Episode 3: "Unseen Strength and Silent Walls"
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[Scene 1: Gym Tensions Rise]
The day starts like any other at the bustling high school. The gym is filled with laughter, the sharp squeak of sneakers against the polished floor, and the thud of footballs being thrown. The energy is high, as usual, and the students are all geared up for their favorite time of day—gym class. Amid the noise, Naruto sits on the edge of the bleachers, head bowed low, scrolling through his phone. His blond hair and signature whisker-like scars make him stand out, but no one pays him any attention. They're too busy with the game or fawning over the school's most popular students: Rias Gremory and Zero Two.
Across the gym, Rias and Zero Two stand at the center of attention as always. Rias—with her fiery red hair, captivating presence, and confident smile—seems almost untouchable. She's everything the boys admire, and the girls envy. Zero Two, with her exotic pink hair, fierce attitude, and daring flirtation, rivals Rias for the title of the most popular girl in school. Today, they're chatting like nothing else matters, basking in the attention of their classmates.
Rias (smiling, glancing toward Issei):
"Think Issei noticed me today? He keeps looking this way."
Zero Two (grinning slyly):
"Hiro definitely did. He's pretending not to, but I can tell. I'll get him to ask me out today."
They giggle to each other, standing out like stars among the crowd. The other students can't help but look their way, either admiring them or wishing they could be as confident. Issei and Hiro, the school's two golden boys, seem to be in on the act. They play football like it's second nature, each movement fluid and effortless.
Naruto stays where he is, minding his own business. He knows his place here—unseen, unheard, and unimportant. He's used to it by now, and it doesn't bother him much. At least, that's what he tells himself.
Issei (whispering to Hiro, a mischievous grin forming):
"Check out Naruto. Still sitting there like he's invisible."
Hiro (smirking):
"What's his deal? Always alone, like he's above everyone."
Issei (chuckling):
"Let's see if we can get a reaction out of him."
With that, Issei picks up the football, eyeing Naruto with the same look a predator gives prey. He pulls his arm back, aiming directly for Naruto. It's supposed to be a harmless prank—a way to knock the "loner" down a peg. But Issei's aim is off, and the football veers off course, rocketing toward Rias and Zero Two instead.
Hiro (shouting):
"Look out!"
The warning comes too late. Rias and Zero Two, who were still deep in conversation, look up just in time to see the football flying toward them. There's no time to react, no way to move aside before it hits. They brace themselves, but the impact never comes.
In a blur of motion, Naruto stands in front of them, holding the football firmly in his hand. He had moved so quickly, the entire gym falls silent in disbelief. Rias and Zero Two stare at him, stunned, unsure of what just happened.
Zero Two (wide-eyed):
"How… how did you…?"
Rias (whispering, in shock):
"He caught it…?"
Everyone in the gym is now looking at Naruto, the boy they've all ignored for so long. He says nothing, just glances at Issei and Hiro across the gym. Issei, dumbfounded, stares at him like he's seeing Naruto for the first time.
Naruto (calmly, with a sigh):
"Be more careful."
Without further hesitation, he throws the football back at Issei, hitting him right in the chest with a controlled but powerful throw. Issei stumbles, catching the ball awkwardly, and the gym erupts in laughter, much to his embarrassment. Hiro, equally shocked, stares in disbelief.
But Naruto doesn't wait for their reactions. He turns on his heel and walks out of the gym, leaving everyone, including Rias and Zero Two, standing in stunned silence.
Rias (still in shock):
"He just… saved us."
Zero Two (nodding slowly):
"And he didn't even care."
The other students crowd around Rias and Zero Two, asking if they're okay, but the two girls are still focused on the gym door where Naruto disappeared. Something about the way he moved, the calmness with which he handled the situation—it leaves them both shaken and curious. Maybe there's more to Naruto than meets the eye.
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[Scene 2: Solitude in the City]
Naruto wanders the streets alone, hands in his pockets, his mind wandering back to the gym incident. He didn't want to be involved. He didn't care about impressing anyone, but something about the way Issei and Hiro had tried to humiliate him… it struck a nerve. He's used to being overlooked, used to being the school's outcast, but today, something felt different.
Eventually, Naruto finds a quiet, small ramen shop nestled between the busy city streets. The warmth and familiar smell of food beckon him inside, and for the first time that day, he feels a little more at peace. He takes a seat by the window and orders his usual bowl of ramen, eating slowly as he stares out at the bustling street.
Naruto (thinking to himself):
"No matter what I do… it's always the same. I save them, they laugh at me, and then I'm invisible again."
He sighs, finishing his meal, and heads back to the apartment, his mind already steeling itself for whatever tension might be waiting there.
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[Scene 3: Unexpected Gratitude]
When Naruto walks into the apartment, the atmosphere feels different. As soon as he steps through the door, Rias and Zero Two rush toward him. Their usual cold attitudes seem softened, and Naruto is surprised to see something like concern on their faces.
Zero Two (impatiently):
"Where were you? You didn't come back after gym."
Rias (crossing her arms, clearly frustrated):
"You just disappeared. You could've told us where you were going."
Naruto looks at them both, raising an eyebrow. This isn't the reception he was expecting. He shrugs, walking toward the kitchen to grab a bottle of water, ignoring their obvious annoyance.
Naruto (indifferently):
"I went out. What's it to you?"
They both seem thrown off by his response, and before Naruto can retreat to his room, they stand in his way again, this time with a different energy—one that catches him off guard.
Zero Two (serious, softening her tone):
"You saved us today, Naruto."
Rias (nodding, looking away for a moment):
"Yeah… that football could've really hurt us."
Naruto blinks, momentarily unsure of how to react. He hadn't expected any sort of gratitude from them, especially after the way they'd treated him up until now. But seeing them like this—awkward, unsure of themselves—it feels strange.
Naruto (quietly, brushing it off):
"You're welcome."
He moves past them, walking toward his room, but before he can close the door, he hears Zero Two and Rias mumbling to each other.
Zero Two (whispering):
"Maybe we were wrong about him…"
Rias (softly):
"Yeah. Maybe."
Naruto pauses for a moment, listening to their voices on the other side of the door. It doesn't change much, but maybe, just maybe, things won't be the same between them anymore. For now, though, he's content to sit in the quiet of his room, away from the chaos of school, Rias, Zero Two, and the world outside.
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[End of Episode 3]