Chapter Seven.
Game on.
By the looks of it, it's almost noon. I turned my head towards the wall clock hanging above the classroom's door. Ugh. I can't believe there's still 20 minutes left. Miss Anko's really good when it comes to time management, huh?
"Okay class, John pulls a sled across a froze lake at the speed of four meters per second...", and this is why I love Konoha High. Somehow this school has managed to put together the so called "all-star line-up" of teachers for us seniors. Here, we have Miss Mitarashi Anko. The only physics teacher ALIVE who managed to top the annual "Physics Teachers' Performance Assessment Examination" for 6 years straight. One of the finest teachers in the country, some say. But as I see it, there is one fatal flaw when it comes to Miss Anko's teaching style.
"...So then class, how much momentum do you think..", she tends to maximize her time a little too much. See, physics always begins with a 15-minute drill-session. Then comes the group reports, after that, we have the formal lectures, and then she finishes off with a short quiz and a take home activity. Every. Single. Day. Of course, this method of her's has made me so much better at this subject, heck, I'm a physics ninja when it comes to problems about velocity and momentum. But don't you think getting down on heavy duty number, computations and other stuff before lunch time kind of adds to your craving?
At so, I stared blankly into the blackboard. Hopefully, I'll be able to keep up with the rest of the class. I'm so close to passing out from hunger right now. And yes, it's because I skipped breakfast today, thinking that I'll be fine without my usual waffles in the morning. I can't even concentrate hard enough to write the sample problem down. The words and numbers all seem like a blur to me. Ugh. Please, save me. Just this once. Save me.
And then it happened. Kami-sama must've heard my calls of desperation. And eerie ringing sound filled the hallways, and then made its way into the classroom. What great timing for a fire drill. And of course, I, Tenten, shall use my extensive knowledge and ninja skills to escape to the cafeteria.
"Form a line and get out of the room.", Miss Anko said. That's my cue. I stood up and ran past everyone. Those leg stretches and workouts I do in Taekwondo practice didn't go to waste after all. Soon enough, I was at the cafeteria. There were no students inside. Except for one. The only one I was trying to avoid, and he ends up here. Hyuga Neji.
He was leaning against the cafeteria's door frame with a blue energy drink in hand. "Hey Tenten. You look beautiful." He looked at me for a while and then he left. What?
Oh, I'll think about the captain's mood swings and such later on, I gotta get me something to eat.
So after I bought a hamburger and a bottle of water, I ran back to the hallway where my other classmates were. Chewing and gulping on the way, I couldn't help it but spill a little on my skirt. Well, never mind that.
Great timing huh, everyone was just getting back into their rooms. And then, I saw him again. He was talking to this senior, Sai. I was scared to go on and pass them so I hid behind the lockers by the hall. I kind of heard what they were talking about by chance.
"So, what's up?", Sai said with a hint of amusement in his tone.
"Things are going well, man. I mean, if only you saw her face the moment I handed her her handkerchief. It was like, ugh, I can't even say it. It was really as if she believes that I've gone through a change of heart or something.", I can tell that this much deeper voice was Neji's.
"You think you can convince Tsunade to let the team run without a manager? If you get her to quit, what's gonna happen then? Aren't you gonna miss that "never-give-up" girl?", it was Sai again, are they talking about me?
"Hn. Are you kidding me? I can't wait to make her leave.", I heard Neji's voice trail off. So that's what all this crazy acting of his was about. And I thought he wouldn't go that low.
"Tch. You're hopeless. Just do whatever you want to do Hyuga.", I heard footsteps moving further and further away. They must be leaving. And at that moment, I felt myself sliding down while leaning against the wall, still hidden from view courtesy of the lockers.
I know that it shouldn't be like this. I mean, I know I don't have any romantic feelings for him, and I never lost that doubt that this was all a game to him. But why do I have this feeling of somewhat.. disappointment?
Well, there's only one thing to do now. If that's how he wants it, then I'll just play along then.
It was almost time for practice and I was on my way to the gym. Carrying a plastic bag filled with energy drinks, I sprinted towards the steel doors. I was about to pull to the handles when the door opened. On the other side was the person I wanted to see the most.
"Tenten.", Hyuga Neji said with a smile. He was looking down at me with those eyes of his."Let me help you with that.", and then he took hold of the plastic in my hands.
This is the chance I have been waiting for all day.
"Oh, you shouldn't. I'll take care of this.", I stood on my tip toes and whispered in his ear. "Don't hurt yourself, Neji-kun."
Two can play at this game.
I left my tip toes and saw the exact outcome that I was hoping for. His eyes were widened and he was still as stone. He just looked at me. So this is what the great Captain looks when he's freaked out. Jackpot.
Next time, don't bite off more than you can chew, Neji-kun