Sasuke found himself in his early morning class the following day, unpacking his school supplies. Just then, the teacher made an announcement about a new student joining their ranks. He shifted his focus to the front, anticipating that it might be one of the Nakano sisters.
A girl entered the room at that moment, catching Sasuke's attention. He recognized her from his recollections—it was Ichika. 'I knew it.' Ichika was undeniably beautiful, her short pink hair highlighted by a longer fringe cascading to the right. Her captivating smile and curvaceous figure left a lasting impression. 'Her hair reminds me of Sakura's,' Sasuke mused.
The teacher announced to the class, "From today until graduation, this will be your classmate." They gestured towards Ichika and added, "Please take a moment to introduce yourself."
With a dazzling smile, Ichika prepared to address the group. Her grin was so luminous it could rival the sun, akin to the sharp discomfort of sunlight flooding your eyes after a long stretch of darkness. "Good morning! I'm Ichika Nakano, and I really hope we can all get along. Let's make this school year an amazing experience together!" she said, her voice bubbling with excitement.
At that moment, the students burst into animated discussions. Sasuke, however, remained aloof, simply watching her. While his peers were busy gushing over her, he showed no hint of excitement. The teacher quieted the room and stated, "Ms. Nakano will be seated right next to Mr. Uchiha," pointing to the empty desk beside him. Ichika's gaze darted around until it settled on the intended seat. Intrigued to see who this Uchiha fellow is, she turned to look at him and felt a warm blush rise to her cheeks, captivated by his good looks.
She finally resolved to walk to her designated seat. Once there, she unpacked her supplies and settled down. She glanced at Sasuke and gave him a warm smile. He merely waved back, his expression indifferent. Not letting it bother her, she turned her attention back to the teacher.
After some time, the teacher left the students to their own devices, instructing them to complete a worksheet. "You can either collaborate or work individually. I don't mind. Just ensure it's done by the end of class, understood?"
With a sly grin, Ichika cast a glance at Sasuke, who, despite noticing her from the corner of his eye, remained as expressionless as ever. She then exaggerated her tone, calling out, "Ohhh, Uchiha-kun!" Sasuke's gaze remained fixed on her, silently pleading for her to stop and let him be. However, Ichika appeared either unaware of his discomfort or simply indifferent to it. "What?" he asked, his patience wearing thin. "Oh, just a thought! Don't you think it would be wonderful to team up with someone as lovely as me?" she replied, her playful tone carrying an undercurrent of flirtation that made Sasuke raise an eyebrow.
Sasuke let out a frustrated grunt. "No," he stated flatly. "Oh, come on, don't be like that." Ichika looked at him with hopeful eyes. "I'm really not that skilled at this." Sasuke thought to himself, 'I'm aware of that.'
While Ichika was busy trying to grab Sasuke's attention, the other kids began to notice and started murmuring among themselves.
"Ouu, Ichika's already making her move," one girl whispered to her friend. "Of course! It's Sasuke. Who wouldn't want him?"
Another boy joined the conversation with his pals, "Damn Sasuke, taking our chance with Ichika just by existing."
"Is it just me, or do they actually seem like they could be a thing?" one of his friends speculated. At that moment, another boy dramatically pretended to cry, "Don't jinx it, you moron!"
Ichika's incessant poking finally prompted a weary sigh from Sasuke, who turned to her with a questioning look. "What is it?" With her nagging momentarily silenced, Ichika asked, "So... are we going to work together or...?" Sasuke glanced away, lost in his own musings. 'The first session is today. We might as well kick things off.' He sighed again, refocused on Ichika, and gave in. "Alright."
Ichika radiated joy, her expression a clear reflection of her happiness. She had successfully convinced Sasuke to collaborate with her. With a determined stride, she moved her chair to his desk and settled in. The other students who witnessed this were taken aback. "He actually agreed!" exclaimed one. "Well, there goes my shot with Ichika," lamented another. "I heard she has four sisters, all just as beautiful."
"Ah, never mind. I'll just aim for one of her sisters," one boy declared, a mischievous grin spreading across his face, reminiscent of a villain plotting a grand scheme.
"Do you get what we just learned?" Sasuke queried, his focus on the page rather than on Ichika. "...No way! Why do you think I'm working with someone? You're such a clown!" Ichika laughed, playfully nudging Sasuke's shoulder. 'I don't get paid enough for this. If her sisters are anything like her, I might not survive this,' Sasuke thought as he commenced explaining the concepts to Ichika.
Following his initial math class, Sasuke found himself in history. It felt peculiar to listen to the teacher discuss the Uchiha clan during a history lesson. His classmates were curious, bombarding him with questions about whether he could perform any of the feats the teacher described. For reasons that were clear to him, he fabricated a response and brushed them off.
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While looking for a place to sit at lunch, Sasuke was startled by a girl shouting his name. "Uchiha-kun! Uchiha-kun!" He glanced back and recognized a girl with striking orange hair. 'That must be Yotsuba; I should check in with her.' He walked toward her. "Hi," he said, his voice lacking enthusiasm. "Uchiha-kun, would you like to join my sisters and me for lunch today?" After a brief moment of thought, Sasuke decided to go along with her request.
As he sat at the table, Sasuke introduced himself to the Nakano sisters, who each offered their names in return. Although he recognized them all, he chose to play the part of a stranger. He found himself at a loss for words regarding the girls, with the exception of Yotsuba. She bore an uncanny resemblance to Naruto, not only in her striking hair but also in her vibrant personality. With yet another sigh escaping his lips, Sasuke finished off his meal, the day's events weighing heavily on his mind.
"Say, Uchiha-kun," Itsuki said, fixing her gaze on Sasuke. "I've heard you're one of the top students here." Sasuke met her eyes and replied, "That's just what people say; I don't really buy into it." Ichika, sensing an opportunity, leaned in playfully. "Oh, so we're being modest now, are we, Sasuke?" she teased, narrowing the space between them. "Uh, you're a bit too close for my liking," Sasuke remarked, a hint of discomfort in his voice. Realizing her proximity, Ichika stepped back, offering an apology. "But I must say, your breath is quite pleasant," she added with a flirtatious smile. Sasuke remained unresponsive. "We really need to work on getting you to express yourself more, Sasuke."
"Hn."
"Ichika, I can't help but notice how close you are with Uchiha-kun. What's that all about?" Nino questioned. "He helped me tackle my work when no one else stepped up. He's like my knight in shining armor," Ichika replied. "Oh, come on. The other guys were itching to help too. You just wanted to be with Uchiha-kun," Miku pointed out. "Ohhh! You caught me," Ichika admitted, a playful smile creeping onto her face.
Ichika remarked, "Still, Sasuke is quite the academic powerhouse. I really wish you could help me study. Unfortunately, we have some lame tutor coming in today." Sasuke nodded in agreement. Nino interjected, "We don't need a damn tutor." Itsuki added her thoughts, saying, "I'd rather have a retired professor." Sasuke then decided to contribute to the discussion, aiming to make the idea of peer tutoring more appealing. "What if the tutor turned out to be a fellow student? I believe having someone around your age or just a bit older can enhance the learning experience. Plus, they could become a good friend. After all, life isn't solely about academics."
Itsuki pondered for a moment. "You make a valid point, but I still prefer a retired teacher." Miku nodded in agreement with Itsuki. Yotsuba, brimming with enthusiasm, exclaimed, "Peer tutoring sounds like a blast!" Sasuke turned his gaze away. 'Looks like I can only count on Yotsuba and Ichika to participate today. Not too shabby. I can always give it another shot later,' he reflected. "Hey, everyone?" The sisters turned their attention to him. "I'm the tutor you were expecting today." The sisters were taken aback. "You?" Itsuki questioned. "Yes, it's me," Sasuke replied with determination. "I know some of you might not want a tutor, but I couldn't care less. I saw your grades, and they're unacceptable, so we're going to change that. If you don't want to join in right now, that's fine. I figured I can work with a couple of sisters, so I'll be there today," Sasuke declared matter-of-factly. The bell rang, signaling the end of lunch. "I'm heading back to class," Sasuke said. "later."
For Sasuke, English class was a dull affair. He actually had hoped Ichika would provide some entertainment by being her usual bothersome self, but instead, she was... asleep? What on earth was she doing snoozing in class? He would have gone over to wake her, but she wasn't sitting next to him as she had been during math. Sasuke reflected, 'Damn.' And just like that, the rest of the school day sped by.
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Upon entering the Pentagon, Sasuke was met with the gentle hum of the automatic doors as they slid open. He approached the reception area, shared his name, and was welcomed back as if he had returned home. After all, the Pentagon was where Sasuke lived. As he strolled toward the elevator, he caught sight of five figures, all girls. One had vibrant pink hair, unmistakably Ichika. Another girl, with darker, longer, pink hair and butterfly ribbons in her hair, prompted him to think, 'That's Nino.'
The next girl had long brown hair, with blue headphones casually hanging around her neck, and Sasuke recognized her as Miku. Then there was Yotsuba, her short orange hair radiating brightness. Lastly, Itsuki, with her long red hair and star pins. Sasuke was aware that they lived here; Maruo had given him the address, which was quite handy. He approached them with a friendly wave. "Hey, everyone," he said. "Oh, look, he's here to tutor us," Nino scoffed. "That's right, but I also live here. I'm on the 10th floor. I'll change and be over to your apartment in an hour," Sasuke explained.
"Woohoo! I have time to eat!" Itsuki cheered excitedly. "You're the kind of person who eats during class, aren't you? I saw you snacking on your way to your last class," Sasuke commented. Itsuki gasped in surprise. "No! He caught me! Please don't tease me about my weight!" Itsuki begged desperately. "I wasn't going to do that," Sasuke replied, his tone neutral. "But you do realize that if you keep this up, you might gain some weight, right? Boys might not be drawn to you," Nino said, her arms crossed.
After what felt like an endless wait, the elevator finally arrived, but it was already packed with at least four other people. This left no space for Sasuke and his group. Impatience and hunger gnawed at Itsuki, prompting her to assert, "I'm going in now; the elevator accommodates seven. If you want you can come with."
"You guys go on; I'll stay here with Uchiha-kun!" Yotsuba proclaimed, giving a confident thumbs-up. Nino, Ichika, and Miku then entered the elevator. Just before the doors closed, Ichika gave Yotsuba a cheeky wink. "Don't get any funny ideas, Yotsuba," she said with a smirk. Yotsuba's cheeks flushed as she fumbled to deny Ichika's implication. "N-no, it's not like that!" As the doors shut, Yotsuba shifted her gaze to Sasuke.
"U-uchiha-kun... don't let Ichika get to you. She can be a little flirty," Yotsuba commented. "I'm aware," Sasuke said, his expression remaining unchanged. Yotsuba then shifted her focus to the elevator, noticing the indicator signaling its approach. In a flash, she dismissed the earlier conversation and returned to her spirited self. "Hey Uchiha-kun, the elevator's just arrived!" she called out, excitedly gesturing towards the indicator.
The elevator was enveloped in silence, punctuated only by the soft strains of elevator music. Neither Sasuke nor Yotsuba uttered a word. Yotsuba glanced around, her nerves getting the better of her as she searched for a conversation starter. Then it hit her—he was there to tutor them. After a brief pause, she managed to ask, "So, what are you planning to teach us?" Sasuke shot her a sidelong glance. "Whatever you're having trouble with," he replied, quickly averting his gaze. He was eager to swap his uniform for something more relaxed. Yotsuba resumed her aimless scanning of the elevator walls. "Oh," she said softly. At last, the elevator reached Sasuke's floor. As the doors slid open, he turned to Yotsuba. "See you soon." With that, he stepped out, leaving her with a simple, "Bye."
Walking towards his apartment, situated on the far right of the building—the second one from the staircase—Sasuke found himself deep in thought about how to keep tabs on them. He could identify their unique chakra signals, which helped him track their positions. Yet, he struggled with the question of how to ascertain if they were hurt. After reviewing his resources, Sasuke concluded that he had no means to determine if they were in danger.
'Things are looking grim. I should probably get team Taka back together. Suigetsu could do the job, but he can only move where there's water. Scratch that. I don't get paid enough for this. I suppose I'll have to make do with shadow clones for now. The tricky part is figuring out how to monitor them without being seen. This is going to be tough.'
As Sasuke arrived at his apartment, he fished out his keycard from his pocket. After swiping it, he couldn't help but scowl. "I hate this."