Anzu gasped. What exactly…did he mean by that? her mind asked her.

But she knew. It was precisely as he said it. She meant something to him; apparently, a lot. Enough to make her feel like a doted-on princess over the past full day, including at the arcade. Enough to make sure she felt comfortable despite her situation with Seto.

Enough to lay himself bare for her just to ease her worried mind.

"Yugi, I… I'm sorry I questioned your motives," is all she could say in response to such an honest, earnest request.

Atem's lips were in a line, and his eyes reopened to half-heartedly behold the menu lain out on the table before him.

And for the first time in a long time, Atem and Yugi declared something in a unified whisper: "I'm just sorry I didn't ask you first."

"What was that?" Anzu asked, her interest incredibly piqued.

"It was nothing, Anzu. Please, let us decide what we want to eat."

"Yugi, I'd really like to hear what you just said," she pleaded softly.

To this request, Atem only held up his menu slightly. After a while – with his face partially obscured by the menu – he colored.

Both Yugi and Anzu were taken aback.

"Yugi, blushing right now?" Anzu thought, a bit bewildered.

"Atem, blushing at all?!" thought Yugi. His mouth hung open in incredulity, and he thought for a long moment. Surely it couldn't be that…?

"Atem, do you…?"

"I think I'll be fine with the duck," Atem quickly said aloud, interrupting Yugi's intrusive inquiry. He had called it out to the waiter, who had just returned to give them their drinks and take their order.

As Anzu considered the possibilities why Yugi might be blushing in that moment, she faltered. "The duck? Oh, yes, the duck! That sounds lovely." But then, she realized what she just said, what she had almost ordered. "Oh, wait, duck? Umm…I think I'll just have the steak." She was willing to go a bit all out because of the nice restaurant, but she didn't want to be that adventurous tonight.

After all, she was seeing Seto later…

But enough about that, her mind insisted. She was with Yugi now, and he was treating her to an incredibly nice dinner. The fact that she knew Yugi wasn't rich by any means only made it more special to her.

And with that, it was decided. No more suspicions. No more questioning his motives. Anzu was determined to enjoy this dinner for what it was: a welcomed, surprise outing with her best friend, whatever the objectives in his mind, and whatever she felt for Seto…

And for him.

The dinner continued far more lightheartedly after that, with Anzu's mind taking a rest from nagging at her and Atem enjoying her company much more than he would want to admit to anyone who asked. He was a pharaoh, after all, and to be so taken in by someone – one whom others from his era would deem a mere civilian – spoke mounds of irony that was not lost on him.

When they received their dishes, Atem was happy, partially because he had received his delicious-looking duck on a shining plane before him, but far more than that, the astounded look on Anzu's face when she received her perfectly-cooked, awe-inspiringly juicy steak made the pharaoh's heart swell.

It had all been worth it for that one look alone.

"This is really mine?" she asked in disbelief.

Atem chuckled. "Yes, it is, Anzu."

She looked up at him, wanting him to clarify what seemed not so obvious to her. "To eat?"

"Yes."

Anzu's whole face lit up, and she broke into a big smile. "Thank you, Yugi."

And before she could think to stop herself, she leaned over the table and kissed him right on the cheek.