#2 – Prank
Ignoring his outstretched hand, Itachi's eyes zoned onto the aquarium tank sitting next to the television, not taking the new decoration very well. Was that a goldfish swimming next to a shark?
After unsuccessfully staring and hoping that the glass tank would miraculously break from his evil eye, he reluctantly pulled his eyes towards the burly man. The audacity of him to beam at him after barging into his space like this!
"Uchiha…Itachi yea? Can I call you Itachi-san? Sounds weird to be all formal now that we'll be living together." Itachi squeezed his eyes shut as they shook hands. "Call me Kisame."
"Can I come in now?"
"Come… Oh right, silly me blocking the way," Kisame laughed self-deprecatingly as Itachi sucked in a deep breath at the empty cans of beer stacked on the coffee table and lewd magazines strewn across the sofa. It was not as if he did not understand, he was a man after all. However, certain things should be enjoyed in…moderation, and preferably behind closed door.
"You looked familiar, have we met before?" His eyes followed Itachi's. "Sorry, I wasn't expecting anyone, so didn't bother cleaning up. You have no cause for worry, I'm usually a very neat person," Kisame assumed behind him. "Anyway, did the contractors recently refurbish the rooms? I can detect a hint of fresh paint. Man, looks like I'm in luck!"
"If only I can say the same."
"Did you say something, Itachi-san?"
" No, I'm glad you're enjoying yourself."
Itachi was still feeling slightly pissed off at Kisame's memo, reminding him to shut the windows before leaving like he owned the frigging place, when something knocked against his arm, scattering all his books in the middle of the hallway.
"I'm so sorry!" The girl hastily gathered everything, but before she could pass them back, her eyes widened and she promptly dropped everything on his feet.
"S-So So-sorry! Let me-"
"No it's okay, you stay back," Itachi asserted while he imagined sending Kisame's porn magazines for recycling to distract himself from the throbbing in his toes. By the time he was done picking himself up, the girl was nowhere to be seen.
During lunch…
Grabbing the food tray, he made purposeful strides towards the furthest end of the canteen next to the courtyard, training his eyes ahead to avoid being invited to join his classmates.
He really did not see the point of joining, seeing he never talked anyway.
It was unusually quieter than usual. Any other day he would pay just to tape everyone's mouth shut, but something felt awry.
He causally brushed his fingers over his scalp to smoothen out any stray hair (not that he had any) and glanced down at his white shirt to check for any stains. Everything clear.
He then proceeded to accidentally brush his hands over the wallet on the table, taking the chance to cast his sight around the canteen.
...Why was everybody looking at him?
Seated two seats away was a junior spotting purple long hair who emitted the same approachable aura as him, and seemed likely to hold the answer to his doubts. He set down his utensils and scooted closer.
"Excuse me, do you know if I did anything to be worthy of all these attention?"
"H-Huh?" Hyuuga Hinata was visibly stunned that a guy just spoke to her, much more her senior.
"I've noticed lots of whisperings and deliberate attempt of avoiding eye contact with me."
"You really have no idea?" She inquired softly as he firmly shook his head. "I-It's because of that letter…" She blushed furiously when nothing registered in his face and his continued gaze on her. "The letter you wrote to Haruno-san," She revealed with a glance towards Sakura sitting five tables away from them.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Isn't that the girl who bumped into me this morning?
"I-I'm sure it's not true but everyone is s-saying you wrote a letter to her…"
"While I can assure you I did no such thing, may I know what's in the contents of the letter, Hinata-san?"
"H-How do you know my…" Hinata swallowed apprehensively at his sombre expression, deciding it was not worth it to be potentially murdered for her question. She was better off placating this man first. "It was a l-love confession, and that you'll p-propose to her upon graduating…" She timidly looked up, unable to decipher his expression. "It's definitely just a prank right, Uchiha-san?"
Itachi directed a weary eye towards Sakura, who happened to be sneaking glances at him and quickly spun back around. He rubbed his palm over his face, lamenting at the end of his three-year of low-profile university days.
"A-Are you alright, Uchiha-san?"
"Thank you for telling me this." Hinata was uncertain she could handle his gratitude, but murmured a self-effacing "welcome" anyway.
Just before he could force down his last spoonful of tasteless curry, his phone beeped.
From Shisui:
My woodblock cousin's getting married? Good lord I'm crying on behalf of the Heavens! Tell me it's not raining church bells and flowers out there nowwwwwwwww!
Hinata jumped as Itachi slammed the spoon on the table, nearly toppling the bench as he got up. She continued to nimble on her sushi while watching Itachi's retreating and shaking back in concern. She genuinely hoped he could understand that this was just a joke and not decide to take any responsibility.
Somehow, I love seeing Itachi getting pissed off.