My, my, it's been quite a while, hasn't it, Tobi?" Samunami's voice was smooth and teasing as she turned in her plush office chair, a playful smile dancing on her lips. Seated across from her desk was the same man who would later appear before Kintaro and the others. He looked as rugged as ever, a cigarette dangling from his mouth. Without missing a beat, he pulled it out and exhaled a cloud of smoke, his expression as indifferent as ever.
"What do you want, Samunami?" Tobi asked bluntly, completely ignoring her attempt at pleasantries. His tone was flat, clearly uninterested in whatever game she was playing.
She let out an exaggerated sigh, feigning disappointment. "I don't want anything… just thought I'd say hello." Her gaze drifted to the side, an awkward silence settling over the room like a heavy fog. It lingered just long enough to make things uncomfortable before she finally cracked, chuckling softly. "Alright, alright, I give up. I need a favor."
"No." The refusal was instant and firm, Tobi already turning on his heel to leave. He grabbed the doorknob, clearly intent on making his exit.
"You didn't even hear what it's about," she called out, a hint of desperation creeping into her voice.
"I'm not interested," he muttered, but his hand paused on the door.
"I'll give you a raise," she said quickly, a sly smile forming as she saw him hesitate.
That got his attention. He turned back, one eyebrow raised. "How much?"
She leaned back in her chair, holding up three fingers with a playful grin. "A three percent boost in pay."
Tobi stared at her for a moment, then sighed, walking back to her desk with a lazy swagger. He put out his cigarette in the ashtray she kept there, clearly considering her offer. "I'll listen… for three."
Samunami let out a mock sigh of relief, her eyes sparkling with triumph. "Always about the money, huh? Alright, here's the deal. I need you to be a teacher."
"No." The rejection was immediate. He leaned back in the chair, crossing his arms. "I hate kids."
She chuckled, as if expecting this response. Without a word, she reached into her desk drawer and pulled out a thick envelope, slapping it onto the polished wood surface with a satisfying thud. "I'll give you a $50,000 advance… and bump your pay by 5%."
A heavy silence filled the room, the only sound the faint ticking of the clock on the wall. Tobi stared at the envelope, then at Samunami, weighing his options. Finally, he let out a reluctant grunt. "Fine. I'll check them out. But if I don't like what I see, I'm walking."
"Deal," she said, her smile widening. "I knew we'd come to an agreement."
Tobi snatched up the envelope, stuffing it into his pocket. He shot her one last unreadable look before heading for the door.
As the door clicked shut behind him, Samunami leaned back in her chair, letting out a small, amused exhale, already anticipating the chaos that was sure to follow.
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The classroom was eerily silent, each student seated and staring at the man who had just appeared out of nowhere. Confusion hung heavy in the air, as everyone waited for an explanation.
After what felt like an eternity, the man finally spoke, his voice calm yet commanding. "Now that I've got your attention, let's get down to business. I'm here to test you lot."
The initial relief of understanding quickly shifted back to confusion. What kind of test?
Tenjin was the first to voice the question on everyone's mind. "Test us on what, exactly?"
The man pulled out a cigarette, lighting it with a flick of his thumb. "Good question," he replied, taking a drag. "I'll answer that soon enough. But first, introductions are needed."
There was a brief, awkward silence as the students waited for him to continue. He sighed, clearly annoyed by their hesitation. "Did I get the slow group or something? Fine, let me show you how it's done." He took another drag, exhaling a cloud of smoke. "Name's Tobi Harata. What's my dream? Don't have one. What do I like? Cigarettes. And what do I hate? All of you."
The bluntness of his words hung in the air like a bad smell, and it didn't take long for it to provoke a reaction.
Kintaro, Ju, and Himeko each felt their brows twitch in irritation.
"What the hell kind of introduction is that?!" Kintaro shouted, his voice full of disbelief.
"Yeah, who even are you?!" Himeko barked, her arms crossed, clearly offended by his nonchalant attitude.
Ju didn't say anything, but his clenched jaw and narrowed eyes showed he was just as annoyed.
Tobi smirked, clearly enjoying their reactions. "Glad to see you've got some spirit. Makes this a bit more interesting."
Himeko stood up next, her posture proud and confident. "Fine, I'll go next. I'm Himeko Jiji. My dream is to become the greatest leader my clan has ever seen. What I hate? Idiots. What I like? Birds." She gave a satisfied nod, as if daring Tobi to criticize her.
Ju was up next. He stayed seated, his voice calm but firm. "Name's Ju Asura. My dream is to fulfill a promise I made to someone. What I like? Fighting. And what I hate? Cowards."
Tobi raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smirk still on his lips. "Birds, promises, and brawls. Quite the colorful bunch we've got here." He put out his cigarette on the desk, ignoring the ash falling on the floor.
Tenjin steps up confidently, announcing, "The name's Tenjin Nara. My dream? To build the biggest harem in the world! What do I hate? Ugly women, specifically annoying ugly women . What do I like? Beautiful women." He grins proudly, but the entire class gives him a collective side-eye.
Tobi just shakes his head with a mix of amusement and disbelief. "Women, huh?" he mutters under his breath, a smirk playing on his lips.
Padme stood up next, her hands fidgeting nervously. "Uh, my name is Padme Oakana. My dream is… uh, I want to get stronger," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "What I hate… I don't really hate anything. And what I like… uh…" Her cheeks turned a soft shade of pink, and she quickly sat back down, clearly embarrassed.
Tobi let out a dismissive scoff but gave a half-smile. "Shy one, huh?"
He then turned his gaze to Kintaro, who rose confidently from his seat. "The name's Kintaro. My dream is to become the strongest sorcerer in history, so everyone will have to treat me with respect." He grinned, his voice brimming with determination. "What I like? Barbecue. And what I hate? I guess… the time it takes to cook barbecue." He sat back down with a satisfied smile, proud of his bold introduction.
His eyes scanned the room one last time, finally landing on the quiet figure sitting in the back. Chino had been so still and silent that it was easy to overlook him. But Tobi's sharp gaze lingered, something unreadable flickering in his eyes.
'I almost didn't sense him back there… This one's definitely had some kind of training,' Tobi thought to himself, intrigued by the aura Chino gave off.
He points at the white haired boy, "You, what's your name?"
/Quick authors note I just realized that I didn't describe he's outfit last chapter so I'll do it now (╥_╥)/
Chino sat in the back, his posture calm yet exuding an air of quiet intensity. He wore a large, high-collared white shirt with a half-zipper down the middle, layered with a brown, over-the-shoulder vest. His black pants were tucked slightly into his open-toed shoes, completing his simple yet purposeful appearance. Bandages wrapped around both of his arms, loose at the wrists, giving them a layered and rugged look.
Slowly, he interlocked his fingers, resting them in front of his face as he finally spoke. "My name is Chino Tanka," he said, his voice measured and deliberate. "I don't like many things. My dream… it's not a dream. It's a reality I will create. I will restore my clan's honor and take my revenge."
His piercing gaze drifted into the distance as he finished, his words heavy with conviction. The room fell silent, the weight of his declaration lingering in the air.
Padme glanced at Chino with a hint of sadness in her eyes. Chino… she thought quietly to herself. Meanwhile, Kintaro shifted uneasily in his seat, misinterpreting Chino's words entirely. I hope he's not planning revenge for all those pranks I pulled when we were kids, he thought nervously.
Tobi clapped his hands, snapping everyone out of their thoughts. "Well, now that introductions are over, let's get down to business," he said, his tone suddenly serious. "Tomorrow, you'll have a test to prove to me that you're ready to be sorcerers."
The class collectively stiffened in surprise.
Himeko slammed her hands on her desk, glaring at Tobi. "We already took a test to prove ourselves!" she exclaimed, her voice sharp with frustration.
Kintaro quickly chimed in, equally annoyed. "Yeah, why do we have to prove anything to you? We already passed the academy's test!"
Tobi shrugged casually, slipping his hands into his pockets. "Fine," he said, his tone calm but dismissive. "If you're not interested, feel free to head back to the academy, take another year, and get another tutor. Works for me."
The room fell into silence, his words hanging in the air like a challenge. His indifferent expression made it clear—there was no arguing with him.
Sensing that there would be no further argument, Tobi continued, "So, I'll see you all tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. sharp, at the park outside this building. Don't be late." With that, he turned and walked out, leaving the room in silence.
As the students began gathering their belongings, the tension eased, replaced by a mixture of curiosity and anticipation.
Kintaro, however, couldn't shake the growing mix of nerves and excitement bubbling inside him as he headed for the door. He wasn't just another student in his small hometown anymore—he was here, in the capital of the kingdom. The thought of exploring its streets and sights made his steps a little lighter.
Pausing at the door, he turned to Ju and Tenjin. "Hey, uh… you guys wanna grab some food or something?" he asked with a hopeful grin.
The two exchanged a quick glance before Ju shook his head. "Maybe another time," he said flatly.
"Yeah, not today," Tenjin added with a shrug.
Kintaro's smile faltered, but he quickly recovered, giving them a small nod. "Alright, see you guys tomorrow."
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The next morning, Kintaro stretches as he wakes up in his new bed, the morning sunlight streaming through the curtains of the apartment gifted to him by, of course, Samunami. A wide grin spreads across his face as he gets ready.
After getting ready, he heads out to the meeting place with a bounce in his step. As he arrives, he notices the others already gathered, each of them visibly worn down with tired expressions etched onto their faces. In stark contrast, Kintaro is brimming with energy, his enthusiasm radiating as he takes a seat on a bench with a smile.
Minutes stretch into hours, and the group's anticipation begins to sour. The tutor is nowhere to be seen.
Himeko groans, her patience wearing thin. "Where the hell is he?" she mutters, dark circles under her eyes highlighting her irritation.
Kintaro's smile slowly fades, his once bright demeanor turning sour as well. He slouches on the bench, arms crossed, and grumbles, "I don't know, but when I see him, I'm gonna kill him."
The group collectively sighs, their frustration mounting as they continue to wait.
After what feels like an eternity of waiting, Tobi finally appears in the clearing, stretching lazily as if he had just rolled out of bed.
"My bad, I overslept," he says with a massive yawn. His disheveled appearance and carefree tone only amplify the growing annoyance in the group. "Wow, y'all look like crap."
"You're late!" Himeko and Ju shout in unison, both glaring daggers at their so-called sensei.
Tobi glances at his wrist as if checking a nonexistent watch. "Oh, I am." His nonchalant response draws a collective facepalm from the group.
Padme steps forward timidly, her brow furrowed with concern. "Sensei, what's the test exactly?"
Tobi smirks and scratches his chin as he surveys them. "Nothing too crazy. You just have to land one hit on me."
The group exchanges puzzled glances, waiting for him to clarify.
"That's it?" Ju asks, cracking his knuckles. "This might be the easiest test of my life."
Tobi's smirk deepens as he nods toward Ju. "Oh, and one more thing—I don't like how many of you there are. I'll only teach three of you."
The weight of his words sinks in, and a shift occurs within the group. Jaws tighten, hands ball into fists, and the air grows heavy with tension.
"You have four hours," Tobi says casually, his voice cutting through the silence. "When the time's up, I'll decide who's worth keeping."
He takes a step back, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp. "Alright, on my count. One… Two…"
*To be continued——>*