When Judai got home, he unpacked a few more blankets from his bag and set them in the corner of his room. He pulled out his laptop and lowered himself to the ground. If there was one thing he was sure of, it was that his money was running out, and he needed to find a place to gamble. Be it a bar with a pool table, dueling competition, or casino; he needed something.

"Lucky's Bar," Judai tasted the name on his tongue. "It'll do."

He saved the destination and began looking for places where he could clean in exchange to crash. Although he was pretty comfortable with most living situations, he realized he couldn't stay put in an empty house…wasting away.

"Ren's diner, okay," he pinned it.

Judai stayed like that for an hour, looking for places that would take him in exchange for some type of work. He decided he would stay in Domino for at least a month to save up money before leaving again. That's how he made ends meet in Europe, so that's what he would do here too.

At around 7pm, a honking noise erupted from outside Judai's house. The brunette raised an eyebrow in confusion, descending the stairs and looking out the window. A tiny beetle Volkswagen was in his driveway, but he couldn't make out who was in the driver's seat. He made his way out the door.

Suddenly, the car engine turned off and the car door opened. Judai nearly palmed his forehead once he realized who it was.

"I should have known it was you," Judai smiled.

"Who else knows how to bother you like your younger brother?" Sho smirked. "Damn it, Judai!" He ran up to him and embraced him in a huge hug. Judai returned the hug lovingly, wrapping his arms around his waist. "I have so much to scold you about," Sho whined.

"I'm sure you do," Judai closed his eyes, enjoying his friend's presence.

"But I'll do that later," he assured, standing back to look at him. "Right now I just want to spend time with you."

Judai scratched the back of his neck. "I'd invite you inside, but it's empty."

"Empty? How empty?"

"Really empty."

"Oh…well, that's no good! We have to find you a place to live!"

"Don't worry about it, I already have it figured out."

"You do?"

"Yeah, tomorrow morning I start washing dishes at Ren's diner. It's a two week ordeal. If I work, they let me stay in their loft upstairs."

"Oh…well, what about food and money?"

"Benefits include two free meals. Money is something I'm actually supposed to get tonight."

"Really? How?"

Judai began searching Sho with his eyes, particularly his arms.

"Judai?" Sho questioned nervously.

"Sho…how good are you at pool?"

It was 10:30 at night when he got the call.

Manjoume had just gotten out of the shower, ready to call it a night after a long shift at work. Tomorrow was reserved to putting together a slightly new deck for a dueling competition that he would take part in on Saturday. He needed as much rest as he could get to ensure quality performance.

But the phone call had caught him off guard.

"Marufuji Sho?" Manjoume questioned in surprise. He took the call.

"Sho?" Manjoume answered.

"Manjoume!"

"So you don't have the wrong number?"

"Head over to Lucky's bar, right now!"

"Why? What the hell is going on?"

"You're good at games, aren't yah?"

"Of course, but-"

"See yah!" He hung up.

Manjoume wasn't sure what just happened, but he decided to take the challenge.

"Sho, who did you call?" Judai questioned while chugging a bottle of beer.

"You'll see."

"Well, I hope they're good…because based off that game we just had, playing with you wouldn't be that good for my wallet. Sorry man."

"Not offended, Judai," Sho chuckled. "I know my lack of hand eye coordination."

Judai laughed.

"Hey, Judai? Maybe you shouldn't be drinking. You're on a budget, and Lord knows if you'll even win."

"Well, I'm a lot better at pool when I'm buzzed," Judai admitted, finishing his fourth beer. "Besides, if this guy is the slightest bit talented as Emmanuel, I'll be fine."

Sho nodded shakily, watching Judai as he ordered another beer. "Whatever you say, big bro."

About half an hour later, Judai had really loosened up. Sho had one mojito the whole night and refused to drink anymore. Judai was chatting with some people at the bar about his trip to Europe and some of his adventures. Sho listened shyly in the background, feeling unmistakably distanced from the conversation.

"So now I'm running through the back alleys of Stockholm in nothing but my boxers with one sock, clenching my sneakers in my left hand and my money in my right, sprinting away from that hell hole with my bud Zachariah. He was doing better than I was though, at least he had both his socks on."

The guys at the bar began erupting in laughter. Sho faked a chuckle himself, just to feel included.

"Dude! That's fucking intense!" One guy snickered, smacking his glass against the table.

"So you must have won that round?"

"Well, my bud did, but I didn't. Since Zach won, and we were teammates, I technically won too, but the guys we were playing against didn't agree. So we had to make a run for it!"

"Ah man, that's priceless!" Another guy laughed. "Strip poker in Stockholm, sounds like a good time!"

"It is, until you're out on the streets nearly naked clinging all you have to your name," Judai laughed.

Sho winced, cowering back in worry. Based off the way Judai was talking, he could tell something was wrong, but he knew he'd never admit it.

"That sounds like the best part!" The guy snickered.

A vibration went off in Sho's pocket, signaling him to take out his phone and check out his messages.

I'm here.

"Judai!" Sho elbowed his friend. "Your pool partner is here."

"Great!" Judai cheered. "Show him to me!"

Sho quickly left and ran towards the door to meet Manjoume outside.

Eventually he could see his outlines from afar, stepping out of a black corvette. He was dressed in dark colors, so dark that he looked like a shadow until he had finally reached the lights that illuminated from the bar.

"Manjoume," Sho greeted, "It's nice to see you."

"Yeah," Manjoume raced his fingers through his luscious hair. "So, why am I here?"

"There's someone inside who needs your help."

Sho left it at that, turning away and heading back into the bar. Manjoume's eyes widened at the gesture, quickly following him into the crowded building.

"Wait, let me get this straight," Manjoume reckoned, "You called me after not seeing or hearing from me in six months, because some drunk in a bar needs my help?"

"Not just any drunk," Sho hollered, competing with the noise in the bar. "This drunk," Sho finally stopped, elbowing Judai in the side.

Manjoume could feel his jaw drop at the sight of Judai's brown, spiky hair. He quickly had to bring it back to its normal position before Judai could turn around.

And when he did, he had to suppress a shiver.

"Manjoume!" Judai shouted in surprise. He quickly pulled Manjoume for a hug, squeezing him to a pulp.

"Damn it, Judai!" Manjoume yelped, startled by the gesture. "What the fuck are you doing in Domino?"

"You're my partner? This is awesome!" Judai grinned happily. "Let's get another beer to celebrate!"

"Judai, that is enough beer for you!" Sho intervened.

"You're right, Sho," Judai lowered his hand to pat Sho's head. "I need something stronger. How 'bout a rum and coke? Double the shot!"

"Judai! You can't afford that!" Sho yanked at his shirt.

"This one is on the house," the bartender stepped in, "for my best customer."

"Look at that Sho!" Judai gleefully hummed. "I get a free drink!" He pulled Sho into a loving embrace.

Manjoume stared at Judai in utter shock. He looked so different. He definitely had grown since their last encounter, but even just seeing him as a drunkard was enough to throw Manjoume off for the night.

Manjoume pulled Sho to the side. "What the fuck is going on?"

"Judai needs a pool partner."

"Why?!"

"Because he's utterly broke. He has 100 euros on him from being in Europe, and he's trying to double or nothing."

"Are you fucking serious?!"

"Yes! He told me his whole plan before getting drunk. He starts off with one round, than challenges another pair for a second. He plays at least five rounds a night until he wins about 3k!"

"What in the fuck? Who's going to throw down that much money for a fucking pool game?!"

"Drunk people!" Sho screeched, getting frustrated at the thought. "He purposely comes in here and gets everyone drunk so he can win all their money!"

"Fuck!" Manjoume turned, biting his tongue in realization. "I don't have any money to bet, Sho! Besides, when you said games, I kinda thought you meant dueling!"

"He doesn't want your money," Sho explained. "He just wants a good partner. If you win all the rounds, he said he'd throw you a couple hundred bucks as thanks, but you're not responsible for a single cent if you lose."

"Well that doesn't help!" Manjoume spat. "What if I'm the one who makes him lose?"

"Manjoumeeee!" Judai called, stumbling over to him and wrapping an arm around his shoulder. "Did I tell you that you look amazing? You're just as hot as I remember yah!"

"Oh fuck me," Manjoume whined, realizing how bad the situation was.

"Ah man, I wish I could," Judai stumbled for balance, grabbing onto Manjoume's shoulder, "But we got business to take care of." Judai raised his glass as an omen. "Who wants to be our first competitors?"

A bunch of the drunkards rose up their cups to offer. Judai staggered over to one of them, giving him a friendly slap on the shoulder, as if picking his prey.

"Let the games begin!"

"Sho, get his other shoulder," Manjoume ordered.

"But he keeps dropping his stuff!"

"We can get that later, right now I need help carrying him."

Manjoume had anchored his arm under Judai's shoulder as a way to prop him up and lead him inside. Sho quickly respected the order and picked up the slack by propping his arm under Judai's right shoulder.

"I can't fucking believe this," Manjoume spat, fumbling with his keys to open the door to his apartment.

Judai's eye lids were half closed, his whole body being pulled down by gravity with no will or strength to go against it. His head was faced towards the ground as his friends lead him inside.

"Oh—my-God."

"What is it, Judai?" Sho asked.

Judai remained silent for a moment, keeping his head low. "This is a beautiful carpet!"

"Thanks," Manjoume muttered, throwing Judai on the couch.

"Wait a second," Judai realized, using his index finger and thumb to pet his chin. "This isn't my house."

"No shit Sherlock, what made you crack the case?" Manjoume sassed.

"Manjoume-," Sho tried to stop him.

"Well, my house doesn't have a couch," Judai responded, laying down on his side. "Or a tv. Or a table. Or anything, really."

"What the fuck are you talking about?"

"Manjoume, Judai's house is empty," Sho whispered.

"What?" He matched his tone.

"You guys don't needa be quiet 'bout it or anything like that," Judai slurred. "I'm right here, I know the situaaaation," he drew out the word.

"When he came home yesterday, he came home to an empty house. His parents moved. He doesn't know where they are. He doesn't have much."

"Oh," Manjoume sighed. "I get it."

Manjoume disappeared for a moment, grabbing a few blankets to throw next to Judai incase he got cold. "Do you want some water, Sho?"

"No, I better get going," he assured. "Thanks for taking him in. I would have if I didn't live with my parents. I wouldn't have known how to explain this."

"Not a problem, see yah around."

"Thanks," Sho forced a smile. He looked down at Judai, debating if he wanted to say goodbye, but Judai was clearly gone. With that, Sho left the apartment.

"Judai, you need to drink some water before you pass out on me," Manjoume instructed, heading to the kitchen to pour a glass.

"Nah, I think I'm okay," Judai declined.

"Yeah, sure," he nodded his head distastefully. Once the cup was full, he returned to Judai and offered it to him. "Take it."

"No."

"Fuck, Judai. Take the glass."

"I don't want it," he whined.

"Do I need to fucking put this at your mouth and feed it to you?"

Judai grunted like a child, turning away.

"Fine, but you're gunna have a hell of a hangover tomorrow and it won't be my fault," Manjoume rolled his eyes, placing the water on the coffee table.

"Mhmm," Judai hummed.

Manjoume looked down at him, studying his appearance. His hair was frizzed out and his face looked pale. He had a huge stain of beer on his shirt that some drunk guy had thrown at him earlier in the night. Manjoume could smell it from far away. His skinny jeans were tightly wrapped around his legs. He could see the red line on his skin where his belt was cutting off his circulation.

A part of Manjoume wanted to just leave Judai on the couch and only check back on him in the morning, but he knew that would be a dick move.

"Fuck it," he swore. "I'm taking care of you, and you're gunna deal with it."

Judai mumbled in response. Manjoume sat the brunette up, stripping off his smelly shirt and tossing it on the floor. He gaped at the sight of Judai's muscular, tan body. Once he realized he was staring for too long, he quickly got up and went to his room to look for some night wear. He found a large shirt from one of the duel competitions he attended. They ran out of medium sizes for the contestants, so Manjoume had to deal with an extra-large. He grabbed some spare sweatpants and went back towards the couch.

Judai was leaning in the same position Manjoume had left him in. He raised Judai's arms and slid the shirt onto his chest. He then took a huge gulp of air, and embarrassingly unbuckled Judai's belt, followed by stripping off his jeans. His cheeks flushed red at the sight of Judai's winged kuriboh boxers.

"Hey Manjoume."

Manjoume straightened up in an instant, biting his tongue in embarrassment. Fuck.

"I'll have that water now," he randomly mentioned.

Manjoume gulped. "Okay." He finished putting his sweatpants on Judai, quickly getting off him and grabbing the water to offer him.

"Aren't you gunna feed it to me?"

Manjoume rolled his eyes in amusement, bringing the cup to his lips. Judai took a large sip.

"Thanks."

Manjoume nodded, putting the glass back on the table.

"Anything else you need?"

"Thank you….for everything," Judai yawned.

Manjoume smiled, making way to his room.

"Especially for being the best partner since Emmanuel," Judai randomly threw out.

"Yeah, no problem."

Manjoume lazily changed his attire, heading to his bathroom to brush his teeth and run a comb through his hair. Not long after, he crawled into his bed and turned out the lights.

Memories of the night played back in his head like a movie. It was an unreal night, but it had turned out to be quite the adventure.

Different, strange, and unexpected, and yet, it was the most fun Manjoume had in a long, long time.