One would assume that after a while of sudden occurrences would put the protagonist in a situation, though perceptibly unfavorable, where he or she would be the biggest thing that has walked on school grounds. This cliche has past the level of ultimate cliche-ness and has now adjusted to a level better known as the norm. Yes, you heard it here my friends, I'm calling out this thing that has now been shipped off to 'norm' camp and is now completely acceptable! My freaking -
I threw the pen on my desk and stared wide-eyed at my notebook. I looked around and found that I was still in the chemistry lab and everyone was taking notes, something I should have been doing if it were not for the utterly lame funk I was in. As of recently, I have been on what you call a roll. I started writing in my 'diary' more often, to the point where I am mentally relaxed when I pour out my feelings with ink and paper than any other past time I had before. But the issue that has ensued and caused this sudden relief in the form of paperback is that, nowadays, I'm erm, getting noticed more? For lack of a better word.
I do not really understand it myself. Since that day Madara Uchiha announced that I was to be his lap dog, things have taken a slight turn to the annoying. First of all, he's now a permanent member of the school teaching staff, filling in for Kurenai-sensei as apparently, some people found out news that she resigned due to pregnancy. Rumors have been flooding the school that she and Asuma-sensei, the Chemistry teacher, had a thing going on, but as I've made it clear, I'm not that interested in rumors. That don't regard myself. I tend to not listen to them and take them at heart, but when it goes to the point where people assume that I am mean enough to use this new authority Madara(sensei, I should start adding that soon) bestowed upon me, it stings just a little. Like honestly, if I did use it, wouldn't that make me an attention whore? Did I not mention several episodes where I loved the art of blending in? I would like to be known as the girl who verbally burnt the school after hiding like a chameleon for four years. Being the anonymous valedictorian-to-be is my goal, not shamelessly give out detentions like I have nothing better to do.
I do the basic things for him, like clean the board and hand out papers, but since everybody is pissed scared of the man's wrath, the only remotely significant scenes that go on in class are him and I interacting, and everyone else acting like they are the ones who are in a horror movie when I am the victim. I am. Yes. It was so bad, this kid who was scared to ask for a restroom pass freaking pissed on himself and is now referred to as 'Kurine' behind his back. His name is Kuro. And what did Madara do? He regarded the wet, crying boy for a grueling minute, before turning away to continue writing notes in his extremely neat handwriting and said, "Uzumaki, hand him a hall pass." It has gotten so bad recently, that he refuses to directly interact with the other students and makes me give out tests. Tests which I am also taking. Tests which I correct after he checks mine. TESTS!
That isn't even the worst part. Since my notorious escapades have gone viral, I have been pursued by people I never knew even existed, I'm talking insignificant side characters who appear and have no purpose in the overall plot. Why? Why do I have to go on this roller coaster of unfamiliarity and confusion? I tried asking around (meaning Ino) to know if the abomination of a History teacher did this to his other classes, and so far she's told me his lap dog in their class was Sasuke. She had no further information on the matter (or, as she whispered before she took off, Madara could hear everything). Great. Now I had the vampire wannabe as my supposed accomplice.
Moving on from my annoying situation. I seem to be getting more credit and more attention these days, it's a total nightmare. Let's start from last week, when the first martial arts class took place.
Insert flashback.
I was in the midst of staring at the atrociously bland gym clothes, when someone tackled me from behind. I would have administered my elbow onto their ribs, if it were not someone I was kind of acquainted with.
"I thought I was the only girl here but thank god you're here too!" Sakura squealed as she hugged the living daylights out of me. She had an extremely tight hold might I add.
"Sak...ura..." I choked, before pulling away and coughing. I do not think she noticed my struggle to breathe since she skipped off and claimed a stall to change.
After pulling on the shorts and top assigned, I hung my clothes next to Sakura's, tied my hair up and pulled on a white band to hold it out of my face. It was a little cold and each time any of us spoke, our voices carried on loudly throughout the empty locker rooms. But as soon as we stepped out onto the gymnasium, the obvious smell of several boys in one place (being cheap deodorant and slight sweat) settled in the air. I felt Sakura shy behind me when the boys present turned to stare, but I gave it no thought as I claimed a spot a little away from them and slid down to wait for the captain.
"Hey Kushina," Sakura sat cross-legged across from me. "Why did you pick Martial Arts? As self-defense?"
"Not to sound arrogant, but I can take care of myself," I quipped dryly. "In fact, I chose this because it's something I'm kind of familiar with."
"Oh," she resigned, chewing her bottom lip. "To be fair, I kinda thought you were a..." I raised an eyebrow. "A brute..."
"A brute!" I laughed uncontrollably, attracting weird looks, but I couldn't bring myself to care. Sakura though, flushed in embarrassment.
"Everyone on your feet."
I couldn't help but giggle as we walked towards the others, earning a scowl from the captain-
Hinata's cousin?
"My name is Neji Hyuga, and I am your captain. We will start with basic sparring matches so partner up and begin."
I sighed as I turned to Sakura, and she smiled wondrously before pulling me to a mat.
"Have you trained before?" I asked as we started stretching across from each other, though we would have completely blended in with the rest if it were not for the fact we were the only girls.
"Not really, but I have read all the books in the library that had to do with martial arts," she beamed while doing some torso twists. "And I am willing to learn anything."
"What are you two doing?"
We turned to see the captain scrutinizing us, his arms folded across his chest.
"I thought that torso twists were an acceptable method of stretching," Sakura admitted, before stopping when he narrowed his eyes at her. It struck a cord in me as usual.
"Are we not supposed to stretch before sparring?" I asked matter-of-factually, looking at him like he was queer. I could see he was somewhat like Hinata's father.
"Uchiha!" Neji called, dismissing us by turning around. My eyes widened comically. This should be good.
Sasuke stood next the Hyuga with his hands in his basketball shorts and a bored look etched on his face, and I didn't need to look straight at Sakura to know she was squealing.
"Teach them some basic self-defense moves."
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
"Excuse me?" I bursted fiercely, waiting for him to take it back. He merely raised an eyebrow.
"Is there a problem?"
"Are you honestly implying that we can't handle sparring like the rest of you?"
Neji looked around, his arms behind his back before he regarded me again. "I would not want to be held responsible if you hurt yourself."
Sakura stepped away from the same time Sasuke stepped away from Neji, and I was balancing on a very thin string of self-control.
"You think that we are not capable enough to be here?" I asked in disbelief, praying that he'd realize his mistake and steer this away before I exploded.
"Now that you mentioned it, I was questioning why you where here."
Tick.
"What millenia are you from you sexist pig?" I exploded in rage, attracting everyone's attention before they stopped sparring to watch. Neji narrowed his eyes.
"I would not test my patience girl."
Tick Tick Tick Tick Tick Tick Tick TICK.
"I am this close," I emphasized, "To wiping your face all over this gymnasium if you so much as say one more word to me. I don't need self-defense. I don't need help. What I really need is for you to BACK off."
He smirked condescendingly. "If you do not like a captain telling you what to do, I suggest you leave along with your friend."
"You'd like that, wouldn't you?" I balled my hands to my sides in attempt to not punch his lights out because I was really itching to shove soap down his throat.
"You seem to have a big mouth, unlike your friend," Sakura hid behind Sasuke, who looked like he was too engrossed in us to notice her. "But since I believe in being fair," I scoffed at this. "I'll allow you to prove yourself. Punch me."
I raised my eyebrow, "Are you serious?"
"As serious as I'll ever be. You punch me here," he pointed a thumb to his now puffed out chest. "And if I don't flinch, you'll leave and sign up for something else."
"Hyuga," Sasuke interjected in a warning tone. I regarded him before facing Neji with a smirk of my own.
"Alright then..." I looked around. The other boys were all over the place on their own mats, watching us with interest. "I gotta warn ya, I've been told I pack quite a punch."
Sakura looked scared. Sasuke looked forlorn.
He chuckled humorlessly. "By who, your father?" he mocked.
"One," I announced, cutting this conversation short and stretching my fingers. He stood at attention. "Two," I twisted my fist slowly. He braced his chest. "Three."
I connected my fist to his chest in a flash of speed and brute strength, he not only stumbled but flew a little away and landed on his back. Sakura and Sasuke, as well as the rest of the boys there stared in shock. Neji looked disoriented. I blew at my fist before letting it drop to my side, sending the captain a pointed look.
"Sakura and I will be leaving now, to save you from embarrassment, but know we will be back next meeting and it's not going to be for self-defense."
I caught Sakura's hand and pulled her out of the gymnasium, ignoring everybody there watching me like I was from another planet.
End.
It could be presumed that I caused this upon myself, somehow, but I doubt that I deserved attention from people I don't associate with as well. Like Sasuke for example. He's been more keen on staring at me every English class, despite Ino's ostentatious ways that could probably attract anything that had eyes, and now I thought of him a little more. He basically forced himself into my thoughts. Amazing. As if my life wasn't any crappy to begin with.
"Oi Choji! Be careful with that-"
My eyes widened as he dropped some powder onto the bubbling test tube, and before it could go red and explode, I stood up and snatched it from the stand, then chucked it out the open window.
"Get down everyone!"
The mixture exploded outside, while some red goo splattered all over the window sill. I got up from my crouched position and stared at the mess with a crinkled nose.
"Good thinking Kushina," Asuma-sensei remarked, unknowingly forcing everyone's attention on me as he smiled. "You seem to be awake during these things."
I tried to keep my face nonchalant, instead of annoyed at myself for not ignoring it in the first place. I mean, we learnt this stuff before and nobody thought it would explode?! Why am I such a-
"Thank you Kushina," Choji spoke up, sending me a sheepish smile, and I sighed before nodding and muttering a, "No prob."
I slid down my seat and pulled out my notebook, feeling the need to vent and vent until I couldn't come up with a combination of twenty-six letters anymore. It seemed like I would never find peace outside of it.
