Only one translation this time around-
Yoroshiku onegaishimasu- is hard to explain. It's a very formal reply to a greeting like "pleased to meet you" but it's also used like a "I'm in your hands." It's something you would say to new workmates or classmates or to new teammates. Seeing as it's normally used as a response to a greeting that's why she's embarrassed by not using the phrase sooner.
And I don't think this needs translated but just in case "yosh" is just a silly version of yes.
Asuka had barely stood up to look for Rock Lee when he bounded into her presence, eyes sparkling.
"Ehime-chan!" he wiped away tears from his eyes and over dramatically thrust his fist into the air. "I am honored to be your team mate and look forward to learning with you!"
Asuka laughed a little nervously at his excitement. She was more accustomed to his antics then the others but he had a way of making anyone uncomfortable with his unending passion.
"Likewise," she replied. Although no one else in the class liked him much she didn't mind Rock Lee. He worked very hard and had a big heart to match his work ethic. Being his team mate would mean that she would never be left behind and that she would have to work hard to keep up, especially with Neji being on her team as well.
She glanced over at Neji, his face blank as per usual. The two of them would ensure that her skills were quickly improved, whether she liked it or not.
She opened her mouth to say something else but paused when Neji returned her gaze. She watched his cloudy eyes for a moment, positive that he had never made eye contact with her before.
"Would the two of you care to eat lunch with me?" She said, turning to look at Rock Lee as she spoke. Neji's eyes were just as empty as his face. "I made enough for three," she pointed out while grabbing hold of the large bento box.
Rock Lee's eyes again sparkled with tears, "I would be honored to eat a lunch that you worked so hard to prepare! I will enjoy every bite with the same passion you poured into making us this lunch!"
She noted Neji's eyebrow twitching in annoyance at Lee's loud explanation, and she hoped that he would agree as well.
"And you, Hyuuga-san?" She looked over at him and caught his gaze again. This time she felt her cheeks flush a little as an exposed feeling rushing into her chest.
He only nodded and stood up.
"Where should we eat?" He asked in a dull tone.
Lee fist pumped again, fire in his eyes as he gave his suggestion. "At the top of the steps across town would be perfect! The whole of our accomplishments and your well prepared lunch would be enjoyed to the fullest with a view of the city!"
Asuka laughed nervously, unsure of how he always had so much energy. She decided to suggest a milder option, almost positive that Neji would not want to walk across the city and up the steps to eat lunch.
"How about we just eat at the back of the school yard? The shade will be nice, and no one will be out there. That way we can relax and eat without being interrupted." She smiled when Lee whole heartedly agreed.
"Of course! That way we can better get to know each other!" Fire again in his eyes he offered to carry the lunch and Asuka agreed, letting him bounce ahead of them.
Neji grimaced and she watched wearily. This was going to be an interesting team dynamic. It was already wrecking her into a nervous laugh.
She walked alongside Neji at an even pace to where Lee was now standing. He staring up at the grand tree they would be sitting under. She almost always sat there. She loved the way the light trickled through the leaves and left scattered patterns across the ground. It was beautiful.
Neji sat, back straight, and Lee handed her the bento box carefully. The meal turned out fine, she kept things light and made sure Lee didn't talk too much to Neji because she feared a fight might break out before they're work even begun. Lee's passion bubbled into everything he talked about, and Asuka enjoyed that. She soaked up his excitement and tucked it away, knowing it would be more useful during training.
She watched what they ate carefully so that she would know in the future what they liked and didn't like. She also noted that Neji drank three cups of green tea, despite the heat of the day. She would have to bring more green tea next time.
Asuka yawned quietly, and Lee stopped mid-sentence.
"Are you tired Ehime-chan?" he asked in concerned tone.
She shook her head, "no, not really." She glanced up at the tree and shielded her eyes from the sun, "I'm just very relaxed I suppose, I've been so anxious for today that I haven't really sat still in a while." She smiled at Lee, "I'm relieved that the two of you are my teammates. I was worried about who I would be paired up with. The two of you are very strong and hardworking, so they must see a lot of potential in me. I'm grateful to be given the task of keeping up. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu." She bowed her head a little as she spoke the last words, almost embarrassed that she had not said them sooner.
Lee grinned at the compliment, and saluted her with a smile. Neji simply stood. Asuka followed his actions with her eyes, worried that she had insulted him in some way.
"Thank you for the meal," she was a little surprised at the phrase, but accepted it with a smile all the same. "But it's time to go back."
Asuka blinked, surprised that it had already been an hour. Lee rushed to put everything back in the bento box and then shot up into the air, startling her in the midst of thought.
"Onward!" He shouted, bounding off with the bento box in tow.
Neji scowled, "Are you still relieved?"
Asuka was again taken back by his words. She stood and took her time to decide an answer, "Rock Lee, is a little different, however…" she again paused. "He has a passion that speaks louder than talent or even a family name."
He turned to her and she could tell he was aggravated by the implication.
"I mean, he does things for more than popularity, power, or simply because he can do them or even because he's 'expected' to. He works hard because he desires it. He even continues to do so when people keep telling him he's doomed to fail and that it's all meaningless. I am relieved to be paired with someone who won't ever give up."
Asuka turned to Neji after she finished speaking and smiled a little. "Are you ready to go back inside?" She asked, finding it best to change the subject before he could reply.
Neji's brow was still furrowed, but he nodded and walked ahead of her.
Asuka frowned as soon as he stepped away. The two of them would make teamwork hard, she could already tell that she'd have to be the middle-man and she already didn't like it. Neji was not going to easily accept Lee, and Lee would be immediately angered by Neji's refusal. They would fight each other more than they would Kohona's enemies. She grimaced some, and raced to catch up with Neji. Asuka was doubtful that he would accept her either. Not only was she a woman, she was a year younger than the rest of the class.
Sweet smiles would not win over Hyuuga Neji.
The introduction of their teacher was less than satisfactory. Neji was immediately annoyed by his presence and the idea of spending more time with him left a permanent grimace on his face.
Asuka's smile turned nervous and Lee was annoyingly inspired by the man.
Might Guy, what kind of a name is that? Neji crossed his arms and his eyebrow twitched in frustration. First Lee now this? Of course Asuka would probably just grin and bear it. What a team, a well-mannered but spineless girl, a hyperactive boy with no ability, and a thoughtless sparkling Sensei.
His frustrations boiled and he harshly refused to name is goal when asked, but Lee readily replied and it made him smirk, almost laugh.
"I want to prove that without ninjutsu or genjutsu, one can become a powerful ninja!" Lee proclaimed. "That is what I live for!"
His half laugh made Lee bounce up in anger.
"Hey! What's so funny?"
Neji replied smoothly. "Without ninjutsu or genjutsu you can't be a ninja. What? Are you stupid?
Neji noted Asuka's glare at the comment.
"No. That's not necessarily true if one has the passion. If you spend your youth with a good rival, sparring together and honing your skills, there's no doubt that you will become a good ninja." Guy's words made Asuka smile.
Neji ignored the sentiment thinking back to Asuka's description of Lee.
"…He even continues to do so when people keep telling him he's doomed to fail and that it's all meaningless. I am relieved to be paired with someone who won't ever give up."
His attention was soon divided by Asuka introducing her goal.
"My goal…" Her eyes took on a fiercer look and her gentle smile became a more determined grin. "…is to become as strong as Tsunade the Sannin."
Even her voice changed as she spoke.
Guy Sensei again smiled, and Lee looked confused.
"Sannin?" Lee questioned.
Guy pointed a finger up and smiled again, "Sannin, the three legendary ninja trained by the Third Hokage. Tsunada was the female member of their team and medical-nin…."
Neji tuned out the explanation, and wondered how Asuka's demeanor could change so readily.
"..a few things before we continue. I would like for you to start calling each other by your given names, this way you'll become closer in your youth!" He said this with his fist clenched and tears sparkling in his eyes. Asuka's cheeks flushed along with Lee's and Neji himself was a little embarrassed at the idea.
Asuka spoke first, "Like Neji-san and Lee-san?" Her cheeks were dusted pink as she said their names.
Guy Sensei raised his hand and clenched it into a fist, "YOSH! The three of you are going to be working very closely together and you'll need to be comfortable with one another if you're to be a good team!"
Lee looked like his eyes were going to pop out of his head and his face was fairly red as he turned to Asuka, who looked just as embarrassed. Neji chose not to indulge the thought and Guy went on to his next statement.
"Tomorrow, I will test your abilities so that I can better decide how you should be trained. We'll need to start early so 6 o'clock sharp on the ninth training grounds!"
Neji saw the color drain from Asuka's face as soon as Guy said the word 'early.'
Lee was quick to respond positively, of course. Jumping up and exclaiming that getting up early was the best way to start the day. Guy agreed whole heartedly and some meaningless exchange took place that resulted in the two of them bounding off. Neji tried not to sigh with relief once they were gone and turned his attention to Asuka, watching her in silence.
"You alright?" He asked.
She turned to him, face drained, "Absolutely not. I hate mornings. I was going to make lunch again but if we're meeting at six I might not be able to."
There was a moment of quiet between them.
"There's no reason for you to make lunch," he spoke while moving to stand up. "We can go out to eat tomorrow."
She seemed to consider that, but then frowned again. "If I don't make lunch I'll have to make dinner, so that I feel better about it. That would give us time to celebrate together, ne?"
She smiled some when she turned to him; he assumed looking for his agreement.
"Celebrate?"
"Of course! Celebrate becoming a new team!"
"Un," he replied unsure of what else to say.
She watched him for a moment.
"Is... Is it ok for me to call you Neji-san?" She asked him with her face flushed.
Neji shifted his weight awkwardly, "un." He replied again, refusing to look at her as he spoke.
She nodded and took a half a step forward, "we won't hold you back, Neji-san."
Neji's eyes widened and he turned to see the same fierceness from before shinning in her eyes.
"I promise," she said already walking away. "See you tomorrow!"
Neji watched her walked away, surprised and almost amused by her. He smirked a little to himself.
"We'll see about that."
Asuka came in the house with a sigh, "I'm home…" she called out.
"Welcome back," her father's voice rang through the house and she ran to it, only just kicking off her shoes.
She flew around the corner, running into her father with a thud. She clung to him with her face buried in the front of his traditional yukata.
"Oooof, moo… Asuka-chan," he stopped mid-scold. "What's wrong? Are you alright?"
She shook her head into his yukata, "No, no I'm not alright!"
He furrowed his brow and put his hand down on her head, smoothing her hair out.
"And why is that?" He asked.
"Hyuuga, Hyuuga Neji. He's one of my new team mates."
Hyuuga Neji, her father grimaced. The boy she liked.
He remembered her first Valentine's Day after moving up a year in school. All the other girls were making valentines and she was determined to do so as well. She made little origami boxes and frosted little hearts on each one. The only thing she hadn't done was pour the chocolate into molds. He had done that. As she was carefully writing names on the boxes she asked had asked him what the difference between 'giri-choco,' 'honmei-choco,' and 'tomo-choco.'
He was a little startled by the question, but answered by explaining that giri and tomo were meant for friends and honmei was for someone special to you.
She then asked what he meant by special.
"Someone who makes your heart flutter."
She looked up at him, eyes wide, and then her face flushed. "Is that what it means to like someone?"
He carefully replied, "Sometimes, why?"
She had furrowed her brow and answered, "Hyuuga Neji, even though he's not very nice… he makes my heart feel funny."
She never said much else about it but every year he watched her pause before gingerly placing a chocolate in a box marked: Hyuuga Neji.
He took in a deep breath.
"Who's your other team mate?"
"Rock Lee, Neji hates him. He's loud and obnoxious and can't do ninjutsu or genjutsu. Neji thinks he isn't worthy of being a ninja. He thinks the same about me 'cause I'm a girl. Plus I can tell the two of them are going to be fighting a lot." Her words were muffled but he could tell she was close to tears.
He closed his eyes and thought to himself for a moment, Ehime Takashi, this is no time to be thinking about the fact that she likes him. This is going to be a big part of her life. She needs your support right now.
He sucked in a deep breath, "And what do you think?"
She looked up at him, glossy eyed. "What?"
"What do you think of Lee and yourself?"
She looked down for a moment, putting some space between them but holding tight to the cloth of his yukata.
"I think Lee is brave, and he works hard. He'll be a good team mate." She finally replied.
"And you?"
He could see her forehead wrinkle with thought. "I think that I can fight well, and I want to be better… which means I'll be able to work hard."
"Which means you'll be able to prove him wrong." He pointed out to her.
She looked up at him as he spoke, "you have more heart than any other ninja. Heart is what makes a difference. You'll be able to change what Neji thinks of you and of Lee. You might have to play middle man, keep them from fighting too much, but that will just make you twice as strong. You can keep up, right?"
She nodded, sniffling a little, but not crying.
"Good girl." He hugged her and kissed the top of her head as she clung to him.
Takashi looked up and said a prayer of thanks that she wasn't too grown up to greet him like this. He knew it wouldn't be long before he was last one she'd confide in.
