As soon as Murakami disappeared and Aiko was sure of it, she ignored the stunned looks on the others faces and snorted coldly.
"You heard what Murakami said, make yourself comfortable."
She said and turned to Miko and Yui, "Come on let's get seated, I assure you, with Murakami and Daichi cooking, you're in for the best meal of your life."
"Oh."
"Hmm."
Miko and Yui replied as they let themselves be dragged by Aiko.
Katsuro sighed as he felt a headache coming and turned to the blond girl and chubby boy. "Come on, let's get seated. I have a feeling this is going to be a long night."
The Yamanaka girl and Akimichi nodded and followed Katsuro to get seated. Kenji harrumphed but also sat down. Hideki, Sora and Daichi's teammates all sat down.
Aiko waited until everyone had found a spot around the table before she clapped her hands.
"Okay! Since we're all stuck here until the food's ready, and trust me, it's worth the wait…ahem! let's not just sit like strangers at a funeral."
She grinned and pointed around the circle. "I'm sure we already know a thing or two about each other, but as we are in a new setting, let's get to introducing ourselves first."
"And ignore what all just saw?" Kenji, ever the trouble maker, butted in with a question of his own.
Katsuro, who was already relaxing his weight on the table, completely slumped with a heavy sigh.
"What's the matter, Katsuro?" The Yamanaka asked.
"Hiyori-chan, listen to me very carefully…whatever happens tonight don't say a word more than necessary." Katsuro said in a deep voice. Then turning to the Akimichi he saw his attention wasn't really there to which he let out a sigh of relief.
He could always trust Choya to be physically present but mentally absent.
"What do you mean?" Hiyori asked curiously.
Katsuro sighed, but before he could say anything, Hideki spoke. "Yeah…how the hell did Murakami do this?"
"Tch…minds of small people? How else did he do it if not with chakra?" Aiko's harsh reply came immediately, causing even Sora's eyes to twitch.
'We all know he used chakra, the question is how he made this table and chairs!' Sora said inwardly but feared voicing it out to become Aiko's next target.
"It's one mystery after the other with Murakami, don't bother trying to understand anything." Katsuro muttered loud enough for everyone to hear before completely slumping on the table.
Unfortunately for him, he wasn't here when Aiko said they were going to the training ground of the "strongest person" of their class, so he couldn't understand their feelings.
"Don't bother with them, Katsuro-kun. Even after experiencing what they experienced, they still doubt." Aiko said. "That's a sign of someone who would die without knowing how he died."
"And you don't have to be rude about it, you know." Katsuro replied without raising his head. "I'm sure you remember what Murakami said."
Aiko paused before clicking her tongue. "Anyways, Miko, Yui, let me tell you, Murakami doesn't really care to blow his own horn and I promised not to mention it for as long as we are in the academy, but we're already Genin, so…"
"It still wouldn't hurt to not mention it…isn't that an even better idea?" Katsuro groaned and sat up straight. "Murakami might not appreciate-"
"Let me worry about what Murakami would appreciate or not." Aiko immediately cut him off, then turned snarky again. "If some idiot didn't like blowing his own horn despite how weak he is, why can't I blow Murakami's horn considering his is the real thing."
"What are you two talking about Kat-chan? When is the food coming?" Choya softly elbowed Katsuro and asked.
Katsuro sighed. "Soon, Choya, have some patience." He replied then turned to Aiko who was already bantering with Kenji and the other boys in the group who were trying to defend their pride with excuses like they were caught off guard.
Only Sora, Choya and the girls weren't participating in the conversation.
Katsuro sighed again but didn't know how to join or stop the conversation.
Like Aiko, he knew that Murakami was strong, mentally and physically. As for chakra wise…he wasn't really keen on finding out since that would place him on an entirely different stage.
The stage of genius. A stage he knew Murakami was in but chose not to be open about it.
That was why he felt comfortable with Murakami.
Katsuro loved the solitude that came with sitting with his thoughts and it was difficult to find kids his age with such mentality.
Luckily, he met Murakami, a kid who seemed to love that solitude more than him, so they hit it off quickly.
If that kind of person were to be keen, the entire village would've known about him by now, but nobody did, not even he knew the extent of Murakami's ability till a few months ago.
"How about you just challenge him to a spar after we're done eating?" Sora asked just then. "Bantering over it while he isn't here isn't going to solve anything."
Katsuro's eyes lit up as if seeing his lifeline in a storm and said. "That's the perfect idea. Instead of wondering if Aiko is right or wrong, how about you challenge him and know how strong you are in comparison to him."
"Doesn't sound like a bad idea." Aiko nodded and agreed.
"But you don't even understand how he made this table and chairs, what gives you the right to even challenge him." Hiyori suddenly chimed in, causing all eyes to turn to her.
Katsuro's especially as he looked at her with wide eyes.
"What?"
"I…didn't know you were in favour of him." Katsuro said, choosing his words carefully.
"Favour? This is not being in favour of anyone, it's a matter of difference in class." She said with a matter of fact tone. "This," she said pointing to the table, "was done with mastery over nature transformation."
She paused and looked at Kenji, Hideki and the others. "That is a level of mastery over one's elements that comes when one is a Jonin."
"Do you think you can beat someone of that calibre?" Hiyori asked, this time, her voice took a louder tone due to the pin drop silence.
"Heh." Aiko snickered and leaned forward, elbows on her knees, chin in her hands as she looked at Hiyori. "I like you, let's be friends."
"I don't see a reason why not." Hiyori nodded. "But I think we should keep the introduction going, don't you agree?"
"You're absolutely right, who's next? Miko? Yui? Don't leave us hanging, it's your turn."
She tilted her head toward Miko first, eyes bright and expectant like she hadn't been the person leading the argument that delayed them.
Miko exhaled through her nose, but the corner of her mouth lifted. "Fine. Yoshida Miko. I like sharp kunai, quiet mornings, and winning arguments. I dislike loud people."
Yui fidgeted with her braid, then spoke softly. "Fujiwara Yui. I like reading medical scrolls, watching sunsets over the river, and… tea that isn't too bitter. I dislike loud crowds and when people get hurt for no reason."
Kenji crossed his arms tighter, but after a beat he muttered, "Sato Kenji. I like food that's actually good, training in, and not being alive. I dislike lectures and people who show off."
Aiko laughed brightly.
"See? Was that so hard? I dislike people like that too. We're practically family now."
"You-!"
Without giving him time to respond, she turned to the others, Hideki, Sora, Katsuro, Hiyori, Chōya, and Daichi's teammates.
"Who's next? Don't make me pick on you one by one."
Hideki raised his hand like he was in class.
"Motomiya Hideki! I like fighting, eating, and winning! I dislike losing, waiting, and people who think they're better than me just because they're quiet!"
He shot a pointed look at Sora, who sighed and spoke next without prompting. "Akira Sora. I like reading, silence, and people who think before they speak. I dislike noise, interruptions, and wasting time."
Katsuro groaned, head still resting on the table.
"Katsuro Nara. I like sleeping, thinking, and not being dragged into other people's drama. I dislike… this."
He waved a limp hand at the entire room causing Aiko, Miko and Yui to chuckle while Hiyori Yamanaka sat a little straighter.
"Hiyori Yamanaka. I like flowers, strategy, and people who can keep up. I dislike underestimating others and loud arguments that solve nothing."
Chōya Akimichi finally looked up from staring at the table, blinking as though just remembering he was in a conversation.
"Chōya Akimichi. I like food. A lot of food. I dislike being hungry and people who don't share."
The table burst into laughter for a moment before Aiko clapped in excitement.
"There we go! Now we know who to avoid when we're hangry."
She leaned back on her hands, satisfied.
The next to speak was a wiry boy with messy black hair and sharp, restless eyes.
"I'm Kenta Hayashi," he said quickly and paused. "I like speed drills, spicy food, and winning races. I hate waiting around, slow walkers, and people who think they're better just because they're quiet."
He shot a quick, half-apologetic glance at Sora, who only raised an eyebrow in response.
The last person was a broad-shouldered boy with the same build as Hideki with a perpetually easygoing smile and a scar across one eyebrow that made him look older than he was.
"Riku Tanaka." He laughed. "No relation to Aiko-san, before anyone asks. I like sparring, barbecue, and napping in the sun. I dislike getting up early, people who cheat in training, and when the food runs out before I'm full."
"Yes!" Choya exclaimed. "I hate that too."
The table burst out laughing too with Roku being the loudest at having met a friend he could relate with.
At this point, the table felt lighter already, the awkward tension loosening now that they were all familiar.
"So… while we wait, anyone want to tell me what you're actually hoping for as a genin? No pressure. Just curious."
Silence fell again, softer this time as everyone became thoughtful.
Miko spoke first, "I want to be good enough that no one dies on my watch."
Yui nodded slowly.
"Same."
Kenji grunted. "I just want to survive long enough to eat whatever I want."
Hideki laughed. "I want to be the strongest! And eat a lot!"
Sora stayed silent a moment longer, then said. "I want to understand how things work. Really understand."
Katsuro lifted his head just enough to speak."If it were possible, I want to sleep more than I fight."
Hiyori smiled faintly. "I want to know what everyone else is thinking… before they do."
Chōya simply patted his stomach. "Food. And friends to eat it with."
Aiko looked around at them, the mismatched group of genin who had, somehow, ended up in the same house on the same night and felt something settle in her chest.
She didn't say it out loud. But she thought about it anyway.
'Maybe this friend group thing wouldn't be so bad after all.'
Just then, the kitchen door slid open and Murakami stepped out, sleeves rolled to his elbows, apron tied around his waist, carrying a large tray of steaming dishes.
"Dinner is ready," he said simply.
"YES!"
Murakami didn't understand the reason behind such a loud shout but it was an Akimichi and he was carrying a tray of food. He didn't need to think too much to put things together.