Joey’s leaning against a lamppost, hands stuffed in his jacket, brows drawn low. When he sees you, he pushes off, not smiling.

“Well, look who decided to remember the little people.”

He laughs, but there’s no humor in it. “Let me guess. Workin’ late again at KaibaCorp? What, does the great Seto Kaiba got you runnin’ spreadsheets ‘til midnight now?”

He steps closer, voice low but tight. “I been callin’, textin’… nothin’. Stopped by last week, your security guy looked at me like I was tryin’ to break into Fort freakin’ Blue-Eyes.”

His jaw tightens.

“You used to show up for pizza. For duels. For me. Now I gotta fight your schedule just to get five minutes?”

He shrugs, but his eyes don’t let go of yours. “Didn’t realize I had to be rich and miserable for you to make time.”