Game Kings and Ice Queens (Yu-Gi-Oh Season 0)

20 The green monster

"Hey grandpa!" Ren greets as she and Yugi return from school. It had been a busy day with tests so they look forward to relax for the rest of the day. Her parents will be returning soon, so Ren makes the most of her time hanging with Yugi and sometimes even Yami.

Yugi gasps as he spots what his grandfather has set up on the counter, his eyes growing wide in excitement. "You got some Dual Monster cards!" he exclaims happily.

The old man smiles at the boy's excitement. "Yes, the game is rapidly gaining in popularity. Everywhere you go, the cards are sold out." he explains.

"Ah, jumping right into the niche huh? Smart." Ren hums, knowing they will soon start selling like crazy.

"Indeed, and since I know the two of you like to play, I want you two to get something out of this opportunity as well." he states, grabbing to packets from the display. "Even though it's a sales product, as a favor I'll give it to you two as a present." he says, holding them out for them to take.

"Really?!" the teens exclaims in unison, eagerly snatching the packets from his hand while saying thank you at least a thousand times.

Yugi looks his over after opening it. "Ah too bad. I have all of these already." he mutters before looking over to the cards in Ren's hand. "What did you get Ren?"

"Mh, this looks pretty impressive. What do you think?" Ren asks, holding out a specific card of a lady in purple robes and a staff.

Yugi's eyes widen. "That's Violet Hekate!" he exclaims in awe, not noticing that the one customer that stepped in freezes for a second at the mentioning of the name.

"This card is one of the three witch sisters. It's a rare card that you won't just see anywhere!" Yugi explains.

Ren almost laughs, seeing how over the moon Yugi is about the card. Shrugging she thrusts it in his hands, "You can have it." she states making him look up at her bewildered. "I'm sure you can use it better than I can, plus, I owe you for all the lessons. I wouldn't have gotten into the game at all if it wasn't for you."

Yugi blushes at this. "I-it was nothing though. I-I really liked teaching you how to play. You don't have to pay me back." he says trying to return it to her, but she clasps her hand over his to keep him from loosening his grip on the card.

"Nonsense. Really Yugi, keep it. I want you to have it." Ren counters in a tone that tells him not to argue with her about it.

He then finally smiles, nodding. "Thanks Ren." he says sincerely before grinning wider and jumping up and down excitedly. "Wow!" he exclaims, making her and grandpa laugh at his antics.

"Want to try it in a duel?" Ren offers once he stops bouncing around, making him nod eagerly before the two of them rush upstairs, unaware of the extra set of eyes following after them.

.........

The next day at school, the teens gush over the Violet Hekate card as they change into their school's shoes. Yugi offers his friends to teach them more about Duel Monsters later but as he opens his shoe locker and takes them out, a letter falls from his locker.

It flutters to the ground, visible for all to see and Jounouchi and Honda pounce at it before Yugi even has the chance to react. "A love letter!" they shout in unison. And they appear to be right as the envelope is held closed by a sticker in the shape of a heart.

Ren stares at the two boys boredly before quickly snatching it away so they can't destroy it. She looks at the back of it, seeing Yugi's name written on it with a girlish handwriting.

She can't help it that her jaw falls slack at the sight of his name on a love letter and honestly, she's not sure how to react.

"Ren?" Anzu questions, noticing her abnormal silence.