a/n: from 11/2022, this is for VioVayo on AO3! I've never written Ryo before, but I had fun doing it! Part of the Yu-Gi-Oh! It's Time to G-G-G-Gift! mini exchange

Judai's arms are full of snacks and card packs, so he can't brush off the twig the wind blew from the tree and onto his head.

"Hey, could you get that for me?"

It's a simple request. Ryo sighs, plucks the twig away, but he lingers there.

His fingers trail into the top of Judai's hair, coarser than he expected but as soft as it looks. When fingertips graze scalp Ryo realizes what he's doing. He snatches back his hand, glares at it for its forwardness, and waits.

Judai's disappointment is apparent. "Aw man, that felt good. Why'd you stop?"

On his way from class, Ryo stops when he spots a familiar trio. Sure enough, it's Judai and Sho messing around with Manjoume. Despite the playing around at Manjoume's expense, it's clear that Judai's excitable attitude is infectious to those around him.

Ryo is so caught up in watching he doesn't sense someone coming up behind him.

"Hey, Ryo, how long are you going to stare at Judai?" Asuka teases as she settles next to him.

Ryo tears his eyes away from the trio, but mainly from Judai. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Asuka smiles and hums knowingly.

Ryo squints down at Judai. "Dancing?"

Judai shrugs, appears as least interested as he can. "Yeah, Manjoume was saying I have two left feet and that weird "school dance" thing is happening soon."

"So you…?"

"Sho said you knew how to dance! So teach me!"

Ryo isn't ready for this. He can't even blame Sho, he was probably trying to help, unaware of Ryo's attempts to be alone with Judai for a while. He clears his throat and has to approach this as smoothly as possible.

"You're more than welcome to come up to my room to learn."

Judai agrees.

One, two, three. One, two three.

Judai has never been more bored while moving. His hands are split between Ryo's hand and Ryo's shoulder while his feet are taking turns stepping on Ryo's. The rare times he has this "slow dance" thing down for a few counts aren't really fun, so what's the point of this been?

Judai then trips over his own feet and, in what must have been instinctual, Ryo holds Judai close to him. Now flush against Ryo's chest, Judai's heart beats faster; can Ryo feel it?

"Judai, are you alright?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah, just fine, thanks!"

Judai seriously considers skipping the school dance, but is physically dragged there by Manjoume. Admittedly, Judai likes watching everyone else mill about and dance to the music while he's glued to the wall.

Ryo approaches him, hand held out. "Would you like to test your skills, Judai?"

Judai jumps to the "challenge", and though it's more of a repeat of his lessons, he's having fun with Ryo and manages to get a few chuckles out of him.

Then Ryo dips him, and as Judai is hanging onto Ryo's neck and bending his body backwards, he blurts, "Hey, wanna go out?"

"You can call me Ryo, Judai."

Judai scrunches his face up. "Are you sure? I know we're going out and all, but—" Judai says until Ryo interrupts him.

"Don't I call you Judai?"

"Yeah…but everyone does. Not everyone calls you "Ryo"."

Ryo smiles a little, crossing his arms. "Then why shouldn't you be one of them?"

Judai falls back onto Ryo's dorm bed, silent. Ryo can almost hear the cogs turning. He approaches the bed as Judai rolls onto his side to face him. Judai grins up at him.

"Alright, Ryo, let's go grab something to eat, I'm starving."

Their first date was supposed to be a picnic in the woods, far away from where their friends could interrupt them. They were going to have sandwiches and drinks, a blanket from Judai's dorm, and that was going to be it.

Instead, Judai brought over sandwiches and a stack of card packs, suggesting he and Ryo open them together. From there, everything was Duel Monsters, leaving the picnic forgotten.

At night, Judai passes out in the chair in the corner of Ryo's room. Ryo covers him with his comforter, then, quickly, kisses Judai's head and rushes to brush his teeth.

It's normal for Ryo to lean in close to kiss Judai on the cheek or forehead, but this time he has his thumb on Judai's lower lip.

"Can I?"

Judai releases a shaky breath against Ryo's lips. "I don't know, can you?"

Ryo chuckles, touches Judai's hair. "I can give it a shot."

With a grin, Judai tips his mouth closer to Ryo's. "Show me what you've got."

Ryo kisses Judai softly at first, pressing their lips together. Another few kisses later and they've gotten to know each other; Judai laughs into Ryo's mouth, too delighted to hold it in.