A breath was drawn in unison, silence save the constant hum of an overhanging air vent, then a short wave of relief as the eleven thirty bell rang signaling the start of lunch. Desks were swept of the previous curriculum's material and shifted to fit the student's needs, most forming small semicircles around the cramped area, a few people left them as is before joining their friends in another homeroom.
Crowds filled the nearby hallway, student council members returning with food orders, mainly packages of curry bread and melonpan. Several teachers took this time to retreat to the lounge before third period began, lesson plans for the day forgotten in the rush.
-
-
-
Fingers fished through a small coin purse, pausing momentarily to count out the change collecting in her friend's palm. Though against her better judgment the young first year had agreed to contribute in a classmate's funds, as of last week she had been paying for several boxed lunches, not including an assortment of bottled tea and soft drinks.
"This should be enough yen to last you through the day, don't blow it all at once."
"Arigato, I promise I won't."
Ino Yamanaka snorted, gathering last night's homework into a pile before waving off her companion.
"Whatever, it's not my problem anyway."
The roseate haired girl bowed slightly before exiting the room, bound for the third year hallway where most of the juice machines were located.
-
-
-
Three minutes later Sakura was standing in front of a bubble tea dispenser, finger poised midway before punching an illuminated button.
"Neh, I want the one with strawberry tapioca," she whispered to herself.
Another cooled drink rested in her left hand while she struggled with the clasps of her wallet, humming all the while to a foreign tune.
Two second year boys occupied the window opposite where she was standing, their voices laid back and fairly loud, especially for such a quite section of the building.
"A new student? Which class do you think they'll stick this one in?"
"I heard it was A1 or A2, too bad, I'm sick of all these old faces."
A breath caught involuntarily in her throat, ears pricking as the pair rattled on, the larger of the two stretching his legs before continuing.
"He's in the teachers lounge a few halls down, I think I saw him talking with Kakashi."
The conversation seemed to end there, changing the topic to gym, a boring subject, no more was said about the mysterious student.
"Kakashi? Is he in my class then?"
