Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
4
The Hawthorne Effect
Observation can provide valuable insight into a problem or a hypothesis. However; when done incorrectly, it can lead to invalid data. For example, the Hawthorne Effect. This refers to when the person who is being observed is aware they are being watched. This leads the person to change his or her behavior.
Iruka-Sensei never returned my notebook. That was one of the many thoughts cycling through my head as I tried to sleep the night prior. Laying beside Anzu on the futon we've shared since I was a toddler, I had many thoughts as I listened to her snoring. Theorizing about what horrors Iruka-Sensei would have in store for me moving forward. Envisioning Shino's face with a big question mark over it. Feeling guilt over the humiliation my notebook had caused Chouji. Plotting how I could use operant conditioning to make Naruto less… loud.
Needless, to say none of my thoughts led to any plans about how I should handle the next school day. So, I was flying by the seat of my pants when I entered the classroom and immediately confronted Iruka-Sensei. "I want my notebook back".
Iruka-Sensei looked up from his lessons plans. A quick glance told me that we'd be diving deeper into cryptology this morning. "Good morning, Rion", Iruka-Sensei greeted as if I hadn't just rudely demanded something from him.
"You still have my notebook", I reiterated with a one-track mind.
Sliding open the top draw of his desk and taking his sweet time about it, Iruka-Sensei pulled out a notebook. Not my notebook, but a notebook. My notebook was simple with a plain black cover and water damage. Anzu had purchased it at a discounted price from a vendor because someone had splashed water on it. The one Iruka-Sensei was holding was thicker and had a geographical design of multicolored triangles on the cover. It was the type of notebook one could find at a stationery store. "I got you a new one", he said, holding it out for me to take.
I didn't move. "Where's my notebook?" I asked; extra emphasis on the word 'my'.
Reaching back into the draw, Iruka-Sensei fished around for a few seconds before withdrawing a green tin pencil case with the hidden leaf symbol stamped on its lid. "I got you new pencils too".
I blinked; examining a new side of Iruka-Sensei that I didn't like. He was supposed to be as loud as Naruto when teaching his students a lesson. Up until now, that had been an accurate description of his teaching style; always shouting at Naruto for goofing off, or sticking his head out the window to tell off anyone caught ditching class. And yet, here he was trying to…. Well, I don't know what he's trying to do. Manipulation? Gain my goodwill and cooperation? Subtlety? "Sensei, my class notes were in that notebook".
Iruka-Sensei responded by gesturing for me to take the offered school supplies again. "I'm sure you can find a classmate willing to share their notes".
The pre-lesson hustle was happening behind me as Iruka-Sensei and I tried to stare each other down. You know, the last few minutes of free time to catch up with friends, scribble answers down from someone else's homework, or be standing instead of sitting. A minute into this, my eyes were starting to water as I refused to blink. I could not see a similar strain on Iruka-Sensei's face. Was not blinking a chunin skill? Another minute and my eyelids were trying to flicker shut on their own accord. Not a single muscle in Iruka's face had moved as he continued to hold out the school supplies for me to take.
"Hey, Iruka-Sensei", Kiba interrupted as he appeared out of nowhere. Jumping, I instinctually closed my eyes as my concentration broke and redirected to the disturbance. "Are we going to…um…" Kiba trailed off once he registered my unhappy stare boring into him. Without turning his head, Kiba's eyes shifted over to me; studying me wearily through his peripherals. "Go on the academy camping trip again this year?" He finished his question.
Just in an all-around bad mood, I let go of the tension I had been building up during the unplanned staring contest before Iruka-Sensei could answer Kiba. "Fine", I admitted defeat as I snatched the notebook and pencil case from Iruka-Sensei. Turning away from a confused Inuzuka and a teacher that was too amused for my likely, I stomped off to spend another miserable day stuck between two main characters I had spent a lot of time actively avoiding. Iruka-Sensei may have won this round, but…. I'd think of a counter eventually.
Iruka-Sensei had accused me of holding back. Not giving the ninja curriculum my all. Which I feel is a snub to how much effort entails purposely flying under the radar. I knew everyone's schedules and had an inkling of their personal habits just so I wouldn't have to needlessly cross paths with them. Maintaining a middle spot in the class rank required not only knowing the parameters of how I was allowed to succeed and fail, and having a sense of others' achievements and weaknesses. Not to mention how much of a struggle it had been when I had first joined class one and had to answer questions I knew incorrectly. In my past life, I had been an academic who found enjoyment in setting the grade curve on tests and proving to others that they didn't know as much as they think they did. It was like being humbled against my will.
I decided to show Iruka-Sensei what holding back truly looked like. Would this plan be successful in helping me become insignificant in Iruka-Sensei's mind once more? No. No, it wouldn't. Would this plan allow me to work out some of my frustrations and piss off Iruka-Sensei? I would hope so. So, I spent the morning being as obnoxious as I possibly could be. I didn't start any notes in the new notebook Iruka-Sensei had supplied. When called on to answer questions, I kept giving the same answer, four, over and over again. Except for the one time the answer was four. Then I recited pi until Iruka-Sensei told me to knock it off.
At first, no one seemed to overtly notice that I was being difficult, or that I was doing it on purpose. But around the second time I answered with the number four, my classmates began to catch on. Whenever the number four came out of my mouth, a few of them would snigger. I don't know who; since my back was to them. Naruto, in particular, seemed to take inspiration from it once he figured that I didn't really believe the answer was four. So much so that when Iruka-Sensei called on him to answer a question, Naruto answered, "Four". He looked my way and gave me a wide grin to express his shared enjoyment. At Iruka-sensei's despondent face, I almost returned Naruto's smile.
When the lunch break came around, Iruka-Sensei was frowning at me in disappointment and I was feeling marginally better. Maybe that's why…. The following events played out the way they did.
"Ano", a cautious voice drew my attention. Looking up from the desktop that I had been contemplated graffitiing with the number four, I was greeted with the sight of a vulnerable Chouji. He was struggling to look at me as he held one of his arms stiffly at his side; holding something. His other hand was raised to his face; scratching the skin under his right eye. Chouji's face was flushed.
"Yes?" I asked slowly and carefully; trying to figure out what would have spurred on this interaction. It could have been the rumor Ami had started. But I doubt it. Chouji wasn't the type to confront others with his grievances unless someone had called him fat.
Chouji didn't give a verbal response right away. Instead, he lifted the arm he had been holding so stiffly and jabbed the object he had been holding into my face. It came close enough that I was momentarily cross-eyed. Is that… a boxed lunch?
"Are you giving this to me?" I asked; becoming aware that many of our classmates hadn't left the classroom like they normally would have by this time. Their whispered comments were incomprehensible to my ears, but I understood that they had stayed behind to watch this scene unravel. Probably an event they suspected to take the spotlight in Ami's next round of gossip.
Chouji hurriedly nodded as he dropped the boxed lunch onto the desktop in front of me. "Would you like to have lunch with me?" He asked. A question that instantly made my face as flushed as his. Around us, the whispered comments were no longer whispers. Awkwardness grew in the space between Chouji and me as I tried to sort out my confusion. And boy, was I confused.
Yesterday, it had been a hot topic that I was stalking Chouji. Where I come from, you don't give your stalker a boxed lunch and ask them to eat with you. The longer I sat in silence, thinking about Chouji's possible motivation behind this, one thing became clear. It became clear the louder our spectators grew. Chouji had asked me in front of everyone. And despite how I had promised myself I would never get close or attached to anyone canon relevant, I wasn't enough of a monster to turn him down with an audience. Was I a vindictive bastard who was attempting to make Iruka-Sensei flinch whenever he heard the number four? Sure. But a monster who publicly humiliated a nice guy with low self-confidence, no. I haven't sunk that low yet.
"Yeah, okay. I'll eat lunch with you".
That day at lunch, there was a nice breeze. Something that Chouji and I found immensely helpful as it cooled down our burning complexions. We spent the first five minutes sitting in the grass; unable of looking at each other. Luckily, the awkwardness became lesser when Shikamaru joined us. "I think it worked", the Nara heir said as he dropped into a crossed-leg position with a lunch of his own. "Everyone thinks you like Rion. That should slow down the stalker rumor".
My head snapped up at that. "You two planned all that?"
Shikamaru yawned as he started to open his lunch. "Troublesome. But so was listening to rumors about Chouji being a victim".
Looking in Chouji's direction, his face was still flushed. But at least he was looking at me now. "Sorry, we didn't tell you Rion", he jumped in; sounding a bit anxious. Why? "There wasn't time. And…and I do like you…. I just don't-"
I figured it out as he stammered over his words. He was worried I had thought the lunch request was serious and that I'd be hurt finding out it was a ruse. "Relax", I broke in. "I like you fine, but I only said yes because I didn't want to turn you down in front of the class".
Relieved, Chouji gave a deep nod. Letting out a big exhale his face started to return to its normal color. "That's what Shikamaru said you'd do".
Right, I drawled out the word in my mind; eyes flickering over the boy genius who was lazily chewing his food. I stared at him for a moment, before deciding that wasn't a can of worms I was ready to tackle. So… back to Chouji. "Do you want this back?" I asked; offering him the gifted lunch.
"No". Chouji shook his head in his efforts to assure me quickly. "You can eat it. I told my mom Shikamaru and I were going to eat with a new friend today and she made that for you".
Having never really been gifted something before, (Iruka-Sensei's stupid notebook doesn't count) I was slow to react. But I also wasn't the sort who passed up free food… unless I thought it had been drugged. Self-consciously nodding my thanks, I took my time opening the lunch. Enjoying the experience like one would enjoy unwrapping a birthday gift. Inside were things I often craved, but struggled to obtain; a fresh apple cut into wedges, vegetables without any brown spots, a generous portion of rice, and meat. Actual meat. I was salivating before I had tasted anything.
"So", Shikamaru started talking before I begin eating. "What was with the notebook?"
That specific question made it easy for me to tear my attention away from the food. Except, I didn't look at Shikamaru, the asker. "I swear, I wasn't stalking you", I promised Chouji as I stared at him; wide-eyed. Trying to convince him that I was being genuine. "I had pages on everyone in the class. I used it to…." Trailing off, I realized I was quickly letting go of many secrets I had kept to myself for years. Damn you, Iruka-Sensei.
Shikamaru filled in the blank for me, "Avoid us".
With shifty eyes, I glanced at the other boy. So, Shino hadn't been the only one who had noticed. "…yeah". I answered honestly; doubting my chances of getting a deception past him.
"Can we see it?" Shikamaru asked.
"No", I said as turned my head downward so I could frown at the delicious-looking food. "Iruka-Sensei confiscated it". I only sounded a little bitter… okay, a lot.
Shikamaru snorted into his food. "That explains the number four".
Not wanting to answer that, I took my first bite of lunch. It was savory and the freshness of the ingredients exploded in my mouth. A few minutes later, I had shoved half of the lunch box's contents down my throat without coming up for air. The only reason I stopped was because of the sensation of being watched. Looking up, it was to the sight of both Shikamaru and Chouji staring at me with their mouths hanging open.
Huh… eating like a cyclone sucking up everything in its path was probably poor table manners. Around Anzu, we tended not to care about such things. As such, it's been a lifetime since I last practiced being polite.
Chouji recovered faster than Shikamaru. "I don't think I've ever seen you eat before, Rion".
"Sorry", I muttered a bit sheepish around a mouthful of food.
"Where do you normally eat lunch?" Chouji continued; taking a bite of his own lunch.
I shrugged as the answer came easily. "I don't".
Chouji blinked and swallowed. "Why not?"
That was a question worthy of another shrug. Mostly because I didn't want to explain economics and household budgets to boys who would likely never have to worry about such things. "Don't worry about it". And then to change the subject, "But thank your mom for me. This is the best thing I've ever tasted".
The three of us ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes. Me at a much more socially acceptable pace. But then Shikamaru had another question. "So, do you know why Aburame is watching us?"
I narrowed my eyes at Shikamaru in question; causing him to point at something over my head. Both Chouji and followed his finger to look. I had to lean back and arch my neck in order to see. Squatting in the branches of a tree a few yards away was Shino. He didn't move. Even when he noticed that all of us had spotted him. Rather than approaching us or running away like most would if caught spying, Shino merely pushed his sunglasses further up the bridge of his nose and remained… stationary.
And there was another can of worms that was above my pay grade. Turning back to Chouji and Shikamaru, I said casually. "Ignore him. He's been attached to my shadow these last couple of days. But Shino's harmless. I think".
Shikamaru didn't look like he cared. While Chouji looked unconvinced. The rest of lunch passed in peace as the three of us eat together with Shino…. Existing in the nearby vicinity.
The next day, when I entered the classroom, ignored Iruka-Sensei's greeting, and found my way to my desk, I spotted another boxed lunch sitting in front of my assigned seat. On top of the lunch was a note reading;
See you at lunch.
Today, my mom included a hard boil egg.
Trying in vain to ignore the triumphant look Iruka-Sensei was sending me, I quickly shook off my surprise. As well as the mushy feelings this note gave me that I will never admit to. What do I do? I thought yesterday was a one-day thing. Especially after Shikamaru revealed that it had been a plan to dispel the rumor. Chouji and Shikamaru were the sons of the heads of their respective clans. Being on any sort of friendly terms with them would cause me hardship. Both in a storyline sense and in a social-consequence sense.
Lowering the note, I stared at the lunch and started thinking about how filling a hard-boiled egg would be. Damn it! They found my weakness.
It's temporary. I told myself as I raised my head and looked in the direction of Chouji's and Shikamaru's seats. This won't last. Shikamaru already had his head down and was snoring into his arm. Despite the fact that Iruka-Sensei hadn't even said anything yet. When Chouji noticed me looking at him, he smiled. They'll distance themselves from me with time. I thought as I raised a hand in greeting. As soon as their parents figure out where I come from. In the meantime, I might as well enjoy the free food.
"Seat down, everyone", Iruka-Sensei called. Making me rush so I wouldn't be the last one standing and stick out like a sore thumb. "We are starting with history today. Who can tell me who was responsible for the creation of the medical corps?"
I raised my hand as Naruto slid into his seat; the last student to do so. No one else had raised their hand, So Iruka-Sensei let out a resigned sigh. "Rion", He called.
"Four", I said without any shame or repentance.
