The Ekkusu-Wai Dance School was the most prestigious dance school in Fire. Signing their offer meant being trained by top dance experts all day, every day, with Mr. Ekkusu's mentorship once a week.

It was all expense paid. My room and board would be covered, on top of any fees.

Once I got good enough, I would be able to travel. A school as elite as theirs meant performing around the world.

It was a very good offer. It was a dream offer for anyone serious about dance.

I didn't take it.

I didn't want to leave Konoha. I didn't want to leave behind my friends and family.

Everyone else felt differently.

"Ayae, we've been talking… and we think you should go."

It was Ayame. The rest of the Dropouts stood behind her in the club room.

I sweated.

"Guys, I already decided…!"

"We think you decided wrong," Dai said, crossing her arms.

"What! But you guys already approved!"

"That was before we saw you like this," Setsu said. "You've been spacing out all of last week, Ayae."

"You want me gone?" I asked quietly.

"Of course we don't want you gone!" Dai said, knocking my head. "But it's not about us! It's about you. It's about your future."

"Everyone knows you love dance," Ayame said. "Not everyone gets to do what they love for a job."

I didn't love dance more than my friends, I wanted to say.

I looked at Tamaki, who had been silent the whole time.

"What do you think, Tamaki?" I asked.

Tamaki opened her mouth.

"She agrees with us," Dai said.

Tamaki closed her mouth. She looked away. She said nothing.

"I think you should do it," Tamaki finally said.

My eyes widened.

"And if you don't like it, you can always come back," Tamaki added quickly. "But you'll never know if you don't try."

"Yeah, we'll always be here!" Dai said, grinning.

"Ginjiro has something to say too," Ayame said, passing me a note.

'Ayae u dum dum. Go do ur girly dance.'

.

When I came back home, Michio had already packed all my things. Utako sat at the top of the cardboard boxes.

"Tada!" he said, gesturing.

I pulled my hair. "What—!"

"Honey doll going back to Fire capital," he chirped.

He didn't let me argue. Crying into his arm, he said, "Honey doll will be missed. Don't ever forget us!"

"But I'm not—!"

I got glomped.

Michio was not the only one who decided that I was already gone.

Shisui also treated me like I was leaving Konoha. He gave me advice on how not to get food poisoning or abducted by strangers.

Sasuke got scarily polite, talking to me the same way he would talk to adults.

Even Itachi's dad acted differently. He got awkward.

I came in and out of the main house whenever I felt like. I spent more time at their house than I did at mine. Itachi's dad didn't like that, but he was never weird about it.

Now he was being super weird, coughing or getting up whenever I sat down. He would switch what he was doing if I walked into a room. One time I caught him reading the newspaper upside down, and with a very serious expression too.

He still ignored me, though. So I ignored him back, running up the stairs.

I found Aunt Mikoto in the attic of their house. She had dust all over her.

"Oh, Ayae dear! Come!"

Against the walls were rolls of thick scrolls. There were containers of all kinds sealed with paper tags. I squeezed between them to see what Aunt Mikoto wanted to show me.

Aunt Mikoto was hugging something, looking happy enough to cry. She was crying.

"Ayae dear, meet Komai."

Komai was a porcelain doll with a beautiful black lace dress. Aunt Mikoto didn't need to tell me who Komai was. I knew immediately upon seeing her.

Komai was Aunt Masako's doll. Utako's sister.

"Thank goodness I found her in time," Aunt Mikoto said, laughing. "She shouldn't be buried here alone. Here, Ayae dear, the capital will be such a wonderful adventure for all of you."

Aunt Mikoto hurriedly placed the doll in my arms.

She looked so happy, I had no heart to tell her that I had stopped playing with dolls a long time ago.

With all the open scrolls and dust on Aunt Mikoto, I wondered how long she had been up here. Had she stayed up all night?

I stared more at Komai, just as dusty, and hugged her tight.

"I'll take care of her, Auntie," I said.

Aunt Mikoto's happy tears fell down her face.

She grabbed me in a hug.

I didn't know what to say.

Itachi found me alone a few days later.

I was in their family's garden. I lay on my stomach, staring blankly at all the hollow white stalks. The water fountain was dry, the bamboo unmoving against the stone.

Itachi removed his scarf. He hid away the rest of his ninja gear, so that he was in only a turtleneck and plain pants when he knelt beside me.

"Itachi, is everyone hoping I leave?"

"No one wants to lose an important person in their lives," he said.

My lips trembled. "Then why are they all so happy at the idea of me gone?"

"They aren't happy for your leave, Ayae. They're happy despite it. They are happy for your future prospects, that you have a chance to fulfill your dream."

"My dream?"

He smiled. "To wear pretty clothes and dance all day. Isn't that what you've always wanted?"

I stared back, my mouth open.

"When I was like… what, seven? That's not... I'm not..." I breathed. "Itachi, I think I already have everything I want. I'm happy where I am."

Itachi's smile became strained, then faded altogether.

"And what do you see yourself doing, where you are?"

Confused, I looked at him.

He wasn't looking back.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"What future do you see in Konoha, Ayae?"

My brows furrowed. I was not understanding the question. Or rather, the point of the question.

"I… I see it like this."

"This?"

"You know, talking, having fun, figuring things out, helping people. And okay, maybe dance, but other things too. Like making oyakodon! I want to one day make oyakodon as good as Auntie, so that you can eat it when you come back from your missions. Or maybe grow a pineapple. I bet you and Sasuke never even heard of that, ha! We can plant one right here and see if it really does grow upside down like the legends say."

I could go on for hours. The more I said everything aloud, the more confident I felt in my choice to stay. I didn't need to be special to be happy. I didn't need to travel the world to feel complete. I could have a lifetime of adventures right here!

All I needed were my friends and family.

But the more I spoke, the worse Itachi looked.

Like my words were hurting him.

I stopped.

Worried I might have said something wrong, I crawled up into a kneel, so we could look at each other better. But Itachi still didn't look back.

"Itachi, what I'm trying to say is—"

"You have no ambition."

My hand stopped short of touching his.

I hadn't meant to hurt Itachi. He must not have meant to hurt me either.

I told myself Itachi simply made a mistake with his words. I told myself that his sudden expression was regret and not something else.

"You'll be content, wherever you go," he tried again, softer, staring at the same dead stalks I had been staring at earlier. He bowed his head. "Have I made an... inaccurate statement?"

.

"Sasuke?"

Sasuke lost concentration. His shuriken went astray.

He whipped around, not expecting the person behind him to be me. I had no reason to be at the Academy training grounds.

"What is it, Sister Ayae," he mumbled.

AHHH! Sasuke calling me 'sister' was so cute! Okay, this I could get used to!

"About Itachi…"

He rolled his eyes, not surprised by that. Then he remembered he had to be polite and tried to listen seriously.

"Does he have any ambitions?" I asked.

Sasuke just stared at me like I was stupid, like I had just asked him if his brother was a boy. Then he remembered to be polite again.

"Yes," he said.

I waited.

He didn't say more.

"What are they?" I asked.

Sasuke got annoyed, wondering why I was asking him obvious questions. "To rise in ANBU. Get higher in rank." He paused. "He will be Hokage one day," he said matter-of-factly.

"He wants to be Hokage?"

"He wants to be the strongest in the world."

"Why?"

"To have all the power."

"To do what?"

It was Sasuke's turn to be confused.

He came around. "Whatever he wants, that's the point of power," he scoffed.

"But what does he want?"

"To be the strongest."

My finger traced the logic. I grew dizzy. Was it just me, or were we drawing a circle?

I gave up.

Before Sasuke could return to practice, I had another question.

"Do you have any ambitions, Sasuke?"

Sasuke said nothing. I thought he was going to ignore me or pretend he didn't hear. But he answered.

"I want to be where he is."

He saw my reaction. I must have reacted very strongly, because something strange flickered in his eyes.

Sasuke put away his shuriken.

We sat down and talked.

It wasn't a long talk. Sasuke didn't know how to talk about feelings. He cut straight to the point.

"You want to marry my brother, don't you."

"EH?!"

I stammered.

Sasuke rolled his eyes.

"Well, you can't. You're too big of a loser."

I internally cried. I didn't know why I thought talking to Sasuke of all people would make me feel better.

"Mother said you're going somewhere where you can grow. You better not screw up. You better not disappoint her."

I blinked.

Sasuke was dead serious.

"Our clan has no place for losers, you understand? So until you're stronger than Lady Tomoe, don't bother coming back."

It took me a while to come around. Something hit me.

Wait.

No way.

Could it be…?

"Sasuke, do you want me to marry Itachi?"

Sasuke froze.

"As if!" he growled, face red. "Brother shouldn't have to marry anyone!"

He huffed, looking away. "But if it's between you and that lady…" He hunched. "He looks happier being with you."

We were quiet. I stared at the Academy building, then up to the Hokage statues. Despite the overcast, it was a nice, calm day.

"I don't want to marry Itachi," I said.

Sasuke snapped his head toward me.

I shrugged.

He realized I was telling the truth. His brain broke. He hadn't been this broken since learning non-shinobi could do senjutsu.

He opened his mouth. "Then why are you always at our house?"

"To see Itachi," I said.

He lost his calm.

I giggled. "Auntie's also great. Her cooking is the best. You're okay too."

"So all these years... you take his money, you waste his time, and you don't plan on marrying him?!" Sasuke demanded, so insulted.

"I—"

"What's wrong with my brother?!"

"There's no—"

"There's no shinobi stronger than him!"

"I don't—"

"He's perfect! What's wrong with you? You… you... tasteless person!"

I sweated, letting Sasuke fume.

It took time for his steam to evaporate. He crossed his arms.

When he was calm enough to listen again, I said, "Itachi is important to me." My chest tightened. I shrunk. "You're right, Sasuke. He shouldn't have to marry anyone he doesn't want to."

I paused, thinking.

"Daddy says not everything is one or the other. It's not me or Tomoe. I don't want him to choose the one he dislikes least. I want him to be with the one he likes most, out of everyone."

After saying it aloud, I realized those words applied to me too.

After another moment, I believed I understood what Itachi had meant.

.

My dad and Ms. Hyuuga met up to talk about me. After listening to her story, my dad believed Mr. Ekkusu would be a good teacher. My dad was supportive of me going.

Unfortunately, my dad wouldn't be able to go with me. Something about Konoha and his old job and security. It was okay. My dad would see me eventually, once all his papers were approved.

We decided it was good he stayed. He could watch over the school and Shao and Naruto, who had become especially glued to him.

Me leaving meant the school would no longer have a student representative though.

The principal didn't want trouble. He didn't want to risk upsetting me or my clan. Sweating, he told me whoever I gave the extra wristband to would be the next representative.

That only made me sweat. I didn't know who to give it to either!

I thought of returning it to Takahashi.

My friends did not like that idea. They listened to me, not Takahashi. They had a different idea.

"It's obvious. Tamaki should get it!" Dai said.

Tamaki was already our leader anyway.

That was settled.

And just like that, I was… done with school. When I left the building, I left without a wristband. It felt like yesterday that I had gotten it.

It didn't feel real.

As I reached my district, I was surprised to see Otoha kneeling outside the gate. There were bags tossed around her.

Alarmed, I ran over to see what was going on.

Otoha was in too big of a shock to tell me. There were tears in her eyes, something I never thought I'd see from someone as tough as her.

I learned what happened from the guards.

Tomoe had fired her. From this day forth, Otoha had no more association with the Uchiha clan. It came without warning.

Not knowing what to do, I brought Otoha to my house. I gave her a cup of hot water and some cheap snacks my dad kept for busy days.

Otoha silently sat on the couch. The few times she looked at me, she looked super angry. But then the anger would turn teary and she wouldn't look anymore.

Since Otoha was too hurt to talk, I decided to go to Tomoe.

Tomoe wasn't at her house or the temple or the shrine.

I found her in a quiet spot far away in the fields of our district, practicing her naginata. She was calm, like today was any other normal day.

"Why did you kick her out like that?" I asked.

The naginata came to a sweeping stop before my face. I didn't move.

Tomoe tucked her weapon by her side.

"She is of no more use to me."

My fist clenched.

"Otoha came all the way to Konoha to accompany you! She has no other home or family here, and you just… you just left her on the street?" I yelled. "Isn't she your friend?!"

"No."

My eyes widened.

"Our clan has not had the luxury of friends for a while now. That is an exclusive privilege." Her smile had no warmth. "Your privilege."

Tomoe turned her back.

Her hand raised. Her eyelids lowered at the pebble caught between her fingers.

I stared angrily.

"You should know better than to challenge me," Tomoe said.

"And you know you can't threaten me," I said.

Something in me snapped. My chest flared, bursting after days, weeks, months of heaviness. Like I had been walking around drenched in coat after coat of oil, and Tomoe was the match.

I said what I thought. "You shouldn't be wearing it!"

Tomoe followed my gaze to the ring on her finger.

I changed my mind. I didn't care if Itachi chose to give her the ring. I refused to believe Itachi wanted to marry someone this cruel.

I couldn't see Tomoe being any less cruel to him after becoming the clan lady. Not after what she did to Otoha, who followed her for years, lived with her, served her. Otoha never once spoke badly of Tomoe, not once, not even when Tomoe punished her horribly.

"You should say no if you don't like him," I said.

The pebble fell from between Tomoe's fingers. Her fake smile slipped, leaving her face expressionless.

It was a warning, but I didn't stop. I couldn't stop.

"You should marry someone you like. Or do what makes you happy. Then you can stop being so awful and cruel and... and mean!"

I couldn't stop the tears down my face. I didn't know whose tears they were. If they were Otoha's, or Itachi's, or…

Tomoe turned around.

Alarmed, she sensed what was going on. A wind immediately cut between us.

And just like that, my tears stopped. I blinked fast, not understanding the burst of emotion that had been inside me. I thought I was angry. But that wasn't anger...

That was a storm. That was a feeling I had never felt before, so strong that I was scared it would break me open trying to come out.

After studying me for a while, Tomoe closed her eyes. When she reopened them, they were no longer red.

"To think we'd have two in the same generation," she said dryly. "I should have seen this."

She paused, considering a thought. She dismissed it.

The last of her mask slipped back on. And then she, too, acted as if I was gone.

Tomoe gave her hostess smile, like this was the first time we had ever met.

"Do enjoy the Fire capital."