[May 15th 1996]
It had been another uneventful year. Despite my overwhelming accomplishments, my age still bound me to the monotonous routine of the school curriculum. I could easily acquire a graduation certificate through alternate channels, but resorting to such shortcuts always left a bitter taste in my mouth.
Propping my chin against my hand, I let my mind drift toward the future of Kaiba Corp and the strategies I had yet to implement to push its expansion further. Just then, the door creaked open and our homeroom teacher entered.
"Ahem, attention," he barked in his usual gruff tone. I winced slightly at the harsh sound assaulting my ears. "Before we begin, a new transfer student is joining us today."
The classroom buzzed with murmurs of curiosity. At the teacher's cue, the new student stepped into the room. The moment I heard her footsteps, my gaze instinctively shifted toward the front.
It was a girl.
She was striking. Long, flowing hair cascading down to her waist, and vivid blue eyes that seemed to take in everything at once. Despite the stiffness of the standard Domino City uniform, it couldn't conceal her figure underneath. Several boys audibly swallowed at the sight.
Clicking my tongue in annoyance at their transparent display of lust, I observed as the girl calmly scanned the classroom, her gaze sharp.
"Please introduce yourself," the teacher prompted.
"Yuna. Yuna Sano." Her voice was clear, composed, and oddly captivating. The room fell silent.
Under the teacher's direction, Yuna made her way to the empty desk at the back corner. As she passed by me, our eyes briefly met. I scoffed and turned away, unimpressed.
Yes, she was beautiful, but that was all. Another transfer student. Nothing worth my attention.
Or so I thought...
[June 1st 1996]
I couldn't understand how things had come to this. The girl I had dismissed as unremarkable now stood opposite me, her expression fierce as she faced my monsters on the duelling arena.
Though I had always been confident in my skills, Yuna's prowess as a duelist had taken me completely by surprise. I was utterly defeated. I had never imagined there was another dragon that could rival mine.
Still reeling from the shock, I sat in silence, bitterness swelling within me. Her sharp footsteps echoed as she approached, stopping directly in front of me. Knowing the stakes of the duel, I had no choice but to hand over my deck, each card feeling heavier in my hands than ever before.
She flipped through them with a detached precision, and I braced myself, expecting her to take my prized Blue-Eyes White Dragon. But to my surprise, she passed over it, selecting a completely different card instead.
Humiliated and unable to bear the weight of defeat, I turned and left the room without a word. Behind me, I could hear Yugi and his lackeys erupt in cheers, their voices grating against my pride.
The loss infuriated me, but for the first time, Yuna's presence had carved itself deeply into my memory.
[June 18th 1996]
I groaned as consciousness slowly returned. The memory of my loss to Pegasus still lingered, bitter and sharp, gnawing at my pride. My head throbbed as I forced my eyes open, the world around me still spinning. I tried to sit up, struggling to gather my bearings.
But before I could fully register what was happening, something soft brushed against my lips.
My eyes snapped open only to lock with Yuna's, now mere inches from my face.
"What..."
"KYAAAAAAA!"
A second later, pain exploded across my forehead, and everything blurred again.
As the darkness closed in, two absurd thoughts floated through my fading mind:
That was my first kiss... and my first punch to the face.
[July 5th 1996]
"This is absurd..." I muttered under my breath, eyes fixed on Yuna as she lay motionless on the hospital bed.
It was supposed to be a harmless test, just a simple experiment with my newly designed Duel Disks. At first, we were focused on the devices, duelling with caution. But as the duel wore on, competitiveness overtook reason. I summoned the Egyptian God Card, Obelisk the Tormentor, disregarding the warning that came with it.
The memory of Yuna coughing up blood hit me like a blow to the chest. My fists clenched involuntarily, trembling with rage. I didn't even know who I was angry at the card, the duel... But deep down, I knew the truth.
The only one I had to blame… was myself.
[July 30th 1996]
The moment I heard Yuna was still trapped underwater, I didn't hesitate and dove in without a second thought. Cutting through the water with urgency, I spotted her limp figure sinking beneath the surface. Grabbing her tightly, I pulled her back up, my chest tightening with every second that passed.
As they worked to resuscitate her onshore, I stood by, soaked and silent. My eyes flicked to Mokuba, his small frame shaking as he cried in panic and guilt. My heart twisted.
If I had arrived just a little earlier… Yuna wouldn't have had to jump in after him. She wouldn't be lying there unconscious. This sickening guilt churned in my chest again, a bitter and familiar weight that only lifted the moment she finally stirred and opened her eyes.
Relief flooded through me. Without a word, I instinctively scooped her into a princess carry. She blinked up at me in confusion, startled by the sudden gesture, but I didn't meet her gaze. I simply turned and began walking toward the waiting helicopter, my steps steady and deliberate.
In my mind, I kept repeating it like a mantra: 'I'm just repaying a debt. She saved my brother. I'm escorting her to the hospital.'
Nothing more.
[August 2nd 1996]
I lost again.This time, to Yugi.
The thought alone made me scowl, rage simmering beneath the surface. The illusion of being the best duelist had shattered, replaced by the harsh truth of my weakness.
Consumed by self-loathing, I didn't notice Yuna approaching until she was already beside me. She sat down in silence, her eyes studying me with concern. I refused to look at her, my expression locked in a bitter frown.
"Give… up?" she asked softly.
Her words stung. My frown deepened as I snapped at her without thinking. What did she know? How could she possibly understand the countless hours I poured into honing my skill, the pressure, the expectation?
"But… I do," she said firmly, her voice unwavering.
I froze and before I realised it, I had leaned closer to her. Yuna turned her gaze away, avoiding my eyes, and something about it irritated me. She had the nerve to say all this, and now she looked away?
"Look at me," I demanded, my voice low, almost pleading.
But before I could say more, she pushed me back. The contact jolted me out of my daze. Ducking under my arms, she walked toward the door, pausing only to glance back with a small, knowing smile.
In that moment, my breath caught.
And without warning… my heart began to race.
[September 17th 1996]
Duelling with Yuna had become a daily routine whenever we were at school. What began as a mutual push for improvement gradually lost its sharp edge. The matches still happened, but they felt too relaxed, too familiar, to be called "training."
Even outside the arena, she lingered. Yuna always found a way to appear, whether during lunch or quiet hours like today, when we sat in the library side by side. She was staring at her notebook, brow furrowed in frustration. The silence between us was easy, comfortable, yet a strange tension sat in my chest.
"Sano… What are we?" I asked, almost absentmindedly, my curiosity slipping out before I could stop it. I didn't know how to define this thing between us. Calling it just classmates felt far too shallow.
She looked up, tilting her head with calm indifference. "Aren't we… friends?"
I didn't answer. Not right away. Her gaze lowered, her expression shifting. The simple word had seemed like a tease at first, but the air changed. There was a subtle weight in her eyes now and a quiet disappointment that made my chest tighten.
That same awful feeling returned. The kind I felt when I once saw her cry.
"F… Friends. I guess we are something like that," I said quickly, the words spilling out in a rush to lift the heaviness between us.
She smiled, a soft, relieved smile.
Friend.
It was a word that felt foreign to me. I had never trusted anyone outside of Mokuba. But as I watched Yuna's smile linger, I realised something I hadn't allowed myself to admit until now:
I cared more about her than I ever intended to.
[November 20th 1996]
"I managed… to do well…" Yuna said with a soft sigh of relief, slumping in her seat.
It was just after our final exam, and the hallway buzzed with the chatter of students swapping answers and lamenting tricky questions. For once, even the air felt lighter.
"How about… Kaiba?" she asked, tilting her head toward me with genuine curiosity.
I scoffed. "Such mediocre exams are nothing to me."
She nodded without hesitation, accepting my words as truth. With the tension gone, Yuna quickly shifted focus, retrieving her deck from under the desk.
For what felt like the thousandth time, I watched her fan out her cards and begin running silent simulations in her head. She did it often, so often that I was sure she'd keep going for hours if no one stopped her.
"Why do you like Duel Monsters?" I asked suddenly, surprising even myself.
Yuna paused, then gave a wry smile. "When I duel... I can talk... without my speech getting in the way," she admitted, voice tinged with embarrassment. "Through duelling, I can be… normal. But in the end… It's a fun game."
Her honesty caught me off guard. I hadn't expected such vulnerability.
"What about you?" she asked in return, her gaze steady but gentle.
I looked away, eyes focusing on a distant corner of the room. "Back then, Duel Monsters helped me survive my adoptive father's cruelty. It gave me something to control… something to focus on. Even now, when I duel, I can forget everything else."
She nodded slowly, her expression thoughtful.
"Then I guess… we're both pretty weird," she said with a faint laugh.
"Yeah," I replied, smiling despite myself. "I guess we are."
[December 13th 1996]
"Dammit!" I cursed, my voice echoing through the dark hallway as I sprinted with everything I had.
Just moments ago, Dartz had taken Yuna. The image of her terrified eyes, frozen as she stared up at that monstrous serpent, burned into my mind. I couldn't shake it. It clung to me like a shadow I couldn't outrun.
My fists tightened involuntarily, knuckles turning bone white. Every second felt like an eternity.
Please… just let her be safe.
[January 4th 1997]
"I think I'm in love with you..." Her soft voice sent a jolt down my spine.
For a moment, time stood still. The warmth lingering on my lips from her kiss burned like a brand, refusing to fade. It wasn't the first time someone had confessed to me, but this... this was different. My hands trembled, unsure if it was from excitement or sheer disbelief.
Looking back now, I realise I had been avoiding this feeling for a long time. Yet somewhere along the way, Yuna became an inseparable part of my world. Her presence grew so gradually, so naturally, that I never noticed how deeply she'd settled into my heart.
And now, standing here in the aftermath of her confession, I finally understand.
I'm in love with her too.
[February 5th 1997]
This was a pain I had never known, an ache so profound it made breathing feel impossible. The thought of Yuna never waking up haunted every corner of my mind, leaving me broken and adrift.
But when she finally opened her eyes, it was as if the world righted itself. Relief crashed over me like a tidal wave.
Only for it to shatter a moment later.
"Stay away."
Her cold voice sliced through me like a blade. I froze, stunned by the unfamiliar glare in her eyes. There was no recognition, only distance, only rejection. She shoved me back without hesitation, and all I could do was stand there, staring at the closed door in numbing silence.
The doctor's words felt surreal. Yuna had suffered memory loss; everything from the past year was gone. But what disturbed me more was how different she had become.
It wasn't just her memories that were missing...
It was her.
[February 9th 1997]
It had been a week since I watched Yuna's condition slowly deteriorate. I did everything I could to help; I tried speaking with her, standing by her. But every attempt was met with cold rejection. Day by day, I watched the light in her eyes dim, her expression more strained, her spirit more frayed.
So when I suddenly received a message from her, I could hardly believe it.
I sprinted to the rooftop, my chest tight with hope and dread. And then I saw her. Yuna stood there, wind brushing through her hair as she slowly turned to face me with a sad, fragile smile. Without thinking, I ran to her, and she collapsed into my arms.
For a moment, everything stilled.
The fear, the helplessness, it all vanished the second she touched me. I held her tightly, unwilling to let go, but that calm lasted only a heartbeat. She pulled back and, with trembling hands, challenged me to a duel.
Through tears, she began to speak. Her voice quivered, yet her words were laced with truth: our past life together, the choices I had made, her sacrifices... and what I did to bring her back.
I didn't understand all of it. But I know one thing for certain: this girl, this duellist, this stubborn, resilient person was the one I had chosen to love.
And now, I will win this duel to give her the proof she needs. The evidence that my love is real.
[April 19th 1997]
It had been a month since I regained the memories of my past life.
Thanks to Yuna, the fog in my mind had lifted—I remembered who I once was, and with that, my love for her only deepened. Yuna, too, had changed. She had become a seamless blend of all three of her selves: the quiet, reserved girl I met at school, the fearless duellist known as the Queen of Games, and the gentle soul of Kisara from ages past.
In public, she still maintained a composed demeanour, but there were moments, small gestures, fleeting glances, where her warmth peeked through. This change made her more captivating than ever.
Her popularity surged. People gravitated to her, drawn by her strength, mystery, and beauty. And though I was proud of her... a bitter taste lingered. Why did it bother me so much to see others admire her?
I was still caught in those thoughts when an unexpected chill crawled up my spine. Instinctively, I flinched and turned, only to find Yuna pressing a cold drink to the back of my neck, a sly grin playing on her lips.
"What's wrong?" she asked, eyes glinting with amusement. "You've been lost in thought for a while now. Are you perhaps jealous of all the attention I'm getting?"
I didn't answer. My silence was all the confirmation she needed. Yuna laughed softly, the sound both teasing and affectionate. "Seto… I already made my decision three thousand years ago. My choice hasn't changed. Not even if you abandon me."
The words struck deep, and I shot to my feet. "I would never do that!" I blurted out, my voice louder than I intended.
She didn't flinch. Instead, her smile softened.
"Of course…" she whispered, leaning in just close enough for her breath to tickle my ear, "Then I await the day when I will be yours…"
[January 24th 2002]
As I stood before the altar, I nervously cleared my throat. My palms were slick with sweat, and my heart pounded with anticipation. I had waited for this moment for so long. yet now that it had arrived, fear gripped me so tightly I almost wished I could vanish into the floor.
Then, the doors creaked open.
All eyes turned to the back of the room.
Step. Step.
The echo of heels tapping against the marble floor rang out in steady rhythm, like the toll of a bell. Slowly, I lifted my gaze.
Her expression was composed, but I could feel the nerves hidden just beneath the surface. She clutched her bouquet tightly, her posture stiff, but she walked with determination. As she reached me, time itself seemed to pause.
"How do I look?" she asked softly, her cheeks tinged with a blush.
She wore a breathtaking white gown that hugged her figure elegantly, with blue trimmings at the hem that matched her hair perfectly. She looked ethereal.
I opened my mouth, but no words came at first. Swallowing hard, I finally breathed out one word:
"Beautiful..."
Yuna laughed, light and melodic. "Fu fu fu... I'm glad."
"Ahem." A deliberate cough cut through the moment, drawing our attention to the priest waiting patiently beside us. "We are gathered here today to celebrate the union of two souls."
He turned to me. "Seto Kaiba, do you take Yuna Sano as your lawfully wedded wife, to love and to cherish for all the days of your life?"
"I do."
"And Yuna Sano, do you take Seto Kaiba as your lawfully wedded husband?"
"I do," she replied, and I reached out to gently take her hand.
"Then by the power vested in me… You may kiss the bride."
I leaned in, our foreheads brushing, and I gazed at her lips.
"Well?" Yuna teased, her voice barely above a whisper. "Are you planning to keep me waiting forever?"
I smiled, slipping my arm around her waist. "Never."
With a firm yet tender pull, I drew her into me and kissed her. In that moment, only us existed in the world.
[November 13 2002]
"Mr. Kaiba, you may come in now."
The nurse's voice was a distant echo as I mechanically pushed open the door, my body moving as though some invisible force controlled it. Every step felt heavier, the air thick with anticipation as I approached the hospital bed.
My gaze immediately landed on the infant sleeping in Yuna's arms, and my breath caught in my throat. I froze. She looked so small, so fragile, that a wave of protectiveness surged through me, followed by a deep, unsettling fear.
"Are you okay?" I asked, my voice hoarse with worry, my eyes scanning Yuna's haggard face for any signs of distress.
Yuna smiled weakly, the exhaustion in her eyes palpable. "It hurts like hell..."
Panic surged within me. "Someone get here now! My wife said she's still in pain!"
But Yuna stopped me with a soft chuckle, her hand gently raising to calm me. "Wait, Seto, stop. I was joking... but I am quite exhausted..."
I paused, my heart racing, but relief washed over me. I smiled softly and tenderly ran my finger through her hair. "You worked hard... Thank you."
Her lips curved into a faint, tired smile, and as she shifted, the baby cooed softly in her arms. Yuna brought our child closer, kissing her forehead. "She's beautiful..." Her voice was filled with affection, a deep, unspoken love only a mother could know.
She gazed down at our daughter, her expression softening even more. "Looks like Yumi will get a big sister instead..." Yuna laughed softly, her gaze shifting to me. "Would you like to hold her?"
I swallowed hard, my chest tightening. Carefully, I extended my arms, and Yuna placed our daughter in my hands. She was so small, so delicate, I felt as though I might break her if I wasn't careful.
The baby blinked slowly, her blue eyes meeting mine. Her gaze was full of curiosity, the softest wonder as she stared at her father.
"Her name..." I whispered, the words catching in my throat. I struggled to form the sentence, my heart swelling with emotion. "What is it?"
"I don't know yet," Yuna replied. "How about you name her?"
"Me?" The word slipped from my mouth in shock. "Why should it be me?"
Yuna smiled warmly. "Why not? You're her father, after all. Just don't do anything ridiculous like naming her after Blue-Eyes White Dragon..."
Yuna laughed, and I could feel my face burn with embarrassment. I turned my attention back to our daughter, observing her tiny features.
"Miyuki..." I murmured without thinking, as if the name had been there all along. My heart felt full as I looked into her eyes. "Her name will be Miyuki."
"Miyuki... Miyuki Kaiba," Yuna repeated softly, a smile gracing her lips. "Then it's decided."
She gently took Miyuki from my arms, holding her close to her chest. As Yuna gazed at our daughter, I felt a sense of peace wash over me. "Do you like it?" Yuna asked. Miyuki blinked sleepily before closing her eyes, succumbing to the pull of sleep.
"Let's take that as a yes," Yuna whispered, laughing softly to herself.
As her laughter faded, I watched as Yuna gazed lovingly at our daughter, her exhaustion melting away. "Seto... Can you believe it? We're parents now..."
Tears pricked at my eyes, but I forced them back, unable to contain the overwhelming happiness flooding my chest. "I'm so happy..." Yuna's voice trembled with joy, and I leaned forward to kiss her forehead.
"I'm scared, Yuna..." I admitted quietly, my voice barely more than a whisper. "What if I'm not a good father?"
Yuna's hand brushed mine, and she gave me a reassuring smile. "Nobody masters parenting overnight," she replied with her usual calmness.
As she began to nod off, her head resting gently against the pillow, I pressed her hand to my chest. "You should rest too," I murmured, brushing her hair back from her face.
"But..." Yuna slurred, too tired to finish her sentence.
I gently guided her to lie back on the bed. "I will stay with you," I said firmly, and Yuna smiled sleepily.
"Of course you will..." she mumbled, her voice trailing off as she closed her eyes. The rhythmic sound of her breath filled the room, steady and calming, as she drifted into sleep, Miyuki cradled in her arms.
I remained there, watching both of them, my heart full. Slowly, I knelt beside the bed, my hand reaching out to gently take Yuna's free hand in mine. I closed my eyes for a moment, feeling the warmth of our family.
"Yuna... Miyuki..." I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. "As your husband and father, I promise to protect you both. I will give everything I have to ensure your happiness. I vow to keep you safe, to make you smile, to be the man you deserve... so stay with me, forever."
I looked up just as Yuna stirred, a faint smile on her lips as she slept. Whatever dream she was having, I hoped I was in it. My heart swelled with love as I kissed her cheek softly, whispering, "Thank you... for giving me the best gift... and for making me the happiest man in the world."
[April 26, 2007]
"Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand will attack your life points directly, and that's the game," Yuna said with a cheeky grin, her eyes twinkling with triumph. "Unless, of course, you have something to deal with this?"
I chuckled softly, tossing my cards onto the table with a dramatic flair. "Nope," I replied, leaning back in my chair. "Looks like we're tied again."
Yuna let out a soft, contented hum and stretched lazily, her body language betraying the exhaustion that had settled in. "Nn...."
I glanced at the clock, noting that it was already a little past midnight. "Should we go to sleep now?"
Yuna frowned, her expression a little more playful but still tinged with that familiar sense of longing. "But we haven't had time to be alone together for so long..."
I couldn't help but laugh softly as I reached out to gently pat her head. "So now that we're not working, you'd rather not go to bed yet?"
"Me too," I added with a smile, a touch of affection in my voice.
Between the constant expansion of Kaiba Corp, Yuna's management of the Duelling Academy, and taking care of the newly born Yumi, time had become a rare luxury.
Yuna's gaze softened, but there was a hint of worry in her eyes. "Seto... aren't you tired? You're much busier than I am, and it might not be good for you to stay up too long."
Before she could say anything else, I leaned in and kissed her softly on the lips. Her body went still in surprise, but the tension between us only deepened. I pulled back and smiled gently. "I'm happy you're worried about me," I said softly. "But I also want to spend as much time with you as possible."
Her lips curled into a soft smile, and she let out a quiet, contented laugh. It was a sound that always soothed me, making everything else feel just a little less heavy.
I leaned back against the couch, watching her shoulders relax as she slowly exhaled, her eyes curving like crescent moons in contentment. But then, something shifted. I sensed it before I could react. She stood suddenly, an almost predatory aura enveloping her.
My breath caught in my chest as I watched her. Before I could process what was happening, I found myself thrown gently onto the bed, the force more surprising than painful. Yuna climbed onto me, straddling my stomach, a confident smirk on her lips. I stared at her, wide-eyed, unable to mask my shock.
"Seto..." she whispered, her voice low and teasing, sending a shiver down my spine. "It's not good to tease me too much... I don't know how much longer I can endure it."
I blinked in confusion, the words barely registering in my mind. "Y-Yuna?!" I stammered, my voice thick with both confusion and... anticipation.
She gave me a knowing look, her lips curling into a playful smile as she leaned closer, her breath warm against my ear. "Miyuki and Yumi are asleep," she whispered. "The doors are locked... and I've made sure no one will disturb us tonight..." Her voice grew more dangerous, almost possessive, as she added with a smirk, "Unless they want to die, that is."
A nervous laugh bubbled in my throat as I felt my heart race. Yuna's eyes gleamed with something dangerously exciting, and she slowly undid the buttons of her shirt, revealing just enough to leave my mind racing.
Her hands gently pressed me back against the bed as she leaned in closer, her body warm and electric against mine. "So, Seto..." she murmured, her voice now rich with a teasing promise, "Let's not go to bed just yet... The night is still young."
I chuckled, my nerves mixing with excitement, and closed my eyes, feeling the weight of everything slip away.
What a wonderful life...
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I hope you enjoy it, and I found this pretty cool image online that fits this side story: