Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal The Supreme King Dragon's Advent

Chapter 4: The Calm Before the Storm - A Lovely Date at Heartland Theme Park!

The school bell chimed, signaling the end of another tiresome day at Heartland Academy. Tetsuo slouched in his chair, his weary eyes scanning the bustling hallways filled with students eagerly rushing towards the exit. He let out a deep sigh, feeling a hint of envy tugging at his heart.

"Man... Ren must be living the life, huh?" Tetsuo muttered under his breath, his gaze wandered to his friends, Kotori, Rei, and Yuma, who had gathered nearby.

Kotori chuckled softly. "Oh, Ren's popularity has soared through the roof these past few months. It's like he's become the talk of the whole school."

Rei chimed in, his voice gentle and soothing. "It's not surprising, really. Ren has always been friendly and helpful to everyone. He's even lending a hand to the Student Council now."

Yuma crossed his arms, a hint of sadness evident on his face. "Yeah, and you know what? He's been so busy that he hardly has time to hang out with us anymore. It's like he's vanished off the face of the Earth."

Tetsuo nodded in agreement. "And even when he does have some free time, he's either busy dueling with Shark to get stronger or spending it with Kamishiro-san."

Tetsuo let out a heavy sigh, his envy apparent as he lamented, "It's not fair. Ren and Kamishiro-san have only gotten closer after their incredible win in the Sports Duel Tournament and the Couple Duel Tournament. They make such a great team, both on and off the field."

Kotori nodded sympathetically, adding, "Yeah, they're not a couple yet, but it feels like they're one step closer to that. I've seen them spending more time together, going out for meals and even shopping for cards. It's like they're inseparable."

Tetsuo's heart sank further at Kotori's words, his crush on Kamishiro-san intensifying with each passing day. He had always admired her from afar, her kindness captivating his attention. But now, with Ren by her side, it seemed like an impossible dream to have her for himself.

"I did declare to Ren that we would be rivals, and I won't give up on Kamishiro-san so easily." Tetsuo said. "But it's just that... Ren has an overwhelming lead when it comes to Kamishiro-san's affection. It feels like no matter what I do, I can't catch up."

Kotori listened attentively, a small frown forming on her face as she empathized with Tetsuo's struggles. "I understand how you feel..." she said softly, her voice has a hint of wistfulness. "It would be nice if things could progress between me and the person I like too..." Kotori's gaze shifted momentarily towards Yuma, who was obliviously devouring his rice balls, unaware of the unspoken longing in her eyes.

Yuma, as dense as ever, continued munching on his food, oblivious to Kotori's glance and her words. He looked up, a wide grin spreading across his face. "Hey, guys! These rice balls are amazing! You should try some!" he exclaimed, offering them to Tetsuo, Rei and Kotori.

Kotori let out a soft sigh, her eyes briefly meeting Tetsuo's before she turned her attention back to Yuma. She forced a smile, accepting the rice ball and taking a small bite. "Thanks, Yuma. They're really delicious," she said, masking her disappointment behind a cheerful facade.

After Ren's intense confrontation with Ryoga, a bond formed between the two young duelists, and they became friends, both united in their desire to protect Rio. From that day forward, Ren was frequently seen in the company of either of the Kamishiro siblings. He found solace and purpose in their presence, and together they formed an unbreakable friendship.

In the following months, Ren focused his efforts on dueling Ryoga, not to enhance his own skills, but to subtly train and improve Ryoga's abilities. Patiently and without Ryoga even realizing it, Ren's guidance and support allowed Ryoga to grow stronger with each duel. Ren's selfless dedication to helping his best friend achieve greatness became his secret mission, hidden behind the guise of friendly competition.