Yu-Gi-Oh! Return of the Pharaoh

A New Friend

"Hey, Yugi! Wait up!"

Yugi turned to see two of his three best friends running towards him.

"Hey, guys," he said as they finally reached him, bending over and trying to catch their breaths. "You guys actually made it to school on time today," he added, jokingly.

Both lifting their heads simultaneously, they stared at Yugi, flabbergasted.

"On time? We thought the tardy bell rang!" Tristan exclaimed.

"Yeah! We were gonna walk in with you and make up an excuse, and they would have had no choice but to believe us, seeing as you're never late," Joey added, still panting from the clearly pointless run.

Yugi shrugged. "Sorry, guys, but you're not late. And the tardy bell doesn't ring for another five minutes." Yugi shook his head. "You guys really need to get a watch so you won't keep having so many close calls."

"Keh! Maybe next week. I mean, since this is the first week of school, they gotta go easy on us," Joey brushed Yugi's suggestion off, folding his arms behind his head and looking casually up at the sky.

"Don't ya mean our first week as SENIORS? We made it, guys! We're the kings of the school!" Tristan shouted, striking a pose befitting of royalty.

"Yeah, as well as the other 300 senior guys at Domino High," Yugi joked, poking a hole into Tristan's balloon of fantasies.

"Oh, right," Tristan murmured, "but a man can still dream."

"Well, the point is, we're still seniors!" Joey interjected. "Even if we have to share it with the other guys, we still rule this school."

Yugi smiled, but a familiar aching pain in his heart made him change the subject. "Yeah, well, we won't be ruling anything if we're late to first period."

"Good, thinking, Yug," Tristan replied, before all three jetted to homeroom. Luckily, the Gods of School Schedules placed them all in the same homeroom- Téa included.

RRRRIIIINNNGGGG!

"Phew! Just in the nick of time," Joey gasped as they threw themselves into Mr. Hoji's Mathematics class.

"Yeah, well, thanks for almost making me late," Yugi choked out as he quickly took his seat.

"Sorry, man," Tristan said. "We owe ya one."

"In your seats, everybody," Mr. Hoji ordered as he closed the door to his class. "Now until we all get acquainted, I still need to take attendance." Pulling out his pad, he scrolled through the names.

"Asher." A boy raised his hand.

"Ashumi… Barnes… Benson…"

"Hey, where's Téa?"

"She isn't here?" Yugi looked over at Joey before scanning the room for her… no Téa.

"Where can she be?" Yugi thought aloud, his brow furrowing with worry.

"I don't know… hey, Yug… Yugi! Look! I think that girl's checking you out, man," Joey whispered loudly to his friend, momentarily forgetting his missing friend.

"Huh?" Yugi looked in the direction that Joey indicated. Overhearing, Tristan looked as well. Sure enough, a girl was staring with awe at Yugi. Catching Yugi's gaze, she blushed and looked down. The girl was very pretty, with short-cropped brown hair, dazzling blue eyes, and a face that was adorned with delicate features. But despite her attractiveness, Yugi wasn't interested. He was only interested in one girl- and said girl was still missing.