Chapter 19
Chapter 19: Return to Routine - Part 2
During lunch break, Morgan found herself seated on the rooftop with Han and Hanabi. With a casual flick of her wrist, a familiar iridescent shimmer appeared on the table before her, and in an instant, her lunch box materialized. The transfer from Avalon’s storage was flawless, as always.
"Whoa! That’s incredible, Morgan," Han said, his eyes wide with admiration. "How’d you do that?"
Morgan gave a small smile, waving off his curiosity with a casual shrug. "Just a little seal technique from my clan," she replied. “Uzumaki stuff.”
As they settled into lunch, Morgan savored the fresh air of Konohagakure and bit into her sandwich, washing it down with Merlin tea—a new favorite that had quickly become something of an addiction. She wasn’t sure what it was, but the warmth and richness of the tea reminded her of Milchidan, Ellen, and her mage friends. Han and Hanabi quietly munched on their food beside her, but a sudden commotion from the courtyard below interrupted the rooftop calm.
At first, Morgan decided to ignore it; after all, it wasn’t uncommon for the ninja trainees to bicker and roughhouse. But then, a telepathic whisper came through.
"M’Lady... it seems you may want to step in", Avalon’s calm voice echoed in her mind. Setting down her lunch, she focused her senses, recognizing a familiar chakra presence below.
Rubbing her temples in mild exasperation, she sighed, Konohamaru again…
Turning to her friends, she rolled her eyes. "Watch my lunch, will you? I’ve got to go handle this."
Han and Hanabi nodded knowingly. "Good luck," Han said with a smirk.
Without hesitation, Morgan vaulted over the edge of the rooftop, dropping down toward the courtyard below. As she reached the ground, she saw Konohamaru squaring off against another boy, his fists clenched in anger.
“What did you say about my grandfather?” Konohamaru’s voice was raised, his face flushed.
The other boy, likely a civilian child, crossed his arms and sneered. "Nothing… just that he’s an old, dead guy."
Morgan’s eyebrow arched in disapproval. ´´Disrespectful brat,´´ she thought. This wasn’t going to end well if left unchecked. Without Avalon’s warning, Konohamaru might’ve seriously hurt the other boy if his emotions got the better of him.
With a barely perceptible command, Avalon spoke in a deep British accent, “Sonic Move!” In a blink, Morgan flash-stepped between the two boys, blocking both of their blows mid-air. "Enough!" she commanded, her voice resonating with authority, her hand stopping them with an iron grip. The two boys gasped, taken aback by her sudden presence.
“Class Rep!” they squeaked in unison.
Shaking her head, she gave each of them a light, scolding whack on the head. "Apologize. Right now," she commanded, leaving no room for argument. "Konohamaru, stop letting people get under your skin so easily! And as for you," she continued, turning her sharp gaze to the other boy, "Sarutobi-sama sacrificed his life to protect this village from the ninetails. Show some respect, you idiot."
Both boys looked down, visibly embarrassed. With sheepish nods, they exchanged stiff apologies and a reluctant handshake. Once Morgan was sure they’d made peace, she brushed her hands off, feeling as if she’d just completed another mission. ´´Some things never change,´´ she thought, amused.´´ Even if the arguments are smaller, people are always fighting over something.´´
As she started heading back to the rooftop, her mind wandered to memories of her life before. She remembered her friends back on Milchidan during her summer holiday just a few weeks ago—Vivio, Einhart, all the bickering and the playful competitions they’d had. One particular memory bubbled to the surface.
Flashback
In the training arena, a ten-year-old Morgan crossed her arms in exasperation as she watched her friends—Vivio and Einhart—transform into their adult forms. They stood before her, each trying to claim the title of her “best friend” in a scene that was half-serious, half-ridiculous.
Vivio, with her Barrier Jacket in dark blue and white and her blonde hair tied back in a side ponytail, stood proudly, a mischievous gleam in her eyes. "I am… Morg-chan’s best friend!" she declared, her voice confident and playful.
Across from her, Einhart in her adult form stood with her green mini dress and matching white jacket, her twin tails bouncing as she planted her hands on her hips. "No, I’m her best friend!" she countered, her expression just as competitive.
Morgan sighed, stepping between them, her small figure looking up at her magically aged-up friends. "Guys, we can all be friends… can you stop fighting?"
But the two of them turned toward her, pouting in unison, "Nooo!"
A chuckle escaped her lips as she climbed the stairs back to the rooftop, a slight blush coloring her cheeks as she remembered the silly rivalry. It was funny, in a way, how people always seemed to fight over her attention.
When she returned to the rooftop, she found Han and Hanabi nearly finished with their lunches. Grinning, she took her final bite, savoring the last of her sandwich as the three of them prepared to head back to class.
As they neared the classroom, Han and Hanabi broke ahead, laughing as they rushed inside. Entering a bit later, Morgan caught Iruka-sensei’s gaze lingering on her, an eyebrow raised. She gave him a respectful bow.
“Apologies, Iruka-sensei. I saw you were about to step in, but I thought it’d be better if Konohamaru didn’t get too far. I heard he’s been practicing his wind chakra—didn’t want things getting out of hand.”
Iruka’s stern expression softened, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Thank you, Lefay. That was quick thinking. Though… what was that technique you used back there? And the voice?”
Morgan shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "Oh, who knows?" she replied with a mysterious smile.
Returning to her seat, she noticed his curious gaze linger for a moment longer. She was used to it by now—people had questions, and she was used to keeping her secrets close. Some things, especially the ones she was trying so hard to keep hidden, weren’t for others to know. As Iruka resumed the lesson on cryptology and criminology, Morgan leaned back, looking out the window as the afternoon sun cast its gentle light over the village. The day’s earlier unease had faded, replaced by a sense of calm.
The evening was followed by her 3-hour shift in the hospital. Mellowed down, she had another training session with Hayate and Cat-senpai. In her hand was Avalon in her sword form. She danced as gracefully as the two adults. Although she still had much to learn, she had improved. Bowing, she made her way home, eager to finally rest.
Her days continued like this, a blur of hospital shifts, training sessions, and a quiet routine. Until Friday.
The weekend arrived, and she spent her time using the simulator with Avalon, practicing her skills while speaking with Ellen about her week. Ellen listened patiently, recounting a dangerous relic hunt she had gone on in another dimension, where she fought bandits on a planet that seemed to stretch reality itself.
Before she knew it, the first day of the Fox Festival arrived.