I do not own YGO! DUEL MONSTERS.

"So you youʼre not planning on telling her this Valentine?"

"We girls like it when you boys take the initiative."

Téa's words kept going round and round inside his head. They were like the annoying summer mosquitoes, but unlike them, Atem couldn't just crush those thoughts against the wall.

He turned around under the shower and let the water hit his face directly.

Okay, so, what if Mana confess to Kaiba tomorrow? Itʼs not like it would affect our friendship, unlike telling her how I really feel.

It wouldnʼt affect their friendship. It may affect their time together, which already was short enough —that wasn't entirely his fault though. They both were always doing something.

Atem couldnʼt say that dating someone was exhausting, but it was obviously time consuming and even with that, he still managed to make Mana one of his top priorities.

Ha, who was he lying to? Mana —well, along with Yūgi —was his top priority. Always. Thatʼs something his former girlfriends couldn't stand.

And they didnʼt need to. Like Nana, most of them only broke up with him once they knew they weren't the girl he really wanted. There was no drama.

The drama was inside him.

And with Téaʼs words still in his mind, it was worse.

Then, while he was taking a shower for longer than usual, the phone rang.

"So… I wonder how many chocolates I will get this year!" Joey exclaimed as he entered the classroom. It was loud and clear enough to let everyone know what he was waiting for.

Some girls, who for some reason decided to pay attention to what he said, made a face and turned their backs.

"No more than in the last ten years of your life if you are still like that," answered Tristan as Atem chuckled.

But Joey, far from being upset, only exhaled as he headed to his seat. "Thatʼs cruel, dude. Just for the record, I always receive chocolates."

He said it so proudly that it made both Atem and Tristan laughed again.

"Yeah, from your sister," answered the first one.

"Yes, yes," Joey shrugged as he approached. "Said the one who only receives from his best girl friend."

Atemʼs heart skipped a bit while thinking quickly of an answer. Sure, it wasnʼt the first time that someone made that play on words and even if he was kind of used to, honestly, he liked it more than he was willing to admit.

So, he couldn't help, but smile.

"Oh, come on, you know thatʼs not true."

"Oh-ho! It seems that someone is bragging."

"You asked for it."

"You little—!"

"Okay, stop, stop!" Téaʼs voice was heard from the sliding door.

She approached to her seat next to Atem and left her things on her desk before sitting on the chair.

"Oh, come on! We were just getting to the best part!" Joey complained as he took the desk in front of Atem.

"As much as I enjoy your fights, guys, the teacher is coming and I know neither of you want a mark on your grades for disturbing the class."

"But the class hasnʼt even started."

"This teacher is very strict and you know it, Joey!"

"Tsk, fine."

Even if they didnʼt want to, they would have to stop sooner than later.

Little by little, the rest of the students that were missing began to arrive, and with them, the teacher, therefore, Joey and Tristan had to go to their places.

Atem smiled when Joey made a face at him and shook his head. It was fun, but Téa was right, this teacher was stricter than the others.

He sighed and looked for his book.

Although the day before he had been so stressed by Valentineʼs Day, in reality he hardly felt it. If it wasn't for Joeyʼs joke, he wouldnʼt even have thought of Mana... Or so he would like to think.

Anyway, Atem was relieved and even relaxed.

Thatʼs why, when Téa spoke again, Atem almost felt that he would throw up breakfast for the impression.

"I thought you would be more depressed and desperate for Mana," she said lightly, as she opened her notebook and looked for a pencil.

Atem frowned, forgetting to do the same when he heard his best friendʼs name.

"Eh? Why would I be?" he wanted to know.

Téa looked at him confused.

"Uhm... I thought she would confess to Kaiba today… won't she?

What?!

Atem didnʼt know that. Why hadn't he heard about it?

He sighed to calmed down. He had to. Even if what Téa said surprised him, just the day before he'd made up his mind about Mana dating someone other than him.

But still…

Why Kaiba?

Had he ever seen them talk? Atem couldn't remember.

"When did you find out?" he asked after a few seconds under Téaʼs confused gaze.

She left her pencil on her notebook with a frown.

"Look, I didn't 'find out' anything," she said in a low voice before looking back at the blackboard, where the teacher had already written some things. "I just overheard her, by chance, on the phone about 'making it official' this afternoon, in the park with the pool… Or something like that. I thought she meant Kaiba, but maybe I was wrong."

Well, yeah, maybe she was. Mana hadnʼt told him anything so far. But, again, when was the last time they really talked, like, about their feelings?

"Why didnʼt you tell me before?" he wasnʼt blaming her. Atem swore he wasnʼt, but Téaʼs frown especially directed to him made him realize that perhaps he had.

"Pardon me?" she said, obviously not happy. "First: was that a duty? And second: I did call you, but who answered was Yūgi and he told me he would tell you later on."

"What? Yūgi? But he told me…"

Yūgi told him that he hadn't gotten to the phone before it stopped ringing.

He even told him that if it was important, they would call again.

Obviously, Téa didnʼt need to call again. Why would she call again if Yūgi actually picked up the phone?

Atem smirked. Oh, boy he did.

"I will kill that little brother of mine."

But before he could do something as standing up and going to Yūgi and Manaʼs classroom, the stoic voice of the teacher got to his ears.

"Mr. Mutō," Atem had to stop his attempt to rise when he remembered —exactly when the sound of the chair screeching the floor echoed— where he was and what was the current situation. Téaʼs eyes said everything he didn't need to know. "It seems very lively over there, may I know the reason why?"

Oh, he would kill his brother.

Oh, boy he would.

Mana frowned. Yūgi was chuckling.

Usually, he would return from the cafeteria with a happy smile on his face after spending time with Atem and his friends, but this time was different.

Well, he was happy… kind of, Mana thought before she squinted in his direction. So, nothing bad had happened, but then…?

"Did something interesting happen?" she asked surrendering to curiosity.

Just then, Yūgi looked at her. He tried to hide it, but it seemed that something unknown to Mana was really funny.

"Atem was scolded," he answered.

Mana didn't know whether she had to laugh or worry, and Yūgiʼs face wasnʼt of any help. He was snickering.

"Scolded? Why?"

"Hm… Thatʼs a good question. I would say because he's a coward."

Okay, now Mana was starting to worry. Since when being a coward was enough reason to be scolded by a teacher in the school? And above all, why Yūgi was so entertained by that?

It was confusing; however, instead of answering her silent questions, that she was sure Yūgi understood, the topic was downplayed by him shrugging and changing the subject.

"Doesnʼt matter," he shook his head before putting his chin in his hand. "How are things with Kaiba?"

Mana almost spit out the drink she didnʼt have. In fact, she choked on her own saliva. Yugiʼs facial expression went from curious to confused. Well, maybe worried, but Mana couldnʼt say.

"Kaiba?" she had to repeat to make sure she didn't misheard. "Like, Seto Kaiba?"

"Yes…" it was an answer, but for some reason it sounded like a question. "I mean, youʼre going to confess today, right?"

"Me? Confess—?!"

Again, Mana choked. This time for trying to speak and breathe at the same time.

She felt Yūgiʼs hand on her back, then Mana forcibly stopped the coughing and took a deep breath to calm down.

She looked at him.

"Where did you hear that from?" asked. Did that mean Atem was believing the same? Mana squinted. "It wasnʼt for the chocolates, you wouldn't assume it only for that, would you?"

Yūgi looked away perhaps thinking he would avoid the question, but Mana wouldn't let him get away from it.

And after a few seconds in silence, without Mana taking her eyes off, he smiled innocently.

"Didnʼt you talk with Mahad about it?"

"Yūgi Mutō, did you eavesdrop my conversation with my brother?"

"I swear I didn't! But…" Yūgi looked away again, with both hands up as if she were a police officer interrogating him.

Mana exhaled and laid her head on her desk. Her forehead touching the wood of the table. It wasnʼt Yūgi, she was sure of that, but someone did eavesdrop and that someone maybe misunderstood.

"Ah… now I have to talk to Atem, right?" Mana said out loud —even if she didn't seem to have planned it—, to the surprise of Yūgi.

Atem? Since when they were talking about him? Yūgi wondered.

He observed her a little more as she talked to herself, it seemed. And then, after one exact minute, all the pieces fell into place.

Mana didnʼt notice, but it was as if some kind of supernatural force had suddenly enlightened Yūgi.

Not wanting to make chocolates with Atem. Spending less time with them and even introducing him to random girls from time to time just to later look like the world's most unfamiliar girl.

It was so obvious and they were so dense. Atem would be so happy if he just told him…

But thatʼd be too easy, and honestly, it would be boring.

"Why are you smirking?" Mana suddenly asked, her voice muffled by the position she was in.

"Iʼm not smirking."

She squinted and raised her head just to rest it on her hands.

"Youʼre smiling in an unpleasant way, if thatʼs not the meaning of 'smirk', then Iʼve been using the word incorrectly all this time."

Yūgi couldn't help but laugh. Well, he couldn't deny Mana was right.

"Then who has the guts to confess to Kaiba?"

Mana exhaled knowing there was nothing else to do. Here it goes again.

He exhaled. Dammit. He had never, ever, hated so much a teacher as he did now. Atem would even think that that teacher had it out for him.

All day making errands, coming and going, coming and going. Before he knew, classes were already over and he was now heading to Mana and Yūgiʼs classroom.

Well, at least that was the plan, until he met Yūgi in the corridors. He was distracted by his phone, so Atem decided to call him first.

"There you are, little brother of mine."

Yūgi seemed a little bit surprised, but soon he smiled.

"Oh, are you upset about something, big brother?"

Oh-ho. Atem was. He was and Yūgi knew it.

"Cut the act, Yūgi. Why didnʼt you tell me about Téaʼs call?" he asked.

Yūgi shrugged as he continued to walk down toward the stairs, passing him by.

"It wasnʼt important, was it?"

What?

Atem had to turn so that the conversation would not be over.

"It wasnʼt?" he squinted and repeated. Something was off or it was just him?

"So Téa misheard after all."

He hoped that.

"Did I say that?" Yūgi answered looking too confused. "I said it wasnʼt important, because youʼre not going to do anything anyway."

"Yeah, but…" Atem hesitated, or rather he seemed fidgety. "Whereʼs Mana?"

Yūgi looked at him again, this time with a smirk on his face just before he turned the corner. Sure it could pass for a kind smile, but Atem knew him better than that.

God that was his little brother.

"Well," he said. "Someone is going to confess."

Oh, goodness.

He swore and started to run, leaving his backpack to Yūgi, who barely caught it in the air.

When Yūgi looked again, Atem had disappeared.

Ha.

That was easier than he thought.

Atem really ran as fast as he could. Literally. He didn't know why he was doing it. Atem didn't even know what he was going to do when he got there.

What would he say to her? How would he stop her? How would he even explain why he was there, interrupting?

Even if the answer was so simple, Atem didn't seem to be able to see it.

Ah, fuck that!

As soon as night fell, the light poles lit up. Just then, Atem arrived to the park.

He took a deep breath and dried the little sweat from his forehead before calming his heartbeat —which was not only in that state because of nerves but also because of the race he had just done.

Atem looked around, looking for Mana. It wasn't a big park, sure, but there were still some trees and shrubs that made the sidewalks and surroundings darker.

Then, after what it seemed an eternity, he found her.

Mana was standing there, just staring at some fixed point with her backpack in her arms. She was under the dark shade of a tree, but the reflection of the lights in the cement somehow helped him to spot her. Then it took Atem just a few seconds to see what she was seeing.

Mana jumped when she felt a presence behind her and something obstructed her vision, turning quickly to see who was it.

"What the— Atem?! You scared the shit out of me!" luckily she managed not to scream, or at least managed to do it in a very low voice.

Atem smiled. It looked like an apology smile, but not exactly for what he had just done. Mana meant, something like that didn't deserve so much seriousness.

So, she frowned when he spoke.

"Sorry, I didn't want you to keep looking," he said.

Mana was confused. She was so confused that she was speechless. If the best part was coming!

"Wh—?"

But before she could say something, Atem decided to open his mouth again.

"I know it must be hard to see one of your best friends with him."

Mana blinked.

Twice.

"... Huh? Why would it—?"

Atem suddenly seemed a little shy when he avoided looking her in the eye. But he still kept talking.

"I know it must sound weird coming from me, but maybe Kaiba's not for you. I don't want to speak ill of him, but I know him. And I know you made chocolates especially for him, but maybe you shouldn't give them to him... I mean, not that you shouldn't, if you want you can, but—uhm."

Atem was interrupted when Mana's hands covered his mouth, the strap of her backpack hung from her elbow. She somehow used the movement to make his eyes connect with hers.

She was serious.

A little bit annoyed even.

"Atem, what the hell are you talking about?"

He swallowed. Something was off again.

Then she released him so he could answer.

But instead of an answer, Atem asked: "Weren't you going to confess to Kaiba?"

And with that, Mana exhaled and fell onto the sidewalk, to Atem's concern, turning her back on some bushes.

Why were the Mutō brothers like this? She must have assumed that if one thought so, the other would also.

Mana growled.

"Ugh, Iʼm not. Yūgi didn't tell you? I just came to deliver some things to Kisara, I was waiting for her confession to end. I donʼt like Kaiba."

At the mention of Yūgi, this time it was Atem who exhaled,raising a hand to his face and then finishing sitting next to her on the sidewalk.

"I should have guessed," he said. Where was his talent for predicting situations that showed up so much when he played Duel Monsters?

His brother had been acting weird, he knew it, he noticed it. He shouldnʼt have—

"Uh-huh, then?" Mana continued.

"Then, what?"

"What are you doing here, Atem?"

Atem swallowed and was blank for a few seconds.

Yes, what was he doing there? It was a good question for which he had no answer.

"Uhm... I wanted to see how... Uh... things would go."

"How things would go?" she repeated resting her hands on her knees and staring at him.

Atem had to look away so those big green eyes wouldn't make him say something he shouldn't.

"Yes."

Well, that was unnecessarily short.

So Atem missed Manaʼs side smile at the time.

"Were you worried, Atem?" she suddenly wanted to know.

Worried? Well, yes, it was a way of putting it.

"I think so."

Mana giggled.

She wasn't mocking him, she swore. Seriously.

It was just that this Atem, all upset and nervous, even shy, was very cute.

It wasn't common to see him that way. And Mana was hoping that only she could see him that way. "You know, I didn't plan on it, but I think I will today, too."

"What?"

"Confess my feelings. Iʼm in love with someone."

Atem turned then, looking back at her.

However this time Mana wasnʼt looking at him.

Sure, it made sense. Mana had told him that she didnʼt like Kaiba, but that didnʼt mean that there wasnʼt someone who she did like.

She had made chocolates after all.

And she had made them without him.

He pursed his lips.

He didn't want to know, he really didn't want to, but...

"Can you tell me? What is he like, I mean," he asked.

Mana smiled and Atem was scared of that smile. Not because it was terrifying, far from it, but quite the opposite.

It was the smile that had made him realize his feelings in the first place. The smile that he loved and admired from afar.

"Well, to start with heʼs much denser than I thought."

"Is he?"

Mana nodded.

"Yes, very, very dense. Too much. More than his brother. But he is also very smart. And very kind, although he always denies it. He is bold and sarcastic at times. He is also usually a little weird, but not in a bad way. Anyway, time flies by when weʼre together," Atem didn't know exactly what he was feeling.

He still remembered Manaʼs expression from that day before Valentine's some years ago, but the one she was showing now was totally different.

She was really in love this time.

"Oh, almost always his hands are cold," Mana continued. "Handsome, cool… even when heʼs being shy, heʼs cute. He can be a pushover sometimes, but just for me."

Oddly, that description was strangely familiar.

"I know he is someone I can trust. He is a very special person, do you understand?"

Suddenly Mana looked at him. She looked at him expectantly, as if she expected him to say or do something specific.

"Do you know who I'm talking about, Atem?" she asked.

He smiled as best he could, trying to pretend it didn't affect him at all.

And yet he couldn't look at her when he answered.

"Uh... somehow heʼs like me."

There were a few seconds of silence. That was definitely not the answer she expected, was it? But what could he do? Atem had no idea who—

"Atem," Mana called out to him.

"Ah, sorry, I was joking, I—"

"Are you stupid or what?"

"Huh?" this time he did look at her, more for the surprise of the moment than for anything else. "Why so suddenly—?"

And she interrupted him again, saying the words he never believed he would hear from her.

"I'm in love with you. You. Not someone who is like you. Take the hint, for God's sake."

Again the two were silent. Atem still in shock, he blushed while Mana only decided not to force him to respond soon.

Although she wanted him to respond at that moment. He wasnʼt the only one embarrassed.

So, she took the chocolates out of her backpack and handed them to him. Atem received them awkwardly, confused more than anything, and watched them as if they were the most shocking and still valuable object in the world.

"... And ... Anything you want to say?" Mana gave up.

She wasn't going to wait any longer.

"Yes... Well... No, I mean..." Atem wasn't speaking fast, but rather leisurely, as if he thought of everything that came out of his mouth. Mana knew he was doing that so as not to spoil the moment. "Why?"

And still managed to do it, huh.

"Uhm... didn't you hear everything I just said?"

"No, yes I did," to be honest, Atem wanted to hear it all over again, but would save it for later. "But I thought you saw me only as a friend or brother."

Mana shrugged and sighed.

"I thought the same about you," she said. "But I already told you, you're too dense, even if now—"

"I love you."

And that, that was enough for Mana to blush from head to toe as well.

Wasn't that a very strong word? And yet he said it with all certainty.

Mana smiled.

It didn't bother her.

It didn't at all.

"Then I'll be waiting for your White Day gift."

Sure she will.

But for now, Atem just kissed her, surprising her. Of course, he wouldn't waste any more time.

They'd both waited so long, after all.

Yūgi looked at his cell phone when it rang. All the message said was "it was a success," but he understood what the sender meant.

It was fortunate that Mana had friends like Serenity and Kisara, and Atem had a brother like him.

Luckily he was able to help at least in the end.

Yūgi smiled.

Youʼre welcome, brother.