Pick Up The Pieces

Meeting

This chapter, and the following two chapters are meant to be in first person. It is to assist with immersion and is an element of the story. It is also, personally, the most critical part of the story. Enjoy as you see fit.

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'Grandpa?' I started, barely audible.

'What is it, Kotetsu?' Smiled the older, wiser adult before me.

'...What if the other kids don't like me?'

Grandpa chuckled lightly and straightened the collar on my shirt with gentle, experienced hands.

'You know,' he started, brushing down imaginary dust and lint from my clothes.

'You ask me the same question every year, and not once have you ever not made at least one friend and introduced me to them.'

'I guess..' I muttered, my muscles pulling my mouth into a mischievous smile.

'I just don't like to break tradition!' I winked at him and mussed his fluffy grey hair.

'Now, now. Just because your fourteen doesn't mean you need to start acting like you own the village.'

'I promise I won't. I better go or I'll be late for the first day.'

'Remember what I told you Kotetsu. What do you have to do with that smile?'

"Never let it fade!" I recited for quite possibly the ten thousandth time in my life as I ran out the door.

My final year at the academy seemed prosperous and exciting. Of course, I loved to have a good time, and really, having fun was the best way to get through life. Just, more often than not, my sense of humour landed me in trouble more than it did me any good. Don't get me wrong though. I'd studied hard and worked myself into becoming an intelligent and noble shinobi. Finally, it looked like all of my perseverance was going to pay off. The last year until I become a genin.

Disappointingly, the weather was a horrible humidity and it was making my hair limp. I'd spent ages trying to change my look, only to have it ruined by nature. See that's the thing about this academy: we keep switching classes every year we progress and it means we lose contact with the friends we've made the entire year before, so it means having to make yet again another set of friendships...and this is where I have my downfall.

I make people laugh. That's the easy part. The problem is that I get them to laugh at my expense, and that always lands me in detention. It sucks, because it's all fine and dandy to be the class clown, but sometimes, I'd just like someone to have my back, to make me feel like I was clowning around for a purpose.

A bell rang and I realised that I'd been wandering off on a tangent, completely away from the academy. I knew the sound of that horrible ring all too well. Class had started. And I was late.

'Shit!' I cursed to myself and sprinted as fast as my legs would carry me. My feet skidded down the halls until I slid just before my new classroom. Great, of all the things I had to do on the first day and I'm late. There goes my chance of making a good first impression. I rapped my knuckles on the door, only to find myself face to face with a scowling sensei in the standard flak jacket and navy ensemble. He was not happy indeed.

'Name?' He said dryly, pen poised at the ready to mark my name off of the clipboard.

'Kotetsu Hagane' I said, cowering on the inside at the complete glare of disappointment beaming at me.