𝐬𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞 [𝐤𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢 𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞]

𝟎.𝟓 𝐌𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐆𝐚𝐢

Might Gai — Hanai Gaiden

         The Shinobi classes are broken into four levels: Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, Taijutsu and Kunoichi. Hanai had a habit of skipping all the classes, except the days of flower arrangements. 

        She struggled to make any friends, she was socially inept, and negative rumors spread like wildfires about her and her family. Her translucent features intimidated many. Being an immigrant of war caused distrust and isolation. She faced constant bullies, their words always causing Hanai to burst into tears. 

        And to Gai's pride and joy, he always fought the kids who spoke badly about her.

        "Booooo, a phantom is invading the village! Attack!" The bully wiggled its arms, making fun of the girl's pale hair and eyes, before he curled his fingers into a fist, shoving a fist to her face. The sparse distance between the bully's coarse fist and Hanai's soft face is immediately cushioned by another body.  

        "Hey, leave her alone!" A boy with fair skin, a large nose, and black hair styled in a bowl-cut came to her aid. He stood protectively in front of Hanai. Gai had gripped the bully's wrist, who was just about to snatch her hair. He wore a green jumpsuit and a red scarf. He had heard the laughter and teasing, he saw her fear and jumped in. 

        This made the bullies beat up Gai instead. His red scarf was thrown to the ground, stomped by the bullies before they ran off with insults in the air. "Loser!"

        Bruises covered his body, yet he didn't burst into tears. He stood right back up, chest puffed out as he picked up his scrappy scarf. He shook the fabric, collective dust rose up causing him to choke. It wasn't his nature to pretend like nothing was happening, especially when he too understood how it felt like to be discriminated against for being different. 

        Oh no, is he okay?

        Despite Hanai's worry, she didn't speak up. Instead, it was Gai who voiced his concern first, "You okay Hanai?"

        She jumped at his tone, her hands curling together, staring at his swollen, black eye. "Um—yeah." 

        With a thumbs up, a wink, and a winning smile is thrown at the very confused girl. "Awesome!"

        His optimism and confidence were very weird for Hanai to see. She had so many questions about him...Why did you do that?

        "You don't like fighting right? So I figured I'd step in for you!"

        Eh, did I talk out loud?

        "Yeah, you did," Gai answered. "You're a little weird....but it's okay, I'm a weirdo too!"

        She blinked, not understanding. "I'm not weird, I'm Hanai."

        "Aghk, No I—mean!" Gai wailed, his fingers wiggling. "It wasn't an insult, I would never insult a friend!"

        At that moment the dark shadows that loomed over her pale eyes, cleared out. "What?" her tone hardened, like a twig snapping. 

        Gai's chest was stabbed by her words, a mixture of embarrassment and hurt swelled inside him. He had come to the conclusion that they were friends, and from the sound of it, she didn't reciprocate the friendship. "I'm sorry, I just thought-!"