Chapter Ten
"Lee! Lee! Wait up, please!" Lee turned around at Hinata's mousy voice, though his legs continued to jump. He had possibly thirty seconds to get to class! If he was late again, Mr. Umino was going to write him up! Two months into the school year and already this!
Then again, Lee could not be sad for the 'why' of his tardiness. At one point or another, Naruto and/or Kiba had managed to coerce him into walking with them to their classes so they could chat about whatever random topic came to mind. Also, they wanted to remind Lee to bring more curry; they had extra bottles of water and milk and were prepared for the challenge!
Lee could not have helped giggling at the fact that they had been saying that for nearly two months and the results only seemed to get worse.
Sakura and Hinata seemed nearly inseparable in a school day, sticking to each other with an almost counterbalance symbolism. Just as Lee and Gaara did.
As it turned out, the group now had four smaller groups in it: Shikamaru and Chouji, Sakura and Hinata, Naruto and Kiba, and Gaara and Lee. It was a fantastic system for when something went wrong with one because the other seemed to instantly know and call a 'meeting' on the roof. No one was left behind. Before Lee's and Hinata's arrival, however, it had been that Shikamaru and Chouji were their own duo, Naruto and Kiba one and the same when causing catastrophes, and Gaara had been the outsider while Sakura tried to keep them all in line.
It was wonderful harmony to have after all that, Lee was certain. Two months and he felt as if he had known all of them for years. He even knew about Gaara's childhood (though he was not happy how; not from Gaara himself, but Naruto and Shikamaru who had added his bits where Naruto either exaggerated or forgot). Lee had cried for the small broken boy who had never known a father's love, a mother's care, or a sibling bond. Who's psychotic uncle had caused such a mental breakdown, 'Shukaku' had come into existence.
Lee had hugged Gaara and had not let go of him for three hours after hearing that, which meant that Lee had connected himself to Gaara at the hip from fifth period (which had not made Mr. Tatami happy at all and he had made certain both Gaara and Lee knew of it) to a hour and a half later after lunch, skipping class for the first time in his life just to try and spread the love to his dear friend. A 'meeting' had been called that day when their absence had been realized by Kiba and Hinata not seeing Lee in science and Naruto not seeing Gaara in gym seventh period.
A very tight knit group. Lee could not have ever been happier.
He smiled at the flustered girl, trying to calm her. "Hinata, please be quick, I can not be late again." he was bouncing on the balls of his feet and giving the classroom not ten feet away a watchful stare. Time was ticking and Mr. Umino was tapping his foot, watching him.
"Lee, I am so sorry, I didn't know until I saw them here. I hope you can forgive me, but N-" Mr. Umino pointed to the clock and Lee hugged Hinata quickly.
"I am sorry, Hinata! I will listen later, I swear it! I will give you my absolute attention, but I must go!" He all but ran from her, sliding into his classroom just as the bell sounded. He sighed with relief and Mr. Umino closed the door behind them. He waved back at Hinata, frowning a bit at her heartbroken look.
Turning back to the room, he froze. He gawped at who he saw and felt a cold sweat on his palms. On either side of his assigned seat, there were two new students in the class.
"Lee, take you seat now." Lee did blindly what the teacher ordered, feeling his asymmetrical-cut, green and pink skirt flap around his one thigh and other knee with horror. He sat down numbly and both of the new students stared at him, both with emotions different.
Mr. Umino did row call before smiling warmly at seventh period geometry. "Well, students, because of some renovations happening at the Sound district, our district allowed for students there to transfer here until the renovations were done. So, until the repairs are complete, say hello to Tenten Buki and Neji Hyuuga." There was a fair number of 'hellos' muttered in tired voices.
Lee tried to remain straight in his chair, but he could feel Neji glaring at him and Tenten looked as if she pitied him with her life. He had a rather good idea of what Hinata had wanted to tell him.