Thank you for the reviews and feedbacks.
Some questions won't be answered to avoid the spoilers and if I miss some questions, sorry!
Characters might be OOC and there'll be some grammar error but I'm trying my best.
Enjoy the fourth chapter of CIHNL
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto and Komi-san wa Komyushou Desu.
Chapter 4: Cultural Festival and Weirdoes
"Yaaaaaaaaay!" Najimi cheered with a fist pump, "Our half day is oveeeerrr! Where do you want to go and play?"
"Is study not an option?" Naruto deadpanned at her and they hear a rumble.
"Ah!" The lavender-haired girl pointed at him and the beauty with laughter, "Someone's stomach is rumbling! Whose was it?" There was another rumble behind her and she turn to see Himiko as her stomach rumble, "…Ah."
"I-I-I-I'm s-so so-so-sorry y-you heard my s-stomach rumble, and you even invited me out t-to lunch!" Himiko stuttered with embarrassed blush as the group appeared in a restaurant district, "I'm so sorry! I-I-In return I'll…It's nyot…" She bit her tongue, "…Not much but…" She pushed her glasses up arrogantly, "Want me to introduce you to a nice shop around here?"
"Hmm, then can you show us a shop that you haven't been to yet?" Najimi asked without missing a beat.
"Why can't we just go to a ramen stand and have ramen?" Naruto asked.
"Th-This is the only shop around here…" The busty girl gestured to a old shop, "That I've never visited before…"
"Why don't you go in before?" He asked curiously.
"Ah…" Himiko poked her fingers, "That's because…I can't enter a shop unless there are other people inside…" Shouko nod in understanding.
"Then let's check it out!" The lavender-haired girl bravely enters the shop, "Excuse meee, a table for four, please!" The group follows her in.
"Ah, w-welcome!" A waitress greeted them, "Sit wherever you like." They chose one near the front, "Welcome, have some water." She gave a glass of water to Najimi before she give Shouko a fancy wine glass with water to their confusion, "Water." She held plate at her waist, "Okay, when you've decided on your order just call me over…"
"Excuse me." Naruto raised his hand up, "You haven't given us any water…"
"Ah, you were here?" The waitress looked at him and Himiko rudely.
"Excuse me?" He raised his eyebrow with a frown and the waitress just gives them glasses of water without saying a word.
"There's so much on the menu." Najimi looked at the menu, "I decided! What about you guys?"
"I guess I'm going to have a curry." Naruto said, he's not really in mood for large meal.
"Wow, so ordinary." The lavender-haired girl teased.
"Stow it, you." He looked at her annoyingly before he turn to the beauty, "What about you, Shouko? Have you decided on something?" The beauty stared at the menu for a while before she tremble, "Just take your ti…"
"Excuse meeee!" Najimi raised her hand up, "We'd like to orrderrr!"
"YOU!" Naruto threw a dirty look at the smirking lavender-haired girl.
"Awww, I'm flattered!" She laughed at him, "Would you like to have me serving you Nyotaimori style?" The blonde kept glared at her as the waitress approached them cheerily, "I'll take the mixed fried oyster set!"
"I'll have curry rice." The blonde took a deep breath to calm himself down.
"Then I'll have…" Himiko lift a index finger up, "This shop's most recommended dish."
"Ah, we don't have any recommendations." The waitress wrote down on her pad, "So nothing it is." She turned to the beauty, "Ah, how about we decide for you? The itandori fried chicken set, garnished with groitted daikon? It's our shop's specialty."
"Wait, that is a recommendation!" Naruto jabbed his thumb to Himiko as he glared at the rude waitress, "You told her you don't have any!"
"No, you both order nothing, "The waitress walked away, "Well then, please excuse me."
"That's it, I'm out of here." He get up, "I'm going to find a ramen restaurant and order some ramen."
"I'm coming!" Najimi get up then holler to the owner, "Cancel my order!" Shouko get up with a nod, they both don't like how the waitress treat their friends.
"A-Ah, wa…" The owner stuttered with his daughter as the teenagers left and Himiko turn to shopkeepers.
"Shopkeeper, your service is very terrible." Himiko said bluntly before she join her friends and they end up eating at their usual ramen store, they don't know that the rude shopkeepers thought that Shouko was a reviewer when it was actual Himiko and were trying to suck it up to her for high rate. This place barely receives any customers after that day.
The class was shouting and going crazy one day, all over one certain thing and that is…What kind of thing they would do for the cultural festival and they were shouting that they would go with Shouko's idea when she haven't say anything. "EVERYONE, PIPE DOWN!" Naruto shouted over his classmates's voices as everyone immediately quiet down, "We've tried deciding on something by sole majority vote but it don't work out. So let's do some quick summary of every individual idea and decide by majority one more time…We will do whatever won by majority, whether you like it or not. Just suck it up or I'm gonna work your ass to bone! I will shot some ideas down within a reason."
"That's right!" Najimi laughed as she turned to her class, "I suggest making a maid cafe! True, I know it's a cliché idea, and people tell me it's too old. But like, you wanna see Komi-san in a maid uniform, right?" Most classmates looked interested by that.
"Ah, I'm next." Ren raised her hand up, "Then I suggest doing a haunted house. It's true that we'll have to darken the classroom and make all the paths and props…So it'll probably take some time and money. But won't that bring our entire class closer together? Besides, there probably won't be any problems if I feel up Komi-san's and Naruto-kun's butts in a dark classroom." Several students looked interested.
"I veto it." The blonde shot it down, "I'm not going to let you all use that excuse to harass someone…And class 1-5 is doing the haunted house."
"Nakanaka-san, what do you think?" The trendy girl looked over to the said girl.
"Wha, m-me?" Omoharu jolted up, "I-I think making a band would be nice…True, only a few of us can be on stage. Other will be there to do stuff like adjusting the spotlight…But…Dost thou not wish to hear the singing voice of our great god, Komi-san?" Most students prayed as the said girl look horrified by the idea.
"I-I-It my thurn!?" Himiko fumbled with her words, "I-I-I'd lihe to do a wa-wack-a-mole! I want Komi-san and Naruto-kun to hit me…"
"How about an independent movie project?" The ninja poser, whose name Naruto found out is Shinobi Nomono, suggested and he went into a deep detail about it and some students argued over what genres they should go for.
"Vetoed, the class' budget can't cover it." Naruto said flatly.
"I'd like to make an onigiri stand." Nene smiled, "Everyone wants to have a light meal, you know? Making onigiri is my strong…" She muttered quietly as her classmates barely react to her suggestion, "Point…"
"Bowling, billiards, darts…" Makeru looked up, "Anything where a clear outcome can be decided!"
"Let's do fortune telling!" Onigashima Akako said happily, "Like love divinations! We can check your compability with whoever you like!"
"I nominate doing a doujin fair." A bulky teenager boy that looks like he don't belong to high school said, "If Komi-san dressed in cosplay and sold them, they'll sell like crazy."
"…Veto." The blonde said flatly, he wasn't sure what kind of doujin this guy is thinking of and it must be some pervy stuff…Better safe than sorry.
"Ah, we can make wieners too." Ren spoke up again, "So that Komi-san can su…"
"VETO!" Naruto threw the chalk at her forehead.
'One'a dem discos!' Nokoko think eagerly and once again, the class start to argue over the suggestions.
"Oh, boy…" The sighed blonde walked over to the beauty before he look curiously to her, "What did you vote for?"
"…" There was a long pause until Shouko lift her notebook up, "The maid cafe."
"Oh, you voted for maid cafe, huh?" Naruto arched his eyebrow in surprise and before he know it, everyone voted for the maid cafe. "…Really?" He looked at his classmates like a bunch of morons and he calmly left the class to inform his teacher that they have decided on a theme.
Shouko stare at her classmates with fidgets, they were setting the maid cafe up through many activities from sewing clothes to painting signboard. "Hey, if anyone's free, help me out!" Someone called out from the hallway.
"Someone, take the trash out!"
"I'm carrying something, so move the desks!" Shouko really want to help but some people jump in right before she can.
"Hey, someone, hold that side!" A student hold a large sheet up to a blackboard and the beauty was about to help but a girl, Satou Amami, block her by walking ahead.
"Ah, it's okay, it's okay." Amami waved, "I'll take care of it!" She gestured to a luxury throne, "Komi-san, you can just relax in the god's seat over there!" Shouko was forced to sit on the throne and she really feel uncomfortable when some students worship her.
"We're completely out of materials over here!" Someone called out.
"Over here too!" Someone else decide to call on a certain person.
"Festival Committeeeeee!" A girl with two tied side-bangs appeared with an easygoing smile, "Heeeeeeeere. What is iiiiiit?"
"We are running out of materials so someone needs to go buy more…" Another girl said.
"…" The smiling girl slowly claps her hand, "I see."
"…No, who're you gonna choose to go out?" The second girl asked worriedly, "We have to talk about budget too."
"…I seeeeeeee." The smiling girl replied.
"…Wait, Kaede is part of festival committee?" Naruto turned around to the smiling girl with a arched eyebrow, "…Oh boy, whose idea was it to pick you?"
"Heeeeeeeey, Naaaaarutooooo!" Kaede waved slowly with bright smile, "It is gooooood to seeeeee yooou again." She turned back to the girl, "Theeeeen I'l go and buy mooooooore."
"Eh, you'll go, Otori-san?" The girl cried, "Ah, I mean, you should have one or two more to help you."
"You're riiiight, hmmmmm…" The slowpoke girl look around before she clap her hands together as soon as her eyes land on a certain person, "Komi-saaaan, wanna you go together with meeeee?"
"Oh, no, Komi-san is…" Someone gulped and few other students start whispering to each other if they should make their goddess work.
"Whaaaaa, but she looks like she's freeeeeeee." Kaede said, "Come on, let's gooooooooooo." Shouko look around for few minutes before she nod nervously.
"I'm worried about the two of them, so I'll tag along too." Nene joined them.
"T-Then, can I go too?" A random boy raised his hand up.
"I want to go too!" A girl spoke.
"Me too!" Another boy said and almost everyone want to go.
"OI!" Naruto called out, "Nene, Kaede and Shouko will go and the rest of you, stay and work!"
"Hm?" Najimi appeared, "You're going shopping? I wanna go too…"
"I SAID STAY HERE AND WORK, YOU SLACKER!" The blonde grab the lavender-haired girl in a tight headlock, which most students approved mentally and he look up to the beauty's group. "Please go on ahead."
"Oooooookaaaay!" Kaede smiled as she left with Shouko and Nene.
"…Oh, yeah." The lavender-haired girl look up to him with a grin, "Hey, Naruto-kun, is your family coming for the cultural festival?"
"No and I'm not gonna let them find out about it!" Naruto's eyebrow twitched annoyed.
After the shopping, Shouko walks back to school with Nene and Kaede as she glance at them before she lifts her notebook up to ask them a burning question that have been on her mind for a while. "How well do you know Naruto-kun?" She tilt her head in curiosity.
"Oooooh, weeeee went toooo same elementary schooool." Kaede smiled brightly, "Weeee even share same claaaaass."
"Yes, we grow up together in a way." Nene nodded, "We also went to same middle school. So you can say we know each other very well enough." The beauty want to ask them a bit about what Naruto was like back then but she didn't in the end.
"Let's go distribute the fliers for the cultural festival!" Najimi yelled so sudden that the beauty got startled so badly.
"Don't shout too loud, you'll give someone a heart attack." Naruto said.
"We'll be doing it here!" The lavender-haired girl gestured to the shopping district, "Near the school! The Itan shopping district! We'll hand the fliers out to people shopping, and ask if we could paste some on the shop windows! And so, Komi-san, wanna try?"
'Once again, she's pushing her work off to someone else.' Naruto rolled his eyes at that, "Why don't you go and show her how it's done?"
"Eeeeh?" Najimi put fists on her hips, "Guess I have no choice." She swiftly went up to a shopkeeper, "Hello! Pops! Can you let us hang a flier on your shop?" She chat with the owner for a while before she return to her friends with foods in her arms, "He said it's okay! And he also gave us some crocquettes!"
"Somehow, I started feeling like I could do it too." Shouko wrote after she get over her nervousness.
"Is that so?" The blonde turned to her.
"Yeah, go get them!" The lavender-haired girl pumped her fist and the beauty walk ahead, only to loiter around the shops nervously then she stare inside for a good amount of time until a owner peek out.
"W-Welcomeeee?" The owner smiled kindly before he beckon her, "Oh, come in, we're opeeeen." The beauty enter the store and the teenagers wait until she exit with the flier in her hands and dejection written all over her face.
"Um, how about you try ask some shops that you already visited before?" Naruto offered, "Any place that you must feel comfortable." The beauty perk up and she lead them to a barbershop.
"Hm?" A haircutter look up from her clipboard, "Shouko-chan." She glanced at two teenagers behind the said girl, "And friends?" The teenagers confirmed it as she lean over with hand on her chin, "Hm, so these are the rumored…" She trail off, "So? Why have you come today? You even brought your friends." Shouko slowly show her the flier, "Aaah, I see. I can just paste these fliers up front."
"I see that is the place where you've been cutting your hair here for four years." The blonde looked around, recalling the tidbit. They went to couple stores like the ramen restaurant with silent owner for example.
"We have one left over." Najimi chirped after a while before she push a doorbell, "Let's just give it out to some random house nearby!"
"Is there a shame bone in your body?" Naruto said.
"Yeeeees, who is iiit?" A smiling mother answered the door with a wailing baby girl in her arm.
"Oh, I'm sorry." The blonde nudged the smiling lavender-haired girl, "Did we wake her up?"
"U-Um, don't worry." The mother waved it off, "She's always like this."
"We are students from Itan High School and we'll be having a cultural festival next week." Naruto explained as the baby kept crying out loud while Najimi make some funny faces to her.
"Oh, you're handing out fliers." She said.
"By all means, we would like it if you could bring your friends and family to have fun." He said and the baby stop crying as the mother giggle to his confusion.
"Kokko!" The baby girl pointed to the beauty as Naruto turn to look at Shouko puzzlingly while she look away, "Kokko!"
"I'll take it, thank you." The smiling mother receives the flier from him, "Good bye." She closed the door.
"We're finiiiished!" Najimi cheered, "Good job, Naruto-kun, Komi-san and me!" She skipped ahead, "Now let's go back and continue the preparations! Kokko!" Shouko looked surprised by the embarrassing nickname.
"Oh, it's dangerous to walk in the middle of the street." Naruto pointed out before he smirk lightly, "Kokko." The beauty blushed embarrassingly.
It was the night before the culture festival and most students stay overnight to finish the preparation but all male students but one in Naruto's class were lying around on floor to Naruto's annoyance. "Stop being so dramatic, you all." Naruto stared at his classmates flatly until they hear the sliding door and he look over to see the girls with plates of onigiri.
"Hey, boys!" Najimi chirped, "We've made onigiri for all of you!" Sudden, the boys become very energized as they ran over to the girls before they realize something, Shouko have made some onigiri and it's somewhere in the bunch! They look at the plate to see various onigiri, some big, some pretty and some weird shaped onigiri. "I made the weirdly shaped onigiri!"
"Mine came out a bit bigger than the rest." Nene scratched her cheek sheepishly.
"Komi-san's onigiri are the pretty looking ones." The lavender-haired girl said.
"Komi-san made the small onigiri!" Ren screeched, "She certainly didn't make the pretty ones! So you can just hand all the pretty ones over to me!" The boys realize that someone is lying and they tried to figure out whose testimony is a lie or truth before they fight over who's getting what.
"Good grief…" Naruto just took a large square onigiri so he can examine it up close, "…How can it stick together?" He stared at the box before he take a bite, "Huh, it's tasty." He never notice Shouko's heavy blush, it turn out that Shouko was the one that make some weird shaped onigiri. "Okay, everyone, if you finished eating, go back to work!"
The next morning, the cultural festival have start when Naruto was setting the tables up before he hear Najimi's loud voice. "Just kidding!" Najimi laughed behind the changing curtain, "I'll make a longer one for you right away! But now that you're already dressed, wanna trying serving the customers like that?"
"…Najimi, please don't bully Shouko." Naruto called out.
"Aw, no fun!" The lavender-haired girl whined and Shouko come out in a maid uniform with long skirt.
"Oh, you really look cute and good in this uniform." He commented, causing the beauty to blush harder. "Good luck, Shouko." The beauty nod with small double pumps and the people come in to check the maid cafe out.
"Hey, Naruto-kun, we get some…" Najimi pop up with a maid uniform and wig in her hands.
"Put the wig on my head and your ass will be red and sore that you can't sit down for weeks." Naruto stared at her flatly.
"…Hmm…" The lavender-haired girl smirked at the idea of getting spank by him and he bring his hand up to her.
"No, never mind, just no." He grumbled, "Go back to wo…"
"NAAAARU-CHAAAAAN!" A voice sing out loudly, catching every classmates' attention as Naruto paled at the familiar voice. "I AM HEEEERE! UZUMAKI KUSHINA IS HERE!"
"OH GOD, NO!" Naruto spun around with widened eyes and paled face as everyone turn together to see a young attractive woman with red hair, wearing a white t-shirt and jean, and everyone wonder who this person is until the blonde indirectly answer their question. "MOM?! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!"
"This pretty lady is his mother?" Ren gasped and everyone stare at her in awe before the trendy girl approach the redhead. "Hello, I'm Yamai Ren, Naruto's…" Sudden, her shoulders were grab in a iron grip and she look up to the sweet smile on the redhead's face.
"Whatever you're going to say next better not be a girlfriend." Kushina smiled, "If it is, I'll beat you up to one inch closer to death."
"…E-Eh?" The trendy girl blinked with few others.
"Hahaha, your mom still have son complex, huh?" Najimi laughed at Naruto as the blonde facepalm.
"Wait, Uzumaki?" The shinobi wannabe blinked, "Isn't that…"
"Yup, as in Uzumaki Shipping, the company that own many places all over the world." The lavender-haired girl laughed, "His mother is the owner and the ceo."
"Hey, son!" A older blonde man in business suit appeared behind the redhead, "Your school just told us about the cultural festival so we came!"
"W-W-WAIT, ISN'T THIS GUY NAMIKAZE MINATO, THE PRESIDENT OF NAMIKAZE ELECTRONIC COMPANY THAT OWN MANY COMPANIES AND THE ONE THAT RUNNING FOR PRIME MINISTER?!" A random male student cried out.
"That's Naruto-kun's father." Najimi laughed, "He's pretty fun if you call him a girly boy, he'll…"
"G-G-Girly boy?!" Minato suddenly kneel down under gloomy cloud as he mumble darkly under his breath and some guys swear that he said something about want to be cucked by his son.
"What get him down?" Everyone look up at the new voice to see a blonde woman with largest noticeable bust and some believe she must be Naruto's older sister or aunt…
"Tsunade-obaa-chan?!" Naruto cried out as everyone choke on their spit, that's his grandma?!
"Oh, yeah, his grandma own all hospitals in Japan." Najimi laughed again before a tall old man with spiky hair appear behind Tsunade, "And there's his grandpa…"
"Ohmygosh, Jiraiya-sama, the author of Icha Icha book series, the best selling adult smut books!" Most males and Himiko cried out together as most women look at them disgusted.
"Hehehe, schoolgirls in maid outfit, best day ev…" Jiraiya giggled lewdly before Tsunade punch his face in then drag him out, "NO, NO, NO, MY LOVE! NOT THE BALLS, NOT THE BALLS!"
"AAAH!" Naruto ran over to push his family out of the cafe, "LET'S GO LOOK AROUND FAR AWAY FROM MY CLASS!" The class watch on as the blonde led his family to other place.
'…He's actual a rich heir?!' Some shocked students think together and the lavender-haired girl just laughed at their reaction.
"Shoukooooo!" Shuuko appeared cheerily, "I caaaaaame!" Suddenly, everyone push the news out of their heads in favor of Shouko's mother…And her brother, Shousuke.
"Phew…" Naruto slumped on chair behind the changing curtain, he was so exhausted from keeping his weird family in control and it's really good thing that his mother's complex don't act up…And his father's weird kink…And his grandpa's perverse nature…And his grandma's gambling and drinking addiction… "Why can't I have a normal family?" He hear some rustling noise and look up to see Shouko joining him, sitting near him. "Ah, good work out there. I heard it's a huge success"
"Are you okay?" Shouko asked.
"Yeah." He replied, "My family is pretty exhausting…" He scratched his head, "It must be shocking for you to find out about my family and myself…"
"Actually, Najimi told me about your family the other day." The beauty held it up with a embarrassing blush, "So I already know. Sorry." He just wave it off, "To me, you're same…My first friend and my…" There is a messy scribble, "Your family is…Very interesting."
"…Yup, they are." Naruto snorted, "I seriously hope they'll tone it down sooner anytime." Shouko can't help but to giggle softly at his comment.
After a small fiasco with Najimi's greed nature, the lavender-haired girl exits the cafe with Shouko and Naruto as she wear a 'reflecting' sign on her chest. "Alright!" Najimi grinned widely, "This time, let's advertise the maid café in a more legal way!"
"Yeah, right." The blonde grunted, "You're thinking of something."
"It's fine, it's fine!" The lavender-haired girl giggled, "Komi-san, you've been working at the café all morning, so you must be tired, right? Let's go and check out some of the other classes! And if you come wearing your maid uniform, it'll be perfect advertising!" Shouko look exciting at her suggestion, 'Kukuku…No one will even notice that this is just another giant Komi-snowball roll!'
"Wipe this greedy grin off your face and read what's written on your chest." Naruto deadpanned and they wander through the hallway, looking at some attractions.
"Ah!" Najimi pointed to a certain room, "A haunted house! Let's go in!" They enter as Shouko shake in fear, she's not really good with scary stuff. "It's pretty dark in here." She held a flashlight that a student at table gave her earlier and she shine it upon few walls with some monster pictures, startling the beauty before a konjac jelly hit the beauty's face and she give out an soundless scream as Shouko grab Naruto's arm.
"It's okay, it's a konjac jelly." He said in attempt to ease Shouko's fear and they kept following the path all way to the exit. "Mm, no scarers?"
"Ahaha, that was fun!" Najimi laughed as the beauty bend down to calm her pounding heart down, "Ah! They're doing the underage assertions on the roof! Let's go check it out!"
"What are underage assertions?" Shouko asked.
"So like, it's when someone goes to the roof to shout out their confessions and secrets!" The lavender-haired girl said, "You didn't know?"
"I've never heard of it." She shook her head.
"Should we give it a shot?" Najimi cupped her chin with a impish grin.
"Um, let's check it out once." Shouko wrote and both teenagers agreed with it as they exited the school to join the crowd.
"So onto the next assertion!" The announcer spoke, "We have Yamai-san from Class 1-1."
"Ah!" The lavender-haired girl pointed up to the rooftop, "It's Yamai-chan!"
"Today, I'm going to try to confess my love to someone who are very important to me!" Ren shouted loudly, "Class 1-1! Komi-san! Naruto-kun! I like you! Please go out with me so we can get married!"
"Idiot." Naruto smacked his face with a heavy sigh as Shouko look embarrassed by the unwanted attention, don't this stupid stalker know it's illegal to have polyamorous marriages in this country?!
"OH, KOMI-SAN, NARUTO-KUN, YOU SHY LITTLE KIDS!" The stalker gushed and the blonde want to know how the hell good is her eyesight that she can spot them from this high?! Before he know it, Najimi bring them up to the rooftop in a single blink as she push the nervous beauty toward the edge.
"Next, we have Komi-san from class 1-1, who silently ignored the confession from before!" The announcer said.
"Say something good and advertise our maid cafe!" Najimi giggled to the sweating beauty and Shouko look down over the edge at the crowd. There was a silence before everyone cheer at the sight of the beauty in maid uniform and it fall silence once again so they can listen to the beauty.
"…" Shouko tried to say something but she accidently bit her tongue, "…Mya…!" The beauty tremble before she pass out from overwhelming anxiety and Naruto quickly ran up to bring her down from the stage with Najimi.
"Ahahaha!" The lavender-haired girl laughed as the beauty come around while they come down to the third floor, "Good work, Komi-san! The advertisement was a great success!"
"Oi, don't push her too hard." Naruto grunted.
"Ahaha!" Najimi placed her hands on Shouko's head, "The real fun of the cultural festival is creating some dark history, right?"
"You're a dick." He grumbled annoyingly and she take it with a proud grin before she turn back to the beauty.
"Did you have fun?" The lavender-haired girl asked as the beauty confirms it with a 'bit' hand gesture, "Okay, where to next?!"
"Ah!" They turn to a voice before a random girl grab Najimi by shoulders with couple monk students, "Najimi-chan! Our meditation club is letting people experience keisaku meditation! The teacher from class one told us to make Najimi-chan join us if we saw her."
"Eh?" Najimi blinked rapidly, "Eh?"
"Okay, show our customer insider!" The girl ordered the monks.
"Waiwaiwaiwait, wait a second!" The lavender-haired girl cried alarmingly but the monk toss her over his shoulder then carry her away with the monks, praying for her and the crying girl reach out to her friends for help but they just pray to her. "TRAITORS!"
"It's something that she really need right now." Naruto snickered before he turn to the beauty, "So where to next?" Shouko fidgeted, "Want to look around more?" She nodded rapidly and they walk through some hallways, looking at some attractions. After a while, Naruto notice her shuffle her weight anxiously. "Something the matter?"
"For some reason, I feel like I'm being watched more than usual today." Shouko replied.
"Well, it's not that surprise because you look very cute in maid uniform." He said, "People can't help but to notice you more." The beauty blushed so hard that she dip her head down and Naruto felt someone smacking his back hard, causing him to look back to see Nene. "What's that for, Nene?"
"Nothing." Nene shrugged, "Just feel like it." She turned to the beauty, "Anyway, now that we're here, wanna come look around with us, Komi-san?" The beauty gives her a nod.
"Wait, who else?" Naruto arched his eyebrow at the slender girl.
"With…" The slender girl looked around, "Huh? Where did Kaede disappear to?"
"You lose her again?" He shook his head in amusement as the beauty blink rapidly, why do it sound like it's a common thing?! "Let's see…" Naruto scanned the hallway before he point at a trashcan together with Nene, "Oh, there she is." The carefree girl was peeking out of the empty trashcan with a smile and they walk over to get her out.
"There was soooooo muuuch interesting stuuuuuuff." Kaede smiled as she reach out to hold both Nene and Naruto's hands, something that startled Shouko because of the closeness.
"We're holding her hands so she don't wander off and get lost." Nene explained to the beauty, "You have no idea how many times it have happened."
"Yeah, I remember one time when we were in middle school, she end up sitting on a top branch of a tallest tree and they have to call the firemen to come and get her down." Naruto commented.
"Haha, and remember one time we went on a school trip to Kyoto, she actually end up going to Sapporo." The slender girl laughed and the beauty look so shocked at their stories, can't believe her ears.
"Heeey, leeet's look at sommmme art gallery." The carefree girl smiled and the group went to the said gallery. They end up visiting a quiz game, some games and a drawing portraits stall. "There seem to be baaaands playing in the central yaaaard." She said after a while.
"Oh, that sounds nice!" Nene replied, "Let's go!" They head to the central yard and went up few floors to view the playing band from windows.
"Heavy metal?" Naruto arched his eyebrow at the music before he glance over to the beauty as she listen to the music, "You're okay with kind of music?" She nodded then turn back to listen to the rest of the music until the band finish playing it.
"And so, this years Itan High School cultural festival has come to an end." The loudspeaker spoke as soon as it start to get dark, "All students are to assemble in the gymnasium."
"And the winner of the best class presentation of the twenty-third Itan festival is…" The announcer said on stage behind a podium after a long speech as most students wait with baited breath for the result, "Class 1-1! Maid Cafe Itan!" The said class celebrated, "But because of a certain student earning money in wrong way, their first place reward has been revoked." Everyone looked at Najimi with accusing stares as the said girl kneel over.
"…But still, we all had fun, so isn't it fine?" Najimi laughed brightly.
"Oi, don't play it off like you did nothing wrong here." Naruto deadpanned
"But, it was fun, wasn't it?" Shouko wrote to him and almost everyone agreed with her energized.
"HEEEEY!" The lavender-haired girl shook her fists as she chased her laughing classmates around, "What's with that difference in reaction?!"
"And in the end, everyone is laughing…" Chika suddenly appear next to Naruto with tears, "What a nice class! Two hundred degrees!"
"As per Itan festival tradition, we will now hold a dance party." The announcer spoke, "The music will be performed by an orchestra from the wind instrument club. Please enjoy the music, the dance, and have a wonderful time. We've also prepared a buffet, so do help yourselves!"
"Komi-san, let's dance to…" A spiky haired boy chirped before he get punched by another boy with slicked back hair.
"Komi-san, will you dance wit…" He receive a eblow to face from Ren.
"Shall we da…" Ren chirped before Shinobi pop up to chop her neck with his hand and everyone start to fighting each other over the worried beauty.
"Ignore these idiots…" Naruto stared at his fighting classmates with deadpan expression and the beauty turn to look at the dance stage then sneak few glances to him, which he notice. "Do you want to dance?" Shouko pause for a moment before she nod with a light blush and they move to the dance floor then they start dancing with different degree of blush, it last for a bit before Najimi suddenly glomp the blonde from behind.
"You're dancing!?" Najimi grinned widely, "Lemme join tooooo!" She grabbed both of their hands then dancing the mayim mayim dance while several classmates ran over to join them in attempt to ruin their good times but it was in vain.
The next day after school, the lavender-haired girl thrust her fist up in air in front of her whole class with a wide grin. "Our maid cafe was a hug success! Good work, everyone!" Most of her classmates cheered with her, "has everyone assembled!? Roll call!" Some students call out numbers, "Now let us be off to the karaoke bar!" She ran off with the class, leaving Naruto and Shouko behind.
"Are you okay with going to a karaoke for after party?" Naruto asked his silent friend.
"Yes." Shouko lift her book up then flip to another page, "I've always wanted to go to karaoke with everyone."
"Oh, really?" He tilted his head before his head jerk to the classmates' direction, "Then we'll better run." They jogged to catch up with their class and they reach the karaoke bar, renting three rooms. They enter the first room as Shouko look around at the new surrounding, "Is it your first time at karaoke?" He can't help but to ask out of curious.
"I came once with my family before." The beauty answered.
"Let me guess, your mom was the only one that singing?" Naruto said.
"Yes, you're right." Shouko nodded before they notice that the room was getting crowding with many students, all want to get close to their 'goddess' and hear her singing voice.
"What the hell?!" The blonde have to shove some classmates out, "There are other rooms!"
"Let's do rotation system!" Najimi hollered outside to control the crowd and most students accept that. When the lavender-haired girl enter the room, she immediately take the phone off the wall and turn to her classmates. "It's one drink per person, so tell me what you guys want!"
"Cola."
"Water."
"Make that two colas."
"Then I'll have ginger ale."
"Melon soda."
"Warm lemon tea."
"I want an oolong tea."
"Cafe au lait."
"Ah, me too."
"Konpota."
"…Ah, hello!" Najimi turned away from her class, "Yeah, we'll have twelve colas here, please!"
'This guy!' Her classmates stared heatedly at her back.
"Okay, now everyone, input your songs!" The lavender-haired girl plop down next to Shouko as the students start picking their songs out and the beauty become very nervous.
"You don't have to force yourself singing if you're uncom…" Naruto said until he get cut off.
"Hey now, what might you be talking about?" Najimi slap a sunglass on her face with a smug grin, "I'll have everyone in this box sing at least one song! C'mon, c'mon, if you don't hurry up, I'll flood the display with my songs!" She get up onto the stage and start to sing a song as Shouko select one then look through for some more until Najimi's shout give the poor beauty a fright. The lavender-haired girl kept singing and singing, hogging the microphone to some classmates' annoyance until she finally hand the microphone over to someone else.
"The next one is mine!" Ren shouted with a downward flick of her index finger to point at floor, "Turn on the scoring, please!" She start to sing her heart out, 'I dedicate this song to you, Komi-san, Naruto-kun! These feeling of mine, please hear them!" The score was ninety-eight, "Alriiiiight!" She looked to her crushes and believe Shouko was moved by her song while Naruto have his attention on her when in reality, the beauty was very nervous about her turn and the blonde wasn't looking at the trendy girl but on the beauty, trying his best to ease her nervousness.
"Well then, next shall be me…" Omoharu stepped up then start singing an anime theme song to the end and she look around. Most of her classmates have low reaction but what catch her attention are that Naruto was clapping for her and the beauty tremble faster than usual, making her believe that the beauty was shivering with pure excitement and it thrill the chuunibyou. After few turns, it was finally Komi's turn as the nervous beauty walk up to the front and she end up staring at the monitor while the song play to the very end.
"…I hear it…" A random student cried with everyone in bliss, "I can hear it…A song that can only be heard by pure hearts…"
'The fuck is wrong with their heads?' Naruto stared flatly at the crying people as the dejected beauty passes the microphone over to him, "Oh, my turn?" He get up to stand on the stage and the male students ignore him right away by either chatting with each other or trying to hit on the girls…Poorly. '…Only if I can prank people again…' Naruto's eyebrow twitched annoyingly, maybe a dozen ramen will calm him down after that and he wait until the song start.
"Oh, we should listen." Akako said.
"Pfft, let's not." The boy with slicked-back hair scoffed, "I bet this blond bastard suck at si…" His jaw drops along with other boys when the blonde sing perfectly and the monitor flash perfect score with extra points.
"You're amazing as always, Naruto-kun!" Najimi clapped with a laughter, "Must be all from those music lessons your grandpa force you to take when you were little."
"Yeah, because he want to ogle at this young tutor." The blonde sat down with a deadpan tone, "Until grandma, mom and this tutor beat the shit out of him for groping her rear…In front of me."
"Hahahaha, that's hilarious!" The lavender-haired girl laughed until she remember something, "Ah, I'm next again!" She grabbed Shouko's hand, "Komi-san, let's sing together!" The beauty end up joining her and the lavender-haired girl sing out loudly while the beauty tremble in place as everyone jiggle their musical instruments to the beat. Shouko seems to enjoy the event at the end of the day, due to a tiny faint smile on her face.
Several days later, Naruto was chatting a bit with Shouko about their run-in at the mall the other day with her father until they hear someone slide the door open roughly and they look up with several classmates to see a blond teenager girl with roughish face, dressed up like bosozoku. She hit the door with her leg when she come inside as her face scrunched up and she walk around the whole class then lean against the rear lockers with crossed arms. Some nervous students whisper to each other about her. 'Is she new or…?' Naruto raised his eyebrow until Najimi enter.
"Morning!" The lavender-haired girl announced loudly until she notice the delinquent girl, "Hm? Kataicchi? Well, I'll be!" She grinned widely, "It's been a while! Ahaha! But dang, did you change because you've been abs…" The delinquent grab her mouth then drags her out of the room.
'Was she going to say absent?' The blonde wonder to himself as the frightened students stared at the door, 'Ah, is this girl Katai Ai?' He recall this name because it was the only name on the list that have been absented for months until now. Ai walk back in and the students become concern about the lavender-haired girl, believe that the delinquent did something terrible to her when in reality, she went to the restroom.
'…Why aren't anyone talk to me?!' Katai Ai wondered nervously, she really have no clue what to do after missing first few months of school and went under some changes for a new image. She notice that there were a large gathering around a certain desk and she walk toward the desk with a low mumble, frightening some students in process. Some students turn to look at the regular delinquents for help but the said delinquents swiftly sit at their own desk out of fear for several reasons like gender issue and that she's too scary for them.
"Useless!" Someone shouted at the male delinquents, "Are you really delinquents?!"
'What are everyone looking…' Ai looked at Shouko for the first time, 'At…' She froze at her expressionless face, 'Terrifying! Eeeeh, what a crazy intimidating aura! S-So scary! She's looking at me! Why's she looking at me like that?! I can't take it anymore…No, no, you're going to be a headliner! Take it like a true headliner!' She sat down in front of the beauty with a deep breaths and they have a eye contact for a long time, both feel scared.
"Katai, was it?" Naruto spoke up to catch the said girl's attention.
"Aa?" The blonde girl grunted, 'Crap! My voice broke because of my dry throat! Maybe he…'
"Katai, you've been absent from school for a while now." The blonde boy said, "If you'd like, I can show you around school and help you with your study if need to."
"…E-Eh?" Ai blushed shyly, "Thanks…" She scratched her head sheepishly, "Please do." The poor beauty was confused by the delinquent girl's action as her first friend give the shy delinquent a quick tour and what she don't know is that Ai have some kind of misunderstood about Shouko as a commu-master.
The winter season have come and the students start wearing their winter uniform as Najimi approach Naruto and Shouko. "It's winter!" Najimi make a snowman pose.
"Wait, I thought you hate winter." Naruto pointed out.
"I hate the cold!" The lavender-haired girl replied, "But there are so many fun things to do in the winter, which compensates for it!" Her head dipped slightly, "And than the finals…! Tests…You're always like this…Just appearing whenever I'm trying to have fun…Unforgivable!" Her head jerk up as soon as a light blub went off in her head, "That's right! We can just make a study session at Naruto-kun's place! I'll make Nakanaka-chan bring her game systems!"
"Oi, don't you…" The blonde glared at her but the lavender-haired girl ran off.
"I'll ask some and meet you at your place!" Najimi chirped loudly, "And there's no need for you to give me the address because your dad told me!"
"…NANI?!" Naruto cried out and the beauty look interested and curious about his place.
"I can't believe it…" The blonde's eyebrow twitched madly as a group, contain of Shouko, Himiko, Najimi and Omoharu, waits at the front door of his apartment on fifth floor, this trollish girl just went and invited few more people. "Najimi, why are Yamai here with her friends?"
"I heard that you were going to have a study session with the others and Osana was kind enough to invite me so I decide to bring my friends with us." Ren chirped happily as she gestured to Akako and Amami, "I can't wait to see what your room look like, Naruto-kun."
"I don't invite her…" Najimi laughed sheepishly and he stared blankly at her for few moments in silence.
"…Ugh…" Naruto unlock the door then step aside as the group enter, "Come on in, you can set things up in the living room. I'll get the seat cushions out."
"Wooooow, it's 2LDK!" The grinning lavender-haired girl whistled and the girls look around at a very simple yet largest living room. It have couch, low table, television with stand-drawer combo, some drawers, chairs, dining table and few standard objects that you can find in any common living room.
"W-W-W-W-W-Where is your family?" Himiko asked.
"At home." He replied to some girls' confusion, "I only live here since it's close to school and…Um…"
"Naruto-kun's mansion is hella far away and way deeper." Najimi laughed as everyone blinked, "It's in some mountains that his family own…Was it five or six?"
"Nine mountains." Naruto answered nonchalantly as if it's not a big deal, "They decide to have nine mountains so they can name them after some nine bijuu crap, which is way weird for me to understand."
'?!' Some girls stared at him in shock before they push it out of their heads, pretending that they don't hear it.
"Sorry for disturbing!" The lavender-haired girl suddenly take a blanket out of the closet then hop onto the couch, throwing the blanket over her and she fall asleep as everyone stared at her. "Good night!"
"…Why am I not surprised?" The blonde rubbed his forehead annoyingly before he turn to the group, "Please take your seat. Does anyone here want something to drink?" Shouko shook her head while some ask for water and tea and they sit down around the table as Omoharu and Ren argued about whom should the beauty sit next to. "Here." Naruto placed a tray of drinks and snacks on table as Shouko start to regret for turning his offer down until he put a cup of green tea next to her before she look up with a tilted head, "I figure you must change your mind so…" He said and she gives him a grateful nod.
"Hey, hey, what subject are you good with?" Akako asked them, "I'm pretty average with all subjects."
"Everything but English and math, I'm kinda struggling with the new formulation." Naruto said.
"I-I-I-I'm good with m-math so I-I-I might help…" Himiko stuttered.
"Science's my best forte." Amami smiled kindly, "Please ask me for help anytime." The group starts their study…Minus one sleeping girl and two arguing girls.
"I don't want to hear that from someone who doesn't even take care of her nails." Ren grinned sweetly to Omoharu.
"Huh?" Omoharu snorted lightly, "Isn't your hair damaged? Ooooh, it's because of all the useless dye."
"You still live with your parents, so I guess you can't even cook, right?" The trendy girl retorted, "Your girl power's so low."
"Pff, girl power, lolol." The chuunibyou brush it off, "I'd like it if you don't judge me using such an unscientific method." Their jests slowly become heated and Shouko become worried about them.
"Hey, settle down, you two." Naruto spoke up.
"Huh?" Both girls turned to him.
"You hear me, settle down." The blonde stared harder, "Some of us are trying to study here and you're kinda bothering us."
"O-O-Okay." Omoharu blushed in embarrassment with Ren and they join the group to studying for their upcoming exams.
"…Tch, aaargh…" Akako gritted her teeth as she erases her paper furiously to point that it leaves a small tear behind, "Mmmmnfh!"
"What's the matter?" Naruto looked up to her and he wonders why some girls moved away from the furious girl.
"What's the matter? What's the matter?!" The furious girl growled as two hair strands stand up like horns, "EVERY-FUCKING-THING! First, I kept stop at each corners because all the traffic lights were red! Then my earphone got tangled so much that I can't fucking untying it! The ten roll gacha I did was all lousy! And to make it worse, this fucking player wannabe bastard with stupid greased slicked-back hairdo won't stop hitting on me all the fucking day! AND NOW I CAN'T UNDERSTAND THE FUCKING STUPID MATH PROBLEM AND MY PAPER IS TORN! ARRRGH…"
"There, there, calm down." He suddenly gave Akako a headpat as she glared up to him with puffed-out pout, "We all have a bad day. I know this guy is a total dick and if he do that again, let me know so I'll do something about it. Can you give your tangled earphone to Shouko?" He jabbed his thumb to the said girl as he kept patting the furious girl's head, "She's pretty good with untying something complex. I'll give you a new paper and we'll go over this problem together. Okay?"
"…Okay." Akako muttered.
'He calms the oni down!' Ren thought in shock and the study resume.
"Anyone want refill?" Naruto asked after noticed the lack of snacks and few empty cups.
"Yes." Most guests chimed in their own way and Naruto get up to go to the kitchen.
"Let me help you." Amami follow after him.
"Thank." He said as he put some snacks on the tray and the sweet girl fill the cups until she notice some dirty dishes in the sink before she start to wash them without his notice then she dusting the window after seeing some floating dust. "…Um, why are you doing my chores?" Naruto asked after a double-take.
"Ah, I want to help you to thank you for the hospitality." The sweet girl smiled, now cleaning the stove and he can't help but to sweatdrop at her acts.
"Thank, but you don't have to do it…" Naruto said as his sweatdrop enlarged when Amami clean inside his refrigerator and he gently pulls her away from it. "What are you, a housewife? You don't have to clean the whole kitchen for me. If you want to help, please bring the drinks over there and help the girls with their study if they need it."
"Oh." Amami giggled with a light blush as she take it, "That's kind of you."
"Wha…?" The blonde raised his eyebrow in confusion as the sweet girl head back to the living room with drinks, '…Why are everyone almost so confused and weird?!' He rejoin them with snacks, continue to study for a while until Najimi wake up and force everyone to play some video games on one of his game system for couple hours before the guests leave as soon as the sun start to set.
'My name is Katai Ai.' Ai lean against the wall with crossed arms in her class as the lunch break start, 'Last week, I made my first friend and even got a master of communication I'm not too good at. Today, I'm going to invite Naruto-kun to have lunch together! Watch over me, master!' She approached Naruto and Shouko from behind with a bento, 'L-Let's do this!' She called out, which startled them since they didn't hear her, "N-Naruto…Kun." She start to doubt herself.
"Oh, what's up?" Naruto asked her, see the lunchbox in her hand and he wonder if she was going to ask to join them for lunch. The delinquent girl stand still as Shouko tremble in her seat and she finally open her mouth.
"Get your ass over here." The delinquent said, 'W-W-WHAT DID I JUST SAID?! I've done it now!' She walked out of the class with dejected expression to avoid the humiliating moment of her life as everyone stared at her back, 'If there was a hole I'd crawl into it…'
"Excuse me, I have to go." The blonde said to his silent friend, causing her to jolt up slightly and he step out into the hallway then quickly catch up with the delinquent. "Yo, Katai." He called out to catch her attention.
'A miracle!?' Ai cried inside her head and they end up sitting at cafeteria benches from across each other. 'Awesome…I'm eating lunch with a friend! My dreams are becoming reality! It must be the master's doing! Thank you, mas…' Something appear in the corner of her eyes and she slightly turn her head to see Shouko peeking out behind the doorway. 'M-Master?! Why did you come too, master?!' She realize something, 'Ah! I see! Just eating lunch together is not the goal…' Naruto was taking his lunchbox out, 'I need to use this chance to deepen our friendship more! You were going to watch over me from there, master! But there's no need to worry because I'm going to do this, I'm a hardliner!'
"Your lunch look delicious." Naruto said in attempt to break the ice.
"…Do you happen to have any interests?" She suddenly asked softly.
"Um, I like games, manga and movies." He replied.
"Hooh." Ai uttered and it become quiet between them. 'A-Alriiight! This conversation went perfectly, didn't it…' She looked over to see a 'bitter' expression on her 'master', 'Eh? Do I have to do something else? How can I show master that we're close…Ah! There's that!' She held a piece of food out with a chopstick, "Say ahhh."
'…Wha…?' Naruto blinked at her oddly before he take a bite out of polite, 'Weird…'
'How was that, master?!' The delinquent looked back to the beauty, 'Naruto-kun and I are best fri…' Shouko's eyes shake, 'It's still no good! Master, you're ruthless! What else can I do besides this…Aha! I understand! It's a bit embarrassing but I won't back out of that!' She moved to sit next to him then hold his right arm, 'Make a body contact, this is what master want to tell me! I-I-I know it's embarrassing but if that will make us get along better…' She become very nervous when she notice Shouko's strange shuffle and think she must be doing something wrong. 'Aaaah! Master look like she's going to jump out and sock me! I can't do it anymore, please come and save me, master!'
"Um, I don't know what you're trying to do but you don't have to force yourself." The blonde said to her.
"…Eh?" Ai blinked.
"You don't have to be stiff around me, just be yourself." Naruto said, assuming that she was trying to be close to him as friends because he's only her friend like Shouko at first.
"…S-Sure." The delinquent muttered somewhat timid and they sudden hear some rumbling nearby.
"Hm?" He look over to see the beauty behind the doorway, "Oh, Shouko? Do you want to have lunch with us too? Come here, I'll introduce you to Katai." The blushing beauty paused then ducks behind before she poke her head out with a shy nod and she slowly join them. "Katai, this is Komi Shouko." He introduced each other, "I think you two will get along pretty well since both of you are…"
"You can't say that!" Najimi suddenly appear behind Naruto, slapping her hand on his mouth and he mumble something through her hand. "How long was I here? Since around the beginning, Naruto-kun. I'll say it again, but that is something you mustn't say!" He raised his eyebrow at her before she gesture to the two trembling girls, "Because it's much more interesting this way!" That earns an eyeroll from him, "Also I wanna eat with you too!" She hopped onto the bench with her lunchbox and the group eats lunch together.
And that end the fourth chapter of CIHNL!
The cultural festival has arrived with some one-time cameo of Naruto's family and we learn a bit about him. At same time, some more characters have showed up, some early and some change.
How will the rest of the school year go for everyone? Who will show up to befriend Naruto and Shouko? How will things turn out with everyone? What'll happen next? Let's find out in next chapter!
Anyway, I think that's all I can say for now. Thank you for your time to read it.
Please leave reviews and feedback here. The flames will be kicked out.
