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Ryou walked in to class and immediately took notice of Yugi and the rest of the gangs absence. He sighed and dropped his head sitting down in his seat, he folded his arms. They always seemed to skip school and forget to tell him.
Usually he didn’t mind, it wasn’t a big deal, he didn’t need to be in the loop all the time, he understood needing space. But he had really been hoping to invite them out to the arcade today. Especially today.
Ryou never told any of them it was his birthday. He didn’t want to make it seem like a big deal to him or anything. But after he hadn’t received a call from his father for his birthday, he began to feel lonely.
He went through the day with his head down. The day couldn’t end soon enough for him. Around noon he entered the restroom to wash his face, hoping for something to help him feel better.
As he splashed his face with water a deep hum caught his attention. Ryou looked up to his reflection and frowned when he could make out the transparent figure.
“Having a bad day?” The spirit teased.
Ryou sighed and looked away. “ Just leave me alone. I thought you liked seeing me miserable? So Just let me remain miserable…with out you making me miserable.”
“On the contrary my dear host, I don’t like seeing you miserable. You know that. I’ve always tried to do things to make you happy.”
Ryou frowned. “Nothing you have done has ever made me happy.”
The spirit shrugged. “Still tried.”
Ryou groaned.
“Why do you consider them your friends if they insist on doing this to you?”
Ryou shook his head. “They didn’t do anything to me. They are just busy and forgot to tell me that’s all.”
“Oh…like the other hundred times they forgot to tell you.”
“Shut up!” Ryou said snapped turning away from the mirror hoping that would make the spirit disappear.
“They aren’t very good friends.”
“They are good friends!” Ryou growled. “They are just closer together than me! There is nothing wrong with that.”
Ryou felt his chest tighten at his own words and was starting to feel the loneliness begin to grow. He wasn’t even sure he actually believed himself.
They were his friends right?
“Well if they are such good friends you could always call them and ask where they are. I’m sure they will tell you.”
Ryou could tell the spirit didn’t actually believe that but he wanted to prove him wrong, so he pulled out his cell and dialed Yugi’s number.
“He will.” Ryou said firmly.
The phone rang a few times before a chipper voice finally picked up. “Hello?”
“Hey!” Ryou sighed with relief. “Yugi! I see you guys aren’t at school today is everything alright? You guys doing something?”
“Oh yeah.”
Ryou suddenly heard someone whispering to Yugi and Yugi hummed in agreement to whatever they were saying.
“Yeah. We won’t be at school for hopefully no longer than a week, going on a trip. And I can’t talk about it right now have to get on the plane. Bye Ryou! See you soon.”
The phone went silent and Ryou felt the lump in his throat grow. It felt like Yugi didn’t want to tell him instead of actually not being able to.
Ryou slowly slid his cell back into his pocket squeezing his eyes to keep himself from crying. He wasn’t going to do that. No. He has done this for many years before he met them, he didn’t need anyone with him. It wasn’t that important.
“Do not start with the water works.”
Ryou sniffled and shook his head. “I’m not.”
“Hmph I can feel the tears running down my own face. So quit it.”
Ryou wiped his face and splashed his face again and sighed heavily. “I’m fine.” He said to his reflection. “I’m fine.”
Ryou stepped out from the restroom and went to his next class. He hardly paid attention to anything for the rest of the day. Too busy trying to keep his emotions at bay. Finally the day came to an end and Ryou made his way to his shoe locker.
He grabbed his shoes and slipped them on, he grabbed his bag and just as he made his way to the door a loud shout startled him.
“Ryou!!!”
He turned wide eyed and saw the girls who always tried to hang around him squealing and running up to him. He furrowed his brows. Now that he thought about it he hadn’t seen them at all today maybe that’s why he had been extra lonely.
He didn’t hate the girls (like some thought) he actually thought they were all quite nice but they were just a bit much. And he knew the majority of them just wanted to date him, which he wasn’t interested in.
“Oh hello.” Ryou said with a small wave.
“We haven’t seen you at all today!” One of the twin girls whined. “We were so busy trying to get some credit for extra curricular.”
“Oh I see-“
“But we are all good now!” The other twin said jumping up and down excitedly.
The oldest of the group, Dian, smiled softly and shook her head. She was always very soft spoken and more reserved.
“I hope you don’t mind but we all got you something.” Dian said suddenly shifting something she was holding behind her back.
Ryou blanched. They knew it was his birthday? How? He hadn’t told anyone.
“You got me something? You don’t have to do that.” Ryou said suddenly waving his hands in front of him. “I didn’t even tell anyone about toda-“
“Oh you did actually!” The red head of the group chirped. “You must have forgot, but I asked you months ago!”
“Oh…” Ryou frowned wondering how they could remember a small detail like that so well.
“Yeah! So we all saved up and got you a little something!” Another girl who was shorter than the rest exclaimed.
“Again you really did not have to do that…” Ryou said feeling embarrassed suddenly.
“Please expect it.” Dian smiled. “We all really tried to put a lot of thought into it.”
Ryou sighed and smiled face going red ok. “Well ok.”
Dian smiled and handed Ryou a small box, he carefully pulled the ribbon off of it and slid the lid off immediately feeling his jaw drop at what he saw.
“Happy birthday Ryou!” A twin squealed.
“How did you find these!” Ryou gasped hand going to his mouth. In the box sat a set of limited edition monster world dice. They were so hard to find and Ryou thought he would never have them.”
“It wasn’t easy but we talked to Duke Devlin and he helped us find them! So we can’t take all the credit for those.”
Ryou looked up surprised. “Duke helped you find these?”
“Yep! He was all over it once he learned it was for your birthday.” the taller of the girls said.
“That’s so sweet of all you! Thank you so much!”
The girls all beamed and nodded. Ryou looked up and bit his lip in thought. “I was in actually heading to the arcade tonight. I’m not sure if you girls are into that, but if you wanted to join me I’d really like the company.”
“Yes!” They all said at once. “You could teach us all the cool games you like!”
“Oh wonderful.” Ryou smiled greatfully and carefully stored his new dice into his bag. He was going to stare at those all night.
“What are we waiting for let’s go!” One of the twins said pushing her sister out the door. “I want to try and beat you all at as many games as possible!”
Ryou chuckled and followed them out. Maybe this birthday could be salvaged even if it started off awful.
“You must keep them around more often. Think of all the dice they will collect for us.”
Ryou rolled his eyes at the spirit. “Don’t be so selfish” he muttered.
“What? You can’t tell me you wouldn’t enjoy them buying you more dice.”
Ryou rolled his eyes. Of course the spirit would turn this heartwarming moment into a chance to be utterly selfish. Oh well. Ryou was feeling to happy to argue anymore.