DGG: Hello, lovely readers! I'm back with a new oneshot. It is finally time for Yoko to suggest the one thing that will lead Yuya down the path of becoming a great dueltainer! Because we all know the rest is history. Enjoy!
"Good morning, Yuya," Yoko greeted as her six-year-old rushed to his spot at the kitchen table.
"Morning, Mommy!" he smiled. "I'm hungry!"
"I gathered that," she smiled back as she placed a heaping pile of pancakes in front of the boy.
Yuya eyed the fluffy breakfast food as though he were looking at the most beautiful thing in the entire world. He ogled the stack as the heat from the pancakes melted the butter on top, allowing it to mix with the thick, golden syrup that was dripping down the sides of the pancakes in succulent, sweet tendrils; a line of drool began to trickle from the boy's mouth.
"Yuya," Yoko shook her head as she wiped his mouth with a towel, causing the boy to whimper in protest, "eat."
The boy was just about to dig in when he suddenly looked to his right at the empty chair beside him. He looked back up at his mother with a frown.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"I thought Daddy would be here."
"I never said that," she shook her head.
"Yeah-huh! You said that Daddy would be back today!"
"I know I said that, but I didn't say he'd be back in time for breakfast."
"Oh," Yuya drooped like a thirsty flower.
"You'll get to see him tonight, Yuya," Yoko tickled under the boy's chin in order to make him giggle. "In fact, I thought that maybe…"
"Maybe what?" Yuya cocked his head after his mother trailed off.
"I thought that maybe you were finally old enough to truly appreciate your dad's duels," she smiled.
"Huh?" Yuya blinked his crimson eyes.
Yoko placed her hands on her hips as she raised a facetious eyebrow.
"Don't tell me that after all this time of pestering me that you suddenly don't want to see your dad duel in person."
Yuya's face immediately lit up like a Christmas tree.
"Really!"
"Mhm," she nodded.
"We're gonna go see Daddy duel!"
"Yeah. He has one last duel before he can come home tonight and that duel is a home duel for him over at the Stadium. So what do you say, son? Do you want to see him duel?"
"Yes! Yes! Yes!" Yuya sprang out of his chair and ran for the door.
"Hold on a minute, mister. Where are you going?"
"Come on, Mommy! We gotta go! We don't wanna miss it!" Yuya jumped up and down.
The woman chuckled.
"His duel isn't until later, Yuya."
"But we gotta go!"
"Not quite yet we don't. So how about you come back to the table and eat your pancakes, hm?"
"But, Mom!" he whined.
"We have plenty of time, Yuya. Now come here and eat."
The boy's shoulders slumped at her stern yet gentle words as he trudged back to the table and sat down.
"Yuya," Yoko ruffled his hair, throwing the goggles he always kept perched on his head askew in the process, "we're not going to miss a single second of your dad's duel. I promise. I know you're excited, but we still have a few hours before it starts. Now eat your food before it gets cold."
"You promise?"
"Yes," she fixed his goggles for him with a smile. "I would never lie to you, son. Especially about something as important as getting to see your dad duel."
A grin crept onto Yuya's face again.
"Can I call Yuzu and tell her?" he bounced in his seat.
"After you finish your breakfast," she motioned toward his plate.
"Okay, Mommy!" Yuya chirped. "I can't wait to see Daddy duel! Have you ever seen him duel, Mommy?"
"Mhm. I have," she nodded with a smile. "You're in for a real treat, Yuya."
"I can't wait! I can't wait! I can't wait!" Yuya sang as he kicked his feet under the table.
Yoko smiled as she gave Yuya's shoulders a squeeze.
"Eat, Yuya."
"I can't wait! I can't wait!" the boy continued to sing between bites.
Yoko's smile grew as her son continued his chant. Yuya was incredibly proud of his father already, and she just knew that once Yuya actually saw his father in a duel, that pride would grow. She understood Yuya's excitement – she was excited as well. She just knew that after this night, Yuya's life would change forever.