Poppo Time

Jack POV

"Nothing better than to start your day with a cup of coffee," I thought. Sitting on a rickety chair, Jack was enjoying his sixth cup of coffee before he heard a scream directed at him.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" shouted a ginger-haired boy.

"Relax Crow, it's only my sixth cup. Have some coffee, it'll make you feel better," I calmly said to him.

"You moron! How many times do I have to tell you that we can't afford to waste our monthly allowance? We need to buy some new parts for the engine if we want to compete in the coming World Grand Prix next year!" again shouted Crow.

"Then let's just ask the chancellor to fund us on our competition," I suggested to him, still sipping my coffee.

"You know that the chancellor won't agree to that. We don't already pay our school fees, have a monthly allowance and even pays our rent and bills. Don't you think asking him to give us more money is a little too much?" asked Crow.

"Guess you're right about that. Seems like your brain's functioning well this morning unlike a certain someone," I said plainly to him.

"You mean Yusei? Yeah, he does seem to be out of it. Even his fans started to worry about him. Just the other day, I saw them wearing a nurse's outfit. Makes me wish I'm in Yusei's shoes," said Crow perversely.

"He's head had been in the clouds these past two weeks. If you ask me, it's entirely that Izinski girl's fault," I replied to him in disgust.

"Don't be hard on her Jack. She seems to care for Yusei when he and the others spoke about her," said Crow to me.

"Who knows, she might be tricking us. Honestly, she seems obsess for Yusei and that's not a good thing," I said back to him.

"Stop with all the nonsense Jack. I'm pretty sure Yusei wouldn't allow her to be too close to him if he thinks that she's trouble. Besides, isn't Carly like that with you? I mean, her room is full of your photos and stuff. How she even has your socks only heaven knows," replied Crow.

"Carly and she are two different people. And don't ask me about the socks thing," I said with a slight blush on my face.

"It seems like that the great Jack Atlas is blushing over little Carly's name," snickered Crow.

"Jack Atlas doesn't blush to anyone's name. They blush at mine. Now then, go wake up Yusei. He's oversleeping again," I said to him as I finished my sixth cup. Better remember to ask Carly later how she even has my socks.

(Simultaneously, at the bus)

School bus

Aki POV

"Another day for school, another day with my Yusei," I thought, sitting beside Carly. Today, we'll be starting our first gym class. I'll make sure to give Yusei a good view later.

"That goofy smile of yours is really annoying. How come Yusei just lets you do whatever you want with him when my poor Jackie doesn't even let me near him," whined Carly.

"It's because Yusei has better synergy with Akiza," piped Luna from behind.

"Meaning?" asked Carly.

"They're both compatible with each other. And I think Akiza's perfect for Yusei," explained and added Luna.

"You saying that because she helped you get your first kiss with your Dexty," retort Carly.

"He is not my Dexty. Dexter's only a friend. Besides, the kiss helps me experience what it's like, that's all," said Luna blushing.

"I see a tint of red in your cheeks Luna. Honestly Luna, if I didn't give you a little shove, you wouldn't have kissed him. You're too innocent sometimes," I said playfully. Luna only puffed her cheeks at me.

"I won't help you get together with Yusei if you keep teasing me like that Akiza," Luna said to me.

"Don't be like that Luna. I promise not to tease," I said to her, knowing she makes good her words. Just then, Leo yawned loudly.

"This is booooring. What's with all the mushy stuff? Girls have cooties and we boys don't like them," drawled Leo. Luna just pinches his cheeks.

"Leo, that's not real. Grow up already. Your acting like a child," chided Luna.

"Let go Luna, you're hurting me," Leo replied in pain as we all laughed at that. I also think Luna needs to grow up and admit she likes Dexter. They make a cute couple and with me and Yusei with them, make us look like their parents. He he he.

"Oi, Aki, your drooling again. If your fantasizing about Yusei again, go cool yourself down in the rest room when we get to school," said Carly. I wiped off my mouth with my handkerchief. How embarrassing, good thing Yusei isn't with us.

"Misty also wants to talk you when we reach school later. It's about Yusei; he seems to be out of it this past two weeks. She's worried that you might have been going overboard lately," said Carly. I start to feel jealous. I really wish I was Yusei's first girlfriend.

"I'm not overdoing anything," I replied.

"You're always sitting on his lap when you two have classes together and shoving your pillows on his face," reminded Carly.

"That's normal for us," I retorted at her.

"How about feeding him at lunchtime?" asked Carly.

"He looks so cute when he opens his mouth when I say "aaahh"," I replied again.

"And forcing him to go out with you?"

"He hasn't even asked me. Someone has to do it," I said to her.

"You need to hold back a bit. Besides, you two aren't a couple yet. If you don't someone else might steal from you," Carly said. At that, I growled.

"No one's taking him away from me. He's mine and mine alone. I don't share with what's mine," I said to her, my voice filled with venom.

"Calm down. I'm saying that if you want him to look only at you, keep your urges at a minimum," advised Carly.

"Says the one who's room is filled with nothing but Jack's face," I retorted.

"That's because I' not lucky like you, who's guy just allows her to do what she wants. But I bet me and Jackie will be together before you guys do," said Carly.

"Yeah right, it'll be me and Yusei first," I glared at her. After a few minutes, we just laughed. Come to think of it, I've never seen Yusei laugh. Alright then, I'll force him to get out of his slump today.

(After a while, the bus arrived. Everyone got off and headed to their respective rooms. After saying goodbye to the twins, Akiza and Carly went to their room)

Hall room

Aki POV

Entering their room, they spot Misty sitting on one of the desks, sighing deeply. Wonder what she wants to talk to me about Yusei for?

"Hey Misty, something wrong?" I start, taking a seat.

"Oh, just in time. Listen Aki, did you notice Yusei being strange the past weeks?" asked Misty.

"Yeah, what about it? Is it something serious?" I asked back.

"I don't know yet. Jack and Crow said he's been waking up in the middle of the night. He also seems tired and drained whenever I see him. Heck, when I gave him a view of my string panties the other day he didn't even flinch," said Misty in a worried tone. I felt my nerve starting to pop.

"Why the hell would you show your underwear to him!? I haven't even done that to him," I shouted at her.

"Now, now Aki, this is no time for us to fight. Besides, I've been doing that to him even before you met him so there. Anyway, why don't you ask him out today? Maybe he'll open up about his problems to you," Misty suggested. I'm still furious with her but I held back.

"Fine, on one condition," I told her.

"And that is?" Misty asked.

"That you stay away from my Yusei until he admits his feelings for me," I said.

"Hmmm… I don't really wanna unless you refrain from kissing him in that time period as well," countered Misty.

"No way; I'll die from starvation," I retorted.

"So, you admit that you can't catch Yusei without kissing him? I got him to be mine without your little attempts no problem," Misty taunted. That's it, friend or no friend I'll make sure that she eats her words.

"Fine then; I accept, and if I win, you stay away from him for good," I said with finality.

"Deal," Misty said, smiling at me before getting off from the desk and started walking to the door. Carly didn't even pay attention to us. She's holding what it seems to be a pair of socks and rubbing them on her face. That's really weird.

"Oh, Akiza, before I forget, you'll be having another rival for Yusei's heart. Better be prepared. I heard she's got a lot of ammo to use. Also, don't forget, I'm the first woman Yusei saw naked," Misty purred before making her exit. All I could do was yell and curse at her, swearing that I'll kill her someday.