You'd be surprised to know that this is the third rendition of this story. The one I originally posted was actually the second version.
Likely, I'll do this with Atlas Wilds which, surprisingly, would be going back to its first of four versions for the story.
~NRK~
He stood at the front of a class of 29.
The teacher smiled, his lightning-like tattoos glowing as he left his desk.
"Welcome, you're the new student I heard of," the tattoo-ed man smiled as the newcomer nodded. "Class, I'd like to welcome our newest addition to the third year classes, Obito Uchiha-kun."
The young man at the front of the class bowed. "Pleased to meet you," he said simply as the class observed him.
He was a tall young man with fair skin, black eyes, and spiky black hair. Wearing their school's Gakuran uniform for boys, he was honestly as simple-looking as it got save for those odd taut-black straps around his palms, fingers, & wrists.
"Please, take your seat at the back near the window, your first class is with myself: History," the teacher said as Obito nodded.
Going towards that desk and pulling out his chair, Obito sat down before noticing something to his right.
'Wait, what?' He blinked at what had to be… A camera, speaker, & modem? He blinked as that camera turned to him before its lens whirled.
~NRK~
She stared at the screen in worry, observing her newest 'desk mate'.
"H-He doesn't seem weird," she muttered to herself, curled up in her blanket. "... He's also so normal-looking," the complete opposite of herself.
She was a monster compared to this human being.
~NRK~
The end of his first class saw Obito looking disinterested.
'God, I studied ahead of time for this and now I'm bored,' he thought as his classmates began to get up & leave. 'I should have stuck to getting a GED… But then Hokei-sama would be burdened,' dammit.
An older person being his weakness, never saw this coming as a shinobi… Wait.
Obito began to sweat. 'Wait, haven't I always been plotted-against by older people?' As in, from the very start?! "Dammit, I'm really not liking that."
"Is all well, Uchiha-kun?" His new teacher asked, concerned. "Is History a bad subject for you?"
"What? No, I already pre-studied all topics for high school, I already knew the material for third-years and passed all the practice tests. There's a reason I joined our last year of high school and no earlier."
The man gawked at him while Obito's 'neighbor's lens' whirled in on him.
[Y-You did?] Came her voice, surprising him.
"Hmm? That's the first time you've spoken during class," Obito noticed.
And got a squeak in response before the sound of ruffling sheets.
Their teacher blinked, cupping his chin. "You're very perceptive and seemingly studious, young man," he chuckled, confusing him. "We'll see in time for your first test. Now, where are you heading?"
"Calculus," Obito said.
[R-Really?]
He raised a brow at the camera where shuffling, and some squeaking, emanated from. "... Am I to assume you are also going to that room?"
[... M-Maybe?] She whimpered as the teacher wore a sad expression.
"Ippan-kun, your classmate, isn't as assembled in every class," the man admitted somberly as Obito frowned.
"Nowadays? We really couldn't set up something for that?" He asked.
"Oh, it's nothing so severe but Ippan-kun prefers being there to hear the words, herself," the teacher winced as the speaker released a soft sigh.
Obito looked around. "... What exactly is her issue that there seems to be issues with the teachers?" He asked outright, alarming them. "It'd be hard to not guess there's some issue with having others work alongside her. Add on the fact that Ippan-san is currently taking classes like this and I have to assume she had either a drastic change in appearance or they didn't like her appearance in the first place."
~NRK~
Ippan choked in disbelief.
[O-Obito-kun, I don't… How?] Their teacher asked.
[Because there's only so many reasons?] That one.
That weird person who apparently had joined on behalf of just doing so?
'I-I don't actually understand that, why did he join if he was so smart?' She was confused and shocked now. "..." Ippan bit her lip. "I-I'm have a mutant-like quirk."
~NRK~
Obito groaned at that, face in hand.
"Ohhhh, that shit," he cursed as the two looked strained. "At ease, I have no issue with people like that, I have no issue with anyone with a quirk that alters their appearance… I just left my previous school because of this," Obito admitted with crossed arms, closed eyes, and a deep frown.
[W-Wait, what?] Ippan asked.
"I… Obito-kun? You left a school because of that?" The teacher asked, looking both concerned and yet touched.
Obito's face went flat. "Mmmmm… The verb, 'left', wouldn't be how I'd put it," he admitted sheepishly, confusing them. "Sir, I'm guessing you didn't get any of my records yet."
"No, I did, I was just trying to see how you were personally."
"A good trait but you can now open it, it'll explain."
Wearing a worried grin, the man did by pulling out his phone. "What… W-What exactly did you do?" He asked as he scrolled to his files and saw Obito's on it. "... Am I going to not like it?"
"Most likely."
"Criminal record?"
"After what happened, yeah."
~NRK~
Ippan stared at her monitor, the screen showing Obito's unsure smile.
[... M-My word, why?!] Their teacher asked in disbelief as he gawked at the files. [Obito-kun, was that truly necessary?!]
[Yes, it was. Because those same individuals weren't going to keep things on 'straight & narrow', if you would. They weren't just dangerous to that person but everyone else at the school.] Obito explained with another frown. [Besides, you can read the addendums, I'm sure there's more testimony on it.]
"Sir? Um, what happened?" Ippan asked.
Their teacher looked unsure before Obito shrugged.
[Go right ahead, it means little to me.] The young man admitted.
[... Ippan-kun.] The man began, closing his phone in thought. [Obito-kun is… He has a criminal record.] She gasped as he nodded. [And it's on several accounts of brutality, I… A group of people? Obito-kun, I don't understand. How dangerous could some school students be?]
Obito shot him a look. [... Sir? Those students were gangsters.]
Ippan covered her mouth with her claws, eyes widening at her classmate's shake of the head.
[It's written down as 'unwarranted battery' but that's only because the person who handles those documents was one of those bastards' uncles. The only reason I'm here is because of nepotism & corruption in that school. You might not know it but Yuga Technical Middle Prep School isn't a good place to be.]
[YUGA?!]
Ippan wasn't much better.
"Y-You went to Yuga? O-Obito-kun, that's one of the top middle schools in Japan! It's supposed to prepare you for some of the most wanted jobs in the city. How… Why?" Something within her demanded an answer.
Something about this wasn't normal.
[Because they were planning on doing one of the worst possible things to a middle school girl?]
That brought their breathing to a halt.
[I was fourteen when I chose to cause violence that they'll never return from. Because those people were disgusting human beings, the boys in my school especially, and I chose the most efficient option and destroyed them by my own HAND. I don't regret a single thing that happened that day except for the fact that I didn't just go through all the way and destroy the administrator who let that go.]
They sat there in silence before the school bell rang.
Obito shook his head as he grabbed his things. [I'll just make some notes for her.] He hefted it over his shoulder and left. [It's not the hardest thing I've ever done in this life of mine.]
Her camera had turned to watch him go before Ippan kept staring at the door.
"I…"
[Ippan-kun, I can't very well control the world.] The man opened up his phone once more and read. [... But I think you could truly make friends with that boy.]
Ippan looked down in thought.
~NRK~
By the end of his second class, Obito arrived in his homeroom.
His surprised teacher was soon smiling as he came over while other students left and gently placed down a very large notebook.
"Eh?" The man sweatdropped as he took it and opened up the pages… Oh. "Obito-kun, this is yours isn't it? Your notes on Calculus."
"Yes, after sitting in there for a time, I realized it'd be so much simpler to just give her that. I wrote down more than enough notes on every lesson, page, and formula. Ippan-san should hopefully be able to read my handwriting and vocabulary," Obito said with a nod towards the man. "Take care, Raiku-sensei."
He left afterwards, leaving the lightning-tatted man to sigh softly.
"Goodness, there are all types of students but this one takes the cake," he looked through it all before just reading some of it. "Hmm… T-This is actually ridiculously well-made," Raiku looked at the pages.
They weren't crisp, not at all, it showed a clear sign of aging but it was well-kept and still easily legible."
"Ippan-kun, I think I'll help you take the next step."
~NRK~
The end of the day had left Obito feeling nothing, really.
So, why was his homeroom-slash-History teacher waiting outside of the school gates?
"Raiku-sensei?" Obito raised a brow at the smiling man as he held a familiar notebook in his hands. "Is everything well?"
"Yes, Obito-kun, but there's been a small interruption," the man smiled apologetically. "I have to meet with the other teachers about something and I can't scan all of these well-made notes of yours to Ippan-kun. Do you think you could do me a favor and give these to her?"
"I mean, I could but why not wait?"
"You do remember you have homework, right?"
Obito cleared his throat as the man raised a brow.
"... You finished it already, didn't you?"
"Am I that obvious?"
The man chuckled. "A little bit," he said, offering Obito his notebook. "She's in the girls' dormitory on the far side of campus."
"She is? I thought…" The young man looked pensive. "So, she doesn't view-in from home?"
"That's not my story to tell."
Obito considered his notes before nodding. "Alright, I'll take this to her," he said, taking off his bag to put the large notebook inside. "Still, um, sir? I'm heading towards the girls' dorms."
"... Ah, right, well…" Raiku looked sheepish. "G-Good luck?"
Obito's eyes went flat.
Walking around the campus wasn't something he was unfamiliar with but Obito didn't take this path ever. He lived in the boys' dorm behind the school, for his time here, and even have anything in this direction that was to his interest.
So, when he arrived, he had to ignore the coming and going girls of their high school who blushed or eyed him suspiciously.
'Just go in & get out,' Obito thought as he continued walking in before he took notice of the girls around him. 'Goodness, quirks are truly so diverse,' he thought as he passed a girl with deer horns and clawed hands. 'I think she was a kirin,' what a world.
Going inside, Obito felt the stares intensify as he walked up to the lobby's receptionist area. "Good afternoon, ma'am," he greeted the old woman sitting there.
"Hmmm?" She eyed him with a raised brow. "I wasn't aware you were a boy here."
"Your memory is rather incredible. No, I just transferred in."
"During August? B-Boy, the school year ends in five months!"
Obito shrugged. "I'm not worried, trust me. I just need to get the room number of a classmate," he told her. "Ippan Josei," he whispered.
The woman really eyed him up for a moment before humming and pulling up a book.
"You know what her quirk is?"
"No, actually, Raiku-sensei & she just dropped enough clues that I could piece it together."
The old receptionist looked him in the eyes.
"I have to assume, most likely, she has a mutant-type quirk. Is that right?" Obito asked quietly.
"... Yee, she does," the old lady sighed as he frowned deeply. "I can see it in yer eyes, ya don't care, do ya?"
"Why would I? It's such a ridiculous sentiment to me, especially so when we have hooved, clawed, winged, and more-types of people all around us. Hell, I knew a dragon girl at one point, I know," Obito said, surprising the woman.
"Haa, Ippan-chan is… She's part-fox," the woman told him.
Obito waited.
He waited, and waited, and waited until his jaw dropped as the woman shook her head at him.
"Is THAT REALLY IT?" He asked in disbelief.
She looked more surprise by this. "You're not bothered?" She asked.
"She's just part-fox? Or do you mean she's a bipedal fox woman?"
"The latter but she's far more human-shaped."
Obito's eyebrow twitched as the old soul chuckled. "I'm officially not going to enjoy most of this school year, am I?" He asked hotly. "That's so stupid, my God, the people here must be sheltered."
"Ah see it, too, she's not even that weird looking. Just a bit tall," the woman said sheepishly. "She ain't got a tail."
"She doesn't?"
"Nope."
"Huh…" Obito tried to conjure that image before shrugging. "Room number, please?"
~NRK~
Ippan hurried about, cleaning up what she could.
Kitchen? Clean.
Living room? Clean.
B-Bathroom? Still full of her fur, hair produc-WAS THAT HER UNDERWEAR?!
She blushed before speeding-up, trying to put everything where it was supposed to go.
"S-Sensei said he'd be here soon," she was glad for her teachers who could accommodate her 'scenario'.
Ippan was sure of one thing: Life would be a living hell without those kind, normal-looking. people.
Which was why she had to make another good impression! From Raiku-sensei's words, 'Obito Uchiha' was as normal-looking as they got.
'But his eyes,' there was honestly nothing normal about them, to her.
So focused, so intelligent, so seasoned.
That had been the word: 'Seasoned'. His eyes weren't like the girls in her dorm, the boys on the street, not even the teachers nor the occasional hero she might have run into when she was going to her most important place.
'He's not like us,' the students, the teachers, none of them.
She looked up at her mirror before yelping and squeaking herself out of her bathroom.
Ippan tore about her room with urgency before tripping at a knock on her door.
SQUEAK!
Obito jumped at the shrill squeak before a tumble came from within, getting a soft frown out of the former shinobi.
"Ippan… San?" He called out before hearing a whine. "... Is everything alright?"
"I-I-I'm fine," she whined, the sound akin to that of a canine's.
Obito raised a brow at the sound of more yelps, squeaks, and whines before he felt the thumps against the floor.
'I truly wonder,' he thought as the door unlocked itself and slowly opened to reveal its owner. 'What could possibl-'
His eyes went up before they slammed shut.
At those tank top half-worn-over black-lace-bra-covered breasts that just appeared before his face.
The womanly student before him squeaked as she shut the door with a vermillion face.
'What the hell happened in there that she had it half-on?' Ohhh, dammit.
He was not trying to figure out he had a 'kink' in this life.
Two minutes of shuffling later, the door creaked open to release a ruby-red snout with trembling eyes.
"I-I-I'm sorry," she squeaked embarrassedly.
Obito's eyes slowly opened to peek before he looked off to the side while rubbing the back of his head. "Yes, well… Good afternoon, Ippan-san," he said slowly as their eyes locked again once she came out of her dorm some more with a shy demeanor. 'She's rather demure… And this is what people are complaining about?' Obito felt his earlier annoyance triple.
Because, before him stood a fox-woman teen. A kitsune-onna if he was less tactful.
She was also incredibly tall, clearly validating the eight-foot-tall doorway with her seven-foot-tall frame if he was guessing that right.
She had teal fur, a white underbelly from the mouth down past her rather LARGE chest, large bright blue eyes with large slitted white pupils, large upper & lower eyelashes, and shoulder-length light-blonde hair that held a trio of fringes at the center of her hairline that fell between her ears and hung in the air by her forehead.
Wearing a flusteredly-assembled black tank top over her torso, her lower half was covered by gray sweatpants that ended above some curious feet. They were like a mix between a woman's and a fox's with them being more human in appearanc-
Was it weird he was rather fixated on a pair of her attributes?
Her eyes were so… It was odd.
They were honestly beautiful. As in, incredibly so that even someone like him was caught off-guard by this.
"... Ah, sorry," Obito ran his hand through his hair, looking at his bag before taking it off and pulling out his notebook. "Apologies, here were the notes I'd made before coming here. I don't need them anymore so you'll likely have an easier time," he told her, surprising his classmate as one of her white-furred clawed hands gently took the offer notebook.
Ippan stared at the thick notebook before slowly opening it up to the first couple of pages. "... Y-You really didn't need to come to high school, did you?" She asked in awe at the well-written, formatted, and overall clean work. "T-This is amazing, Obito-kun! Calculus was never my… Um, strongest subject… It's not even my neutral subject," Ippan trailed off, flustered.
"Other classes? Which one?"
She blushed some more, looking down at the notebook. "M-Maybe, um, English? I don't understand why they have so many meanings for the same-way-written words."
"Oh, so like the words 'Your' and 'want'?" Obito asked, surprising her.
"You've got it down so easily!"
"No, not necessarily. I just had too much time on my hands and enough people I didn't want to disappoint. Not like I didn't kind of fail with that last one since I'm here," Obito shook his head. "Sometimes, I'm really not sure what kind of man I am to cause my grandfather so much trouble," he smiled deprecatingly.
"I-I know we just met," Ippan began, surprising him. "But I think you're a good person!" She blushed as he blinked before rubbing the back of his head. "I-I know that things are complicated. Way too much," the fox muttered as Obito frowned softly. "So, I have to guess doing the right thing isn't always easy or simple, there are people who wouldn't even do that for their own kid-" She covered her mouth, eyes wide.
Obito's eyes narrowed at that comment before he closed them. "No, never mind, that's your business and not mine," he told her reassuringly as her ears flopped down a bit. "... Despite this coming from me, Ippan-san, I think you are someone who deserves to be cared for," Obito offered with an unsure look to the side.
Big blue eyes snapped to him even as their owner began to turn red.
"What I'm trying to say is, you deserve better… That," he finished lamely.
Ippan blinked at him before she smiled and then giggled.
Looking at the tall teen as she grinned, Obito slowly felt something in himself twinge.
'Ohhhhh no, STOP,' he told himself in disbelief. 'In what world do I just suddenly have a thing for foxes?!' Obito couldn't.
No, he was sure this was just some random flustered feeling, it's not like he got such heartfelt gestures often by women, anyway.
Especially not ones with big… beautiful… eyes…
Fuck.
"Y-Yes, well, ahem," he cleared his throat before throwing his bag over his shoulder and turning to leave. "See you at school in the morning."
"Alright, Obito-kun," Ippan smiled, causing another 'twinge' to chill his entire being. "Oh, right, do you also live on campus, Obito-kun?"
"... Yesss," Obito said slowly before shaking his head. 'Calm the hell down, you're a man. You can handle things like feelings,' he told himself even as his soul cringed at his words. "What I mean is, yes, I do live on campus."
"Then, I guess we'll see each other around… T-That is, maybe, um! I don't leave my dorm that often b-but sometimes, you know?"
"Yes, well, sure. I'm still kind of new to this school, Ippan-san. I'll probably need to get used to it first-"
"Then let me help you!" The fox teen said with a hopeful look in her eyes. "I-I don't know that many people here s-so we can do things without being bothered. I-If that's fine?"
Seeing her mix of concern & hope, Obito thought he'd be able to control himself.
He'd kick himself in the ass later.
"Sure, thanks for your help."
"No problem!"
~NRK~
When Obito returned to his dorm room, one that he had just for himself just like he'd learned Ippan had moments before he left, his cheek twitched.
"It's fine, there's nothing odd here. She just seems like a kind sort, nothing crazy," Obito muttered as he closed his door and hooked his bag on one of the three hooks on its back. "... Goddammit, I'm fine-"
His phone rang, startling him out of his thoughts.
"Wait, that ringtone is…" He took it out of his pocket before answering. "Ojii-chan?"
-Obito-kun, how's school?- Came a kind voice over the line.
"It's fine," Obito smiled as he walked towards the left side of the large living room-kitchen set-up he had, his room through a door to his right as he sat down on a tatami mat rug with a small table in front of him. "I'm as far past my studies as I expected so it's more for just observing the other people my age."
-You should honestly make some friends, young man, it's as you said: You're not worried about any of the work-
"I'm not sure if that'll work, ojii-chan, I'm not like them," the meaning was two-fold.
One, he was a former monster, someone who'd been ridiculed relentlessly as a child to the point of being ostracized by his own blood, and then a killer for demented dreams. Two, Obito was seriously NOT like them even ignoring that.
These kids hadn't faced any tragedy, they'd not gone through anything close to what he had.
Which of them even could even underst-
His eyes widened as he remembered everything he'd learned about Ippan Josei from the past eight hours alone.
-... Boya?-
He jumped a bit before his eyebrows twitched at his knees knocking into his table, the sound of a crack getting a groan out of him.
"It's nothing, sir, I might have just put a crack in my table by accident," Obito cursed, checking it over with a grunt. "Dammit, it's not noticeable but it's there. I really should mind my strength."
-How are those limiters Kai made for you? You were a ridiculously effective young man even before them but nowadays, you're a monster even amongst our kind- The young man's grandfather laughed.
Obito smiled as he rubbed those heavy-black straps on his arms, similar ones sitting on all his joints, his thighs, torso, and his biceps, all out of view.
"It's nothing compared to the greatest hero of our lifetime, All Might, but if I'd be bold? I think, by the time I'm in my prime, with all my knowledge? I could probably handle most who aren't in the Top 20."
-You're honestly something else, Obi-boya, not just any quirkless person could make such a claim AND have me believe them… Which might be a good enough reason for me to give you something- The man over the line said, confusing him.
"Wait, what? What are you talking about?"
-... There's something that's yours, something that you've been gifted since your birth that I never gave you. Not until I was sure-
Obito's eyes widened. "... I wasn't just left on your doorstep, was I?" He asked softly.
-No, I took you in to protect you as both a man and a comrade-
"... When?"
-Come by in a week, alright? I want you to acclimate. You should enjoy your 'free' youth, boya, you're good-looking, strong, and smart, I'm honestly going to be surprised if you don't have a girlfriend by the end of the school year- The man over line laughed. -Haha! Women nowadays aren't as different as you'd think, they like a man who's all of those things-
Obito's cheeks reddened even as his mind kept Ippan's smiling expression within it.
'Dammit, grandfather,' Obito grumbled. "I'm honestly not worried about those kinds of things… B-Besides, if I were a more ridiculous young man," he released a groan. "... I have peculiarities? For such a woman, I suppose, even if that also includes me in it"
-They're called preferences, Obito, I don't think you're unaware but just to be sure-
"Thanks, gramps, I… I get it."
-It sounds like you've actually been thinking about it, boyo. What happened?-
"Nothing like that, it's nothing of the sort… I just learned one of my classmates is a mutant-type and she's used to it."
There was shuffling over the phone. -Is that so? I mean, Obito, this must be a sore spot for you-
"It's not, I promise. I don't regret what I did that day, very much the opposite, I'm just learning she's at least lived mostly unbothered but ostracized."
-It seems like you're rather curious about her- The man said.
"Not that curious, she's just been through some things," Obito said with a grunt. "Besides, I somehow doubt she'd like someone who's similar to the people who've neglected her."
-Well, that's life but you never know… So, let's talk about what you do- The man sounded smug as Obito cursed. -You're not THAT slick, boy, this old man can still run a few laps on ya in experience. NOW, what exactly do you look for in a WOMAN?-
The former shinobi considered ending the call before sighing. "I… I've never given it too much thought."
-I'm not surprised, you're usually so focused on our other 'work' and 'business'. You don't think like a normal youngin' as ya said, still, I'm sure it's come up at least a few times-
"Mostly because of you."
-That's mah job-
Obito rolled his eyes before rubbing the bridge of his nose. "... Well… I don't care if she has a quirk or not?" He started.
-That's not a bad place to start, you know. There are some people who'd prefer people with certain quirks, it's just how life's become. Still, not one?- His grandfather asked.
"No? Like I said, I've never done this before in-depth. Just things in passing… Okay, so, maybe someone who can do physical activities? I'm not looking for a training partner, that's FAR too much to ask of anyone I'm sure, but just someone who's capable of growing in such a manner," Obito said. "I… I do have a protective streak in me… A far too dangerous one as we know."
-Debatable-
"I'm not so sure," Obito said humorlessly. "I want them to be able to get away on their own because I don't know what I'd do if something happened to them and I wasn't there," he frowned.
-You're a smart one, you'll find a way to handle things sensibly- His grandfather said kindly. -Come on, anything else? Build? Are you for dainty women? Motherly figures? Or ladies with powerful builds?-
Obito's cheeks colored a good amount despite his previous thoughts. "... I don't want someone dainty, at least," his head hit the table as his grandfather laughed. "Anything after that would be me just wanting someone who's healthy, that's it."
-That can have a lot of meanings. Full-figured women, some with a bit more meat than the average, a doctor, anything-
"Let's keep it vague," he said flatly.
-Alright, I'll soon be out of your hair but after two more questions- The man on the line said. -I know you'd never but what of the potential burdens they'll carry? We all have burdens, Obito, but some women can be left with scars us men can't imagine-
Obito's eyes closed. "... I wouldn't care," he whispered, eyes cracking open to look at the table. "I wouldn't ignore someone's problems, their own mistakes, scars, and misery. If it's someone I found 'potential' in, I'd want to help them, I think."
-A man's duty is to protect in more ways than one-
"The final question?"
-What of their mind?-
Obito sat in silence for a time, mind rumbling with memories of one person.
One who he'd almost destroyed everything for. That young woman who'd still watched over him despite all of his mistakes, all of his failures, all of his madness.
Rin Nohara. The one person who gave him something he'd desired throughout his childhood.
"I'd like someone to care about me, I… I know that sounds selfish, I know that can be seen badly, but I just want someone who cares."
His grandfather hummed softly.
"I just want someone who's kind."
~NRK~
Ippan hurried out of the dorms.
Wearing a pair of black jeggings, a thin long-sleeved white top, running shoes, and a large bag on her back, she hurried out of the school proper with a bit of pep in her step.
She crossed that 100-yard-long bit of school property in five seconds, minding her shoes.
'I need to be careful,' this body of hers was truly a curse at times.
It could go too hard if she wasn't careful, possibly one of the few upsides was that she was so good at exercising even if most of it wasn't that hard for her.
Hurrying down a street, she pulled a trio of 100-yen coins out of pocket and smiled as she dropped it inside of a charity box.
'That should be the last of it,' she'd have to save up for next month, too.
She got on a bus and took it to the downtown areas of Osaka.
Ippan had quickly found herself at the back, minding all the shorter people around. 'I hope I don't grow more than this,' she was already 18, too.
Maybe, she was one of those ones who'd hit their full maturity?
She blushed as she scrunched in, minding her chest's slightly tight clench.
'I-I'm going to need another one,' she was mortified by this body of hers.
Who's grand idea was it to 'gift' her a body like this that did nothing but cause problems most of the time? Ippan was sure that this had to be some sick joke, especially with how her life had gone.
Disowned by her parents, left in an orphanage, discriminated against because of her quirk, and then the neglect were taking their toll.
'But I met another nice person today,' she thought, finding her smile as she wrapped her arms around her knees. 'Obito-kun also has absolutely no problem with me,' it felt grand.
That this person who'd just arrived, someone who looked so normal, would be unbothered by what was essentially his complete opposite.
A-And it wasn't even like he was that unnoticeable! Ippan would never say it, never act on it, b-but he was also handsome.
He was tall for his age, he had mostly-mature features, an incredibly powerful presence & stature.
And powerful eyes, oh so intense eyes that somehow made her feel like he was more of a threat than most anyone else in the school.
'They're so focused, he always looks like he's thinking,' Ippan thought with a look of awe on her face.
Then, she turned crimson red once she remembered her 'first impression'.
She held her face as it glowed. 'THAT WAS SUCH A BAD WAY TO START!' And he'd gotten a full-on view! That always thinking face caught by her chest! 'That wasn't good!' Ippan wanted to scream but barely held it in.
Didn't stop her from remembering that moment where he seemed so embarrassed and AWARE of her 'womanliness'.
By the end of her ride, she whined once she slipped out of the bus.
'F-Focus on the important things,' she told herself, looking up from the bus stop. "It's time for sessions," Ippan told herself as she walked towards 'her school'.
Her dream, ideal.
The Creatoria Idol School, the home of the famous all-mutant idol group.
If 'nice people' were one concept that kept her happy, another one would be this idol company.
'I did my exercises, know my routine,' she took a deep breath as she entered. 'And I'm good at being flexible,' another one of the few 'pros' of her quirk. 'This is how I can show I'm wanted,' to become world-known.
To become someone that society approved of!
"Hmm? Ah, Ippan-chan!" Came a call from the receptionist in the lobby, families with their own children, singular applicants, and older folks with their mature-aged daughters sitting in the large waiting area. "Goodness, I should expect it but you're always so early. And, for once, that might be your 'in'."
"Wait, what?" Ippan blinked as she reached her. "Kibo-san? What are you talking about?"
"One of Them is coming here in a week," Kibo told her excitedly, the fox's jaw dropping. "And between you and me? Whenever one of those five come here-Yes, the actual MAIN IDOLS," Ippan covered her mouth in shock and yet excitement. "This isn't a back-up dancer, this is one of them, I received her this morning on the roof. Her bodyguard's pretty terrifying," Kibo said nervously. "They said they'd returned by Saturday."
"But this is good! They only come when they're looking at the talent!" Ippan whispered quickly, eyes snapping to one of the doors. "W-Wait, what does that have to do with me being early?"
"You're the first one to get a chance to sign-up. There's a paper that she gave me, everyone who's going to meet her must sign it but there's a catch," the receptionist whispered as she pulled out the parchment.
Ippan stared at it, only seeing lines.
"I think the secret is that it's a signature test. They want your pizzazz."
"Pizzazz?" The fox teen considered it as she gently held the paper. "I-I'm suddenly nervous!" She squeaked.
Kibo chuckled. "Well, it's like that. Still, you're getting the first line."
Ippan looked down at it before swallowing, getting out a pen from her pocket. "A-Alright," she whispered.
"Alright, too anxious, you can do this in privacy."
Ippan's shoulders slumped in relief before hurrying past the counter towards one of two double-doors.
Going down hallways, some of which had long horizontal glass windows to show the practicing women or girls within even in their scarce numbers, she reached a large break room and walked in.
She considered the light switch before leaving it 'OFF' and going to sit in one of the large bean bag chairs.
Ippan smiled in the sanctity of silence, the darkness, and her own thoughts.
Yet, it all did little to make her pen move on the paper. She'd even gotten her favorite blue pen from the nightstand beside her.
She pressed her pen to the paper before stopping and taking it off.
"Oh, d-damn," she bit her lip as she tried to just sign her name. "Should I add a couple stars? Um, bubbles? B-But I'm no good at bubble-script."
She mulled it over for however long she could before just getting it over with.
Ippan was fine with her handwriting, it had always been good from some of her kind teachers in the past's words, but as she stared at that beautifully-written version of her name… The fox grew self-conscious.
'What can I add?!'
She pulled out her phone.
It took her half an hour to find a style she could emulate.
And that amount of time for the lights to come on.
"Ah!" She yelped, jumping as several members of her squad slammed into the room. "W-Wait, girls-!"
"GIVE IT HERE!"
She squeaked.
~NRK~
Three hours later, Ippan was still 'scarred' by her 'failure'.
Seated within a group of 20 girls and women, from ages as young as 6 to ages as mature as 24, she stood out at the back with her height.
Their instructor and producer stood before the tired women.
"So, before we close up, I'd like to re-address our soon-to-stay guest," the man said, his forest-green suit covered in gold jewelry, silver accents, and more.
Having tan freckled skin, rectangular glasses, and short neatly-combed brown hair, his black eyes combed over the group before landing on Ippan.
'I swear, there's GOTTA be something to make use of her to her full potential!' He had money on this group! "One of our Creatoria Priestesses, Komori Hime, has arrived! Habami Touko will be coming by Saturday afternoon so you all need to be aware!"
They all chatted excitedly about it, Ippan smiling as a young woman at her side squealed.
"I-I finally get to meet one of them!" The other idol trainee beamed. "Ippan-chan, this is gonna be AMAZING!"
She was a moderately-tall woman, a year older than Ippan was so around '19', with white slightly-clammy skin, black eyes, slightly big lips, and chin-length tentacles for hair with suction cups all over that curled up at the ends around her noggin in their uniform.
That being traditional miko-wear, red for the bottoms, white for the tops, and black sashes surrounding their waists with the Creatoria emblem on the back.
"I know, Hachika-chan. I'm excited, too!" Ippan beamed for the giggling woman.
"I bet you'll get something, you've got the moves down pat."
"I-I hope so! I'm trying so hard to reach the standard. I can't be as 'delicate' as the other members but I wanna make up for it with effort."
"Ya mean 'dainty'?" Hachika asked with a smile as Ippan rubbed the back of her head. "Oh, come on, it's not like we're all lookers," her smile grew self-deprecating as she tapped her lips. "These little ladies attract many a man but then they never stay. Honestly? I am flattered that they try, at least, but it's like my skin just can't handle it," she wore a somber grin. "We're all trying our best."
"I'm sure you can find someone, Hachi-chan," Ippan said gently.
"Maybe, I mean, there's so many quirks around that there's bound to be a guy who's capable of not making my skin literally feel overly dry. I'm just hopin' I get him before I'm 35 because, at that point, I better start getting my cats."
Despite the clearly worrisome words, the fox giggled with the octopus.
"Alright, have you all signed the paper?" The producer asked, getting a collective 'YES' in response. "Then you're dismissed! We're working every day this week, be prepared!"
~NRK~
Returning to school, Ippan was refreshed from her shower at her favorite place and back in her clean clothes. Reaching the school yard, she'd been prepared for a quiet walk.
Instead, she found a curious sight there on the grass a good bit away.
Her eyes dilated in the moonlight before she tilted her head.
"Obito-kun?" She whispered, stopping to stare at that figure as they flipped atop school statues, rails, platforms, and more, his body conforming in ways that left her a bit surprised.
And then there was the speed, Ippan's head was on a swivel as she kept tracking him before growing a bit dizzy by the end of a minute's time.
"O-Oh," Ippan stopped before just staring at the scene in front of her yet that somehow made it so much worse. 'It's like I can barely see him,' the fox was very aware of her odd yet enhanced senses.
Obito was evading her near-night vision-level eyesight and moving like an acrobat and parkour artist with ease.
"I wonder what his quirk is. I don't think Raiku-sensei told me."
Still, he was such an amazing sight as he performed high-flying jumps and flips that allowed him to get far enough that the moon would play over his form.
Ippan was entranced.
~NRK~
The following evening after classes were done, Obito nodded to Ippan's camera in surprise.
"Right, well, are you sure you want to?" He asked politely as he packed up. "I'm not against this but are you fine with it?" Obito reiterated.
[I'm fine with it.] Ippan said. [Um, where should we meet up?]
"I'll just come by the girls' dorms again, nothing complicated."
~NRK~
Ippan blushed at the insinuation.
"A-Alright," she stuttered, hurrying out of her bed to quickly go to her dorm's bathroom. "Give me thirty minutes!"
[Very well.]
~NRK~
Thirty minutes later, Obito waited in the lobby area of the girls' dorm area after having the receptionist inform Ippan of his arrival.
Wearing a pair of black slip-on shoes, black socks, a pair of baggy black three-quarter pants, a fitting dark blue t-shirt, and some gloves, Obito leaned on his knees as he waited and read a book as his limiters visibly sat on his body.
A book on quirks' curiosities his choice for however long it'd take Ippan to come down.
"Hmm," he held his book & flipped the pages with one hand. 'Animal quirks give them surprising senses,' this book was interesting.
Reading into it about the Quirk Singularity Theory, there was a lot of conjecture yet proof that he found intriguing.
He read a fourth of it in the time it took Ippan to come down, the shadow that was thrown over him causing him to close his book.
"H-Hey, Obito-kun," she said with a shy tone.
Obito stood before looking at her, putting his book into his back pocket. "Good afternoon," he said before noticing her outfit. 'Simple but effective…' his eyebrow trembled.
Wearing a pair of white sandals, black cargo shorts that seemed more like knee-length spats on her body, a white shirt, and a navel-length blue vest, she looked embarrassed yet excited.
The normal-looking teen's body quaked for a moment at the sight.
"H-Hi!"
"... Let's just go and… I don't know where to start here."
Ippan smiled sheepishly. "Um, yeah, just saying 'show you around' m-might be a bit vague so maybe… Maybe we can just start at the front of the school?" She asked.
He shrugged before gesturing to the door.
As they walked out, the eyes of their fellow students following them didn't do them many favors.
"Mind your damn business," Obito said outright with a glare that caused the girls around them to flinch. "Maybe, it'd be a good idea for all of your sakes," he declared with an intensity brewing beneath the surface. "Come on," the quirkless young man said without a care as he walked ahead.
"?!" She jumped before quickly walking in step with him, only focusing on the door.
When they left, Obito stuffed his hands into his pockets.
"I'm sorry for whatever comes of this," he told her, surprising the foxy student who looked unsure. "There's no doubt I might have just caused you some problems."
"I-It's like I said, in the beginning," she whispered as they kept going. "Doing the 'right' thing is so complicated, sometimes."
"I can only imagine complicated good deeds, sadly. My life's been full of them."
"Yeah, you seem like the type, Obito-kun."
He shrugged.
~NRK~
They'd started at the school gate as Ippan had suggested before walking around the school itself for a start, Ippan pointing out a few things here or there.
"There's a good supermarket in the school b-but the cheaper stuff's in a food store a mile away," she told him. "I don't mind the walk but I don't try to make it often."
"I can imagine that your situation leaves you uncomfortable?" Obito asked neutrally. "No offense meant."
"I know, Obito-kun, you've been nothing but patient & accommodating to me."
"Accommodating? Despite our literally previous day meeting, Ippan-san, I meant my words. You deserve to be treated better, to be treated like another person."
Her cheeks colored a powerful red yet Ippan was beaming like a million lights.
Obito's cheeks reddened as he ran his hand through his hair flusteredly.
Those rare students around gawked at the two.
~NRK~
"This is the school's cafeteria, I don't think you have a meal plan, do you?" Ippan asked him.
"No, I cook my own meals. I don't really like eating other people's food if it's not to my standard. Besides, I need to make sure my meals handle all my nutritional needs. My body must always be in perfect condition," Obito explained, surprising her even as her eyes went to his arms.
"What do you train for, Obito-kun?"
"To protect those close to me. To ensure I'm not weak enough to let any 'mistakes' take place."
They locked gazes and Ippan was once more reminded of that 'strength' within his eyes.
"I know what it's like to be weak and not be able to do anything. I know what it's like to not keep up, I don't need something like that to happen again," Obito said succinctly.
"... You've lived a hard life, huh, Obito-kun?" Ippan asked him softly, the sheer amount of empathy Obito was feeling had him crossing his arms, head turning away with red skin. "I guess, even for normal people, you've got your own struggles."
Obito released a small shuddering breath. 'Oh God,' not good. "I won't patronize you by saying you're 'normal' but you're just like others of society, you are just another person."
"I'm glad you can think of someone like me as just another person," she whispered, lifting her claws. "... I don't know if I can even say that to myself," Ippan muttered.
Their eyes locked again before Obito wore a soft frown. "I'm sorry, I'm not sure what to tell you to help. I think that you know people like me would be a good place to start."
Ippan's smile wasn't as bright but it was still there.
"Come on, where's the gym?"
~NRK~
Obito curled that dumbbell with a look of focus, the limiters on his left arm unclasped on the ground.
Ippan stared at that and his bulging bicep with each curl of that 170-pound weight.
"Alright, that's good," Obito smirked as he put it down and flexed his hand. "And these can go up to 400 pounds? I'll definitely be coming here often," he chuckled.
Ippan was snapped out of her reverie. "Y-You're super-strong!" She squeaked as Obito wore an amused expression. "?!" She blushed as he chuckled some more.
"It's just training, Ippan-san, I'm not exactly naturally that strong but people have been slowly raising the 'ceiling' on our regular bodies and their physical skills. Hell, it's shown often enough that there are heroes without bodily enhancement that could take a lot of damage, why would a civilian's body be any different?"
"I-I mean," she fiddled with her claws, an act that settled in Obito's mind as 'cute'. "... I guess that makes sense," Ippan said with a pout as he smiled again.
"Come on, let me at least make you some food as my 'thanks' for today," Obito told her with a nod as she blushed before her stomach growled.
Ippan glowed like a damn star.
~NRK~
And then she gasped at the food.
Rice, a gumbo she couldn't get enough of, and a wondrous cornbread had been his 'thanks' and the tall young woman couldn't help but love all of it.
Sitting at Obito's dinner table, the young man chuckled at her delight.
"That was amazing, Obito-kun!" Ippan beamed as he smiled.
"I'm glad, there are few things I'm more proud of besides my cooking," Obito said in amusement. "Do you usually eat at home, Ippan-san?"
"Oh, yes, I-I'm also a bit of a chef. When I can go out and buy groceries, I can do a lot in my dorm."
He considered her words. "I'm guessing you don't go out often," Obito assumed.
"No, not really but I have some things I can go out for," Ippan smiled, surprising him. "I…" She burned a bit, looking bashful.
Obito was more taken aback by his mind, easily calling such an expression demure & feminine in high degrees!
"... Y-You won't tell anyone, right?"
"I'd be an idiot and fool to do so for anything that's yours. That said, is this a difficult situation?" He asked in concern.
Ippan colored some more before shaking her head. "... I-I'm currently going to a mutant quirk idol school," she steamed as she looked down at the table.
Obito blinked thrice. "I don't follow?" He said unsurely. "Um, idols… Do you wish to be one, Ippan-san?" The former shinobi asked.
The fox's stammers and taut body language were big indicators to the positive.
"Okay, it's none of my business, you know that," he told her reassuringly as Ippan took several deep breaths before slowly nodding. "Still, I'm surprised or, really, I always thought you'd make the most use of your enhanced stature."
She looked at him in surprise before turning red all over again. 'H-He's been thinking about my body?!' Her perverse mind yelled before she slammed it down. "I-I don't… Obito-kun, I'm not like a normal woman."
"Yes, we'd figured that out by now."
"Anything that makes me feel more normal, more wanted, more acceptable," she fidgeted as he frowned softly. "T-That's why I'm doing it. The Creatoria Priestess Idol Group are one of the top TEN in the entire world. They've been one of the biggest pushes towards mutant quirk acceptance, don't you understand how big that is?"
"I do, truly, I just didn't know," Obito said. "I'm sorry if I offended you," he bowed at the table as she shook her head rapidly, hair whipping back and forth.
"No! No, you're not wrong for not knowing! I'm glad you care enough about my feelings but you not knowing isn't the same thing as knowing and speaking against it."
"I see," despite his sense of tact, Obito's curiosity was piqued. "... A-Apologies, I just," he ran his hand down his face as she tilted her head.
"Obito-kun?"
"I'm just wondering what… Aspects you've mastered for that, erm, occupation?"
They sat there in silence, eyes locked, before Ippan giggled with vermillion cheeks.
Obito released a groan.
"Oh!" Ippan looked more embarrassed. "U-Um, w-well," she messed with her claws. "... Dancing!" She squeaked.
His mind formed the imagery without his input, the very 'view' of Ippan's rather powerful form dancing eliciting a surprised head tilt.
"Wait, you said they're a priestess idol group, yes?" He asked.
She nodded, looking surprised by his curiosity and yet becoming more embarrassed as time went on. "I-It's what you think, we have dances that incorporate miko forms, some pop moves, a-and more," Ippan said.
"... It'd be rude of me."
"N-No! No, it's fine! I don't really… I-I've never performed for more than my group before!"
They both looked red in the face before Ippan got up with a fidget while Obito considered just stopping her altogether.
"I-I can do it in the living room," she shuffled.
Obito got up.
In seconds, he moved the couch and table to give her space.
Ippan actually looked surprised. "Obito-kun, you don't have a lot in here," she noted.
"I only need so much, besides," Obito gestured to the bookshelf on the wall, his TV, and his computer. "This is fine. Now… Are you sure this is fine?"
She considered him for a moment before smiling.
"Yes, um, let me get into the mindset."
"Go right ahead," Obito took a seat on his pushed-away couch, eyes closed. "Let me know when you're ready."
Ippan's expression softened at Obito's patience before standing in the middle of the room and centering herself.
"Remember your routine, make the image," Ippan thought out loud without meaning to, eyes closed and hand to her chest. "You're performing for your most wanted guest," her eyes opened.
In Obito's place, she found a special woman. One whose normalcy was offset by her beauty, lack of mutant features, and further.
Her eyes glinted with want and hope. "I'm ready," she said softly.
When Obito opened his eyes, he hadn't expected it.
That look in her eyes.
'Her most wanted guest?' The young man wondered.
Who was that? This person that Ippan had started dancing for?
Who was it that she sought to dance beautifully for, her long powerful limbs sweeping around her in a display of grace he hadn't expected?
Who was this person that Ippan cast glances at as she spun low, body language slightly submissive?
Who made her feel like she CRAVED their attention?
Obito blinked as she kept going, finding himself leaning forward in interest without much thought.
Those delicate spins, the raised arms, the fluid motions… The miko dances. That's what it was.
His knowledge of their culture, his previous views of these shows from his grandfather's accounts, Obito was left awed and amazed by the end of it all.
So, the former shinobi clapped. Obito clapped in complete & utter awe as Ippan blinked away her focus.
And all her confidence as she stood there, audience to Obito's heartfelt applause that sent her entire being into the 'red'.
Obito's mind found the sight unbearable beautiful while he chuckled in amusement.
"You've clearly studied, and gained great control of, your art. That was amazing, more so because I understand the culture and have seen previous displays of miko rituals," Obito smiled for the flustered fox. "And that's clearly defeated most of those displays save for a few and those were from high-class ones from notable temples."
Ippan just bowed at the waist.
An act that had his eyes snapping to her 'motherliness'. 'Oh fuck.'
"T-T-Thank you!" Ippan squeaked, coming back up.
His eyes followed before Obito's face gained a new red line across it.
"Y-Yes, well," he shook it away as best he could. "You deserve it, I'll say it as many times as I need to."
She looked bashful but smiled all the same.
Then, she looked at the time. "Ohh, I need to get back to my dorm," Ippan realized.
Obito, regardless of his embarrassment, got up. "Let me walk you back, it's the least I could do for a show like that," he said 'cryptically' even if he wished it wasn't.
"N-No, please, I can't take you out of your way!"
"Ippan, there are three things to be aware of," he smiled. "One, it'd only be right and it's not like I wish ill will on you. Two, I've been raised traditionally, a woman like you shouldn't just be walking out at night alone," Obito smirked as she blushed harshly one more time. "And, three, I don't need to focus in class."
He chuckled at the embarrassed fox's nods & fidgety hands.
"Come on."
They left his dorm and traveled down the elevator of the boys dorm.
"I… Thank you, even if nothing's ever happened," Ippan admitted. "I'm not a 'target' to most people, Obito-kun."
"And to those few?" Obito asked kindly.
"I'm fast enough," she muttered, looking down at her sandal-covered feet. "I-I'm not normal like most of them, my body's not… I've got unladylike physical abilities and that's stopped everything else."
Obito observed the downtrodden young woman. "... Ippan, do you truly hate your quirk?"
"Yes."
Her immediate answer had him staring for a good bit before he sighed once she looked guilty.
"I'm sorry that I might have brought up anything uncomfortable for you," Obito told her. "I just don't see it that way."
"You're not exactly as normal as I'd thought, either, Obito-kun," Ippan told him, getting an 'Eh?' for her troubles.
Despite herself, she giggled as Obito looked appalled.
"Y-You're not exactly like our classmates, that's the best way of saying it," she grinned.
Obito, struggling with this 'teasing' and his feelings, groaned as Ippan smiled.
They left the elevator a second later, walking past the receptionist.
"Sir, I'll be right back," Obito told the nodding middle-aged man at the counter.
"Take care, kids," the man said, leaning back with a newspaper in hand. "Don't make any nightly mistakes," he smirked behind the paper.
Ippan burned like a tomato while Obito coughed loudly.
"NOT HELPFUL!"
They ran out with his laughter behind them, the two hurrying out towards the halfway point before coming to a stop.
"God, that man," Obito sweatdropped as Ippan nodded. "He's such an old bastard, sometimes, I'm left wondering if he isn't in his 60s," he scoffed as she blinked before giggling. "Come on, we're halfway at least."
Continuing on with her fellow flustered classmate, Ippan folded her hands by her waist as they walked in the late Summer air.
"... We're graduating next year," Ippan said after some thought, looking at Obito. "Do you have plans for the future, Obito-kun?"
Obito nodded. "Yes, I'm working for my grandfather afterwards. I'll be working in the financial sector for a family friend of ours who he started a business with. I'm actually rather familiar with a few people like that," he admitted.
Ippan looked shocked for all of several seconds. "... R-Right! You came from…" She looked around. "Yuga. Y-You had to have had successful family…" Her expression dipped a bit.
"Wait, what? No, not necessarily," he said, surprising her as the fox's ears shot up. 'Wait, are her parents wealthy?' Obito certainly didn't like the picture forming here. "Ippan-san, you can still get into Yuga with good grades."
"O-Oh."
"It's nothing so worrisome, you didn't know. Besides, that's the usual misconception. The idea that people can get into Yuga is like people getting into America's 'Ivy League' colleges. Those of us who worked hard get overshadowed by the majority's situation."
"Still, I'm sorry," Ippan said deeply, surprising him before Obito's cheeks colored and he shook it away.
"Thank you, then. I'm sure of your disposition but I'm repeatedly reminded of how sensitive you are to others and their potential feelings," he said as she smiled sadly.
"I just don't want to offend anyone, no acceptable person does such a thing."
"I see," no 'acceptable person', huh?
Well, Obito could believe that.
Reaching the girls dorms front, they walked in where Ippan checked in with the receptionist,
"Alright," Ippan smiled.
"Goodness, Ippan-chan, you're really lucky," the old woman whispered as the fox burned bright. "A nice young man, who doesn't mind for a plus, walking you home must be a real quirky situation."
"Madam, shush!"
Obito raised a brow at the two before shrugging. "Ippan-san? I'll take my leave here," he told her as her head snapped up.
"A-Alright, Obito-kun, um… Have a nice night, please?" Ippan said unsurely.
Obito smirked, causing her to blush. "I'll try. See you at school in the morning," he chuckled.
Watching him go, the young man tossing one nod back at her, Ippan kept blushing as she mechanically turned towards the grinning receptionist.
"Yep, sounds right!"
The fox ran for her room.
~NRK~
The following evening, Ippan blinked at Obito's jogging form as she made to leave the school yard.
"Hmm?" He stopped his run in surprise, turning to face her. "Ippan-san?"
"Obito-kun," the fox smiled at him as he came over. "You're on a nightly run."
"Yes, I'm usually training for the next three hours," Obito said, getting a dropped jaw in response. "It's nothing so severe, I'm just thorough in training every part of my body."
Ippan's cheeks grew the slightest bit pink at the idea. "W-Well, sorry for interrupting you," she messed with her claws with a smile. "I'm on my way to Creatoria so…"
Obito nodded for a moment before shrugging. "If you want, I'll walk you there. I'm aware of the roads due to my bike but I've never walked the streets around the school yet," he told her.
"Wait, you can drive?"
"Yes. A… Well, I guess a friend convinced me to get a driver's license. I got my license last year and, rather embarrassingly," Obito looked sheepish. "My grandfather decided to help me buy a bike for my birthday this year. I've never let that thing fall into decay and make sure to use it often, I'll be using it Saturday for a talk he wants to have."
Ippan looked taken with his story. "Your life's so interesting," she complimented as they walked out of the school yard. "Obito-kun, I bet you have a lot of life experience."
"Unfortunately? Yes, I do."
"Unfortunately?"
Obito closed his eyes and smiled sadly. "There's a lot of life I'm not happy with dealing with. I have the scars to prove it."
Ippan's eyes widened. "Are you alright?" She whispered.
"I am, I swear it. I'm just not happy that I had to learn several things the hard way,"
Ippan looked down, hands clenching her jeggings' pockets. "I… I know what that's like," she told him.
"Fellows in misery, aye?"
She smiled humorlessly. "I guess so."
Their walk to that bus stop hadn't taken long but that's where another roadblock arose.
"Oohhh no," Ippan flinched as Obito frowned.
The sight of a bus far further down the street and surrounded by police tape being a reminder of the type of world they lived in when they found heroes on the scene with a tied-up man.
"N-No! This week is really important!" She squeaked nervously. 'I can't miss my chance!' Ippan paled-
"Come on, I'll take you," Obito told her, grasping her bicep and pulling the startled young woman back to the school. "We'll take my bike!"
"O-Obito-kun!? I-I'm too big for a bike like yours!" Ippan said, conflicted.
"I can tell it on your face, this is important, right?"
"..."
"Besides, you're underestimating my grandfather and comrade," Obito smirked as she blinked at him, confused, the two of them circling the school to the back. "My bike is, hilariously, meant to be for when I'm bigger," he said.
They reached the parking garage a block away from the school before Ippan stared at Obito's vehicle.
It was a big motorcycle, likely meant for someone who was easily two to three feet taller than Obito was with thick handles, a smooth-looking black frame with red accents, and a five-feet-long seat of velvety black material with an odd 'eye' decal on the side.
"Come on," Obito said as he got on it comfortably. "The Juubi will get you where you need to go comfortably. My comrade likes joy rides but recently got into a fight he shouldn't have and got his license revoked. We adjusted," he chuckled as he opened up a thick side compartment to pull out two helmets, one of them far larger than the other. "Here, let's go," he passed her the big one.
Ippan barely caught it, eyes frozen at the logo on the bike.
O-Dai Mitsubishi?!
"O-Obito-kun, w-who exactly is your grandfather?" She wheezed. "T-This is an O-Dai, one of the most powerful bikes in the world!"
"I told you, we know people in the financial sector," Obito explained simply. "I worked fields, desks, and retirement homes to save up for this and my grandfather funded half of it."
Ippan considered him before slowly putting on her helmet and getting on the bike behind him.
Obito's mind rebelled as she wrapped her arms around his abdomen… And then he felt the 'presence' from her chest.
'This is going to be troublesome,' Obito thought nervously before pushing the Engine Button.
Ippan jumped before her grasp on him tightened at the single sharp roar of the vehicle before it settled into a calm purr. "T-This is crazy," she said to him, snout protruding from the space in her helmet.
"Yep," Obito said as his legs pushed back on the vehicle. "Haven't done this with another person in a while," he said with a hum as his legs used more force.
"S-Sorry!"
"No, it's fine. Besides, you're not even the heaviest person I've had on this bike."
She leaned around to look at him in disbelief as Obito lifted his helmet's visor to smirk.
"Yep. Now, hold on, this might be a bit fast for you."
Ippan swallowed before readjusting behind him and holding him close, her grip on his body revealing the strength within them.
'He's so sturdy,' she blushed-
"Take off."
Ippan nearly shrieked as they tore out of the parking garage, the lights on Obito's bike leaving a trail behind them.
"Too fast!"
"I know, one moment!"
They slowed down as they went around the block.
"Where's the location?" Obito asked, tapping the side of his helmet. [It'd be better to know where I'm going.]
[W-What are you?!] Ippan asked in disbelief.
[A weird man. Now, location, please?]
~NRK~
Hachika arrived early like most of the other members of her idol trainees.
"Hmm, I beat her here today," the octopus head giggled a bit. "Well, I might have if she's not inside already."
"You're all here? Good," came their producer. "... No, wait, dammit. I'd forgotten about that stupid villain sighting," he groaned.
"What do you mean, Aki-san?" Hachika asked, concerned. "W-What happened to Ip-chan?"
"Nothing, well, I'd hope so. There was a villain attack that destroyed a couple buses. Things are just going to be a bit slow on that front," the man closed his flip phone. "God, it's like the world is against me-"
There was a screech of tires before a large motorcycle came to a clean stop by the group.
"... You can let go now, it wasn't that bad," Obito said as he leaned up off his bike, noticing the startled idol trainees. "And I believe that's your troupe."
"W-What?" Ippan squeaked, her tight hold lessening only a bit. "... Y-You've got too much excitement in your life," she said shakily.
"Sorry."
"Ippan…kun?" Aki asked slowly before marveling at that damn bike. "An O-DAI?! SIR! That bike is incredible," the blinged-out producer said with a gleam in his eye and a cupped chin. "I'm surprised."
Hachika and the other trainees were more startled by Ippan's acquaintance.
"I-I'm here! Sorry, a villain destroyed my bus," Ippan admitted bashfully. "But a friend of mine had a ride so I'm here!"
"Thank you, sir, and this shouldn't be for long but until her bus is running properly, I'll be her transport," the helmet-wearing male said as he cupped his chin. "Ippan-san, what exactly is the timing here?"
"Oh! Um, well, three hours?"
"Then I'll probably go find a nearby track," Obito pulled out his phone. "All things considered, I've been meaning to get a bit more familiar with the Juubi so I'll make the most of it… Oh," he rubbed the back of his head as Ippan blinked. "Number?"
The fox gasped before going back to him and exchanging contacts. "S-Sorry! I didn't even think about this," she blushed as he chuckled.
"It's fine, it's not like this would have been a life-ending problem. Alright, I'll get out of here and see you in three hours."
His bike roared before he shot off.
Ippan watched him go before turning to her gawking troupe. "... W-What?"
Aki's eyes gleamed with wonder at that bike.
~NRK~
Three hours seemed to fly on by but not without her fellow trainees being curious.
"When did you know an O-Dai-wielding biker?!" One of the others nearly shrieked in a stall. "Ippan!"
"H-He goes to my school," Ippan said flusteredly as she washed her hair. "Obito-kun… I think he comes from a maybe well-off family?" She wasn't sure she should be saying that.
Obito really deserved better than her being a gossip.
"T-Though, he said he had to work at, like, four different jobs to save up for it!"
"That man is not bothered, I can bet!" Another said with fire in her eyes. "And did you see those forearms?! That man has to lift!"
Ippan's mind was thrown back to yesterday where Obito had been curling and she burned.
"I knew it!"
Hachika laughed at her red-faced friend, nudging her knowingly. "Must have at least seen that guy bench, I bet she's seen him half-naked," she teased.
"WHAT'S IT LIKE!?"
Ippan just whined.
~NRK~
And burned under the jeers of her fellow trainees as she & Hachika got on Obito's bike with his permission.
Helmet back on once more, he nodded to Hachika. "You need one or…?" He asked.
"Nah, I'm good!" The octopus grinned excitedly. "Kick it!" She held onto Ippan.
And was rewarded with a roaring engine and high speeds.
~NRK~
Getting back to their school, they rolled into that parking garage one more time before Obito parked on the fifth floor.
"?" Ippan tilted her head.
"It's to keep things moving. You do not just leave a bike like this in one place for too long," Obito told her, removing his helmet to reveal his smooshed-down locks. "Honestly," he ruffled it and got a few of his spikes back, much to Ippan's amusement.
They departed and walked back to the school before performing the same song and dance from yesterday.
Ippan minded the smiling receptionist with a pout. "I-I'll see you tomorrow, Obito-kun. I hope this wasn't a drag on your time," she said with a bow.
Obito's eyes fought to remain 'platonic'. "... I promise, it's fine. It's not like I'm doing much outside of training when I'm on my own, this helps the time pass for Saturday," he told her. "Nothing lost, just some things gained."
Coming back up with a look of interest, Ippan smiled at him.
Obito truly feared his sudden kink.
~NRK~
Turns out, the bus schedule had changed harshly and, as such, they'd continued on this routine for the following days all the way up to Saturday.
Sometimes, Obito would offer Ippan some food afterwards, other times Ippan would do the same, and Hachika even tagged along as a 'third wheel' as she'd confusingly say.
Obito didn't understand while Ippan would forever squeak at the octopus's wording.
That said, things came with a BIG shift as of Saturday,
For the two, their lives became increasingly intertwined when Obito had to defend Ippan's health & 'honor'.
And he was sadly, unknowingly to him, too lovedumb to deny what would be a lie for only a time.
~Part 1: Kitsune and Pinwheel END~