CHAPTER 3: NEW ENROLLEE
"Tok! Tok!" Two knocks were heard in an apartment. Then, a soft voice came after. A girl's voice. Her voice.
"Naruto? Are you awake?"
No answer. She knocked twice again. Then, he was finally waking slowly from his sleep. Sakura heard muffled words inside his room.
"N-Naruto?"
Suddenly, the door opened with Sakura finding a drowsy and sleepy blonde inside.
"Sa…ku…ra…chan?"
"Naruto? Are, are you alright?" Sakura tried to wake him up.
"Mmmm…" Naruto mumbled.
I'll take that as a 'no'Sakura put her hands on his shoulders and arms and tried to carry him back to his bed. When she did, she observed his sleep. Then suddenly, a flash of her memory came to her mind.
"Hey, this was my…dream."
Sakura saw herself, sitting in a bed like the way she was now. Except, the boy wasn't blonde. His hair was black. And the both of them were wearing nightclothes. Sakura saw herself smiling, touching the boy's hair. Sleeping so soundly…but she couldn't see the face. And what surprised her was, the Sakura in her dream leaned down and kissed the boy's forehead saying, "I'm glad I met you, but…"
"Sakura-chan?"
"Huh? Wha-?" Sakura didn't see that Naruto had woken up. Naruto, on the other hand, saw the whole thing. Sakura was staring out of nothingness.
"Sakura-chan. You were spacing out. Did something happen?" Naruto sat up, looking at her.
"Oh, i-it's nothing." Sakura said while wiping her face. "You finally woke up, huh?"
"Yeah, sorry about that. I didn't know you wake up this early."
"Sorry. Early riser." Pointing to herself.
"No, it's alright. Besides, I was about to wake up when you suddenly knocked." Naruto said.
Eheheheh, right…Sakura thought."Well, aren't you going to change?" Sakura reminded him.
"Oh, yeah. Thanks for reminding. Just wait for me, alright?" Naruto jumped out of the bed and went straight for the bathroom.
"I'll just be waiting outside…" Sakura said. But Naruto was already inside.
Hmm, that Naruto. He's such a silly guy.
Sakura stood up and closed the door as she went outside. After half an hour, Naruto finally came out and walked with Sakura out of the building. They waved at the owner when they saw her. As they walked again, Naruto did all the talking. What Sakura just did was laugh and compliment. After a few minutes, they arrived at a school similar from Sakura's old school. No student came in and out. Just a few varsities that needed some practice, a few teachers holding folders and books and some matured-minded students that were planning to go the library. But Naruto and Sakura weren't there to do any of the stuff mentioned. Sakura was there to enroll and Naruto was there to accompany her. While they approached the entrance, Naruto waved at some familiar faces. Sakura was kinda jealous. Then, as they went inside, they located the principal's office. They opened the door and a different person welcomed them inside. The secretary. When she (the secretary) heard the door open, she glanced up and saw a familiar student and an unknown one.
"Naruto? What are you doing here? You don't usually go here in weekends." Shizune said.
"Oh, umm, actually I'm not the one who has some business here." Naruto said while approaching her. "She is." he pointed at Sakura, holding her bio-data.
"Good morning, ma'am." Sakura bowed.
"Good morning… What's her business?"
"I'm here to enroll, ma'am. A new student." Sakura answered.
"Hmm…" Shizune thought of talking to the principal about this but she knew she was very, very, busy today. She knew that the principal would just shout at her, again.
"Alone." Shizune said.
"EH?!" Naruto whined. "But Sakura-chan can't do it alone! She's just a new student and a new resident…she can't!"
"No, Naruto. It's alright. I can handle it. Besides, I've been in a millions of school, I'm sure this'll be similar." Sakura patted Naruto.
"But, Sakura-chan…"
"You heard her, Naruto. She can handle it." Shizune reminded him.
"Don't worry, just for me outside. Okay?" Sakura said with a smile.
Naruto had a worried face looking at Sakura. He wanted her to be safe, after all. And that doesn't mean the principal's a monster, okay? The principal's just…like a monster. After a while of convincing Naruto, Sakura finally won the "convincing-him-that-it's-alright" contest. She walked towards the principal's door with the aid of Shizune. Before she could enter, she looked at Naruto.
It'll be fine, Naruto. I promise.
"Ma'am, there's someone looking for you. Well, actually she's just a-"
"BRING HER TO ME!!!" the principal shouted.
"Y-YES, MA'AM!" Shizune hurriedly brought Sakura inside and left her with a slam of a door.
What's her problem? It's not like the principal's a mons- "!!!" Sakura had her eyes widened as she saw the principal. The so-called monster of the Konoha Academy. Principal Tsunade.
"What brings you here in my office!?" Tsunade said loudly.
"I-I, umm, want to, ah," Sakura was nervous of speaking to her. Tsunade was facing her back to Sakura.
"SPIT IT OUT!!"
"I would like to enroll in your school, ma'am!!" Sakura's eyes shut.
When Tsunade heard her request, she turned around and looked at Sakura. It's like she was examining her, looking for something. After that, she walked towards her that made Sakura flinch.
"Hmm…" Tsunade said.
"P-please, ma'am. I-I really don't want to stop my studies so…this is my bio-data and my card from my old school." Sakura handed out her papers with both hands, still eyes closed.
Tsunade didn't response, she didn't took the papers. Sakura was waiting for her to do it, but she didn't. And surprisingly, Tsunade put her hand in Sakura's head and said,
"Welcome to Konoha Academy, young one." Tsunade said while smiling.
"Eh?" Sakura said, confused. And so did Shizune and Naruto behind the door.
"You know, girl. I'm a kind of person that when I see someone, I know him or her has something to show. When I looked at you, I had a feeling you're different from the students."
Sakura just looked at her with confused eyes. Wondering if, did she really say that?
"Well, aren't you going to give me your requirements?" Tsunade said while pulling away.
"U-umm, y-yes." She gave the papers. Tsunade took it. "U-umm, Tsu-tsunade-san?"
"Hmm?"
"Wh-why did you…say those things? Did you really mean it?" Sakura looked at Tsunade.
"Why? Don't want a complement?" Tsunade asked while reading her papers.
"I-it's just that, I wanted to know if…wh-what did you think of me?" curiosity came to her.
"Hmm…well, I think you'll become a top student here. That's all. But I think you'll just become 2nd top."
"Why is that?"
"Well, there's a student who always gets to the top. He never gets away from it. And no one ever challenged him in any fight, academic stuff and the like."
"He?" Sakura never heard a top student that's a boy. "Who?"
"Well, as a new student, you'll have to find that out yourself when you come here tomorrow…Here you go." Tsunade handed out the papers, still smiling.
"Th-thank you." Sakura said in reply.
"Haruno Sakura, huh?" Tsunade said while giving her the uniform. "That's a cherry blossom isn't it?"
"Y-yes it is." Sakura was slightly blushing.
"Well, then. I welcome you again and you'll be in 2A tomorrow. You can go now."
"Thank you very much." Sakura said while bowing.
Then Sakura went outside seeing Naruto and Shizune worried the same time glad that the principal accepted her. Naruto went by Sakura's side congratulating her. Shizune also was congratulating her and saying that she had never seen Tsunade that way, smiling and happy about a certain student. After that, Naruto and Sakura waved goodbye to Shizune and went outside. The both of them were still glad and smiling while walking. But then, Sakura didn't notice, and so did Naruto, that there was someone walking towards them that made Sakura bump into that person.
"Oof!"
"Hey, watch where you're going, will you?" it was a boy.
"Sakura-chan, are you alright?" Naruto held Sakura to stand up.
"I-I'm sorry, I wasn't looking. I'm really, really sorry."
"Hn." The boy walked out until-
"HEY, SASUKE!!! COME BACK HERE!" Naruto shouted at him.
Sakura looked at the boy and then suddenly, the dream came back to her. As she stood there, she saw a boy similar to the boy in her dreams. The raven head turned around and faced the both of them with an angry face.
"What do you want, dope?" the boy said.
"Apologize to Sakura-chan! NOW!!"
"N-Naruto." Sakura begged Naruto to stop.
Then the black guy walked away saying nothing.
"Teme!" Naruto growled.
Sakura just looked at the boy walking away. With confused eyes, different things went inside her head.
Was that an illusion? Was I hallucinating? D-did he…it can't be. Could he be…? N-no. It's impossible… it's so impossible. But…my dream. His hair…
"Sakura-chan. Are you alright?" Naruto asked.
"Y-yeah. I'm fine."
"That bastard."
"Wh-who was that, Naruto." They continued to walk.
"Uchiha Sasuke. The most stupid-est person and most irritating guy I want to punch. He thinks he's so cool, che!!"
"Why are you so mad at him?"
"He got so many fan girls, I bet they're just pretending. He's that top student, I don't even know why?! He's a bully, he fights the other top dogs. I wish he just challenge me so I can beat the hell outta him!"
"W-wait a minute. He's the top student?" Sakura said.
"Why'd you ask?"
"N-nothing…" Sakura looked away.
As the day moved, the two walked to the apartment again. Sakura went to the owner's business(like a fastfood chain) for work. She waved to Naruto and said that she'll be up after work.
"Good afternoon, Suzuki-san." Sakura wore the apron.
"Afternoon. Perfect timing, my dear. We're about to open. Just get ready for customers, including Naruto."
"He eats here?"
"Of course! His favorite here is my specialty: Ramen."
"O-oh, eheh. I guess, it might be delicious since it's your specialty."
Then the sunset came, and so did the customers. Sakura did well, at least. She did as a good waitress. Suzuki admired her and smiled with the effort she sees in her. After a while, Naruto arrived. He ordered Ramen, which Sakura gave quickly. Naruto talked to her a little, then waited for her to end her shift. When it did, Sakura removed her apron and thanked Suzuki. She waved goodbye and went outside with Naruto. Naruto complemented her again and again. Sakura laughed, as always. And when they arrived at each other's door, they waved goodbye and said goodnight.
"Good luck for tomorrow, Sakura-chan. See yah!"
"Thanks."
As Sakura went inside and closed the door, she leaned her back at the door. She put her other hand ('cause the other's holding the uniform inside the plastic) on her forehead thinking about the incident a while ago.
Uchiha…Sasuke. Black hair. Top student. A fighter. And a…heartthrob? Wait…that's different! But…he can't be the one in my dream. There are a lot of boys that has black hair, but…
Sakura walked towards the bed and left the uniform there. She took her clothes off and went inside the bathroom. As she turned the water on, she was still thinking about the possibilities. The boy in her dream might be a sign, and the boy might be that top student Uchiha. Could he be? After the shower, she wore her nightgown and lied down in her bed. Would I see it again tonight? Would I see him again? Urgh!! Why am I a sorceress? Then she recalled her past…
"I'm…a sorceress?"
"Yes, Sakura. It's in your blood! Your father and I are also sorcerers, so it's natural for our abilities to be transmitted on you. Well?"
"…"
"What do you think? Isn't that fantastic?"
"I don't want to."
"Eh?"
"I said I don't want to be a sorcerer."
"Wh-why? Isn't that amazing?"
"I'm sorry mom. I really don't want to be one. It's just that…"
"What is you reason?"
"I want to be normal. I want to…normally love. I want to be loved normally! I don't want to use this power in loving someone. I want to know how to love the way humans do! I want to feel how humans love!!"
"I see…"
"Honey."
Then they smiled and hugged her. They told her that she can do anything but never forget where she came from. Becoming a sorcerer or not is her choice, but forgetting who she is. It is an exception. Because they loved her for what she is, for how she is and for what she decides…
Then a tear fell from her eyes and she wiped it. Mom… *sniff* I'm sorry…I miss you… Then she curled into a ball again and she knew that she would see it again. She knew that she'd see the dream again. And she knew that she would wake up again, panting. But she didn't care…
Maybe…this power isn't bad. Seeing signs…like him. No. It's still not certain, right? It may not be…may…not…be…him…
Uchiha…Sasuke…and again, the night came over her. She slept and dreamt the same dream…