Just after Zaku finished speaking, a tall guy with scars and bruises all over his face walked into the class. I wondered who he was. Perhaps I should ask Zaku.
"Uh... Zaku, who is that guy anyway"?
I requested.
"Oh, sorry for forgetting to tell you about the teacher here. This is Tadashi sensei, our martial art or taijutsu teacher. He is the only person in this land to become a Hinin D only with martial arts. You see, he cannot perform any meili, so he found it pretty difficult as a ninja, but here he is, one of the strongest ninjas in our land. Also, the academy found it wise to hire him as a martial arts teacher to help us with our ninja studies".
Zaku answered.
From his looks, it seemed he had taken a lot to get to that stage. He looks like he always puts himself to his limit and beyond.
"Hey guys, it looks like I am seeing both new and old faces. And you there . . ."
He spoke in a deep voice and pointed at Zaku and me.
"Zaku, you failed to graduate again"?!
He bellowed.
"Yes, but I'll put in my best this time." That's a promise. "
Zaku replied.
Phew! I thought he was referring to me. I just wonder what I'd say if it were me.
"That's what you say every academic year, but your performance remains the same." I just hope you abide by your words, or else you will get it from me".
Tadashi said.
"Right".
Zaku replied.
"I hope you all know what we do first every academic year." It's the grouping. To make it easier and fairer, I have written numbers from one to five on five different cards, with each card containing one number. Five people are to come forward and pick up a card. The cards will be shuffled each time a set of people picks. Be sure to keep the numbers to yourself. Without further ado, let's do it!
Tadashi sensei said.
Zaku's point of view:
I have to be in the same squad as Kuragari and Arata. The odds are not in my favor or in theirs. It's 50-50. Apparently, I have only two options: the first is to put the whole class under a hoax meili and the second is to make a plan with Kuragari.
Tadashi sensei could be trouble for me if I use the hoax meili. Also, as I said earlier, it's too early for a meili, so I guess the only option is to make plans with Kuragari. And as for Arata, hopefully, luck will bring him to our squad. He might even be smart enough to perceive our plan.
But how? What is the way out of this? I began racking my brains to come up with a solution. After a while of brainstorming, I came up with an idea. I observed that the cards were white and that meant that any other color apart from white would be visible and that would show a contrast between the card and whatever material was used to blemish the card. In other words, Kuragari can easily identify the card I picked.
My point of view:
"Ptss... do you want to be in the same squad as me?"
Zaku hissed.
"I guess you are the only one I know well here, so I do not have much of a choice here.
I replied.
"Okay, here's the plan. I will go before you and blemish one of the cards with red oil. Right after I am through, you proceed with yours. Bear in mind that I will not make the spot so visible, so you have to sharpen your senses to detect it. Simply be yourself and avoid looking skeptical. Also, you have to be quick before someone snatches the card. Take into consideration that you only have one shot at this.
Zaku gave me the plan and cautioned me.
"Shall we have the first set?"
Tadashi sensei called out.
Zaku got up from his seat and made it in time to be first for the picking of cards. But before that, he stained his fingers with the red oil just as he said he would.
I watched Zaku closely so that even if I do not see the oil mark on the card, I would pick the right one. Tadashi displayed the cards on the table in front of the class. Zaku went ahead and picked the first one. He made sure to soil the card in such a way that it was not too visible. I took notice of that immediately. Right after Zaku was done, the others took their turns.
Tadashi's point of view:
Hmmm, it looks to me like Zaku is initializing one of his stupid plans again to be in a leading squad. I am not certain if the signal has been sent to the others to pick the spotted card, but the answer will be revealed to me when the others choose their cards.
My point of view:
Right after they were through with it, Tadashi sensei started shuffling the cards, and to be precise, he was really swift in doing it. My eyes couldn't keep track of the soiled card.
Anyway, there's a blemish on the target card, so I shouldn't get too nervous about anything. It was my turn. I knew I had to be quick else I might lose my one and only chance to be in Zaku's squad. I dashed with full speed to the table, and just like Zaku, I was the first. The cards were displayed in front of us.
I stared at the cards meticulously in pursuit of the blemished one. I tried my very best to look unsuspicious, and I just hoped I was doing so.
Tadashi's point of view
So, this is the kid the signal was given to. That explains why they were talking to each other when I entered. Well, I have uncovered their little plan, but I do not want to interrupt. I'll see how far they can get with it.
My point of view:
"Hey. . ."!
I heard a deep voice. It came unexpectedly, and I trembled with fear. I suppose I was hallucinating.
"Wait... who called me?"
I asked.
"Look directly in front of you."
I heard again. I did as I perceived and figured out that it was Tadashi sensei. I looked at him, thinking of finding out why he called me. Yes! That'll buy me some time.
"Uh. . . why did you call me?"
I requested.
I just wanted to know whether you are a newcomer.
He uttered it in his deep voice.
"Oh, that's right, I'm new".
I answered.
"How do I address you?"
Tadashi inquired.
"My name is Kuragari Watanabe."
I replied.
Zaku's point of view:
What does he think he is doing? Does he want to blow this chance away? Instead of picking the card, he would rather have a conversation with our sensei. It looks like I don't have much of an option here. I have to use sound manipulation to tell him where the card is. First, I will create a sound medium that channels to his brain, and after that, I will send a sound signal that tells him the position of the card. That is the only way out.
Sound manipulation: sound channel meili. Now for the sound wave. Sound manipulation: minor sound wave meili.
My point of view:
"I am pretty sure you know about me."
He said.
"Yes! Zaku gave me a brief summary of you."
I said. As he spoke to me, I was using the time wisely by searching for the target card, but to no avail. Zaku was right: I really must sharpen my senses.
"Anyway, pick your card; the others do not have the whole day to waste."
Tadashi encouraged. The bad news is that I haven't uncovered the location of the card. Am I going to fail somebody again? Just when I had that thought, I heard a voice saying:
"The target card is the third one. Be quick. Do not blow this chance away.
What was that? Whatever that was, it didn't sound like I was fantasizing. I guess I have no option but to obey the order of the voice. I went on and picked the third card and turned the card over to the other side. The number I got was number two.
I still wasn't sure about the option I made, but I'll know more about it when I get to Zaku. The rest of the guys had their turns as I returned to my seat.
"What was your number?"
Asked Zaku.
"It was two. What about you"?
I replied.
"I'm with you."Looks to me like we got the same number".
Zaku retorted.
"I want to ask you something."
I uttered.
"Come on, tell me what it is."
When I was to pick up the card, I had no idea where it was, but then, I heard a voice specifying where it was. I did as it said and it was the right one . . ."
"Go straight to the point already".
Zaku interfered.
Okay, so my question is: was it you who did it? Because the voice sounded similar to yours."
I questioned Zaku.
Zaku's point of view:
Huh... what a pain! This kid is a pain in the neck. I should have remembered to change my voice before producing the sound wave, and now Kuragari is dubious about me. I suppose I will have to make something up for him again.
I could have taken him out a long time ago, but he's one of the people I am after. I guess I can't help it after all. Can I?
Anyway, from the beginning, I thought he was a brilliant kid, but he turned out to be the direct opposite. He couldn't even detect a simple blemish on a white card!
He has no ninja aptitude whatsoever. I can't believe I have to be with him the whole time. I bet Arata has more abilities than this useless brat.