X-X-X-X
Chapter 3
X-X-X-X
I stared at the mountainous pile on top of my usual desk. They're boxes...of chocolates, I would know just from the sugary scent. I looked around and I noticed the last Uchiha is in the same situation as me...although his fangirls are still crowding around him. I scratched my cheek wondering why the heck am I receiving so many chocolates even though I am a girl. Then again...this place is weird.
"Ah, it's February 14..." I muttered remembering today's date.
I keep forgetting about this day. Ever since they learned about it last year, they've been doing this. Really, we got at least one year left before we're graduating and they spend time doing things like this? Haah...I just hope none of them end up poisoning me unintentionally like last year. While I understand they were 10, it doesn't excuse the fact that they didn't ask for help when they know nothing about cooking. I ended up spending a day in the hospital due to this.
"As popular as always, Misaki." Shikamaru said with a grin.
"I don't get why they like me so much..." I noticed Shikamaru's best friend staring at my pile jealously. "You may not want to look at it like that." I said glancing at him.
"Huh, why's that?" Chouji asked looking confused.
"I ended up with food poisoning last year, remember?"
"Oh, yeah. I heard you ended up puking all day long at the hospital."
"That sucks."
"You're telling me...The doctors had a field day with me. Apparently someone accidently put a poisonous flower in one of the chocolates...It was supposed to be a decoration and it ended up melted into the chocolate and I ate it without thinking..."
"That's messed up."
"Why did you even eat it?"
"Well, even if it was a failure...Isn't it rude to the girl's feelings if I don't at least try it?"
"..."
"..."
"Guys?"
"Misaki, you're too manly."
"So troublesome."
"Eh, wait, what? Why am I manly?!"
"Misaki-kun!"
"Misaki-san!"
"Ah."
I was suddenly swept up by a group of girls, all of them asking me who I would be spending my afternoon with. I ended up avoiding the topic by the time class rolled around, but I get the feeling I won't be able to avoid it all together. I glanced at Sasuke and a brilliant idea came to mind. He and I aren't friends or on talking terms, but the two of us both got fangirls we want to avoid...well, even if Naruto doesn't like him it's only for today. I thought returning my focus onto today's lesson. Classes ended a bit too soon for my tastes and I once again found myself surrounded by girls.
"Sorry, I am spending today with someone." I said with a polite smile.
"Eeehh?! No way!"
"Who is it?!"
"Which girl is it?!"
"Sasuke-kun." The last Uchiha looked at me from his own group of girls and everyone stopped, staring at the two of us. This was probably the only time the two of us have been seen talking...which is probably giving our both group of girls a heart attack. "Are we still going or not today? You said it yourself last time, right? That today we would go."
"..." He seemed to realize my intent and nodded his head. "Let's go."
"Thank you for today's chocolate. I'll be sure to properly return the favor on White Day." I walked towards Sasuke and the two of us left while everyone was left in silence behind us. Once the two of us left the school grounds, I released a sigh. "Thank god. Thanks for playing along. There was no way today would have ended without bloodshed if I went on a date with any girl."
"Whatever."
"Want to get some dango then, my treat."
"...Sure."
"Great."
Sasuke and I continued to walk in silence. That's when I began thinking about Naruto. I haven't seen him all day today...and he wasn't at home this morning either...or at school. What the heck is he doing today? Sasuke and I ate dango at my usual hangout. The old woman there began to tease me about being on a date and I simply said that we were merely avoiding our fangirls.
"This one is a keeper, see. Not only is she really cute, she can cook and clean too. The perfect housewife, young man. Don't let her go, you hear me?"
"Baa-chan, knock it off. You know how I feel about dating. It's a pain in the ass how all the girls chase after me even though I'm not anything special."
"Ara, but Baa-chan thinks you're very handsome as you are cute, Misaki-chan. Where is little Naruto-chan?"
"Don't know, haven't seen him all day today." I began munching on the dango when there was something similar to an explosion...and we all looked in the direction only to see orange smoke. "I take it back, he's over there."
"I hope he didn't hurt anyone."
"From that cloud, he used one of his stink bombs. Thank god the wind isn't blowing in this direction."
"That idiot."
"Eh, he's an idiot, but he's my idiot."
"I don't get how you can stand him."
"He's my little brother. Since we're both orphans and we grew up without anyone...well, he and I stuck together." I spun the now dango free stick between my index and middle fingers. "Besides, if he wasn't around...I probably wouldn't act the way I do. I wouldn't have even bothered to become a shinobi."
"You..."
"So what if everyone calls me a prodigy, a genius. Without Naruto, I would have chosen a kind of job where I would have been allowed to be secluded all day long. If I couldn't, then I wouldn't have minded opening my own shop."
"We're 11."
"Still would have."
"If Misaki-chan was available as a child, I would have made her my apprentice and given her my shop. What do you say, you retire and take over my shop? Baa-chan will adopt you into my family or you can marry my stupid grandson. He's a proper adult, but he's a bit of an idiot."
"I've met your grandson, he's an idiot alright."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah."
"Dear me, I suppose he has no chance then."
"None at all. Thanks for the meal."
"Hm...then...ara, what is your name again?"
"He's Sasuke-kun."
"Ahh, Sasuke-chan. Come back any time."
"...I'll think about it."
I waved at Baa-chan as we were leaving. Sasuke shoved his hands into his pockets, reverting back to his usual grumpy self. I stared at him, he's...a bit taller than me. Hm...I am a bit on the tall side for a girl, I wonder if I'll be taller than him as an adult. Still, I don't get why girls are into him. He's a big grump, attractive, but a bad personality. Do girls really dig the bad boy type?
"What are you staring at me for?" Sasuke asked shooting me an irritated look.
"...Quite frankly I don't understand the appeal of liking someone the same age as us." Physically speaking for me. "I am more towards older men with nice voices..." I stated looking away.
"You...have a type?"
"Is that so surprising? I am a girl."
"You don't..."
"Don't seem to be someone who would like someone?" I received a slight nod. "I get it. Still, even I would have someone I would like. Don't you have a type?"
"Yeah, so?"
"What is it?"
"What's the interest?"
"Well, I heard a little rumor how you like girls with long hair. It made me a bit curious considering you never gave a girl in our class a second look."
"Where the hell did you hear that?"
"My fangirls. From them, I also know that your fangirls are so jealous how I treat my fangirls so kindly while you act so cold towards yours."
"Hm."
"Really, it's not bad to treat someone slightly nice. Hell, Naruto can't stand you and I'm being nice. I even helped you out today."
"Hm."
"Also, you do realize if you don't repay all the girls for the chocolates they gave you, it will be disgraceful towards your clan."
"...What?"
"You don't know? I read somewhere that if a clan heir accepts any present on this day, that they must repay it properly or the person is a disgrace towards their own clan." I pointed at the bag in his hand. "You took them. You might not have said anything, but they shoved it towards you and you took it. That's why you always say you don't want it to avoid this mess. If you don't believe me, ask one of the other male heirs."
"...Damn."
"Indeed. I bet you didn't even get a list of the girls who gave you chocolate today."
"..."
"I'll ask my fangirls then."
"Do I have to give them something?"
"You just got to buy something, heck you can make something. With your clan status, I bet you can get the things you need for free."
"What are you going to do?"
"Huh? What I did last year, make it."
"Last year...?"
"Yeah, I made doughnuts last year, the animal ones. I gave two to each of my fangirls and I still had a bunch left over."
"Is it cheaper to do it yourself?"
"Yeah, but I highly doubt you could do it."
"What was that?"
"I'm just saying. Have you ever baked before?"
"..."
"Also, the ones I made last year took an entire day to complete."
"..."
"Then there was the decorations. It might look easy, but it is incredibly difficult."
"..."
"Well, this year, I'm going with a slightly easier recipe, but it is still difficult."
"..."
"Ah, of course if you do it all by hand then your fangirls might misunderstand so it'll probably be best to buy it."
"What if...I paid you?"
"Paid me?"
"You said I shouldn't do it by hand then it shouldn't be a problem if I pay you, right?"
"..."
"If I purchase the ingredients, can you do it?"
"..." I thought about it, it'll be...difficult making twice as much than usual. "You also got to purchase mine."
"Deal."
"Alright, I'll be sure to get the list of girls you owe chocolates too...unless you got names on those things."
"Hm."
"Well, I guess it shouldn't matter too much."
"MISA!"
"Gyah!"
"Watch it!"
When Naruto suddenly tackled me from the side, the result was me being pushed towards Sasuke who was too slow to dodge. I ended up halfway on top of him with Naruto clinging to my waist. Sasuke had his arm around my shoulder to stop me from falling over while I had one hand on the ground to try to avoid pushing all my weight on the dark haired boy.
"Naruto...What are you doing?" I questioned staring down at him.
"I just did-hey! What's Sasuke-teme doing here?!" Naruto questioned pointing at Sasuke.
"I was walking when you tackled Misaki and me!" Sasuke growled at him.
"Misa belongs to me!"
"I belong to no one."
"Get off!"
"Make me!"
"Naruto."
"Miiisssaaaa!"
"Off."
"Yes..."
I stood up after Naruto got up and I gave Sasuke a hand up. I began walking away when the two began to argue, there is no way I'm sticking around to listen to them insult one another. I wasn't even a block away when they figured out I left and Naruto began chasing after me while Sasuke left. I listened to my hyper little brother's excited speech about how amazing his pranks were today. I tried not to laugh when Naruto began pouting when we got home about how I got so many chocolates while he got nothing at all.
"Misa, why are you so popular?" Naruto asked watching me cook.
"Apparently I'm very manly. Not sure what's that all about." I answered not looking up from the pot.
"What's for dinner?"
"Ramen."
"Really?!"
"You said you got nothing at all today, you get something."
"Sweet!"
"I got today's homework. Make sure you do it or Iruka-sensei will have your head!"
"I don't wanna."
"Do it or I'll eat all the ramen."
"Finnneee!"
"Dinner will be ready in an hour and a half. We got plenty of time to finish it by then."
"What kind of ramen are you making?"
"Surprise."
"Surprise?"
"Okay." I put the lid on and I grabbed my bag. "Come on, let's get to work."
"I hate homework...!"
"Stop your complaints. I don't like it any more than you do. The fast you get it done, the sooner you can eat."
"You finish it so quickly though..."
"I finish quickly because I like my free time."
I helped Naruto finish his homework and I surprised him with...curry ramen. I added chocolate to it and I was rather pleased with the flavor. Naruto...he was a bit confused about it until he tried it and it officially became one of his top three in ramen flavors. I was actually...really, really glad he could eat a lot because I went a bit overboard when making it so it was more than I expected.
"Misa! Help me with my next prank!"
"What is it?"
"Two words. Hokage. Rock."
"You cannot be serious."
"Very."
"This...is going to take some very serious planning."
"I know!"
"You're going to have to avoid the guards and you got to work fast."
"I know!"
"You also have to get away with it."
"So...You in?"
"I am so not participating."
"Aww...why not?"
"I'll supply the paint, but I am not participating."
"Come on!"
"Naruto, you're faster than I am, not to mention sneakier. Also, I'm pretty sure it'll be suspicious if I end up taking a day off the same time you are pulling this off. The chance of it going off without a hitch would be next to impossible if everyone is concerned about me not being in school."
"Damn."
"Naruto, no cursing."
"Why not?"
"So, what kind of things do you need?"
"Paint brush and paint cans?"
"Yes, but considering you would end up cleaning it up we need to choose a paint that is washable. Also, you want to find out how to stay stabilized without dropping to your death."
"Got it!"
"Also, let's figure out what you want to paint beforehand so you spend less time thinking about it."
"Got it!"
"Oh, right, I also want to do the Fourth Hokage's design!"
"What, why?!"
"I really, really, admire him, that's why."
"You got a crush on a dead man~!"
"Idiot. During the Third Shinobi World War, he was listed as a flee-on sight. Do you know how many people were listed as a flee-on sight?"
"Er..."
"He uses the Hiraishin no Jutsu created by the Second Hokage. What I wouldn't do to get my hands on that..."
"Misa...?"
"There is also his own created technique, but I cannot get the information about it since it is an A-rank technique!"
"Misa...come back..."
"I really, really want to get my hands on some Fuuinjutsu scrolls, but those are also off limits to anyone who is not an official shinobi or in a clan! It pisses me off!"
"Misa..."
"What?!"
"I was just going to say we could just ask Jiji if you can learn it, right?"
"No, I tried, he said I should wait until I'm officially a genin."
"Then you should just graduate early!"
"I'll graduate when you do. I worry too much about you to just go off on my own."
"Misa, I'm not a baby!"
"Baby brother."
"You're only a few days older!"
"Still older."
"Gyah!"
I ruffled Naruto's hair as he protested and I shook my head with a wide smile. Naruto really is like a brother to me. Just like...no, no, I shouldn't dwell on the past. If I do...I might just hate myself even more. Naruto ran off, saying he was going to bed with a bright red face. Any girl who falls for him...is lucky and unfortunate. His denseness is just going to cause so many people to get annoyed with him for whatever poor girl that likes him. She'll be lucky because she'll be able to know that she'll be loved and he wouldn't dare cheat. I thought with a smile.
X-X-X-X
Chapter 3 Ends
Yay~! I finally got around to updating this one! Let's see...I went with Valentine's day for one of two reasons. One, I wanted a bit more interaction with the other members of the Rookie 9 and...I seriously thought it would be funny if the fangirls that belong to Sasuke and Misaki began arguing about how the other stole their 'man' or in Misaki's case 'woman'. Not much to add right now since I'm still working on it, but I shall hope to see you all again next time~! Bye-bye~!