Thanks (again) to all reviewers!


Dear Sasuke,

I never got around to talking much about myself in the last letter, sorry about that. Sometimes, when you're with a person a lot, you end up talking more about that person than about yourself. Or at least, that's the way I think. But, I've been selfish about a lot of things in my life, so I don't think that it's a bad thing to be so concerned about my friend.

Anyway, my birthday is in the Spring, May 1st, and, as I said, I'm the same age as you. I enjoy school, unlike Naruto, and eventually I want to be a doctor. I'm a little immature, in that I've never had a real crush or anything. Other than Naruto, my best friend is a girl I met online, Isabella. She's Italian, but she intends to come over here to go to college. We argue a lot, but I guess that's because we have a lot in common.

Did I mention that Naruto and I both started studying at his guardian's martial arts school? It's hard, but a lot of fun! Iruka is only one of the teachers, and all of them are masters of different styles. Oh, and it's really funny, but the cop who got Naruto out of his last house, he's been hanging around. He says that he feels responsible for Naruto, especially since it was his first call since he transferred here from the East Coast. I think that he's got a little crush on Iruka, though! His partner--a woman named Yasmine--agrees. She says that she once saw his apartment, and it was full of erotic books. She and I have become friendly, since they always seem to visit Naruto (and Iruka). It's also funny to see Naruto being protective of his new guardian. One time, Kris--I forgot to mention his name before--worked up the courage to ask Iruka to see a play, but Naruto kept interrupting until the poor guy gave up in frustration. It's a good thing that we haven't told Naruto about the porn…

We started our freshman year of high school a little over a month ago, and Naruto is already infamous! I'm so glad that we are finally able to go to the same school again--he's been moved around so much--but I can't say that I like being seen as his side-kick in crime! Actually, I don't think he's been doing as many bad things--pranks, he calls them--since he actually wants to stay here, with Iruka and me. He's mentioned a few things that he did at other schools, and honestly, it made me glad that I didn't know about them. Smoke-bombs, stink-bombs, graffiti, releasing stray animals into the building, those are just the beginning.

I get the feeling that he got in a lot of fights, too; I've noticed this look he sometimes gets when people make fun of him. It's like half of him is happy to get the attention, but the other half wants to really hurt them. It's worse when it's someone else being bothered; one time, a creepy guy said something disgusting about me, and I've never seen Naruto so mad. The guy was twice his size--did I mention that Naruto's a little short?--but that didn't start Naruto from jumping him. It took me and two others to pull him off. Luckily, it was after school, so there weren't any teachers around, but it was still scary. Actually, Iruka's reaction was almost scarier. I never want to make him mad at me.

The funny thing about Naruto is that he can pull anyone into one of his 'pranks.' I said that I'm the one seen as his sidekick, but really, there's a couple of guys--friends--who are the ones who help. Somehow, that blond idiot convinced this really smart guy, Sean, to help him hack the school computers. They got the entire system to go haywire and post some message about the losers inheriting the earth, and Bill Gates being Satan. I'm shocked that Naruto got him to help; he's openly lazy, and his screen name is even 'slacker hacker,' if you can believe it! Another guy, Kevin, helped Naruto hang signs about animal cruelty all over the biology lab. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad that Naruto's making other friends, but I don't know who's a bad influence on whom!

Sean and Kevin aren't bad guys, though. They're loyal--you should have heard the threats the principal was spouting when he was interrogating us about the pranks!--and even kind of sweet. Sean is really close with his little sister, Catherine, and Kevin moons over his childhood friend, Hillary. They're both really big into conservation; I think her family runs a wolf sanctuary, and he met her because he always used to visit it with his--rather large--family.

Well, I have to go now; this letter's getting pretty long! I hope you enjoyed it; please write back!

Haruhi


Dear Sakurazaka-san,

I was pleased to see that you wrote again. Sasuke-sama was, too; I could tell. But, he's stubborn, so he won't write back. Next time, why don't you try ending your letter with a question, so he is forced to answer? I think he really wants to, but he is held back by his own pride. I've worked in his household since before he was born, and I've watched him become more and more isolated. I don't know what his reasons are, but I worry.

Yours,

Suoh Tanaka