After school Seto noticed a voicemail on his phone and quickly listened to it while Tea said goodbye to Yugi and the others. Atem remained at the shop helping grandpa who made sure he did courses online for his High school diploma claiming he was used to being homeschooled. Tea hadn't seen him since Saturday and asked Yugi how he seemed to be settling in.
"He's doing alright Tea. I'm sure he plans on reaching out to you once everything settles down. He told me as much himself so just keep an eye out okay?" Yugi said kindly as he moved to head home. Tea gave a small nod, "Thanks Yugi, tell him and Grandpa I said hello!" Yugi gave a friendly laugh, "I sure will, bye Tea!"
Tea smiled and waved until her friends were gone before turning to Seto, "So did everything go okay?" Seto sighed, "Yeah, apparently the boy who copied his work is 6 years old…who skips a child that far ahead?" Tea groaned, "Oh no…" Seto looked curious as Tea headed towards his car in the parking lot. "What?" Tea looked almost worn, "I'll let my parents explain that one." He simply accepted that it was a familiar subject that she didn't want to talk about.
As they returned to the Gardener home they saw a despondent Mokuba sitting on the stoop. Tea crouched down in front of him, "Hey Mokuba, you alright?" Mokuba nodded and looked up at Tea confused, "You were like me…the teachers tried to pressure you into skipping grades. We got to say no but, Shin didn't." Tea gave Seto a glance and stood, "I'll take care of Mokuba. Go ahead and get the details from Mom and Dad, Seto."
Tea held her hand out for Mokuba before guiding him to the ice cream parlor across the street. "Hey sweetie, tell me everything." She let him enjoy his ice cream as he described everything from the conversation with the teacher to the results in the office. Tea sighed, "Yeah Shin is a perfect example of why I refused to skip grades as a kid. I didn't want to end up with people so much older than me and I would have missed my friends."
Mokuba grinned, "Yeah, that's how I thought about it too but, Shin just keeps to himself all the time. It's not healthy." Tea looked concerned, "Is there a reason…did your classmates bully him or anything?" Mokuba shrugged, "Nothing that I ever noticed. There are whispers that he's a freak though from some of the other kids. Not to his face but," Tea nodded, "Sounds to me like he needs a friend or two. He needs to start getting out and socializing more. Does he like games?"
Mokuba frowned thoughtfully his nose scrunched a bit causing Tea to bite her lip to stop her from giggling. He looked up, "I don't know. What kind of game do you think he'd enjoy?" Tea smiled and looked at Mokuba, "Why don't you invite him and his mother out to buy him some duel monster cards?" Mokuba grinned his eyes lit up, "That's a great idea Tea! The strategy will keep him occupied and maybe he'll actually have fun with some people by learning to duel."
Tea gave an encouraging nod, "Dueling can make even the most introverted people become more sociable with others." Mokuba hopped up as Tea paid for the ice creams and brought him back home.
~With the Gardeners~
Seto hummed with understanding, "So Tea was against skipping grades for the same reasons as Mokuba. They didn't mind being bored if it meant they got to play with their friends."
Maya smiled as she saw the cream at the corner of Mokuba's mouth. Tea winked at Seto who just shook his head with a smirk as Mokuba got cleaned up by Maya. He seemed to bask in her affectionate attentions. Tobi nodded to Tea who sat between him and Seto with a smile.
"Hey Mokuba, why don't you tell everything the idea we talked about?" Tea gave a smug grin as everyone looked at the excited Mokuba.
"Hey Seto, do you think Shin and his mom would join us at Mr. Mutou's shop to buy cards to create a starter duelists deck?" Seto quirked an eyebrow, "Oh how do you think that will help?" Tea just kept silent and let Mokuba explain, "He's awkward and doesn't socialize well. What better way to get him to interact than a strategy game like duel monsters?"
Seto looked to Tea who hid a smile behind her hands, "This has you written all over it Friendship Queen." Tea wink with a cheeky, "Yep!" The group simply laughed as Kaiba contacted the school to request the contact information for Shin's mother. After receiving it he was quick to call and put the phone on speaker,
"Hello this is Hina. Can I help you?" A woman's voice sounded through the phone. Seto gave a warm greeting, "Hello Hina, my name is Seto Kaiba, how are you?"
"I'm doing well I do apologize for Shin's behavior towards Mokuba." The woman apologized with a sigh. Seto grinned, "My brother actually had an idea that might help. Have you ever heard of duel monsters?" The woman seemed to hesitate, "Oh the card game with the holograms?" Seto hummed in agreement. "What about the game?" The woman was honestly curious.
"My brother wants to invite you both out to the Game Shop run by Mr. Mutou to help create a starter deck so that Mokuba can teach him how to duel. He thinks that the game will help Shin become more accustomed to interacting with others." Seto remained patient and kind as the woman seemed to consider it.
"I am willing to try anything at this point, you mean Solomon Mutou's Game Shop, right?" The woman replied causing Mokuba to cheer. The woman could be heard chuckling as Seto confirmed the location. "We can head straight there after school on Friday if you like?" Seto suggested and Tea smiled. "I really appreciate it. I think this could be good for him."
Tea nodded and stood to call Yugi, "I'll be right back." As she stepped out and called Yugi she told him the plan and he even offered to have Atem and the others there to help the kid out. "Great Yugi, I'm going to owe you guys one." She moved back into the room, "All set they'll be expecting us Friday after school, Yugi and Atem even offered to have the other's there to help." Mokuba danced in the background causing everyone to laugh. Seto said, "Have to hand it to you Tea, you know your stuff."
