7: Friendships
Why does he keep looking at me?
Neji glances at the nearby table; to his displeasure he locks eyes with a certain raven haired Uchiha. Noticing his discomfort, Kiba pats him on the back, the force of the hit reeling him forward and onto the floor. The offender laughs gustily, and Neji glares, rubbing the half-formed bump on his head.
"What the matter, Hyuga?"
He turns to Naruto, the latter somehow having managed to eat three bowls of instant miso ramen without using his hands and starting on his fourth, and voices his discomfort.
"That boy." Cautiously, he motions towards the Uchiha's table. "He…is…looking."
Naruto nods in understanding.
"Ahh, Sasuke-teme's just like that. He doesn't trust people easily, something to do with his brother sending him to this place."
The blonde is embarrassingly loud, and Neji glances at the boy just make sure he hasn't heard their conversation. His eyes are glazed over, uncaring and uninterested; Naruto deems it safe to continue.
"But, you know, that's him. Once he thinks you're a friend he won't leave you alone."
Neji cocks an eyebrow and gazes over to the other side of the room, where the last boy of their little quintet is sitting. His eyes scrunch up as he tries to remember the red head's name: Gaara was it? Speak of the devil and he shall appear. Teal eyes study him intently, calculating, before the loner picks up his tray of tamago sushi, Caesar salad and udon. Kiba's jaw actually drops when he shuffles over and claims a seat beside Naruto. The other boy keeps slurping on his ramen, not particularly fazed by the abrupt social interaction.
"He is looking at you, is he not?" Gaara's voice is smooth, silky, and formal. Neji nods, noting the tattoo hidden behind blood red hair.
"You can talk! I always thought you were mute, man!"
Half chewed noodles and soup fly out of the Kitsune's mouth, his laughter earsplitting. This does not go unnoticed, as Sasuke – if that was he was called – pulls his chair over and punches Naruto in the face. Now it Kiba's turn to laugh; Neji and Gaara sit quietly, each not willing to be involved with the commotion.
"What the hell was that for, teme?"
"You wouldn't shut up. I was doing those guys a favor."
A smirk appears across his face as he faces the Hyuga.
"Have you heard of Uchiha, Neji?"
Neji closes his eyes, trying to remember whether he had ever heard of the name before they were introduced (Gai cheerfully named every other patient in his age group before skipping off to pick flowers or something else stupid) and shakes his head when nothing comes up. Sasuke's smirk turns into a snarl.
"Of course not. How could a common fool like you ever dream to know a proud and noble family such as ourselves?"
All four boys have different reactions to this statement: Kiba raises an eyebrow, shrugs it off and continues to eat; Gaara rolls his eyes and looks away; Naruto mumble a silent 'Yeah right!' but nothing more; Neji grabs the insulter by the shoulders and wrestles him to the ground.
"Bastard!"
"Simpleton!"
"Asshole!"
"Commoner!"
"Ill mannered brat!"
"Uncivilized brut!"
The fight continues for a few minutes before both boys are forcefully pulled apart by Naruto and Kiba, Gaara still rolling his eyes at their tomfoolery. Soon all seated once more, back to square one, with Sasuke staring at Neji and Neji staring back.
"Geez, you guys are weirdos."
After having saying this, Kiba scoops a spoon of his chicken rice and promptly dumps it on the floor.
"What?"
Neji watches as the boy scoops yet another spoon and deposits it onto the ground. The other three sit, indifferent. The newcomer splutters with disbelief, and manages to voice a question.
"He just… the rice… on the… huh?"
Kiba's hand moves up and down, as if patting thin air.
"Good boy! Good boy, Akamaru!"
Composed as usual, Gaara addresses Neji's confusion.
"You know we are all crazy. It is time you discover what we here for."