Disclaimer: I simply just own the plot.
Chapter 4
«Rosy Feather»
§cene of §pring
Fuwa~
A soft yawn was released from under big, white pillows. But, it didn't come from the large bed standing in the middle of the room.
Small hands pushed themselves against the floor, which was covered by a duvet and a comforter. These were collected by Sakura as she stood on her feet, returning them to their original place in the bed.
Once the bed was neat and wrinkleless enough for her, she proceeded to pull up the roller blinds, allowing the early dawn colours of eggplant-violet and pumpkin-orange to bring radiance into the dimly lit room.
Last night was a difficulty; she wasn't able to fall asleep as soon as before. Maybe it was because of her foreign surroundings, a new environment. The place where she came from and this house she currently resided in was very different in comparison: a shared, single-sized futon to a queen-sized framed bed; from a humid, warm area to an air-conditioned room; a cacophony of children to soothing silence.
It was all contradictions, so she doesn't wonder about her slumbering struggle last night. A good thing she thought of a solution for it: sleeping on the floor instead.
A rose in a glass caught lime-like eyes.
Sister Hana-san. Sakura acknowledged; a joyous smile lightened her adorable features.
She acknowledged Sister Hana through flowers, as her name meant flowers. But, the rose was the flower that fitted her greatly, as she was grace in God's eyes; the most graceful flower was she.
Tracing the red flower's delicate petals, her smile softened, wondering, kibun wa dōdesu ka?
Sakura couldn't help but sigh. Closing her eyes, pale lashes softly brushed against cheekbones. She missed her so much. The daily routine of life lessons, morals, Biblical readings, and chores. The affectionate pecks, embraces, giggles, and smiles. She had been missing all of it.
Lime orbs appeared as eyelids opened, staring at her white bow in hand.
Haku-san, you have a soul of whiteness. But I hope you'll also be a good overseer for Sister Hana-san. Supervise everything for her. Please take care of yourselves. And...
A positive grin, I hope—
Kon, kon!
The dark brown door was slowly opened.
"Ohayō, Sakura-chan!" a silver-haired male peered from the door, surprising her with a cheery spirit, "Breakfast is ready, I suppose you're done?"
"O-Ohayō, Kabuto-san...! Hai, I am," came out in her hastily shy reply. At this, Kabuto fully entered the room, went towards her, and crouched to the rosette's level.
"Please don't be shy," he said, gently patting the rose-haired child's head. Coal eyes smiled at lime ones, "And call me 'onī-san' instead, imōto-chan."
Apple-red cheeks, "Ah, o-onī-san..."
"Better," he beamed, chuckling as he looked at the child, "Let's head downstairs, tomato-chan."
More lycopene was added to the tomato.
.
.
.
Kabuto had prepared a simple yet healthy breakfast: steamed rice, sliced tuna, heated Miso soup, and chilled strawberries lay on the brown table.
Through their excited utterances of itadakimasu, they appreciated the meal, which replenished their stomach with nutrients.
With comfortable silence, they ate joyfully, sitting opposite one another.
Sakura gently set down a pair of chopsticks and lifted her head to look at the silver-haired man, "Ka— O-Onī-san, where is Orochimaru-san...?"
"He just went somewhere important; don't worry about it. Eat up." He sent a smile of reassurance to the rosette, which was returned with a polite nod.
Breakfast continued.
Quietly glancing at empty bowls, Kabuto spoke, "I've already prepared your bath. As you've finished eating, you can bathe now."
A movement of refusal.
"I'll take care of the dishes. Please head to the bathroom— there is a bathroom upstairs and downstairs, so use whichever you like — and here," he insists, handing her new clothing.
A frown of confusion, "Umm, gomen... but this is a school uniform..."
Logo of an angel. Akarui Mirai International School surrounds it.
Kabuto smiled. Thoughts became more chaotic.
"Akarui Mirai High School," he paused, "Your new school."
.
.
.
A Matte Black Lexus LFA stopped by a large building. It had high gates, open to welcome the crowd through a wide pathway.
Bespectacled lime-like eyes stared at the scene, unable to breathe.
Cherry blossoms greatly emphasized the autumn season. Bronze, gold and red trees encircled the area, while the leaves fell, landing onto trimmed grasses.
Amidst these extraordinary trees stood a building that resembled a palace. It was surrounded by three more castle-like structures. Classes for mathematics, social studies, and Japanese science were held at the red vintage building. Science and English lectures were housed in the gold one, and the beige structure held lessons for physical education, music, art, and moral studies. Stood at the back was an enormous floral garden.
"Is this really... m-my school...?"
"Hai. Otō-san actually has first attempted to transfer you to Akarui Mirai Elementary School, which is located at the very back of this area. But..."
Kabuto faced the rose-haired child, who nodded slowly, still confused.
Sigh.
"Do you remember the game we played several times?"
Sakura nods, "Hai, b-both of us answered some papers."
"Well, those aren't just... papers..."
"Na... Nani...?"
"The papers you had answered were entrance examination papers. Each stack was intended for different grade levels." He clarified, moving to the other side to help the struggling child exit the vehicle.
With the feather-light pastel blue backpack clutched by his left hand, his right one went to hold the rose-haired child's tiny hand.
Unhurriedly walking ahead of the main building, past young adults, Kabuto continued, "You've perfectly passed all levels in the elementary, which is supposedly your grade level in accordance to your age, specifically fifth grade. However, the time consumed was too fast. So, I gave you an entrance test for middle school levels, which you all aced as well."
Minor incredulity passed Sakura's face, making the silver-haired young man admire her subtle humbleness.
"With these examinations, you were qualified to be transferred to this school. The enrollment manager thought you'd cheated, but thankfully, otō-san has recorded our session that made enrolling you into this school effortless."
Two pairs of feet halted before a large structure.
Kabuto crouched down to the child's level, "So, have I cleared all your inquiries, imōto-chan?"
Nodding furiously, she smiled, "Hai, arigatō gozaimasu...!"
"Īe, īe, Sakura-chan," he laughed lightly. Glancing at his black watch, the time was 8:30 AM, "Oh, it's time. Here's your bag."
The pastel blue bag was worn by delicate shoulders, settling on her back.
"I have to go. Look," green eyes followed at what he pointed: a man who looked like a school teacher reached her sight.
"That's your class adviser, Iruka-sensei. Otō-san said that he will be the one to guide you through the school for the day. So, don't worry, okay?"
An adorable grin, "Hai, onī-san...!"
He smiled down at her, "Good luck, I'll see you after class!"
.
.
.
A typical day.
A head resting on a large hand. Uninterested dark eyes stared blankly through the windows of the classroom. Hair as black as his eyes strangely spiked up at the back, bangs hanging in front of each side of a handsome visage.
A passel of eyes shyly glanced over his direction, hushed words of affection around him.
Unbothered, he examined a watch around his wrist: 8:45 AM. A sigh exited thin lips, and a head once again found itself resting on a hand.
He heard the faint opening of the door, finally, signalling the arrival of their teacher.
"Mina-san, ohayōgozaimasu! I apologize for my late arrival," Iruka started, which retrieved attention.
Vantablack eyes stayed staring through windows.
"From now 'til the end of the school year, an enrollee will be joining our journey towards our dreams. Please come in."
Whispers grew once the enrollee entered the door. He silently hoped it wasn't a girl.
His eyes, still nonchalantly glued to the windows.
"K-Konni—" At the strange voice, his eyes automatically drifted towards the enrollee, "—chiwa...! H-Hajimemashite. Watashi wa Sakura desu..."
Doki. Doki.
Ignoring the additional beat of his heart, he studied the pale stranger before him: a mysteriously beautiful girl wearing a large hat, which greatly covered her hair. She had a peculiar face, one that can't be easily overlooked, almost ghostly-like.
Doki, doki.
Large, bespectacled eyes seemed to hold many secrets, mysteries. One of which was the colour of her eyes.
Doki, doki.
She wore their school uniform: a navy-blue apron dress that draped over a button-up blouse with a thin red ribbon, ending above knees. The dress was tight around a small waist, its ends moving with the wind. Her legs were covered with white high socks, and her feet wore round leather block-style school shoes.
Doki, doki.
He wiped his suddenly sweaty hands with a black handkerchief.
"...hope we all develop a good friendship with one another."
The teacher smiled down at her in appreciation, speaking.
"As you all may know, Sakura is only 11 years—" gasps of shock filled the room, with the handsome young man raising his brows, "—old. She should still be in elementary, but because of certain circumstances, she must be in high school. I expect all of you to treat her well. Understand?"
Hai! In unison, they enthusiastically answered.
"Good. Now, Sakura-chan, you may take a seat..." the teacher trailed off, searching for a comfortable, vacant seat.
His head ached uncontrollably, trying to hide a cringe. It wasn't a common headache— it was different. Very confusing.
"Uchiha." Widened eyes and gasps. The named young man's breathing paused.
"You may sit beside Uchiha Sasuke. At the very back, beside the windows."
"A-ah, arigatō g-gozaimasu, Iruka-sensei..."
The students watched Sakura weave uneasily through desks, while Sasuke turned his face towards the windows.
Pulse quickened as he felt a brush of presence, nose picking up a faint scent of vanilla.
"K-Konnichiwa, Uchiha-san." a bizarre voice of chasteness pulled his attention.
Doki, doki, doki—
"Hn."
.
.
.
"Hn," the man grunted.
Lightly smiling, Sakura sat beside him.
The response wasn't friendly, indeed. But, she understood. Quiet people don't like new people— strangers. And she has to respect and accept that. The fact that he responded, even if it's only a grunt, was an indication that he listens. And that's enough for Sakura.
She shook her head playfully, scolding herself for overthinking again. Glancing at her seatmate, who was still refusing to look at her, she scooted a few inches away from him, lending him space.
A pastel-pink dotted notebook and a pastel-green ballpen in her hands, she writes as she listens to their teacher.
Too concentrated on writing and the discussion, she didn't notice a pair of vantablack eyes studying her. Sakura also didn't notice how the gap between her and her seatmate sizably decreased.
.
.
.
Under a cherry blossom tree, a rose-haired child ate her bento in silence.
Her surroundings almost felt like a delusion, with her being completely foreign to the outside world.
Bespectacled lime-like eyes see a bronze leaf. Fascinated, she touched it with a fingertip.
A gust of wind; a new leaf fell on scattered leaves lying on the ground. Gold in colour.
Bronze, gold. Bronze, gold. Where is red for me to behold?
Two people caught Sakura's attention, her eyes glancing towards them.
There was a young man and a young woman, apologizing to each other. They bumped against one another, it seemed. The male had blonde hair, average height, with slightly tanned skin. The female— ah, my classmate, Hyūga-san— had dark-blue hair, height average for her age, with fair skin.
The blonde-haired young man looked enthusiastic, in high spirits as he talked to the girl whose face was already crimson red with shyness.
A red string stole her attention. It was long, its ends wrapped around one of their pinky fingers. Strangely, the two didn't appear to be aware of the strings, continuing the quick chat.
Could that possibly be their 'red thread of fate?'
Books were Sakura's best friends, so she was extremely familiar with the myth. But, how was she able to view such a thing? She was the Cupid, but she knows that the mythical Cupid was never associated with the red thread of fate. So, how was this possible?
Could it be a sign? That I should shoot them?
She followed the string, eyes widening to see it wrapped around her smallest finger. She was a stranger to them, how was she included in their string of fate?
Cupid is the Olympian God of love and passion whose main duty was to inspire love in others— Mind remembering a piece of memory.
Sakura was there to help them reach the end of the red string, lead them the way, develop their feelings into love. That is her duty— her main duty.
"Alone?" a low voice dragged her from her intense contemplation.
"Umm..." she looked up at an incredibly attractive face, frowning, "Gomen-nasai... A-Anatahadare?"
Vantablack eyes stared silently at her, mildly amused. He sat down beside her, letting her study his features more closely. But she struggles, embarrassed.
"Don't remember me, seatmate?"
Eyes widened in recognition, gazing at the raven-like hair, "Ah, Uchiha-san..."
"Hai," Silence, "Should I leave?"
"A-ah, no, please. It's alright. It has been quite lonely lately, being new here."
They ate their food.
The stillness, it almost felt like she was still alone. But with her seatmate's presence, she felt a strange feeling of security. Safety. Almost like home.
Lime orbs darted towards her female classmate and the blonde-haired guy, attempting to fall into deep, deep thinking once again.
But again, she was stopped by the handsome man.
"Sasuke," he suddenly says, leaving her in bafflement. "Just call me Sasuke."
"Hai... Sasuke-san..."
A faint smile reflected in her brilliant eyes.
Her heart felt unusual. Fluttering, pounding.
Heart palpitation, she recognizes.
Wah... This is how heart palpitation feels like?
Joyous heart, she touched.
Doki. Doki.
Sakura watched Sasuke, in serenity.
Doki, doki— doki, doki.
In silence, she asks.
Who are you?