~~Hello readers, I'm back with a new chapter.
I do not own anything from Yugioh Zexal.
Only my original characters belong to me.~~
I had just met a new celestial friend named Dark Mist.
It was finally time for gym class.
Gym class was my favorite because I could always let my energy out.
My moment of happiness came to an abrupt end when I spotted a creepy looking teenage girl walking toward me.
She seemed very familiar to me for some reason.
Dark Mist saw my smile fade and said with concern. "Sioku, are you feeling all right? Please tell me what's going on."
I stared at him and answered. "No Dark Mist, I recognize that mean girl from my English class. She is the one who has been laughing at me and making rude comments every time I get yelled at by Julie."
"She sounds like bad news," Dark Mist replied.
I ignored her and started to walk at a faster pace.
On my way to the gym, the girl intercepted me wearing a menacing grin on her ugly face.
The girl stopped directly in front of me and taunted. "I finally found you Sad Sioku, my name is Mira. Why have you been talking to yourself. Have you gone insane?"
I cringed at that awful nickname.
Mira is a 13-year-old girl with wavy brown hair and red eyes.
She wore black tennis shoes and socks, black sweat pants, a grey long sleeved shirt, and a grey hoody.
Dark Mist leaned against my shoulder in a comforting way, giving me a major boost of courage.
I glared at Mira with clear annoyance and replied. "Shut up and get out of my way. I'm going to be late for PE."
Mira burst into an obnoxious fit of laughter.
She grinned at me and said selfishly. "I don't care if you're late. This just means that my mom can yell at you again. I love watching her make you break down in class. Seeing you cry always cracks me up."
I gasped at Mira's last comment in terror and thought. "Is this girl kidding? I never knew or believed that Julie had a daughter."
"Dark Mist looked worried at me and said. "Don't let her get to you Sioku, she's just a bully. Please try to focus on me."
I turned to my celestial friend and replied telepathically. "Thank you Dark Mist, I appreciate your support. You and I have to watch out for two unfriendly people now."
"I agree," the being whispered.
A brief moment of silence passed between us.
"Oh Sad Sioku, what happened to your sassy attitude?" asked Mira in a taunting manner.
I shook my head roughly in response.
"Don't give in to her Sioku," said Dark Mist.
"I won't let you down," I replied.
The being's voice gave me an adrenaline rush that I decided to take advantage of.
I smiled as a clever thought crossed my mind.
"What are you smiling at?" Mira demanded.
"Watch this Dark Mist," I thought happily.
"What are you doing?" Dark Mist wondered.
Instead of answering Mira's question, I bolted passed her and down the walkway.
Dark Mist quickly floated after me.
"Get back here! I'm not done with you Sad Sioku!" Mira screamed in my direction.
I could only laugh at that as I turned the corner.
Dark Mist grinned proudly at me and praised. "Nice move Sioku, you really are a fast runner. I could barely keep up with you back there."
I smiled back at him and replied. "Thanks Dark Mist, I got all of that hyper energy from your gorgeous voice."
Dark Mist chuckled in approval at my response.
I happily entered the crowded gym with Dark Mist floating by my side.
People stared at me, but I didn't care.
I was too busy being graced by Dark Mist's presence.
There was a feeling of happiness inside me that I never felt at school before.
Julie's annoying presence didn't even bother me.
I felt invincible at this point because of my new celestial friend.
My encounter with Dark Mist was a true miracle.
He saved my sanity in the nick of time.
"Hey Sioku," a male voice called out.
"Now that's a voice I actually want to hear," I said to Dark Mist in relief.
Dark Mist only chuckled at my statement.
The boy wearing a backwards hat came running toward me.
He had a joyful smile on his face.
I threw my arms around him and greeted. "Hello, I haven't seen you in a while Bronk! How have you been? Did you and Tori find Yuma?"
"Yuma's over by the bleachers with Tori," Bronk answered.
"Oh thank goodness," I replied with a relieved sigh.
Dark Mist hovered beside me to observe my interaction with Bronk.
Bronk then tapped on my shoulder and whispered. "Sioku, I see that evil woman behind us. She's staring right at you as we speak."
I just brushed it off and grinned.
"Oh it's fine Bronk, just let her keep staring at me. I'm not going to let her drag me down anymore," I said out loud.
"That's the spirit Sioku," replied Dark Mist from behind me.
I smiled warmly at the being in return.
Bronk looked up at me in confusion and asked. "Sioku, what are you smiling at?"
"I'll give you and our other friends all the details later," I answered while blushing.
My expression instantly changed from cheerful to concerned as I continued. "Speaking of Julie, she has a bratty teenage daughter named Mira. I just met the girl a few minutes ago. We have to watch out for her as well."
"Thanks for the warning," Bronk replied.
Bronk and I then headed toward the bleachers to meet Yuma and Tori.
"Hi you two," greeted Tori after she jumped up from her seat.
"Sorry we kept you waiting," replied Bronk as he sat down.
I looked over at Yuma who didn't say a single word to us.
"Hey Yuma, are you all right? I've been worried about you," I said smoothly.
Yuma lifted his head and looked at me with sad eyes.
"No Sioku, I've been better," he replied dejectedly.
I instantly felt my heart drop at Yuma's response.
"Julie is going to regret this," I grumbled to myself.
Dark Mist looked down at me and asked with a concerned expression. "Sioku, are you all right?"
"Not really," I whispered.
Tori changed her happy expression to one of seriousness as she chimed in. "Not only is he sad, Yuma is terrified of Julie. He was trying to calm himself down when I found him standing next to a drinking fountain."
"This is the first time I ever saw Yuma act that way," added Bronk Sadly.
Tears welled up in my eyes as I listened to their concerns.
"I'm really sorry about all of this chaos. Yuma wouldn't be acting so depressed if I never met him," I said with remorse.
I glanced up at Dark Mist who's eyes grew wide with shock.
Tori gave me a disappointed look and replied. "That's not true Sioku, Yuma has been happier with you around. You shouldn't be apologizing for Julie's actions. That woman just yells at you for her own pleasure."
"Tori is right Sioku," Bronk said in agreement.
I started to relax knowing that Bronk and Tori had my back.
"Thanks guys," I said with a grateful smile.
"You're very welcome," replied Tori.
"We'll always be here for you from now on," added Bronk.
A feeling of joy washed over me as I listened to their kind words.
I then looked at Tori and warned. "Julie has a teenage daughter named Mira who is just as bad as her. Mira is also very rude and disrespectful."
"I never want to meet that girl," Tori replied.
I slowly walked over to Yuma before comfortingly I wrapped my arms around him.
"Don't worry Yuma, I'll try my best to keep her away from you. I promise," I assured.
Yuma laid his head on my shoulder.
Dark Mist curiously watched from behind.
Yuma looked like he wouldn't perk up any time soon.
I then turned to Tori and Bronk with a stern look.
"Julie has gone far enough! I'm tired of Yuma getting hurt because of her! I'll need your help keeping Yuma distracted from her outbursts as best as possible," I said sadly.
"You can count on me," replied Tori.
"I'll be glad to help," Bronk added.
"Thank you very much," I said sincerely.
I gently ruffled Yuma's hair before I let go of him.
Bronk decided to lighten up the situation by changing the subject.
"Hey guys, we're going through the obstacle course today! It will be a lot of fun," he said cheerfully.
I grinned while imagining myself releasing all of my hyper energy.
"Seriously? Awesome," I added.
"At least we have a distraction for Yuma now," Tori pointed out.
"You're right Tori," I replied in agreement.
I looked over at Yuma who didn't seem interested at all.
Tori put her arm around him and said gently. "Cheer up Yuma, I'm sure you'll feel better once we get there."
Yuma smiled sadly at his friend before he turned away.
The gym teacher blew a whistle and then instructed. "Class, please change and report to the outdoor course immediately!"
"Let's go Dark Mist," I whispered.
I waved to the boys before I followed Tori to the girls' locker room.
Dark Mist decided to wait for me at the entrance.
"I'll be back in a few minutes," I said.
"Take your time Sioku," he replied.
Once inside, I changed into blue yoga pants and a blue short sleeved T-shirt.
Dark Mist remained fresh on my mind.
All I could think about was hearing his beautiful voice.
Much to my annoyance, I spotted Mira in the crowd of other girls.
Mira gave me a dirty look as she passed by.
I just ignored her as I quickly put my things away.
Afterward, I quickly exited the locker room to meet my new celestial friend who had been waiting patiently.
"I'm here Dark Mist," I said with a warm smile.
"Welcome back Sioku," he replied with a playful grin.
I couldn't help but giggle at that.
"What are you laughing at?" asked a low female voice from behind me.
Dark Mist sensed the ominous aura around Julie and started to tense up.
"Sioku! Look out!" he shouted.
I jumped and turned around to see none other than Julie standing there.
"Nothing," I answered plainly.
Fortunately, I was able to keep my fears under control.
"I've got this Dark Mist. Don't worry," I whispered softly.
"Who are you talking to Sioku?" she asked again.
I was not going to let Julie destroy my new friendship with Dark Mist.
I furiously straightened up and cleared my throat.
"That is none of your business! I'll be going to the course now," I answered roughly.
Julie gave me a look of disgust as I walked away.
Mira joyfully ran up to Julie and hugged her tight.
"Hello Mira," Julie responded in a kind voice.
I overheard a conversation between Julie and her daughter.
"Hey Mom, did you see Sioku pass by?" Mira started.
"Yes, she is heading over to the obstacle course right now. You should go join her," Julie suggested.
Mira let out a reluctant sigh and replied. "I don't know, Sioku is very strange. She randomly started talking to herself after English class."
"Sioku probably has another imaginary friend," Julie commented.
Mira laughed out loud before she responded. "I'm not surprised, that stupid girl will never have any real friends. She is a worthless nobody."
A feeling of burning rage took over me as I furiously fled the scene.
Dark Mist quickly floated after me and hollered. "Sioku! Wait up!"
I turned to him and said with a look of remorse. "I'm sorry Dark Mist, but I just needed to get you away from those two as fast as possible. They are nothing but bad news."
He then gave me a questioning look and continued. "Sioku, is Julie the person who's bothering you?"
"Unfortunately yes, Julie's daughter is just as annoying as her. I already dislike Mira," I answered in annoyance.
Dark mist folded his arms and sighed.
"I don't understand why Julie and Mira like to bring you trouble in the first place," he said with disappointment.
"I never understood that," I replied.
I looked up and noticed people staring at me like I was crazy.
It didn't really matter to me because I now had a permanent true friend by my side.
At the obstacle course, I stood in line behind Tori.
Fortunately, I didn't see Mira anywhere.
"Dark Mist, I can't wait until you see this," I whispered in excitement.
Dark Mist nodded and grinned with anticipation.
His smile looked innocent and beautiful.
"Dark Mist is so adorable," I said to myself.
One by one, each student ran through the course and received a timed score at the end.
Dark Mist quietly observed the activity.
"This is one of many activities humans do for exercise," I informed.
"Interesting," Dark Mist replied.
I cheered my friends on whenever one of them was about to start.
Watching them run through the course was quite entertaining.
Dark Mist and I anxiously waited for my turn to come.
We silently stared at each other for a few minutes.
Looking into Dark Mist's eyes had me lost in another peaceful moment.
"He's gorgeous," I whispered.
The loud sound of a whistle snapped me back to reality.
My heart began to race as I remembered Julie's recent confrontation with me.
A million thoughts crashed into my mind all at once.
"I hope Julie didn't see me like that," I said anxiously.
Dark Mist noticed my distress and hovered by my left side.
"Don't worry about Julie's opinion," he replied smoothly.
I grinned at him and let out a dreamy sigh.
"Dark Mist is already such a great friend," I thought.
I congratulated Tori as she made her way back to the line.
"Good luck out there Sioku," she said.
I gave her a thumbs up in response.
"I'm sure you'll do a wonderful job," said Dark Mist.
"I'll be right back," I replied.
His wondrous voice gave me a feeling of confidence.
I waved at my friends before walking toward the starting point.
A cheerful smile was present on Dark Mist's face as he watched me stand in front of the tunnel.
I felt a slight boost of adrenaline caused by his presence.
After the signal, I threw myself into the tunnel and crawled through it as fast as I could.
I could hear all of my friends cheering me on as I completed each obstacle.
"You can do it Sioku!" hollered Dark Mist.
I used the energy in his voice to increase my speed.
It seemed to work since my energy hadn't came close to running out.
I continued moving through the course while thinking about Dark Mist.
All was going well until I decided to hop onto the net out of excitement.
Everyone watched in awe as I tripped over the bar and fell forward.
A wave of guilt mixed with doubt instantly washed over me.
I lowered my head and groaned in embarrassment.
"I've been showing off for you Dark Mist. I'm so sorry," I said quietly.
Julie glared daggers at me from a distance and hollered. "Sioku! Quit messing around! You're an embarrassment!"
I heard Mira laugh out loud at her mother's comment.
"You're lame Sad Sioku!" she yelled in my direction.
My friends glared at Mira from a distance.
Julie's painful words cut deep into my mind like sharp blades.
I was about to cry until I felt a calming aura around me.
A thick wall of mist suddenly surrounded me.
I silently gasped in amazement.
"This must be one of Dark Mist's powers," I thought.
My body straightened up as I realized where it was coming from.
Dark Mist inconspicuously hovered near my right side.
"You have made me proud Sioku," he praised calmly.
I gave him a questioning look and replied sadly. "Dark Mist, are you sure? I feel like I had just let you down."
"Yes, I wouldn't lie to you Sioku," he answered.
Dark Mist's reassurance caused my embarrassment to disappear.
"I trust you," I replied with a small smile.
His angelic voice was starting to sink in.
"You did not disappoint me Sioku, I promise. Now get up and cross that finish line for me," he reassured while grinning.
The high pitch in his voice gave me a feeling of encouragement.
The wall of mist dissipated as he floated away.
I stood up and faced the net once again.
"Thank you Dark Mist," I said as I turned away.
I took a deep breath before I crossed the net with new determination.
Dark Mist grinned proudly as I reached the end. "You did it Sioku!"
I smiled back at him in response.
Afterword, I joyfully bolted across the grass.
All I could think about was meeting Dark Mist back in the line.
Everyone except Julie and Mira cheered loudly as I crossed the finish line with a huge grin plastered on my face.
"Sioku, your time was three minutes," said the gym teacher.
I let out a disappointed sigh.
"Thank you," I simply replied before I walked off.
I spotted Dark Mist hovering near Tori and happily rushed toward him.
"Hey Dark Mist! Thank you for the support," I cheered with a grateful smile.
"You did very well Sioku," he gently replied.
I perked up at the softness in his voice.
"You did a great job Sioku," praised Tori.
"It could have been better," I replied sadly.
In the midst of our conversation, I spotted Yuma and Bronk walking toward us.
Hello boys," I greeted before I laughed.
"Hey Sioku! Good job out there," replied Bronk.
"I'm happy for you," added Yuma shyly.
I pulled Yuma into a hug and asked smoothly. "Hey, are you sure you're okay?"
"I guess," he answered.
Yuma's fear of Julie weighed heavy on my heart.
"We really need to help Yuma cheer up somehow," I whispered to Tori.
"Yeah, I agree," she replied.
Bronk looked at Yuma and sighed.
"Well, what are we going to do?" he asked impatiently.
I don't know," Tori answered sadly.
Dark Mist hovered close to my left side and asked with concern. "Sioku, what's going on?"
"Yuma is terrified of Julie," I whispered.
"I don't blame him Sioku. This Julie person sounds like a constant threat to me," Dark Mist added.
I gave him a disappointed look in agreement.
My friends and I quietly headed toward the lunch room as soon as the gym teacher dismissed us.
Dark Mist continuously scanned the area for Julie's presence as we walked.
"I appreciate your protection Dark Mist," I said calmly.
"I just want you to be able to let your guard down freely," he warmly replied.
Dark Mist reminded me of my little guard dog at home.
In the lunch room, I quietly stood in line with my friends.
I curiously looked over at Yuma who continued keeping to himself.
"Yuma, are you feeling any better?" I asked quietly.
"I'm fine Sioku," he answered plainly.
Deep down, I was very worried about Yuma.
Seeing him change from his usually cheerful self to a completely different person made me feel sick inside.
After ordering our food, my friends and I sat down at a table in the back.
Bronk and I sat across from Tori and Yuma.
The four of us remained silent until I decided to speak up. "Hey guys, I want to tell you something. You must promise to keep this conversation between us."
My friends nodded their heads in agreement.
I pointed to Dark Mist who was hovering behind me and continued. "I met a new friend after English class. He emerged from the Number card shortly after I stepped outside for some fresh air. His name is Dark Mist, and he is a celestial being from a place called Astral World.
Tori's eyes widened as she remembered the strange sight.
"Number 96 is the card that mysteriously appeared on your desk earlier!" she chimed in.
Bronk gave me a questioning look and added. "Is Dark Mist who you were talking to in gym class?"
"Yes, Dark Mist encouraged me to not give up when I fell over that net back at the obstacle course," I answered gratefully.
"Wow Sioku, that's really cool. Dark Mist sure does a better job at watching over you than Julie ever did," Tori pointed out.
"I agree with Tori Sioku. You don't even look like you need an academic assistant," Bronk added.
I laughed out loud at both of their comments.
Dark Mist leaned over my shoulder and said. "Sioku, I admire the support you are getting from your friends. They seem to understand everything you're going through."
"They sure do Dark Mist," I replied softly.
Dark Mist returned to his usual spot directly behind me.
Tori looked at me as a thought crossed her mind.
"By the way Sioku, we saw that mean Mira girl in PE. You were right, she isn't a good person," she said.
"I already don't like her," Bronk added.
"Same here," I simply replied.
My friends used the remainder of our break to process what I had just told them.
Once the bell rang, I waved at my friends before I walked toward the door.
"Let's go Dark Mist," I said with excitement.
Dark Mist happily floated by my side.
Unfortunately, I saw Julie waiting outside the dining hall.
I reluctantly followed Julie to another set of classrooms.
Luckily, I had Dark Mist here to keep me sane.
Julie and I waited patiently near the door.
My celestial friend looked up at me and asked curiously. "Sioku, what is your next class?"
Computers," I simply answered.
Our conversation was rudely interrupted by Julie.
"Sioku, you're not going to obsess over this class. I'll pull you out if you do," she threatened with a glare.
My eyes widened in shock as I stood still.
The heat of anger rose in my cheeks.
Before I could say anything, Dark Mist whispered in my ear. "Sioku, do not respond to Julie's threat. You will only make the situation worse."
I instantly calmed down at the sound of his soothing voice.
"You are a true miracle Dark Mist," I whispered back.
He smiled warmly at me in return.
The teacher arrived a few minutes later.
She graciously opened the door for us.
I quietly walked into the classroom with Julie following behind me.
Once inside, I sat down at a desk near the door.
Dark Mist hovered near my left side.
I quietly relaxed under the soothing presence of Dark Mist.
The fact that Julie sat right next to me didn't matter at all.
A group of students entered the classroom five minutes later.
I curiously red the board while everybody else was getting situated.
Our assignment was to log in and begin working on a typing program.
Not wanting to tick off Julie, I scrolled through the menu after logging into my profile.
I froze in terror when my eyes landed on a familiar title: Type to Learn.
Just reading the name sent alarming chills crawling up my spine.
My heart began to race as I breathed heavily.
Sensing my distress, Dark Mist leaned against my shoulder.
"Sioku, what's bothering you? Please talk to me," he said wearing a worried expression.
Unfortunately, his telepathy wasn't getting through to me at all.
I was too overcome by fear and anxiety.
"Sioku!" Dark Mist called out.
I jumped at the sound of his voice and said nervously. "I'm sorry Dark Mist, this typing program terrifies me. I've been afraid of Type to Learn since elementary school. Almost every night, I had recurring nightmares about the female, robotic voice haunting me."
"I wish there was something I can do to help you Sioku," he replied with a disappointed look.
To make matters worse, Julie grabbed me by the collar of my shirt and interrupted. "You'll just have to suck it up and get over it. You're acting like a little baby right now Sioku."
She then returned to her seat.
I felt my blood boil at her rude comment, but I was too scared to say anything about it.
Dark Mist threw a piercing glare at Julie.
Tears streamed down my cheeks as I started to shake.
"Sioku, I'm right here for you. "You're not in this alone. Listen to my voice," Dark Mist said softly.
Dark Mist's telepathic message caused me to perk up almost instantly.
My nerves slowly began to relax.
I took a deep breath while staring into his eyes.
"Thank you so much Dark Mist, you're the best thing that ever happened to me besides Yuma and his friends. I already love you so much," I said calmly.
"I love you too Sioku," he replied with a warm smile.
Hearing that soft voice helped me regain my focus.
I was finally able to feel Dark Mist's relaxing aura again.
Mira stood up from her seat and grinned at me in amusement.
"There she goes again, talking to herself like a lonely little kid. Sad Sioku really needs to find something else to do with her pathetic life," she blurted out.
As much as I wanted to say something back, I couldn't because Julie was right beside me.
Instead of reacting, I decided to ignore Mira in order to keep myself safe.
"I will not leave your side Sioku," Dark Mist whispered.
I put up a brave face before I watched the short introduction video.
Dark Mist sensed the pressure building up inside me as I typed out a list of words displayed on the screen.
I heard a sound after typing each word correctly.
Hearing the final sound caused me to shake uncontrollably.
"Calm down Sioku, it's all right. Just look at me whenever you need to," he said soothingly.
Dark Mist's reassurance soothed me in no time at all.
I stared at him while listening to the typing tutorial.
This situation would have been a whole lot worse if I hadn't met Dark Mist.
Having him around was like bringing Pegasus to school.
Dark Mist observed as I completed each typing lesson.
I stopped at lesson 15 by the time class was over.
Breathing a sigh of relief, I gladly logged out of that dreaded program.
"You look relieved to be off of that machine," said Dark Mist.
I nodded my head in agreement.
I then stood up to stretch my legs.
Dark Mist looked at me and asked curiously. "How did you do on those typing lessons?"
"I got perfect accuracy on every one of them," I answered proudly.
He gave me an approving smile in response.
The teacher dismissed us as soon as the bell rang.
Duel period was next, so that was a breath of fresh air.
Mira looked at me and said. "See you around, Sad Sioku."
She then walked out the door.
I shrugged it off by letting my mind wander off to a happier place.
After exiting the classroom, Dark Mist and I quickly headed over to the dueling arena.
I found my friends waiting at the spot where we encountered Shark.
"Sioku's here," cheered Bronk.
"Oh hi Sioku," Tori greeted.
"Hey people," I replied while taking a seat on the bench beside Yuma.
Dark Mist silently hovered behind me.
I lowered my head and sighed in exhaustion.
Bronk gave me a concerned look and said. "You don't seem very energetic anymore Sioku. What's the matter?"
I lifted my head to look up at him.
"I don't like computer class right now," I answered sadly.
Yuma put a hand on my shoulder and asked calmly. "Why not Sioku? What happened in there?"
I was almost hesitant to explain my situation.
"First, I had to revisit Type to Learn. That program always scares the heck out of me! Then Julie made fun of me for being afraid. Mira joined in and also insulted me," I answered angrily.
Tori and Bronk stared at me with looks of shock on their faces.
"That doesn't sound good," replied Tori.
"That woman really annoys me," continued Bronk.
I suddenly felt my chest tighten up.
My heart pounded rapidly as I became more anxious.
Yuma pulled me into a comforting embrace and said gently. "That must have been horrible Sioku. I really wish I was there for you. Are you all right?"
There was no answer from me.
I shivered as that female robotic voice echoed loudly in my head.
"Why am I still in computer class? I thought it was over for now! No, this can't be happening!" I said frantically.
My breathing grew heavy as I grabbed onto Yuma's shoulders.
Yuma tightened his hold on me and said smoothly. "Hey, Sioku! Computer class is over now. You're at the dueling arena with your friends."
"We are all right here with you. Stay with us Sioku," whispered Dark Mist from behind me.
I glanced up at him in response.
"Yuma and I are about to have a duel," said Bronk cheerfully.
"Not yet Bronk, I need her to calm down first. This could take a while," Yuma replied.
I listened to Yuma's voice in order to try and block out my flashback about Type to Learn.
Bronk slowly walked until he was standing right in front of Yuma and me.
He reached his hand out to me and said calmly. "I'm here for you too Sioku. Are you all right?"
Startled by Bronk's touch, I let out a nervous yelp.
Whimpers escaped me as I started to twitch.
I then lowered my head in fear.
Yuma gave him a stern look and shouted. "Be careful Bronk! You scared her!"
Bronk's concerned expression turned into one of remorse.
"I didn't mean to," Bronk replied before he backed up.
"Come over here Bronk," urged Tori.
He reluctantly joined Tori on the other side.
The two friends just stared at each other in confusion.
"It's okay Sioku," Yuma said softly.
He gently rubbed my back while whispering reassurances to me.
Dark Mist stayed behind me to observe Yuma.
"Friends comfort one another whenever they are troubled," he said to himself.
I started to calm down after five minutes had passed.
My heart rate slowly returned to normal.
"Yuma, thank you for helping me. I feel much better now," I said in relief.
"You're welcome Sioku," he replied before he gave me a hug.
Yuma released me once I was able to relax.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to keep you guys from dueling," I said with a slight blush.
Bronk smiled and patted my shoulder.
"It's no problem, our friend's safety comes first," he replied.
"My buddy is right," Yuma added.
I quietly sat down on the bench beside tori.
Dark Mist hovered directly behind me.
I turned to Dark Mist and said with a worried expression. "I'm sorry for making you worry a few minutes ago. I honestly didn't mean to scare you."
"Sioku, you have nothing to apologize for. I just want to keep you safe," he replied smoothly.
I smiled warmly at him and added. "Oh Dark Mist, you're one of the best friends I could ever ask for."
"Good luck to both of you," Tori said to the boys.
I gave them a thumbs up in agreement.
"This will be great! I've never seen a real duel up close before!" hollered Dark Mist.
I giggled at the high pitch in his voice.
"There's a first time for everything," I replied.
My heart skipped a beat as soon as I saw the boys pull out their duel gazers along with a deck of cards.
Yuma confidently walked up to the field and called out. "Duel disc, go! Duel gazer, let's roll!"
The A R world activated as soon as Yuma and Bronk powered up their duel gazers.
"Augmented Reality vision link established," said a female robotic voice.
I loved this voice since it didn't sound like Type to Learn.
It actually sounded very peaceful to me.
Dark Mist's eyes grew wide with excitement when he saw the AR world come to life.
"This is my first time seeing a dueling field! It's truly a wonderful sight!" he exclaimed with joy.
A spark of hyperactivity lit up in my mind as I heard him raise his voice again.
There was a look of child-like innocence in his face.
"You're so cute Dark Mist," I complemented before I giggled.
I laughed even harder as he blushed at my complement.
Yuma and Bronk stood on opposite sides of the field.
"Let's duel!" they called out in unison.
They placed a deck of cards into a slot on their duel discs.
Yuma drew the first card from his deck and said. "All right Bronk, I draw! First, I'll summon Gagaga Magician. Then I'll lay down a face down and call it a turn."
Yuma set a card face down in one of the slots.
"Wow, Yuma's monster is awesome!" I shouted as I watched it take its place on the field.
Bronk drew a card from his deck and replied. "I'll start off by summoning Eye Iron to the field! I'm also laying down a face down."
He set a card face down in a slot as well.
"Bronk's monster looks cool too," I said to Dark Mist.
Dark Mist and I watched the duel with complete concentration.
It was the first time I had seen their monsters in action.
However, seeing my friends get attacked by each other's monsters was hard for me to watch.
The bell rang in the middle of their duel.
"It sounds like we'll have to duel again tomorrow," said Yuma.
"Yeah, I was really looking forward to winning," replied Bronk.
"You wish," Yuma added playfully.
I laughed out loud at their friendly rivalry.
"I wanted to see who won as well," I groaned.
Yuma and I said good bye to Bronk and Tori before we walked back to the train station.
I turned to Dark Mist who seemed to be lost in thought.
"Hey Dark Mist, how was your first day of school with me?" I asked curiously.
"It was quite enjoyable," he answered.
I giggled at the happiness in his voice.
He reminded me of my little sister.
"I usually don't have to worry about Julie when the school day ends," I said with a relieved smile.
"That's good Sioku, you could use a break from her," Dark Mist replied.
"You could say that again," I added.
Dark Mist looked at me as a thought crossed his mind.
"Sioku, what was that machine you were using in class?" he asked curiously.
"That machine is called a computer. There are many different types of computers. A few activities that humans like to do on the computer include watching videos, looking up information, playing games, and storing files," I explained.
"I see," he replied thoughtfully.
I pointed to the train that was stopped at the platform and said. "This train will take you and me home Dark Mist."
"I'm looking forward to going home with you Sioku," Dark Mist replied.
After stepping onto the train, Yuma and I took a seat directly behind the driver.
Dark Mist silently hovered in front of me.
Yuma looked at me and said with a worried expression. "Sioku, I'm sorry you had a flashback during duel period."
"It's not your fault Yuma. I have flashbacks all the time. Besides, Julie causes most of them," I replied.
He wrapped his arms around me and continued gently. "You wouldn't have to suffer anymore if I could help you prevent that from happening."
"You're so sweet Yuma," I complemented with a smile.
Dark Mist listened carefully to our conversation.
Yuma ruffled my hair before he released me.
Yuma and I used the train ride to relax after the hard day we had at school.
A million thoughts raced through my mind at once.
I smiled lovingly at Dark Mist who was relaxing in front of me with his eyes closed.
"Thank you for entering my life Dark Mist. We're going to be best friends forever," I whispered passionately.
Seeing Dark Mist look so peaceful gave me a warm feeling in my heart.
I immediately pictured Pegasus laying beside him.
He was already the love of my life.
I felt as if I was bringing home a new puppy.
Protecting Dark Mist from Don Thousand may not be easy, but staying by his side will definitely be worth it.
The train pulled up to the next platform a half hour later.
"Let's go Dark Mist," I said happily.
Dark Mist floated after me as I stepped off the train with Yuma and Lynn.
I gave Yuma a hug before crossing the street with Lynn.
Dark Mist looked around as we walked.
Lynn looked at me concerned and said. "Sioku, you're very quiet today. Did something happen at school?"
"I had a major flashback during duel period," I answered.
Dark Mist gave me a look of reassurance.
"I'm sorry," Lynn replied sympathetically.
Yuma's duel with Bronk played in my mind.
I breathed a sigh of relief as soon as we approached our doorstep.
"Welcome home Dark Mist," I said softly.
My celestial friend grinned at me in return.
Lynn gave me a funny look and asked. "Who are you talking to?"
Feeling embarrassed, I quickly searched for an acceptable answer.
"I'm repeating a line from my favorite movie," I answered while blushing.
Dark Mist chuckled at the sight of my red cheeks.
I felt my stomach tie up in knots.
"Oh okay," Lynn replied.
"That was too close," I thought.
"No need to worry," said Dark Mist telepathically.
I smiled at him and breathed a sigh of relief.
Lynn and I heard the sound of Pegasus' whimpering from inside the house.