We begin at Domino City High School, the very high school where Yugi Muto, Joey Wheeler, Tristan Taylor, Téa Gardner, Mai Valentine, Serenity Wheeler, Duke Devlin, and several others held historic duels. Now, however, we find the next generation of Duel Monsters hopefuls on the scene, including Mikey Wheeler (Joey's nephew), Koji Taylor (Tristan's nephew), Laura Devlin (Duke's niece), and the one boy around whom our new chapter of "Yu-Gi-Oh!" shall center: Kazuki Muto, son of Yugi and Téa Muto. It is Monday morning, meaning it is time for first period and World Geography with Tristan Taylor.
"Yes, my friends," said Tristan as several members of the class groaned, "it is once again time for World Geography." He completed his daily roll call and said, "Is there anyone here whose name I did not call?"
Just then, the door flew open.
"Sorry I'm late, Professor Taylor," said a new female student, "but unless I am deeply mistaken, this is the room for World Geography, isn't it?"
"Y-yes, it is," said Tristan, clearly taken aback by this intrusion. "And you are?"
"Rhodes, Professor," the student replied. "Delilah Rhodes."
"Rhodes… Rhodes…" Tristan muttered, looking through his attendance sheet. "No, I'm sorry, young lady, but I don't know any Delilah Rhodes that's supposed to be in this class."
"Sorry, sir," she said. "I just moved into Domino City yesterday, and I didn't know school had already started… you see, where I'm originally from, school starts two weeks earlier."
"Um… right," said Tristan. "Listen, dear, I'm going to need proof that you are indeed supposed to be in this class."
"Not a problem," said Delilah. "Here's my schedule."
"Yes… yes…" Tristan murmured as he perused it. "Well, I certainly see no problem here. You may take a seat."
"Thank you, my dear Professor Taylor," Delilah said, winking at him.
"Um…" Tristan said looking somewhat insecure, as Delilah chose a seat next to Kazuki. But he recovered quickly and began the daily World Geography lesson.
In the lunch period, Kazuki Muto sat down at his table with Koji Taylor, a good friend of his ever since he stood up to Mikey Wheeler and defeated him in a duel.
"No respect!" Koji was shouting. "No respect whatsoever!"
"S-sorry," said Kazuki, "but what do you mean, 'no respect'?"
"Oh, I don't know," muttered Koji, annoyed. "I've been trying to make some friends around here, but no! All they ever say to me is 'Kazuki this' and 'Kazuki that'! The way they talk about you, it's enough to make somebody sick, namely me!"
"Koji, Koji, Koji!" said Kazuki. "Take it easy, man, will you? I mean, I am the one who took out Mikey Wheeler."
"Yeah, but that was because Mikey pushed Laura out of her chair!" said Koji.
"Didn't I also try to defend you?" Kazuki asked.
Koji didn't answer for about a minute. Then he said, "Yeah, you did."
"So why are you upset?" Kazuki wanted to know.
"Oh, I don't know," Koji said again. "I guess I'm feeling kind of messed up, like I don't have any friends."
"Oh, come on!" Kazuki laughed. "You've got me!"
Again Koji fell silent for a minute. Then he said, "Yeah, that's right. Sorry, man, I guess I sort of forgot."
Kazuki and Koji clapped one another on the back.
"Friends forever?" Kazuki said.
"Friends forever," Koji agreed, and they sat back down, just as Laura took a seat next to Kazuki.
"Hey, Kazuki!" she said, giggling.
"Hey, Laura," said Kazuki, quite taken aback. Just then, Delilah joined them and took the other seat next to Kazuki.
"How do you do, Kazuki-poo?" she asked, also giggling. Koji laughed at the cute rhyme.
"Um… fine, I guess," said Kazuki.
"Oh, hey there, Laura!" said Delilah.
"Hello, Delilah," said Laura unenthusiastically.
"I can't believe I'm sitting next to the Kazuki Muto!" Delilah squealed excitedly. "I am a huge, huge fan of yours, and my father was a big fan of your dad!"
"Are you kidding?" said Koji. "Everybody who knew Yugi Muto was a fan of him! Well, that is, unless you count Seto Kaiba."
"I don't like Kaiba," said Delilah. "He's a creep. And that little brother of his, Mokuba? He's just a smaller creep."
"Yeah, that's what Joey Wheeler thought about the Kaibas as well," Koji observed. "Actually, I'm more of a Pegasus fan myself."
"Yeah, Pegasus is all right," Delilah said. "Ever hear of the Industrial Illusions Conference?"
"Oh, my God! The I.I.C.?" Koji exclaimed. "I follow that all the time! Bandit Keith ROCKS!"
"Yeah, Bandit Keith," said Delilah. "You know, after losing the United States Championship to Pegasus in 2001, I thought he was done for, but he's still got it in him!"
"The Industrial Illusions Conference?" Kazuki asked. "Don't they play in the Pro League?"
"Yeah, they're rivals with the KaibaCorp Conference," Delilah said. "Jaden Yuki's in the K.C.C."
"I like Jaden," said Kazuki.
"Yeah, me too," said Delilah. "He's the only one in the K.C.C. I like. So what about you, Kazuki-poo?" she asked, the dreaminess returning to her voice. "Going to join the Pro League yourself?"
"Gee, I never seriously considered it," said Kazuki.
"You might want to think about it, seeing as you're so good!" said Delilah, giggling again.
"Hey, hey, hey!" said Kazuki. "I've only had two duels and two wins! I wouldn't exactly call that 'good'!"
"Oh don't be silly, Kazuki-poo!" said Delilah. "You'll be great! I wouldn't be surprised if you won a World Championship of your own someday, just like your dad!" Then she checked her watch. "Good lord, I've got to run or I'll be late for practice! See you tomorrow, Kazuki-poo!" she said, laughing.
"Er… yeah… see you tomorrow," said Kazuki uncertainly. Beside him, Laura growled jealously.
"'Kazuki-poo?'" she muttered. "Somebody ought to teach that boyfriend-stealer a thing or two!" And without another word, she stood up and stormed out of the lunchroom. Kazuki looked nonplussed; Koji, however, looked positively shocked, as he dropped his fork on his plate of food, pushed it away, and ate no more.
"Wow," he said.
"That can't be good," said Yugi when Kazuki told him about Delilah and Laura that night. "Everybody knows that when two girls start to fight over the same guy, trouble cannot be far behind."
"Trouble?" asked The Kaz.
"Trouble," Yugi repeated. "You see, Kazuki, your mother was not the only one who took a liking to me. There was also a girl by the name of Rebecca Hawkins." And he launched into a flashback about how Téa and Rebecca competed over him.
Kazuki made a noise that sounded like a cat meowing angrily.
"Yes, it certainly created some tension between the two girls," said Yugi. "But after Serenity ran off with Seto Kaiba—much to the displeasure of Joey Wheeler—Tristan Taylor was left sad and lonely, and Rebecca Hawkins gave up on me to comfort him, leaving only Téa to be with me."
"Wow, Dad… that's kind of lovely," said Kazuki.
"Joey Wheeler didn't think so," said Yugi. "He said to Tristan, 'Personally, I'd rather it were you than rich-boy,' which, far from making Tristan feel better, made him cry harder."
"Why are you telling me this?" Kazuki wanted to know.
"Because I believe it is essential for you to understand that the female gender is very mysterious, my son, very mysterious indeed," Yugi replied.
"Tell me about it," said Kazuki darkly. "Well, good night, Dad."
"Good night, my son," said the three-time Duel Monsters World Champion as his son went to his bedroom. "And good night to Joey Wheeler, wherever you are."
At the house of Wheeler, Joey was about to turn in himself. Before he went to bed, Joey said, as if he heard Yugi Muto bid him good night, "Good night, Yuge, old buddy."