Fourth day after the night of the massacre.
When seeing that Sasuke still hasn’t showed up mere seconds before the bell rang, it was clear to see that lots of the girls has dejectedly accepted that Sasuke wouldn’t be back today.
That is, until Iruka arrived… and bringing Sasuke along with him.
The classroom went dead silence for a couple seconds before cheers erupted from the girls. If not for Iruka quickly announced for the class to begin immediately, they might have jumped on Sasuke.
I involuntarily let out a whisper, “Damn, just three days after such tragedy and he already back? That’s really amazing resiliency.”
It was one more story detail that I failed to remember; about how many days or weeks it took Sasuke to return to school post-massacre. I honestly thought it would take him at the very least a couple days to wake up from the trauma, then I reckon the hospital would not let him go for another couple of days.
I then see Shino nodded from my peripheral vision. “Mm. It’s really admirable. But it’s best to talk later, let’s hurry outside.”
“Good point. Let’s go.”
After that, I went outside with the rest of the class for the day’s practical lesson.
On the way, every girl could not stop clamoring about Sasuke this and Sasuke that, probably because of all the pent up worry they have been holding these past few days.
… Including Sakura….
She already forget about yesterday lunch’s conversation, huh?
Sasuke himself, though, was beside Iruka all this time. Which is pretty out of character for him, even as the non-avenger Sasuke. Guess Iruka still trying to prevent the girls from overwhelming him first thing after he got back in attendance.
And maybe that’s also the reason why there’s a clearer separation between the boys and the girls in today’s practical lesson. Gotta admit, that’s quite considerate of him if that’s the case.
Thus, today’s practical lesson also went without much issue, aside from the constant noise some of the girls make.
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“Sasuke really changed…” Choji started weakly after we finished lunch.
“Can you blame him though? Considering what happen to…” Kiba stopped mid-sentence, probably unable to finish it. Though everyone presents clearly understand what was left unsaid.
We went back into silence for a bit, before it was broken, surprisingly, by Hinata and Aki.
“Sa-sasuke is so pitiful…”
“Yeah. Can we… really do nothing more to help?”
I put my drink down after hearing that question. “Honestly, I also really want to help after seeing Sasuke looking like that. But I also kind of… afraid? You know, if me try helping him ends up make him feel worse. After all, I can’t even begin to understand the things he has been through.”
“But, aren’t you the sam… Sorry, Takeshi.” Sora then put both his hands on his mouth, probably thinking he just had a slip of tongue.
I shook my head. “Don’t worry Sora. And, no, I think it’s different. I never met my parents, and even though I miss them from time to time, I never really lose them. So I really cannot say I understand the feeling of loss that Sasuke must have.”
Of course, I keep the part of actually “losing” my parents by reincarnating here to myself.
Shikamaru groaned. “Well, if even you have that kind of reservation about helping Sasuke, then it should be even more so for the rest of us.”
“You could cook for him.” Shino suddenly chimed in.
I countered. “Sure, problem is how to give it to him without make him feels like receiving an act of pity.”
“I think you’re too rigid and overly cautious here, Takeshi.” Find the original chapter at g.com.
Huh? Am I?
I point toward myself as I looked at Ino in askance.
Ino nodded. “You’re just trying to help. You can’t decide what Sasuke thinks about the help that you give. Sure, there should be some consideration to have, but if it makes you not helping him at all, I think you got the order wrong.”
Damn. Is she really just 8 years old? Or am I somehow become stupid?
… Don’t tell me she is secretly a reincarnated or transmigrated like me.
Though if she is, she should also know how… unhinged and dark Sasuke can get in his teen and how strong he could get. The possibility of leaving a bad impression on a future temporarily-crazy powerhouse, at one of his lowest moment, surely would make most people worry, right?
“I think Shino and Ino are right, Takeshi. How about this; when Sakura got back later, you could ask if she or other girls know or remember what is Sasuke’s favorite food. That should make it more likely for him to accept.”
Kiba nodded. “We can try Shikamaru’s idea. I mean, your food’s always been great, Takeshi!” To which the others also nodded their head.
Choji added. “Yeah. You’re fine giving a newly tried food that you haven’t practiced much to our parents, some of the Konoha’s clan’s heads. So you should also go ahead in this one, Takeshi.”
“Well in my defense, those clan’s heads are simply a friend’s parents to me. No offense.” I immediately added before anyone could butt in. “But fair enough, I think I did overthinking things for this. I’ll go with Shikamaru’s idea and asks Sakura later.”
Having reached an agreement on how to help Sasuke, we continue to chat until the lunch break ended.
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“… Tomato?” I asked in disbelief.
“Yeah. It is Sasuke-kun’s favorite food.” Sakura nodded confidently.
“As in, tomato the fruit?”
“Isn’t it vegetable?”
“I mean, is it the tomato that’s red, sometimes green, round things?”
“Well, of course. Are there other things that is also named tomato?”
“Fair enough. But, did Sasuke likes it as it is or…?”
“Hmm… I think he likes it as it is, but it got to be ripe.”
“Okay. So okaka, omusubi, and tomatoes, right?”
“Un. Anything else?”
“I think that’s all I wanna ask. Unless you also got something to tell me?”
Sakura shifted uncomfortably after my question. “Well…” She started as her head lowered a bit. “Remember yesterday when you suggest to give Sasuke some space? I… I’m sorry I couldn’t hold myself back today, I even skipped lunch together with you guys.”
I sighed hearing that. “Well, there’s never been an obligation to always having lunch together, so don’t worry about that. Though, the one you should apologize to was Sasuke, y’know? That is, assuming he really is bothered by what you and other girls did today, which might not be the case at all.”
Sakura looked at me in apparent surprise, probably not expecting me for not scolding her.
“Look, everything I suggested yesterday was only based on what I think of how Sasuke might have felt, it’s just an assumption. Honestly, I don’t think I can really know how he felt because, as I said to others earlier, the loss that he experienced are simply too great for me to understand.”
I paused for a bit. “If… you sincerely want to help Sasuke, then by all means, help him and don’t let me stop you. After all, I’m also are about to try and help him. That is, if you truly sincere about it. Otherwise, I can only feel even more sorry for Sasuke.”
I observed Sakura’s expression for a bit from behind my sunglasses. Seeing that she looks deep in thought, I deem that I have said enough. “Alright then. Thanks for the info by the way. See you tomorrow!”
After that, I turned around and dashed off to the market while thinking of what kind of I could make for Sasuke. This story is hosted at g.com.
Okaka, omusubi, and tomatoes, huh?
Now, I love cooking and all that, but it would be a lie to say that I’m a master at it. The most I could do was following some established recipes that doesn’t require crazy skill, either from the internet or taught by relatives in my previous life.
Unfortunately, I’m not really confident I could make Omusubi or any food using Okaka that is better than what was already sold here. So that leaves tomatoes. Luckily, I still remember some good food recipes from previous life that use tomatoes extensively.
Sakura did say that Sasuke likes tomatoes as it is, and that did jolt memories of some fanfics that depicted Sasuke as some sort of tomato fanatic. Hopefully he doesn’t mind processed tomatoes.
Well then, shall we go mamma mia?
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“… Do you remember the plan?” Choji asked, somewhat nervous if I’m hearing it right.
I nodded in confirmation. “I do, Choji. Don’t worry, let me do all the talking.”
“Alright then.” Choji then took a deep breath. “Let’s do this!”
“Yeah, let’s go.” I said confidently while inwardly trying to suppress the nervousness.
With that preamble out of the way, me and Choji approached Sasuke who happened to be alone, none of his usual fangirl swarm in sight.
Several steps later, seems like Sasuke acknowledged our presence as he looked at us for a second before looking down again. Undeterred, me and Choji kept walking toward him, until just several steps remaining until we reached him.
“What do you want?” Sasuke said flatly while he looking at us again, staring.
“A help, if possible.” I say bluntly, which seems to surprise him as his eyes widens the tiniest bit.
A second later, he regained his composure as he asked. “What help?”
I answered back. “I heard from somewhere that you like tomatoes.”
“So?”
“I’ve planned to create some dishes that heavily uses tomatoes, to then sell the recipes to the Akimichis.” I said as I pointed at Choji, who nodded in response. “But I need input from someone who likes tomatoes.”
I paused to see if Sasuke is still listening. “So, if it’s okay with you, I’d like you to try my dish for your lunch. I will try to find you before lunch whenever I’ve created a new dish, and after school, I’ll need you to give me your honest opinion on it.”
I hand out the box I’ve been holding to Sasuke, “If you’re willing.”
Sasuke looked at me for several seconds in silence, then at the box for another seconds, before taking the box from my hand, also in silence. He then left to who knows where without another word.
“… That went well. Don’t you think so, Cho… What the?!” I looked at Choji mid-sentence and found that he was SWEATING. “What’s wrong with you?!”
Choji turned his head towards me slowly before answering. “I… was nervous.”
Well, now he understands.
I mean, even with social experience from my previous life, meager as it was, I’m still kind of nervous about approaching Sasuke, let alone Choji.
But still, Choji…
… all you did back then was just a single nod.
Note
Fingers still crossed…