Rika woke up early that morning. She knew that those three were still sleeping and that seemed perfect for her plan. She went to shower first and she checked the door twice to be sure she locked it. If Ryo could broke into her room, he probably wouldn't think twice before breaking into the bathroom too. She stayed in front of a mirror for quite a while. She was observing her face and a pretty pleasant thought about Ryo came into her mind but she chased it away and went back to her room. She made herself a ponytail, dressed a pullover and jeans and went out to the hall. She walked past Kazu and Kenta, who were still sleeping on the couch, to the kitchen. She found two clean cups and took milk from the fridge. While waiting for the milk to get warmer in the microwave, she was looking at the last door in the appartment. Her curiosity was too strong and she checked if Kazu and Kenta were still asleep. She went to the door on tiptoe and leaned her head on it. She was hoping to hear some noises but she didn't. The microwave beeped and she went back to get a cup of warm milk. Her heart started to get wild, because the time for her back-attack had come. Tiptoe again she went back to Ryo's bedroom and took a deep breath. Without knocking she opened the door.
'Good mornii- Aaaaghh!!!'
Ryo was standing in the middle of the room. His hair was wet and the only thing he had on was a white towel around his waist. 'Errr .. Morning!'
Rika shut the door, never so embarassed in her entire life.
'Rika?' a voice behind her said and it frightened her so much that she jumped a bit and spilled the milk all over herself.
'Are you crazy Kazu!?'
'What's wrong with you! One moment you're screaming and the other you're yelling at me for checking after you. Women!!'
Kazu left her there and went back to the couch. She wanted to go back to the kitchen but the door behind her opened and Ryo - luckily (?) dressed - came out. His hair was still wet.
'Hey you!' he said still a bit surprised. 'What was that all about?'
'Oh shut up, look what you've done!' she said madly, showing on her milky pullover. Ryo blinked twice, not knowing what she was talking about and let her disappeare to her room. She shut the door very loudly.
She put the empty cup on Ryo's desk and changed her clothes. Her first attack couldn't had gone worse and she had no idea how she could continue. Plus there was another thing bothering her now. Wet hair ... that dark skin ... I hate myself.

She went back to the kitchen after almost an hour. It was nine o'clock and the semi-finals began at two. Ryo was sitting at the table, drinking juice and reading newspaper. Kenta was yawning opposite Ryo and Kazu was probably in the shower, since she heard the noise of it. Ryo looked at her when she came to the table and smiled.
'Good morniiing!'
She had no choice now, she had to do it.
'Morning guys .. How did you sleep?' she said. Kenta was surprised about her kindness, which make her a bit angry. Why is he so surprised?!
'.. And you?' Ryo asked her and she noticed that she didn't hear what he was saying.
'Aaam, good. Thanks for asking.' It really was kinda hard to be so nice. She bit her lips before the next question. 'I see your father has a private bathroom in his room, am I right?'
'Mhmph .. Yeah, he does. I forgot to tell you ...' he showed all of his teeth in a big smile.
'Oh never mind. I like what I saw.' Rika thought she was going to die when she said it. Calm down, Rika, this has to be done!
Ryo and Kenta were both staring at her but she pretended not noticing anything. She sat down next to Ryo. His stupid hair is still wet! I hate him!
'See why knocking is lame?' he giggled at her and she gave him a fake smile. Kenta was confused and relieved when Kazu finally left the bathroom. Rika could hear him telling Kazu that there was something strange going on between the two of them. Kazu wrinkled his forehead.
'So, Ryo, are you going to show us some card strategies before we go?? I feel like destroying someone in a duel!!' Kazu said in excitement and Ryo noded.
'Do you want to learn something too?' Ryo asked Rika after Kazu left them.
She gave him a scowled look and moved her face in front of his - just like he did the day before. 'Do you think I need to ..?' she said slowly and quietly. Ryo was just looking her in the eyes, not saying anything. She stood up and told him, she didn't need his help. She went to her room and lied down on the bed.
Stupid plan! It seems to be working better on me than him!
She was lying there for a while, trying to kill her pleasant thoughts. No, go away ... I don't want to think about it ... But you do ..! Just for a second .. a second ..
She knew Ryo for a while now. Well, she had known him before they became friends, because he was the legendary Tamer and he was the one who beat her in that tournament a few years ago. She hated him for that. She remembered seing him very seldom after they defeated the D-Reaper and he returned home to Kyushu. He was visiting the card tournaments in Tokyo and they all met on a occasion like that. She kinda missed his stupid jokes when he went back-
Rika stood up and shaked her head. 'That's enough!'
What she didn't know was that her plan actually started to work on Ryo too ...

'So if I do this, nobody can beat me??' Kazu asked Ryo. 'Ryoo?'
'Errr, yeah, that's right!' Ryo almost yelled on his friend and moved a little with his chair.
'That's so stupid!'
'Huh? What do you mean, Kazu?' Ryo was surprised about Kazu's annoyed voice.
'You're thinking about that monster, aren't you?'
'Wha-what monster??'
'I thought you were a real guy, Ryo! And now you let that .. girl .. to seduce you! Don't you see??'
'Hey, calm down Kazu, I'm fine, I'm just a bit tired ..' Ryo said and fake yawning followed the sentence.
'This is just her plan to destroy you!' Kazu said with fire in his eyes. 'Right, Kenta??!'
'Errr, I don't know-'
'C'mooon, was she ever so nice to Ryo?? She wanted to bring him a cup of milk, are you kidding me??!'
'Well, that really was weird .. I guess,' Kenta said hesitantly, because he didn't want to make Rika mad.
'Calm down, you two! Do you really think, I didn't notice thaat?'
'Well, if you did, you have to do the same thing to her!'
'No, that'd be really mean ..' Ryo said.
'But she's mean too!'
'Well, she always is,' Ryo giggled. 'I'm kinda used to that.'
'That might even be a better plan. She'll be so into this horrible plan that she'll forget about the game and destroyed herself! You mustn't lose, Ryo, I have high bets on you on the internet!'
'Whaat? Really??'

A few hours later the group of four was going to the semi finals. Rika was a bit nervous, because she didn't want to play against Ryo. Not just yet. She wanted to defeat him in the very finals. However, she wasn't the most nervous person on that underground station. Kazu was whining and biting his nails all the time.
'Would you just shut up for a second!?' Rika yelled at him. 'Why are you so nervous anyway?!'
'I just don't want to see you two in the semi finals playing against each other! What if they decide to eliminate one of you before the finals!?'
'Why is tha-' Rika was prepairing a new attack.
'I wouldn't worry about that. It's not just you, who'd like to see us in the finals. It's probably everybody. They will please the crowd, you'll see.'
Rika and Kazu looked at Ryo and didn't say another word.
'You're right, Ryo. Why did I even worry about you! Do you happen to know, if there's a cyber-cafe anywhere around here?' Kazu asked a minute later. They were still waiting for their underground train.
'We're below ground, stupid. UNDER-ground, you see?' Rika attacked him again.
Ryo smiled: 'There is one right there up that stairs. Why ..?'
'I .. I just .. Do you think we have some more time before we go there? I mean .. it's just ...' he said and looked at his watch. '3:17 .. and we need fifteen minutes to get there and we have to be there at 4:30 and-'
'What's your point, Kazu?' Rika interrupted him.
'I need a computer! Please, we'll be right back!'
'Whaaat'
'Who we? You mean me? Why-'
Kazu grabbed Kenta's hand.
'Err, yeah, sure .. our train will come in fifteen minutes. Do you think you can be back by then?'
'Yeah, of course!' Kazu was already running away while pulling on Kenta's hand ('let me go, Kazu!')
'What!? No! Wait!! You fooools!' Rika yelled at them and a few people looked at her.
'Just leave them. Kazu was right .. We do have to be there in an hour ...'
Rika wanted to say something mean but she remembered the plan and swallowed her words.
They were standing there in silence looking at other people. They recognised some players from the tournament, which wasn't really a hard thing to do, since they were caring cards in their hands and staring at their queen and king. Rika rolled her eyes when one of them almost tripped over a small child while looking at her. Ryo giggled at that.
'I wish they'd just stop staring at us.'
'They're all guys, I don't think they're staring at me ..' Ryo said and smiled at Rika.
'Of course they are, they just love you .. Freaks ...'
'I'm pretty sure that guy just now can't take his eyes of you,' he said and waged at a boy across the station. 'And I can't blame him for that.'
'What ..?' Rika said quietly and looked at him when the two of them were disturbed by Kazu and Kenta.
They were already on the train when Ryo remembered asking Kazu why they needed a computer.
'Well, I have a really good feeling about tomorrow. I just bet some extra money on you!' Kazu told them in excitement.
Rika wanted to say something mean but instead of doing that, she put her hand on Ryo's shoulder and shook it: 'Let's hope you won't be to disappointed after the match!'
Ryo, Kazu and Kenta didn't say a thing and were just staring at her. Rika was playing dumb and turned her head away from them. She could see Kenta and Kazu's reflections in the window. They were looking at each other and Kenta shruged his shoulders. She couldn't see Ryo.
They arrived at their station a few minutes later. Kazu and Kenta immediately jumped out of the train and Rika was following them. She stopped to wait for Ryo, who was supposed to be behind her, but she didn't see him anywhere. Kazu and Kenta were already at the stairs and a few people pushed her away, when they were trying to get to the train. Suddenly someone grabbed her hand and pulled her away from other people. It was Ryo. She let him lead the way, walking behind him. He was still holding her hand. Right before the stairs he suddenly stopped and turned around to her.
'I need to talk to you.'
She just noded to that and then they continued their way to Kazu and Kenta but they weren't holding hands anymore.
What's going on with me?