Ghostly Figure

Chapter 12: My name is Yui

-Yui-

The hallway is loud—too loud. My heart pounds in my chest, each beat echoing in my ears as Naruto pulls me through the throngs of students. The academy is nothing like I imagined. 

It's alive with noise and movement, laughter and shouting, but all I can focus on is the overwhelming tension building inside me. My hand clutches Naruto's tightly as if he's the only thing keeping me from disappearing into the floor.

"Don't worry, Yui," Naruto says, glancing back at me with a grin that I wish I could feel in my heart. "I'll be right there with you."

His words are meant to comfort me, but the knot in my stomach only tightens. Every step closer to the classroom feels like a step toward a cliff, and I'm teetering on the edge. I can't stop the thoughts from racing through my mind—

what if they don't like me? What if they're scared of me? What if I hurt someone?

We finally reach the classroom, and I hesitate at the door. The noise inside is a different kind of loud—high-pitched voices, teasing, laughter. I feel my breath catch in my throat. I don't belong here. I can feel their eyes on me already, even though I haven't stepped inside.

Naruto squeezes my hand. "Come on, Yui. You can do this."

With a deep breath, I force myself to follow him inside. The moment I cross the threshold, I feel a dozen eyes flicker in my direction. I lower my head, trying to make myself smaller, less noticeable. I quickly adjust my eye gear, ensuring it's secure. The last thing I need is for someone to see my eyes.

Naruto leads me to a seat near the back, away from the clusters of students already forming. The noise seems to grow louder around me, but it's like I'm hearing it from underwater—distant and muffled. My heart is still racing, and I'm gripping the edge of my seat so hard my knuckles turn white.

Why did I agree to this? Why did I think I could do this?

The door at the front of the room opens, and I glance up just in time to see a man with a scar across his nose enter. Iruka-sensei, I remember Kakashi mentioning his name. He looks kind, but my fear doesn't care. It's too busy reminding me of all the ways this could go wrong.

"Alright, everyone, settle down!" Iruka-sensei calls out, his voice cutting through the chatter. "We have a new student joining us today."

I freeze. No, no, no. I can't do this. I can't stand in front of everyone.

Iruka-sensei's eyes find mine, and he offers an encouraging smile. "Yui, why don't you come up here and introduce yourself?"

I feel like my legs are made of stone, but somehow, I force myself to stand. My feet move on their own, carrying me slowly to the front of the room. I can feel every single pair of eyes on me, the weight of their stares pressing down on me like a heavy blanket. My heart is pounding so loudly that I'm sure everyone can hear it.

I stop beside Iruka-sensei, but I can't bring myself to look at the class. My voice catches in my throat, and when I finally manage to speak, it's barely above a whisper. "M-my name is Yui..."

The room falls silent. I can feel the confusion, the curiosity, the judgment in their eyes. It's too much. I want to run, to hide, to disappear.

"Say it louder!" someone shouts from the back, the voice harsh and impatient.

My breath hitches, and I feel tears prick at the corners of my eyes. I can't do this. I knew I couldn't do this.

"Her name is Yui!" Naruto's voice rings out, strong and defiant. He stands up from his seat, glaring at the boy who shouted. "And maybe you should clean your ears if you can't hear her!"

The class bursts into laughter and the tension in the room shifts. It's no longer directed at me, but at the boy Naruto scolded. I glance at Naruto, who flashes me a reassuring grin. He's not scared. He's not embarrassed by me.

I swallow hard, trying to push down the lump in my throat. "Yui... my name is Yui," I manage to say again, just a little louder this time.

Iruka-sensei nods approvingly and pats my shoulder gently. "Thank you, Yui. You can take your seat now."

I make my way back to my seat, my heart still pounding from standing in front of the class. I keep my eyes down, not wanting to meet anyone's gaze, even through my protective eyewear. The whispers around me feel louder than ever, and the weight of the stares presses down on me, making it hard to breathe. I try to take deep breaths, but the anxiety is like a knot in my chest, tightening with every second.

When I finally sit down beside Naruto, he leans in close, his voice warm and full of reassurance. "You did great, Yui. Don't let that kid bother you. He's just loud for no reason."

I nod slightly, my hands gripping the edge of my desk. "It was... scary," I whisper, my voice barely audible. The eyes of my classmates are still on me, their curiosity and judgment like a heavy cloud over my head.

Naruto gives me a wide, reassuring grin, his blue eyes filled with determination. "I know it was, but great job! Not everyone could do what you did. And hey, I'm right here with you, remember? No one's gonna mess with you while I'm around!" He puffs out his chest slightly, trying to look tough, and I can't help but feel a tiny bit safer.

I look at him, his confidence and warmth slowly easing the tension in my chest. "Thank you, Naruto," I whisper, my voice a little steadier this time. The knot of fear in my stomach loosens a bit, knowing that I'm not alone.

Naruto nods enthusiastically, clearly pleased to see me calming down. "Anytime, Yui! We're a team now, right? Just like Kakashi says, we gotta stick together!" He gives me a thumbs-up, and I can't help but smile, just a little.

Before I can say anything else, I hear a loud whisper from in front of me. "Hey, Yui!" It's Ino, leaning over her desk to get my attention. I look up, startled, but Ino's smile is bright and friendly. "It's great to see you again!" she says, her voice cheerful.

I blink, surprised by Ino's warmth. "H-Hi, Ino," I manage to reply, my voice still soft, but with a hint of relief. It's comforting to see a familiar face, someone who isn't looking at me with suspicion or fear.

Ino nods, her smile growing. "Don't worry about what just happened. You're doing awesome, and we're all gonna have a great time in class together," she assures me. "If you need anything, just let me know, okay?"

I nod, feeling a little less overwhelmed. The kindness from Naruto and Ino is pushing back the anxiety that's been threatening to swallow me whole. "Okay... Thank you, Ino," I whisper, genuinely grateful.

Naruto, not wanting to be left out, chimes in again. "See? You've already got friends here, Yui! We're all in this together!" He gives me a playful nudge, trying to make me feel even better.

I look between Naruto and Ino, feeling a warmth I hadn't expected. The fear is still there, lurking at the edges of my mind, but with Naruto's unwavering support and Ino's friendly presence, it doesn't seem so overwhelming. 

"Thank you," I say again, this time with a bit more confidence.

Naruto grins at me, clearly happy that I'm feeling better. "Anytime, Yui! Now let's show everyone how awesome we are!" He winks at me, his playful energy infectious.

"Y-yeah..."

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