"Because I was bullied when I was little, and Takasaki-kun saved me," Hinata offered a reasonable explanation. "So I really don't want you to fail your graduation exam, Takasaki-kun."
"I see." Takasaki nodded, believing her without question.
It wasn't that he didn't want to doubt Hinata. It was just that in the original story, she was so innocent that she didn't seem like the sort of girl who would lie.
More importantly, Takasaki remembered that it really had happened.
It was a snowy day by the Shimizu River. A few children had teased Hinata, calling her a blind girl who brought misfortune to others. Takasaki had stood up for her and gotten beaten up for it.
That must have been when Hinata first started liking him.
As they grew up, her feelings had only deepened.
In truth, it had been the original owner of this body who'd done that. Takasaki had gotten lucky.
Since he'd benefited from it, he might as well make the most of it.
After spending all night grinding away at ninjutsu, Takasaki was ravenous. One bowl of ramen hadn't been nearly enough. "Could I have another bowl?"
"Of course!"
At that, Hinata lifted her head and blurted, "I'll pay."
Across the street from Ichiraku Ramen, Naruto was still frantically trying to make friends with his classmates, hoping someone would help him cheat on the exam later.
Unfortunately, his reputation as the class dead last was simply too notorious. Most of his classmates wanted nothing to do with him.
Just as he'd failed to cozy up to Hinata earlier, Naruto had approached more than ten classmates, offering to treat them to ramen. Every attempt had failed.
Each rejection was like another bucket of cold water, dousing his high spirits.
Especially when he glanced toward Ichiraku Ramen and saw Takasaki eating a second bowl, with Hinata even paying for it. Naruto nearly broke down.
"Hinata actually offered to buy Takasaki a second bowl of ramen. Are they really that close already? How did he even manage that?"
Naruto felt like Takasaki had thoroughly beaten him.
Even among the class dead last, there were different levels. When it came to getting classmates to help cheat on the upcoming exam, he'd lost to Takasaki.
Failure itself wasn't scary.
The scariest thing was failing and learning nothing from it.
Naruto decided to learn from Takasaki's success. Instead of approaching classmates he happened to see on the street, he headed for Ichiraku Ramen.
Just then, Takasaki had finished his second bowl and was holding it up to drink the broth.
Naruto sat on the stool beside him and gently tapped his shoulder. "Takasaki, can I ask you something? You managed to get Hinata to help you cheat on the exam, right?"
"Hm?" Takasaki lowered his bowl and glanced sideways at Naruto, unsure what he meant.
He could tell that Naruto was anxious about the upcoming exam.
Naruto leaned in and whispered, "The exam! Don't play dumb! We're both at the bottom of the class, and I know your grades. You can barely use the Three Body Technique. If you're lucky, you might scrape by, but you'll definitely fail the written test if no one helps you!"
Naruto's words made Takasaki realize something.
The Graduation Exam included both a ninjutsu test and a written test.
As for the written test, he didn't have the faintest clue.
"I haven't asked Hinata to help me cheat on the written test yet."
"Not yet?"
Naruto stared at him in surprise.
So Hinata hadn't agreed to help Takasaki yet.
That made sense. Getting a classmate to help you cheat wasn't easy.
Naruto continued, "I saw Hinata pay for your second bowl of ramen. You've gotten so close to her already. This is the perfect time to ask her for help."
"That makes sense. I'll try asking." Takasaki nodded.
Then he turned to Hinata and asked, "Hinata, I remember your seat for today's exam is near mine. Could you help me cheat on the written test?"
Help Takasaki cheat on the exam?
Hinata was startled and hesitated.
The Ninja Academy's Graduation Exam was always strictly monitored. Anyone caught cheating would have their exam disqualified on the spot and might even have to repeat a year, delaying graduation.
If it had been anyone else, she wouldn't have agreed. But this was Takasaki.
If she helped him, he would surely write her name in his diary a few more times.
On one side was the chance to get Takasaki to write about her more often in his diary and earn a reward.
On the other was the huge risk of getting caught by an exam proctor, having her exam disqualified, and failing to graduate.
What should she choose?
Hinata was young, and her elders had always arranged her path through life. She'd never made a choice for herself before, so she hesitated.
"My family elders and the teachers at school have always taught me that exams should be fair and that cheating is wrong." Hinata lowered her head, nervously clutching the hem of her clothes. "Takasaki-kun, let me think about it."
Takasaki could tell that Hinata was hesitating.
She was so innocent and obedient, and had always listened to the adults around her. The longer she hesitated, the less likely she was to agree.
So if he wanted her to say yes, he had to act fast.
"Hinata, if you help me cheat on the exam, I'll owe you a favor. I'll repay you someday!" Takasaki ventured.
He'd wanted to offer Hinata some kind of incentive, but no matter how he thought about it, he was broke and had nothing worthwhile to offer.
All he could do was promise her a favor.
In other words, he was making her an empty promise.
The problem was, even Takasaki thought his offer sounded ridiculous. What use was a favor from a class dead last to Hinata?
Just as he was about to come up with another reason, Hinata looked up. "All right, Takasaki-kun. I'll help you."
Takasaki thought he had nothing to offer Hinata, but she didn't see it that way.
A favor from Takasaki meant she'd still have a reason to see him after graduating from the Ninja Academy.
That meant she'd still have a chance to be written about in his diary.
That was what mattered most to her.
"You'll help me?" Takasaki froze.
He wasn't the only one.
Naruto, sitting on the stool beside him, was just as caught off guard.
Helping a classmate cheat on the Graduation Exam was no small thing. Naruto had spent ages trying to persuade people on the street, and not one of them had agreed.
And Takasaki had gotten Hinata to agree right in front of him?
I'm learning. I'm learning!
Naruto pulled a notebook from his bag and wrote down every word Takasaki had just said, planning to use it on other classmates later.
If Takasaki could do it, then Naruto could too.
"Since you've agreed, you can't change your mind later," Takasaki said eagerly. "But don't worry. I won't let the proctor catch us cheating."
"Takasaki-kun, you can't change your mind either."
Hinata nervously rubbed her fingernails and said softly, "If I ever need your help with something, you have to help me too."
As if he were afraid Hinata might change her mind, Takasaki held out his little finger. "Pinky promise. It's a deal."
Naruto watched them, first stunned.
Takasaki really seemed to have convinced Hinata to help him cheat!
Did that mean that if Naruto tried Takasaki's method, he might be able to get another classmate to help him cheat too?
Naruto continued writing quietly in his notebook with his pen, thinking, I've learned something. I've learned something again.
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