(A/N) Choji! My poor boy.
While Shikamaru's parents had died before any of them could remember them, Ino's father's death had been hard on everyone. Choji hadn't quite understood what was going on, but it had gotten across that he wouldn't be able to see Ino as often, not that he'd seen her much before, her frequent headaches made it so they didn't see each other often.
Now he saw her when he saw Shikamaru, which was every month or so. They wouldn't start the Academy for another year, so for now, he was stuck seeing them any time he could manage to go to the park and see them there.
"I'm telling you, you'd be an amazing medic!" Sakura insisted as Choji approached. "Oh hey Choji! I'm trying to convince Lee to be a medic!"
"Troublesome," Shikamaru chipped in, head laying on his arms while he sprawled across a rock.
Choji snickered, plopping down next to his friend. "You could be a good medic," Choji said, agreeing with Sakura. "Takes a lotta determination to be a medic though."
"That's what I was saying!" Sakura declared cheerfully. "Lee, you have determination in spades! And you'd have a great bedside manner!"
Lee shrugged, making movements with his hands that Choji knew were SSL. He couldn't translate them yet, but he was working on it! Sakura knew it already, and sighed. "Yeah, but the medics said there wasn't actually anything wrong with your chakra system!"
"What'd he say?" Choji asked Shikamaru, who he knew had learned sign language.
"He said that he can't use chakra," Shikamaru replied, yawning deeply.
"The nurses think it's an unconscious thing," Sakura explained, turning to face him. "They think that he's suppressing his chakra coils unconsciously, and therefore thinks he can't use chakra. Which he won't be able to if he continues to do it for the next month or two. After that, the damage is irreversible."
"I just can't," Lee said out loud at last, sounding extremely frustrated.
Sakura hummed, patting his shoulder. "Alright. Let's go play with the others and leave Shika to his nap! Coming Choji?"
Choji glanced at Shikamaru, who's eyes were closed and his breathing even. "Sure, I'll come play for a little while."
"Ino'll be happy to see you!" Sakura declared, grabbing his wrist and dragging him and Lee along.
Ino was indeed very happy to see him, hugging him cheerfully before dragging him into their game of freeze tag.
His dad was going on a mission that only he could manage. Choji knew his dad was strong, but he still worried.
"Come back, kay?" Choji mumbled into his dad's armor.
"Of course, bear cub," his dad rumbled, patting his back. "I'm stronger than you think I am, I'll be just fine."
Choji nodded, knowing his dad would feel it. Or see it, either would work. "You'd better be. Don't wanna be stuck with cuz forever."
"You wouldn't be," his dad assured him. "Don't worry about me, I'll be alright."
In hindsight, maybe Choji should have worried. It probably wouldn't have changed anything, but it was the thought that counted, right? A week after he left, they got the news. He hadn't made it back alive.
Choji was old enough now that he understood most of what was going on. His dad had broken the promise, and wouldn't be coming back. Now he'd be stuck with cuz forever.
Shikamaru was at the funeral, along with Ino. The others of their group hadn't attended for some reason or another, Choji hadn't been paying attention, but it was kind of nice to have just them there.
"What happens now?" Choji asked Ino after the funeral was finished. She would know, right?
"We collect your stuff and you move in with us," she said, pulling up a slight smile. Choji didn't think it was very convincing.
He also didn't think he could manage anything convincing either, so he didn't try.
"Troublesome," Shikamaru said, coming up on his other side. "We'll probably have to shift rooms again."
Ino hit Shikamaru's arm. "Shikamaru! Don't complain about that right now!"
Choji couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry. Of course Shikamaru was trying to pretend everything was normal.
(A/N) Don't worry, Choji got revenge by dragging his heels for the entire chapter. It was not getting done and I'm sure it's his fault. See if he likes not getting the spotlight again. Sorry, mini rant over, have a nice existence!