3 sLucks (1/2)

I am not a fan of extreme activities, it seems. I think the Nara blood is getting to me so, I consider the game 'ninja' as an ”extreme” activity. It's far too troublesome to move around when you can just relax under the shade of a tree and watch the clouds above hover in the blue sky.

Yup, the Nara blood is getting to me. Definitely.

Or maybe, the Nara blood was in me from the very beginning since my previous life – I've always been like this. I never bothered about anything unless it's interesting enough to make me work for it – like music, gaming, and reading. But since gaming is nowhere to be found in this world, reading is my favourite thing to do.

Music is still out of reach because I don't really want to draw attention to myself. That talent was from the past, and I feel like it shouldn't be brought up – not yet, anyways.

Just watching the older kids play the renamed version of hide-and-seek is too tiring for me so, books save me from boredom. Whatever genre they are, if they're interesting enough, and if I could read those complicated kanji's, you'll see me sitting by a stack of books under the shade of a tree, accompanied by Shika.

Shika, well known as Shikamaru back in my past life.

We're both two and a half years old, and got along pretty much the first time we were brought to have a 'playdate' – a silent one. He's three weeks older than me, and is already pretty sharp for his age seeing that I'm a young adult in this young body so, naturally, we were both cool with each other's company.

Minimum words are spoken between the two of us every meeting so, I know that he's being nice with someone ”younger” than him.

Naturally, I don't expect him to start a conversation with me—

”Ori-kun.”

I shivered almost instantaneously, making me clumsily catch the book that was thrown up when I jumped in surprise. First, the fact that, of all the names he could've called me, he chose to call me with '-kun'. Second, I freaking jinxed my own self. What luck do I have to completely jinx everything?

I coughed, closing the book I was holding and placing it on the stack, ”Hm?”

He opened his right eye and gave his single gaze to me, ”I was just wondering if you're free tomorrow.”

”I'm always free.” I blinked, taking another book from the stack, ”Why?”

”My old man's gonna start training me tomorrow…” He paused.

”So, what does that have to do with me?” I tilted my head, averting my stare from the book to him, who's already sat upright. ”Don't tell me that you want me to accompany you?”

”And that's exactly what I was going to say, thank you.” He gave me a noticeable smirk.

This little—

I sighed, returning a small smile that made his eyes avert from me to the park in front. Having a completely normal conversation with him is so comfortable now that we're at it, that I hope he doesn't think I'm weird when the time comes.

Now that I think about it, this is probably the most we've spoken in a few minutes. That's a record, I'd say.

”Training with you then?” I asked, he nodded. ”Why not.” I shrugged, ”I just gotta ask kaa-san first. You know, because all mothers are scary.”

A snicker escaped his lips. It seemed as though he was stopping his laughter before, but right now, he's not holding back, and man, his infectious laughter got to me. He rarely laughs out loud, and I'm glad I was one of the firsts to make him this teary-eyed.

Though I do not know why the words I had let go were funny. I'm just laughing at him who's laughing at me at this point.

”You're… you're right.” He wiped the bead of sweat rolling down his forehead, ”You should…”

”Then… if kaa-san let me, where would it take place, and at what time of the day should I meet you?” I smiled, cleaning up the mess I had created when I brought the stack of books into a shambled pile.

Wait, isn't training an extreme activity? Why did I agree again?

Shika pulled back a bit, raising a brow while his gaze was fixed at me. He was showing a flicker of curiousness in his eyes, mixed with his intelligence as his stare pierced through me.

'Did I say something bad?' I thought, packing up the books in my bag orderly, making sure the spine of the books doesn't get scratched by the zipper. When everything's nicely packed, I looked back at him. ”Shika…?”

”Ah, right.” He blinked, standing up from the root he first sat before dusting his shorts, ”Nara's main house, and six in the morning.”

My gaze dimmed. 'Six in the morning? Really? That's too early… seven would be nice but… okay, fine.' I shook my head and was about to stand up, only to see an extended arm on my way.

Now, it's my turn to raise a brow, seeing as he was looking away whilst trying to help me up. How nice of him.

I accepted his help and got up with his aid, dusting my shorts before picking up my bag, well, the strap, anyways. 'Urgh… too heavy—'

Shika, as though he read my mind, asked, ”Why are you always carrying a bag of who knows how many books anyways?”

”To… ease—ouch—boredom…!” I struggled to pull the bag. 'What a drag.' I sighed, ”Besides, you're overreacting. There's only twelve books in there.”

”Twelve books with who knows how many volumes.”

”That, true.”

”Troublesome.”

”What a drag.”

”Shika-kun! Ori-kun!” A sweet voice came and halted our silly conversation, making the both of us look at the pair of women coming our way.

We stared at each other for a good moment before looking at them. They both got closer and held a short conversation before picking us up and going on their—our separate ways. I waved goodbye to Shika and Yoshino-san, and he did the same.

What a brief goodbye.

”It seems like you were having a conversation with Shikamaru-kun before Yoshino-san and I arrived.” Kaa-san wondered, humming the tune of curiosity while carrying my bag of books with ease, ”What did you two talk about?”

”Kaa-san…?” I called her, making her hum and stop both of our walk. ”Shika invited me to train with him under Shikaku-san's teachings… I was wondering if you'd let me train with him, or at least watch them, if you don't want me to join them.”

She blinked.

Of course she'd blink. I hardly ever hold a conversation with her, let alone spew out long sentences in a matter of a minute. She's surprised, I think.

She then crouched down to my level, placing her right hand on my left shoulder. ”You know that kaa-san can't say no. And since Shikaku-san is going to be the one teaching the both of you, I trust that he'll take it easy for you two, and take good care of the two of you.”

A gust of wind passed by us, sending and kaa-san's silver hair to dance with it, whilst mine only blew on my face. As I tried to get the hair off of my face and out of my mouth, I heard her chuckle.

”Oh, you sweet thing.” She helped me tuck my long, wavy hair behind my ears. ”Just promise me that you'll be very careful when training… and don't overdo anything too much, because I know you will.” She pinched my cheeks before standing up and taking the lead. ”Let's go.”

”So…” I followed her, keeping up with her steps, ”… that's a yes?”

She stopped, causing me to bump on her legs. ”Yup.” She smiled down at me, ending her words with a giggle before making me continue our merry way.

__________

The sun isn't even up that high yet and me, and kaa-san's already out and about, strolling our way through the early streets. It's not that busy in the Nara compound at this time of the day, and only a few people had stopped us to greet kaa-san and I.

Stopping in front of the yard of the main family, kaa-san patted my shoulders. ”Kaa-san's gonna run some errands while you're with Shika-kun, okay? I'll pick you up later at dinner.”

I nodded and smiled, waving goodbye as I watched her figure go smaller and smaller before making my way towards the door to knock. Raising my hand to knock, the door clicked open, sliding to the right, making me retract my small hands.

”Good… morning… Yoshino-san…” My small voice reached her ears.

She froze for a moment, her eyes flaring with excitement, which meant a big no-no for me. Welp, time to ru—

'Too late—'

Crushed in a tight bear hug, the air got knock out of my lungs.

”Oh! You sweet, sweet child!” Yoshino-san squealed, ”You adorable little thing… you decided to visit aunt Yoshino? How sweet of you!”