The teacher gestured at us that it was our turn. We shared unsure looks. In most other high schools, it was unnecessary to introduce themselves as if we were back in elementary school. Most teachers were satisfied to meet the students one-on-one and to leave them to sort out their own peers. Apparently not Ms. Yuhi.
Naruto gulped and took a deep breath, slowly letting it out as he walked to the middle of the front of the classroom, just a step in front of our brothers and I. Standing up tall and smiling brightly, he enthusiastically greeted the class. "Hey! So, I'm Naruto, and I just transferred in with these three guys behind me. But you knew that already," he tilted his head towards the teacher and a few chuckles answered him along with smiles. "Mmm, not sure what else to say. I like sports, and my favorite food is ramen! Okay, Sasuke, you're next."
Naruto stepped back to where the rest of us were and shoved Sasuke to the front, earning him an unimpressed look from the brunette. Sasuke coolly looked over the classroom, letting the silence stretch out for a second longer than needed and earning a few appreciative whispers from some of the girls before pushing up his sunglasses further up his nose and introducing himself. "My name is Sasuke. Nice to meet you." Without another word, he turned around and marched back to the others.
Sai plastered on a fake smile and made his way to the front before I could. I inwardly scowled; I hated being the last to introduce myself.
"Now, now," Neji chided softly from behind me, near my ear. I fought down a shiver just in time. "You'll get your turn. Patience, little blossom."
I grit my teeth and forced myself to not shoot him a dirty look. He did that on purpose.
"Hello," Sai began. "My name is Sai, and it's a pleasure to meet you all. I hope we can become good friends." He bowed slightly to the class before stepping back, plastic smile still in place, and waiting for me to take his center stage. His introduction was perfect, but there was something off about it. I could see the confusion forming on the back of the minds of the students sitting on the front row; a sliver of intuition hidden behind a wall of logic that refused to be forgotten but could only settle for being ignored. If only they knew that that something was a lack of soul.
I inhaled deeply and let it out slowly through my nose. Now was the tricky part for me. Because of my curse, which affected non-Otherworlders as well but to a lesser degree, I had to be very precise in wording my introduction. Too much and the stronger the enchanting effect of its power. Too little and I would come off as "mysterious" or whatever which would encourage others to seek me out, meaning I would end up talking more nonetheless, but to only a handful of students. Which would be worse, really, because then the potential for friendships and pseudo-romantic notions grew exponentially. How did I know this? One word: experience.
"Hi there. My name is Sakura. Nothing much to say that these guys haven't already said, but I'll reiterate. It's a pleasure to meet you, and I hope we can get along." I flashed the class a small smile before stepping back. Ms. Yuhi nodded approvingly.