Walking home, Pucca was the only thing on my mind. It still felt strange. There was something about her that I couldn't help but to constantly think about. But now, I had to manage to not make a fool out of myself for a whole day.

How was I going to do it? Where was I going to take her? What was I going to wear? I'd never had to think about these things before. Honestly, she'd probably be happy with just about anything. She didn't strike me as particularly picky.

Would she even want to be seen with me? She knows I'm not a village favorite, but maybe she didn't really care. Who was I supposed to even ask this stuff? The ninjas were zero help with this sort of thing. I had no one to go to.

As I got close enough to see my house, I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone. I had a notification from just a minute or two earlier that I hadn't noticed. It was from a number I'd never seen before. It simply read, "Always watching." That's not incredibly creepy or intimidating at all.

Maybe it was from her uncles. But how would they have my number? How would ANYONE have my number? I couldn't think of even one person outside of now Pucca that would just… have my number. Except the ninjas, obviously. They really only ever sent me memes or pictures of ducklings they find, though. Not super high on the threat level.

My phone vibrated in my hand. Pucca had texted me again. "Did you get home okay?" It made me smile. It made me feel like maybe she did actually care.

"Good timing, just got here. So. Yes." Hitting send, I took a moment to reflect on how awful I was at texting.

"Good! I think my Uncle Linguine is onto you!" followed by an emoji.

She immediately sent a second message. "The pasta whip uncle." I was incredibly relieved that she understood that I was not exactly the best at names.

As I stood in front of the door into my house, trying to think of something to respond with, I heard something behind me. A tree branch snap.

I quickly turned around to see what was there. Nothing. Not even any movement in the trees. Must have been an animal.

I turned back around to enter my home. Reaching for the doorknob, I heard another sound from the trees. I turned around again, this time being greeted by a kunai knife headed straight for my face. I let out a less than macho noise as I dropped my phone and tried to move, but it was too late. The knife, aimed perfectly to pin the shoulder of my shirt to the wooden door, was only inches from my face.

I looked out to the trees as I desperately tried to pull the kunai from the wood. I still didn't see anyone. It was quiet. With one final yank, I got it out. I looked at it. It was about as generic as a kunai could be, other than the little piece of paper tied to it. I took it off to look at it.

It was blank. Oh, come on! That's a really open-ended threat! Were they trying to kill me or intimidate me? Now I'll never know!

I froze. I could hear something different. A very faint voice. It sounded a lot like…

"TOBE."

No, not me… it sounded a lot like… Pucca. Wait. Pucca? I looked down at the ground to my phone.

"Can you hear me?"

Oh. It was my phone. How was Pucca even on the phone? I was trying to text her when I heard the OH PUCCA IS ON THE PHONE.

I scrambled to pick it up. "Ah! Yeah, sorry!" I said to her in a panic.

"I'm pretty sure you called me accidentally, considering all I heard was a SCREAM. What the hell happened?!" She started yelling. Was she mad or did she care, I couldn't tell.

"Uh. I just dropped my phone."

"You talk to yourself, you know. Something about a threat?" Wow, I really needed to stop doing that.

"Maybe I didn't drop my phone. Well, I DID drop my phone, but…"

"Tobe." Oh no, she sounded serious.

"I got pinned to my door with a knife."

"WHAT? By who!?"

"I have no idea." I told her honestly. I made my way inside the house. "There was a blank piece of paper tied to it, who does that?"

"Why would someone throw a KNIFE at you?"

"Maybe someone saw me leave your window or something? People like you and hate me, I'd probably try to knife me too."

"Who could have seen you?"

"Well. Dada definitely did. He doesn't strike me as the knife throwing type, though."

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm totally fi-"

"You're alone out there. Doesn't that freak you out?"

"I have the ninjas nearby." She stayed silent for a good few seconds. I could almost feel the face that she was making. "Okay yeah, fair point, they aren't the best body guards." She laughed.

"You almost getting taken out doesn't get you out of taking me out tomorrow. And lock your doors and close your curtain! I'll be mad if you get yourself killed tonight."

"Already done." I said, quickly getting up to do what she asked. She had a sense for these things.

"Hey, thanks again for everything today, Tobe. I've been really… out of it since I got home from the hospital. Last night and today were the most I've felt like myself."

I could feel my face getting hot. "Don't mention it. But go sleep, Pucca. It's late. You'll wanna be awake for what I have planned tomorrow." Oh, why did I say that. It sounded so… flirty? I also have NOTHING planned for tomorrow.

She giggled. "Fine. Don't get yourself killed. Good night!"

"Good night…" I hung up the phone. How did I manage to dial her number? Maybe I accidentally hit call when I dropped my phone, I don't know. But now I have to plan this… date. Is it a date? I have no idea. I hope so. Maybe she didn't know either.

I glanced out the window briefly before I walked into my bathroom. No way I'm getting ambushed while naked in the shower. Huh-uh. Not happening. Not again. Stupid ninjas.

I caught a glance at myself in the mirror as I started stripping down for my shower. The X on my face wasn't the only scar I'd gotten over the years. I was covered in the damn things. Garu had to learn to use a sword somehow, and I think I got the brunt of it.

I looked like a villain. One you'd see on television or in a movie. Not like someone who could take a pretty girl on the nice date she deserved.

But, she didn't seem to mind.