Saori's bell jingled twice by the door.
The cloth doll usually jingled too, but today's sound was different. The first ring was crisp; the second dragged with a faint tremble, as if the little bead inside had gotten stuck. Saori stopped as soon as she entered the classroom and looked down at the hem of the doll's clothes.
The bell's string had come loose.
Kiyo was the first to notice that she had stopped moving and immediately leaned over. "Is it hurt?"
Saori drew the doll into her arms. "The string's loose."
Naruto poked his head over too. "Should we put it in the lost-and-found box?"
Kiyo was shocked. "It's hers!"
"I was just asking."
"Don't ask the lost-and-found box about everything."
Saori did not join in. She pinched the string above the bell between her fingers and gently pressed the bell against the doll's hem. The ringing stopped. Only then did she go around the doorway to her seat and place the doll in the innermost corner of her desk.
Iruka saw it and asked, "Do you need a needle and thread?"
Saori shook her head, then nodded. She nodded very lightly, as though afraid of making the bell ring again.
"I'll give you some after class," Iruka said.
Naruto raised his hand. "Then what is it considered right now?"
Someone in the classroom laughed. Iruka looked at him, and Naruto hurriedly added, "I mean, should we write it down?"
The question quieted the laughter somewhat. Saori lowered her head, her hand still pressing the bell. Kiyo looked at Naruto, then at Saori, unsure whether he should speak up for her.
Sasuke took a short pencil from the shared box and placed it beside Saori's desk.
Saori looked up at him.
"Write it down," Sasuke said.
After saying that,