Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Day 97
It was 10 am and I was still lying in my bed because it was Sunday. I couldn't help but smile. I could just laze around all day.
So that's what I did, I slept till evening but my hunger finally got me out of bed.
I opened up the fridge and not finding anything to my liking, I decided to go shopping.
Fried chicken and cola, just thinking made my stomach rumble more, when I suddenly heard a snicker.
I looked around to find Kaori or more accurately Kaori Nara, standing behind me. She was one of my classmates from academy but we never really interacted before.
"Care to share the joke chuckles? " I asked rhetorically.
"I think yo... your stomach already shared it." She completed before dissolving into full blown laughter
I smiled more at her laughter then the situation
"Sure, sure, make fun of the hungry guy"
"Sorry sorry but this street is generally quiet, so when I heard the... sound and then you, somehow I couldn't control myself "she explained finally calming down.
I looked around to the wall that stretched out in both ends for miles and listening to her talk about the area with familiarity, huh, looks like I was shopping near Nara compound, it was quiet near to my place too, and that was a surprise.
"So what are you doing out? "She asked
"Shopping" I said starting to walk again and she followed.
"Hmm, late lunch? "
"Yup "
"What are you going to make "
"You are full of questions huh? "
"I was bored "she shrugged.
I stared at her before sighing, looks like she will be accompanying me to market.
"I am making fried chicken "I answered finally.
"Ohh…, I love fried chicken "she exclaimed.
"Good for you "she was quite bubbly, who would have thought, she was pretty quiet in the academy.
"You know I would love to try your fried chicken, I can pay for the ingredients? "She suddenly asked, acting cutely hands folded in front. Does she like fried chicken that much?
It will be... troublesome but I was going to make for myself anyway and I could save some money. Still I warned her
"I can't guarantee it will taste good, I have made it before but just for myself "
She just gave me a thumbs up.
Well looks like I was making for two.
We went to the convenience store and bought all ingredients I paid for my cola separately despite her protests. She got orange juice for herself.
We then walked back to my room in silence.
"Umm... please wait here."
I opened my room and did a look around for any objectionable thing, once done with bit rearrangement, I called out.
"You can come now "
She had been quiet throughout the way back, I just chalked it up to something, and I really didn't care for the reason.
"Make yourself comfortable, I will get started on the fried chicken right away"
"Ah, umm do you need any help "she asked hesitantly.
Looks like she was feeling bit awkward now, she should have thought of that before asking random guy for food.
"No, you paid for the ingredients, let me handle making them, there are some novels and magazines on the shelf, you can check them out if you want"
Saying that I quickly started preparation.
Room fell into silence, apart from the occasional utensils making noise. After some time, once I was done frying chicken, I looked around to see Kaori deeply engrossed reading novel.
I cleared my throat, but she still was engrossed in the book, so I called out.
"Nara San, fried chicken is ready "I shouted, she heard that.
"Oh, this story is very interesting Satoru san "she said quickly getting up.
"You can take it with you if you want, I am done reading it, and it is indeed very good" I offered
" Really , thank you so much I will return it as soon I am done reading, I am a very fast reader "
"I am not in hurry, you can take your time, now, shall we eat? "
We brought all the fried chicken to table and I brought out cola and orange juice from the fridge.
I waited for her to take first bite "So how is it?" even though I acted nonchalant I took some pride in my cooking skills.
"Oh these are very good Satoru san "she said happily.
After that we ate in silence, I was too hungry to talk and by the looks of it she was too.
Once we were done she broke the silence
"You know Satoru san, this was my late lunch too, actually I had not eaten anything since morning "I simply nodded, not thinking much of it but she continued
"I had a fight with my parents last night and when the morning came I just didn't want to face them so I quietly slipped out of my house "again I nodded, not interrupting her.
"They... they want me to drop out of academy "
"Hmm…"I said, a bit curious.
"They said life of ninja was very dangerous and that I could lead a happy life as a clan member, I do not need to take this risk. To be honest I... they never wanted me to be ninja, I had to really convince them to let me go to academy. I guess... now that my graduation is near they are back to worrying"
I listened quietly, not sure how to respond, the previous owner of this body never really had a choice, and from what memories I got of him he thought of being ninja as an opportunity for better life.
Still I felt like I needed to say something
"Nara San I ..."
" Oh I am so sorry Satoru san, burdening you with my problems, you don't need to respond to me, I am just grateful you listened to me , I hope you forgive me for today , I know I have been too pushy " saying that she bowed.
She was a smart and polite girl, I felt myself relax a bit
"You don't need to apologise so sincerely "I huffed a sigh deciding to speak my mind
"You, Nara san, seem like a good person and seeing you and what I know of your clan, I can only assume good things about your parents too. So when good people fight, it is only their worry and love for other person that make them do so." I paused suddenly remembering my old life, missing my parents. I hated them, but I loved them too.
"Talk to your parents Kaori san and convince them again about your decision if you need to, be grateful you have them in your life, be grateful they love you enough to worry about you. These are invaluable things "
That should be enough I thought
" I am so sorry Satoru san " and she started crying, I didn't know what to do so I just gently patted her back, looks like she misunderstood something , after some time she finally calmed down.
"I am really sorry Satoru san, here I am complaining about my parents when you have lost yours, I am really sorry I didn't mean to hurt"
Sigh, she thinks about too many unnecessary things.
"Nara San you don't need to apologise, I have long come to terms with my situation, and really you think too much. So can we please stop this "
She nodded, I was suddenly feeling very tired.
"You should go and talk to your parents now" I said shooing her out, I was completely exhausted.
She hesitated a bit eyeing the dirty dishes still left at the table
"Just go "
She sent a final apologetic glance and then she was out.
She had really been hurt by her parents' words, that's why she couldn't think straight.
I closed the door, putting dishes in the basin, I will wash tomorrow.
Looking at the clock it was already 8:30 pm, I will turn in early for the night.
Kaori POV
I rushed out of Satoru san's house. I will have to sincerely apologise to him tomorrow. Right now I just wanted rush to my parents.
I never had a fight with my parents till yesterday, they were my rock and warmth. But suddenly when they talked about dropping out of academy, I was deeply hurt. I understood it as them not believing in me.
Satoru san had been right, I couldn't think straight beyond feeling hurt.
I reached my home, opening door I saw both my parents siting at the dining table.
"Kaori, are you ok? We were so worried" mom immediately engulfed me in a hug and I could no longer control my tears.
"Mom, dad...I am so sorry "I didn't care how I sounded, without understanding how they felt, I had fought with them and hurt them.
"Hush my child its fine, its fine "
After some time I finally calmed down.
"Kaori I am sorry, it's my fault for not explaining and speaking without thinking "dad said
"It's just that we panicked, no I panicked. I never got over what happened with... my father. Let me tell you about him" I nodded, grandpa had been a taboo topic since forever, dad never talked about him.
"My father, your grandpa, he was a successful Jounin, but more than that he was a kind and gentle person. When second ninja war broke out he was called to frontline, when he came back from the war, he was a changed man. Gone was my gentle father , what came was an empty man who could no longer accept the realities of this world and lashed out angrily at anything that's near him... soon after he killed himself. "
When my father was finished with grandpa's story the house fell silent, I could see my parents struggling to decide what to say. I got up and hugged my father
"I just don't want you to turn out like him. I want you to have a happy life. We were lucky to avoid war, so when your mom and I retired from active duty, we decided to build business so that our child will have a secure future without being a ninja" I hugged my father tighter, patting his back.
After some time my mom got up "I think this is enough for today, we will discuss further in the morning, Kaori why don't you wash up and then we can eat dinner."
I followed her instructions without thinking much, I was still going through everything that was said. I never really thought about difficulties of a ninja life, being a ninja was honourable and ...cool for me, I had seen my fellow clan members going about in vest and hitai-te, marking them as Konoha's ninja. I envied them. I never understood why my parents never became one.
"Kaori,... Kaori "my mom called out and I realised I had been just stirring rice with chopstick.
"Ah sorry mom "I quickly took a bite and felt my stomach bursting
" Actually mom I have something more to tell you" so I told my parents about Satoru san, how he had prepared fried chicken for me without any complain, and how it was his advise that finally helped me see truth.
But my parents started acting weirdly, my father was twitching and my mom was giggling
"Oh my, honey our Kaori has grown up"
Sometimes my parents were weird but I still loved them.
A/N: Please visit Patreon for advanced chapters
