Miles currently wasn’t in the mood for a meet-and-greet with some random stranger, and while it was nothing more than delaying the inevitable, he wasn’t in any rush to get to know his roommate. Maybe it was just because he ran into that guy Chris earlier, but a walk through the bizarrely prevalent forestry blanketing the island felt like just the thing to help clear his mind. Naturally, with luck like his, he eventually stumbles upon some random stranger sitting beneath a tree with both her arms and legs crossed. She hears him arrive, and raises her head just in time to lock eyes with him, dooming him into having to acknowledge her presence.

By this point, Mina had stopped sobbing and shaking. Her spirit partner sat on her lap, or at least, he would be, if his body was tangible. Seeing the stranger looking at her, she uncrossed her limbs and snapped at him in a curt tone. [color=0054a6]“What do you want? Come to laugh at me?”[/color] Her words were filled with venom; her typical response when someone would try to comfort her after a loss. Without waiting for a response, she curled up again, placing her head against her knees.

[i]Bitch, what?[/i] “I wasn’t before, but I guess I am now. What’s so embarrassing that you decided to start doing cryptid impressions out here in the woods?”

She didn’t want to mention the fact that she was out here because she lost a duel, thinking that he would only make fun of her further. [color=0054a6]“I’m not here looking for cryptids, I just wanted to be left alone. Those idiots in the dorm were pissing me off.”[/color]

“That makes two of us, but ‘lo and behold, some girl curled up like Sonic the Hedgehog started chatting me up.” He shakes his head in mock exasperation. “What, you worked up over losing at a children’s card game?”

[color=0054a6]“No!”[/color] A terrible lie. A sinking feeling overcame her for a moment as she thought that he’d definitely figure out that she was the crying girl that had ran off towards the forest. Although, in truth, Miles was just oblivious. He wasn’t in the lounge during Mina’s duel and ignored the chatter on his way out. That being said, it was pretty obvious by now what had happened.

[i]This girl is actually crying over a stupid card game[/i], he thought. Miles couldn’t help but feel pity for her. “So you did lose. Welp, I guess you have no choice but to give up on your dueling career. Have you considered becoming a ventriloquist?”

[color=0054a6]“I am not going to give up, I am going to keep going until I’m the best duelist in the world, no matter the cost.”[/color] She looked up at Miles, staring at him dead in the eyes. When she said ‘at all cost’, she was dead serious about it. 

“Pfft.” Miles held back a laugh. It was actually quite mean to be laughing at her aspirations like this, but the delivery was just so cheesy. “Why’re you crying then? No one gives a shit about a simple loss. This is a card game we’re talking about here, if you don’t get unlucky eventually, you’re either a cheater or your name is Seto Kaiba and you just printed a bunch of broken cards that you’ll never release to the public.”

She took in what the young man was saying, perhaps he was on to something. But the trauma of her childhood made it hard for her to fully comprehend the concept. [color=0054a6]“Perhaps, but if I am not the best, then I am a nobody. A loser. I will be punished if I don’t win. I do not know what to do, if I am not dueling.”[/color] She sounded sad mentioning that she would be punished for losing. A horrid memory flashed in her mind, and she shuddered. Her hair was standing on end at the mere thought of it.

“[i]Punished?[/i] I regret to be the one to inform you of this, miss nobody loser, but your parents sound like psychopaths.”

She was now staring at Miles, feeling an inescapable sense of impending trouble encroaching upon him, but after a few silent moments, nothing happened. She looked around the forest, as if expecting her parents to come over to punish him, or her, but no one came. Her spirit partner was now floating around Miles curiously. [b]“Perhaps he has a point. For you to become a better duelist, you need to learn from your mistakes and grow.”[/b] Mina stood up, wiping some dirt from her knees. [color=0054a6]“Yeah, they’re real assholes.”[/color]

Miles conspicuously eyed the black and white dog as it circled him. “I know we’re on an island full of teachers who have done their damndest to pretend otherwise, but not everything in life revolves around a card game, you know. Learning from your mistakes and growing as a person isn’t just for dueling.”

Again, Miles made a good point. Perhaps she could try to not be so transfixed on being the best and just enjoy duels themselves.

…wait.

[color=0054a6]“Wait a moment, you can see the dog floating around?”[/color] She was amazed that she was able to meet someone with similar abilities. Now he has grabbed her interest. 

Miles paused for a moment, though if he meant to keep it a secret, he didn’t show any surprise or embarrassment. “...Yeah. I see him.”

Mina blanked for a bit. It was a lot to take in at once. She stopped to organize her thoughts and looped back around to the original topic. [color=0054a6]“...I guess I could just enjoy dueling for what it is, instead of just fixating on being the best.” Her spirit partner was now floating behind her. “What is your name, by the way?”[/color]

“Miles.”

[color=0054a6]“My name is Mina. How long have you been able to see these ghosts?”[/color]

“...” Miles broke eye contact, and an awkward silence ensued.

[color=0054a6]“I assume that you have been able to see or talk to ‘em since you were a kid right? So have I. Anyway i think it’s time for me to head back, want to come with?”[/color]

Miles sighed. “Might as well.” If he kept on his walk he’d probably just run into another girl crying in the woods.

[color=0054a6]“Good. This place was starting to creep me out.”[/color] With that, she started walking away, hoping that Miles would be following beside her. She didn’t have to turn back to confirm it as he caught up with her, walking with her side-by-side.

They walked in comfortable silence for a few moments before Miles asked, “have you ever owned a real pet dog?”

[color=0054a6]“Hmm? No?”[/color]

“I see.”