I wheeze out something that sounds like a greeting and the boy lights up. He laughs at me, then swiftly holds out his arms and I just then notice the fat stack of papers he's carrying. I look from him to the papers and back again quite a few times before he takes the hint, looking only a little adorably puzzled.

"It's this week's assignments, Himuka-chan! Iruka-sensei made me bring them again 'cause he caught me putting mice in people's shoe lockers," he says, his voice coming out as more of an abashed mumble by the end.

"Ah, uh," my voice squeaks and I swallow hard, "Thanks, N-Naruto... -kun...?" I tack on the honorific a little late, not used to having to use them, but he doesn't seem to notice or care since he's practically glowing again.

What did I do...?

"No problem, Himuka-chan, " he practically shouts into my face as he shoves the papers my way. I take them on instinct, shuffling and juggling and almost tipping over before I have them securely in my arms.

When I look up again, Naruto is gone and I can just barely make out the sound of faint footsteps above my head.

After throwing the papers down on the rickety coffee table and, in the process, knocking over no less than six ramen cups and four empty sushi boxes, I flop down on the couch.

Something stupid is definitely going on here and I should definitely be trying to figure out what it is, but...

One of the ramen cups still has a little bit of cold broth in it and I...

Unwittingly, my stomach gurgles in assent, giving me full permission.

I pick up the cup, take a sip...

(Ting!)

... And spit it all over the stack of papers in surprise.

[ Internal download complete. ]

[ Beginning external download ... ]

For a split second, the world ripples and twists around me and I shout in surprise, instinct calling to me to cling to the couch. I don't think anything really moves, but I swear it feels like the world warps and then snaps back into place so sharply that a dull pain flares to life behind my eyes.

Suddenly, the world is clear and bright, more vivid than I ever recall it being.

[ External download complete. ]

[ Processing ... ]

[ Processing complete. ]

[ Initiating tutorial sequence ... ]

(Ting!)