"Today we will be working on sewing. Sewing is an instrumental skill for a shinobi, being able to mend your gear or alter your disguise is crucial for a kunoichi." Suzume-sensei says and finally I agree with her. We are in the kunoichi class room and are each handed a piece of fabric and some coloured thread. On the blackboard are examples of different patterns or stitches for us to try.

I weave the needle in and out trying not to stab myself and doing so anyway from time to time. "Can we visit today?" Ami whisper asks and I think about it. So far I have worked hard to avoid Ami and I mixing with the Ino-Shika-Cho plus the recently acquired Sakura. (She seems to be the first other student to catch onto their very obvious lunchtime thievery) They usually visited Yota at lunch, it made sense as it was the time neither their parents, nor teachers were watching them, it wasn't unusual for kids to leave the academy yard for lunch, and though children here were given a large amount of free reign in this world, parents do want to know where their kids are to some extent. Every now and then the group visited after school and Ami and I wouldn't visit that day.

"Don't know yet." I reply in a soft whisper as well peering at Ino and Sakura who were similarly whispering. I wonder if they were even talking about the SAME thing.

Ami came with me a lot to see Yota now, which put a hold on my chakra control training to some extent. I instead replaced it with some old fashion tree climbing, assisted by chakra in my hands and occasionally feet to get a better grip. The progress was slower but still there. It even helps my parkour skill since running and climbing are both parts of it.

It gives me good practice and is good strength exercise, so hopefully my STR will soon be increasing. "I wanna see him…" Ami grumbles pouting cutely. It makes sense, turns out Ami and I have something in common we both have a soft spot for kids. On top of that Yota seems to be great at changing things to better suit the mood. When he got really excited it snowed, I haven't seen snow in years it had almost made me cry, until Ami threw a snowball at my face.

"You know… your really good at that." I inform her looking at the pattern she is sticking, it's not professional or anything but I can actually tell what it is, a tree with beautiful white flowers among dark green leaves. I myself wasn't doing half bad either, though I was practicing different type of stitches not designs…

Maintenance Proficiency Level has risen X1

Maintenance Proficiency Level 57

Ability to maintain, clean, and fix up items and/or possessions effectively. Speed and success improves per level. Increase in quality of the item 0.25% per level increase in speed of action 0.5% per level once action is familiar. Current ability, quality increase 14.25%, speed increase 28.5%

Maintenance is probably the most diverse skill in my repertoire considering how many things it effects. "Well of course." Ami preens playing with her hair making me roll my eyes. Drama queen much?

"Alright everyone very good work." Suzume-sensei praises after a while of circulating between the groups of girls. "However two of you did particularly well. Sakura, Ami… would you both show the class your work?" I hear a startled chocking sound from the other side of the room. Next to me Ami's ears and face turns bright red but I smile at her.

"Wait to go Ami!" Fuki announces and Kasumi nods.

"Thanks guys." Ami says getting up her price of fabric in hand. She glares at Sakura as she walks for a moment a smug aura around her and I sigh. Ami really needs to get over her dislike of Sakura. Even if it's rooted in her own insecurities… hopefully as Ami gets more sure of herself she won't feel as threatened by the pinkette.

"Alright girls, show your work." Suzume encourages as Sakura shows her design. Ironically a Sakura flower, though that is probably intensional. It is actually impressive, at least for a child our age, using different shades of pink. She stands uncomfortably next to Ami who holds up her tree full of white blooming flowers. The other girls ooh and awe at the designs as I barely notice Kasumi and Fuki inching closer to me on both sides. Barely but I still notice.

"What do you two want?" I whisper just low enough for the two to hear trying my best ventriloquism to not move my mouth. Ami was more observant than people think after all, if her obsession with every single detail for her garden being perfect was any indication. Honestly if she applied that same mindset to, well anything, she would be frightening.

"We want you to stop bewitching our friend ghost girl." Kasumi stated her face tight as it always seemed to be, her large fluffy orange hair sticking out in a perfect sphere around her head, her eye squinting at me. Does she need glasses or something?

"I don't know what your talking about Kasumi-san." I state in a respectful voice but their is a sharp edge to it, a warning. I don't want to get mixed up with these two but apparently they don't feel the same.

"Sure you don't." Kasumi says in a VERY sarcastic voice.

"Ami-chan is being held back by you. We were fine with it, but now she's not hanging out, and is acting weird. Instead she is hanging out with YOU." Fuki hisses and I tilt my head. Are they just jealous?

"What do you mean acting weird?" I try and clarify because, well I haven't noticed Ami acting strangely…

"She's acting like a wimp, I bet she won't even want to deal with forehead tying with her." Kasumi says and I cock an eyebrow. What is wrong with them?! I take a deep breath. Their just kids… I remind myself silently. Their just little kids who are in a system being trained to kill and feel no remorse about it. My jaw tightens at the thought and pity swells in me. This world probably doesn't have enough therapists.

"She's been studying." I simply say because despite the depressing thoughts in regards to the two girls, I feel kind of hopeful if Ami is starting to lay off bullying.

"Don't give us that… YOU did something! What!?" The two say the last word in unison and I blink. Ami's come back and while Kasumi still looks intent on questioning me Fuki looks nervous.

"I told you two to leave Sayori out of this." Ami says her brow not even furrowed. She looks, serenely, FRIGHTENINGLY calm.

"W-we…." Fuki says looking nervous now but Kasumi gets her nerve back.

"Why do you protect the ghost girl?" Kasumi says her fists balled tightly making her knuckles white. In reply, Ami smiles, she SMILES, it is not a nice smile, and she seems far more in control since that last incident. What has Ami been growing into while I wasn't looking?

"Do I need to remind you Kasumi-chan of what happened to Hibiki-san?" Ami says but there is a low note on the san and Kasumi straightens and doesn't reply. Now I am curious…

When class is over Ami says short goodbyes to her friends and we walk home.

"What exactly happened to Hibiki-san?" I ask and Ami's shoulders straighten.

"N-nothing…" She stutters out, we walk through the streets and I decide to let it go for now. The sky looks really dark. I can her loud bangs and flashes in the distance.

"I think it's going to storm…" I say looking at the sky. Ami just nods.