Nakamashipping (Anzu x Yugi x Jonouchi x Honda)
That first day of high school seemed so, so far away, but so, so close.
A boy sat in the corner of the classroom, by the windows, hands tilting his hand held game towards the light to catch the graphics more clearly. He was the only one in the classroom. There was laughter and scuffling in the halls. He was the only one fifteen minutes early, but he looked like he should have been at the elementary school across the street, not in a high school classroom.
A few minutes later, a gaggle of girls filtered in through the sliding doors, bringing the light chime of their laughter in from the hallway, making a breach between the world of the quiet classroom and the one of bustling social activity. The boy in the corner glanced up from under his golden bangs. He perked up almost instantly, upon catching a glimpse of the girl with the brown bob in the center of the group.
But he failed to catch her eye, and she and her friends were already sitting in the middle section of the class, still chattering. The object of his attention sat down with a natural grace, like a ballerina, and began to open her book bag, laughing a joke someone had made. The boy in the corner kept sending furtive glances, but her eyes only flickered to him for a moment, and then, she only gave him a passing wave and smile before returning to her conversation. The boy slumped a little bit, but the look in his eyes said that he was more than used to this. He began to fiddle with his game again.
But he stowed it quickly away as the rest of his class flooded in, a tsunami of noise and commotion, followed by the teacher, who barked at everyone to sit down and shut up, and started to read the attendance while a low murmur of still excited voices continued. When the teacher finished roll call, the sliding doors cracked open again. The young-looking boy glanced up with surprise from the doodle he had been doing on his notebook.
A pair of boys slouched into the room – one with bleached blond hair and the clear marks of a forming black eye, the other with rebelliously styled spiky hair and a scratch across his cheek, a bandage wrapped around his hand.
The teacher glared at both of them. The girl with the bob looked disapproving, and she nodded in self-satisfied agreement when one of her friends leaned over to whisper something.
The blond boy stared into the middle distance while the teacher lectured them about being late. The boy with spiky hair looked somewhat apologetic, and kept sending half-glares in the blond boy's direction.
There were only two seats left by then one in the middle of the last row, and one right next to the young-looking boy.
The blond boy sat next to him. The other boy looked nervously across.
"H-hello," he offered quietly.
His neighbor, slouched back in his chair, glanced across at him. His eyes narrowed slightly, and he looked like he might snarl. But then he looked away, and shared a glare with his spiky haired friend who had turned around in his chair to mouth something about 'not saving your stupid ass again.'
It was funny, later, to remember.
How distant they had been.
If only they had known what would happen only months later.
It was unreal that it was the last day of high school. It was strange to stand in the classroom and remember how it had started: there had been no fanfare, no spark, barely even the will to look at each other.
Yugi sat in the corner of the classroom, staring out into the school yard. He could see down below, the freshman chattering in clumps, making plans for the summer, the juniors lugging extra large bags due to exams they would be studying for, and the seniors celebrating, swinging bags and blazers into the air as they rushed for the gates for the last time.
It was very much like that long ago first day. He was the only one the classroom.
But not for long.
"Yugi!"
Jonouchi exploded into the room, with his goofy grin, and grabbed his friend in a headlock.
"Yugi! What're you doing, being all gloomy up here? C'mon, we're gonna go celebrate – Anzu said she'll take us for karaoke!"
"I said no such thing!" Anzu said, who had appeared close on Jonouchi's heels.
"You totally did," Honda said, grinning.
"I suggested that we go for karaoke! But I'm not paying for all of you, butt-head," Anzu said, punching Honda lightly on the shoulder.
Yugi wriggled out of Jonouchi's grip, laughing.
"Well, if Anzu's paying..." he said mischievously.
"Not you, too, Yugi!" Anzu said, sighing in mock exasperation.
And then...there was the briefest pause in their conversation. The pause was enough to let in what all of them were trying to avoid: reality.
Yugi glanced down into the yard again. At the gate. He looked around at the classroom, and stared at the door.
"This is the last time...that we're going to walk out of here," he said.
There. It had been said – the thing they were all thinking.
The grins and laughter faded. All four of them stared out through the windows.
"It's been a crazy three years, huh?" Honda said.
"You're telling me," Jonouchi said. "Never thought I'd say this...but I'm gonna miss this old place. Couldn't wait to get out, before."
Yugi nodded.
"But..." Anzu said. "I'd hate to do it over again...you know?"
They all looked at her. She smiled slightly, but there were tears forming in her eyes.
"Because...at the beginning...you know...we...we weren't friends," she said. "I...I'd never want to do that again."
And now the tears were rolling down her cheeks without stopping, her shoulders shaking, a slight hiccup interrupting her voice.
Three years ago, it would have shocked the world that Jonouchi was the first one to react, the first one to put his arm around Anzu's shoulders and let her cry.
But three years had done a lot. And Jonouchi was no longer the person he was before.
"It's gonna be okay," he said, staring off at nothing. "It's gonna be okay."
"I – I just –" Anzu sobbed. "This is – this is it! And I'm – I'm going to America – and – and you're – all going to other places – and – when are we ever...ever..."
Honda joined the hug next. Finally, Yugi got up from his chair and put his arms around all three of them. They stood, silently, in the quiet classroom with the sunset filtering through and turning the world orange, together. Yugi felt his eyes prickling, and even Honda and Jonouchi looked teary. Actually, Jonouchi was staring to bawl almost as hard as Anzu.
The tears faded – but slowly.
They stood for another moment. Anzu sniffled. Then she looked up at Yugi and smiled tearfully.
"My goodness, Yugi," she said. "When on earth did you get so tall? You're almost Jonouchi's height."
"Yeah, when did that happen?" Jonouchi said, looking miffed.
"Did you use your magical dueling powers?" Honda said.
"Yep," Yugi said, grinning.
And then they were all crying again – but this time, it didn't last as long.
"I'm so glad I met all of you," Anzu said.
"I don't know we're I'd be without you guys," Honda said.
"I know where I'd be – in jail," Jonouchi said. "Or laying dead in some alley."
"I never would have survived without you guys," Yugi said.
They drew apart. But they still held each other's hands, standing in a circle. Without speaking, one by one, they each put their hands in the middle. For a moment, each of them thought they could see the smiley face, drawn across each of their palms.
A silent moment passed.
"Okay," Yugi said softly. "Ready to go?"
"Yeah."
"Uh-huh."
"Mm."
The four friends left the classroom for the last time. They walked the yard for the last time. They did not look back at the classroom where once, three years ago, they had been almost worse than enemies. They did not look back at the time when they had been separate.
And when they walked through the school gate for the last time, they were holding hands.
A/N: THE FEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELS! T_T Next is Naiveshipping (Ryo x Yugi x Anzu).
