Not Too Bad

Ignoring the unexpected guest walking toward me, I start peeling my dingy orange. Again, I don't hate said blonde, I just don't know how to interact with him. As much as I'd love to treat him like anyone else, I know I'm biased towards him. I mean he's the future savior's father. It's not just that, he seems to be better at taijutsu as well. Yea, I may be able to pluck a win, but he is more skilled at this point in time. I'm sure I'll catch up, but I can't help but be a little jealous.

Setting the Orange peels aside in a neat pile, I split one of the slices off and pop it into my mouth. Smirking at the sweetness, I tiredly look up at Minato who just arrived. Raising an eyebrow at him, I pop another slice into my mouth. You know, this might not be too bad. The orange is just exquisite today. Casually taking the seat next to me, he asks, "This spot isn't taken is it?" Sighing, I reply, "You're fine. So what's up?"

Smiling in that holier than thou way, He starts pulling his lunch out. There goes my quiet lunch break. "Hey, I just noticed you were alone so I wanted to join you since my class isn't meeting today" he explains. Scratching his head, he apologetically smiles at me, "That is unless you don't want me to sit next to you." What a green tea b-... He's just a nice person. He's not stupid, but he's not malicious.

Looking up into his eyes, I give him a sickly sweet smile, "No, of course not." Popping another slice into my mouth, I grab the boiled egg in my hand. Closing my hands around the egg, I imagine two anchor points, one at the top and one at the bottom of the egg. Splitting the bottom anchor point into four, I make a thin chakra string. Part one is easy. Making the string vibrate I slowly adjust it until an even thrum sounds out from my hands. Glancing at Minato who's pulling out a sandwich, I focus back on my egg. Splitting the string through the egg to the four anchors at the bottom of the egg, I move the anchors away from each other. Out and upward until the four anchors rejoin the top anchor. Opening my hands to see an almost perfectly split egg, I grin.

Looking over my shoulder, Minato stuffs his sandwich in his mouth, "You like boiled eggs huh? My name's Minato by the way." Rolling my eyes, I show him my egg, "I just like the number four and I'm Aster" It's not a lie. I use the number all the time. I also don't hate it. Thus, I have to like it right? Looking at him questioningly I change the conversation, "So how's your class like? I heard you'll be graduating this year, what are the qualifications and why'd you apply?" Taking another bite of his sandwich, he says, "It's great. We have more clan children in our class, but most of them aren't mean. They even have plenty of cool justu." Finishing my orange, I huff in annoyance, "Did you learn any of their techniques or jutsu by chance?"

Yes, I'm jealous. No, I'm not saying that's why he's better. I'm just saying that it could be a contributing factor. Grinning sheepishly he finishes off his sandwich and lays back on the grass, "I wish. Apparently, most of their techniques require a bloodline or secret clan training. I bet that we can eventually figure some of it out, but it's just not worth it." Finishing my egg off, I ask, "Oh yeah, you didn't say why you were graduating early." Feeling him go stiff, I feel my lips curl into a smile. Yea, I noticed you skipped my question.

Feeling him shift silently, I look back to find him staring. "Look, if you can't say why just don't" I mutter. Pulling out an apple to munch on he sighs, "Tensions are a bit high right now between the villages. My instructor told me to try to get as much practical experience before the conflicts get worse." Feeling him settle into an uncomfortable silence, I give him a smile. I'm a terrible person, aren't I? "Thanks, I needed that. Sorry for interrogating you. By the way, you can talk freely. I won't bite" I chuckle. Seeing him blush, I grin. What a pushover.

Coughing into his fist he stares at his apple, "Earlier in you're class, I saw you launch your neighbor's pen. How'd you do that?" Licking my teeth, I formulate my explanation before saying, "The best way to think about it is that I pushed my chakra to the spot under his pen, in the table, and used that to move his pen." Seeing him nodding I add a bit more, "It's not hard, you just need to understand chakra manipulation when it's farther away from you."

Laying against the tree trunk behind me, I stretch my back with my arms akimbo. Hearing him hesitate, I tiredly sigh again, "I really won't bite today. Just spit it out." I might make an effort another time, but after wrestling with a meathead I've already fulfilled my need for human interaction. Blushing again, he hesitantly asks, "Can you teach me?" Licking the spots between my canine and premolar teeth I ruminate on the plea. What can I get in exchange? Letting a few seconds pass, I say, "Sure, but I want your class notes on everything to do with jutsu and chakra theory. I also want you to get me some books from the genin section in the library when you graduate. Of course, I'll pay for any fees when you borrow the books."

Sitting up, he beams back at me, "Really?" Giving him my best eye smile, I nod my head, "Just don't go teaching everyone you know alright?" Grinning from ear to ear, he rocks back and forth, "So when do we start?" Munching on my mystery meatloaf, I reply, "I've got an hour after dinner. Just find me in the orphanage. How long until you graduate? You'll be moving out of the orphanage right?" Stuffing a pastry into his mouth, he mumbles, "Yeah! Once I graduate in 3 months, I'll be moving out, but that should be enough time to get the basics down right?" Patting his shoulder, I finish my meatloaf, "Of course!"

So I'm a little jealous of his pastry, It's not like I can add that to the deal. Opening the bag of carrot chunks, I watch a garden snake crawl into my lap. Three months and I can start on some basic fuinjutsu and sensory experimentation. Almost giddy with excitement, I start laughing. Seeing him in a daze, I stop. Using my hand to cover my smile, I look at him inquisitively. Letting a few moments pass, I burst out in laughter again. I'm just too happy. Laughing embarrassedly, Minato joins me with his signature head-scratching.

He's not too bad. Maybe I'll even be his wingman. Or girl... woman... We'll see.

Passing the rest of the day relatively normally, I head off to my part-time job. Turning into the restaurant district, I skip to the third Akamichi restaurant on the right. Grinning as I enter, I quickly skirt around the waitresses, "Hey boss!" Waving at me from the kitchen, the restaurant owner beams at me. Such a nice guy, a great cook too. Almost the epitome of a gentle giant. Humming with the singer, I start washing the mountain of dishes.

Two hours to wash lunch and half of dinner services' dishes and I get around a hundred and fifty Ryou an hour. With the orphanage still allowing me to stay for another year and three months before I graduate, I can save up quite a bit before I move out. Pulling on some cleaning gloves, I start pushing small amounts of chakra into my arms. Grabbing the first plate, I scrap the food off before dropping it into a sink of hot soapy water. Time to exhaust most of my chakra!