzu looked up from what she was writing and grinned. "Hi! Shouldn't you be in class?"
"I couldn't take it," Mokuba said, giving her a pathetic look. "Can I stay here for a while?"
Anzu looked around, and said, "At least until you get caught." Mokuba grinned and dropped his bag by her desk, pulling out a chair. "So how have you been?" she asked.
"Great – Niisama and I went out last night and got some decorations for Friday, and after work today I'm going to talk to the cook about what to make. How is everyone? I haven't had time to hang out with you guys in a while."
"You haven't missed much," Anzu replied, looking at the papers she had been working on and turning to the computer. "Jou quit his job again, and decided to move out of his dad's apartment, so he's been staying at Yuugi's. Um… Nothing much other than that."
"Oh." Mokuba wondered about Jounouchi – he and Yuugi had always been close… it seemed almost automatic that they would end up together. With Jounouchi living with Yuugi… There could have been some development over the past three years that he missed.
"So," Anzu said cheerfully, typing as she talked, "what do you want for your birthday? I mean, what do you get the kid brother of Kaiba?"
Mokuba laughed. "Actually, there are things I want that Niisama can't get me."
"Oh? And what would those be?"
"Well… to be about three inches taller, have better handwriting, more free time, and…" Come to think of it, if he was going to confide in someone, he couldn't think of anyone better – she had always been good to talk to. Not to mention that she was just as close to Yuugi as Jounouchi was, and she would know if there was someone else to be worried about. Mokuba scanned the office to make sure no one else was nearby before he leaned over the desk, softly adding, "and Yuugi."
"What?" she practically squeaked, leaning forward onto her desk and grinning. "Are we talking that you want to spend more time with Yuugi, or you want him gift wrapped and – "
"Anzu!" He felt a blush rush straight up to his ears, and despite the grin she was giving him, he managed to keep his eyes on Anzu. "You see, when I was twelve, I sort of… Well, I asked him to kiss me, and – "
She giggled, of all things. "I didn't know about that! So, when you twelve, you and Yuugi…?"
"Shh! And he said he wouldn't, because I was too young, but promised to give me a proper kiss on my fifteenth birthday."
It was relief that Anzu's grin didn't fade – if anything, she looked even more amused. "It's like a love story," she said fondly. "Are you excited?"
"Well, yeah," Mokuba replied with a smile. "But I'm worried, too; it's not like we've talked about it. I don't even know if he remembers, or if…" He didn't finish. It was easier to handle the fear of being Jounouchi's rival in love if he kept it to himself.
"I see." She turned back to her work, tapping at the keyboard slowly, face turned away from him – it seemed odd. Maybe she had something to say; maybe she was trying to figure out to how to break it to him… "If you want, I can help."
"Huh?"
She turned to smile at him. "I have access to your grades, right?"
"Isn't that an abuse of power?"
Anzu rolled her eyes, reaching across the desk to bop him on the head. "It's not like I use it, but Yuugi doesn't know that. I could tell him that I know you're having trouble in a class – something he's halfway good at – and suggest he tutor you in that subject. That gives you time alone with him, and maybe you could talk to him."
Mokuba smiled sheepishly at her. "You'd do that to help me?"
"Yeah!" she said instantly, chuckling softly. "I wouldn't want to see you disappointed on your birthday, and I love a good romance."
Mokuba leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes and smiling. If she was helping, it had to be a good sign. "Thanks."
"Alright," she replied, and he heard her go back to work at her computer. "I'll let you know as soon as possible how it goes. How is Kaiba taking it?"
"Well, he – "
A masculine voice cut in, "Kaiba-san?" Mokuba turned to look up, seeing of his teachers standing in the doorway; the older man didn't look pleased. Then again, it wasn't exactly the first time he'd been caught in trouble by that particular teacher. "Shouldn't you be in class?"
"I – "
"He had to take a phone call," Anzu cut in, her voice polite and authoritative. "He was just about to leave, correct?"
Mokuba nodded quickly, standing and grabbing his bag. "Right. Thank you, An…" He looked over at his teacher, and amended, "Mazaki-san." He inclined his head in respect to his teacher as he passed him, breathing a sigh of relief once the door closed behind him. The last thing he needed was to get in trouble – it was just another thing he would have to worry about. He walked to his classroom, pausing outside the door and smiling.
"Mokuba? Do you plan on coming in, or are you going to stand in the doorway all period?"
Mokuba smiled sheepishly at his teacher – he hadn't even realized that he had opened the door. "Sorry; I was in the front office…" He went to his desk and sat down, taking out his notebook.
All he could do was keep himself occupied and wait for Anzu.
notes
man. I've got absolutely nothing to say. thanks to elsalhir for the beta job!