Seto had wrestled with his emotions, hoping if he ignored them they'd go away. But it didn't work. If anything the opposite happened. He began focussing on Avery even more. It was even worse when they were in school together. He watched from a distance as he played Duel Monsters and laughed with his friends. After a while he couldn't stand it anymore. He devised a way to get Avery alone so he could ask him out. He knew it was risky; it could damage his reputation, but he hoped that after he was rejected his emotions would get a handle on themselves. He had not expected that Avery would say yes.
He knew that Avery usually hung back after school. He normally went to the library and did his homework there. So after school Seto made his way to the library. He spotted Avery waving goodbye to Yugi. Seto waited and watched as Avery turned and went into the library. Seto followed him. Avery picked out a table. Seto paused. He felt his courage slipping. He chided himself. Just get it over with, he thought to himself. He walked up to Avery's table. Avery glanced up in surprise.
"Hi Seto," he said with a frown. "If you want to duel, I'm sorta-"
"It's not about that," Seto cut in.
"Oh…okay then, umm, sit down." He replied confused and gestured to the chair opposite him.
Seto sat down. He finally understood what people meant when they said that their heart was in their throat. It was a very adequate description of what he felt at that moment. Avery wrote down a few more things then looked up, closing his book.
"So…what's this about?" he asked after a moment.
Too late to turn back now, Seto thought.
"I was…wondering…if you'd like to go out sometime."
Avery grinned. "Like on a date?" he teased.
Seto's eyes hardened. "Fine. It doesn't matter." He began to rise. Avery quickly reached over and grabbed his arm.
"No. Wait!" Seto hesitated, halfway between sitting and standing. Avery blushed. "I'd...uh…love to go out with you sometime." He said sheepishly, releasing Seto's arm. Seto looked at Avery's face, trying to spot signs of deception. He found none. Seto hadn't accounted for this. He had in no way assumed that Avery would even think about accepting his invitation. He became slightly distressed.
He bit back the urge to ask him if he was serious.
"Okay then." He said. 'When are you free?"
"Umm…How about seven on Friday?" Avery responded with a grin.
Seto nodded.
"Okay then." Avery said and nodded back. "Oh," he added slightly worried. He opened his book and tore off a corner off his page, then scribbled down a number. "My mobile number," he said, almost shyly. "In case…well I don't know." Seto took the paper.
"All right," Seto said. "See you Friday." Then he walked off, feeling more confused and conflicted than he had ever felt before. It wasn't till he arrived home that he realised he didn't know where Avery lived, or what they were going to do. He was suddenly extremely glad that Avery was intelligent enough to give him his phone number.