3rd POV:

Atem and Yugi sat at the kitchen counter lost in conversation.

"So have you asked Tea out yet?" The older Mutou asked.

Yugi looked down at his plate and shook his head.

"No, I mean what if she says no?"

Atem gave him a stern look.

"You'll never know till you ask."

"Yeah, but... I mean she is one year older than me."

"Yugi, she is only 16 and you are 15 that isn't much of an age difference."

"But-"

"No more buts Yugi." Atem told his brother grimly. Honestly, he had forgotten how many times they had had this particular conversation.

"Ok I'll think about it."

Atem sighed that always was Yugi's answer.

"So do you like anybody at school?" Yugi asked innocently, meeting his brother's eyes for the first time that morning.

Atem sent him a look.

"No and even if I did; all the girls at school only care about going out with the King of Games. I mean think about it, a few months back they wouldn't have given me a second look."

Yugi nodded, sort of understanding what Atem was referring to. It was nearly the same story for him. Atem may carry the title of King of Games, but both Atem and him were world champion duelists. Yugi having won the KC Grande Prix a few months back.

Atem stared at his brother and shook his head. Really Yugi had it so much easier. The girls may gawk over him nowadays, but Tea had made it known that if anybody messed with him they would have to deal with her. And that's what stressed Atem out the most about this whole asking her out issue. A few months back during the KC Grande Prix Tournament, Tea had confined in Atem that she had feelings for Yugi. But, she had made him promise her that he wouldn't tell a soul.

Atem stood up and took his plate to the sink.

"Come on Yugi, Mana will be here soon and you are still in your pjs." He said the girl's name as it pained him. Ever since they were old enough to go to school on their own Yugi had convinced Atem to let Mana come with them. The girl just irritated the hell out of him (or at least that was what he tells himself) and Atem was sure she felt the same way about him.

. . .YGO

"Atem! Yugi!" A girl slightly taller than Yugi, yelled from outside the game shop. She had green eyes, long brown hair, and skin that was a tad darker than average, though that was due to her Egyptian heritage.

She heard running footsteps from the other side of the door and had to suppress a grin.

Atem opened the door and sent her a glare.

"Why all the yelling, Mana?"

She shrugged. "What I've been here for 5 minutes."

"And why didn't you text me?"

"Check you phone." She retorted with a glare.

Atem did what Mana told him and he realized that he had one text message and a missed called.

"Oh..."

"Yeah oh, learn to check your phone Atem."

He gave her an annoyed look.

Mana looked around her impatiently.

"Atem where's Yugi?"

Atem sighed.

"He isn't ready." He said simply, leaning against the wall.

"Atem, why can't you ever wake up on time?"

He looked at her with fake innocence.

"What makes you believe that it's always my fault that we are late?"

Mana didn't grace that with an answered and just looked at him pointedly.

Before Atem was able to answer, Yugi stumbled out the door. Yelling a quick good-bye to his Grandpa and Mom.

"Hey Mana, sorry we made you wait. I nearly had to drag Atem out of bed?"

Mana smiled smugly at Atem and turned his gaze to Yugi.

"I guessed as much."

Atem shot his brother a look and quietly began to walk in the direction of the school, mumbling something about ungodly hours, traitorous brothers, and human torture.

Mana and Yugi laughed and quickly caught up with Atem.

"Atem, did you do Mr. Presley's homework?" Mana asked him innocently.

Atem gave her a quick glance and nodded.

Nobody would have believed that Mana was in the same grade as he was; knowing that she was the same age that Yugi. However, she had been approved for earlier admission, cause of her parent's political influence. She now was a year head then anybody her age.

As the trio walked to school, Mana kept trying to engage Atem in conversation, just for the sake of annoying him.

"So are you excited for the upcoming tournament?" Mana asked Atem.

"Not really, technically speaking Yugi had been planning to enter it and I really don't feel like another one so soon after Duelist Kingdom. But, since Kaiba is demanding my presence and I don't feel like having somebody else I care about being kidnapped. I really don't have a choice. I just hope it blows over quickly."

Mana looked at Yugi, who only shrugged.

"I still think you should enter Yugi. I mean think about a Finals between the two of you would be epic."

"Maybe," Yugi said absently, by after a thought a huge grin broke through Yugi's face.

"I feel the same about you Mana." Yugi spoke up distracting Mana from her thoughts.

"What?!"

"Oh, come on I've seen you duel. You're pretty good. I bet you that you could even make it into the finals."

Atem shot his brother a look to shut up.

He still hadn't told Mana about having bet Kaiba into letting her into his tournament.

"Yugi, I might duel but I've only ever gone up against you too, and I always lose."

"You've beat Mokuba."

"Yes, but... it's...um."

Atem looked at her from the corner of his eye. He had to resist the urge to laugh. Mana seriously didn't give herself enough credit.

"Mana..."

"No, Atem you know it just isn't my thing. Plus I doubt I would even qualify." She said the last as an afterthought.

Yugi had to cover his smile with his hand. He pitied Atem whenever he decided to tell Mana of his little scheme.

Atem stared at Mana; a small glint of mischief gleaming from his eyes.

"But what would you do, if let's say you did qualify?"

"Not that I would ever register, so there isn't even a small possibility that that would ever happen. However if I did somehow manage to qualify then yeah, I would duel."

Yugi smiled.

Atem only nodded and turned back to ignoring whatever they were rambling about.

It wasn't until he heard his name being mention that he focused his mind back on the conversation.

"Then, you'll come with us to pick up Atem and Joey's Dueldisks."

"Well duh, I supported you guys throughout Duelist Kingdom and the KC Grande Prix what makes you think that this will be any different."

"Great," Atem mumbled,

"Hey look it's the others," Mana called and waved her hand in a desperate attempt to catch Tea's attention.

When Tea saw their little group she nudged Joey that was talking to Tristan about the latest TV sitcom that was "on the rage". Or Atem guessed, he didn't really watch much television, didn't see the point of it.

"Hey looked who finally decided to grace us with their presence." Joey greeted them.

"Don't blame me, talk with those two." Mana defended herself, pointing at the brothers.

Atem shook his head, but it was Yugi that spoke up.

"Sorry guys, so what were you talking about."

Tristan smirked and looked at Joey. "Joey here was telling us all about his sister Serenity."

Joey turned to Tristan and glared at him.

"Stay away from my sister, Tristan."

Tristan only smiled.

"So were going to register for the tournament after school. You guys coming?" Yugi said hoping to avoid a fight.

"Sounds perfect Yug, though after I have to head over to the hospital. My sister is finally getting her operation tomorrow."

Atem gave him a half small. He was glad that Joey's sister was going to be ok.

"Seriously Atem, I don't know how to ever thank you..." Joey began.

Atem held up his hand to silence him.

"Joey, don't worry about it. All I care about is that her eye sight will be alright."

"Thanks man."

It was then that the early warning bell resonated through the school grounds.

"Well that's our sign to go." Tea said brightly grabbing Atem and Mana by the collar of their shirts. Those two had a nasty habit of skipping school and later that day they had a mayor test that neither could miss.

Yugi, Tristan and Joey snickered at Mana and Atem's shock faces.

Tea turned and gave them a quick look as she walked toward their building.

"You two aren't going anywhere today. I am not making up any excuses for either of you." She growled out, letting go of their shirts, stopping in front of the brick building. Both of them nearly lost their balance and stared at her. Mana only nodded and quickly looked at Atem who was smirking.

Tea knew she hadn't gotten to him and frowned.

"Don't you dare skip or I tell Yugi that-"

"Alright, alright," he said cutting her off. He didn't need Tea telling Yugi, and then he would tell Joey and so on. It had been one bad stupid night and Atem had accidentally told Tea his darkest secret. And now she uses it as blackmail whenever she wanted him to behave as the honor roll student he was supposed to be.

Honestly, how he and Mana had ever made it on that list he would never know. They spend so much time skipping that it was just second nature to them.

Tea nodded and turned to enter the building. Mana and Atem right behind her, both cringing when they saw the scowl on their teacher's face. Yeah, it was going to be one of those days.