The last bell of Goha Seventh Elementary rang out, and Luke could finally stop pretending to pay attention as he read through the new cards he had hidden under his desk. They would make great additions to his deck! He considered every card carefully, only the best would do for the future King of Duels after all.

Though he wasn't the only one vying for that position, there were two notable opponents. The first was Roa Kirishima, his friend Romin's cousin and a duplicitous vocalist who wasn't above using his own family to accomplish his own ends. The other was Yuga.

Yuga. As Luke walked out of class, he ignored the other pupils and acted as if he was the only one in the world and that the hallways belonged to him. At least, that's what most would assume, and most of the time they would be correct. Right now though, he ignored everybody else for a different, much less egotistical reason.

His heart rushed in his chest, beating faster than Romin's guitar solos and with more gusto than Gakuto's duelling.

Yuga. Why did he have to want to be the king of duels too? Wasn't it good enough being the genius who invented Rush Duels, the one who everybody loved and praised? Though things had been too hectic for a while to think of such things. He, Yuga, Romin and Gakuto had needed to pump the brakes and stop Rush Duels from being eradicated, first by Neil and then by Asana…

Luke didn't like her very much, but for the life of him, he couldn't suss out why! She was a great duellist, a powerful duellist who was passionate and dedicated, everything he was! And she used wyrms, which were just dragons by a different name, so obviously she had great taste. And when they had gotten to know her, she was perfectly nice.

So why didn't he like her!?

"Rah!" He lashed out and kicked the wall next to him. He regretted it immediately, a tremor rippling through his body as the pain registered in his toes. He grabbed his foot and hopped on the spot. "Ow! Ow! Ow!" He could hear the giggling of his classmates, who he glared at with uncharacteristic fury before storming off in a huff.

Grumbling to himself, he realised he needed some fresh air. Though he didn't feel like going home, he wanted to find Yuga and duel him again. It was the only thing that would improve his mood.

He was just about to reach the elevator before he heard someone call his name.

"Luke?"

It was Romin, her guitar case on her back and her purple hair bouncing as she walked. Like usual.

"Oh, Romin. Where are you going?" He asked, ready to challenge her if he couldn't find Yuga. She had just beaten him recently, so if there was ever a time to see who was top in their group, it was now.

"To the roof." She sighed, pocketing her phone. "Gakuto found Yuga asleep up there. Again." She shrugged and pressed the button for the elevator. "How about you?"

"The roof too." He grinned, though the euphoria of realising Yuga was on the roof soon dissipated when he registered that his rival was asleep. He'd be in no state to duel now!

They went up to the roof in silence, Romin having taken out her phone again to text Roa. Not that she disclosed that, Luke had peeked over her shoulder. He was half-tempted to use his powers to short-circuit it, his and Romin's old grudge riling under his skin.

But she was a friend through and through, she'd proven it beyond a shadow of a doubt; he knew he was just being overly emotional.

The doors opened and immediately he could see Gakuto at the roof table, meticulously packing away Yuga's toolkit as the shorter boy lay passed out.

"He-" He was cut off by Gakuto waving wildly before putting a finger over his lips.

Yuga didn't stir.

Luke felt Romin tap him on the shoulder. He looked at her. She was holding up her phone, showing a message from Gakuto.

"Let Yuga sleep, he's been getting none for the last few days, staying up to all hours perfecting his roads. I'll take his toolkit, you can take Kaizo and Luke will take Yuga back to his lab.

- Gakuto Sogetsu."

Luke looked back over to Gakuto, who had finished packing away the toolkit. Romin carefully walked up to the table and gingerly picked up Kaizo.

"I'm glad he's turned off…" She whispered, visibly cringing as she held the modified drone.

Luke approached the trio, his palms going clammy as he realised his task. He was going to have to carry Yuga. As in, have him close against him, his fluffy hair tickling him, his little breaths making his chest rise and fall as he dreamt of rush duels and of his roads.

A sliver of a smile tugged on Luke's lips as he saw his friend's sleeping face. He looked so peaceful. Luke knew a thing or two about internalising worry and stress, and he knew that Yuga had been doing much the same. As fun as it'd been duelling Neil and Asana, the prospect of having his greatest road be erased not once, but twice, had weighed on him. Even if he didn't say it, Luke could tell. Yuga wasn't as subtle as he thought and Luke wasn't as oblivious either. He noticed things the others tended not to.

Gakuto helped ease Yuga onto Luke's back by gently rotating him on the stool and letting him fall onto his back. Luke made sure his shortest friend was secure, an arm under each of his legs and his chin resting on the crook of Luke's neck.

He cursed how red he went. He could feel Yuga's breath on his cheek. It made his heart rush all over again!

"Is he too heavy?" Gakuto asked in a low whisper, thinking that Luke was struggling to carry Yuga.

"No, I can carry anyone!" He puffed out his chest as much as he could without making Yuga fall off his back. Gakuto nodded and off the three of them went.

They took the scenic route to Yuga's lab, avoiding the busy roads and paths so they wouldn't wake their friend up. Soon the plot of land that, for all they knew, was Yuga's home came into view. Gakuto set the toolkit down so he could root through the sleeping boy's backpack for his key. He opened the door and they filed in.

Romin and Gakuto set their loads down where they could find space before going to help Luke lie Yuga down on the small cot he had shoved in a corner. He'd slept soundly through the whole journey, only stirring when a car went by.

"Is there a blanket or something?" Romin asked, looking around for a moment.

"I'll find it, you guys can go." Luke said, rubbing his cheek, feeling embarrassed that he was implying he wanted to be alone with Yuga but knew that there was no other way to get those two out. He'd barely held it together on the walk, what with his friend's small, warm body right up against him, able to feel every single breath and the brush of his hair.

"If you're sure." Gakuto said, turning to the door before looking to make sure Luke was certain. He nodded and smiled reassuringly. Romin and Gakuto offered him silent waves and smiles as they left, closing the door slowly behind them.

Luke let out a deep sigh. Finally, they were alone.

He sat on the edge of the cot and wringed his hands in his lap. Part of him hoped that things would end this way, with just him and Yuga alone. They were rarely alone together, usually Romin and Gakuto were with them if not even more people.

Then he realised he still had his shoes on. He quickly slipped them off, not wanting to be rude even if his host was unconscious. It then clicked that Yuga also still had his shoes on. Luke stood, now in his socks, and felt his heart rate quicken, thinking he sat up too quickly and would've stirred the other boy.

He didn't, and he let out a breath of relief. He went to the foot of the cot and kneeled on the mattress. He carefully pulled the laces of Yuga's red and blue shoes so they came undone and then gently slid them off his small, adorable feet.

He shut his eyes tight and bit his lip. He didn't know why he was thinking such things! Since when were Yuga's feet 'adorable' and for how long did he need to know how it felt when his chest rose and fell without knowing it? This was his rival ! Yuga was an obstacle for him to overcome! So why, just why, did everything about him make Luke's chest go all fuzzy and weird? And why now? He hadn't felt like this before he lost to Neil, but after that, after he'd given up his I.D. card for Yuga to get a Maximum, he'd started to feel just slightly different.

It had been barely noticeable at first, just the tiniest jump of his heart when he heard him say hi or when their eyes locked from across class or in the hall. He always gave him the cutest smile; he'd tilt his head to the side and close his eyes as he flashed a toothy grin. Just thinking about it made him hot under the collar.

Luke set both his and Yuga's shoes by the door before going back to the cot. It was small, built for a child their age, but Yuga was small even then so there was a bit more room. Luke couldn't resist. He lay down. His mouth went dry and his palms went clammy again. They were just an inch from being nose-to-nose. He held his breath, wanting to feel Yuga's little exhalations hit his lips.

Luke raised a shaky hand to brush an auburn lock behind his ear. Yuga's cheek felt cool against his palm. He swallowed, his chest drumming. He leaned in closer and closer, worrying that each small movement might wake the other boy up. He closed his eyes, not knowing what to expect. He was just doing what his body was telling him to do.

Yuga's lips were impossibly soft. Luke couldn't help but linger for longer, feeling tension and stress evaporate from his body. All his worries vanished, the lab vanished and the world was just him and Yuga lying on a cloud, knowing only each other and nothing else, needing nothing else.

It all came crashing down when he felt the other boy stir. Luke pulled away and rolled off the cot, landing with a light plop on his hands and knees. His heart pounded like a jackhammer, tears brimming his eyes. Any second now, Yuga was going to look down at him with disgust, tell him to go away and to never talk to him again. How could he not? Luke had just taken something precious from him.

But that didn't happen. Luke just heard the moaning of the bedsprings and a gentle whine from the boy on it. He dared to peek at Yuga again. His chest relaxed when he realised that his friend was still asleep, completely unaware of what had happened.

He stood, knowing that he ought to cut his losses and leave. He'd gotten his answer as to why he thought these odd things about Yuga, and about why he disliked Asana, who Yuga seemed to have an immense mutual respect for.

He liked Yuga. He liked him as more than a friend, more than a rival even. As soon as this thought crossed his mind he couldn't stop the dam from breaking. His lips trembled and his heart tremored. He didn't sob. He couldn't make any noise lest he wake the sleeping boy.

Why? Why did it have to be him ? Yuga was his greatest obstacle, his most worthy challenger. So what if Luke had given up his one chance to be the King of Duels for him, so what if he stood by his side no matter what! So what if Yuga was endlessly optimistic? So what if he was the most joyful, sunny and bright thing in his life.

Why did that have to mean he loved him?

He fell to his knees, his shoulders shaking, a tempest of emotion raging within him. How was he to reconcile this? If he was to realise his dream of becoming the King of Duels, would that mean he'd need to stop Yuga from achieving his dream? The thought of that, of causing Yuga that kind of pain, seemed more unbearable than being a third-rate duellist his entire life.

He sat there for a while, his head resting against the edge of the cot, not wanting to leave but also not wanting to test his luck any further. He wiped his eyes and cheeks dry and stood again. He paced, running his hands through his hair as he tried to figure out what his next move should be.

Luke looked at Yuga when the other boy whined. He seemed to be having trouble settling. The way his legs kicked and his arms writhed, he guessed that he was uncomfortable wearing his clothes. At least, that's what Luke wanted to think, it's what his brain rationalised what was happening so he could justify what he was going to do next.

Thankfully, Yuga was a back-sleeper, which made undoing the belt and zipper of his shorts much easier. Luke licked his lips as he unsnapped the button and drew the zipper down. He slowly moved to straddle Yuga's legs. He then moved his hands under his jacket and tee and just felt the soft rise and fall of his tummy. His jaw went slack, not believing that he was actually doing this.

He knew it wasn't right, that he was violating Yuga's privacy. He wanted to stop, but then that part of his brain chimes in and told him Yuga was uncomfortable sleeping in clothes and that he was doing him a favour. To that effect, he slid his hands under the waistband of Yuga's shorts and ran them around his hips so his fingers touched on the other side, just above the sleeping boy's butt.

He slowly drew them down, shimmying down the cot as he tugged the shorts down Yuga's slim, hairless legs. He stopped breathing after they came off all the way. His face went scarlet upon seeing Yuga's boyish white briefs, a small bulge in the front. He contemplated taking a photo but decided that would be too degenerate. His brain couldn't perform the mental gymnastics necessary to say that would be helping him.

Luke was about to go to Yuga's side to take off the red jacket next, but the other boy turned on his side. This revealed something that made Luke clap his hands over his mouth lest he let out an unmanly whimper. He'd unwittingly tugged down the back of Yuga's briefs almost the entire way. Both of his pert, bubbly cheeks were in full view and it made Luke's whole body go hot.

He felt a tightness down south that he wasn't a stranger to. That same feeling urged him to get closer, to indulge in what it said he was entitled to. He didn't like how it made Yuga out to be his possession, but he also couldn't resist its tempting notions.

He got to his knees and rested his chin on the mattress so Yuga's bare butt was only inches from him. He couldn't stop looking. He took in every perfect detail, the curve of his cheeks, the plush, plump crest and the dark crevice. He reached a hand out and touched it.

It was only a fingertip at first, a metaphorical toe in the water. But it wasn't enough. He palmed Yuga's entire left cheek with his hand, rubbing up and down and massaging it. He even pulled it briefly to the side and caught a glimpse of his pink hole. That sight had been enough to make his breath hitch and make him go still. His free hand had gone down to palm at his boyhood through his trousers. He didn't realise he'd been doing it but when he did he stopped.

He couldn't believe he was taking advantage of Yuga like this, but at the same time he just couldn't stop!

Long after he'd memorised every feeling, every curve and cleft of Yuga's rear, he stood again and gently urged the other boy onto his back again. A mistake in only one aspect. The bulge that had been fronting Yuga's briefs had gotten much bigger, but Luke ignored it lest he go beyond a very definite line.

As quietly as he could, Luke unzipped the jacket. Now came the hard part. He thought about it for a minute and then sat on the cot again. He leaned over and snaked one hand around Yuga's waist and leaned in so he could slide it under his jacket and up his back. When he had his hand on the back of Yuga's neck, them now being almost face to face, he eased Yuga up into a sitting position, keeping his head steady against his shoulder so it wouldn't loll and wake him.

With his free hand Luke managed to manoeuvre Yuga's jacket down his arms, barely managing to pull the sleeves off his wrists without jerking him. But he managed it and lay his friend back down, now in only his socks, briefs, gloves, and white and yellow tee.

Thinking about it, the gloves probably didn't make for good sleepwear. He gently removed them too and left them with the rest of Yuga's clothes folded at the foot of the cot. He then realised he ought to get that blanket Romin had been looking for earlier.

It wasn't far at all, just under the cot. It wasn't much of a quilt, more a light, fluffy baby-blue blanket. He unfurled it and was about to drape it over his friend but couldn't quite bring himself to do it. What more could he possibly want? He'd already seen and touched more than he could justify, so what else could be giving him hesitation?

He knew the answer but was wary to admit it to himself. He sighed and set the blanket down at the end of the cot. Just one look and he'd be satisfied, one look and he'd leave and deal with these feelings any way he could!

He once again straddled Yuga's legs, his hands resting on the sleeping boy's thighs. He gulped, sliding his hands closer and closer to the tented briefs. He let out a deep breath. He pushed Yuga's t-shirt up and hooked his fingers into the waistband of the briefs and lifted. He closed his eyes, knowing that this was wrong. He drew the underwear down anyway, drawing them all the way to Yuga's knees. The sleeping boy still breathed steadily, showing no signs of waking.

Luke's hands went up Yuga's thighs again, his eyes still closed, his trousers extraordinarily tight. His hands rested on the other boy's hips, where his briefs used to be. Swallowing, Luke forced his eyes open and he finally got a look.

It was nothing like his imagination had told him it would be like. Yuga's cock put his fantasies to shame. It was smaller than this own by a tiny bit, bald of course, but hard, uncut and pointing north. He licked his lips, his breath getting heavier as his hand drifted over to Yuga's member.

He nudged it with his thumb. Yuga didn't stir. More daring this time, Luke held the shaft between his thumb and forefinger and slowly stroked it. Yuga moaned in his sleep, arching his back and writhing his hips, a dumb grin on his face. Luke needed to clap a hand over his mouth to keep from letting out a pitched shriek of shock.

Thankfully, Yuga settled. He let go of the shaft and focused his attention on the boy's small, marble-sized balls. Luke gently lifted the left one with a finger before curling his whole finger under the shrivelled sack. He lifted it from between Yuga's thighs. He gently fondled both balls, running his thumb over them and rolling them between his fingers.

Yuga let out more moans and groans, not seeming to be at all distressed. Luke was emboldened! With his free hand he once more stroked Yuga's shaft, drawing the skin back a bit before pushing it back over the head. He stroked faster and faster, drawing shorter and shorter breaths from the boy under him!

Luke bit his lip, wondering if he'd know when-

It turned out he would know, he'd know exactly when it happened as Yuga had squirted a thin string of transparent fluid from his little cock onto his tummy. Luke pulled his trembling hands away, his face crimson. Though Yuga seemed unperturbed. If anything he was sleeping more restfully now.

He extracted himself from on top of Yuga and picked up the closest rag he could find to wipe the mess away. With one last longing look, Luke righted Yuga's clothes and draped the blanket over him. He knew he'd done more than enough, that he had overstepped any number of boundaries, but he just couldn't quite leave yet.

He looked from the door to Yuga, then to the door and then back to Yuga. He chewed on his nails, his heart pounding, his trousers still tight and tented.

"Dammit…" He muttered under his breath before stalking back up to Yuga's bedside. He undid his zipper and pushed his trousers down to his ankles and slipped out of them. He pulled the blanket back and slipped onto the small cot next to his friend, his own cock tenting his blue boxers.

He palmed himself through his underwear, not wanting to make too much of a mess. He took in Yuga's smell and brought to mind his every scent and the feeling of his butt, balls and cock. He ran everything through his mind over and over, continually breathing in his friend's sweet, musky smell. The whole lab smelled of him, so it wasn't hard.

When he pictured the look that had been on Yuga's face when he came, along with his moans, that was all it took for Luke to spill and flood his boxers with his long-awaited climax. His breaths deep and his mind bleary, Luke rested his slightly sticky hand on Yuga's hip and held him close.

A few minutes of basking, that was what he'd do; he'd grant himself that final luxury before putting this whole debacle behind him and hope to whatever God was up there that Yuga never found out. At least, that's what he told himself.

He never got the chance to leave. The last hour had been so emotionally draining for him that, after a moment of resting his head on that pillow, Luke fell asleep too, lightly snoring as his and Yuga's legs tangled and their breaths mingled.

It was the most restful sleep he'd ever had, but only the morning could tell if he'd ever have one again.