"...What are you doing, Choji? No, stop! Stay here!"

As soon as I fully grasped what Isoka had revealed to me, I jumped up and tried to open the hatch to get out.

I was beyond furious.

"Please, Choji! Don't be crazy! You'll get in trouble!"

"Who the hell cares! Someone has to make Iwao pay for it, and if not even the director herself has lifted a finger then I'll take care of him! ...uh?"

Isoka was clinging to my shirt, as if trying to pull me down and make me sit down again.

I turned to tell him to let go, and saw his face. He looked desperate.

Was it the memory of what Iwao had done to him, that upset him like that, or was he worried about the troubles that might happen to me?

In any case, I didn't feel like leaving him in that state. With deep breaths I calmed my anger, and slowly sat back down.

"S-sorry, Isoka. ...but how could he do such a thing?! Why? How did it happen?"

"...it was my fault. You know, before that happened... I often cried in front of everyone. I tried, I tried very hard to be happy and forget the past, or at least pretend to, but I was never as good as the others. I mean, I was crying, crying, and bothering everyone, especially Iwao. One day he got sick and tired, and, to make me stop once and for all, he tried to help me get better."

"By tearing apart your mom's memories?!"

"No, no! That happened later. This time, he... he asked me to join his group and play. No, more than asked, let's say he forced me. "So you get distracted and you forget to cry", he told me. I never liked playing with him. Whenever I could, I was looking for a different excuse to avoid him and be alone... It's my fault that it happened!"

Isoka curled up on himself, hiding his face on his knees.

"One day Iwao came looking for me to force me to play, as usual, and found me looking at my mom's photographs and drawings... Iwao got mad, screamed, told me I was ungrateful... And then he destroyed everything. Everything. As I told you, Mistress Azumi didn't scold him, because I'm the one who disobeyed the rules, not him."

"What about Miss Hiromi? Didn't you talk to her?"

"Miss Hiromi is not capable of scolding anyone, what help could she give me? ...since that day, I have begun to hide even more frequently and show up only during meals, group trips and when it is time to go to sleep. Unfortunately, for some reason Iwao is still angry with me... He is convinced that I'm hiding because I still have some pictures of my mother somewhere, but that's not true! Because of him I have nothing left! I could.. . I could give up, have him search my things and... and admit that I don't want to think about the past anymore, but..."

As gently as possible, I placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Are you afraid of insulting the memory of your mother?"

After sniffing, Isoka nodded.

"I don't want to forget her, I don't want to! ...if only I were stronger... But I'm not! Why? Why!? Why am I the only weak whiner in the whole orphanage?!..."

"You're wrong, you're not the only one anymore. I'm here too, now!"

That phrase came out spontaneously. I had also used a cheerful tone in saying it, without any fear of committing a blunder.

I just knew I had said the right thing at the right time.

"W-w-what do you mean?" Isoka stammered, after a few moments of bewilderment. "You too... cry? A big, grown guy like you can cry?"

I nodded vigorously.

"And I'm not ashamed of it! On the contrary, I don't get why one has to be ashamed of being sad, right here of all places! How is it possible that no one else agrees?"

"This is the rule, unfortunately. You're right though, it's absurd... but still, this is the only home I have. I can't pretend to change it..."

"That's true. Well, this means that whenever one of us feels sad, we will arrange to meet down here. It's not much of a solution, but this way we can cry on each other's shoulder as much as we want, and without the risk of someone scolding us. What do you think, do you like the idea?"

Isoka finally looked up from his knees. He had stopped crying, as I hoped.

"Y-you... Are you kidding me, Choji?"

"Absolutely not! By the way, I've never understood what's so funny about making fun of some... !"

Isoka had just jumped on me, to wrap his arms around my neck and feel the contact of his cheek against mine.

I was dumbfounded for a moment, but I immediately relaxed and hugged him back.

Sadly, that moment was destined to end much sooner than expected.

Hearing footsteps above our heads, we instinctively flattened ourselves against the walls of the pit.

"The other children," I whispered. "They are already arrived..."

"No, it's still too early for them to go out and play. Besides, it seems to me that it's just one person. I'll take a look."

Quickly but quietly, Isoka climbed up the trap door and peered outside. A moment later, he had already jumped back down.

"It's Yori," he explained. "I don't understand, if I have calculated the times correctly, she should still be in the kitchen by now... What a mess! As long as she's around, we can't go out without her seeing us!"

"What's the problem? If by now everyone knows that you only show up at meals, we can stay here until lunchtime..."

"No, Choji! If you were absent for hours, everyone would know that you were in my company and you would end up in trouble! Especially... With Iwao..."

I opened my mouth to reply, only to closed it immediately.

I wasn't going to scare Isoka by getting angry again. But, at the same time, how could I bear the idea that Isoka continued to live in fear of coming out

Not to mention the tremendous effort I would have had to make to keep myself from breaking all the teeth in Iwao's mouth!

"That's okay with me, really. Even if in secret, I'm glad I've found a friend."

"...I am too, Isoka."

He gave me a sunny smile. Then, he turned and went back to climb up to the trap door.

"Yori isn't looking this way. Let's do this: I go out first, distract her and push her away, one way or another. As soon as we're out of sight, you can go out too."

"Sounds like a good plan. So... goodbye, for now."

Saluting me with a nod, Isoka came out of hiding.

I waited a couple of minutes, then ventured to peek. Nobody in sight. Very quickly I jumped out of the house, turned around, went back inside to close the trap door from the outside, and finally walked away.

As I wandered absentmindedly around the building, I couldn't help but think back at Isoka's hug.

I had made him happy, perhaps for the first time in his life...

However, I couldn't be happy myself. Only then did I realize the side effect of what I had done.

I was an undercover ninja, not a civilian like him. I should have left, sooner or later.

I would have left him alone.

How am I supposed to say goodbye, when the time comes?

...

I re-entered the building just as a group of children, now awake and snappy, ran out to play in the courtyard.

With nothing else to do at the moment, I thought it was not a bad idea to pick up the report I had left up in the dorm and finish writing it.

I had just set a foot on the first step, when...

"Here you are! Can I have a few words with you, Choji?"

It was Yori's voice. And her tone was anything but friendly.

I turned and gave her an innocent smile. Or at least I tried to imitate one.

"Y-yes, s-sure! What do you want to talk about, Yori?"

"Do you know the one rule, according to which it is forbidden to climb trees?"

Shit!... "I heard it somewhere, I think... I haven't had time to learn all the rules by heart yet, but I'll fix it as soon as possible! W-why are you interested?"

"A few minutes ago, while I was finishing washing the dishes, from a window of the kitchen I noticed that one of the trees surrounding the orphanage is missing a branch."

Wow, she really does have good eyes... "Ah, really? And is that unusual around here?"

"I think so, yesterday that branch was there."

And a good memory to boot... "Maybe it broke with the wind..."

"It was a big branch."

"Maybe the wind was very strong..."

"Strong enough to take it away, since I didn't notice anything on the ground around the tree."

"...well, it must be the only explanation! I'm happy to have helped you solve this mystery! See you next time!..."

I was hoping I had escaped it, but before I could climb another step Yori poked her fingers into my shirt and drag me back downstairs.

Well, I tried.

"The only explanation here is that someone climbed on the branch, dropped it and hid it to conceal the crime. Choji, if you know something you better speak immediately, otherwise Mistress Azumi's anger will be directly proportional to the time you'll take to confess!"

And now, how was I supposed to get out of that mess? I could confirm Yori's suspicions and take punishment, but doing so would slow my investigation down another step. I couldn't allow it!

Therefore, I decided to abandon the innocent act and take a defensive attitude.

"I don't know anything about this tree, really!" I muttered. "And in any case, why did you come for just me? Anyone could have done it, you know!"

Yori smiled triumphantly.

"It's simply because all the clues lead to you. You were late for breakfast for a stupid reason, now you are stammering and sweating..."

"Of course, you're making me uncomfortable!"

"Besides," she continued without paying attention to my objection, "that branch was very thick. The only one who could have broken it standing on it must have been a person of some weight, I dare say f..."

"Enough, Yori! Leave him alone!"

We both raised our heads. From the upper floor, we saw Nao descend with heavy steps.

Despite being half Yori's height, at that moment he seemed the more menacing of the two.

"It's none of your business, Nao. I kindly ask you to leave us alone..."

"Like hell! Does it seem fair, to you, the way you are treating him? You have no evidence to accuse him so openly, only guesses! Also, let's assume for a moment that Choji really committed the deed as you say... come on, he just arrived yesterday! You should be understanding and give him time to settle in, instead of terrifying him!"

Yori raised a hand, holding it suspended in the air for a while. Was she going to give him a slap?

I never knew: after a few seconds she let her arm drop, as if to declare herself defeated.

"All right. You got away with a warning for today, Choji. But next time I notice something out of place... you better wish there won't be a next time."

After glaring at both of us, Yori turned on her heels and walked away.

I felt incredibly relieved.

"I really must thank you, Nao!"

"No big deal. Among us, we have to support each other, even if not everyone here seems to have understood it."

As I heard those words, a few wheels inside my head began to spin. Maybe I had just found the solution to Isoka's problem...

"Choji? Are you zoning out?"

"...more or less. I totally agree with what you said!"

We shook our right hands.

"By the way, Nao..."

"Let me guess, are you wondering where Naoki is? She's taking a nap upstairs, as usual. I was with her when I heard you and Yori arguing."

"Did we wake her up? I'm sorry."

"Not at all, don't worry. She's small, but she's a heavy sleeper. She won't notice if I leave her alone for a few minutes. ...tell me, Choji. Are you still willing to make friends with her?"

I decided to seize the ball.

"Well, sure. And with you, too! We have to support each other, you said so yourself!"

Nao smiled. Then he looked around cautiously, and with a gesture invited me to bend down so that he could whisper in my ear.

"Then, there are some things you should know. Follow me, I know the right place to talk in peace."

"Do you have a secret hiding spot too?"

"No, I'm referring to the grammar room. ...what do you mean by "too"?"

"Oh, n-nothing! Eh eh eh eh..."

Biting my tongue, I followed Nao up the stairs and into the grammar room (and gym).

For what little I had heard and seen him do, I immediately had the impression that Nao could get along perfectly with Isoka. If I could get them close and become friends, Isoka wouldn't be alone after I left.

However, although I was dying of impatience to resolve the situation, I forced myself not to rush ahead and proceed step by step, so as not to risk ruining everything.

"Close the door," Nao ordered me, while sitting on one of the tables. "And turn on the light, while you're there."

The classroom was indeed unusually dark, but looking out the windows I immediately understood why. The sky had suddenly clouded over and threatened to rain at any moment.

"Aren't you going to sit down too, Choji?"

"I'm fine like this."

"If you say so. Very well..."

Nao took a deep breath.

"...first of all, I'm glad that you proposed to help Naoki break the ice. I really appreciate it, however... I have to ask you to just say hello to her occasionally, and nothing more. You didn't bother us, at all!" he quickly clarified his point "The fact is, Naoki is not just shy. And she's not even my sister."

With those last words, he had captured my full attention.

I stared at him, waiting for him to go on. However, Nao closed his eyes and rested his chin on his interlocked hands, as if he was contemplating.

"Nao... If you don't feel like talking anymore, it's okay. I'm not forcing you."

"...no no, it's fine... Naoki and I never even knew each other, before out village was... destroyed."

There was another pause.

"I don't know how it happened and I don't want to know. It was a day like any other. My parents had ordered me to go in the basement and don't come out before new instructions. I waited for hours, but said new instructions never arrived. So I dared to take a glance outside... It was horrible. I saw burning buildings, injured people, but above all that I saw dead bodies everywhere. I knew some of them, others where complete strangers to me. I didn't stay and ask the survivors for confirmation. I began running aimlessly, hoping to find my parents, or even just a corner of the village that was still intact... But then I got distracted by someone who was in in the same situation as mine."

"Naoki?"

"That's the name I gave her. I have no idea what she's actually called."

"W-what?"

"I saw her sitting under the entrance of a burning house, and staring at nothing in particular as if she was hypnotized. She was in a state of shock. I guess she even lost what little memory she had. When I got close to her, and I asked where her family was, she didn't cry: instead, she simply said "Who?" "

Nao gulped.

"Something lit up in my mind. A ridiculous idea. I had just lost my family, she didn't have one even in her memories... so, I thought I might as well gave her new ones. I told her I was her big brother. I asked her if she would've liked to follow me and go away from that place to find a better one. It was just like a miracle: she stood up immediately, she grabbed my hand, she even started running! She was as eager as me to start anew!..."

Nao took another breath, which sounded more like a sob, and looked at me.

"Choji, be honest. Do you think I was being selfish?"

"Selfish? How so?"

"Welll, you know... I... I didn't have anyone left, I didn't want to be alone... I wasn't sincere with her. I lied to her. From a certain point of view, it's like I kidnapped her..."

"Are you kidding? I think you did a splendid thing! You gave her and yourself both a reason to keep on living after the tragedy that happened to you! ...by the way, I'm sorry for your family and your village."

I placed a hand on his shoulder. I knew it wasn't that much as a consolation, but Nao, as if he knew what I was thinking, smiled and nodded at me, showing that he had appreciated the gesture nonetheless.

"Thanks, Choji. ...so then, do you see now why I don't want you to go too close to Naoki?"

"I think I do. It's because of the shock she had suffered?"

"Yup. She only speaks to me. Though sometimes I urge her to respond to others, I prefer to let her learn how to go out of her shell by herself, using all the time she needs."

"I understand. Don't worry, I won't bother her from now on!"

Nao sighed in relief.

Then, stretching his limbs, he jumped off the table.

"You know, come to think of it, I'm happy to have told you everything. I feel... lighter."

"Have you never told anyone else about your story before?"

"No. I was going to explain everything to Mistress Azumi the day we met her, but she stopped me right away and told me "the past doesn't count anymore" or something like that. From a certain point of view I agree, but how can you not think about it every now and then? For me it is impossible! "

"I feel the same, Nao. And..."

I hesitated for a moment. Was this really the right time to bring up Isoka?

"...and the two of us aren't the only ones in here who think so. By chance, have you already met that little boy named Isok..."

Someone entered the classroom at that very moment.

I was about to think "It's better this way, maybe I was really going to make a mistake!"...

But the sigh of relief was choked in my throat when I saw who had entered.

"Hey there! Of all the fun places we have, I didn't think I'd find you right here, Choji!"

It was Iwao, with all his crew in tow.

I quickly looked at my reflection in the windows and adjusted myself to choose the most serene facial expression to display in front of him.

Yes, this can do. "H-hi, Iwao! What brings you here?"

"That's what I'm asking you! You didn't seem the type who likes to play football, but apparentlly I was wrong!"

And you didn't seem the type who likes to make other people's lives like hell! "Actually it's not like that, Nao and I were..."

"We were only doing a couple of dribbles, to pass the time," Nao interjected and, to make the lie more believable, had gone to pick up the ball abandoned in a corner. "But now we're leaving, right, Choji?"

"Right! The room is all yours, Iwa..."

"You're not going anywhere! On the contrary, you just gave me a good idea!"

Iwao's playmates formed a circle around us, while their leader raised a finger at the ceiling in a threatening manner, as the first thunderbolt of the storm stroke outside.

I felt trapped.

"The time has come for the newcomers to learn once and for all how to fit in here! Guys... let's play two-on-two soccer!"

...that's it?

I was scared for nothing. In any case, I had no intention of participating.

"Do you know the rules of soccer, Choji?" Iwao asked, throwing the ball at me.

No, and even if I knew them the whole hell would freeze before I agree to play with you! "Y-yes, but I don't..."

"Perfect, then the first match will see the two of us against each other! Choji, you have the honor of choosing your teammate first!"

Oh, really? If it's about being opponents, then I'm not backing down! It will be a pleasure to humiliate you in...

Wait, did I hear it right? "D-did I hear it right? C-can I choose first?"

"Sure! Whoever you want!"

The little child in me shed a tear. I had always been the last to be chosen when it came to forming teams... and now, not only was I the first, I was even the captain!

...what was happening to me? I shouldn't have forgotten who I was dealing with!

"Very well, Iwao. I already know who to choose. Him!"

I pointed my finger at Nao. I had no other options, as he was the only one in the room with whom I had made a minimum of acquaintance.

Nao, however, shot me an annoyed look.

"Choji, I'm flattered, but I don't feel like playing now..."

"And if not now, when?" Iwao exclaimed to him. "You have to play too, everyone has to play at least once! Or maybe do you wish to make a fool of yourself?"

I was about to kindly make him eat his words back, but Nao anticipated me. "All right, all right! But if we win, you'll let me out, okay? I have to get back to my little sister before she wakes up."

"Understood. In position!"

In a hurry, some members of the group arranged two overturned tables on opposite sides of the room, while another boy split the blackboard in half with a piece of chalk and wrote our names, drawing a sort of scoreboard.

Iwao had already lined up in front of his "goal area" along with the red-haired girl I had already seen a couple of times in his company. Reading on the board, I finally found out what her name was: Nana.

"The team that scores five goals first wins," shouted the boy at the blackboard. "Are you ready?"

"Ready!" all four of us shouted.

"All right then... In three, two, one..."