Shikaba, School's Out

To avoid the awkwardness, Kisuke hurriedly changed the subject.

"Next, I'll announce our class's results."

But the kids weren't buying it.

Someone called out.

"Mr. Kisuke is changing the subject!"

The student beside him immediately chimed in.

"Yeah! You promised to treat us to a feast if we came in first!"

"That's right! Konoha people don't lie to Konoha people. Don't try to trick us!"

"Mr. Kisuke is so mean! He even lies to kids!"

The children's shouting nearly lifted the roof.

Just then, a quiet voice spoke up.

"Come on, let's forgive Mr. Kisuke. He has it rough too."

"If I had to guess, he doesn't control his own paycheck."

Huh?

The kids froze.

Then their little faces lit up, one after another.

"Is that so?"

"So it is!"

Nagano Nami grinned wickedly.

"Mr. Kisuke, you should've told us you were in a tough spot. We'd all understand."

Someone else joined in.

"Right, right. We get it!"

Children in this world grew up fast.

To them, gossip like this was far more tempting than a feast.

A girl said with a giggle.

"Who knew Mr. Kisuke doted on his wife so much? I love it."

"I want to marry a man like Mr. Kisuke someday... I mean his personality, not his looks."

Kisuke Urahara covered his face with both hands.

He felt that whatever dignity he had as a teacher had vanished on the spot.

If he hadn't been wearing shoes, he would have been so embarrassed he could have dug a three-bedroom apartment into the floor with his toes.

Kisuke gave the child who had started it all a wounded look.

"Thank you so much, Shikaba."

The boy named Shikaba waved a hand and muttered under his breath.

"See? Women are such a hassle."

Shikaba wore his hair in a pineapple-shaped ponytail and lounged lazily across his desk.

Between that distinctive look and his remarkable IQ, he was unmistakably from the Nara Clan.

Once the kids had finished making a racket,

Kisuke tapped the desk and drew their attention again.

"All right, I'll announce the results."

"When I call your name, come up and collect your test paper."

The mention of grades made the mood tense.

"Phew. I'm so nervous."

"Me too. If I did badly, I'm getting beaten again when I go home."

"Ha! Good thing I'm an orphan."

"...??? I'll be sure to tell your mom and dad you're an orphan next time."

"Don't! I'll buy you a drink after school. Please have a heart."

Kisuke read aloud, "First place, Kakashi Hatake."

Kakashi rose without a word, collected his paper, and sat back down.

Kisuke was used to it. That boy never showed any emotion.

"Second place, Shikaba Nara."

Shikaba rose at a leisurely pace, like an old man pushing eighty.

Top Student A let out a wail.

"Ah, those two took the top spots again. Guess I'm third."

Top Student B shook his head and sighed.

"I don't know whether sharing a class with those two is a blessing or a curse."

"Though, come to think of it, I'm probably third."

The two academic rivals stared at each other, sparks practically flying between them.

Nagano Nami burst out laughing.

"You're both wrong. Didn't someone say during the exam that he could make the top three?"

His voice dripped with sarcasm.

"Third place has to be our class genius, Obito Uchiha."

Meanwhile,

Shikaba sauntered back to his seat.

Kisuke continued reading.

"Third place... Obito Uchiha."

Top Student A: "???"

Top Student B: "??!"

Nagano Nami: "?!!"

And they weren't alone.

Everyone wondered if they had heard correctly.

Holy crap. Obito actually made the top three?!

Obito smiled but didn't get up to collect his paper.

Instead, he waggled his eyebrows at Nagano Nami with a smug grin.

Kisuke was speechless.

"Obito, I called your name. Didn't you hear me?"

Obito got up with a grin.

"I heard you, sir. I was just worried my classmates hadn't."

Kisuke said, "...Get over here already!"

Under the envious, resentful gazes of his classmates,

Obito cheerfully collected his paper.

A notification sounded in his mind.

[Choice completed! Reward: Fire Release aptitude +5!]

"Fourth place, Top Student A."

"Fifth place, Top Student B."

"..."

After Kisuke announced everyone's results, he began assigning holiday homework.

Obito didn't listen to a word of it.

Homework?

What homework?

I didn't do homework when I was dead last.

Now that I'm in the top three, I definitely don't have to do it!

Kisuke went on for another half hour before finally stopping, though he clearly had more to say.

"All right. Have a great holiday, everyone. See you next term."

Once Kisuke left the classroom,

the kids cut loose.

School was out!

In the classroom,

the kids who were close had gathered in little groups

to plan what they would do over the holiday.

As for homework...

Who did that before school was about to start again?

Just as Rin was about to congratulate Obito,

a girl subtly squeezed her aside.

She sidled up to Obito and spoke in an affectedly sweet voice.

"Obito, I never expected you to do so well."

"There are a few questions I don't understand. Could you explain them to me later?"

Obito glared at the girl.

"Why didn't you ask Mr. Kisuke while he was here? Now that he's gone, you come to me? Are you trying to make things hard for me?"

"I'm busy. Ask Kakashi."

The girl left through gritted teeth.

I hate these clueless boys!

"Pfft."

Rin couldn't help laughing beside him.

Just then,

someone unexpected strolled over with his hands behind his head.

"Well, you did pretty well. Congratulations. I guess I underestimated you."

Shikaba?

Obito was a little surprised.

He had barely interacted with Shikaba before.

He hadn't expected Shikaba to approach him.

"Thanks, Shikaba," Obito said.

Shikaba nodded slightly and sighed to himself.

He thought his situation was lonely and rather pitiful.

Normally,

a boy from the Nara Clan would have two companions.

One from the Yamanaka clan and one from the Akimichi clan.

The Ino-Shika-Cho trio.

But that was where the problem lay.

That year,

his parents had decided to have a second child.

The other two families... hadn't!

Over the years, he had tried making friends whenever the chance arose.

But geniuses tended to be lonely, and he had no interest in befriending ordinary people.

He had tried befriending Kakashi... and failed.

He wasn't interested in anyone else in the class.

Until now.

He had found another interesting prospect: Obito.

Shikaba leaned in close, studying Obito's face intently.

"Come to think of it, you've seemed like a different person lately... You are the same Obito as before, right?"

Obito's heart tightened.

Holy crap. Are pineapple-heads all this terrifying?

Noticing Obito's uneasy expression,

Shikaba scratched his head.

"I'm kidding. Don't take it seriously."

The air between them turned a little awkward.

After a brief silence,

a sweet voice called out.

"Obito, Shikaba, Rin, what are your plans for the holiday?"

All three turned their heads.

The same thought flashed through their minds.

Who's this?

Do we know her?