[Chapter 39: Tiny Light]

"Chunin exams?" I tilted my head. It's been that long already?

"Yup," With a nonchalant shrug, Kakashi gave me a sheet of paper. A registration form, to be exact. "Sakura-chan already knows this but it'll be held in Kusagakure this time."

So that's why Sakura's not here. I hummed, clutching the paper as I leaned against the wooden pole. Chunin exams, huh? My eyes darted back at the scarecrow. "But dum dum, we don't have enough members: Naruto and Sasuke aren't with us."

The silver head only chuckled, his expression covered by his mask. "Don't worry about that, Megumi-chan. We thought of a solution to that."

I narrowed my eyes, and he's not gonna tell me that? I tilted my head away, well, I guess it would ruin the surprise. "When are we gonna leave, anyway?"

"Tomorrow."

I blinked. And then again.

"What." It was then that it finally dawned on me: we were leaving "Ya dum dum!" Puffing my cheeks out, I pointed an accusing finger that the chuckling man. "You should've told me this sooner!"

My feet were already tapping the floor at the sudden rush of need. "Uwah...!" Do I have enough weapons? Enough time to pack? Do I have enough time to prepare to see potentially more cuties?! "I'll get you back at this!" With chakra coursing through my veins, I body-flickered away, not bothering to hear his response.

"So you're our third member!" I exclaimed at them. To be honest, I wasn't that surprised— I mean, it is the most logical assumption.

Hiro only eyed me with a brow raised. "So what?" He shoved his bandaged hands in his pockets, striding up to us. On his shoulder was a bag, probably full of his belongings.

"Well," Sakura placed her hands on her hips, a string that was connected to her bag in her hold. "You better not slow us down in the chunin exams!"

I only giggled as the boy rolled his eyes. "Where the hell's your teacher?"

Oh right— the dum dum. The ends of my lips quirked up. "You get used to it." He is going to him.

"Get used to what?"

The bubblegum girl next to me stifled a laugh, leaning back against the gate walls. "You'll find out sooner or later."

"What the fuck— what took you so long?!"

"Mah, mah. Hiro-kun, calm down—"

"Calm down

"Getting faster and faster. Getting busier and busier." I sang out loud, hand in hand with a certain pinkette. Now, I would do the same with Hiro but... don't wanna annoy him, ya know?

Trudging along the dirt road, I saw how she rose a brow. "Getting faster and faster?" Sakura questioned, somehow already in tune.

I laughed, swinging our interlocked arms. "Getting more and more difficult!" Continuing that little song, we both sang to our heart's content, stumbling on the notes as it progressed. "That's what I'm thinking of this afternoon." With my other hand, I grabbed Kakashi's earning a small eye-smile. "Join in!"

Behind his mask, the jonin laughed as he lowered his porn. "Getting faster and faster— getting busier and busier!"

The smile on my only widened, giggling as I sang the next line. "Getting faster and faster. Getting more and more difficult!"

"Isn't this a bit too loud?" From the corners of my eyes, I saw Hiro's brows crease, a frown pulling on his lips. A pang hit my heart, maybe I should stop... my eyes glanced up at the other two, who were cheerfully singing along. But if they do it, then it's fine to continue, right?

Minding myself away from Hiro, I just resumed the song. Don't wanna ruin their fun, do we?

It was only a few verses later that it got fast, so much that Sakura gave up trying. But not me, I was ready to beat Kakashi.

"Namagumi, namagome, namatamago!" Kakashi chanted, not a single stutter in his words.

I puffed my cheeked out—

"Namagumi, namagome, namatamago!"

"Namagumi, namagome, namatamago!"

"Namagumi, namanome, namanamano!" I choked on my spit. Fugget nuggets!

Hiro only sighed, which only made my heartache.

∵

"We're here." Was the first thing our teacher said when we reached the village. My eyes widened, Woah...

"There are so many mushrooms!" Sakura exclaimed, turning her head around to glance at our surroundings. As she said, giant mushrooms were growing out of the trees that surrounded the tall buildings. Conflicting with the setting sky, city lamps illuminated the path, as if from from an enchanted forest. In a way, it was very similar to Konoha but more... mythical? It just gave a very elf-like vibe.

"I wonder if they use them for poison." I mused with a tilt of my head. I grimaced, I swear to Pein's rotten ass if the ninja here act like Shiori

A huff broke me out of my thoughts. "I'm just surprised that we got here so quickly." The Hyuuga commented, his head to the side. "Not that I care: I just want to know if Hinata got here yet."

Oh yeah, everyone in the class got recommended too. With my eyes trailing to the mossy ground, I placed a hand over my mouth. Is Karin still here? Or has she already fleed?

As much as I hate, or maybe not, to admit it, I very much hope that she did. This place was terrible to her kind. My lips pursued. I wished I could've...

I shook my head, perking my head up before anyone got to question my actions. I can't think about things I can't do! Spinning the balls of my feet, I glanced back at Kakashi, hands behind my back. "Dum dum, where's the hotel?"

"Ah... right."

It only took us five minutes for us to find our destination, checking in with the rather distant reception desk to find out rooms. We had two: one for girls and the other for the boys.

Opening the room door I got, my lips quirked up. "Oh!" I dashed around, the soft rays of sunshine poking through the curtains Dustin fin my form as I then glomped my entire body onto the bed. "Kyaaa~ it's so soft!" My body rolled around gleefully. "So much better than my cheapass bed!"

A sigh was heard but it didn't matter to me, my body squishing against the lush pillow that accompanied it. "Cha, it takes you a second to settle in, huh?"

"Of course, Bubblegum-chan!" Came my joyous exclaim. A giggle bubbles out of me as I heard her set her stuff on the table. "It's just so— so nice and comfy~!"

"Right, right." My ears picked up footsteps, and then a warm and gentle hand on my side. "Well don't stay here for too long because Kakashi-sensei said to meet up again when we finished unpacking."

"'Kay!!!"

It only took her 10 minutes for her to slap my ass up. Owwie.

Whining with many complaints, I was pushed around the pinkette out of the room, where the rest of the team stood waiting for us.

"What took you so long?" Our male teammate questioned, lowering the camera that he held in his hands. I blinked, he brought it with him?

Sakura jabbed a finger at me. "This idiot wanted to stay in bed!"

"What?" With a point, I inched closer to the girl. "It's a comfy bed!"

"It feels like it sucks your soul in."

I giggled, "And maybe it did."

She just gave me a look.

"Anyways," With a soft shutting of his book, we all glanced up at the tall scarecrow. "Considering that it's just passed sunset, might as well get dinner." He chuckled when both Sakura and I did a loud high-five. "Let's get going— don't wanna be late, right?"

Hiro and Sakura both groaned, glaring dagger at him. "Like you're one to talk," Hiro muttered, yet we all heard him. The jonin only gave a sheepish smile in return. Kakashi turned around, waving a hand around to signal us to follow him. I hummed, accelerating my pace into a walk.

Only to get my wrist grabbed.

My head spun around, ready to pick up a weapon on instinct, only to see his face. "Can we... can we talk?" I felt my heart stop as my breath hitched.

Why does he look like that? Turning my head, I saw Kakashi only smile and push the confused Sakura away, silently giving the ok. My head craned back at the Hiro. I... "Ok." It was a small whisper like I couldn't force it to be any louder.

But it was enough for his eyes to light up. Glancing down, it seemed the boy finally realized what he did, his hand retracting as if he did something disgusting. He held his wrist with his other hand. I resisted the urge to frown. Why does he look so...

My eyes narrowed at the rigid sigh of him. He looks so scared for a reason I don't know. Of Or

Hiro turned around, too fast for comfort. But even then, he led the way.

I followed, the ever-growing bitterness present in my chest.

"So," Leaning against the corner, I eyed the boy. "What do ya wanna talk about?" My hands were interlocked behind my back, the bangs on my head seeming to sway slightly in my sight. In front of me, Hiro glanced at me, only to sigh. Come on, tell me already, I wanted to say but I knew that would only prolong it.

For once, the silence between us was awkward— as if it was mocking us about how hesitant we were. But, I averted my eyes, I guess it's my fault, huh?

"You been... different lately," My eyes glanced back at him. His pupil-less eyes were narrowed, though it wasn't out of anger. "And I don't know why."

As if it was funny— it wasn't— I let out a laugh. "What makes you think that?" My hand covered my mouth like I just said something sinful. "I mean, haven't I always been like this?"

"We both know that's not it." He shot back with only the tiniest hint of annoyance. "Usually, you would drag me along and bug me to do your weird things!" I felt my heart getting stabbed: so it was true.

The moonlight poking through the room amplified his telling of emotions— how frustrated and, and how— "Just," My body was taken back as if it was made out of the straw when he held my arms in a gentle and firm grip. "Tell me

And how he was.

My lips pursued together, my eyes dilating smaller as everything seemed to still. The dust flying in the air, the soft chatter coming from rooms away, the noises of cicadas outside— nothing mattered. All I could see was Hiro's torn expression. He... My chest heaved out like something heavy was on top of it, my hands raised to rest on his. The genin tensed, craning his head down, but he didn't move away.

For some reason, I felt... relief. I didn't know why— I don't know if I ever could. I thumbed his bigger and more hardened hands with my smaller ones. They were much colder than mine, yet I still felt comfortable with them. That was something I knew for sure.

But I couldn't feel the same for my other thoughts.

"Alright," I spoke softly. Pushing his hands down only to hold them. I smiled, not for me, but him. "I'll confess. Make sure to take them all, my little priest!"

I laughed when his brows furrowed in confusion at that random and weird remark, stepping back to give me space. The dark-haired male's actions were jittery yet subdued, though I knew why. I blew a sigh through my nose, looking away.

"Where to begin? Haha," The balls of my feet made my body sway like a small earthquake was happening under me. I sucked in a deep breath, my heartbeat just within earshot. "I just realized that... realized that I don't know you all that well— your past life I mean." As if this was just another casual meeting, my shoulders bobbed up and down.

"I felt like I was just bothering you: you just wanted to save the world and your family— you always did complain whenever yet I..." I trailed off. Yet here we are, sitting ducklings just waiting to get called a goose.

My lips quirked up, too much for comfort, as my eyes closed— I didn't want to see his expression. "Dumb, isn't it?" choked out a laugh, yet my chest felt so, so, heavy. Like I could puke. "I made it worse in the end. I'm sorry."

It felt like my heart was pounding a million miles per hour— but also not. I only laughed at my hypocrisy. Why would tell You never actually told him about your past life too. The voice in my head taunted mockingly. I know— but I don't, I don't want him to—

"Sorry." My eyes snapped open.

Arching my back forward, my arms waved frantically at the sight of him: eyes narrowed, biting lip, furrowed brows.

My breath hitched, but I just wanted to be there for him. "No, no! Please don't say that— it's my fault."

"No, it's mine!" Hiro shot back l, stomping a foot on the ground. My mouth clamped shut, my sight trailing down his body. Aah... they landed on his bandaged hands. He's trembling.

"I... I might have said it but... I don't— I don't mean it. I don't." His voice was shaky as if he (no, he was) was poignant. The heir's eyes darted to the side, but then he brought them back. "You don't push me around. I would never get tired of you!"

I felt myself tensing at his loud burst. His back was slouched, yet he was all but relaxed. "I..." Raising a hand, the Hyuuga clenched it, but he was not cheering for victory. His eyes went down at the right. "...I just don't want to hurt you." His voice was so hushed I was surprised I even heard it.

My eyes blinked, dumbstruck at his honest answer. Is that what he thinks? That by being honest, he's me? I forced a lump down my throat, yet, in a way, I was at ease.

So he's like me.

Intentionally, or unintentionally, my hands wrapped around his, forcing Hiro to crane back at me. I smiled. He always had prettier eyes, I couldn't help but note. Holding them near me, I was so close I could very well kiss them. "I feel the same. I felt that if I ever got close to anyone— someone would get hurt in the end."

No, that's not the truth.

That thought passed my mind, despite the pain it gave me. I was just being selfish, looking out for myself. It's so... ironic, right? Here I am, trying to be the heroine and saving everyone, yet I'm

🎶🎶

"But," Glancing up at my dear one, I was met with Hiro's conflicted— yet so Saudade— gaze. "It's ok, right? It's ok to be selfish, right?" My head tilted as if I was a mischievous child. No wait, technically, I am one. "That's what you taught me, after all."

He sharply inhaled, his limped hands curling in mine. But the heir didn't object. A hum rumbled out of me. If it weren't for the chatter nearby that was promptly ignored, I would've forgotten that we were in a hotel room. "Ye..." He stammered on his words, his cheeks dusting a light shade of pink. But I didn't mind, he was patient with me, why wouldn't I return the favor? "Yeah..."

A giggle bubbled out of me, my hold of him never letting go. He's so cute! I couldn't help but comment internally.

My chest felt was like it ascended to heaven after a treacherous journey. And in a way, it was just like that. I laughed to myself as I stared deeper into his eyes, I... I want to know more about him.

And hopefully, depending on our choices, I'll have endless time to do so.

Extra:

"Megumi, just to let you know," Turning my head at him, this time the atmosphere laxer, I tilted my head in curiosity. Hiro had averted his eyes away, his body leaning against the wall. "The reason why I never told you my past was that," He sucked in a deep breath, albeit a little hesitant. "I did... so many things that I ended up regretting. I just didn't want your opinion of me to change."

I blinked, not expecting that kind of answer. That's... a little like me. Humming out a tune, I smiled at him. "You don't have to tell me right away," I assured the genin. Letting out a giggle, I swayed my body around in a childlike manner. "It's okay for us to keep secrets. I just wanted to make sure of what our relationship was."

Pushing myself from the wall, I started to walk out, only to glance back at the boy. I smiled. "Well, shall we get going?"