Disclaimer: Again, I don't own anything or anybody except Tomoko, her family, and Nagareboshi Cafe. Any concepts/ideas mentioned in this fanfiction that seem to be borrowed from another media/piece of continuity - note that I don't mean to plagiarize anything or anybody in any way! This fanfic was made for entertainment purposes, not for pissing off others! So yeah!

The theme is dreadjoker10's piano cover of Kingdom Hearts' ~'twas a Sunset of Marmalade, what I believe to be a personal rendition of Lazy Afternoons, the theme from Twilight Town. This song really stood out when I initially played through the 1.5 Remix game and watched the 358/2 Days movie, and the emotion here shows. Considering that it's played during the main bonding moments between Roxas, Axel, and Xion, it really fits - especially when thinking about Tomoko's relationship with Team Minato. She just wants them all to be happy, and this song really works with that in mind. It's both a comforting and somewhat foreboding song all at once, which is something I wanted to convey with this chapter.

Oh, and for those who recognize the quote in the title? Yep. It's Axel. Have to put in a Kingdom Hearts reference at one point - it was one of my first ever video games and it's still very important to me. I hope others check it out too.

Please enjoy!

Chapter 37: Still Got It Memorized?

I'm pretty sure everyone's asked this question at one point in their lives, whether to others or to themselves. But nonetheless, I'll be saying it.

When your family is fighting, or in this case, yelling over something, what do you do in the meantime?

When I was still Vy, that situation immediately prompted me to run into my room and put on headphones to block out all the yelling. Even if I cried a little bit, I tried to make it as quiet as possible so that the people outside wouldn't feel worse.

But things were different now.

I had three ninja friends, having just gotten out of what could have been a nasty situation, still looking a little pale if not for the sunlight shining into the cafe. And considering that I could hear the yells even from the cafe itself, where we were near the piano, music wasn't really an option.

I just glanced at Team Minato in the hopes of finding a decision.

And from the looks of it, I couldn't help but be grateful that it wasn't as bad as it was last night.

Obito was as tense as a statue, expression frozen in-between a small grin and a grimace. Adding in the red skin of his clenched fists and his almost rock-hard shoulders, I would've thought that the Uchiha was a victim of Joker's laughing gas.

Rin seemed to be faring a little better, emphasis on 'little'. She wasn't as pale as her Uchiha teammate, but judging by the occasional twitch of her hands when staring up at the door that led back into the house, I could tell that she was scared.

And Kakashi. I wasn't even sure how to describe him since I couldn't see his eyes from how his hair was shading them. But judging by his shaky fists, he was just as disturbed as I was.

We needed to be anywhere else but here.

So I just spoke the first thing on my mind, putting on my best smile.

"Hey guys, how do you feel about shopping?"

A pause. Then, as if by magic, the three ninja turned to me with varying degrees of surprise.

"S-Shopping, Tomoko-chan?" Obito repeated, mouth open with disbelief. "What are we shopping for?"

"Yeah, Tomoko-chan." Rin piped in, voice quiet. "We… kinda have our own shares of money to spend, so what's the point…?"

Kakashi just gave me a look that screamed 'What the heck are you thinking?'

… Have these ninja ever done something aside from visit Nagareboshi, train, and do missions?

This was shaping out to be worse than Vy's old social life. And THAT said a lot.

I frowned before walking over to the piano bench. "Well, might as well go out for anything, right?"

"Tomoko…" Kakashi started, his voice filled with confusion. "What the heck are you doing -"

I just pulled the seat cover up while ignoring him.

"Holy crap!" Obito yelped.

Apparently he wasn't expecting my bench to have a hidden compartment.

Then again, I rarely did use it in front of them, so I had a good excuse.

At least my wallet was still in there. Kitty shaped and all.

… Hey, if Naruto could get away with having a frog-shaped wallet, I think I have a valid reason to get one in a kitty shape.

I liked cats. Simple as that.

"... Tomoko-chan." Rin sounded really dry now. "You have a hidden compartment… in your piano bench."

"Yes, yes I do, Rin-chan." I continued, taking out the kitty wallet and putting it in my pocket after a good shake. From the sounds of it, most of my emergency savings were still in there. "No one bothers checking in there except the family."

"... Isn't that a bit too obvious?" Now Kakashi was starting to sound normal again, judging by his tired tone.

I just straightened my back while resetting the bench cover to make it look as inconspicuous as before, turning to him with a grin. "Did you ever think of checking it?"

Kakashi gave me a look of pure exasperation before crossing his arms across his chest and stubbornly turning his head away from me.

Tomoko-chan, have you ever noticed that Kakashi sulks around you more often than anybody else?

… Don't say anything, Hisako. Just don't.

Okay, okay. I'll come back later.

With a shrug, I just walked over to the cafe's front doors, looking back at the trio with a smile. "Well, want to come?"

Obito, Rin, and Kakashi all shared a glance with one another before staring back at me with varying expressions of disbelief.

I just motioned towards the door behind them, sheepish expression on my face. "Would you rather stay here and hear how bad Papa can get when mad, or would you like a fun distraction?"

As if on cue, a yell louder than the ones from before echoed from upstairs. If not for my previous experiences as Vy, I would've jumped just as much, if not more so, than the ninja staring at me.

"GODDAMNIT MINATO!"

With that said, Obito and Rin nearly ran over to me in earnest while Kakashi just shrugged and walked over looking like he couldn't give a damn. But I knew better. All three of them REALLY wanted to get out of here.

A part of me was wondering what in all HECK Minato-san said that made Papa blow up like that.

"As long as we're not carrying lots of shopping bags, it's better than nothing." My best friend deadpanned dryly.

I just nodded in agreement before quickly walking behind the three of them and pushing them out the doors, grin on my face.

"T-Tomoko-chan, you don't have to push!" Obito yelped, turning his head to look at me with a surprised face. "W-we're going!"

"Oh, Obito, just go along with it!" I hummed, still pushing Team Minato past the doors and onto the street. "We only have today anyways~!"

"... to do what?" Kakashi said, looking at me with a raised eyebrow.

"Tomoko-chan?" Rin added, blinking at me owlishly.

I knew just where to start for window shopping. Especially for these three.

Jim Crocodile Cook should've gotten used to seeing Hoshino Tomoko coming in on the weekends. She was Judai's only daughter after all - of course she would inherit some of his spontaneity.

He just wasn't expecting her to push three young ninja into the shop with her that morning.

"Hello Jim-san! I'm back!" The pianist called out cheerfully.

"Hey Tomoko-chan~! I'll be right there!" He yelled back, wiping his oily hands on a towel. Then it was really making himself presentable, hanging his work apron on the hook near the door leading to the front, straightening a bit of his spiky black hair, and then heading out with a grin.

What he saw was something both surprising and hilarious.

"... Tomoko-chan, are these your friends?" He asked gently, trying to hold back a chuckle.

"Yeah!" The civilian hummed happily from behind the new trio.

From the looks of it, the famous, or possibly infamous, team of Namikaze Minato himself were standing in front of him, all looking somewhat uncomfortable due to Tomoko's arms pushing them forwards. Even if he didn't know names, he could at least figure out basic identities.

The silver head, with spiky hair and navy blue mask? The spitting image of Hatake Sakumo, and judging by Tomoko's bright smile behind his shoulder, Jim already knew that this was the much-talked-about Kakashi.

The black head? Jim only had to glance at his outfit to see the bright Uchiha fan, and just shrugged.

The brunette on the other hand? Jim had absolutely no clue. At least her purple rectangle tattoos made her stand out.

"Well, could I at least get names?" He added, hoping for some humor.

…. Unfortunately, it seemed to go over the ninjas' heads. "Isn't it more customary for you to give your name first?" The silver-head he was hoping to be Kakashi muttered, crossing his arms across his chest while turning his head childishly away.

Jim just raised an eyebrow at Tomoko in response.

The civilian nodded minutely before poking the silverette's masked cheek. "Kakashi,"

Yay! So his name WAS Kakashi.

"..." … But apparently he was reserving the right to stay silent. The black head and brunette both turned to look at the silver-head in confusion.

Jim could've SWORN that same pouting face was an expression another tanned teammate used to have.

Tomoko tried again, pinching his cheek instead. "Kakashi,"

"..."

"Kakashi,"

"... Tomoko, just let go already." He muttered finally, what visible skin on his face turning red from the extended pinch.

Jim just chuckled to break the ice. "Alright then, well, welcome to Cook's Ninja Tools and Crafts, kids. I'm Jim Crocodile Cook, blacksmith and owner. Could I get your names?"

The black-haired Uchiha spoke up, raising an energetic hand in the air. "Uchiha Obito, Jim-san! Nice to meet you!"

The brunette went next, smiling politely. "Nohara Rin."

Then, the two ninja looked towards the silver-head again. This time, he sighed before uncrossing his arms. "... Hatake Kakashi." He muttered.

Jim looked at Tomoko. The civilian blinked. "... But Jim-san, everybody knows me already."

"Tomoko-chan, don't break the trend. It IS introductions." He just put on a teasing smile.

Tomoko pouted. Jim pulled on the 'sympathetic salesman eyes'.

Silence.

Then, the civilian sighed, getting out of Kakashi's shadow to smile shyly. "Hoshino Tomoko."

"Now, was that so hard?" Jim wiggled a finger at her. The girl huffed.

Heh. She had Hikari's stubbornness at least. Jim then went on to straighten himself before looking over the four with questioning eyes. "Anyways, what did you kids come here for? You normally don't visit at this time of day."

Tomoko seemed to brighten up at this very moment, judging by the wide grin on her face. "Well there was a lot going on at home, and we were just hoping to go window shopping Jim-san!"

Jim, as well as the three other ninja in the room, blinked. "... Window shopping?"

"Window shopping?" Obito and Rin said in unison.

"... Tomoko, I thought the windows at home were still fine." Kakashi stated dryly.

The named civilian just flushed a light pink. "Not THAT kind of shopping, Kakashi!" She squeaked, before coughing into her fist. "Browsing, looking around, hoping to find something you guys like."

Jim still felt somewhat confused, but amused the girl nonetheless. "What exactly are you looking for then, Tomoko-chan?"

The girl blinked before looking at her friends. "...Good luck charms, maybe some unique weapons, or something…?" She trailed off.

The blacksmith honestly couldn't blame her for doing so since her friends looked just as clueless as she was. Jim chuckled again. "Well, ojou-chan, you know me. I'm easy - if you want anything to be made, just let me know."

"What kind of things can you make, Jim-san?" Rin piped up, inclining her head in his direction.

Jim beamed while raising up an open palm. "Anything you can think of. As long as I can get the materials, then I can do it!"

"Including weapons?" Kakashi added quietly.

"Including weapons," Jim finished, a smaller smile on his face. "Your dad has come by to ask for stuff on occasion."

The silver-head almost whipped his head in Jim's direction, silver eyes widening in disbelief. "Dad?"

He nodded. Kakashi seemed to take on a more acknowledging gaze, shoulders less tense as his attention literally focused in on the blacksmith.

"... Does that include the standard kunai and shuriken?" Obito said quietly, and his teammates turned to look at him in varying degrees of confusion and surprise. "W-Well, the Uchiha can be stern on occasion and…" The Genin scratched his cheek sheepishly. "This place does look a lot better than the shop I frequent."

… he's the black sheep of the clan, isn't he.

Jim just kneeled down to Obito's height with a kind smile. "Of course."

The Uchiha looked up with more hopeful, bright eyes. "Really?"

"Yep." Jim was feeling better and better with each passing second. He then turned his gaze on the other kids in the room, and somehow landed on Tomoko-chan. She was positively beaming, and when making eye contact, just winked.

Please show them something! Her eyes seemed to say.

Jim held back a snort before standing back on his feet again. "Anyways, how do you all feel about having a tour in the back? I can show you how I make some of my smaller products."

Obito, Rin, and Kakashi all looked at each other. Then, the three ninja turned towards Tomoko, and the civilian just nodded happily.

In the end, the Uchiha looked up at the blacksmith with a large grin, speaking for all of them. "Yeah! Please do, Jim-san!"

Jim could only grin widely back.

Showing off his speciality was the least he could do.

By the time we had walked out of Jim-san's shop, everyone at least had something to look forward to. Or… just hold onto, in this case.

Kakashi was able to get a durable leather scroll holder for his belt, displaying it almost proudly on his person.

Obito? He now had a new supply of stylized kunai and shuriken to use, accompanied by a spool of really tough ninja wire and a small, wooden tanto to use for sword practice in training sessions. The grin on his face could span for miles, if I could say that much.

Rin? Somehow, Jim-san was able to convince her to start looking into senbon, and was wearing one of the brightest smiles I had ever seen after hearing the idea. Then again, the blacksmith had added a specific senbon belt to her purchase that looked to be something out of A Certain Scientific Railgun, which the medic was now wearing on her left thigh.

Honestly, I was somewhat terrified on what Team Minato could do with all of their new stuff.

But they looked to be happy, at least. All the ryo that went into it was worth it.

I'm just grateful that I saved up so much of my allowance now.

Yep, you heard me right. I paid for it. All of it. There was just enough ryo to make the total purchase, and I wanted to do something for them after everything that happened.

It just took… a lot of puppy eye exposure, I suppose, to make Team Minato relent.

… Oh, me? I didn't really get anything this time. There wasn't much for me to benefit from in terms of the weapons department, so Jim-san ended up adding one last little gift as a way to say thanks.

On my left middle finger was now a small silver ring reminiscent of the Soul Gem Rings from Madoka, with an equally small but bright pink gem embedded in its center. I tried to refuse, but Jim-san was already taking the measurements of my hand and carving before I could stop him.

We ended up leaving the shop around almost noon once he was done.

"... So, what now?" Rin asked, glancing between me and the new senbon belt she had on her leg. We had found a shady table at one of the surrounding shops close to Jim-san's workshop for the sake of a break, and Rin was slouching somewhat. "Should we try to head back?"

Obito sighed, smile dropping almost immediately at the idea. "I don't think it's a good idea, Rin. We all heard how bad the yelling was."

Oh dear.

I glanced at Kakashi, and he silently shook his head.

"Okay," I interrupted, putting on a shaky smile. "So Nagareboshi is an out. Where do you guys want to go then?"

Obito and Rin looked at each other. Then, Rin sighed. "... Honestly, Tomoko-chan, we appreciate the time to head out, but I think I just want to go home. It's been a long day."

Oh. I blinked.

Obito apparently noticed my frown and started to stumble while waving his hands in the air. "H-Hey Tomoko-chan, it's not like we hate it or anything! It's just…." He paused, looking down at his new kunai for a second. "It's been awhile since we've been home. And I think I'll need some time to just think on my own. About today, and the war… and stuff." He concluded dryly.

Oh. Understanding washed over me immediately.

I don't blame them. They did see a lot. Hisako added.

I smiled softly. "Obito, it's okay, I get it. But did you at least have fun?"

"Yeah!" The Uchiha responded immediately, bright grin on his face. "Definitely!"

I turned to Rin. "What about you, Rin-chan?"

She inclined her head at me, soft smile on her face. "Of course I did, Tomoko-chan. I honestly feel a lot better than before thanks to everything so far."

For a final verdict, I looked at Kakashi. He didn't say a word, only opting to reach over and squeeze my hand instead. His eyes sparked with something unfamiliar, but I could at least recognize two things.

Thank you and I want to stay with you.

This day was coming to an end faster than I would like, but I couldn't stop it now.

I sighed before looking at the two Genin. "Alright then, but you two will be okay, right? I'll see you both in Nagareboshi another day?"

"Of course Tomoko-chan!" Obito said hotly, putting a hand over his chest. "Cross my heart!"

Rin nodded in agreement, brown eyes sparkling with warmth.

I smiled, using my free hand to touch both of theirs softly. It was time to split up then. My plan of really relaxing via window shopping did somewhat fall through, but they were happy. It was all I could ask for. "Alright then, I'll see you two later."

The two ninja beamed back before standing up from their chairs. With one last grateful glance on both of their parts, Obito and Rin walked off, heading down the street with a visible skip in their steps.

They really look like a couple from here.

I just shrugged. Then, a hand squeezed mine again, and I looked up to see Kakashi tilting his head at me, spiky silver locks accenting the navy blue of his mask.

"Want to head home now?" He said quietly.

I nodded, squeezing back. "Let's go home."

It was time to face the adults again.

Even if I absolutely dreaded the idea.

Author's Notes: Not sure what else to say here except that this chapter REALLY should've come out earlier. But honestly, I just had trouble figuring out HOW this chapter should go while dealing with the new quarter of college, and adding in some academic stress that built up in the past three weeks, this was pushed back so much. A part of me is wondering if this chapter is somewhat filler since I couldn't think of anything better to write.

Still, thank you. To all of you. Whether you just came here for the first time or have been a long-time reader who have been following me since the beginning, thanks for the wait. I hope this at least satisfies some of your curiosity on how Civilian Pianist will move on from here. I think I might do a small time-skip soon to get to another Chunin Exams, and then from there will be things such as Kannabi Bridge and October Tenth. When that happens, I hope you continue to stay with me.

… Just don't always say "Please update soon" in the reviews, alright? It kinda adds some pressure that I'm not sure I really need as a college student trying to find her way in life. I love writing, but hearing that isn't really the greatest thing in the world.

Still, this is Writer-and-Artist27 signing out to continue school work and brainstorming the future of the story. No worries, I plan on writing Tomoko's story to the very end - I just need to get out some of the mental knots in my head on how to get to specific events.

See you guys soon.