Inside the warehouse, several Nintama thugs sat around chatting, with Joey standing to the side.
Yugi ran a few steps toward him. "Joey! We heard you were forced into this! Come back with us!"
One of the seated thugs stood up—Hizutani scowled. "You again?"
The delinquent in the green knit cap was already warming up.
Looks like a fight's about to start. Yuto limbered up.
"Yugi, you've got it wrong. I joined on my own." Joey turned, voice firm. "I'm sick of boring classes, sick of being shackled by rules!"
"And… I'm sick of being friends with you guys!"
"Joey!" Yuto shouted in disbelief. This wasn't the Joey he knew.
"I'm just doing what I want. Don't butt in." His words were filled with determination. But Tristan still tried.
He pulled out the pink ribbon symbolizing their friendship. "Joey! Look at this! Remember our bond!"
Joey walked over, snatched the ribbon, threw it on the ground, and stomped on it. "Please, don't be so disgusting."
On the surface, he seemed indifferent, however, Yuto caught a flash of sorrow in Joey's eyes. Noticing Yuto's gaze, Joey shut his eyes tight.
Yes—Joey must have been coerced.
Regardless, Tristan, blinded by anger, charged forward. "You bastard!"
Joey dodged, then drove a fist into Tristan's stomach. The strongest of the three, his punch left Tristan curled on the ground like a shrimp.
Yuto saw tears in Joey's eyes. "Joey, you were forced, weren't you…?"
"I told you, this is my choice!"
"But your eyes… you're crying." Yuto extended his hand. "Come back. Whatever the problem, we'll face it together!"
Seeing Joey hesitate, Hizutani stepped up with his lackeys. "What the hell are you babbling about? Who do you think you are?!"
He swung his fist, but Yuto dodged and kicked his knee. Hizutani dropped to one knee, grimacing in pain.
Yuto tried to press the attack, yet Hizutani flung sand into his face.
"Ahhh!"
Yuto staggered back, clutching his eyes. Pain seared through them. The thugs swarmed, kicking him to the ground.
And Yugi? He'd already been knocked down by the green‑hatted punk.
At last, Joey couldn't take it anymore. "You promised not to hurt my friends!"
Like a leopard, he lunged forward, decking Hizutani with a hook that sent stars spinning in his eyes.
Tristan recovered and jumped back in. The two who'd been fighting side by side since high school once again stood back to back, brawling with the delinquents.
The past two days—being ordered around, lashing out at friends, even raising his fists—Joey's fury boiled over. His blond hair seemed to bristle with energy, his fists hammering down as if venting his rage.
"Hizutani! You bastard! Haaahhh!!!"
One uppercut to the chin sent Hizutani into a peaceful sleep.
The three remaining thugs pulled out their weapons—yo‑yos fitted with blades. A single slip and they'd slice flesh.
Even so, Joey and Tristan didn't back down. They tore off their school jackets, wrapping them around their right arms.
"Aaah!"
"Ughhh!"
In moments, the three were beaten to the floor.
Joey rushed to help Yuto up. "Can you open your eyes?"
"It's fine… just sand," Yuto muttered, blinking through the pain.
Tristan lifted Yugi, who was still clutching his stomach.
"Alright, let's get out of here." Tristan led the way out of the abandoned warehouse. Yugi and Yuto followed.
Joey bent down, picked up the ribbon, and walked after them…
After that, things quieted down for a while.
Monday, after school.
Yuto and Joey were on classroom duty when Téa peeked in. "Yuto, come here a sec."
"What is it?" Yuto asked, broom in hand.
"Hurry, come here!"
"Ah, okay."
What was so secret it couldn't be said in front of Joey? Confused but obedient, Yuto walked over. Joey, though curious, didn't pry.
Outside, Téa tugged him over to where two girls stood—Miho, and a green‑haired girl… looked like Mayumi from class?
"Yuto, do you know what Joey likes?" Téa asked.
"…Why ask that all of a sudden? Let me think—probably something R‑rated—owww!" Before he could finish, Téa stomped hard on his foot.
"Not like that! Something a girl could give as a gift!"
That stomp really hurt. "H‑huh?" Yuto blurted. "You're giving Joey a gift?"
"No! Mayumi is!" Téa snapped.
Mayumi tugged at her sleeve. "Téa, don't tell…" she whispered.
Relieved it wasn't Téa, Yuto exhaled. "Then let's check Yugi's game shop. Maybe Solomon Muto will have an idea."
He shrugged. "Honestly, Joey only really likes R‑rated movies."
"Good idea! Let's go!" Téa agreed quickly. The group headed out toward the shop, leaving Joey stuck with cleaning duty…
At Kame Game Shop, Yuto explained Mayumi's request.
"A gift that shows a girl's charm, huh…" Solomon Muto thumped his chest confidently. "You've come to the right place! I've got just the thing. Let me see…"
He rummaged through the top shelf of a cabinet, muttering. "Back in the day, I used this to win over Yugi's grandmother… ah, found it!"
He pulled out a dust‑covered box.
...
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