"So, your grandpa is the one who taught you the basics Yugi?" Anzu asked.
School was finally over. Akia, Yugi, Anzu, Jounouchi, and Honda were all on their way to the game shop. Akia did invite Bakura to tag along, but he told her that the teacher offered to help him catch up with everything that he missed. She couldn't help but feel a little disappointed that she wouldn't be the one helping him out with his studies anymore.
"Yup," Yugi replied, "and I taught Akia the basics that grandpa taught me."
"You shouldn't have... Now she just owns everyone in this game, just like every single other game you taught her," Jounouchi sighed in defeat.
"It's not my fault that I'm smart," Akia bragged.
"Only game smart," Jounouchi teased her.
"Speak for yourself, idiot!" Akia retorted while chuckling.
Jounouchi ruffled Akia's hair, which made her bangs cover her eyes.
"Hehe, now you look like a drenched puppy," Jounouchi laughed.
Akia sighed while trying to adjust her hair again.
"Man, you two bicker non-stop. If I didn't know better, I'd think you hated each other," Honda joked.
"Hate Akia? Impossible. She's way too fun to mess with," Jounouchi kept poking fun at his short friend.
"Shut up!" Akia protested with a smile.
Akia looked in front of her and watched Anzu and Yugi being absorbed in some kind of conversation that apparently made them both really happy. The truth was, Akia knew about Yugi's crush on Anzu, and, she had a feeling that things could work out between the two of them. Just as she was absorbed in her thoughts, Jounouchi put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer to him.
"W-W-What are you doing?" Akia stuttered, which was very unlike her.
"What? Can't friends do that to each other? Wait... don't tell me... You're being shy?" Jounouchi gave Akia a mocking grin as she felt her cheeks burning up.
"No, you dumbass! Why would I be?" She turned her head away and a lot of thoughts entered her mind. "Why did he do that… I mean, if he was just a random friend it wouldn't be a problem, but he's a friend that I... kind of like more than just a friend. I know he won't return these feelings, but he sure is making it hard on me to brush mine off. I guess I'll just enjoy the moment while it lasts…"
"Here we are, guys!" Yugi informed them.
Jounouchi let go of Akia and went ahead with Yugi to the game shop. She felt a little disappointed as his hand retracted. They all got into the game shop and were welcomed by Sugoroku at the counter.
"Hey, grandpa," Akia greeted her grandfather
"We're back, grandpa!" Yugi followed suit.
"Well, well, you brought all your friends with you, too?" Sugoroku remarked.
"Yeah, gramps. Yugi told us about this super rare card you have," Jounouchi replied.
"Well, let me go get it," the elderly man happily answered their curiosity.
Sugoroku got a small box out from under the counter and opened it. All eyes were on the card that was placed face down in the box. The twins' grandfather then took it out and showed it to them.
"Here it is," he said as he took out his most precious card, "the Blue-Eyes White Dragon."
"3000 attack points?! This is extreme!" Jounouchi yelled out in excitement.
"I really don't get what's so special about it…" Honda asked, unimpressed.
"You don't play the game, so you wouldn't know," Akia shot him down.
"Can I have it?" Jounouchi pleaded.
"Are you insane? There are only four of this card in the whole world! It's not even for sale!"
Sugoroku reprimanded the blond boy.
"Trust me I tried to…" Akia said before she was interrupted by the door chime.
"Welcome!" Mr Mutou put on his best customer service voice.
They all turned around to find Kaiba at the door.
"Kaiba-kun?" Yugi called out, confused as to why he'd be there.
"Rich boy?" Akia did the same, but in a more mocking way.
"What is the heir of Kaiba Corp. doing here?" Honda asked.
"I heard that Yugi and Akia's grandfather is a card maniac," Kaiba answered their curiosity.
"Oh, so you play Duel Monsters, too? That's awesome! Let's get along!" Jounouchi suggested in a friendly manner.
"I'd rather die than get along with a stuck up rich boy like him…" Akia mumbled low enough so that nobody heard her.
"What's that, Akia?" Jounouchi asked her.
"Nothing!" She innocently replied.
"No thanks, I'll pass. You're way out of your league if you think you can get along with me," Kaiba condescendingly denied.
"What'd you say, rich boy?" Akia inquired with a combative tone.
He was really starting to get on Akia's nerves. Before, she didn't mind him as much, but now, she straight up couldn't stand his presence.
"I was the winner of the Duel Monsters National Championship, after all. In other words, we're on completely different levels," Kaiba kept patronizing them.
"The hell? How about you shut up and play me?" Jounouchi challenged, also getting pretty worked up.
"Stop it, Jounouchi-kun," Yugi tried to reason with his friend.
"Yugi's kind of right, you won't stand a chance against him. Even though I hate to admit that…"
Akia added, fully unsatisfied with how the events were unfolding.
Kaiba smirked at how furious Jounouchi looked.
"Does this shop even have any decent cards?" Kaiba mocked the game shop as he looked around in disdain.
"If it didn't, you wouldn't be here now, would you?" Akia mumbled.
Kaiba ignored Akia's remark as he noticed the card in the shop owner's box. His mocking expression turned into shock.
"W-What?!" The young CEO yelled out in surprise.
He rushed to the counter, shoving Akia aside in the process. She landed in Jounouchi's arms as he tried to keep her from falling.
"Watch it, asshole!" Akia shouted at him.
Kaiba completely ignored her once again as he stared down at the legendary card.
"How come the Blue-Eyes White Dragon is in a dump like this?" Kaiba expressed his disbelief.
"A dump?!" Akia retorted with indignation. She was now beyond irritated. What she'd give to slap some sense into that jerk's brain…
The twin's grandfather closed the box and put it away.
"Now that's enough of that," he calmly stated, it isn't for sale, anyway."
Kaiba scowled and then put on a more business-like expression. He took the suitcase he was holding the whole time and opened it on the counter in front of Sugoroku. Akia and the others looked at what was inside and were struck with awe, just like Sugoroku.
"Old man, if you give me the Blue-Eyes White Dragon, I'll trade all of these cards in return!" Kaiba tried to negotiate.
The grandfather gave a mocking laugh.
"No way," Sugoroku shut the deal down.
Everyone seemed surprised, since there were some pretty rare cards.
"If you're not going to trade it, I'll buy it! Name your price, anything!" Kaiba desperately tried to come to some sort of arrangement.
"Kaiba-kun," the twins' grandfather tried to explain, "the reason I'm not selling this card is not because it's such a strong card, but because it was a gift from a very precious friend. Therefore, I'll treasure it just as I treasure that friend. Nothing you can offer can measure up to that."
"What…" Kaiba responded, completely unconvinced.
"You would feel the same even if it was a weak card, right grandpa?" Yugi asked.
"That's right. This card has the same heart as that precious friend," Sugoroku answered with a smile.
"Never thought I'd ever think grandpa was cool…" Akia added.
Kaiba closed the suitcase in frustration and left.
"Glad he's gone…" Yugi's twin sighed in relief.