The Thief with a Ring

THE NUMBER ONE DUELIST!! Also, the gym coach died

Domino High School is hell. There is no denying that. While her teacher blabbing on and on about this week's breakup session, Chiyo was off in her own world through the book she was reading. Her green eyes eat up every written word in every page, jumping in the images of Duel Monsters and trying to decipher every Egyptian hieroglyphic.

Chiyo is obsessed with Duel Monsters. Although it's not in the way most people would think. Rather than actually play the game, she would much rather spend her days studying each card, its connection with Egyptian history, what its special abilities are, etc. She cared more about studying Duel Monsters than doing her homework.

What was the homework again?

Teacher: (slams her hands down Chiyo's desk) Leisurely reading, I see. I can expel you right here and now, miss! Do NOT TEST ME.

Chiyo: S-Sorry, teach! Won't happen again, teach!

The chalkboard is filled with numbers and other mathematical concepts, all flying into Chiyo's head and disintegrating into memory dust. School would be over in another painful five hours. She can do this, Chiyo thinks to herself. She can survive another school day and actually learn something in this god forsaken hellhole.

This is impossible.

Chiyo gives up on listening to the lecture and spectates her friends. Like most high schools, each students are divulged into cliques. Chiyo was given the "weirdo" label due to her general geekiness. This was also given to her four closest friends: Julieanne, Mirai, Hikaru, and Goku.

Julieanne is doing two things at once: Doodling fairies and hearts on her notebook and staring at Ryou Bakura, her crush. His British accent immediately drew her in, even though this is only his second day of school. She even started to set out being a duelist just to get his attention! Chiyo can never imagine being THAT head over heels for a guy.

Mirai's eyes are glued onto the chalkboard, meticulously jotting down each and every equation shown to her. Her pride and passion is set upon looking studious and capable, and much better than her classmate and rival Seto Kaiba. It was only because her family's business had massive debts and controversy (some misogynistic scandal, Chiyo heard) that Mirai was given the "weirdo" title. Unfair, but Mirai never really cared about labels.

Hikaru is throwing paper balls at Joey, trying to get a reaction out of him. Classes never really appeased her, and neither did any rules or regulations. Hikaru was not malicious by any means, but any prank against an easy target was all good fun for her. And of course, her favorite target was Joey Wheeler himself. Obviously, not many people appreciate Hikaru's mischievous behavior (especially the authority figures), but she never minded the judgment.

Goku has his Duel Monsters cards on his deck as he shuffles his monster, spell, and trap cards respectively. Unlike Julieanne, who only started dueling today, Goku has been dueling ever since elementary school. With all the practice he had, his extensive collection of cards, and his strategy of "substance over style", Goku earned himself a place as one of the best duelists there ever was. With that being said, his melancholic worldview and aggression towards anyone not close to him turns people away from him, even the nicest people like Yugi and Téa.

Speaking of Yugi...

Classmate: Yo, Tristan. Is it true that Yugi wiped the floor outta THE Kaiba in Duel Monsters?

Tristan: He sure did! Now Yugi's the top duelist there ever was! Ain't that sweet?

Joey: Yeah, I bet it wasn't even dat long of a match! I- (turns to Hikaru) You dere! Stop throwin' em paper balls!

Hikaru: You prefer a spit ball?

Joey: No nothin! Just stop pesterin!

Hikaru: Alrighty, go enjoy sucking Yugi dry then. (Turns to Mirai) So what is there about Yugi anyways?