Unfortunately for Chojuro, the lady at the schedules table had
forgotten to tell him where room 201 was. Since there weren't any
teachers around to ask for directions, he had resorted to going door
to door and checking room numbers. He finally came across a door
with a faded sign that said "201" above it. Chojuro burst into the
room, saying,
"Sorry I'm late, I-oh…"
He glanced around the mostly empty room, and saw that there was a
lady at a desk in the corner who looked to be in her late teens, with
a bewildered expression on her face.
"I-I'm sorry, I just thought th-that this was room, uh, 201...the
sign…" he mumbled, backing away slowly. The lady stood up and
said, "That's alright, sweetheart, I understand."
She walked over to where Chojuro was and now, close up, Chojuro
recognized her. Her name was Mei Terumi, and she was a top
shinobi of the Mist. He had heard adults speak of her and her talents
with great respect. She flipped her long, auburn hair over her
shoulder and bent her knees so that her eyes were at level with
Chojuro's. "What's your name, kid?"
"My name, um, i-is Chojuro," he stammered.
"Hmm…winter cherries," crooned Mei.
Chojuro blushed a deep red at the sound of Mei's sweet voice
translating his own name.
"Well, Chojuro," she continued. "I'm sorry, but this is actually room
207. The sign is so faded that you can't tell."
"E-exactly!" Chojuro agreed.
"Well, I don't want to keep you from class any longer, so to get to
room 201, you just go down the hall and it's the last room on the
right," Mei explained.
"Thank you, Miss Terumi," said Chojuro.
"Oh, and Chojuro," Mei added as he stepped out of the room.
"Y-yes?"
"I know you'll make a great shinobi."
He blushed and walked out into the hall. Wow, he thought to himself.
She was really pretty.
"Hurry and get to class, Chojuro!" Mei called from her desk.
"Er, right!" said Chojuro, and he scurried off to room 201.