"I'm sorry for everything..."

"I'm glad you're fine now..."

Those words keep popping in my head like a broken record ever since we got back from the camp. It felt like a dream yet it's real.

"S-A-R-A-D-A!" Chocho pokes me on my cheek and I am back to the world. We are sitting at our desks while waiting for our adviser to come in.

"Huh?" I mutter and I see her pouting at me.

"You are spacing out again," she tells me. Really?

"I'm sorry..." I say and she looks confused.

"Are you okay?" she asks and I stare at her for seconds.

"Yeah," I stammer and she looks suspicious of me.

"I don't think so..." she is being suspicious for real now.

"Come on, I -" Boruto cuts me off when he calls out to me.

"Sarada, let's have lunch together," he invites me and I think my face blushes like oh, hell. I look at Chocho and her eyes grow bigger.

"Huh?" I fluster and she is waving oddly in front of me. I don't get her. When I turn to face Boruto, his face looks confused.

"Is there something wrong?" he asks and I am quick to refuse.

"No, there is none. It's just that I was surprised by your invitation.

"Oh," he chuckles and then looks at me in the eyes.

"So, are you in for lunch later?" he asks again and I just nod. Heck, what? Did I just say yes?

"Alright then. See you at the cafeteria," he waves goodbye at me and returns to his seat.

Did he just ask me on a date? No way!

"Hey, your face is red. Kindly explain what's going on," Chocho demands. I can feel my cheeks heat up. She shakes me because I am not on Earth yet again. My heart is beating fast more likely going wild. This is the first time Boruto ask me for lunch with him so I guess it's normal to feel this way.

Chocho is insistent so I tell her everything that happened that night. I even told her about my encounter with Sumire and the jerk.

"So, are you two dating now?" she concludes.

"No, no," my quick response. I think my face looks funny right now.

"You mean, that invitation is the start of the most awaited date of the century?" she crosses her arms and I glare at her.

"What are you talking about?!" I raise my voice and they all glance at me. They look confused.

"Relax. You get so excited," she teases me.

"I'm not excited, you know?" I tell her and she doesn't look convinced.

"Well based on your reaction, you are," she fights and I pout at her.

"Whatever," I say and look away.

"I know it's your first time being asked by a guy to come with him for lunch. I understand your feelings so well," she says. I look at her and she gives me a wink. I smile at her gesture and she nudges me on my side.

A few seconds later, the jerk enters the room and Yodo suddenly moves closer to him to welcome him back but he ignores her. He hasn't changed a bit.

I can see how Yodo scowls at him. He proceeds to his desk and sits down quietly.

I don't dare to look at him. I don't know why I suddenly feel that way.

"So, you and Kawaki are friends now?" she asks then I turn to her side to see her face.

"I don't think we are. I don't have the guts to talk to him. If he truly wants to be friends with me then he must talk I me first, right?" I say and she just shrugs

"I don't think boys will do that especially someone like Kawaki," she is right. He is not the type who will make a conversation first. I sigh and then our adviser arrives.

We greet each other and she starts to speak in front of us.

"I have a big announcement to make this morning," she reveals. She always has news every time she enters the room.

"Starting tomorrow, your class will start at 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. This is due to the International Sports Event that I have mentioned to you before that will be held in our school," she continues. The class started to murmur.

"In this connection, you will be doing self-study so you can cope up with your lessons and..." she pauses and we wait until she continues.

"We have decided to spread the class into three groups. Since this class is more advanced than the other classes, you will be assigned from Class B to D," she smiles like this is something we need to be enjoying.

"Why do you need to divide the class? Could not they do self-study too?" Yodo complains. Well, she is kind of upset right now.

"Yodo, please calm down. You need to help each other. If you want to graduate, they want it too. Since this group is gifted with talent, I want you to share it with others. Is that too much to ask from you?" her face saddens like she is hurt or something.

"Tch," Yodo expresses her annoyance toward the issue.

"Is that starting tomorrow too?" Denki asks and our adviser nods to confirm it.

"What a drag," Shikadai utters then yawns. What a sleepy head.

"Your final examination is approaching and you need to do your best here," she gestures as if she is encouraging us to be working hard for the exams.

"Well, that's all. Do you have any questions?" she tries to accommodate queries from the class. We respond with none and she proceeds with her next announcement.

"I have the list here," she shows us a piece of paper.

"Those who will be joining Class B are the following," she starts.

"Sarada, Namida, Lee, Tsubaki and Inojin," so, I will be in Class B.

"And those who will be joining Class C are; Boruto, Dae, Yodo, Sumire and Shikadai," Boruto belongs to Class C.

"And for the Class D are; Denki, Wasabi, Iwabe Chocho, and Kawaki," Chocho is in Class D together with the jerk.

"Do you have any objections?" she asks and waits for any replies. But no one answers so she just proceeds with her lesson for the day.

After forty-five minutes, she bids her goodbye to us. We will have to wait for the next teacher to come in. Since he hasn't been here yet, I talk to Chocho about something.

"Is it okay if you come with me and have lunch with Boruto?" I ask her out of nowhere then she starts to brag in a low voice so they would not hear about it.

"Are you stupid? Do you want me to be the third wheel or something? It's your date I don't want to meddle between you two. It's going to be very awkward," she refuses. Does she need to call me that way? She knew this is new to me.

"I don't want to be the headline of the platform," I say. If they will spot me with Boruto, that will be the start of hell for me.

"If that's what you care about then don't go out with him," she suggests.

"But I already said yes to him," I tell her and then pout like a kid.

"You have to be responsible for your actions. Well, if Boruto likes you, they can't do anything about it but be jealous of you," she adds and I feel more nervous than before.

"And..." I mutter. Something's bothering me that I can't explain.

"And..." she repeats.

"Never mind that. I'm just nervous," I think I start to shiver.

"Relax, you can do it," she cheers me up. I just give her an unsure smile. After the next class is lunchtime. I can't focus on the lesson because I am preoccupied with the thought of having lunch with Boruto.

After the class, I drag Chocho out of the classroom.

"What's wrong with you?" she asks in surprise.

"I can't do this," I say and she notices how my knees tremble. She laughs at me and I can't help but be upset.

"What's funny?!" then she stops laughing. She holds both my shoulders and starts to give me advice.

"Just relax and act normal. Think that you are just having lunch with me," she tells me and I think I will start to cry.

"But..." I say.

"Ahhh! You can do it," she cheers me up. Then she gives me a comforting smile.

"Sarada," Boruto calls out to me.

"Yes?!" I fluster and Chocho talks to him while pointing her index finger at him.

"I am lending my best friend to you just for today. You better take care of her or else you are dead," Chocho sounds threatening him. Boruto is shocked and gives her a frightened look.

"O-Okay," he mutters, and Chocho laughs at him.

"Alright, you two must go now," Chocho pushes me closer to him and I feel I will tumble to the floor I didn't see it coming.

"Thank you, Chocho," Chocho just shrugs and looks at me.

"You two enjoy," she says and walks off.

"Let's go," he tells and I nod. I can't help myself from being nervous. He keeps talking and I don't listen to him at all. My chest is beating fast. I was silent until we get to the cafeteria.

We settle down and he volunteers to get us something to eat. I wait for him until he returns. The girls around are looking at me and stabbing me with their sharp stares. I can see some whispering to their friends.

I wanted to ask Boruto to get out of this place. I don't feel well in here.

"All right, let's eat," he says upon settling down.

"Sarada, are you okay?" he asks me.

"Yeah," I lie. I don't feel okay at all.

When I look to my right, Tsubaki and Yodo are there. Yodo whispers something in her ear then she looks away. When I look to my left, Sumire is together with Namida and Wasabi. She smiles at me when she catches me staring at her.

What did I do? I feel bad.

Boruto starts to open the wrapper of the burger and eat up. I almost bite with my burger as well when the jerk enters the room. The buzz gets louder than before.

He is walking in our direction but he is not looking at me. I try not to look at him as well and then he walks past me. I look down then the memory from the camp enters my mind again.

Those words he said, his apologies, the gift. I don't know why they always pop up in my head.

"Sarada?" Boruto wakes me up.

"Are you okay? You're spacing out," he says and I honestly feel awkward.

"I'm sorry. Something came up," I keep making up excuses. I know he is wondering about it now.

A few seconds later, the jerk walks out of the room carrying a small paper bag in his hand.

"I see. Please eat up. We have a class after this. You may pass out if your stomach is empty," he is so concerned about me and I am here thinking about nonsense.

I try not to mind the people around me and hang out with Boruto. We just talked about our favorites and hobbies. He is truly fun but the environment we are in isn't fun at all.

After our lunch, we get back to our class and act as nothing happened. Chocho looks suspiciously at me while holding her interrogation back because we are currently in class.

I know she would not let the day pass without asking me what happened. And she did when we walked home together.

The next morning, we are introduced to Class B same goes with other class members. We are sharing one classroom and lessons starting today. Their warm welcome is soothing in my flesh. They look friendly and nice too.

"Please get along with the Class A students," their adviser tells them.

"Oh my, the genius Sarada is sharing a class with us," I hear the girl say in a low voice.

"I doubt if she has a boyfriend. I would like to ask her out," what are they talking about?

"She's dating Boruto," the other guy says.

"She's dating Kawaki since the tournament," the other girl says.

"I saw her with Boruto yesterday,"

"Kya! She is so lucky. She can date Mr. Populars on the campus all she wants
I'm so jealous of her," the other girl utters.

What the heck? Didn't they realize I can hear them talking about me?

"Class keep quiet. You guys can choose any vacant seats you want," their class adviser tells us and we respond with a nod. I think them looking friendly and nice is just an impression.

We choose vacant seats at the back since the front row is already occupied. I can't concentrate since girls gaze at me from time to time. I feel so uncomfortable.

The teacher makes a short quiz and in the end, I am the only one who got a perfect score.

"Sarada is amazing!"

"As expected from a genius,"

It just so happen that I have reviewed the lesson last night. Since we are told to do self-study.

"All right, that's all for today. See you again tomorrow," the teacher walks out of the room and some of the Class B students approach me.

"Hey Sarada, can you explain this to me? I don't understand this quite well," a girl talks to me.

"Yes, sure," I say and help her out.

"Sarada, please help me out too. You're so cool," a guy comes at me too. I don't like being praised or being the center of attraction. This scene is a complete mess.

After I finished with their queries, I walk out of the room to go get Chocho but before I could do that she is already waiting for me outside the room.

"Hey, leave me alone!" it's Boruto. I see him running away from his fangirls.

"I feel sorry for Boruto. The perks of being Mr. Popular," Chocho shrugs and I just laugh.

"Let's go eat. I am hungry," I say while rubbing my stomach.

"Alright," Chocho rejoices and we walk our way to the cafeteria. But before we can even leave the building. I see the jerk being pulled out by a girl from Class D.

"Come on. Have lunch with me," I hear her say. Everyone stares at them but she doesn't tend to care.

I can see the jerk resist but the girl is persistent.

"She keeps forcing herself to him but Kawaki doesn't like her," Chocho shrugs and drags me to the cafeteria.

"Leave me alone," I hear the jerk complains but the girl doesn't care at all.

"No, you're going out with me," she keeps telling him. I can say the jerk is so embarrassed but the girl doesn't want to leave him alone.

We walk past them and they are walking behind us now. He has no choice but to get along with her. He is scowling as usual. I can't stop myself from gazing at them from time to time.

Just who is she?

To be continued...