Coming of age: The beginning

The end and the beginning

"Shika-chaaaan! Dinner's ready," Fuyumi called from downstairs. Shika was lying in bed texting her mom when she heard her name being called.

"Coming!" She yells in response.

She only needed to type a few more words and then she could head on down. She and her mom had been chatting for some time by this point since she wanted to keep her updated on all her progress in school and with the hero program.

"Shiiiika-chaaan, the food's getting coooold."

She could practically hear Fuyumi pouting and it made her smile. Fuyumi was so cute.

"Okay okay, Fuyu-nee, I'm on my way now," said Shika as she pulled herself up and made her way out of her bedroom. She continued to speak as she descended the stairs, "No need to pou-" she started, but her words suddenly caught in her throat as she took the last step.

There standing in the common room was a smiling Fuyumi and right next to her was the boy from next door. Immediately Shika's ears were filled with the sound of her heart thudding against her chest.

Her stomach suddenly felt sick and her cheeks heated intensely from embarrassment as thoughts of watching him earlier filled her mind. And silently she prayed to the Gods to make a black hole appear beneath her feet to swallow her up.

"Shika-chan, I'd like to introduce you to my baby brother, Shoto. He just moved back home yesterday. Well last night to be exact. Sho-kun this is our guest from Konoha. Kazami Shika. She'll be living here with me for the duration of the school year. I thought I'd introduce you since you've moved back home and you guys are so close in age. Well? Don't be shy, go say hi, Sho-kun," Fuyumi said as she gently pushed the younger boy in Shika's direction.

The two of them locked eyes as Shoto walked towards Shika who was still standing at the foot of the stairs. Honestly, she didn't trust her legs at that moment to take a step so she was pretty much glued to the spot.

Shoto's heterochromatic eyes stared intently at her as he lifted his right hand up for her to shake. Shika tried swallowing the lump in her throat, her eyes glancing down at his outstretched hand. That same hand whose fingers had been resting so casually against his pink nipples only hours ago.

Closing her eyes tightly, she willed the weird thought out of her mind before taking his hand, gasping as she did. It was cold. She looked up at him in surprise and swore she'd seen him smirking. But when she blinked again, it was gone.

"Hey," he greeted.

"...Hey," Shika said in response before the two let their hands drop to their sides awkwardly.

Shoto quickly returned to his sister's side and the two sat down at the table, but Shika remained where she stood. It took a moment for Fuyumi to realize this fact before she looked up at Shika and smiled.

"What are you doing over there, silly Shika-chan? Come eat before the food really does get cold."

Shika wasn't sure her stomach would be able to handle any food at the moment and she still wasn't 100% certain her legs wouldn't give out on her with just one step, but she didn't want to disappoint Fuyumi either. So, gathering up all her courage, she let her numb legs carry her into the common room.

Dinner was stressful, to say the least. Well, in Shika's opinion that is. Fuyumi and her younger brother seemed just fine. Shoto wasn't much of a talker, she'd learned. He'd answer any questions aimed at him, but he was mostly silent otherwise.

It wasn't a problem though since Fuyumi more than made up for his lack of conversation. She was excited to have her baby brother back after all.

Shika took a nervous glance over at Shoto as he ate and silently wondered why he'd left to begin with. Had he just been away visiting distant relatives? But school had already started before he returned. Did he have issues in school that needed resolving first? Or was it something else?