"Obito, come here. The rest of you are dismissed."
The moment the bell rang for the last lesson, the Academy's corridors filled with students. Some hurried home, while those who loved to learn made their way to the training grounds for extra practice. Obito stood in utter bewilderment.
"Huh?!"
If this was about being late this morning, he had already been punished for it. So, what had he done wrong this time? Seeing Sato Takeru gather his teaching materials and leave the classroom, Obito, as dejected as a beaten dog, anxiously trudged after him. As he passed Nohara Rin, he stole a glance at her. But Rin was staring right at Ryoto's seat, an expression of complete disappointment on her face.
"Um… Rin…"
"Can't hear you! Louder!" Kurenai snickered, packing her bag.
"Obito! What are you dawdling for!" Takeru barked grimly.
"Coming! I'm coming, sensei!" Obito reluctantly hurried after him.
Kurenai turned to Rin and said, "You know, I think Obito is a pretty good guy too. What do you think?"
Rin turned away to face Kurenai and, while putting her things into her bag, replied, "I feel a little guilty towards him."
"Huh?" A question formed in Kurenai's eyes. "Why is that?"
"Well…" Rin faltered. She couldn't very well tell her that Obito was about to get a scolding from the teacher because of her. So instead, she said, "Kurenai, I saw what Obito had for lunch…" —'meager,' she had wanted to add, but continued— "What do you think if I bring him a bento tomorrow?"
"Wow, are you going to make it yourself?" Kurenai raised her voice.
"Of course not, I don't know how," Rin shook her head. "My mom will make it."
Kurenai's eyes darted about.
"That could work, not a bad idea."
"Then it's settled," Rin clapped her hands happily. It would be a sort of apology.
"Heh-heh-heh…" Kurenai giggled.
"What are you laughing at?" Rin asked.
"I think that in the future, Obito-kun and Ryoto-kun are definitely going to fight."
"Eh?! Why?"
"Today, Obito snitched on Ryoto-kun in front of everyone. How could they not fight after something like that? And Ryoto-kun countered his attack so easily and casually. Ryoto-kun is such a bad boy…"
Rin nodded. "I suppose you're right."
"See~" Kurenai's face bloomed into a smile, and she nudged Rin with her shoulder.
At that moment, a girl with a backpack approached Rin's desk and looked at her without emotion. Rin and Kurenai looked up at her. She had voluminous chestnut-blonde hair, a thick, straight fringe that hid her eyebrows, and she was dressed in a traditional Warring States period outfit with a pink haori bearing a crest. Her entire appearance spoke of a noble upbringing and a gentle disposition, yet she looked sickly.
"Are you here for me?" Rin asked, pointing to herself.
The girl nodded.
She's from the Kurama Clan…
"Is something wrong, Miyoko?" Seeing that their visitor was not friendly, Kurenai, like a little tigress, stared directly into Miyoko's eyes.
A flicker of panic crossed Miyoko's eyes, and avoiding Kurenai's gaze, she looked at Rin. Rin, a little flustered, simply smiled her brightest and most sincere smile.
"Today…" Miyoko said through clenched teeth, "you secretly glanced in my direction 648 times."
Rin's face instantly flushed crimson. She lowered her head and mumbled, "I wasn't looking at you, I'm sorry…"
"I know!" Miyoko said. "But I don't like it!"
Watching this scene unfold, Kurenai raised an eyebrow and calmly retorted, "And why not? Does Ryoto-kun belong to you? Do you love Ryoto-kun? If not, why can't she look at him?"
Almost instantly, a deep blush flooded Miyoko's pale face.
"He's not mine!" No, that's not it! "I don't love him!" Wrong again!
Miyoko stomped her foot and, in desperation, slammed her hands on the desk. Ouch! Frowning, she gritted her teeth and burst out, "Just don't you dare look in my direction! He wasn't even here all day! What were you even looking at? Thin air?! It's so annoying!"
"Um, I…" Rin was about to apologize.
But Kurenai wrapped an arm around her, covered her mouth, and jutted out her chin, shouting at Miyoko, "We're going to look! And we'll keep looking! We want to! It's none of your business!"
Miyoko glared at Kurenai, her eyes shooting daggers, her face turning an even deeper shade of red, this time from anger. And then… just as she opened her mouth, blood rushed to her throat. She choked and, coughing, covered her mouth with her hand. Then, Miyoko moved her hand away to continue the fight. But the moment she opened her mouth, she coughed again, and blood trickled down her chin, dripping onto the desk.
At this sight, all three of them froze, their gazes stunned.
"A-a-ah!!! Miyoko!!!" Rin came to her senses and jumped to her feet.
Kurenai panicked and, not knowing what to do with her hands, instinctively cupped them under the dripping blood. Did I do this?
"A doctor!!! Quick! Kurenai! Let's get Miyoko to the hospital!" Rin scooped Miyoko up from behind.
Like an uprooted turnip, Miyoko dangled in the air, still not fully understanding what was happening. Kurenai also snapped out of it, ran over, grabbed Miyoko by the legs, and together, carrying her, they tore headlong down the school corridor.
Aburame Yui, who had been packing her bag in the corner at the same desk, flinched in fear and, taking out a handkerchief, silently wiped the bloodstains from the table.
…
Watching the scenery of the corridor fly by, Miyoko tried to struggle free, only to discover that Rin, who was holding her, possessed terrifying strength. Rin's body is so sturdy, she thought with envy. But I won't give up!
"I'm fine!"
"But you're bleeding!" Rin's voice trembled.
"I'm really fine!"
"You're bleeding, a-a-ah!" Kurenai was in a panic, tears welling in her eyes, though she didn't dare to cry.
"Let me go, a-a-ah!!!"
"We won't!!!" Rin and Kurenai shouted in unison.
"Waaah!" Miyoko covered her face with her hands. "This is so embarrassing!" she sobbed, then stubbornly added, "My shoe fell off!!! Don't look at me! Anyone!"
Her small, bare feet with their rounded toes curled desperately. She shouldn't have cried. At that, Rin couldn't hold back either and burst into tears.
"I don't care! I won't let you die!"
Kurenai followed suit, also starting to bawl, but she continued to pump her legs with all her might.
"Please, don't die!!! I'm sorry! I won't yell at you anymore!"
"Waaah!!!"
The three of them, wailing loudly, raced down the school corridor. The students in the hallway stared in amazement at this scene, a picture worthy of a great master's brush. Beneath the rays of the setting sun, their youth unfolded—each with its own melody, yet all weaving together into a single symphony under the same sky.
…
Ryoto looked at the white-haired girl across from him. She lowered her head, clenched her fists, and took a silent step forward. Ryoto took a step back.
"You…" her childish voice, as clear and bright as the song of an oriole, carried an icy tone, "why are you stepping back?"
"It stin—" Ryoto muttered quietly, but didn't finish. You didn't wipe yourself completely, little sis, there's still some on your hand.
Hearing this, veins bulged on the girl's temples.
"You'd better not retreat…" she said coldly and, stepping with feline grace, approached him silently.
'Wow, she walks in a perfectly straight line.'
Ryoto didn't move.
"Mhm…" he answered quietly.
What is even happening?
Mai: "Meo-o-ow! Meow-meow-meow-meow-meow!"
Ryoto: "Woof…"
Mai: "Meow-meow-meow-meow-meow!!!"
Ryoto: "Woof…"
Watching their leaders, the cats and dogs analyzed the situation. 'This is bad! The General is losing in spirit!' the dogs decided, and began to bark even louder. They jumped, stomped their paws, and raised their tails high. One dog got so carried away that, in the middle of a bark, it stretched out stiffly and collapsed to the ground—it had misjudged its breathing and passed out.
The cats were not to be outdone. They arched their backs, fluffed up their fur, and meowed even more piercingly, their tails writhing like snakes. In the shifting light of the setting sun, their eyes, as if made of titanium alloy, gleamed ominously.
The girl stopped less than half a meter from Ryoto. They stared directly into each other's eyes.