bubblegum princess

chapter thirty seven

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the end of the beginning:
UNTOLD BLOOSHED!
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HUMMING QUIETLY to herself, Seiren absentmindedly brushed a few stray strands of hair behind her ear as she sat cross-legged on her bed, her eyes glued to the pages of the book she had been reading for the past hour. 

The steady murmur of voices from the other girls in the dorm filled the room like background music. Sarada and ChoCho chatted softly in the corner, their conversation a gentle hum in the distance, while Namida and Wasabi were busy entertaining Sumire with the latest rumors swirling around the Mist Village.

The dormitory had an unspoken calm about it, a sanctuary in the middle of all the day's chaos. Situated directly across from the boys' dormitory, it had been made very clear by Anko earlier that there would be no crossing over—neither the boys were allowed into the girls' dorm nor vice versa. 

Seiren didn't mind the isolation. If anything, she welcomed it. The quiet felt like a warm embrace, a rare moment of solitude she hadn't experienced in what seemed like forever. The peace wrapped around her like a soft blanket, making her feel at ease.

"Everyone! Time for our evening roll call!" Anko knocked on their door before leaving. Excitingly the girls jump away from their respective beds and walked out.

A sudden noise cut through the stillness, making her jump slightly. It was distant but unmistakable—Boruto's frustrated voice echoed faintly through the walls, carrying an unmistakable edge of annoyance. The sound jarred her from her quiet moment, her heart skipping a beat as she closed her book with a soft thud. Before she could even process what was happening, she saw Sarada shoot up from her mattress, her expression a mix of irritation and impatience.

"Can we just have our evening in peace? They didn't hear anything that Anko-sensei said?" Sarada muttered, her voice sharp with frustration as she marched toward the door with determined steps.

Seiren's eyes widened in alarm. "Neechan!" she called out, panic rising in her voice as she hurried after her twin, trying to catch up. Both of them moved swiftly through the dormitory, the sound of Sarada's angry footsteps echoing down the hall. Seiren's heart raced as she clutched her favorite bunny plushie tightly against her chest, the soft fabric bringing her a small sense of comfort in the tension-filled moment.

When they reached the common area, Sarada wasted no time. Her dark eyes narrowed dangerously, menacingly glaring at Boruto, who stood there with a handful of ninja cards, completely oblivious to the storm about to hit him. He wasn't alone—Kagura, Shikadai, and the rest of the boys were with him. Iwabe sat off to the side, a blank, uninterested expression on his face, as if he had no part in whatever trouble was brewing.

"Did you guys even hear what Anko-sensei announced in the hall?" Sarada snapped, her voice sharp with annoyance. She crossed her arms, clearly unimpressed by the boys' antics. Her glare could've cut through steel, and Boruto, wide-eyed, stared back, momentarily caught off guard.

Seiren peeked out from behind Sarada, her grip on the bunny plushie tightening slightly. She felt small compared to Sarada's fierce presence. Her large eyes scanned the group nervously. "We're supposed to have our evening roll call before the lights are out," she said softly, her voice almost a whisper compared to Sarada's commanding tone.

It was the gentle approach, the calm voice of reason, but it was clear Seiren felt the weight of her twin's frustration. She shifted on her feet, glancing nervously at Boruto and Kagura, trying to defuse the situation before it escalated further. Boruto rubbed the back of his neck, guilt flashing across his face, while Kagura, standing beside him, looked between Seiren and Sarada, seemingly unsure how to respond.