The Hunger Games: Mashup

Chapter Sixteen

District 1

“Natsumi, you look adorable!” squealed Tohru Honda, hugging her best friend. Natsumi gave her a nervous look. She had on a checkered black and white dress. The ribbon in her hair was slate gray, and her shoes were polished black as well. Her socks were bleach white and her hair was as red as always. She gave a sad sigh.

“Aside from the fact that the Reaping is going on now, I also hate the fact that I have to dress up for it. I feel like I'm going to a funeral,” she complained to Tohru.

“But you look so beautiful—like a doll!” said Tohru, frowning slightly at Natsumi's depressed decorum. Natsumi tugged at the collar of her shirt.

“That's my issue. Why does everyone dress up for the Reaping when really, it's like we're sending two kids off to their funerals!” she complained. Tohru slapped a hand over Natsumi's mouth and Natsumi paled. Tohru looked at her desperately.

“You must be quiet! They'll hear you!” said Tohru softly. Peacekeepers loitered around District 1. District 1 was relatively safe from Peacekeepers since District 1 was the Capitol's favorite, but that didn't stop them from being punished for speaking ill of the Capitol. Phantom was unforgiving to those who spoke out against him, and to those who didn't stop it. Tohru was risking her life even now in keeping Natsumi's moment of rebellion a secret. Tohru's face was paler than usual. Natsumi gave her a depressed frown.

“Whatever...you look cute too—much cuter than I am,” said Natsumi without a hint of jealousy. Tohru misinterpreted her sadness as envy.

“Don't say that, Natsumi. If I'm pretty, then so are you. Don't try and single yourself out of the group,” said Tohru. Tohru was always the person trying to keep everyone together. She was like the chain link to keeping everyone sane. District 1 was by far the best district to be in, because they lived a sheltered life. They had enough food, at least more than some, and since they made luxury items for the Capitol, they were an invaluable source of manufacturing to keeping the Capitol's people happy. Still, that didn't mean District 1 wasn't hard to live in. It had its slums. It had its crime. And above all, it still had to participate in the Hunger Games.

Tohru wore a pink dress that stopped at her knees. It had white lace covering its hems. Tohru also wore white lace gloves and a sun hat with a pink frilled ribbon. Her hair fell down her shoulders in comparison to her usual braids. Her socks covered up to her thighs and she wore simple black converse. Unlike Natsumi, they were her best pair of shoes.

A tap came on Natsumi's shoulder and she turned to see Naruto. He had discarded his usual jumpsuit and traded it in for a neat, black shirt, clean slacks, and shiny dress shoes. His hair was no less messy, but at least he wasn't wearing his shinobi headband over it. He wore that on his arm, like a bandanna. He gave Natsumi a sad smile.

“Hey there, Natsumi,” he said to her with a sheepish grin. He frowned at him. She couldn't pretend to smile. Not when she knew she had to lose someone precious today.

“Hey, Naruto,” she said to him. He gave her a nervous grin. “Are you ready for this?”

“Absolutely not,” said Natsumi breathlessly. His grin dropped and he scratched the back of his head nervously.

“Hey...about the other day...I'm sorry. I was being stupid, and I wasn't thinking. I didn't mean...I know that not everyone makes it out of these Games...I was just hoping to be the one that does...I didn't think that I might have to kill one of my friends to get out alive,” he told her. Natsumi looked at him through half-lidded eyes. She couldn't afford to show any emotion at the time. The slightest slip of her emotions, and she would be gone. Whether it rage, sadness, or even laughter, she knew she would cry if she didn't keep up the constant poker face.