"Onii-san! Wait!" I turned just in time to catch my sister before she toppled into me from behind. "Sorry," she panted. "You left your lunch so Okaa-san said I could bring it to you if I hurried."
Smiling at her flushed cheeks and tousled hair I took the box from her hands. "Thanks imouto." I gave her a considering look. "Would you like to go to the bookstore with me after school? I think you deserve a book or two for helping me out."
"Really?!" Her wide green eyes lit up.
"Really," I assured her. "Now run home and get ready for school before Okaa-san starts to worry." She gulped and called a hasty goodbye before taking off – our mother wasn't one to mess with.
I watched her retreating back for a moment before making my way towards the Academy's front entrance, ignoring the stares of the first-year students and their parents. I wove through the slight crowd and up the steps at a steady pace. I was just reaching for the door handle when an arm was thrown over my shoulders. Not missing a beat I let out a resigned sigh and opened the door wider than I'd originally planned.
"Aw. You're no fun – you were supposed to shriek like a girl!" I gave Eri a flat look. She pouted and dragged me farther down the hallway. "Would it kill you to indulge my fantasies every once in a while?"
"Yes," I said with the utmost seriousness. "What little reputation and social standing I have obtained would die a painful death were I to ever give in to your ridiculous demands."
"Ugh, never mind. Let's just go find the class assignments." With that she took my wrist in a vice-like grip and hurried to the announcement board. I followed meekly, knowing it would be a waste of energy to try to escape her hold.
Luckily, we'd both arrived ten minutes before the recommended arrival time. This meant there were only a few other students between us and our assignments. I waited patiently as Eri rocked on her heels and tried to see over the heads in front of us.
Soon enough we were at the head of the line. I started skimming through names on the left while Eri took the right. It had only been about twelve seconds before Eri let out a strange noise and tackled me to the ground.
"What," I groaned. "Did I ever do to you?"
"Oh hush!" She hopped to her feet and offered me a hand. I took it and let her pull me upright. "I was celebrating. We're in the same class this year!"
I blinked in surprise. "Oh," I said. "That is good news."
Eri rolled her eyes. "Good news? This is great news! Now I don't have to go out of my way to find you all the time!"
"Yeah, great," I mumbled, suddenly much less enthused than I had been.
"Don't be like that," Eri complained. "You know you'd miss me if we were in different classes again this year."
We started walking to our assigned classroom so that the other students could see their class assignments. "I don't know why," I admitted. "I'm beginning to think I must be a masochist. I can't think of any other reason why I'd choose to be best friends with you."
Eri whacked me in the shoulder playfully. "That's enough of that. You better be careful, one of these days you might even hurt my feelings."
I scoffed. "Demons don't have feeli–Ouch!" I rubbed my shoulder. "Do you have to hit so hard? I was joking!"
"Save it for later Ren. We're here." Eri opened the door to the classroom and ushered me towards the far side of the room. She took the seat closest to the window and I sat next to her, leaving an open spot to my right.
There were only four other students in the classroom with us and they'd already taken their seats. I asked Eri if she wanted to go over and meet them but she shook her head, saying we'd all be introduced later anyway.
One by one our classmates trickled in, some I knew, some I didn't, but by the time 8 o'clock rolled around all the seats were filled. It was also at that point that our teacher finally entered.
She was tall for a woman and had broad shoulders and a trim waist. Absently, I wondered if she was a kenjutsu user. She dropped a large stack of books on her desk and spun around to face us with her hands behind her back and her feet shoulder-width apart.
"Good morning class. Welcome to your fourth and final year at the Academy." Eri and I shared looks; for us, this was technically our third year. "If you can maintain a passing grade over the course of this year you'll be permitted to take the final exam in the spring. If you pass that, you'll become official shinobi of Konoha."
A bit of whispering broke out at that. Even Eri and I were excited about this year. This was the year we'd finally learn jutsu, the year we'd up our training; it was the last time we'd be looked at as children – if we passed that is.
Our teacher waited for the whispers to die down before speaking. "If you're really serious about serving Konoha, you'll prove yourself worthy of wearing one of these." She gestured to the hitai-ate around her waist. "With that in mind, we'll jump right into the coursework. Any questions?"
A boy in the front row raised his hand. The woman at the front motioned for him to speak. "What should we call you? You never gave your name."
She hummed. "I suppose I didn't. For those of you who don't know, I'm Sasaki Rina. You'll address me as Rina-Sensei. Any other questions?" Most of the students shook their heads. "Good. Let's get started then."
The first lesson was a review on chakra manipulation. I paid close attention, seeing as it was one of the classes I had no experience with in my past life. This was actually the main reason why I considered history, writing, and chakra manipulation my favorite subjects and worked hard to succeed in those classes. I'd never had them before, so when I did well in the subjects I could say honestly it was due to my own effort, rather than any prior knowledge.
Even with the memories themselves all but faded, some information was not so easily forgotten. Things like basic arithmetic and science facts were useful in day to day life. I thought of them often enough that there was never any risk of losing the knowledge.
Other things, like the history of my old world and the names of friends had been lost to me years ago – pushed out to make room for the things I needed in my new life.
I glanced towards Eri. When I'd first met her, she'd reminded me of my former best friend – the one I'd left behind. In light of this, I'd promised myself I would keep my distance. Fortunately, life doesn't always go according to plan and we'd struck up a close friendship the summer after first year.
Instead of constantly seeing her as a replacement or substitute, I gradually saw Eri as a great friend in her own right. Now, two and a half years later, the memories of my first best friend are fainter. It's a little sad, but it's made living in the present easier.
Sighing, I shook myself from my melancholy thoughts and returned my full attention to our teacher. I took meticulous notes as the lesson continued, disregarding Eri's scoff when she caught a glimpse of the cramped writing in my notebook.
"As you know, usable chakra consists of a mixture of our physical and spiritual energies.