Unexpected Visitor
Before anyone knows it, winter has started. The streets were covered in snow, the roof's had a blanket of ice. Many people were shoveling their driveway. Students wearing bulk jackets to stay warm. The spirit of winter made its announcement including the winter festival. The second of three festivals happening in every school but it's a little more different from the first.
Instead of every club participating only a selected few will be promoting their clubs. The limit is ten and not only that, their role in the festival is a lot bigger. The space they will have is much bigger meaning, they need to do much more than just setting up one table.
The rumored club that was thought to get disbanded, didn't. It actually was the opposite. The club changed after they received the news that its not getting disbanded. The president also changed for the better. The Card Club wasn't kept in the dark but became the center of attention. Ever since the new advertisements for the club came up as well as the members being revealed, everyone were excited to see what the card club was going to do for the festival.
There was anticipation being build up from the start of the month. Through the flyers being posted all around the school, there was going be a surprise when the festival comes. News about Ino being the president of the club came to a shock to the whole school but an even bigger shock was the response she gave to Neji. The students were calling it, "The long waited answer" since she didn't give her answer to Neji instead she was going to think about. Ever since then, the two never spoke.
The week of Christmas is where the festival will begin. There is one more week. It's also the last week of school. Many couldn't wait and are eager to start their break except for one. The one that has difficulty in his studies ever since winter began.
"I don't get it" Naruto thought staring blankly at his quiz. His grades started to drop because he lost the drive to study. He noticed when he got a 80 on one quiz then a 75. The numbers keep dropping. No matter how long he has his head in a book, it's just so boring to him. He keeps reminding himself of this fact but he can't figure out why. When did his drive of learning fall.
A hand was raised next to him. He turned to see Ino has finished her quiz. Ever since that day, she had her hair differently. It's still a ponytail but not all of her hair was tied. Some were loose at her sides. There was also a different atmosphere around her Naruto felt. She looked more composed rather he looks all messed up.
When he told her the news about him leaving the club, she didn't say anything back. Didn't get angry but stayed quiet. There hasn't been any interactions or any signs of one. There was a wall created in between the two. Just like the start, he went back to his isolation and she returned to her popularity and then some. He couldn't ignore the club he was part of. He never suspected so much changes. He wondered who took charge.
He turns his head to the window and looks down below. There was a group of guys surrounding one person. They looked familiar but before he could remember, they went behind the school. He prays for the poor soul who was dealt the death card.
"Naruto?"
"Euh?" Naruto said turning his attention to Iruka. "O-oh Iruka why are you here?"
"The time is over...are you done with your quiz?" Iruka asked.
"Oh!..already wait!" Naruto said writing a few things more then passing the sheet to him. "Here...sorry"
"Is everything alright?" Iruka asked in a worried tone.
"Oh..bssh, ya of course" Naruto said with a nervous grin rubbing the back of his head.
"You don't seem to be" Iruka states.
"What do you mean...I'm perfectly fine" Naruto said letting out a few chuckles.
"Hmm...well almost every left for lunch-" Iruka said seeing empty desk behind him.
"...o-oh well then...time for me to go" Naruto said taking his bag and running to the exit. "See ya Iruka!"
Naruto started slowing down and embraces himself. The halls never been so lively. He can sense the festival mood. Normally, he would go to the roof but, recently the card club's activities became more active during lunch. That still didn't change the loudness of the halls.
"Excuse me!...Pardon me...sorry…" Naruto said spinning, turning, sliding and pushing to get through.
He gets to the bridge that connects one building of the school to the other. He rests on the handrail and looks at his reflection in the window. He was breathing heavily and his hair was messy. He slide his hand through it trying to make it look decent. He stands straight and stares at himself. "Is everything alright" He can hear Iruka's question pop into his should be fine. He isn't depressed, sad, hurt just normal but what does that even mean. Naruto placed his hand against his face. Besides his emotions, his academics are dropping and when he's school. Just looking at the crowd of people laughing and chatting. Makes his hand twitch and mouth open slightly.
A new feeling grows inside him he can't quite explain. There was some kind of force pulling him. There's an urge to interact. Naruto gripped the hand rail and looked away. He lowers his head and breathes in and out slowly. He could feel himself shake. There was a thought he kept on blocking with other thoughts. He didn't want that thought to make itself known. He shakes his head and stares at himself looking crazy but notice someone beside him.
"Naruto?...are you ok?" Hinata asked.
Naruto quickly turned surprised to see her again, there were more times he kept running into her these past days.
"Ya...ya!..never better" Naruto said grinning nervously.
"Do you have somewhere to eat?" Hinata asked.
"uh..Nope..Nope...not at all" Naruto said shaking his head dramatically.
"Figured as much...want to eat with me?" Hinata asked with a kind smile.
"if its not a bother" Naruto responds.
"Not at all...I don't think you would want to be alone at lunch" Hinata said walking away.
Naruto grip the handrails tightly with both hands. He slowly lets go and lets out a breath. He starts following Hinata with his head down. "...What makes you say that...I love being alone!...Isolation is my-" he thought going down the stairs.
OOO
"Guess lunch is over.." Hinata said getting up from the table. "See you later"
"See ya" Naruto said waving to her.
It was a quiet and peaceful lunch. Naruto was able to eat with ease and yet, he had his suspicions. It's what she told him when they first met, made him interested in her.
Flashback
"Who are you?" Naruto asked in a serious tone.
"H-Hinata" she said softly. "There is something I want to tell you or rather-...sorry!"
Naruto was surprised to see her lowering her head.
"Sorry for what?" Naruto asked confused.
"I can't say but...your club is going to get disband because-"
"Wait disbanded" Naruto said shocked. "I guess its because what happened with Kabuto"
"...y-ya...the rumors about what the members of the card club sound horrible"
"But not everyone is involved...the club shouldn't disband because of-" Naruto said until seeing a tear at the corner of her eye. "Woah..why are you crying?"
"Its just...the card club holds a special place in my heart" Hinata said with a warm smile.
"But how?...no one didn't know about it until the festival-" Naruto states.
"A-ah well...g-goodbye" Hinata said nervously running away.
Flashback ended
For someone to feel so strongly about it, what other reason is there. She isn't a member. Naruto carried that thought until class which started. He froze at the second entrance seeing how everyone turned their glances at him.
"Naruto your late" Iruka states.
"Sorry!" Naruto said quickly taking his seat.
He could hear whispers and giggles and buried himself in his arms. He didn't have things in control anymore. When did he lose his desire to learn.
OOO
The school ended and he started getting ready for the outside. The cold was going to take him away to a far away place. Maybe then he might get his answer back. He left the class and saw Ino heading up to the club room. He turns away and starts walking. It's none of his business anymore.
When Ino arrived to the card club, she notice everyone present including their new member. It was Sakura who was doubtful at first but Ino insisted for her to join. Sara and Choji were sitting on one table while Sasuke and Sakura were sitting in the other side. Ino sat at the center.
"Alright...we're getting the right attention we want, lets go over our plan again" Ino said picking up a sheet of paper.
"Create posters that will draw people to our club and then banners for the festival" Sara states.
"Bring some homemade snacks and treats" Choji said drooling a little.
"Create a playful card game for many to join in and play with their friends" Sasuke said in a low tone.
"Make our table more for christmas creating that atmosphere" Sakura states.
"Finally….the trump card" Ino said smiling. "The Christmas Miracle!"
"You still haven't explained that" Sara states.
"Is there a reason why your keeping it a secret?" Choji asked curious.
"Not really..I want it to be a surprise for you guys and not so much for everyone else" Ino said smiling.
"Can we get a hint?" Sara asked. "Don't we have to know for the festival"
"No...it works fine without it" Ino said.
"Well everything has been working out fine" Choji states.
"Can't believe how much we accomplished in a month" Sakura said.
"Ya...finally things are going our way" Ino said smiling.
"They sure are...ever since you called all of us in and dropped the plan for the festival...I was surprised you were able to think of so much" Sara exclaims.
"Well let just say...the idea just came to me one day" Ino said lowering here eyes. "Very hard"
"Is that all for today?" Sasuke asked.
"Pretty much...I needed to know that everyone was on the right page" Ino said grinning. "Next week will be big for us and this club...we're going to need everyone pulling their weight"
"Hmm..everyone's?" Sara said softly.
"I'll be off" Ino said leaving the classroom.
Sasuke and Choji went after. Sara and Sakura were left backing up a few things.
"Hey, Sakura...I have a question?" Sara asked.
"What is it?" Sakura asked.
"Since, your her best friend..I'm wondering...did something change about her?"
"Change….well she always has been ambitious with everything she does…" Sakura answers. "However, when she asked me to join her club..it came to a surprise to me how quickly-"
"Don't worry" Sara said patting her shoulder. "Your not replacing Naruto"
"Wa-ah how did you?" Sakura said.
"My special ability...reading people and how they think...well most of the time...but lately I couldn't read Ino" Sara said. "When she told us Naruto left...I wonder what she thought of that"
"hmm...I remember she was going to speak to him after school but guessed that failed" Sakura states.
"Ino misunderstands a lot…she could have thought Naruto's reason for leaving the club was because...he wanted to since, he hasn't really enjoyed it….or he did it so the club could stay alive...two outcomes...one sounds bad other sounds noble...seeing how she hasn't spoken a word to him must mean-"
"She thought of the first one" Sakura said.
"Then again...she would be mad but she was the total opposite these past days...look how she prepared for the festival….she wasn't like this for the first" Sara said in a surprised tone.
"Oh really" Sakura replies leaving the room with Sara.
"She was having a rough time but the way she is now...its like a switch turned on inside her" Sara said.
"Is that a good thing?"
"It is for one part since, she's in high spirits" Sara states with a smile.
"But without Naruto" Sakura said in low tone.
"Who knows what she's thinking" Sara said shrugging her shoulders. "Still..Naruto is the cause of it"
"Do you know that his grades are dropping in class?" Sakura asked.
"Really!?"
OOO
Naruto felt like he was walking for ages. It started snowing and it was cold. His body maybe protected but his face, burns. He envies the people riding in cars and buses. This was one bad thing for walking home from school.
It didn't matter for him to come home late since, his parents are on a business trip until the holidays. For one thing, he can stay up watching anime. Mainly, anime other than Rogue hero. He was afraid to touch it. Another good reason would be he won't get questions about his recent accidents. It was difficult to explain and there was no reason to explain it to them. It was his problem and its solved. Even though now he lost the important thing. The determination for school.
Naruto entered his building and shaked off the snow from his jacket. He starts heading up the stairs in relief that the building was hot. Now for pressing matters, what should he eat.
He unlocks his door and takes off his shoes. He yawns and unravels his scarf and saw the kitchen lights open. "Uh?...I didn't get a message that they came home early" he thought.
"Mom, you didn't tell me you were coming home today-" Naruto said stepping in view of the kitchen.
There was a girl in the kitchen and it wasn't his mother.
OOO
"Do you think it will be alright?" Kushina asked Minato.
"It will be fine…parents aren't always the right people to talk to about personal life of their children" Minato replies.
"Still...it was a surprise...I didn't know he had friends" Kushina states.
"We don't know alot about Naruto...ever since we moved here...Naruto became mature for his age a lot sooner"
"He was a firecracker when he was little...always keeps up us at night" Kushina said chuckling nervously. "Still...he was the most happiest"
"Now he's a young man" Minato said smiling.
"Young boy" Kushina said correcting him. "I love that he's doing good in school but….its not all about the grades, you know"
"Your right...let's hope she helps him"
"She texted me earlier...hopefully she gets through to him" Kushina said sighing with a smile.
OOO
"Augh..guh" Naruto said with his mouth opened at the blond in the kitchen. "Why are you-"
"Don't just stand there...food is almost ready"
"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!?" Naruto yells. "...How did you even get it...Ino?"
An unexpected visit along with an unexpected dinner. This was an impossible outcome. Not once he would think Ino would be in his house. They barely spoke to each other. They didn't share glances or anything. There was something suspicious. Seeing how his door was locked when he came in, she must have locked the door when she came but the door should have been locked for her.
There wasn't an answer coming from Ino anytime soon. She was focus on cooking. Naruto kept walking past the kitchen and into his room. He slams the door and take his jacket off quickly. He hides under his bed sheets and closes his eyes. "I must be dreaming...must have been buried in snow….slowly dying in the cold...I'm hallucinating!" he thought until hearing a few knocks.
Naruto opens his eyes and looks at his door. He feels his stomach growl again. He frowns getting up and reaching for the door. He slowly opens it and puts on his serious face.
"Tell me...why are you here?" he asked.
"...to finally...have that talk" Ino answers in a serious tone. "Now...sit down and eat"