Hayashi hadn't noticed Naruto's furtive glance.
That was because he had something more important to deal with right now.
Ding.
[Detected: Long-term mission milestone reached] [Reward generated] [Please return to a safe location to activate the reward wheel]
Hayashi paused midstep.
Sure, he'd completed it, but why wasn't the reward announced outright this time?
Hadn't it always told him exactly what he was getting before? Quick and simple. Now it was being all mysterious, even making him go home and spin the wheel himself-
What, had the system learned to keep him in suspense too?
With something on his mind, he moved faster.
Although Iruka kept saying, "You don't need to walk me home," the two of them still supported him on either side, brought him back to his place, and settled him against the headboard.
"All right, both of you, go home." Leaning against the headboard, he shooed them away. "Tomorrow-don't be late."
"Okay!"
Just as they were leaving, he added one more thing.
"Do your best once you've been assigned to your teams."
Naruto and Hayashi nodded repeatedly at that, then left the room together.
Once they were outside, Naruto was still reluctant to leave. He sidled up to Hayashi, his eyes sparkling.
"Hayashi, Hayashi! Do you think we'll be put on the same team tomorrow?"
"How would I know?"
"Hehe, it'd be great if we were!"
"Oh, right!" Naruto slapped his forehead again. "I'll treat you to Ichiraku Ramen sometime! To celebrate my graduation!"
"Sure. I'll hold you to that."
"All right, go home and get some sleep." Hayashi waved him off. "See you at school tomorrow."
"Yeah! See you at school!"
Naruto ran off, looking back every few steps.
Hayashi watched that yellow figure disappear around the corner, then turned and walked away,