Shoko Komi's Ultimate Challenge

by Ulquiorra9000

Communication 11: apprentice

"You look really happy, Komi," Hitohito said warmly when Shoko took her seat next to him in homeroom on Monday.

Shoko couldn't help a small smile as she presented her notebook message: The sleepover was a big success, Tadano. We had so much fun together! I think my mom made an entire scrapbook commemorating it. I can't wait to do it again sometime!

Hitohito beamed. "That's fantastic, Komi."

"Yes... it is," Shoko told him quietly but earnestly. She blushed. It was thanks to Hitohito that she came up with the idea in the first place. What could she do to repay him? She'd think it over.

But in the meantime...

Volleyball in the gym was always terrifying to Shoko, what with the balls flying around and hitting students in the face. Shoko did her best, but she was nothing compared to Netsuno, who was at 500 degrees as she dominated the field. Then Shoko caught a ball, and took her chance to hit an opposing player. She threw it.

Poof! He was gone!

Shoko felt silly. No way could she knock out Shinobino Mono, Itan high's resident ninja-in-training! That boy always wore his ninja gear, even in gym class, and Shoko swore he could vanish into the shadows or pop out of thin air. He was untouchable!

Then he knocked Shoko out of the game with a ball to the chest. Oh well.

After gym class, Shoko got changed, then found Shinobino in the halls. She just had to learn his secret! She reached out and mentally braced herself before tapping Shinobino on the shoulder.

"Whoa! Who's there?" Shinobino whirled around, a shuriken thingy held in hand. He relaxed when he saw Shoko. "Careful, Komi. I have the reflexes of a jungle cat!"

Shoko scribbled her message and held it up. Your ninja skills are amazing, Shinobino. Can you teach me?

"Huh? Teach you?" Shinobino repeated as he stared at Komi's message. It was tough to read his face through that black ninja mask. "I dunno, Komi. Not just anyone can learn the ninja way, especially nowadays."

You did.

"Ha! Got me there." Shinobino scratched the back of his head. "Okay, how about after school today? I don't mind sharing a few tips."

Shoko beamed. Thanks! I'll see you later.

New challenge: become Itan high's #1 kunoichi! Not that there was much competition.

*o*o*o*o*

Right after class let out that day, Shoko met up with Shinobino at the rear school grounds, where Shoko could see the track team, soccer team, and baseball team all practicing their sports. It was nice seeing them so hard at work. But Shoko had her own training today!

"Okay. Let's do this." Shinobino clapped his gloved hands together and rubbed them. "First up: your gear. Here..."

He set down his school bag, knelt next to it, and produced a spare set of ninja gloves and a head covering, complete with a metal headband. Shoko stared.

"Like they say: be prepared," Shinobino said, motioning with the goodies. "Put these on, then get ready."

Shoko accepted the gifts with trembling hands, and slipped on the gloves, marveling at how they fit just right. Then she tied her long hair into a bun and put on the head covering, and wondered if she looked awesome... or totally silly. It was 50/50 in her mind; what would her mom think of this? Or Hitohito? Or Najimi? Gasp! What if Najimi was sneaking around here, taking funny pictures of people? Shoko wasn't ready for that!

Then Shoko remembered Najimi was going to the mall with friends today. All clear.

"First: balance. If you can balance your body, you can balance your mind," Shinobino told Shoko. He tucked up one leg and stood on his other leg's tip-toes, and held his hands together, with the index fingers raised and pressed together. "Assume this form!"

Shoko nodded and did the same. She fell over.

"Whoops! Um..." Shinobino offered a hand and helped Shoko up. "You okay?"

Shoko nodded again and dusted herself off. She assumed the form again, her leg trembling. This was tougher than it looked! Must... maintain... ninja-balance...

"Ahem! Good posture. You learn well, my student," Shinobino said in a serious tone. "Feel your inner energies swirling within you, pulsing through you. With that power, you can become one with the shadows and strike like lightning."

"You... sound like... Nakanaka," Shoko commented quietly.

"Bah. She's just in her chunibyo phase. I'm the real deal!" Shinobino said proudly. "Maintain your posture. Training has only just begun."

Shoko kept it up until Shinobino told her to switch legs, and do it with a single, elegant move, like "a reed snapping in a sudden gale." Shoko gasped with delight when she copied Shinobino's tricky ninja move, transferring her body weight from one foot to the other in a snap. Like lightning!

"Very good! You're a talented one," Shinobino said with that cool-guy voice of his. But Shoko heard something else in his tone, something much nicer. "Now that your energies are calibrated, it's time for movement. Follow me!"

The two ninjas sprinted across the open field, arms outstretched behind them, until they came upon a metal railing. Shinobino gracefully leaped onto the railing and kept running, and Shoko squeaked in fright when she jumped up too, convinced that she would fall over. But she didn't! Shoko felt a sudden rush as she dashed across the railing, and a passing coach turned and watched them in astonishment, the whistle falling out of his mouth. Woo-hoo!

Shinobino reached the railing's end and leaped off it, doing an awesome flip in the air before landing on his feet to keep running. Shoko did the same (if only her friends could see this!) and kept running, arms still stretched out behind her, her ninja energies in perfect balance.

"Tree! Go!" Shinobino said when the two ninjas reached a tall tree, and he ran right up the trunk before grabbing a thick branch and swinging to a higher branch from there. Shoko copied him every step of the way, wondering how on earth she ran up a tree trunk without falling. It must be ninja magic! If she can be the shadow dragon princess, certainly she can run up a tree, too! Bwahahahahaha!

Shoko leaped and swung her way to the tallest branch that would support her weight, crouched elegantly with Shinobino next to her, both of them watching the soccer team playing.

"You've done well, my apprentice," Shinobino said dramatically. "The ninja way has accepted you."

Shoko didn't have her notebook with her, so she found the courage to make her point out loud. It was easier up here, where no one could see or hear. "You, um... must really love this, Shinobino. I'm... I'm happy for you."

Shinobino flinched. "Wh-what...! No, it's my destiny. My duty! It compels me! Yeah."

Shoko gave him a knowing look.

Shinobino winced. "Promise not to tell anyone?"

Shoko nodded.

"I'm not a real ninja. It's just a hobby. But it feels so real to me...!"

Shoko reached over and patted Shinobino's head. "See? Happy," she said softly.

Shinobino went red and cleared his throat. "Anyway...! I think you're ready for weapons training. Follow me!"

The two ninjas stealthily ninja'd their way back down the tree, and down on the ground, Shinobino demonstrated by throwing a shuriken at a nearby tree. He sliced off a thin twig, and Shoko clapped.

"Now you," Shinobino said.

Shoko accepted a shuriken, imagined her target (her least favorite Swamp Bros. character), tensed up, and gave her shuriken a wild throw.

POP!

"Oh, crud!" Shinobino clutched his head in horror when, to Shoko's dismay, the shuriken went way off-target and popped the soccer team's ball in midair! "Run, Komi!"

There was no time to lose! The ninjas ran for it, fleeing the wrath of the furious soccer team and their coach until the ninjas reached a stone wall and vaulted right over it.

"Whew. Too close," Shinobino said with relief. "Don't worry, I'll repay the soccer team for their ball. You're still in training, Komi; no need for you to pay for it."

Shoko smiled, even if Shinobino couldn't see it. "Thank you... for sharing your hobby with me."

"Ahem! Well..." Shinobino went even redder and quickly turned away. "Every ninja needs an apprentice sooner or later, right? And we've gotta get our stuff before going home."

A few minutes later, when the coast was clear, Shoko and Shinobino ran across the practice field in super-stealth mode, parkour and all, and retrieved their school bags before retreating again and escaping the school grounds where they couldn't get in trouble. Shinobino offered a hand, and Shoko gave him a high-five. The challenge was complete, and Shoko was in a mood to celebrate this little victory.

"Here. Something to remember me by," Shinobino said as he offered Shoko another shuriken. "Keep this one. You're a true Itan kunoichi now. There's nothing more I can teach you."

Shoko gratefully accepted it and bowed, then took off the gloves and head covering before waltzing her way home, her good mood taking her mind off the strangers gawking at her. This school year was more fun every day.

"You're home a bit late, Shoko," Shuko commented lightly when her daughter finally got home. "I hope nothing's wrong?"

Shoko shook her head and wandered upstairs to get changed. Then she knocked on Shosuke's door and went inside.

Look at this, Shoko thought when she showed Shosuke her new weapon. My classmate gave it to me. His name's Shinobino. He's much nicer than people think.

Whoa. Is this real? Shosuke, secretly a big lover of all things ninja, stared in awe as he held the shuriken up to his eyes.

It's real. And now, your training begins. Shoko smiled and assumed the posture to balance her energies. Shosuke did the same.

Every ninja needs an apprentice, right?