Chapter One: The Spark

Not a Friday night went by when his name wouldn't hang in the air.

"Inojin is just too perfect..." my coworker Harumi gushed. "He's intelligent, he's kind, he's funny, he's anything a girl could ask for."

I took a sip of water.

"Look at his hair. It's amazing. His cologne smells great, too. When I took his order, I was entranced."

I took another sip to avoid gagging.

She and my other coworker, Ayumi, carried on this ritual every time he was around.

The subject at hand, Inojin, sat at a corner table of the quaint bakery I worked for, eating a chocolate-covered pretzel and flipping through a page of Pride and Prejudice.

"What do you say, Sarada?"

I shrugged. "I mean, I guess."

"Listen, you're sixteen. When are you going to show more of your feminine side? When there is a guy you like, don't be afraid to discuss it with us. It's not time to be shy."

Harumi gave me a look that demanded an answer while Ayumi shook her head in disbelief.

"I think he's great. More than great. Nothing more to it."

Inojin's top grades, combined with his top rank in our class, the unique light blonde hair that caught the dim lighting in the room just right, a brilliant smile that made snow feel ashamed at not being as pure (as ridiculous as that may sound), and a laugh that made a person want to giggle along with him indeed made him a formidable force.

"So what's the problem?"

"There's no problem. Being around him would overwhelm me is all."

"Oh, well he may be out of all our leagues." Harumi nodded.

"He's out of every girl's league at Konoha High" agreed Ayumi.

Sure, if you want to think that.

Thankfully, the two did not catch on to what I actually meant and went right

back to putting the boy on a pedestal.

The real reason I would feel overwhelmed by talking to him or hanging out with him was not because I thought he was better than me. I couldn't find a single interesting thing about the guy. It would be a few weeks before I'd be admitted into a mental hospital for going nuts after being around a person with no faults.

The only issue with keeping my personal opinion mainly to myself was that I felt like a creature from another planet because Sir Yamanaka was all my friends could talk about at work and when I'd go to school, he was all anyone would speak about. The boy's presence was already inescapable.

I was an alien in comparison to my peers.

Harumi nudged me. "Hey, Sarada. Who do you think Inojin is taking to Homecoming?"

I shrugged. Matters like that held no importance to me.

"He may take Sumire, the cheer captain" Ayumi contributed.

"Oh, I remember hearing at lunch that they were seen exiting a movie together."

"She's a possibility, but there were other girls and boys with them in their group, weren't there?"

I glanced over at the silent reader. His nose was stuck in his book and I knew he could not hear what these two were saying about him because of the distance and how low they spoke.

However, he must be have been used to hearing people whisper about him at school. He's a celebrity there. The amazing part is, he never looked bothered.

"Why don't we wait and see who he takes to the dance."

Ayumi and Harumi laughed to my surprise.

"And wait that long? The suspense would kill us."

"She's right, she's right. That'd take the fun out of everything."

"Fine. I'll be your heroine and save the day. I'll ask him."

As I thought, the idea was not well-received and they blocked the swinging door on the side of the counter.

"Sarada, you may be boring as dirt, but don't you realize how rude that is?

You have a sense of what is polite and taboo in that head of yours, so use it."

"Not to worry. I'll walk over calmly. Ask him again if he wants something to drink. Casually ask him if he has a date. Then, it's all over."

"Don't do it. Wait. What would you do if it turns out he will be taking Sumire?"

Ayumi's face looked flushed, as if she felt ill.

"I wouldn't care. So, I'd do nothing."

"Think of us... what about us?"

"I know you two will survive. There's plenty of plebs out there who want a date."

"Could you stop being cynical for once?"

It's not that I didn't understand the hype and glorification surrounding Inojin Yamanaka. I did. The issue is that people acted as if they had to be with someone who was perfect or no one at all. Or, that they had to be with someone in the first place. Maybe, my personality was warped, but I thought it was all silly.

"There's only one Inojin Yamanaka and he's sitting on the far end of this room." My voice fell an octave and I looked at both Ayumi and Harumi earnestly.

"There's two of you. And, there's hundreds of other girls in our graduating class. Do you see a problem here?"

Harumi and Ayumi glanced at each other as if they had seen a news forecast detailing the next apocalypse, as if I'd ended their worlds.

"What do you think we are? Morons? Of course we know he can only date one girl. Every girl wants him and-"

"Except me."

"Excluding you, every girl wants him. It would be a dream if I could go to the dance with him, but the next best thing would be seeing a friend go with him, like Ayumi."

"I have the same opinion, but vice verse for you to go with him, Harumi" Ayumi added after our coworker's declaration.

"Are those empty words or honesty?"

This was starting to get amusing.

"It's the truth" the two said in unison.

"We'll see soon enough. The dance is a month away."

Harumi and Ayumi chuckled. "Now we have a question for you."

"Shoot."

"Who do you fancy?"

This time, I felt my temperature rise and knew my cheeks had turned a bright red. Caught off guard.

"And it has to be someone from our school. Not any mainstream person you'd see on the big screen, either" Harumi added.

"I..."

"Come on. There must be someone." Ayumi prodded.

I racked my brains but not a single boy came up that I could mention to them. Though, they wouldn't leave me alone if I told them that. There was one I was friends with.

"Mitsuki is pretty nice."

Ayumi looked relieved at my confirmation while Harumi frowned before narrowing her eyes and smacking in disgust.

"He is nice, but he's a friend. That's a very safe choice and I don't see any chemistry between you two."

"You asked and I gave you an answer. I'm a safe type of girl."

"Nothing wrong with being safe, but everyone wants a little fun every once in awhile, ya know." Harumi rebuked me. "Think of it like this..." began Ayumi.

"We're all sixteen now. You got your license back in August right before school started up again. What do you think of cars?"

"I don't see where this conversation is going..."

"No, no. Keep up. Do you think what a person drives says something about them?"

"Sure, it can say they're economical or a crazy spender. That what you mean?"

"Ugh, you don't get it."

"What she wants to say is that it tells you whether a person is boring or not."

"Earlier, you said I was as boring as the dirt I walk on, so..."

"And you drive your parents' old banged up Volkswagen. See my point?"

They did indeed have a point. However, the only point to be made was that I didn't have the finances to upgrade. That was why I was here working at this bakery. My parents were low income, they weren't going to buy me a new Mercedes like theirs had anytime soon.

"Thanks for the usual insult. Really builds our rapport."

"My point is... what kind of car does Mitsuki drive?"

"He doesn't. He carpools with me or drives his bike."

"Exactly."

"Yeah, he's not binging on his parents finances."

Harumi's and Ayumi's noses crinkled, but I'm still not sure they got that I was referring to them.

The bell rang and someone was coming through the shop door.

"What's up, Ayu, Haru, Sarada?"

I remained calm but Ayumi stumbled against the counter with how quick she turned and Harumi gave a little nervous laugh. They'd momentarily forgotten that he usually comes in on Friday nights as well.

"Nothing much, Mitsuki." "Except the cost of living, the student debt we'll incur once we graduate high school and begin college, and plenty of other things."

"Right you are, Sarada."

"Oh, you two actually are perfect for each other. Your bike and volkswagen say plenty."

"We'll invite you to the wedding" I said.

Harumi and Ayumi went out to the staff room.

Mitsuki held his skateboard in one hand but did not order right away.

"What was that all about?"

"Nothing important."

"Come on, they mentioned something about a wedding."

"Your bike and my car are going to tie the knot."

"What? Way too freaky. That's not it..."

"It's the best explanation I can give you. Anything else would make even less sense to you and I."

Mitsuki shook his head in disbelief. He set his skateboard down and kicked it so that it glided across the linoleum floors and stopped when it hit the wall. It's right under the table at his usual seat.

When upset, Mitsuki was never the type to yell or cause a commotion.

Instead, he became less joyful and more serious. It was worse to me than if he'd yell.

"Going to say what your order is, kind customer, or not?"

"You know what I usually get. You know my name, too."

"That I do." He always got the Americano. One shot espresso to two parts water. The formula was forever ingrained in my memory, more than any math formula Mr. Aburame would mention at school. Especially since he was the only regular customer who didn't like sweets and always opted to order from our drink menu.

Once it was finished I brought it out to the counter and he took his seat.

There was an uncharacteristic frown on his face, the kind when he gets annoyed.

I had not taken my break off today and not many customers were arriving at this late hour, so I decided to remove my apron and have a seat across from Mitsuki on the opposing side.

I set my own cup of coffee down and picked up my copy of Pride and Prejudice. It was the required class reading, so every student had their own copy. It only took a few moments before Mitsuki' curiosity resurfaced, like I knew it would.

"What are the clones thinking?"

"Clones?"

"Don't give me that. The twins."

"They have names."

"They don't deserve to be named when they cross me."

At this, I couldn't help but chuckle. "I assure you, they did not insult your bike that much. It was primarily directed towards me."

"Nothing new with those two then. Why do I even bother acting nice around them. Aren't you bothered by what they say?"

"No, not at all. It provides a sense of normalcy. It's not as if they really mean it, anyhow."

"Like a game you three play?" he asked.

"Precisely like a game and only a game." That was the reality of how our dynamic lived on.

"Then stop playing games with me and keep it between you three. I'd like to know what you said about me."

He rigidly took a sip from his coffee cup.

I completely closed my book shut after placing a napkin to save my spot.

"I don't know what they meant by it. But, I have a subtle idea."

I looked behind me and sure enough at the opposing corner of the bakery, Inojin was still there with his cappuccino cup and further ahead in Pride and Prejudice. He really seemed to be enjoying the read while I had barely started and would need to get through most of it during the weekend. They had brought him up earlier, so I was certain.

"They didn't say it, or maybe didn't get to say it before you came in. But, I think they were trying to compare us to Inojin. Look outside." I pointed.

Through the window, we could see Inojin's Harley Davidson in the parking lot.

Mitsuki grinned. "Ah, we're lame, unlike him?"

"That's what they were getting at. It can be the only possibility."

"How funny."

"Ayumi rambled on about this nonsense... that what someone drives defines how exciting they are."

Mitsuki took a long sip of his Americano before setting it down with a clunk.

"I don't mind not being on the map. What did they say about you?"

"That I was boring."

"You're not. If what they said was true, which it isn't, the only thing that Volkswagen says is that you have character and work hard."

I wasn't bothered by what Harumi and Ayumi said, but it was nice to hear that.

Leave it to Mitsuki to take me from neutral to happy. "Need a refill?" I asked. He hummed happily in affirmation and dropped the payment for the second cup on the tray before I took it away.

Sometimes, at moments like this I was more than okay, but instead cheerful.

"One more thing" he said as I set the refill down on the table. He pointed at the parking lot.

"I'd rather have my bike to ride around town with and my skateboard to catch air at the park after this any day. More than a crap Mercedes. Or, my best friend to drive me around in her rusty car."

"Isn't that a little much?"

"No. I just mean memories are more important than what a person drives."

It wasn't a direct way to say it, but it fit his character.

I felt thankful to have him as a friend.

Mitsuki and the only other customer left, Inojin, departed within ten minutes of each other several hours ago. The latter roared away on his motorcycle

while my best friend kicked up his skateboard, slapped it into the rack on his bike, and hopped on to ride off.

My only company at the back sink was the dirty dishes, utensils, cups, and mugs left behind from earlier customers. Harumi and Ayumi didn't bother washing these, but I didn't mind.

It's not as if they needed to work here. Their parents owned this bakery and a slew of others all over the village. They literally worked here to pass the time.

"Harley or bike?" I heard a sing-song voice ask jokingly from the front.

"Cappuccino or Americano?" echoed another after.

Right. Inojin likes Cappuccinos when he orders a drink. Yuck.

I finished drying the last plate before going to the front. "I think water is most practical."

They groaned. Ayumi and Harumi threw the sanitary wipes they were using to wipe down the tables into the trash can and went to the back to wash their hands. I followed after.

"Look at those pristine dishes" I said.

The twins dried their hands off on paper towels. "Thanks for washing them" Harumi replied while Ayumi nodded in acknowledgement.

"I think this was the day I was meant to do dish washing. Sorry." Ayumi mentioned. Then, the twins removed their coats from the hooks on the wall and prepared to go outside.

Forgetting the days one of them was supposed to wash was not uncommon to either. It didn't matter as long as they did another task in the meanwhile. Even if I had cared, it's not as if I would have had the authority to call them out on it. I've never heard of the owner's children getting fired before. But, this job was more pleasant than others for teens and I needed the money.

"Yeah, I'll lock up as usual. Bye and drive safe."

I waved back at Ayumi as Harumi took the wheel of their Mercedes and pulled out of the parking lot.

Then, when they were gone, I noticed the only vehicle in the parking lot.

My rusted hand-me-down volkswagen that my parents let me use. I recalled Mitsuki' words, but they didn't make me feel uplifted this time.

I didn't want to get into a depressive little "woe is me" state, so I turned around and went back inside the quaint bakery as I always did at this hour on Friday night.

Upon locking every door on the inside, making sure all products were in their rightful place, and that every inch of the bakery was in order, I was prepared to go out the door myself.

However, it was impossible to not admire how quiet the place was with not a soul being present bar myself.

The contrast woke me up from a day of watching people walk in and out. It was a much needed reprieve for a reserved introvert like me.

Truth be told, I had a love-hate relationship with the bakery. Part of me found nothing more interesting than observing others, while at some point each shift, that would get old and I'd wish not a single person asked for another drink or sweet to eat.

Until that point came along each day, I did enjoy noticing different types of people who walked in.

These people would give me ideas to write short stories. After graduating high school, I wanted to go to college and attain a degree in English Literature, then go on to write for a living as an author. The worst thing that could happen would be that I wouldn't make it. I told my parents and they were mortified because they thought it would doom me to working at a bakery as a cashier for the rest of my life. If it did, I wouldn't care. I was already there.

After locking up the shop, I noticed a small notebook lying on the sidewalk.

This caught my attention because it was not close to a local trash can which meant they had not meant to throw it away. Not unless they were an insensitive jerk when it came to the environment, which I hoped the owner was not.

I flipped the black plastic cover to the first page. It was blank. I thumbed through the rest and it looked new, except for the final page.

Images of burning skulls and unidentifiable bodies with fumes escaping them done in pencil covered the white space of the paper.

Normally, it would look like an edgy drawing done by some poor soul in their spare time. The only issue was when I flipped that page over. It was nothing short of peculiar.

Burn it down. Burn them. Burn it all away.

That was written over and over again. From the top of the back side of the last page to the bottom.

I could have chucked it up to the previous owner being excessively upset, scribbling away, and then dropping the notebook on the concrete as they stomped away in a rage at the world for Lord knows what reason. I was about to until I saw the name on the inside of the back cover, written ever so small on a tab taped to the edge.

Inojin Yamanaka.

I turned back to the page with the monstrosities. There was no doubt that he had the artistic capability to draw the chaos that mangled the otherwise perfect journal. It had plenty of detail, was colored, good proportions. He was the top art student and won first place at our school's exhibit last year for a nature scene.

What I was staring at was not what I'd call a cheerful little glimpse at birds chirping amongst blue skies and towering evergreens.

It was a blot on the otherwise image of perfection, boring perfection, that I held Inojin Yamanaka to.

He was either going through a very edgy faze that many members of what I considered to be a totally separate species, the teenage boy demographic aside from Mitsuki, went through.

Or, he was bored out of his mind and did this while listening to some hardcore tunes from an underground metal band I hadn't heard of.

I clutched the notebook close to my chest. What if this wasn't for enjoyment or to burn off some steam? If it was serious...

No, no, no. I'm overthinking it all. It only says the word burn. But over and over? He's obsessed with phrases.

I could tell a counselor at school. Though, I don't have any authority to do that. Best case scenario, the counselor would call him in and he'd attend a session.

Worst case scenario, he'd be bothered by the appointment, reassure the counselor that everything was in order upstairs in his head, and then wonder about who dropped the counselor a line about him. If the counselor kept it confidential, he'd need to figure it out.

He was supposed to keep it confidential.

Mr. Kiba Inuzuka was the known loudmouth of our institution.

He wouldn't keep his mouth shut. Not indirectly. Inuzuka had a tendency to tell just enough to reveal who it was that would send students his way but not too much so that he wouldn't get fired. He wouldn't tell Inojin my name if he asked, but he'd give him an idea by saying something like "A little birdie told me. And wouldn't ya know, that bird is president of the book club! Isn't that a funny thing?"

Telling any staff at school was not an option. And how would I phrase things in the first place? "Um, I was snooping around and found a notebook that belonged to another student. It had flames on it, so he has issues! And no, I didn't return it to him. Here, look at it so you know I'm not making this up. What's that, he may have been bored and trying to kill time? Could you talk with the owner of this journal regardless? No? Okay, thanks."

I dropped the notebook into my purse. I'd be returning it to Inojin on Monday.

"Guess, you dropped your notebook. It was outside the bakery on the ground." He'd take it and say thanks. I'd walk away and keep a straight face the entire time to not show I thought it was odd. It would end there.

In the early morning at precisely six o'clock, my alarm blared.

After rolling out of bed and doing my sluggish morning routine that I was a professional at after sixteen years of breathing air, I began the half mile trek to my high school. I lived in close proximity to the school, so no bus would pick me up and I was forced to get my steps in.

Sure, I could drive my hand-me-down, beat up, rusting Volkswagen.

But, why would I put in more miles on it if I didn't have to and why would I want to enter the war zone that was the student parking lot? I didn't need to. Nor did I want to.

The day went on by as it normally did.

The only change was that today, I had a notebook in my backpack. It felt like I was carrying a dozen bricks.

"Something wrong, Sarada?" Inojin asked.

I cannot blame him for asking. I was standing silently in front of his table, forming this awkwardness in the air that only Mitsuki would have the ability to blow away. He did.

"Hey Sarada. What's up? Tired of standing?" Mitsuki said.

"Haha, yeah. You know how it is. We sit so long in class, might as well stand for now, ya know." He nodded and I swear I could see a wry smile as he let his head down.

I reached into my backpack and turned to face Inojin with the notebook in my outstretched hand.

"I don't think this is mine" I force a laugh to appear more casual, but instead come off nervous.

Inojin doesn't flinch. "Where did you find it?" I look at his face for any sense of

alarm, but it isn't there.

"Outside the bakery on the sidewalk. You must have dropped it."

His friends, including the class clown Boruto, are quiet and staring at me. Inojin nods politely and reaches out, taking the notebook in his hand. "Thanks."

And like that, it is all over.

"You're welcome."

I plop down on the seat next to Mitsuki at the next table over. Our backs are to Inojin and his crew. I fumble through my backpack to remove my PB & J and water bottle while Mitsuki's eyes are boring holes into me.

"Want to explain that?" He takes the Ziplock bag holding my sandwich along with the Dasani water from my hands and places them on the table.

"Explain what? You saw and heard it all."

"You're normally not that nervous when you talk to someone. Not to anyone."

"I was nervous?"

"Your voice cracked and you didn't say what you wanted right away. It was pretty awkward and out of whack for you."

"Maybe I'm going through a phase. I'll snap out of it."

I smile but Mitsuki doesn't look convinced. "You'd think you were doing something illegal with the way you handed him that notebook."

Before I can respond to Mitsuki, a shrill voice fills the cafeteria and I know Sumire has arrived.

I didn't hate Sumire. I didn't hate people with pep or pride for the school. I didn't hate any of the athletic students and cheerleading squad. I didn't think of them as the stereotypical, caricature types in movies. The only thing is if I had to pin one in a movie role, it would be Sumire. Maybe it was wrong to think that.

Though, truth be told, she was very cheery, very concerned with her looks, and prone to putting down others when they weren't there.

On the same note, she was as much a threat as a fictional character. I didn't care for what she or others like her believed. It didn't affect me in any way.

I didn't look in her direction, but her tone sounded different today. I couldn't make out what she said to Inojin.

But, it sounded like she was crying and he spoke in low tones. Even shushing her.

I never knew Mr. Perfect as the type to silence any friend, especially not a girl who was so obviously into him.

It wasn't long before the reason why was projected to the entire cafetorium.

"I need everyone's attention really quick."

It was Sumire speaking.

Mitsuki and I didn't turn around but our attention was on her. We didn't have a choice, the room had grown deathly silent.

"Inojin needs everyone's support at this crucial time."

I felt my breath falter.

"Over the weekend, on Saturday, his mother had an accident."

"She has third degree burns and is in critical condition at Leaf Hospital down on Sato street. She's conscious and we need to support Inojin during this time. That was all. Thank you."

I heard Sumire choking back her tears before she sat down next to Inojin.

The air had gotten heavy and no one said a word. After a few minutes, students came and went to Inojin, offering him words of solace and support.

"You look like you've just seen a ghost. Your face is all flushed." Mitsuki said. Instantly, I'm snatched out of shock and manage to compose myself.

"It's just so sad."

"It is. When do you want to go offer support?"

"Not now. Later."

END CHAPTER ONE