Stay ✓

Chapter 5: thirteenth birthday

Mai walked aside Ino and Shikamaru as they made their way to Ichiraku.

"Where's Choji today?" Asked Mai as she took a seat next to Shikamaru.

"He's out with his father." Ino replied.

Mai just nodded silently while waiting for their ramen to be served.

"Mai, isn't your birthday tomorrow as well? Are you doing anything with you mom and dad?" The blonde asked as she placed her elbows on the table and tilted her head to look at Mai.

Mai had honestly forgotten her birthday was tomorrow. She has been preoccupied with her family problem and the academy to realize it. But, frankly, she didn't care about her birthday anymore.

The Masaki faked a small smile. "Oh, yeah. But, no. I'm not doing anything."

Ino frowned. "Is that because," she hesitated and shifted slightly in her seat. "Your sisters birthday is the day after?"

Mai's head shot up and her golden eyes widened. Quickly her face fell flat as she fully remembered her sisters birthday was in fact a day after hers. Guilt sprung throughout her, but it wasn't completely her fault. She hated her birthday so she forgets about it.

Breaking the awkward tension, the steamy ramen was placed in front of the young ninja.

Because of Mai being reminded of her late sister, her appetite had been depleted. She picked up the chopsticks and lazily poked at her ramen.

"Mai, I'm sorry if bringing her up upset you. I didn't mean too. Maybe we could do something for your birthday tomorrow!" Ino spoke apologetically.

"Yeah, perhaps doing something like that will cheer you up." Shikamaru unexpectedly chimed in.

The blue haired girl shook her head. "Thanks, guys. However I'm sure my dad will force me to train like everyday. He wants me to be a strong shinobi."

"Do you not want to be a strong shinobi?" Shikamaru raised an eyebrow.

Mai stayed silent for a moment as her attention was focused on the chopsticks picking at her now cold food. "Never said that. It's complicated, forget it."

"I didn't say that was a bad thing. Being a ninja is such a drag." Shikamaru sighed.

Mai lightly chuckled at his statement. "Yeah, it is."

"Hn. It's you guys."

Mai shot her attention to the smug looking ravenette who just arrived to Ichiraku.

Ino's face brightened. "Sasuke! You can sit next to me if you want!"

Sasuke didn't pay attention to the energetic blonde. His onyx eyes gazed right at the quiet Mai who's eyes returned the stare.

Their eyes were burning into each other's. They were locked together, which sent a shockwave of nostalgia through them.

Ino noticed and a ping of jealousy washed over her. "Sasuke!!" She yelled as she jumped down from her seat and embraced the raven in a hug from behind.

His eyes tore away from Mai's and he became tremendously irritated. "Get off me."

Ino's face fell and she became angry at Mai for getting Sasuke's attention without even trying.

"Hm," the blonde sassily crossed her arms. "Well then enjoy your birthday by yourself Mai." She said storming off.

Shikamaru groaned. "Women." He spoke before also leaving Ichiraku, leaving Mai and Sasuke alone.

Mai was shocked how quick Ino was mad at her, and for nothing. Mai didn't like Sasuke, in fact she despised him for what he did. She never wanted to forgive him for leaving her especially when they both went through traumatic experiences.

Sasuke sat a few seats away from Mai, never diverting his attention back towards her.

After that whole commotion, the blue haired girl left Ichiraku and shortly returned home to sleep.

As she lay in her bed, she couldn't help but drift off and dream about her and the raven when they were best friends and young, while her sister was alive. Those were the memories she'd love forever.

-

It was just another slow and draggy day at the academy. Nobody except for Shikamaru, Ino and Sasuke knew it was her birthday. However, she didn't particularly care.

Ino was still unnecessarily angry with the cobalt-blue haired ninja. Mai genuinely couldn't figure out what could have gotten her alleged friend so upset. Sasuke isn't nice to anyone, so what makes Ino any different?

"Happy Birthday, Mai." Shikamaru's sleepy voice spoke snapping Mai from her inner thoughts.

The Masaki gave the shadow user a small smile. "Thanks, Shikamaru."

Mai's chin returned to its resting spot on her palm as she uninterestingly tried to focus on the lesson Iruka Sensei had been teaching.

"Did you make plans or whatever?" The Nara whispered to make sure their sensei didn't catch them not paying attention.

The blue haired ninja shifted her head to look at Shikamaru. "No. And Ino's still mad at me so that means definitely no."

Shikamaru's eyes rolled and his mouth let out a quiet sigh. "Women are so troublesome."

Mai couldn't help but let a small chuckle escape her lips, and she quickly threw a hand over her mouth to muffle her laughs. "You got that right. Just because Sasuke didn't want her to hug him she got mad at me!" She whisper-yelled.

"Troublesome." The black haired boy repeated, putting his head down to rest on top of his arms as his eyes started to flutter close.

-

As Mai walked out of the academy doors, her forced smile faded into a dull line. She was dreading going home, simply because her father would find some excuse to beat her again.

Her feet brought her to Ichiraku, and her stomach instantly growled as her nose became filled with the delicious scent of ramen.

Pulling out her simple black wallet, she hummed in response after knowing she had enough money to buy herself a hot meal.

Mai walked inside while greeted Teuchi and his daughter as she took a seat.

"The regular?" Teuchi jokingly guessed, because he already knew the Masaki would ask for it.

Mai nodded politely.

'This isn't such a horrible birthday. At least Shikamaru said happy birthday to me. And at least I get to have some ramen before I go.... home.'

-

After an expected quick beating, Mai laid wide awake in her bed. Her cheek stung with the familiar pain of her fathers angry fists.

"I expected this, yes. However, a part of me really hoped for one day my parents could act like they use to. That was the only thing I wanted this year."

Mai sprung out of bed and sat on the chair in front of her vanity. Her fingers gently took out the tight French braids releasing her medium length curly hair. She picked up her brush and glided it throughout her cobalt blue locks until all snarls were brushed out.

She studied herself in the reflection, golden honey orbs drifting down to look at the new bruise and cut directly on her pale cheek. 'I'm disgusting'

Her soft fingers graced over the mark, a silent tear falling slowly down her cheek and dripping onto her black vanity.

~

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