High school life is hard. Especially in the final year, with graduation on the horizon. Fast-paced classes, with lecturers and topics thrown at them with the speed of a baseball launcher at a pro batter, and the weekly testing to prepare them for the final exams with the difficulty set to max. Going through all of that on a weekly basis, going day by day, makes the calm afternoon classes feel like a treat. A breezy transition to help the students mellow out, and relax before going home.
The students edge closer to the next step, the biggest step of their lives. Some planning on going straight into the workforce, and others have their hopes on getting into an elite university. Some have plans to take it easy and travel, wanting to gain a new experience. And then there are those who have no idea what they want out of life.
The morning sun filtered through the classroom window, casting a soft glow on the neatly arranged rows of desks. Most of the students, who previously started the day with the energy of a top athlete, have since become tired and rary as the day went along. Now they just wait out the clock before they can leave.
The class is full regardless, with nearly everyone's eyes forward, listening to their teacher as she goes over this week's chapter of "Of Mice and Men". Closer to the front, and the most engaged of the row is the classroom's resident delinquent, Lucas. Dyed blonde hair, with it stylized into being spiked up, blue eyes, and a uniform consisting of a hoodie underneath his jacket, but over the shirt.
Sat in the middle of the lined up desks, one the most engaged out of all the students present is Aiko. The class's smartest student, and voted most likely to rule the world with the least amount of effort. She focuses forward, her long red hair tied back into a ponytail, with her amber eyes directly following the teacher as she moves around all animated as she reads along the chapter. Her uniform is fairly standard for the school, with the only exception being the bracelet she has around her wrist. It's small, with little blue gems following the ring.
Despite trying to focus on what the teacher is saying, she sometimes can't help but look back over her shoulder, and glance towards the student sat at the far end by the window, something even Lucas is guilty of doing.
They look back at their friend, sitting alone, the least engaged and focused of the class, preferring to look out the window and admire the scenery as opposed to the story. Their pale blue eyes follow the sudden dashing of birds as they pass by the window, his fingers combing through his naturally spiked oil-blue hair to get it out of his eyes.
The teacher finishes the chapter right on cue with the school's final bell, signaling all that it's time to leave before coming back for another round of tests, quizzes, and higher educational banter.
Most of the students clear out right away after turning in their borrowed textbooks and handing them back to the front. Others choose to stay to socialize with their fellow classmates, joined by students from neighboring rooms to meet their friends.
Lucas is one of the first on his feet after being given the all-clear. He hands in his textbook on the teacher's desk, but instead of leaving rushes straight to the back to find Yukio laying his head down on his desk, seemingly sleeping.
"Oh come on, not this again," Lucas sounds mildly annoyed, "The book wasn't that bad, it gets better at the end." He starts shaking his friend while repeatedly asking him to wake up.
Aiko packs her books and papers into her briefcase, her bag of choice, before getting out of her seat. Pushing the chair in, she too walks over to the back. She bumps into another of the students, she apologizes right away, but the student ignores her and keeps walking.
She shakes it off and comes up to the back row where Lucas is continually shoving Yukio's motionless body.
"Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! Come on, I'm starting to sound like a transforming bat, just move at least." He walks around to where Yukio's head is facing only to see his eyes wide open, and now staring into Lucas's soul. "You…you weren't really sleeping, were you?"
"No."
"You were just pretending to ignore me, weren't you?"
"Pretend?" Yukio hides the smirk on his face by covering his mouth with his arm.
Aiko can't help but laugh, but she too hides it well. She lets out as a giggle she hides behind her hand.
Yukio finally emerges, lifting their head from the table to stop pretending like he's asleep.
"Seems you got your beauty sleep," Aiko comments, sitting herself on the empty desk beside Yukio's. "Although, your hair is in a mess."
"It's the new conditioner," Yukio replies sarcastically as he stretches, trying to wake himself up.
"Speaking of new stuff," Lucas tries to spin the topic onto something else in particular, "Did you try it?"
Aiko is confused about what he means at first, but then Yukio pulls out what he's talking about. Yukio puts down a deck of cards on the table. "Does this answer your question?"
Lucas's eyes become stars as his excitement escapes him. "Yeah, baby! You're officially a duelist now!"
"I wouldn't go that far. I just bought some packs to finish off the deck you gave me from your duplicates," Yukio hands the deck over to Lucas to let him go over what he has.
"So, what's this about?" Aiko asks, wanting to understand the topic.
"Duel Monsters," Yukio answers. "Lucas says I'd be 'pretty good' at it. I can see the appeal. The monsters look pretty cool, and the tape he lent me had an interesting duel on it. I've only just started out, so Lucas gave me some cards he had duplicates on so...,"
Lucas cuts him off as he gets more excited upon seeing a particular card, "Woah! How did you get this?" He pulls out one card in particular to show it.
"It was in one of the packs. He looked strong, so I felt like it was good to put in the deck. Right?"
"Uh, yeah! He's probably your ace, right?" Lucas hands over his deck. "I need to head home and help with some chores, but after we should meet to finally go a game or two. Let's see if you know how to use the big guy?"
Akio lets them talk, happy to see Yukio actually engage in a conversation instead of just sitting by and listening.
While the boys talk, Akio notices her wrist feels lighter. Looking at her hand, she finds that her bracelet is gone. At first, she doesn't look too concerned, just starts patting herself down and looking at the floor back where she came from. The boys notice her sudden shift in behavior.
"Yo, what's wrong?" Lucas asks, figuring something is wrong.
"My bracelet. It's gone. I can't find it anywhere," her voice portrays more of the panic she is feeling, although she tries to remain calm, thinking it was just misplayed somewhere.
Yukio looks to the door, noticing the student Aiko bumped into making haste for the door to leave. Yukio knows them by name, Leonard. A stereotypical nerd, he's in the top five of the class in terms of grades and sometimes plays as an alternative for a debate team.
Yukio gets up from his desk, surprising his friends. "I wouldn't worry too much about it." He gently pats her shoulder, wanting to reassure her. "You'll find it, I can guarantee it." He looks over to Lucas as he picks up his bag, "I'll message you later, Lucas. I need to see a man about a dog."
Yukio takes his things and walks out the same way as the others. He makes a quick inspection of the corridor before mapping out where to go. He catches up with Leonard easily, finding them just around the corner.
Leonard doesn't get far as Yukio calls out to them, "I know you have it, Leonard." The nerd turns around with deer in headlight eyes at being confronted.
He tries to play it off while gripping the arms of his bag tight, "What do you mean? I've got a lot of things on me. You'd have to be more specific." He plays dumb while being smart with his replies.
Yukio isn't in the mood for the charade. He gives him a hard staredown, trying to make Leonard feel more uneasy. "I think we both know what I'm talking about, Leonard. Aiko's bracelet. Just had it over, and you can leave."
"What makes you think I took it?" Leonard tries to save face, but his choice of words doesn't help him.
"I've figured you'd have sticky fingers when it comes to something valuable. I've suspected it for a while. And the minute Aiko noticed it was gone from her wrist, you ran for the door. You'd be a good thief if you could understand anything on subtlety."
Yukio's words get under Leonard's skin, making him more agitated than before. "This is stupid. I'm not handing over something I don't have. Get lost Sakurai." He tries to walk away, but Yukio has one more card to pull.
"How about a wager?" Leonard turns around to see Yukio pulling a nice-looking watch from his jacket pocket. "I know you have the bracelet. But instead of telling, I'm going to give you this chance. Play me for my silence, and this. If I win, I get the bracelet back."
Leonard smiles, adjusting his glasses. "I didn't know you played anything besides your hair. What's the game?"
Yukio pockets the watch and pulls out a deck of cards. "Duel Monsters. The winner takes all. You in?"