Melody (Konoha School Of Arts)

29. Press conference

I totally numbered the previous chapter 30 instead of 28 and nobody told me. Oh well.

***

Anko provided Tenten with a change of clothes and directed her to the bathroom for a shower after they had gotten to her apartment. The place was a modest place that smelled like sweets but Anko's eerie taste in home decor ruined every notion you could sleep in peace there.

For one, a katana hung over the door and almost every wall was lined with a dangerous weapon. The place was definitely not child safe and Tenten half wondered how and where Anko got her weapons. For some strange reason though, Tenten liked the place weapons and all.

She told Anko about what happened the day before with Ryoga and the woman was royally pissed. "That lying son of a-!" Tenten had to stop Anko from marching out of the house with a spear but only because she didn't want her to violate any animal protection laws. "Wait. Don't tell me he was responsible for your injuries all this while!"

The woman looked at Tenten for answers and the girl shook her head. "He really isn't the cause of my injuries, sensei." She reaffirmed when Anko looked at her disbelievingly. Tenten sighed. She didn't really want anybody to know about her personal life but she had not choice but to tell Anko. And she did.

"You're a strong girl, Tenten. You stand tall and proud with your head high, and you don't allow where you're from hinder your efforts to becoming something." Anko began after hearing her story and how she struggled financially. "But Tenten, there's nothing wrong with receiving help once in a while especially when I'm the one offering it."

"I don't want to bother or owe anyone." Tenten admitted and an unusually soft expression crossed Anko's face. Then she chuckled. Tenten questioned the laughter with a look. Was her decision stupid? She didn't think it was.

"You just reminded me of myself, sorry for laughing." Anko reassured that she was laughing because of something else; a distant memory it seemed. "I used to be headstrong just like you and didn't want to bother anyone or owe anybody. It always feels like that when you need help. But then what can you do? Receiving help is the only way to solve your problem, there's no choice.

You have to receive help at one point in your life or the other, it's just being human. Sometimes help comes from the wrong person and you end up regretting ever asking and sometimes you meet someone that keeps helping you unconditionally. This is why it is important to know who to ask for help and not.

I met a good person and they helped me. Now I want to help you unconditionally because you are my student and a girl that reminds me so much of my younger self. The question is, Tenten, will you let me help?"

Tenten pondered on Anko's words from earlier as she lay in the guestroom. She had been dismissed after their talk and left to think over her options which were either to move in with Anko and allow her to pay her outstanding debt or to go back to her shabby apartment and allow Anko to give her weekly allowances.

It was obvious which option was the best for her but Tenten wasn't sure she could accept the help just like that. Could she really accept Anko's offer without being a burden? Maybe she could. That would be really nice.

-

It was awkward but Tenten accepted to stay with Anko. She had to admit that living alone sucked and she really didn't want to see Ryoga ever again. It was a quick process. In one day, Anko wired the money Tenten owed to her former landlord and she moved out. It was easy because she had nothing to take except her clothes, picture frames, radio and phone.

Tenten checked her device for notifications after it was fully charged. It was left behind at her now former apartment when she was arrested so she didn't have much access to it after she was released.