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A young youth with purple-and-pink hair hums to himself as he walks down the red carpeted hallway. His head angles up to the windows, peering outside the hallway.
“What a lovely weather.”
Through the window, silver and white clouds settle in the sky above. The clouds began to grow dark with every passing minute as it cloaks the entire island like a blanket of steel. Yuri suspects the following day would be the same before facing straight ahead.
Hanging on the crook of his arm is a woven basket bundled with a bunch of silk roses crafted by him. All Yuri needs is to deliver the faux flowers to Dennis and do their dress rehearsal. Despite taking his sweet time, he’s quite satisfied with his contribution to the play.
Heavy footsteps echo behind him throughout the quiet and pristine hallway. As the source approaches him, another in the form of a shout joins in, growing louder and louder by the seconds. Eventually, it becomes difficult for Yuri to ignore so he listens in.
“Briar… Mr. Briar… Mr. Briar!”
A man in an olive drab uniform jumps in front of Yuri. The inertia whips him from the sudden stop, almost causing the roses in the basket to spill out. Yuri furrows his brows as he glowers at the guy's intrusion before recognizing him as one of the faculty members of the academy. A stack of loose papers rests on his arm.
There is one thing Yuri hates in the world, and it’s when people annoy him from doing the thing he wants to do.
Especially when they’re trying to stop him.
“You...” Yuri trails off in a stern voice. “Get out of my way.”
He maneuvers to the side, however the staff member quickly blocks him from going past. Yuri’s tone did not affect the man in the slightest. He tries the other side and is met with the same result. They then shuffle side-to-side into a mini mirror match before Yuri abruptly ends it.
Yuri’s scowl darkens and his brows begin to twitch. ‘He should be grateful that I’m no longer interested in carding people.’ Yuri fumes to himself.
“What is it that you want?” his voice booms with a crack.
“Please, take this! The Professor sent me to give this to you, Mr. Briar!” the faculty member expels with erratic breaths while fixing his dishevel posture.
True to his words, the faculty member whips out a manila envelope on top of the stack of papers and hands it to Yuri.
Yuri eases the scowl on his face, but only by a mere fraction. His frown deepens upon hearing Leo Akaba’s title and glances at the buff colored envelope before accepting it from the guy’s hand.
“That’s not my name. It’s Yu—“
He looks up to find the faculty member’s back has become small and further out of his line of sight. Like a buzzing mosquito, the man came and went, leaving Yuri alone in the hallway with the envelope, irritated.
Yuri releases a sigh of frustration. There isn’t much he could do so he opens the envelope to see what the fuss was about. Inside was a paper that he recognizes was the form for the week-long Maiami City trip he turned in a few days ago.
On it a sticky note is attached, written with the Professor’s bold handwriting.
The note reads: SIGN WITH YOUR SURNAME.
A red penned arrow points to the empty space beside his given name.
He grimaces and clicks his tongue. Shoving the paper back into the envelope and holding it on the side. Yuri then proceeds to storm off to the auditorium.
Yuri had gone without using a surname for as long as he could remember. Because to him, he never had one.
He knew better than anyone that Briar is not his surname. As much as Yuri could tolerate it being used for any formal address, it irks him whenever the other faculty members call out his unofficial name. Granted, they didn’t know Yuri personally enough to say his given name to begin with. So long as they don’t force him to use the thorny surname, he cared even less… until now.
It’s just a stupid surname, Yuri tells himself. His name—alone—is enough for him. However, Yuri could not shake the unpleasant feeling within his chest. Not to mention that he would receive an earful from Dennis for not completing his paperwork before the deadline.
He takes a sharp left and pushes the heavy grand, dark doors open as he enters the vestibule of the auditorium. Briskly passing another set of doors into the main room itself.
Yuri catches sight of three familiar faces illuminated by the stage lights, along with the stale, musty air of the dark theater. At a distance, he sees that they are wearing an attire different from their usual. Their costumes are fancier and flashier too.
Yuri walks down the aisle.
“Yuri, you’re here!” Dennis waves to him with his gloved hand. Sora and Serena are standing beside Dennis as they nod to Yuri.
A sigh of relief escapes Yuri, and a smile grows over the call of his name. It was like a soft music note to his ears.
“Geez, what took you so long? We’re already dressed out!” Sora complains, his face cringes over the unsettling smile Yuri has before them.
Yuri picks a rose from the basket and distracts himself, twirling the stem between his fingers. “Oh, you know, walking at a glacial pace. I know how much that excites you,” before tossing it back.
Sora’s eyes narrow with scrutiny. His mouth ready to retort back, until he sees the large envelope in Yuri’s hand.
“It’s all right, Sora. We still have time to alter our outfits before we depart to Maiami City.” Dennis gives a light-hearted pat to Sora’s back.
Sora relents with hesitation before warning Yuri. “Don’t cry to me later for any last minute changes!”
Yuri shrugs to himself, feigning a yawn in the process. “Why would I shed tears? Shouting is much better for asking assistance.”
Yuri strides up to Dennis and hands him the basket.
“Hopefully, these should be enough.”
“It’s plenty. Thanks!” Dennis smiles. “Ah, before I forget. Here’s the playbill! Let me know if there’s any changes needed before I start printing out more!”
Dennis hands Serena and Yuri the pamphlet from his person. Then he beckons Sora over to join him with the rest of the stage crews and actors.
Sora waves to Serena before leaving Yuri and her near the auditorium chairs. The two of them look on as the group on stage prepares to start the rehearsal.
Not bothering to read through the pages, Yuri sinks into the cushioned seat beside him. Setting aside the envelope and playbill as he watches the people on stage scramble about into their positions. Yuri props a hand on the side of his face as his smile fades away.
“Not in a good mood?” Serena asks.
Yuri became silent before nodding back in response.
He glances at the envelope again, if he were to choose a surname—any name would do. It beats having to use the academy-issued surname given to him. However, none came up in his mind that interests him.
He wonders if he should challenge Serena to a quick duel while he thinks of a name. Simply to pass time while the two guys act out their lines. It is only up until Yuri and Serena’s part begins on the second act of the play when they walk down the aisle and perform.
Yuri cranes his neck towards Serena for some ideas. He notices her standing tall in a flowing white mini-dress and wearing a matching pair of flats. A drape of white satin trails behind the skirt and her neckline decorated with a necklace of clustered crystals. Beautiful, like the moon.
He watches Serena coolly flip the leaflet and scan through its pages.
Her pleasant face, devoid of her usual creased brow lines, calms him. She purses her lips and knits her eyebrows in concentration. Probably for a word on the page she is reading at—is his guess.
Thinking about it now, Yuri enjoys being in her company. It’s entertaining whenever he goes up to Serena and pokes a reaction out of her that wasn’t her serious signature expression. If anything, as a result of the games he’d play with her, Yuri finds Serena extremely cute and would fight to see her smile a little. Except for when Serena tries to beat him up for escalating his antics too far, challenges him when he wants a casual conversation, or when they bicker; which annoys him to a degree.
At first, he didn’t understand his counterparts’ emotional attachment with their respective girls. Unlike them, most of his life was spent isolated and conditioned as Academia’s immaculate soldier under Leo Akaba’s supervision. Never once did Yuri leisurely hang out with Serena while he followed the Professor’s orders. The only times he interacted with her was when Leo first introduced them to each other and at the Synchro Dimension. But things are different now, and Yuri got the opportunity to spend time with Serena.
He learned that Serena is passionate about dueling, just like him. That she is very competitive and she hates losing. That she had a lonely, isolated upbringing. And… that both of them aren’t so different, after all.
A day had never felt boring whenever she was around. Her presence alone made his life full as the moon compared to when they weren’t hanging out. So much so, that her absence seems out of place in which he actively seek her out to fill the void.
Had he known being with Serena was this much fun, Yuri would’ve sought her out much sooner. And he wishes the fun he has with her would last forever. Sometimes he wonders if she feels the same way, too… not that he minds.
“Hey, Yuri.” His ears perk up upon hearing his name. A soft hum emits out from him. “How come you don’t have a surname here?”
He holds himself back as he deeply inhales through his nose. His fingers curl into a small fist and he dies inside. Right then he curses at Zarc, or whatever higher power, for the irony over his name before letting out a loud groan.
Serena tilts her head and stares at him in confusion.
Not wanting to hide the awkward feeling anymore, he brushes his hair back with a hand and collects his composure.
“What is it to you?” Yuri calmly asks in a cool tone.
“Kinda strange knowing someone without one.”
Yuri couldn’t help but to avert from the curious glint in her eyes. He doesn’t want to lie to Serena about how he feels. Not that he would.
“I just happen to not have one. I didn’t know who my parents were before the Professor took me in, so I didn’t bother. Although the Professor and Academia use “Briar” to formally address me,” Yuri stares at a random spot for no particular reason. “My name is one of the few things that I have aside from Starving Venom Fusion Dragon.”
To Serena, it’s odd hearing Yuri sound so distant compared to his usual self. Then again… Yuri is strange for hesitating on accepting some of her duels, Serena thinks to herself.
She appreciates Yuri’s extravagant amount of chats and duels he bombards her every time they meet. Enough that she grew accustomed and accepted his shenanigans. For some reason, the act itself made her feel wanted—loved, even—with the amount of attention he was surrounding her like ivy covered walls. More than Leo could ever provide. And she couldn’t help but cultivate a fondness for Yuri.
As much as she hates to admit it, seeing Yuri in that state pains Serena in more ways than one. She understands how it feels to be unapproachable and guarded your whole life. Which explains why their manner of speech comes off like a taunt. Plus, she likes him better when he is talkative and playful. Even if it meant having her ears become deaf from his yapping and see him flaunt a smile.
Sometimes, Serena gets green with envy when her counterparts talk about their dimensional partners. Comforting others is not her strongest skill and the girls know how to cheer them up… unlike her. And it frustrates her that she doesn’t know how without resulting in the two of them disagreeing.
She ruminates for some time.
‘Screw it. Might as well try,’ Serena says to herself. She remembers Yuzu saying thoughtful gifts make people happy. It isn’t much, but it’s something since that’s all she has aside her bracelet.
“How about you take my surname instead?”
Yuri’s mind returns back to reality.
He turns his head to Serena. Eyes scanning her face for any signs of truth behind her words, then does a double take.
“Is that a proposal…?”
“Well yeah, if you put it that way.” Serena furrows her brows in response, unsure as to why Yuri got worked up over her suggestion.
Yuri somewhat recalls Serena being in a similar situation as him. She didn’t share the same surname as the Professor, instead hers was also chosen by the academy. What is it again? Ah, yes, Fujiki. A name meaning wisteria tree, similar to the one within the campus garden. A beautiful woody plant with cascading purple flowers, believed to ward off bad luck and demons. But that’s not the point—! Yuri shakes his thoughts off.
“I’m basically stealing your name, you know. Are you sure about it?”
Surely she’d know what giving her surname to him means, right? Him and her, joining together. Does that mean she likes him? So much so that she is willing to share her surname with him? Though he has some doubts whether to take the long-term commitment with Serena just yet. Everything is happening way too quickly.
“It’s not stealing if I am giving it to you! Besides, it’s not like I use my last name anyways. What are you, your dragon?” Serena huffs out as she crosses her arms over her chest.
His eyes widened with his mouth ajar in utter shock. The feelings inside him screams as he attempts to process Serena’s words. No words can express how much he feels for Serena at this moment.
Fujiki. Yuri Fujiki. His new name has a nice ring to it the more he says it in his mind. His heart races faster the longer he visualizes. In his mind, their names under the same tree. A blossoming future with the two of them in it. Taking her name and sharing their happiness together. Why didn’t he think of that before?!
Yuri is thankful that the auditorium is partially dark. He could feel his face becoming hot and bright like the stage lights.
Serena is taken aback by Yuri’s awestruck stare. She’s beginning to understand how Rin feels whenever Yugo gives her that weird look, and it’s creeping her out. Did she scare him that bad? She silently curses to herself.
She kinda regrets taking a jab at comparing him to his dragon. There she goes, almost asking for an argument. Maybe if she tries to talk more nicely, it might hopefully bring him back to normal?
Serena shuffles her feet together before clearing her throat. “Hey. So, err, will you accept my—?”
Suddenly, Yuri throws his composure into the air and stands from his seat. He clasps her hands tight in his as he pulls her close.
“Yes! Yes, I do!”
Serena flinches back from his outburst as her breath hitches from the close contact.
He didn’t care if he looked ridiculous in front of her. Yuri is over the moon with his new name, all thanks to his beloved Serena.
“I’ll switch out my uniform!”
Yuri releases her hands and collects his things. He pauses for a moment and turns back to Serena.
She couldn’t read his expression as Yuri unties his orchid ribbon necktie. He takes her hand and wraps it around one of Serena’s fingers before slipping it off. He ties a section of the ribbon, into a loop knot, in a swift fashion.
“What’s that for?” Serena points to his ribbon.
“No reason. Meet me in the lobby afterwards!” Yuri claps Serena on the shoulder.
He flashes her a smirk before departing into the backstage changing room.
As he makes his way out, Serena notices a small bounce in his steps. She couldn’t stop but to scratch her head. But at the very least, he’s in a better mood than before.
“I don’t understand him sometimes…” Serena says with a big sigh and takes Yuri’s seat.
Then again, it’s one of those eccentric moments that Serena likes about Yuri. She couldn’t help but crack a smile over his reaction.
Yuri stands under the pergola covered wisteria blooms, while admiring the cascading flowers and pleasant fragrance, as he waits patiently for the three of them to arrive. The noontime sunlight spills between the petals with the clear blue sky hidden beyond the flowers like a curtained window.
His hands closed tight behind his back.
Restlessness and giddiness stirs within him for the grand announcement he’s about to perform. A thing he picked up from Yuya after they diffused from Zarc.
Three weeks have passed since their first dress rehearsal. The next day, to Maiami City. But before they depart, it’s time for him to present his long awaited surprise. He couldn’t help but giggle to himself, daydreaming different scenarios of their reception.
The sounds of their voices make their presence known as he turns to them with a smile.
“Now that everyone’s here, I have something I’d like to announce. But first…”
Yuri approaches Serena and takes her left hand. She jolts from his light touch, but remains calm.
“Let it be known where you and I stand within this ever-changing world. With great honor and pride, I give you my token of affection. And I look forward to sharing our exciting duels and passionate days together, Serena.”
He speaks in a soft tone. A gentleness that could be heard with Yuto when he talks to Ruri.
He brandishes a slim, circular metal object tucked within the palm of his other hand. Serena felt the warmth from the platinum band sliding down around her ring finger—a perfect fit.
Yuri reveals his left hand with his fingers fanned out to reveal a matching gold ring.
He closes his eyes while curling the corners of his lips into a wide grin.
“I’m going to Maiami City as Yuri Fujiki!” Yuri announces with gusto.
Silence hangs above the group until Sora’s howl whips the group into a frenzy.
“Ack, gross! You can’t be serious!” he roars, eyes bulging.
Dennis covers his mouth in shock as he snaps at the delusional youth. “Yuri! So that’s why you told me to add that in the paper!”
“What’s the meaning of this?” Serena asks with a deadpan, examining the ring on her finger before gazing back at him.
Yuri’s grin turns smug while his body faces Serena. He continues his monologue while staring deeply into the metal bands around their fingers.
“Well, it wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t give you a gift in turn for your surname,” he answers with a matter-of-fact tone. “So I asked Barrett if he knew a metalworker that specializes in jewelry making. It took a while for the rings to be completed.”
Yuri distracts himself and playfully admires the ring on his hand from different angles while flexing his fingers for some time, before he turns his attention back to Serena and smiles. His magenta eyes lock to her jade irises.
“But—lo and behold—here they are. Beautiful isn’t it?” He muses, breathless as if the bands have him in a chokehold.
Serena stares blankly while her mind buffers from Yuri’s fanatical words. While at a loss for words, Serena agrees that the ring is indeed beautiful since it matches her bracelet.
“May I cut him loose from her?!” Sora shrieks as he clings onto Serena’s arm and repeatedly tugs it away desperately from Yuri. “I object to this unholy union!”
Sora’s face crinkles from the shameless, public display of affection toward Serena. The blasphemous scene is enough for Sora to hurl all the desserts he had eaten in the morning onto the clean-cut grass but he held it in.
“Too late! She belongs with me. I already changed my name.” Yuri snaps in turn. He retrieves a folded piece of paper from his pocket and mockingly waves it in front of Sora’s incredulous face.
Sora snatches the document from Yuri’s hand and tears it apart viciously into tiny shreds. Yuri erupts into laughter once more and fails to stifle it even after the furious youth fruitlessly finishes.
“You fool!” the venomous duelist boasts with sheer mockery. “You thought it was the real thing, but that's a copy.”
Sora curses under his breath with a cutting gaze towards Yuri.
“Hey. Don’t get mad,” Yuri sneers with a Chesire grin and flicks a hand to the side of his face. “Because Serena. Loves. Me.”
The veins on Sora’s temple were on the verge of rupturing before an ear piercing screech of fury booms from his mouth. “Shut up, I don’t believe you!”
Yuri muses silently from Sora’s apparent jealousy.
Their confrontation in the abandoned subway station at the former Synchro Dimension confirmed Sora’s suspicions. Despite everything being resolved, doubt hangs over Sora to trust the lovestruck fool when it comes to Serena. Let alone leaving her with him of all people. Who knows what dubious behavior Yuri has up his sleeves?
Yuri ignores Sora when Dennis goes up to him.
“Look. I know she was kind enough to share her name with you but isn’t this taking a step too far?” Dennis pleads, he then checks Serena's current condition.
Her mind was still preoccupied with the ring on her finger.
Yuri flicks his hair to the side with his wrist. “No, I’ve made up my mind. You told me to complete my paperwork, and I did. You didn’t say anything about going a bit extra.”
Dennis recoils in response, hanging his head in regret. “Please be reasonable. I can’t believe you made her marry you for the trip!” He masks his face with a big sigh of disapproval.
The meaning behind Yuri’s actions dawns on Serena. Her face pales in shock and horror as she snaps out from her stupor and faces Yuri.
“Yuri!” she yells.
The tips of her ears flare red and her skin burns very hot. Nothing is more appealing than her wanting to hide her embarrassed scream onto her shirt collar. There is no way her dimensional counterparts wouldn’t ask about her ring once she arrives to Maiami City.
“Yes!” Yuri enthusiastically whips his head to Serena as his lips pull back into a saccharine smile. The pitch of his voice became higher and softer than usual in pure bliss.
Serena struggles to resist the urge of falling for his disturbing charm. Or else, it’s over. She might as well give him the win. But then again, she hates losing to him, too.
“When I gave you my surname, I didn’t mean that you could propose to me!”
“Eh? But you said you gave me your surname. What else would it be other than you wanting me? I wanna be closer to you like our counterparts,” Yuri whines with a pout as he continues to confess his profound feelings.
“Wait, I—!” Serena protests, but her voice wavers. Her face glows red. “That’s not how it works, you idiot! We can’t be married just like that!”
He forgot about the marriage application. How he’s gonna convince Serena to go with him to the marriage office was for him to think about some other time. For now, their intimate conversation is way more important.
“In my eyes, we are! I’m yours now! No take backs!” Yuri childishly sticks his tongue out to Serena.
The warm blood on Serena’s face rushes to her cheeks like a blooming blush of roses. She swings her left arm to grab him by the clasp of his collar.
A gust of sweet-scented winds blow against the wisteria tree as flowers sprinkle over them.
Yuri swiftly backsteps and catches her hand in the air and yanks her to him. Yuri cups the palm of her hand against his cheek. Brushing them in her hand’s caress like a content cat. He places her other hand on his chest, right over his beating heart.
Yuri's eyes close from the warmth radiating from her palm. Indulging in the pleasant feeling before opening his eyes again. His fervent gaze captures hers between her dark lashes.
Their rings shine against the intense sunlight.
Her heartbeat quickens faster than Yuri’s erratic own from their closeness. The feeling in the pit of her stomach swarms around like fluttering butterflies. She can’t help but squirm under his warm, firm touch. Her lips parts as she tries to voice out formless words that wouldn’t leave her mouth.
Her knees buckle from the thought of their lips touching into a kiss when Yuri brings his face close. Serena’s eyes widening from his advances.
“You got a nice look on your face,” Yuri says in a passionate daze. “I can’t wait for our honeymoon since I’ll be with you—always and forever.”
“Yuri!” Serena stammers out.
A chuckle escapes from his mouth. Serena feels the low rumble from his chest as he squeezes her hands, tenderly.
“It’s Yuri Fujiki!”
Just like Yuya to Yuzu, a genuine smile beams across his face for Serena to gaze upon. Feeling whole and complete—a name he could call as his own, together with Serena.