Chapter 27: Risa

"YOU WHAT!?"

"Shush!" Yugi hissed as he and Natsuki trudged along. "I just need a witness and a Yami-sitter."

"Why do you need a Yami-sitter? That's what shoeboxes are for." Natsuki adjusted her backpack, picking up the pace. "You're not actually gonna ask this mystery girl out, are ya?"

"Shush! He's been driving me crazy all day so can you please just take him for five minutes?"

Natsuki sighed, holding out her hand.

"Fine but if he suddenly causes ME to transform-"

"Thanks!" He looped the pendant over her neck, ruffling up her hair. "I love you, thank you, best sister ever!"

"You were desperate, huh?" Natsuki looked down at the puzzle. "What did he do exactly?"

"You don't wanna know. Now, hide!"

Natsuki sighed, shaking her head as they parted ways… It didn't take long for her to spot a few familiar individuals.

All crouched behind a bush that was behind one of the park benches, trying to get a good view of what was going on were Honda, Jonouchi, Miho and Anzu.

"... You know, why didn't Yugi hand you over to Jonouchi is something I will never understand." She murmured to the puzzle.

"I didn't mean to make him mad." Yami muttered.

"Ahuh. You get ghost jail for that."

For a moment, the wind around her went wild as a dark presence loomed over her.

She narrowed her eyes, reaching into her bag for a small perfume bottle, spraying it in his face.

Yami sputtered, retreating back behind her.

"W-What the!?"

"Cleansing water. Ms. Ishizu told me about it - it calms down naughty ghosts. Like you."

Yami huffed.

"I was a Pharaoh once."

"Yeah and I'm tired of your crap. What else is new?"

Yami growled.

Natsuki chose to ignore him, making her way over to where the others were.

"So, you guys realize you look like idiots like that, right?"

"Shh!"

Jonouchi and Honda grabbed her, pulling her into the bush as she yelped.

"H-Hey!"

"We wanna see what kinda girl this is." Honda whispered.

"Make sure that coward is worth even meeting." Anzu growled.

… Oh, I see how this is. I walked into drama today.

Great… and I was hoping I'd be on time to meet up with Mokuba for ice cream…

These idiots would be lost without me.

oooooo

Yugi sighed shakily, looking around. He wasn't sure who he was looking for in particular - there was no picture included or even a number to text.

All he had was a name.

What do I even say? How do I let her down without hurting her feelings?

I mean… what did she even see in me? What if Anzu is right and this is some middle school kid? I don't wanna hurt her…

It wasn't long before he spotted someone walking towards him.

A girl, around his age, wearing a black sailor suit uniform with a rose pin. Her eyes lit up as she spotted him, waving him over.

He waved shyly, walking over to her.

"Um… Hello…"

She smiled shyly, blushing.

"Hello… I've been waiting for you, Yugi-kun." She bowed her head. "K-Kageyama Risa."

"I-It's a pleasure to meet you."

"You got my letter, right?" She asked hopefully.

"I did."

"Oh, wonderful!" She dug through her school bag, bringing out a bundle of purple fabric. "I knitted this for you!"

Yugi swallowed hard, taking it. He wasn't sure what to make of all this.

He unfolded the fabric, seeing it was a rather intricate sweater, embroidered with the image of the Black Magician on the pocket.

Now I feel really bad.

Really, really bad…

"Um… Risa, thank you for this. It's lovely-"

Her eyes lit up.

"Oh, thank you! I hoped you'd like it-!"

"But where did we even meet?" He frowned. "I… I don't know where I've seen you before, I'm sorry."

Risa's face fell, turning red as she fumbled with her hands.

Yugi's heart sank.

"I… I guess this is really stupid and creepy huh?" She murmured. "I… I saw you at a duel competition in Heartland once. You were with another boy, a little younger…?"

That competition over a year ago? Most I remember about that is Yuma falling off the duel stage…

"UWAH!"

THUD!

"You okay?"

"N-Never better… Hahaha…"

"Oh… I… I had no idea."

She nodded.

"I'm a huge fan of yours. Your duel style was so unique and you seemed so nice… I… I just had to talk to you at least once! I wanted to tell you how I felt and… Oh, this is stupid. I'm so stupid!" She covered her face, sniffling. "You must think I'm some stalker."

Yugi's eyes widened in alarm, his heart sinking.

NONONONO.!

"No, no, Risa, I don't think that at all!" He stammered. "I'm flattered, really! I… I had no idea I had such a dedicated fan… or an admirer like that."

"You're just saying that…" She sobbed. "You don't mean it."

"I do! I… I'd like to get to know you better."

Great job, idiot, you made her cry.

Risa sniffled, looking up, tears running down her face as she gave him a hopeful look.

"You mean it?"

"Y-Yeah… We can talk again for sure."

"You… accept my feelings?"

"No-"

Her face fell as Yugi scrambled for an answer.

"I'd like to know you though so we can see. You might not even like me like that once you get to know me really. We might be good friends though?"

That sounded bad. Oh no, what have I done-

Her eyes lit up.

"Oh, thank you!"

oooooo

"That's it. I'm going in."

"Nat, you can't-"

"Shut up. My brother's getting fed to the sharks and we're watching."

Natsuki took off out of the bush, lunging over the bench, right towards Yugi and Risa.

The others grimaced, bracing themselves.

This is not gonna end well.

"So, when can we meet up next? Will you wear the sweater?" Risa asked.

"Oh, uh-"

"Yuuugi!"

Natsuki ran up from behind him, throwing her arms around him.

Yugi gasped before giving her a grateful look.

"Oh… Nat. When did you get here?"

"Dad's been texting me non stop. He's wondering where you are. He's REALLY mad." She pouted. "You forgot me at school, dummy."

Thank you, amazing sister.

Yugi rubbed his head.

"Ohhh no, I'm sorry!"

Natsuki looked at Risa.

"Sorry, but I need to take my brother back."

Risa grimaced.

"Can you give us another ten minutes at least?"

"Dad's gonna ground us both if he's not home in the next five minutes so no." She smiled. "Thanks for keeping an eye out for him!" She turned to Yugi, looping the puzzle back over his neck. "Also, I'm done borrowing this~!"

"T-Thanks…"

Risa sighed, looking down.

"I guess we'll have to meet up a different time."

"Y-Yeah… see you around…"

Natsuki grabbed him by the wrist, dragging him away.

"UWAH!"

"Come on, Lover-Boy!"

Once they were far enough away, Yugi hugged her tightly.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you."

"Anytime. That was really bad."

Yugi nodded, sighing.

"I… I don't do well when people start crying like that."

"Next time, walk away."

"Nat, I can't-"

"Then I'll keep meddling with her until she gets the message. Deal?"

He nodded.

"Deal… Still, it was weird. That last competition was over two weeks long… It took me that long to get Heart Pieces. Was she… stalking me the whole time?"

"If she was, we got a bigger problem then. Want me to talk to Yuma and see if one of his friends noticed anything weird?"

"No, he's got enough to worry about. This isn't one of them."

Still…

He looked back to where they had come from.

What is that girl's deal?

… And if she really did follow me before, why act now?

He brought a hand to the puzzle.

"Yami… Zorc wouldn't get anything out of messing with my love life, would he?"

"I doubt it."

But I wouldn't rule it out entirely.