Thermal... Baths...

After giving everyone a backpack containing our packed lunch, Miss Hiromi lined us up in a single file and guided us into the forest, holding a white flag in her hand so that no one would lose sight of her.

Thermal. Baths.

This was an unnecessary precaution, since the path among the trees we were following had already been trodden so many times before, it wouldn't be possible to get lost on it.

Thermal baths.

After a walk about half a mile long, we came to a high palisade with two sliding wooden doors, one destined for females and the other for males, which gave access to their respective changing rooms.

"THERMAL BATHS!?"

"That's right! Isn't it awesome?" a little boy said as he passed me in the line. "Mistress Azumi and Miss Hiromi discovered this volcanic spring shortly after they founded the orphanage, and turned it into a real free spa, all for us! No one else has ever discovered it!"

"I s-see... W-what a luck..."

One after another, the guests of the orphanage disappeared into the changing rooms. I was the only male left.

"What's the problem now?"

I whirled around, finding myself face to face with Yori.

"P-problem? N-no problem, what makes you think that?"

"The fact that you became slow as a turtle. Did you get lactic acid in your legs?"

"Well... Yes, exactly! I don't feel very well, therefore..."

"So you're in luck, a nice bath in the thermal waters and you'll be as good as new!"

Rolling up her sleeves, Yori began to push me towards the gate. I tried to resist by putting my heels on the ground, but it was all in vain.

"W-wait, Yori! There was a downpour yesterday, so maybe the water got stagnant and smelly..."

"It was, but I already came here this morning to drain it out through a system of dikes. The water you go to bathe in, on the other hand, comes from an underground source, hot and one hundred percent clean."

"G-good to know... Oh no! Yori, I just remembered now that I can't swim..."

"If you're afraid of drowning there are inflatable armbands somewhere, and in any case the pools are as deep as half your height."

"I'm glad to know. B-but..."

"HAVE FUN!"

And so Yori pushed me into the locker room with a vehement kick in the butt.

There were clothes scattered all over the place: on the floor, on the chairs and in the lockers. The other children and boys had already gone out, and judging by the noises coming from behind another door it was evident that they had already begun to enjoy themselves.

"What about you? What are you doing out here, all alone and still dressed?" It was still Yori's voice, albeit softer.

I leaned a few inches out the front door, to barely see who she was talking to: it was little Naoki, and her face looked embarrassed, almost frightened.

"I'm sorry, in this place you can't stay with your brother. But don't be afraid, I'll help you get into the water and make friends with the girls! Come on, come on!"

After long moments of hesitation, Naoki took Yori's hand and let herself be led into the women's locker room.

I went back inside too. I was heartened to know that I was not the only one afraid of the baths, but it was only a meager consolation.

...

I can't say I hate the thermal baths. Indeed, I like them very much!

But... it's also the only thing that really turns my chubbiness into a burden.

Even when I go there with Shikamaru, Naruto, Kiba and my other peers. I like their company, I enjoy watching them pretend to engage in fights in the water - or engage in real fights, whenever Rock Lee comes too - but I can never join them.

Never. It's impossible.

If I want to take a bath too, I have to find a separate bathtub or wait for the others to finish. All because of that principle discovered by who knows who, according to which the larger the body that enters the water, the more the water overflows from the tub!

Furthermore, there is another aspect of the spa that I find unpleasant.

With my friends it never happens, but in those few times I go there on my own, there is always someone who points a finger at me and laughs.

Or, even worse, someone who turns away in disgust.

I don't mind the physique I own, in fact I'm proud of it, but I have not yet been able to ignore whenever others mock me because of it.

That's the reason why, when Miss Hiromi announced the destination of the trip, I panicked. If there was even one of the orphans who found the chubby ones ridiculous and didn't mind laughing at them... I would have been in trouble.

With no one to calm me down, I would have unleashed all my anger.

I would have ruined the small reputation I had built in the orphanage.

And I probably would have complicated my investigation more than necessary as well.

...

I swallowed heavily and, quite reluctantly, began to take off my clothes.

By chance, my gaze fell on a glint, produced by the golden buckle of a belt left on a chair.

It was Iwao's: I never noticed it before, but I knew immediately that it belonged to him since it was resting on his brown sweatshirt.

...of course! Iwao is a chubby guy like me! If the other orphans have never made fun of him about his physique, then I have nothing to fear... Ah. Right.

Right, Iwao. I certainly hadn't forgotten the way he'd yelled at me an hour before, or his friend Nana's warning. According to her, I should have expected "something humiliating".

I was tempted to stay dressed and spend the rest of the day hidden in the locker room. After all, it would have been the easiest way to avoid any foolishness.

But then I shook my head. If I had shown myself a coward, Iwao would have won over me twice!

I finished undressing, I wrapped a large towel around my waist, then I finally decided to swing the door and peek out.

...what place is this?

Excluding the presence of water and steam, the environment that I found myself in front of had nothing in common with the Konoha thermal baths, at all.

It consisted of a complex of circular pools, large and small, linked together to form a single largest pool, which wound through the forest trees, rocks, bridges and picnic tables.

Unintentionally, I let out a whistle of admiration.

Did the two ladies really create this paradise on their own? I have to remember to compliment them later!

A little less tense than before, I went to the edge of the nearest pool and dipped one foot in the water to test its temperature.

Perfect. Hey, come to think of it, if the pool is that big there is no danger of me overflowing it! Of course, this doesn't mean I can dive bomb...

"Hey! Hey, Choji! Come here!" someone yelled at me loudly, waving an arm to get noticed.

Walking along the edge of the pool, crossing a bridge and dodging a couple of children playing tag, I reached whoever had called me: they were six boys, immersed in the largest area of the pool, and committed to throwing at each other a ball made with rolled up duct tape.

"What are you playing at?"

"Water polo. It's a kind of five-on-five football, but it's played in the water and with hands. We'd need a goalkeeper, would you like to do it?"

"No, thanks, I'm not in the mood at the moment..."

"How about being our referee? You just have to stand on the sidelines and watch us!"

"I already like this idea more! ...but first. there is another thing I want to do. Do you know where Iwao is?"

The six looked at each other before answering me.

"Iwao, you say... he's resting over there."

They pointet to a small circular area. located near the dividing fence.

Peering into the steam, at first I only saw a large stone emerging from the water, but looking closer I recognized it as Iwao's head, the only visible part of his body.

"Do you prefer to go and keep him company?" one of the water polo players asked me again.

"Not exactly. See you later!"

After greeting the group, being careful not to slip off the edge, I approached the point where Iwao was secluded.

His eyes were closed, as if he was sleeping, and his face had a very wide sly smile, as if the anger of an hour ago had already disappeared.

I should have taken that as a good sign, yet I didn't feel comfortable at all.

Who knows what he's thinking. Maybe he's working out the final details of the "humiliating prank" Nana told me about... For the sake of a quiet day, I have to convince him to change his mind.

I walked up behind him and woke him with a fake cough.

"...mh? Oh it's you, Choji" he said, after raising his head and opening one eye. "Why are you still dry? Let me guess, you're afraid of water."

"No, no! It's just that..." I fiddled with my index fingers.

Who knows how, who knows why, I felt the desire to teach him a lesson diminishing.

"...before anything else, I wanted to apologize. I made you angry just like two days ago at dinner. I was indelicate, I'm sorry..."

"Stop being tragic, nothing irreparable has happened."

"W-what's that you say?"

"I said it's all over and you don't have to make a fuss of it. Do I look like the kind of guy who holds a grudge for a long time?"

I had to bite my tongue and the inside of my cheeks to resist the urge to say what I really thought.

"So, aren't you angry anymore?"

"Of course not. And even if I were, I wouldn't notice it. This water is a real cure-all. Come inside too."

From his tone of voice I was convinced that Iwao must have really relaxed. So, I decided to trust him - or, to be precise, give him the benefit of the doubt - and, after taking off my towel, I went into the water and sat down beside him.

In a few seconds I had the confirmation that Iwao had not lied at all, at least not about the water: the reassuring warmth and the delicious scent of the steam had the extraordinary effect of making me feel lighter, physically and spiritually, and silencing all worries that had filled my head up to that moment.

"It's like heaven!" I sighed as I leaned my back against the edge and stretched my legs to get comfortable. "Now I know how a bag of chamomile feels inside the cup!"

"A bag of chamomile, I never thought about it..."

For a while we said nothing more, preferring to enjoy the beneficial effects of the hot springs in silence. The only sounds that reached my ears were the indistinct shouting of the other orphans, both boys and girls on the other side of the fence.

"Would you like to take a peek?" Iwao said at one point, winking right in the direction of the girls' area.

"A peek? You mean there are some peep holes somewhere?"

"Not that I know of. But you can always try to create one yourself, what do you say?"

"I say... Better not. You yourself told me the day before yesterday that the last guy who entered the girls' bathroom got a beating, I don't even dare thinking of what could happen to me!"

"Too bad... I mean, you do well, not taking the risk. You are very wise, Choji. Very wise..."

Iwao yawned, closing the subject.

I smiled to myself.

You're right, Iwao. I am very wise indeed. If this was the infamous humiliating prank you wanted to throw at me...

...

I spent the next hour in the absolute sweetness of relaxation. I could've even take a nap, if only a sudden ringing noise hadn't wrenched me out of my numbness.

"The bell?!"

"It's a simple time signal," Iwao explained. "Actually, it doesn't really tell us the time. Yori plays it at regular intervals to remind us not to get too wet. If you want, though, you can just stay in the water all day long."

I looked around. Most of the other boys had instead decided to follow the bell's advice and had come out of the pool to eat.

"Being in the water all day? I gladly leave the pleasure to you, Iwao. I have an appointment with lunch!"

I leapt out of the tub, picked up the towel and went to the locker room to retrieve the backpack containing the packed lunch, then found a spare picnic table.

I was about to take my first bite of one of Miss Hiromi's stuffed sandwiches when, looking into the distance, I noticed that Iwao hadn't moved an inch from his seat. "Hey!" I shouted. "Look, I was joking! Get out of there!"

Iwao lazily turned his head.

"I'll eat later. Don't worry, I won't starve. Enjoy your meal."

"T-thanks." If you're happy like this...

I ate in good company, as the six who had previously proposed me to play also sat at my table. Between one bite and the next we chatted about this and that - I also took the opportunity to learn the rules of water polo, just to keep me prepared - and the next hour passed very quickly.

Come to think of it, I haven't seen Isoka in a while. If I remember correctly, he told me he only showed up during meals and trips, so... Ah, there he is!

I spotted him almost by chance. He too was having lunch, sitting on the sidelines at a particularly crowded table with children.

And he wasn't the only known face. In fact, right next to him sat Nao.

Unfortunately, the two were not at all making friends as I had hoped. Isoka kept his eyes down as usual, while Nao seemed lost in who knows what thoughts.

After all, I should have expected it to go like this.

I guess it's not that easy to speak for either of them. Nao may be thinking of Naoki, while Isoka... Oh, well. There will be another time for those two to socialize.

Soon after, once they had finished digesting, my table mates got up to go back to the pool and resume playing.

"So, come and referee us? You can sit on the edge, no need to go into the water!"

"Right away! But before let me finish eating, I left the best for last!"

"Okay, we are waiting for you!"

I pulled the last and most succulent sandwich out of the bag, the one filled with delicious grilled sausage.

I was about to give it the first bite, when I was startled by a loud cough.

"W-what is it? Who did it?"

There was no response. On the other hand, I heard curses whispered by my water polo friends.

Another cough, even louder.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw the six boys come out of the water and walk back to me with an almost mournful air.

"I'm sorry, Choji... but..." one of them mumbled. "...no, forget it..."

I heard three more coughs go off in sequence, and this time I knew where they were coming from.

I stood up, ready to go and see what Iwao was up to.

...but, just then, the closest guy stole my sandwich from under my nose and started running.

"H-hey! What the hell are you doing ?! Give it back!"

With two jumps I was immediately on him, but he had already thrown the stolen goods into the hands of his friend, who in turn threw it back to another as soon as I tried to get close.

"What the hell is wrong with you all of a sudden?" I yelled. "Give it back to me, or... or I won't be responsible for my actions! I'm serious! HEY!"

Ignoring me, the six began running around in circles, never stopping to pass each other my food.

The strangest thing, besides the bad prank itself, was the fact that none of them were laughing.

In fact, it almost seemed as if they were more sorry than myself for what they were doing.

I'm starting to understand what's going on... But before I get to the bottom of the problem I have to recover what is mine! Nobody can disrespect a grilled sausage sandwich in the presence of Choji Akimichi! NOBODY!

I tackled four of the six players, without hurting them too much, then I advanced towards the last two who, frightened, stopped passing the stolen goods and backed away.

"Okay, the joke was good while it lasted. But now, please, give me my lunch back... Watch out!"

They had backed away too much. Unable to stop, they tripped over the edge of the tub and fell into the water as the sandwich was thrown upward.

"NOOO..."

With my hands outstretched, I took a desperate dive.

I painfully landed belly-first against the surface and raised tonss of water, but I didn't care.

The sandwich had fallen on my hands without getting wet.

"I... I did it! Don't worry, little one, you're in a safe place now!"

To properly celebrate my success, I devoured it in one gulp.

My performance must have hit, as I thought I heard some timid applause.

"Thank you, thank you all! And now..."

At that precise moment, I felt like an invisible fist pierce my stomach.

"...now I'd like to be alone for a while, if you don't mind."

I barely had time to jump out of the water and hide inside some bushes, when another tremendous shiver shook my entire digestive system, making me double over in pain.

Why, oh why did I dive in like that? I hadn't even finished digesting...

My mouth threatened to give in to barfing.

...and here is the result. Guess I have no alternative... I have to... I have to throw everything out... Possibly without anyone seeing me... What a disgrace...

I leaned over the bushes for a moment to look around. A few meters away, in the opposite direction from which I had come, I saw something that perhaps was there just for me.

It was a large deserted rectangular pool, connected to the main pool by two channels, the second of which was blocked by a panel full of microscopic holes. In a far corner of the pool there was a sort of dam that could be lifted with a pulley, and behind it could be seen the opening of a well.

This must be the dyke system Yori was talking about. In that well the dirty water is drained, while that perforated panel... should it be used to let only clean water pass, to reuse it? Either way, it's ingenious! And above all, it is perfect for hiding what I am about to do.

Walking on all fours, I got out of the bushes and walked over.

A few meters from the coveted goal I ventured to stand up, but a sudden and violent attack of vertigo made me fall on my face like a sack of potatoes.

Boy, this is embarassing...

With my residual strength I crawled to the tub.

As I got closer I felt that the need to vomit was fading, but I did not let myself be fooled and I advanced further.

You can't fool me, my dear stomach! I know you too well! You pretend you've calmed down, and then instead force me to throw everything out when I least expect it! But this time I don't let myself be caught unprepared...

Oh.

When I reached the edge of the pool and saw my reflection in the water, my tummy ache suddenly became the least of my problems.

Oh no.

My hair had grown back to my back.

Oh no.

The spirals on my cheeks had reappeared.

Oh no.

My disguise had dissolved.

OH, NO!

"Are you sure he's been through here?"

"I saw him disappear behind the bushes, I don't know where he went!"

OH, NO, NO, NO!

Iwao's friends were fast approaching, soon they would see my true appearance, my cover would be blown, there was nothing that could save me!

...at the last second, a winning idea came to me. I curled on myself and remained motionless.

"Where did he disappear? Did he dive?" Asked one of the boys, a very short distance from me.

"No, we would see it!"

"Listen, let's tell Iwao that Choji has felt bad and has gone to change, and be done with it."

"Good idea. As soon as I can, I'll apologize to Choji on behalf of all of us for the prank we played on him."

"All right, but be careful that Iwao doesn't find out. He's perfectly capable of anything, that bast..."

Their voices and their footsteps became farther and farther away, until they disappeared completely.

They're gone... My imitation of the wild bush really worked... And now?

I got away with it, but I was still in deep trouble. My chakra had run out. I no longer had coverage. The orphans could have jumped out and discovered my true appearance at any time. My only hope, my supply of Soldier Pills, was left with the rest of my belongings at the orphanage. To top it off, I was naked and with a stomach ache.

It can't get any worse than this! And to think that just this morning I also went to check that my Pills were all in place! Why didn't I make sure to take one while I was there?!...

Wait a minute. The Pill I found in Isoka's hideout! Where did I leave it?

I went back in time with my mind.

After comparing it with mine, I put it back in the pocket of my shorts, which right now is with the rest of my clothes...

...in the locker room! This is what I called luck! Of course, there's still the problem of how to reach it without getting busted, but... !

I heard another noise.

I flattened myself to the ground - as much as I could - but then I realized that this particular noise was coming from the other side of the pool.

I raised my head a little, and saw her.

A girl, wrapped in a long towel, had just crept into the boys' area by crawling into an opening in the fence.

Because of the dim light I couldn't see her face clearly, and this increased my curiosity to know who she was and what she was doing there.

I looked at the dirty water.

I have no other choice. And one, and two, and three!

Making as little noise as possible I rolled over the edge, held my nose and swam close to the bottom of the pool, keeping my gaze up to keep track of the girl's movements. I followed her deformed silhouette as she walked cautiously along the fence, and finally caught her reaching and delivering something to another figure.

Indeed, a figure three times her size.

I swam a couple of meters away, to re-emerge in a spot hidden by brushwood. From that angle I could no longer see them, but what interested me was hearing their speeches.

"...I know there are less then before, stop complaining. You should rather show me a little more gratitude," the girl said, snorting. "Do you know what I had to do this time to get them for you?"

This is Nana's voice! So the other can only be...

"What?" replied Iwao, who, judging by his voice, was chewing on something. "You walked into the kitchen and you left the kitchen, as always! Suddenly it became too difficult for you?"

"Let me finish! Yesterday, when the food supplier arrived, as I saw that the newcomer was wasting everyone's time, I thought I'd take advantage of the fact that they were distracted and got directly on the wagon."

"What?! What were you thinking?"

"I thought this way I would do it faster! But then, while I was still on board looking for your stuff, Yori and that Choji guy arrived earlier than expected and I had to hide behind the boxes! I was this close to be busted, you understand?"

"I understand... I understand that you have a lot of nerve to demand my gratitude! Nobody asked you to get in trouble like that!"

"I know, but I did it to..."

"I don't care, now get out of there before anyone sees you. This conversation has gone on too long."

From the sound of their footsteps I knew they were moving away.

I went back under the water. And I nearly drowned. The shock of what I had just discovered had made me forget everything else.

Now I understand. The wet footprints inside the wagon... The half-open boxes Yori discovered... It was Nana.

I emerged, seething with anger.

Iwao... That... That damned bastard! I can no longer pretend nothing has happened! I will tell him the truth, I will tell him what I have heard, I will force him to confess, and I will convince him once and for all, by hook or by crook, to stop with his bullying!

...of course, after I solved my other problem.

I climbed out of the tub and looked left and right. I didn't know where I was, but it wasn't hard to figure out where I had to go. Walking along the fence, in the opposite direction to that taken by Iwao, sooner or later I would have met the door of the locker room.

Unfortunately I could no longer count on my resemblance to a bush to blend in - getting wet, my hair had flattened out - so I was forced to rely on an emergency plan.

I tore blades of grass and leaves from nearby plants and stuck them all over my body; then, after wishing myself good luck, I began to crawl.

After a few meters, my whole body was already stained with grass and dirt.

Halfway through the journey, I might have been mistaken for a swamp monster.

Three quarters of the way I came up with the idea of using my new appearance to scare the children nearby so that they could run away and leave me alone, but I rejected it immediately.

Instead I picked up a stone and, with my last energies, I threw it far away, so that the noise made everyone turn away.

Few seconds to move... One more little effort... Now!

With one last fleeting somersault I reached the locker room, closed the door behind me, ran through my clothes, took out the Soldier's Pill, ate it in one gulp, regained my strength, performed the transformation technique, and finally I let out the longest deep sigh of relief I had ever had in my life.

I can't believe it. I've done it. I've done it! ...I need a shower.

...

Even though the stomach ache was gone, I decided to stop diving in order not to take any further risks.

After drying myself, I got dressed from head to toe, then went out and marched briskly in search of Iwao.

Predictably, my sudden reappearance didn't go unnoticed: many of the boys turned to look at me, and one of the water polo players even rushed over to me.

"Choji, where were you? And why did you put your clothes back on?"

"Well, I felt bad and went to change," I replied.

"R-really? What a coincidence, it's the exact thing we made up for Iwa... I mean, we guessed..."

Smiling at him, I put a hand on his shoulder.

"I know why you did it," I whispered in his ear. "You don't owe me any apology."

I left him be and went straight ahead.

I don't see him anywhere, so he must have gone back to his favorite place. I'll give him one of those lectures that he won't ever forg...

My feet nailed to the ground when, from a distance, I saw that Iwao was already busy talking to someone, sitting next to him on the edge of the tub.

And that someone was not just anybody: it was Nao.

Him?! And... they seem to get along too! What can they have in common?

Slowly and quietly, I hid behind a tree, close enough to overhear their conversation.

It was becoming a habit.

"...why didn't you come and tell me right away?" I heard Iwao's voice say, in a friendly tone.

"Well... I thought if it was a false alarm, you would be mad at me for wasting your time..."

"Oh, please! At worst, you would have just made an interesting discovery and shared it with me! Why should I get mad? Am I so scary? Ha ha ha!"

With his usual lack of tact, Iwao slapped Nao on the back, making him dive reluctantly into the pool.

"Splut... I'm drowning... No wait, I can touch the bottom... Anyway Iwao, even if I didn't help you, I wanted to ask you if... If we could become friends..."

Friend with Iwao? No! Nao, you don't know what you're getting into!

"And it took you so long to ask me? Of course we can! For your good intentions, you are officially part of the circle! And little Naoki too, if she wants!"

Ah, no! You mustn't touch her! If you only dare raise your voice at her...

"Naoki too? Thank you, I was just going to ask you that! Because, you know... now that I feel calmer, I can tell you... she was the one who discovered the trap door inside the house."

...what?

"Was it the little one? I don't believe it!" Iwao exclaimed. "When did it happen?"

"Yesterday morning, after breakfast. We were back in the dorm for her mid-morning nap, but instead of getting to the bed right away she ran to the window to close it. Soon after she came back, all excited, saying she saw someone enter the little house in the courtyard. I told her there was nothing strange and I put her to bed, then I left her alone for a moment because I heard Yori shout at Choji from downstairs. Do you remember shortly after, when you and your clique forced... I mean, persuaded us to play soccer? That's when Naoki, taking advantage of my absence, went outside to look around. When, later, she told me that she had found a trap door, I immediately connected it to Isoka and to you, who every day try to find out where he is hiding, but I didn't speak to you right away because... Well, I told you that before."

"Mmmh... I understand. And so the little one found Isoka's hiding place just out of sheer curiosity... It doesn't matter, I still like her attention to detail! If she wants to be part of my gang, she's welcomed! I'll treat you both with the greatest care!"

"Thanks, Iwao! I can't wait to tell her!"

The more that conversation went on, the more I felt collapsing.

The opposite of what I had believed and hoped for up to that moment was happening.

"Now that we are officially friends" Nao continued, turning the knife in the wound "I would like to understand one thing. Why do you want to include Choji in the circle at all costs?"

"At all costs? What do you mean?"

"Don't act like you don't know, Iwao! It's clear that you are behind the incidents in the canteen and the sandwich chase just moments ago. Those are your way of saying "do as I say or more will happen to you", isn't it so?"

"Uh, so you have a keen eye like your little sister too! That's right, it's my doing."

"So explain to me, why do you insist with Choji? Leave him alone, after all, a single member in or out your circle of friends can't make that much of a difference, no?"

"You're not all wrong, Nao. But... it's a matter of principle, that's it! The day he arrived here. Choji declared that he wanted to be my friend, but he still can't understand that to become one he must obey to everything I tell him, without asking any questions! Also... Let this stay between the two of us, but I think Choji has it coming."

Come again?

"You say?" Nao asked. "I don't recall him ever bothering anyone. What did he do wrong?"

"What did he do wrong? Did you look at him when he arrived? He dived on the counter of the canteen like a pig in a pigsty and didn't even realize we were laughing at him! But above all... He's fat! A full-blown fat slob! You should have seen him when he opened the music room and the current of air made all that fat he carries around tremblin..."

"I'M NOT A FAT THE EXACT TERM IS PLEASANTLY PLUM WHY CAN'T YOU PUT IT ON YOUR HEAD?!"

I stepped out into the open and advanced menacingly, attracting the frightened glances of everyone present.

I had just tossed out the window any hope of leaving the hot springs with my dignity intact, but I only realized it later.

At that moment, it was only about doing justice!

"C-C-Choji, p-p-please calm down..." Nao stammered, but I silenced him by pointing a finger at him.

"I'll deal with you later! And you, Iwao... I heard everything! EVERYTHING!"

The one who had dared to insult me blinked two or three times, assuming an innocent air.

"Oh... W-w-well... So what? I just stated the truth... B-b-but think! Have you ever seen yourself in the mirror? Are you..."

"Did YOU see yourself in the mirror, you hypocrite!? You're just as plump as I am, you have no right to make fun of me about something we have in common! Take back what you said, NOW!"

After a few moments, a contemptuous smile appeared on Iwao's face, which infuriated me even more.

"I say this for your own good, Iwao! Take back what you said, or..."

"No, Choji. You have to withdraw your insults."

Iwao stood up, showing a physique that couldn't be more different from mine. What he had always hidden under his clothes was actually a jumbled mass of disproportionately large muscles, crisscrossed by a disgusting tangle of protruding veins. That impressive vision managed to leave me speechless.

"Well, Choji? Do you still have the guts to compare my physique to yours? If you have heard everything that Nao and I have said to each other, then it's pointless to repeat why the whole orphanage finds you ridiculous..."

"It's you who force them to laugh at me, I heard that too!"

Iwao didn't relpy, but continued to give me that hateful smile.

It was the last straw.

"Admit it, Iwao! You pretend to be friends with everyone but in reality you force them with fear to do what you want! And if you don't like someone, instead of leaving them alone, you make their life hell! JUST LIKE YOU DID WITH ISOKA!"

Finally, that cursed smile disappeared from his face.

"What would have I done to Isoka? Come on, tell me."

"You ripped all the pictures of his mom! They were the only memories he had! He didn't deserve it!"

"Ah, no?"

"NO! Do you know what he said to me? That you did that horrible thing just because you couldn't bear to see him cry! And you want to know something? Do you know why I asked you what you have against him, this morning, even though I already knew it? Because I wanted to know your version of the story, because deep down I still wanted to hope that it wasn't true! And instead..."

With a very quick movement, Iwao grabbed the neck of my shirt.

"Have you ever wondered what it feels like to take a bath with your clothes on?"

Before I had time to react, Iwao lifted me with both arms and crashed me into the tub, then trapped me under the water with one knee pressed to my neck.

I was about to suffocate, but Iwao made me resurface pulling my hair, forcing me to look him in the eye.

Now his gaze was no longer contemptuous, but full of anger.

"I didn't want to get to this, Choji. But I'll give you another chance. Apologize, and you can go back to be my friend."

In the distance I heard the other orphans shouting for help.

"...apologize... For what? Because I decided to be on Isoka's side, instead of becoming a bully like..."

Again, Iwao pushed my head underwater and then pulled me out again.

"How can you not understand, Choji!? In this world, living in an orphanage is the best thing that can happen to us! No duties, no sadness, no school, free room and board! This is heaven, and I can't stand that Isoka or other weak brats like him spoil the atmosphere with his whinin-"

I head-butted him in the nose.

Iwao fell backwards, hit the edge of the pool with his back and climbed out, but slipped and fell.

When I too got out of the water, I tackled him and turned him over on his back.

I had just raised my arm to punch him and destroy his face, when someone behind me pressed a stick against my throat to force me away.

"Enough now! Enough!"

That someone let go. I turned and was chilled by Mistress Azumi's furious gaze.

Yori was there as well. At a sign from the director, she went to check on Iwao's condition.

"I demand an explanation. Now."

I opened my mouth, but before I could formulate a sentence I was anticipated by Iwao.

"Mistress Azumi, Choji... Ouch... Choji disagrees with the number one rule of the orphanage!"

"I see. So is this how you assert your opinion, Choji?"

"Mistress Azumi! It was Iwao who started it!" someone shouted. We all turned towards the one who had spoken: he was the guy who wanted to apologize for the prank. "I saw him! He dragged Choji into the water and forced him down!"

Iwao glared at him.

Unfortunately, so did Mistress Azumi.

"This is no excuse. Iwao is the one who is bleeding from his nose, not Choji. I don't care who started it."

My defender did not speak up again, and no one else dared to object.

"I do not tolerate that the rules I have imposed are disobeyed, but before that I do not tolerate violence being used in my orphanage. Choji... if you thought that having a roof over your head also means being free to do what you want, then I have to ask you to leave."

"NO!"

I raised a hand to protest. But then, looking out of the corner of my eye at the state in which I had reduced Iwao with my headbutt, I realized that I was the one in the wrong.

The fact that Iwao took advantage of the regulation to dictate the law in his own way and remained unpunished was and remained an injustice.

But I had struck the first blow.

Also, if they hadn't stopped me, I would have risked abusing my ninja powers against a civilian. I would have risked lowering myself to an even lower level than a bully.

With a sigh, I lowered my hand and head.

"No... You're right, Mistress Azumi. I misbehaved, I'm sorry."

"I'm glad to hear that from you, but an apology isn't enough. Yori, come here."

The young handywoman obeyed and walked over. With a quick gesture, Mistress Azumi pulled off her flowered apron and threw it at my feet.

"What... What does that mean?"

"It means that you won't have dinner with the others tonight, Choji. Instead, you will be busy doing all of Yori's duties. Washing the dishes, cleaning the floors, and so on. Perhaps, this way you will learn to appreciate having a place to live in."