Part 4
Chapter 3
- You haven't answered my question yet. – reminded Shikamaru as his food was being brought.
- What was the question?
- How does popularity work? – he repeated, not convinced at all that Temari really had forgot in the first place.
- In school?
- Yeah.
- I think you know this. How are you popular?
- I'm popular?
- Ok, you don't know this. Or you're acting like you don't. I'm not gonna question further anyway, it's a stupid topic to argue about so... yes you're popular. I would assume because you're the chief's son.
- Is being well respected person's relative the only reason?
- No. For example, Gaara seems pretty popular by now, and he's new, people knows nothing about him.
- Why is he popular then?
- I don't know, maybe he's decent looking? Can't tell when it's my own brother. And he's hanging out with you guys.
- What does that have to do with anything?
By now, Temari was starting to feel like she was talking to an alien.
- I thought I was isolated. If you hang out with the popular group, it affects your reputation as well.
- Is that so? That makes sense now. But why do people want to be popular? Isn't it easier to just be themselves and try to get attention from the people that they actually have something in common with, and easier to talk to? They wouldn't have to act.
- I know. But I think they just want extra... attention. By being in the spotlight, they get that.
- Again, they could always get people's attention that actually understands them, and want to be with them by showing who they really are. And they'd be in that spotlight anyway, because then they're unique in their own way.
- How do you know they're not showing who they really are?
- It's so obvious. When they try to talk to me, I can just feel their tension and fakeness from miles. Do you know that feeling when someone is talking to you, but not actually with the words they want to say? And then you don't know what to reply, or even reply at all. Because you're not actually talking to that person.
- Yeah. I get that. But school makes it seem like reputation is the most important thing in the world.
- Does it?
- Again, you're usually on the other side of the road.
- Are you?
Temari looked down to her plate, not sure what to say. Yes, she was. In fact, she was too far from the road. And she wanted a fresh start here in Konoha, where no one knows who she is. She decided she should keep it that way.
- No. Unfortunately. – she felt like she needed to add the last part.
- You don't seem like it, though. Good for you. – he said, eyeing her reaction to his words.
YOU ARE READING
Shikamaru x Temari Distance (AU)
Fanfiction#3 shikatema Shikamaru is a normal high school student to another's eye but also an undercover investigator of Konoha who took the job under the wings of his father, the chief, Shikaku Nara. Temari is a girl who had been torn to pieces after her pa...
