𝐀 𝐓𝐎𝐔𝐂𝐇 𝐓𝐎 𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐄 ━━ S. UCHIHA

XL

This is the final week of our first trimester. Oh, how I've been waiting for this since forever! Not only because we only have one more week until summer break starts or that the new kid shows up, but the fact that an important date is riding up very soon gives such glorious excitement. Even Hinata is anxious about it.

My mom finally coming home.

"So, when is she coming?" Hinata asks with a smile.

"I'm not sure. She didn't really say an exact date," I answer, glancing at my finished lunch before back to her. "But I have a feeling she didn't tell me because she wants to surprise us."

"That's going to be so fun!"

"I know! I'm so excited!"

Sakura's eyes dart between Hinata and I conversing, studying my type of conversation so she's able to make a better friendship with me. Even after our successful presentation, she continues to try and bond with me. "Your mom?" she pipes up.

Right, I didn't really mention any background to Sakura, Sasuke, and Naruto who are all enveloped in a bubble of confusion. Since Sakura has taken note of how close I'm getting with Sasuke and Naruto, she decided that we should all eat as a group, which now means she's going to try and befriend Hinata, too.

"Oh, sorry," I apologize, feeling my thrill overwhelm me. "My mom left for a business trip two years ago and is coming back summer break!"

"Wait," Naruto starts. "A two-year business trip? Not even my parents do that."

I scratch my cheek. "Well, we had the offer of moving, but my brother was finishing up his last year of high school and I was finishing up junior high, and my dad finally got a good-paying job. We decided we'd stay and she'd just be the one to travel."

"Ohhh!" Sakura gasps. "That's kinda cool."

"You were gonna move?" Sasuke asks, finally joining the conversation.

"It was like... I think a 3-year term? But since we declined it, they shortened it so my mom wasn't apart from us too long."

"Two years, though," Naruto gapes. "That's still so long."

I shrug. "Well, the two years are almost over and she'll be coming home soon, so..."

Sakura rubs my shoulder, her emerald eyes meeting mine. "You must be really happy."

I hold her eyes, sharing a gleam that spreads to hers. "I am."

"Well, whenever she settles in, you have to let me meet her!"

"Me, too!" Naruto budges in, raising a hand and waving it aggressively in my face. "I wanna meet her!"

Hinata giggles with red across her face. She glances at me and smiles, very much excited about the social exchange going around.

"Alright, class!" Iruka-sensei announces, his voice booming above everyone else's. "Settle down, settle down! I'd like to take a moment off of your lunch—"

"What?!" a student stammers, leaving the class in a collective giggle. "Ah, come on!"

The teacher at the front of the classroom sighs behind his stand. "It'll only take a moment."

"I wonder what it is," Sakura whispers to me.

I lean back to her ear. "Me, too."

"Now, if all of you could, please, be on your best behavior. I'd like to introduce our foreign exchange student."

Foreign exchange student? Did we have a new student? I don't remember Iruka-sensei saying anything about—wait! I do remember! We have a new student!