[A/N]: It's a bit late, but better late than never, right? I'm just glad to have gotten this chapter done and written!
Reviews are definitely appreciated!
Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh, nor any of its characters!
Jonouchi had gone through the rest of his school day floating on a cloud of bliss and excitement. It seemed that his life was steadily improving, bit by bit: Kaiba was his project partner.
He made his way through the cramped hallways, guiding himself towards his locker and inevitably the group of friends he had who were always buzzing around that vicinity.
As Jonouchi approached his locker he spotted only Otogi and Honda, though it did make sense as Anzu and Yugi's lockers were further down the hall.
Honda leaned away from the locker once he spotted Jonouchi and waved, waiting until the blonde got closer before proceeding to speak, "Hey, are you still up for hanging out tonight?"
Jonouchi gave a curt nod as he spun the dial on his lock and opened his locker, "Yeah, why? Didn't know I appeared all that busy."
A bit of a smirk spread across Honda's face and he leaned closer to Jonouchi, eyes squinted, "Well, you know, I figured you might be sort of busy, you gettin' partnered with Kaiba and what not."
Honda's comment warranted a snicker from Otogi and a stared from Jonouchi, who seemed less than impressed by his friend's taunting.
"So, are you busy or what?" Honda said, wearing an impish expression.
Jonouchi snorted and closed his locker, "I guess I will be busy come time to work on the project. I'm not exactly sure what's so damn amusing about that though…" He looked from Honda to Otogi and back, arms crossed.
Otogi waved his hand slightly, "Ah, don't worry about it. Honda's just trying to be a pest, that's all."
Honda scoffed at this.
Jonouchi shrugged, turning his attention back to Honda, "Yeah, that's not surprising; it's what he was born to do."
He turned his attention down the hall to notice Anzu heading their way, Yugi in tow.
More importantly, she was clutched the rose that Yugi had shown him this morning.
Jonouchi grinned at Yugi and leapt away from the locker to sling an arm around his shoulder, "Such a gentlemen, aren't ya?" he teased.
Yugi's eyes widened and he smiled awkwardly, shrugging wordlessly.
Anzu extended the rose toward Jonouchi's face and twirled it, a smile on her lips, "Don't poke fun at him; he's the only one of you lot that even bothered to say happy birthday yet!"
All three boys, Jonouchi, Honda, and Otogi exchanged glances before simultaneously chirping, "Happy Birthday!" together.
Anzu smiled and waved her rose at them, "Suck ups…"
She then carefully tucked it into the backpack and slung it over her shoulders.
"So, you're going to be a busy boy for the next couple of weeks!" she said, eyes on Jonouchi.
Jonouchi crinkled his nose, "You're all making it sound like some kind of death sentence."
Anzu giggled and shrugged slightly, "It might be for you! Kaiba's a top tier student; he finishes his work on time and it's always done so well. Honestly, I don't think I've ever seen him score a bad grade."
Jonouchi raised his shoulders defensively, knowing exactly what his friend was getting at, "Yeah, so?"
Honda leaned closer and murmured to him, though it was still loud enough for all to hear, "She's calling you lazy."
Anzu shot Honda and look and then turned her attention back to Jonouchi, "All I'm saying is that compared to Kaiba's record, yours isn't really up to par."
Otogi smirked, "Meaning that Kaiba's probably going to whip you into shape…" he paused, an eyebrow arching, "Or he'll leave you lying in a ditch and finish the project on his own."
Jonouchi furiously waved his hand at Otogi, almost as if he were swatting the guy, "No one asked for your opinion!"
"Speak of the devil…" Yugi interjected, pointing down the hall.
The group of friends all followed Yugi's warning and looked down the hall.
Kaiba was on an immediate path for the group, a folder clutched in one hand.
The way he was moving toward them gave him an air of urgency, as though he were tasked with an important mission.
Honda snickered, muttering coherently to Otogi, loud enough for the group to hear, "You're right, he's going to leave Jonouchi in a ditch…"
Jonouchi had enough time to cast the duo a glare before the sound of Kaiba clearing his throat assaulted his ears.
Jonouchi spun his attention forward and met Kaiba's cold, stern gaze.
"Uh, hey…" he said, a bit awkwardly, amazed that within seconds of Kaiba approaching him, he seemed to feel trapped.
Kaiba grunted and held out the folder toward Jonouchi, "This is for you; it's information on the project you'll be assisting me with."
After he finished speaking, the corner of Kaiba's mouth drew back, making him look all the more unimpressed.
Jonouchi eyed the folder for a moment and nodded, reaching to take it.
Kaiba glanced quickly at the group watching him before returning his attention to Jonouchi, "Look through it and make sure you understand it by Monday. It's not difficult to grasp, so I'm sure even you won't have much trouble with it."
Jonouchi blinked a few times and scoffed, casting a brief glance down at the folder in his hands, "Yeah, yeah, whatever. I'm not an idiot." He looked back toward Kaiba and smiled, "Don't worry about it, smarty-pants."
Kaiba raised an eyebrow slightly and snorted, the corner of his mouth drawing back further, "Right."
And without another word Kaiba spun on his heel and continued down the hall, leaving Jonouchi to stare blankly at the folder in his possession.
Anzu made a face and looked over her shoulder, watching Kaiba disappear in the sea of students, "That was unpleasant."
Yugi followed her gaze, nose wrinkled. "But not surprising."
Jonouchi shrugged and eyed the folder a moment longer. "Whatever."
Honda reached over and slapped his hand onto Jonouchi's shoulder. "We'll see you in a few hours, then?"
Jonouchi grinned, offering the brunette a firm nod, "Of course! I've got all weekend to look whatever this is over anyway, right? No biggie."
Honda grinned and moved away from the locker, "Great, see you all later!" He turned and proceeded down the hall.
"Later!" Otogi chirped, moving quickly to catch up to Honda.
Jonouchi waved good-bye to Anzu and Yugi, proceeding down the hall himself.
Upon arriving home he headed up the stairs to his bedroom and slapped the folder down onto his desk.
Plopping himself down into his hair he stared at the folder, deciding after a moment that taking a peak at what was provided for him wouldn't be a bad idea.
He opened the folder and was greeted with a pile of papers. His eyes widened slightly at the accumulation there seemed to be and he began to skim through them.
Sweden was their esteemed topic, so it seemed. To Jonounchi's relief much of the papers were notes that Kaiba had already gathered.
Though, his relief sank when he discovered the paper listing the various points that he was expected to research and record.
Kaiba seriously expected him to research this much? No wonder he was a straight 'A' student; the guy went above and beyond, apparently.