Sakura
I’m not sure how things lead to me sleeping here, but one thing I knew, for sure, was to never argue with a mama bear. So if Shikamaru-kuns mom, Yoshina, says I’m staying the night then I am not like I know how to get home anyways.
Maybe you’ll finally make a friend. You really think so? I said maybe. I like Shikamaru-kun. He seems smart and nice and he doesn’t run around with lots of energy. You run around with lots of energy. Only sometimes! And you’re loud. When I’m comfortable. Not always. If you’re going to be friends with Shikamaru you’re going to get comfortable. Here comes the loud and hyper Sakura. Do you think Shikamaru-kun will still want to be friends if I’m loud and hyper? If he likes you and wants to be your friend he’ll like you the way you are. There’s no point in lying about who you are or trying to change. You’re one of a kind Outer and any true friend will love you for all you are. How are you so smart Inner? One of us had to have a brain. Hey! You’ll get smarter with time. Do you remember what that book on friendship you read said? Um, I think it said that friends use nicknames. Exactly! So we should come up with a nickname for Shikamaru, his name is long. But we’re not friends. Maybe not yet but you said you want to be and a nickname could be a good start. I think Lazy-boy or Pineapple are good ideas. Inner! Those are mean. Why can’t I just call him Shika or something? That’s probably what everyone calls him. It doesn’t matter right now. Whatever, go to sleep. Goodnight Inner. Night Stupid.
I woke to someone knocking on the door. I shouted a quiet “come in” while sitting up. I listened to the door open and close and the soft pad of feet on the hardwood floor. When I removed my hands from my eyes I saw Shikamaru standing at the foot of the bed.
“Would you be interested in learning Shogi?”
“Good morning to you too Shikamaru.”
“Morning Sakura, would you be interested in learning Shogi? My dad said he’ll start teaching me soon and I thought if you were interested in it too we could learn together.” He’s trying to be your friend, don’t just sit there with your mouth open staring at him.
“Oh… um… yeah, sure. That sounds like fun.” Now you look and sound stupid. SHHHHHHHH.
“Do you know what Shogi is?” We read a book on it once. We did? I did. I probably got bored and went to sleep. And yet you call me stupid. You might read a lot but I still know more. Whatever. You should answer, you can’t play tired forever.
“Yeah, I read a book on it once. If I remember right it’s a strategy game and I was very interested in it. One can only learn so much from books though.”
“Great, we can talk to dad about it during breakfast.”
“Hey Shikamaru, I don’t think I met your dad last night.”
“Yeah, he wasn’t home. But, he’ll be at breakfast.” Breakfast? The first meal of the day, usually eaten in the early morning. I know what breakfast is Inner. Only because I just told you. NO! You sounded pretty confused a second ago. He made it sound like we’re going to eat breakfast together. Usually when one has a guest they feed said guest before sending them off. I’m not dumb. Could’ve fooled me. I think that you don’t like that I’m smarter than you. NO! Yep. NO! You know that you’re practically yelling at yourself right? We both know that’s not even close to true. I shall call this one a draw. Oh I see, the silent treatment.
“Are you listening? Sakura? Hello?”
“Oh! Sorry, I’m still a little tired. Last night was kinda a lot.” It’s official, you’re all around stupid.
“S’okay, I was saying that mom said to come down for breakfast and that’ll be the best time to ask dad and I asked if you wanted me to explain Shogi more or if you felt like you’ve got a good understanding.”
“How about after we ask your dad and finish breakfast I tell you what I know and then you can fill in anything you think I’m missing.”
“Deal. We really should get down to breakfast before mom starts yelling.”
The walk from the guest room to the kitchen was short and quiet.
“Finally! I sent you up to get Sakura-chan almost 15 minutes ago. If I’d known you’d take so long I would have gone myself.”
“Troublesome. Dad’s not even here yet.”
“Your father had an early meeting with the clan elders.” Clan elders? Old people who try to run clans from the shadows even though they aren’t the clan head. Like advisors? I’m sure that’s what they like people to think. No, an advisor is there to assist the person or people in charge. The clan heads really are just old bats who try to control everything. Usually they’re so set in their ways that they cause more problems then anything.Oh. Don’t worry about it, you’ll understand it more when you’re older. Okay. “He should be home any minute so go wash up and take a seat at the table.”
I followed Shikamaru to the sink where we took turns washing our hands before heading to the dining room. Yoshina had taken a seat in the chair to the right of the head of the table and Shikamaru sat in the chair to the left of his fathers. There were three seats left, next to Yoshina, one beside Shikamaru and the one at the other head of the table. Shikamaru noticed me first.
“You can sit by me, Sakura.” Yoshina smiled and nodded her head. I slowly walked over and put my hand on the back of the chair.
“Don’t make poor Sakura-chan pull out her own chair.” I froze.
“Troublesome. It’s not a formal dinner.”
“Maybe not, but I know that I taught you to always pull out a ladies chair.”
“I don’t think Sakura counts as a lady. We’re five.”
“NARA SHIKAMARU!”
“It’s okay! I can pull out my own chair! It’s no trouble at all! Shika is already sitting and my arms work just fine! Plus, I’ve never had someone pull my chair out for me before so why start now?” You’re yelling and flinging your arms around. Oops. Also, Shika just pulled your chair out. Better sit down tomato face.
“Thank you Shika.” I quickly sat down and looked at my lap.
“It’s not a big deal.” I could feel Yoshina’s smirk.
“You know, Shikamaru, usually I have to threaten you with chores just to pull out Ino-chan’s chair.”
“Well, Sakura isn’t Ino. Ino acts like she’s entitled to me pulling out her chair and Sakura just said no one ever has for her before.” Who’s Ino? Sounds like a family friend.
“Ino-chan is capable of doing things herself and she was taught to wait for a gentleman, like you or Choji, to pull out her chair for her.” Choji? Probably another friend. “Ino is actually a rather independent girl.”
“If Ino is independent then she shouldn’t wait for someone to pull a chair out for her or she’s going to end up waiting a while. What’s she going to do at the academy? Wait for Choji or myself to escort her to her seat?”
“Who are Ino and Choji? I don’t get it? Why does Shika have to be nice to her and act like a gentleman if he doesn’t want to?” Outer. Yeah? You said that out loud. NO! I think now is a good time to look up.
“Ino is one of my best friends' daughters and Choji is my other best friend's son. Shikamaru doesn’t have to be nice to her nor does he have to be a gentleman unless it’s a formal dinner. His mother wants him to be a gentleman at all times but in the end she can’t force him to do anything. I believe that Shikamaru is going to do the most energy efficient thing in the end, it’s just who we are. Yoshina, breakfast smells and looks delicious. You didn’t have to wait for me to eat, you know how meetings with the elders can go. Shikamaru, you know it’s best not to argue with your mother. May I ask who our guest is?” That must be Shika’s dad. No duh.
“Um, hi. I’m Haruno Sakura. Shika found me last night and brought me here and then Yoshina fixed me up and fed me and sent me to bed because it was late and I’m five and I start the Academy on Monday and you have a very lovely home and a nice family and Shika said that we should ask you to teach me Shogi too because I’m also interested in learning to play and then we can play together and I’m sorry if I offended you when I asked about you friends kids I didn’t mean to ask that out loud and Inner already laughed at me alot and called me stupid I was just so confused and I thought that Ino and Choji must be Shika’s friends and I want to be Shika’s friends so if he already has friends then I should get to know them and try to be their friend too because then Shika can have all his friends in one place but then I remembered that I don’t know if Shika wants to be friends and that I’m a really troublesome person and Inner wouldn’t stop calling me stupid and I guess I got a little overwhelmed and then said my thought out loud and now here we are and Inner said that if I want to be friends with Shika then I should come up with a nickname and she kept suggesting Pineapple because his hair looks like a pineapple or Lazy-boy because he seems lazy but I told her those were mean and I’m too scared to even call him Shika even though I thought Pineapple was cute and funny.” You done yet? Maybe you could try this thing called breathing? Oh and good job keeping me a secret. Oh no, I’m sorry.
“Sakura, there’s no need to ramble or be worried.” I looked over and locked eyes with Shikamaru. “I wouldn’t have suggested learning Shogi together if I didn’t want to be friends. You can call me whatever you want. It’s too troublesome to care and you’ve been calling me Shika since we got downstairs. Also, who’s Inner?” Why didn’t you stop me? I was having too much fun. Aren’t you supposed to help guide me? I never said I was good at my job. Wow, thanks. No problem, anytime.
“Haruno-san, I’m more than happy to teach you Shogi. I’ll send Shikamaru over to get you when I have time for lessons. You can tell us about Inner when you’re ready, I know you’ve only just met us. I think Pineapple is a fine nickname for Shikamaru and maybe he can call you something like Cherry?”
He’s having too much fun with this. I think Shika calling me Cherry is cute. You literally screamed at the old lady in the market for calling you that. This is different. Whatever.
“I love it! Pineapple-kun and Cherry-chan! Your own little fruit nicknames for eachother! It’s too cute! Sakura-chan as soon as your parents get back you just have to bring them over for dinner!” That won't end well. Maybe they’ll have a change of heart by then. HA! “Now, if everyone is done eating we should probably get Sakura-chan home.” When did I eat? When you were stressing about saying stuff about me. Wasn’t the most ladylike sight. INNER!
“You guys don’t have to walk me home.”
“Nonsense Sakura-chan. I want to make sure you get home safe and Shika will have to know where you live to fetch you for your lessons. Plus, I need to go to the market anyway and these two boys can help me carry the groceries.”
“It’s kinda far though.”
“That’s no problem at all dear.”
“Troublesome.”
“Okay! Come on Shika! We can have our conversation about Shogi while we walk!”
“Yeah yeah, let's go you troublesome girl.”
Shika and I led the way with his parents a few steps behind us. They were already engaged in their own conversation when I realized something.
“Hey Shika, um… What's your dad’s name?”
“Shikaku. I can’t believe you were so anxious you forgot to ask. Here I was thinking you’re smart.” Even he thinks you’re stupid.
“I am smart! And who said I was anxious.”
“What a drag. The way you rambled and then shoved your face with food was a dead giveaway. Also you were very interested in your lap.”
“Oh…”
“-sigh- Now, what can you tell me about Shogi, Cherry-chan.” I think you’re even redder than a tomato! Hush Inner! I don’t wanna. He called me Cherry-chan. It’s probably his way of telling you he wants to be your friend.
“Well, Pineapple-kun, I read that Shogi is a strategy game-”