The nurse look at me blankly before repeat the question, "Pardon me, what do you mean by 'heavy injuries'?"
"Miss nurse! don't you see the look on her face that look like she was about to die?! Her butt must have received so much damage she couldn't speak!"
The nurse look at me again, but all she could see is a perfectly uninjured girl that have a dead look on her face and the nurse could only face-palm herself.
'Kami, the child is over reacting. Why am I the one that need to always run into this type of people?' I could read the nurse's though even without looking into it. It is so obvious, but somehow, Rock Lee is too stupid or too oblivious to notice. He even tells the syndrome of the cause wrong. I mean, who is it that shout at him to stop all the way from academy to hospital?
Me.
Who the hell got sent to the hospital just because she fall off the chair?
Me.
And who is the main person of this humiliating situation being humiliated?
Me.
The cause of all this?
Him.
I mirror the nurse's expression, trying my hardest to calm down my own temptation of hurting an innocent kid. My mind trying to reason.
'It's because he cared, yes. He must care or else, I'm going to kill him because of the humiliation.'
My mind never fails to make a childish remark at the end.
"Hmm," Miss nurse clearly looks unsure of how to respond to the boy's explanation, then meeting my eyes in silent communication. She probably understands my unspoken word ever since our eyes met, so she turns to the panic boy and adopted a assuring smile on her face, "Then you could leave the girl here and go to class? I will take care of her, okay?"
Her calmness tames down Lee's panic and the boy nod back. Lee, then, turn to me with is bright smile.
"Yosh! I will go to class now. Please take care of yourself!" His smile wider, "See you tomorrow."
I, feeling the want to humored him, can only nod mutely to the young boy while he turns his back and run to school.
There is an immediate silence between miss nurse and me. I mean, I don't even know what I come here for.
"Well," The women break the silence while she look at me clearly. Seeing no sign of injuries, she could only smile politely. "I don't think you have any injuries, but would you like some physical check-up?"
"Thank you, but maybe next time, miss." I smiled in return. I feel a bit guilty because of something so silly. "Sorry for taking your time."
The nurse widens her smile and nod in understanding, "Ah, it's okay. I understand that your little boyfriend is really worried and it could get out of hand sometimes."
The boyfriend's part makes me paled and seriously want to run away.
"... No" I snap my face to the faced the nurse, making the serious face as possible to proof my point. "He is not my boyfriend."
Rock Lee, the famous Taijustsu user and one of the most cheerful Shinobi in the village, being my boyfriend.
He could be the best friend ones have, but not - not lover, for me anyway.
Just imagine make me shudder in fear.
Furthermore, he doesn't even know my name.
I quickly turn to the exit. "Definitely not..."
.
.
.
I end up ditching the first day of school.
Not my fault here.
I don't have any idea of what to do. If I went home, my family would scold me for being irresponsible. I sigh and slowly took out my small notebook that my grandpa have given me for my 'training'. This thing has become handy when I am bored, or when I got a lot of free time. I happen to note a various of places that are pleasant to sleep.
I felt sorry for leaving Shinku-kun though. I hope he will be fine.
The wind blow past, making girls around quickly grab their skirt. It is fortunate that I wear pants to school.
I was against in wearing skirts to ninja academy. I don't want it to be flipped up when I do spar like Taijutsu and lets the whole world know what I was wearing for today. Even if I do wear skirts like other girls in the academy, It will be a pain to wear tight short underneath. No, I'm not that kind person.
So when my mother comes to comforting it to me, I immediately declined and made my escape to my father who oppose to the idea of wearing skirt to school. I once ask him why did he oppose it so much, he then answers it with... passion.
"Because boy will do anything to see under girl's skirt!"
"Hah?" I furrow my brow. "So, you flip other girl's skirt sometime?"
"Yes, I-... Wait, No!" His back is facing toward indoor so dad doesn't know that mom is approaching from behind, he doesn't realize her until his turn his head toward the tapping finger... of someone.
His face paled as white as a paper.
"It's seems like Otou-chan is a bad boy, isn't he?"
"Wait! No, that's not what you think, honey!"
"We have a long chat to do, dear."
I don't know what they talk about, but it certainly has violence, judging from the five finger embed on dad's cheek. Sometime I wonder why he married my mother. It's not like it isn't a good thing, but from my point of view, their attitude is completely different. Masao, my father, is a kind and protective man. And a little bit scared of my mother sometime. He only smiles softly. How he, a completely civilian, could find a courage to approach Hikari while knowing that grandfather is a head of TI is a mystery to me.
Now, the problem is that those winds aren't just a normal wind.
The small boy run past, grinning like a an idiot while laughing all the way. "Gahahaha! There is no way you old man could catch me, Naruto-sama!"
Then a second later, I see the group of grown men running up, chasing the boy.
"Come back here, ya'demon brat!"
The group of mischief runs past me, leaving me blinking.
...Wah?
- Maybe I'm hallucinating. Yeah, just forget it and keep walking.
Yeah, it is just my imagination. Nothing more.
.
.
.
Now that I think about it, maybe going home is the best choice afterall.
You could say that my life becomes more paranoid after the first day of school.
Talking back at the mention of the paranoid, the little Shinku-kun even send me a look because of my undeniable creepiness. Of course, anyone would when they are being treated as a meat shield. When there happen to be long black hair boy (Hyuuga) or the funny looking eyebrow boy (Lee) nearby, I always hide behind Shinku-kun until the boys that I-didn't-even-want-to-be-called walked pass.
In case of the Hyuuga, I could easily avoid talking to him since he always ignores all of the girls in the class. But in Lee's case -...
"Where are you?! The girl that I harmed in the first class!"
After the first day, Lee seems too enthusiastically search for me, or at least as Lee quotes 'the girl I harmed'. His attempt at finding me lasted for a week before he gave up.
Yeah, this is not the best part in my life.
But that least he couldn't remember my name.
Apart from my new given name 'butt-girl' (spoken by some snickering boys in the class), the class went is relatively well like a normal school. Math, science, and language classes are pretty normal, except for physical education.
Instead of running around, playing dodged ball, the instructor teaches children how to do sit-up, run a lap, and learn how to correctly throw punches and kicks. Of all the subject, I find this particular subject to be more difficult than other one. Since I usually didn't play around so much, I end up with muscle-sore and cramp.
The children struggle a bit when it comes to the academic, but the majority of them managed to pass it. Because I really don't want to put so much effort, I end up getting either an above average or average score. Hyuuga Neji and Shinku-kun, are two of the students that pass with flying colors. Neji, as expected, come up as the number one in all of the subject. I assume that he already learned the basic of the subject since he came from the famous ninja clan, even if it is a branch family. As for Shinku-kun, I already know for a long time ago that he has been smart. On the other hand, Lee is...
"Oi, dead last! What happens to 'becoming a splendid ninja' when you can't even pass math!" The boys in the class surround Lee's. Their voice is so loud that it reaches the farthest part of the room. My ear perk up in attention. Shinku-kun who quietly sits reading books beside me twitch and turn to the source of the noise.
The sight of Lee becomes smaller when those boys surround him. He didn't utter any word as if he is accepting defeat.
"Hey, say something! Dead last!" One of the boys push lightly at the Lee's shoulder. But Lee, wise as he is, doesn't lure into them tempt and didn't speak anything. He only sit still, keeping his hand to himself.
My eyebrow twitch in irritation. What I really don't like about kids are that they didn't know the limit of 'teasing'. It ends up becoming bullies and something harmful. Watching Shinku-kun at the corner of my eyes, his expression reflects a hurtful look, more than what Lee expressed. My heart softens slightly when I study his face.
Oh well, a little push couldn't hurt.
I crumble a piece of paper and aim patiently at the head of 'those dead lasts'.
Bonk!
"What- !"
"Wah-"
"Who did that!"
Seeing the reaction of the boys, I could help but giggle a bit. The dark satisfied help me cure the irritation in my mind. The boys quickly turn their angry face to the noise and saw me and Shinku in the back of the class.
"Look Shinku-kun, I think I have an ability in aiming afterall," My smirk gone wider as Shinku-kun slightly pale face was even paler. "I even hit the three biggest dead lasts in the class in a row!"
"A-Ayu-chan, I don't think that-" Shinku shutter, but was cut out by those 'dead lasts'.
The boy A shout, "Did she just called us dead last?!"
"How dare she!" Boy B said.
"We are not dead last, he is!" The last boy of the trio pointed his fat finger that Lee, sneering as he said. While the future Taijutsu user looks as bewilder where he turn to face his savior (Or that least, something I thought).
"Don't call them 'dead last' just because they are bad at something," I look down at them, my eyes are cold and steady. The boys seem frozen in place. They are probably more confusing than anything when they thought that the shy (from my habit of hiding behind Shinku-kun), bookworm (The last year chakra books I keep reading during the break), and weak (obviously, I am kind of academic-type) looking girl who usually mopped behind the class will be the one taking action. "Last time I heard, you're there scoring at Taijutsu class was lower than Lee-San, hasn't it?"
"You-you are lying. This dead last is -"
"He is the third best in Taijutsu class. You could ask the teacher if your memory is too short for you to remember. So are you telling me that the one you are calling 'dead last' could actually beat you in Taijutsu, could be dead last? Then what are the people that got a lower score than him... Hmm, mister 'lower than dead last.'" My voice is cold, and my lip widens into a 'smile' that could be complete with the serial killer.
Their face went red with anger, but their body unconsciously shivers with fear. However, they are unable to find a word to counter my witty respond except for gaping their mouth like a dying fish, which is kind of funny.
"Now..." I glare and bark out, "Got lost!"
The boys, widen their eyes like a frighten rabbits, quickly turn their tail and run out of the room.
It is a good thing that I and Shinku like to stay after class, so there isn't really much people. Fortunately, The only one in the classroom now is me, Shinku, and Rock Lee, so I don't really attract that much attention.
Shinku-kun look at me with some sort of admiration, and Lee doesn't seem to really care about his bully anymore.
"Wow, Ayumu-chan. You are so cool—" Shinku praise, making me a little proud of myself, but fell flat on the floor when he added, "—like my mother!"
My proud face fell on the word 'mother'.
Really? I'm that old? I mean, I know that I'm old. At least I could be Shinku's (young) mother already.
But to have someone so innocent like Shinku-kun reminding me of my own age make me feel ashamed.
What am I doing, scaring the children when I am already this old?
"You!" The loud voice echoes in the room take me out of a daze, to see Lee pointing his finger at me, eye wide.
"YOU! The girl I harmed!" Lee rush into me so fast I almost took a step back, his finger still pointing at me.
I huffed in annoyance, swatting his hand away from my face before Lee decides to experimentally poke my eyes to see if I'm the real thing.
Oi, stop reminding me about how I got the nickname 'butt-girl' will you?
Rolling my eyes, I nudged Shinku slightly till he send me a questioning look. I whisper in a low voice so that only Shinku can hear.
"You want to help him, right? Aren't academic is kind of your thing?" I smile encouragingly.
Shinku smile in return, though uncertainly.
"Hey, you! I never find you after the first day. Where are you hiding?" Lee come face to face with me, "Are you okay?"
I nodded my head slowly, still not quite sure of what to say, "... Yes, thank you for your concern, Rock-san"
"No need to worry! As a fellow future ninja, we have to take care of each other!" He smiled brightly, unlike second ago. "Just called me Lee! We are friend, right?"
His eyes were shining so brightly, it's hard to refuse him. I try to take a closer look at him, to look deeper into his eyes.
From what I remember from manga and anime, Rock Lee appears to be a cheerful person. The one that didn't, or never give up. But before he become that kind of person, what did he has to pass? I have seen some of the character's childhood memories and Lee's memory is no different. He practices his Taijutsu to the extreme. He also suffers from bullies that constantly make him more or less depressed. Will this event or situation make the result different? Will he ever met Gai when he appears?
"We are not friend."
My voice sounded sharper than I intend, and the result appeared instantly.
Lee's body stiffen, as Shinku glance at me with nervousness.
"Shinku-kun just want to help you with math, and I am just bored," I closed my eyes, refusing to see anyone. I could imagine Lee's swollen look and Shinku's confusion. I am mentally apologizing to them for a billion time, when I added, "There are nothing that could deserved something called 'friendship' between us."
I know I'm hurting the kid feeling.
And it stings like a bitch.
I really hate to lie. I don't like it.
"Ayu-chan, why did you say like that!" Shinku-kun squeeze my hand. I could even feel his bloody red eyes staring straight into me. "Lee-san is in our class—"
"Which didn't mean that we would automatically be friend," I interrupted, finally open my eyes to stare at Shinku-kun.
"But Ayu-chan—"
"DO NOT WORRY, SHINKU-KUN!" The loudest exclamation from Lee make both mine and Shinku's ears ringing. When I turn to look at Lee, he was staring at my face with a sheer determination while raising his fist. "If Ayumu-san is going to put me up into a challenge of friendship, I will win it at all cost!"
At that moment, I couldn't really utter a word. I am stunned to the point of forgetting to hide my astonishment.
Rock Lee was mistaking my refusal as a challenge?
Kami, I was starting to hate the author.
Maybe I need to hang a sign like 'I WILL NOT BEFRIEND WITH CANON CHARACTER' around my neck next time I came out of my house.
After Lee accident, he has improved in math with Shinku's help. He has earned enough to score past the test. Shinku-kun also have a new friend. Although Shinku really suspect me of why I didn't want to be friend with Lee, he didn't voice it. This is what I am a little grateful for. A bunch of bullies also been out because they didn't reach the improvement standard. Things seem to be quite simple and peaceful—
—Except for one thing.
"Umm, Ayu-chan... Can I ask something?"
I quietly peek below and sighed in relief, before turning to Shinku, "-Sure, but please lower your voice a bit."
"Why are we hiding in the tree?"
Before I could open my mouth to answer, the loud obstreperous voice erupted around the base of the tree. "Ayumu-sannn! Shinku-kunnn! WHERE ARE YOU!"
Shinku's face turn to sheepish as he whispered back, "... I think I know the answer."
Awkwardly, I scratched my cheek and turn to smile apologetically. "I'm sorry Shinku-kun, to drag you to this mess."
"Don't worry Ayu-chan,"
.
.
.
And there is a problem that I over-look when I step out to help Lee. It's seems like I have underestimated the bullies' gossiping network since those three boys I chase out seem dumb. I never thought of how Shinku-kun got involved, until I notice the bruise he got on his arm one day.
It was after a few days since Shinku starts to teach Lee. I was walking home with Shinku, both of us carrying a pile of homework, when I see how he winced, rubbing his bruise arm.
...Bruise?
I reached out for his arm, careful to touch only the part above his bruise, "Shinku-kun, what happen to your arm?"
Shinku flinches, instantly shaking his arm off her hands. I notice how his brow furrow and his lip turn into straight line before turn into a force assuring smile.
"I-It's nothing, Ayumu-chan. I just hit by the book this morning." Shinku's bloody red eyes avoid my stare nervously. "I am really clumsy, aren't I? Haha..."
I instantly caught on what's going on, yet I want to make him tell me the truth. I forged an ignorance and nod my head.
But did you know Shinku-kun, you are such a bad liar.
You never called me 'Ayumu' since we have started entering the academy, Shinku-kun.
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A/N: HI! Again! I happen to have a tiny free-time, so this chapter was born.
It's was shorter than the last chapter?! Ayumu's paranoid trait had develop?! Lee's declaration of defeating Ayumu?! And Shinku is hiding something?!
Thank you for the reviews, favorites, and follows!
I will answer question in the next chapter, as well as answering review...
Hope this chapter goes well though.
I happen to become disappointed in my writing style though...