Episode 5: "Beneath the Surface"
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[Scene 1: The Return to School]
It's early morning, and the sun is shining through the window of the apartment. Naruto, though still feeling a bit under the weather, is determined to head back to school. He gets dressed, slinging his bag over his shoulder and quietly heads for the door. Before he can leave, however, he hears footsteps behind him.
Zero Two (teasing, arms crossed as she leans against the wall):
"Heading out without saying anything?"
Naruto (turning around, surprised but keeping his expression neutral):
"Didn't think I needed to announce it."
Before Zero Two can reply, Rias steps into the living room, her red hair gleaming in the morning light. She raises an eyebrow at Naruto.
Rias (sighing but slightly amused):
"You're stubborn, you know that? You should've rested a bit more."
Naruto (shrugging):
"I've rested enough. I'm fine."
There's an unspoken understanding between the three of them now—one that wasn't there before. While Naruto is still the quiet loner, there's a subtle bond forming. Even if Rias and Zero Two act nonchalant, they care more than they let on.
Zero Two (grinning mischievously):
"Well, if you collapse again, don't expect me to carry you this time."
Naruto (smirking slightly):
"Wasn't planning on it."
Without another word, the three of them leave the apartment and head to school. Despite the changes in their dynamic, they still maintain an air of distance in public.
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[Scene 2: The School Facade]
When they arrive at school, everything goes back to the way it was before, at least on the surface. Rias and Zero Two immediately split off from Naruto, falling into their usual routines of popularity and attention. The school buzzes with activity as students greet them like they're royalty.
Naruto, on the other hand, walks through the crowd unnoticed, as usual, his loner status still intact. He's fine with it, though. While he doesn't expect friendship, he feels less isolated knowing that Rias and Zero Two no longer view him as an enemy.
In the classroom, Issei and Hiro are as loud and confident as ever. They joke around, laughing with their group of friends while Rias and Zero Two exchange knowing glances across the room, acting like nothing is out of the ordinary.
Issei (calling out to Rias):
"Hey, Rias! Want to sit with us at lunch?"
Rias (smiling charmingly but shaking her head):
"Maybe next time, Issei."
Even though Rias and Zero Two are the center of attention, their eyes briefly drift toward Naruto. He's sitting at his desk by the window, his usual spot. Alone, as always. But there's a subtle shift—unlike before, they no longer feel the need to mock him or keep their distance out of disdain.
Still, they can't let the school know about the connection they're slowly building with Naruto. Not yet. They have reputations to uphold, and letting anyone in on their growing friendship with the "loner" would only raise questions.
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[Scene 3: Lunch in the Shadows]
At lunch, Naruto finds his usual spot—far from the popular crowd, in a quiet corner of the cafeteria. He pulls out his lunch and begins eating in silence. It's peaceful in its own way. But soon, that peace is interrupted when Rias and Zero Two approach him, their usual masks of indifference in place.
Zero Two (teasing, sitting down across from him):
"Still hiding away, I see."
Naruto (not looking up, taking a bite of his food):
"Still pretending you don't know me?"
Rias (sitting beside Zero Two, glancing around to make sure no one's paying attention):
"We've got to keep up appearances, don't we?"
Though they're joking, there's a quiet understanding between them now. Naruto doesn't take their jabs personally anymore. It's just part of the act—the front they maintain for the rest of the school. Even if they were becoming friends behind closed doors, in public, they had to keep up the charade.
Rias (lowering her voice, genuinely curious):
"You sure you're okay? You still look a little pale."
Naruto (grinning slightly):
"I'm fine. Besides, what does it matter to you?"
Though he says it casually, Rias and Zero Two share a quick look. They care, more than they're willing to admit out loud. But they aren't ready to be open about that just yet.
Zero Two (smirking):
"Whatever. Just don't pass out again. It's embarrassing."
They sit there in comfortable silence for a while, quietly eating their lunches while pretending not to care. Other students glance in their direction, confused as to why Rias and Zero Two would bother sitting anywhere near Naruto, but no one questions it out loud. They're used to the girls' unpredictable behavior by now.
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[Scene 4: After School Practice]
Later that afternoon, Naruto goes to the gym, as usual. He doesn't participate in many sports, preferring to sit off to the side and focus on other things. But today, as he's sitting on the bleachers, Rias and Zero Two catch sight of him while passing by.
Rias (muttering to Zero Two, curious):
"He's always by himself."
Zero Two (grinning):
"He's a loner, remember?"
Despite their teasing words, they can't help but watch him for a moment. He's scrolling through his phone, completely oblivious to the world around him. While they still acted like they didn't care about him in front of others, moments like this made them realize how much things had changed.
Rias (sighing):
"I guess we should make sure he's okay... later."
Before they can leave, Issei and Hiro approach them with their usual swagger, laughing loudly.
Issei (grinning):
"Want to hang out after practice?"
Zero Two (flashing her usual charming smile):
"Maybe another time. We've got plans."
As Issei and Hiro walk off, Zero Two and Rias exchange a knowing glance. They're both still playing their roles—the cool, unattainable girls with perfect lives. But deep down, they're starting to care about Naruto more than they expected.
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[Scene 5: The Unspoken Friendship]
Back at the apartment later that evening, the three of them find themselves sitting together in the living room. The TV is on, but none of them are really watching it. Rias and Zero Two are pretending to be engrossed in the show, while Naruto is quietly flipping through a book.
Zero Two (breaking the silence, smirking):
"So, what's the deal with you, Naruto? Always so quiet. What's going on in that head of yours?"
Naruto looks up from his book, meeting her gaze briefly before shrugging.
Naruto (casually):
"Not much. Just thinking about how to survive another day at school."
Rias (teasing):
"Well, you've got us now, don't you?"
They both laugh, but the truth behind her words isn't lost on any of them. Despite their public facades, they're slowly becoming a team. A strange, dysfunctional team, but a team nonetheless.
As the night goes on, they continue talking, their conversations becoming less guarded, more comfortable. The walls they've built around themselves are slowly starting to come down, but only when they're alone together. In school, nothing will change—Rias and Zero Two will still act like they don't care about Naruto, and he'll still be the school's loner.
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[End of Episode 5]