"I'd like to apologize for what happened yesterday," Taka Hiroshi proclaimed. "It was not how I should've introduced myself."
It wasn't how I wanted to meet you either, Sarasuki thought. She had a hand pressed to her cheek, bored, as their sensei continued with excuses. There was no need for an excuse. She had been...well, drunk. Nothing to explain.
"...if there is any way I can make up up to you—"
"Lunch," Sara exclaimed, perhaps a bit too loudly. Daichi shook his head at her. She cleared her throat. "I mean, you could buy us lunch, sensei. Then we could get to know each other better, yeah?"
The woman thought for a moment. "I guess that's the least I could do."
Sarasuki cheered. "I vote we eat dango then!"
"But that's a sweet," Daichi complained. He wrinkled his nose in distaste. "We're talking about lunch here..."
They ended up going to Ramen Ichiraku, despite Sara's suggestion. She did not mind in the end, however, as she thoroughly enjoyed the tonkotsu she had ordered. Her mouth had watered upon its arrival, the aroma coming off it not of this world. It was heavenly.
"How about we introduce ourselves," Taka started. She placed down her chopsticks, finished with her ramen.
"Again," muttered Daichi. "Introduce ourselves again. We've already met."
She rapidly waved his words away, a forced smile on her lips. Her cheeks were flushed pink. "Yesterday doesn't count, Daichi-kun," she said quickly. "But since you're so keen on the idea, why don't you start. Tell us your name, maybe a hobby or two, and what your goal as a ninja is."
He let out a loud sigh. "Fine. My name is Daichi Kimura," he said, his voice flat of enthusiasm. "I like to sleep, and...my goal? I really don't have a goal."
Sleeping doesn't count as a hobby, Sara thought.
"None at all?" Asked Taka. He shrugged at her. "That's okay! Maybe you'll come up with one later." The corners of her lips twitched. Sarasuki thought that perhaps the cheerfulness she was putting on, was not as truthful as it may seem. "Sarasuki-chan, why don't you go?"
"It's Sara. Just Sara," she corrected. "And...I guess besides training, I like to bake sometimes." Or at least, eating the food she made. She was not all that great at making food, in all honesty. "And my goal is to become the strongest kunoichi in Konoha."
"Do you have a role model?" Taka had a hand brushed against her cheek. She had a slight smile across her face, and eyes were studying her.
"The great Tsunade-sama, I guess," replied Sara thoughtfully.
"Good." Taka turned towards Sora. "How about you Sora? What is your goal and hobbies?"
Sora straightened his posture. "I'm Sora Ueda," he said slowly. "And although I don't do it often, I like gardening. As for my goal, I solely want to carry on the name of my clan."
"Ah, of course. An understandable goal," she told him. He nodded back. She turned to face all three of them. "Well, I guess it's my turn now." She cleared her throat. "I'm Taka Hiroshi. I like…"
"Drinking," Daichi interrupted.
"Yes, drinking," she sighed. "And also cooking. I'd like to think I can make a mean steak. My goal is to — well, I'd like to be able to train a formidable team."
"Having you'd already done that, sensei?" Sarasuki asked with curious eyes.
Taka gave her a sad smile.
"Not as well as I had liked to." There was a small tone of sadness to her voice, although Sara could not figure out the reason why.
"Anyways," Taka continued, forcing a smile. "Now that we've all introduced ourselves, that means we're officially a team, yes? Team 13."
"What an odd number," Sara whispered to herself.
Little did she know, the number would later become more that just a number. It would become a curse.