Some exercise never hurt anybody

[Mirai Ira]

The sun had set an hour ago, leaving the village cool and streets quiet. Street lamps were shining like eerie ghosts in the darkness. Ira took no notice as she jogged along, listening to music. She didn't have on her usual big, black headphones but instead opted for ear bud for convenience during her run.

Riding a bike all the time had made Ira's legs as hard as rock. Yet somehow, she still felt the need to run every now and then to keep healthy. Besides, she had the time.

Ira had gotten an early night off because it was a slow night. At the pizzeria where the student worked, her hours fluctuated wildly. Some nights, she would stay until closing time to help out. Other days like tonight, her boss would let her off early and she'd have nothing bu time to kill on her hands. It was boring, and since she usually finished her homework almost immediately when she got home, Ira had no responsibilities.

Somehow, the girl ran all the way from her apartment through the park to where she was now, almost five miles away. She was now tired.

No one else was around. Most people didn't go to this part of town unless they lived here or were interested in a fight. No caring where she went, Ira just kept going. Not at all minding the emptiness of the sidewalks, the girl went on with a nearly empty mind.

Okay. Time for a break.

"Ooof," breathed the girl as she plopped down in front of a random house.


**OOC: I really need to work on length...

[gotmilk]

She shivered, conciously and physically. It was only a little past dinner time and it was already dark. The cool breeze blew by as Hiro walked down the streets towards her home. Four years of living here and she still hasn't quite gotten use to it yet. Her surroundings were uncomfortably eerie and looked colder than it originally was.

Luckily, she carried her backpack around from her school. Amazing how much time a school club and a day at work could take up. The streets were practically silent, save for faded clatterings of people's business inside their own homes. Other than that, she could have sworn she could hear her own heart beat. A sound came from behind, startling her and forcing her pulse double the speed.

Hiro turned around quickly but cautiously to see who was there but she couldn't see. The darkness consumed everything. She stood at the base of the street lamp, her heart pounding audiable in her ears. This anxiety was killing her! She's heard and seen of people getting robbed and sometimes killed during this time at night. And in a neighborhood like hers, it was easy to be the next mugged victim.

A clattering close to her shocked her out of her mind. Hiro let out a suppressed squeak, 'Eep!' and clutched her backpack strap tightly, twirling it around in attempt to hit something. All out of pure instinct. A fighter, she was not. But she had always claimed that she was a very lucky person rather than a skillful one. Her strap accidentally flew out of her hand, disappearing into the darkness and hitting something with a 'thud' sound.

Hiro stood straight and in shock, her mouth open a bit with her hand brought up to her chin like a shy, scared little girl. She knew she had hit something and the fact that it was all the way in the darkness now. If only she wasn't too scared to get it.

[Mirai Ira]

A clattering pierced through the sound of Ira's song. What? she thought while looking for the source of the noise. Looking down, she recognized her ipod's glowing screen, laying on the concrete next to her.

"Oh shi-" Her swear was cut of by some heavy object hitting her square in the face, creating a muffled thud.

WHAT THE HECK?!?! Jumping to her feet, Ira swept up the scratched ipod and the thing that hit her. It was dark, so Ira couldn't tell what it was. She pulled her ipod up to the bulky thing and examined it closer with the dim light. A backpack? The random backpack surprised Ira. Swiveling around, she saw a figure shivering near the closest light post.

It has her. Eyes narrowed noticeably, the student moved silently towards the other girl.

Usually, it took quite a bit to surprise Ira. Before coming to Konoha, she had always been quiet, cold, and disinterested. She didn't know what it was, but being in this village changed her. She got angrier more quickly- enough to instigate fights with random girls. She actually approached others. She even tried to be somewhat polite. All these changes were brought about by almost nothing that Ira could understand. Now, Ira was acting on a feeling of annoyance that would have usually been kept inside.

As she neared the circle of light created by the light post, Ira noticed noticed the other person felt somewhat familiar. Ignoring the feeling, she walked right up the girl's face.

Dropping the backpack on the ground at their feet, she asked, "What are you doing?"

[gotmilk]

Hiro stood under the lightpost, still frozen in place. After she had accidentally chucked her backpack, everything seemed to become silent, making her even more tense than average. She brought a hand up to her mouth and backed up against the post, trying to find some security. It looked as though she were some small animal, quivering because they were in the trap of an enemy predator, but unknown to when they were going to strike.

Wh-What if I accidentally hit someone...? They'll g-get angry at m-me a-and...

"What are you doing?"

"Eeyah!!" Hiro screamed in shock (it sounded more like a high pitched squeak). She was so nervous, she hadn't figured out that someone was already in front of her. A girl, around her age, was carrying her backpack with a slightly irritated look on her face. Okay, scratch that. A REALLY irritated look on her face.

She forced herself to calm down a bit and stepped back, bowing her head extremely low. "I-I'm sorry!!" Hiro apologized in embarrasment. "I-I didn't see you there! M-M-My backpack just flew out of my grip and-...I'm s-sorry!"

[Mirai Ira]

"Eeyah!!" was the loud and slightly delayed response of the other girl.

This squeal jolted Ira out of her fury and pushed into a more humorous mood. Her eyes lost some of their harshness as she tried to reply. The word try was used because the girl that had been clutching the light post spoke sooner.

She stepped back, and bowing very humbly half squeaked, "I-I'm sorry!! I-I didn't see you there! M-M-My backpack just flew out of my grip and-...I'm s-sorry!" The girl still wasn't looking up, so she did not see Ira grinning.

"Eh," she replied, shrugging. Ira's irritation gone. "So, what are you doing out so late anyway?" She had finally gotten a good look at the girl standing in front of her. She looked like the average student, which was why Ira didn't recognize her as a classmate.

It is probably considered shallow to notice only distinguished students as Ira does, but that is her nature. Not paying attention in class other than when the teacher calls on her and ignoring most people, she only knows about the students that are constantly brought up in random conversation. Ira still doesn't give a rat's behind about these people, since they are more likely than not just some popular kids that are always talked about. The way these students got themselves "distinguished" is the reason she hates them.

This girl, still frozen in her bowing position was not one of those people. That was a good sign.

[gotmilk]

Hiro felt the glare from the girl soften slightly and the tension in the air ease. Taking a nervous breath, she stood up straight from her bow but kept her hand at her chin from insecurity. "A-Ano, I was just walking home f-from work." she answered, looking off to the sides to see if there was anyone else that had come with her.

"I guess I'm pretty late, tonight." Hiro chuckled sheepishly, scratching the back of her head out of embarrasment. She'd lost track of time a while ago when she was dazing out on her walk home...which now that she thought about it, wasn't such a bright idea for a highschool girl walking during night time.

"I-I'm still very sorry!" Hiro apologized once again, searching for the girl's face for any bruise marks. The darkness and dim light made it fairly hard to see. "Where exactly did I hit you? Does it still hurt?" she asked in worry.

[Mirai Ira]

"A-Ano, I was just walking home f-from work," replied the girl, straightening. She looked less tense, but still acted slightly nervous, looking around. Chuckling slightly, she added,"I guess I'm pretty late, tonight."

"Eh. It's not too late, just kind of cold," Ira states simply. Now that she was no longer running or steaming with fury, she noticed the slight chill in the night air. Wearing only shorts and a black tank didn't help to keep in any heat either. Definitely should think through things more. Next time, I'll check the forecast.

"I-I'm still very sorry!" The other girl apologized once again, scanning Ira's face. Squinting, she asked "Where exactly did I hit you? Does it still hurt?"

"Actually, you kind of hit me in the face," she replied lightly, pointing at her nose. "It didn't hurt so much as surprised me," Ira grinned slightly. " You don't expect anything to hit you in the face when you're just on a jog."

The other girl nodded quickly, apologizing once again.

"Well, what's your name?"

[gotmilk]

"E-Eh?" Hiro stuttered in surprise. It was odd that her name was asked. She had struck many people as the normal grade, average looking highschool student with nothing too special or extraordinary about her. It was rare that someone would bother asking her name when most people overlooked her as another face in the crowd.

"A-ano, I'm Yukime Hiro." she answered a bit awkwardly, hoping that her nervousness would ease a little. It was noticeable that Hiro wasn't much of a charismatic girl with a fair social life, but it didn't matter. She was alright with being alone either way and was too shy to talk to anyone. Occasionally, times got lonely, but she'd always find some strange peace when she plays the piano or paints something with her brother.

"I'm still very sorry." Hiro apologized for probably the hundredth time. "Is there anything I can do to make it up to you, erm..." she still hadn't found out what the girl's name was. Genius...

[Mirai Ira]

Ira was not one who would usually ask someone's name outrightly like that. In public places, the girl was more of a recluse. Occasionally, someone would pique her interests enough for Ira to approach them, though this was a rare occurrence. Perhaps it was the peacefulness of the evening. Maybe it was the fact that she was in a funny mood.

"E-Eh?" sputtered the other girl, finally looking Ira in the eye. Ira didn't say anything other than thingy her head to the side and raise her eyebrows.

"A-ano, I'm Yukime Hiro," she continued. "I'm still very sorry," Hiro apologized for the hundredth tiime. It was evident to Ira that this girl was just about as social as she was. 'Maybe that's why I don't hate her,' she thought, chuckling slightly. When she looked back to Hiro, she went on again.

"Is there anything I can do to make it up to you, erm..."

"Mirai Ira," was the girl's quick reply. "Well, there isn't anything you have to do. No harm was done, so don't worry."

Hiro still looked reproachful, so Ira decided to try and divert her attention. "So, what school you go to?"

[gotmilk]

"Well, there isn't anything you have to do. No harm was done, so don't worry."

"I-I see..." She smiled nervously, a bit of relief and a pang of guilt still felt inside. Hiro let her anxious smile curve into a soft one, showing that she was finally calm. "That's a relief. I'm glad."

"So, what school you go to?"

"Eh?" She stiffened her back again in habit and stood up straight. "O-Oh. Ano...I'm a freshman in K-Konoha High." She answered a little cautiously. Hiro had always had a problem with being insecure ever since she's been picked on during her early childhood. Looking as though you were a child while being the youngest in your high school year didn't help that fact either.

She was never one to be able to become outgoing or the 'life of the party'. Like it was on instinct, kids often picked on the weak to better themselves from their own faults. But, she's been trying hard to change that.

Unable to look Ira in the eyes again, Hiro's gaze averted instinctively to the ground as she smiled dazedly. "W-Which school do you go to?"

[Mirai Ira]

"Eh?" After that one moment of calm, Hiro stiffened again, standing as straight as Ira was. She continued, "O-Oh. Ano...I'm a freshman in K-Konoha High."

Ira couldn't help but stare in amazement. Hiro didn't notice this rude gawking though since she had gone back to looking at her feet. 'Holy crapping cow!' thought Ira as she frowned. So far, her stay in Konohagakure had been full of spontaneous encounters.

Being a social recluse for most of her life, Ira was still horrible with etiquette and casual chatting. So far, most of her conversations had either been choppy interrogations that had frequent pauses in between, or little statements with no room for question or comment. Ira was once again trying to be friendly and to start up a conversation.

"Eh? So do I." Ira finally spoke, snapping out of her bewilderment. It was a slight shock that this Hiro went to the same school as her. "I'm also a freshman...Aren't you in art club?"

[gotmilk]

"A-Ah, yes! How did you know?" Hiro said, looking back up to Ira with a more brightened mood. It was strange and pretty rare that she would be one to be recognized. Her grades weren't bad enough to be noticed nor was it good enough to be praised. Even her physical fitness is completely average. Hiro let a small smile of sincerity.

In the hallway, she'd past by close to the wall with her eyes glued to the ground [when she's not running into doors] During lunch, she had preferred to sit alone in the corner of the cafeteria and away from the center where the pretty and popular girls could have their spotlight. In class, she had always chosen the seat in the back of the classroom because it was a place where she had gotten the least attention.

To be honest, it was nice to have at least a Little bit of attention once in a while. And Ira noticing that she was in art club had proved her existence in the cruel world they had called high school. She was more than happy at that. "W-Would you like to see one of the projects?" Hiro asked in excitement.

Unable to contain her enthusiasm, she reached inside her pack without an answer from Ira and pulled out her sketchpad. Flipping rapidly, a wide smile etched itself onto her face as she stopped at a picture of a fairly good looking, smiling, goofy-looking boy in college...her brother. She had colored it slightly, feeling a bit giddy that day. His hair was blond-ish brown and his skin was fairly light but normal shaded at least. The boy's eyes were a warm brown color, with tints of gray hidden behind it.

"Th-This is my Heiji-niisan." Hiro grinned widely and proudly. "The project was so that we would draw someone that impacted our lives and the way we viewed the world. I drew my nii-san because I think he's the funniest, most reliable person I know. Heiji really likes to cook, and he's really good at it too! Our family is all about art, well, except for Father, but I guess Nii-san and I resemble Mother and she was a wonderful artist! I think cooking is an art too, but I'm not sure. Heiji-niisan makes the most beautiful cakes and best tasting fudge in all of Japan! I'm really proud of him!"

She stopped abruptly, only finding out now that she had been a little too excited over something so unimportant. "I-I'm sorry..." Hiro blushed in embarrassment. "I-I was j-just rambling." She closed the book and placed it back into her pack, her hands fumbling from her shyness.

[Mirai Ira]

"A-Ah, yes! How did you know?" Hiro looked up again, this time shocked. After a moment, her expression changed into something that Ira was not used to. Pure sincerity.

"I'm actually in it too. It was a wonder why you seemed slightly familiar," the other girl replied grinning. Ira's arms were crossed over her chest and she stood in a more relaxed position.

"W-Would you like to see one of the projects?" asked the blue-haired girl. Her excitement was plain of her face as she rummaged through the backpack on the floor. She hadn't waited for Ira to respond before continuing.

"Th-This is my Heiji-niisan," Hiro stated proudly as she held up her sketch book.

'Oh wow that's good,' Ira thought as she examined Hiro's work. The sketch was well done-with good proprtions and shading. The colors were blended well enough so that everything looked like moderate and kind of nuetral shades instead of the usual vibrant plain pastels most kids would use straight from a box of colored pencils. Ira couldn't help but admire the girl standing before her.

It was evident she hadn't much confidence. She could even figure out that Hiro was one of the more average students from the fact that she hadn't heard her name shouted throughout the school like some others. It seemed though that her personality only showed through her art. 'And it's pretty damn good too.'

"The project was so that we would draw someone that impacted our lives and the way we viewed the world. I drew my nii-san because I think he's the funniest, most reliable person I know. Heiji really likes to cook, and he's really good at it too! Our family is all about art, well, except for Father, but I guess Nii-san and I resemble Mother and she was a wonderful artist! I think cooking is an art too, but I'm not sure. Heiji-niisan makes the most beautiful cakes and best tasting fudge in all of Japan! I'm really proud of him!"

In the middle of this rant, Hiro stopped. "I-I'm sorry..." she said softly, looking back to the ground. "I-I was j-just rambling." With that, she knelt down and placed her book back into her back pack.

"Eh? What rambling? I can tell you really love your brother, and it's not rambling if it's important." Ira stated this matter of factly and bent over, arms still crossed to look Hiro in the face. "Got any more to show?"

[gotmilk]

Hiro stared up with wide eyes and surprise with her drawing pad stopping half way in her backpack. She almost gawked in shock when Ira was actually the slightest bit interested in her nervous ranting. But nonetheless, she was extremely happy. Hiro was glad it was pretty dark; she was grinned so widely that she must've looked extremely awkward.

"H-Hai!" She scrambled to pull the drawing pad out again and flip to the front page where it had begun with a scenery in the park, Hiro explaining what she was thinking at the moment. The picture was followed by couples holding hands, to children enjoying their frozen dairy treats, to mothers carrying their new Born on a walk. The last page had a picture of a cupcake with a stick of dango in the background.

Hiro shrugged and laughed a little bit. "I was hungry at that time..." she explained. Another excited smile graced itself on her features as she turned back to Ira. "There are more larger versions of my projects at my apartment and they're alto more fun to make!" Hiro exclaimed as she bent down once again to slip her drawing pad back inside her side backpack. Pulling the straps over her shoulders, she tugged at her jacket to bring them closer together in search for some heat from the night coldness.

"Ano, Ira-san..." Hiro tilted her head slightly back to look at Ira, considering she was obviously petite. "Would you...like to come take a look at them? I'm sure Nii-san wouldn't mind and I don't believe Father is home tonight, so it'd be nice if you'd eat dinner with us." she offered shyly, and a bit hesitantly, since this was the first time she's ever invited anybody to her home before.

"I-I mean, if y-you'd like...Ira-san..." Another blush crept onto her face as she added the last part awkwardly.

[Mirai Ira]

**OOC: I noticed the way I RP is so tedious...I really wish I wasn't such an obsessive freak so I could just do simple continuations...*


Hiro froze in position; her sketchbook still only halfway in her backpack. She didn't look up, but instead stayed that way for a short moment, making Ira nervous that she had accidentally said something wrong. 'I hope I wasn't too forceful....maybe I was too ordering when I asked to see more sketches.' Ira's brows pulled together slightly as she silently worried.

Her train of thought was disrupted by Hiro's sudden shout. "H-Hai!" She exclaimed, scrambling back to her feet. She continued by showing Ira all her sketches from the very front of her book.

The drawings varied greatly in scene and color, but they all seemed to hold this sweet, happy quality. From Hiro's sketch of Konohagakure's public park to her random food mix, there was always a strange feeling in each drawing that made Ira kind of happy. 'Holy crap, she's a happy person,' Ira thought as she looked over the pictures, listening to Hiro's descriptions and explanations.

"I was hungry at that time..." Hiro shrugged, indicating to the sketch of the cupcake and dango.

"I see," replied Ira as she smirked slightly as she watched Hiro put the book back into her backpack. This time it actually went all the way in.

"There are more larger versions of my projects at my apartment and they're alto more fun to make!" Hiro added as she placed her pack on her back, adjusting the straps to get comfortable. "Ano, Ira-san..." Hiro started quietly. She was standing up now, looking up a bit to look at Ira.

'Someone shorter than me...' Ira observed. It wasn't common to find high-schoolers standing an any less than five feet. It wasn't even common to find a high-schooler at that minimum of five feet, so seeing another girl actually shorter than her, Ira was slightly amused.

"Would you...like to come take a look at them? I'm sure Nii-san wouldn't mind and I don't believe Father is home tonight, so it'd be nice if you'd eat dinner with us. " Hiro asked meekly. "I-I mean, if y-you'd like...Ira-san..." She added the last part hastily and stumbled slightly as she blushed.

Ira didn't know how to respond. Her arms had dropped to her sides and her eyes blank. Her lips parted fractionally as if the girl would answer, but instead she continued staring down at the shorter girl.

Regaining her composure, Ira replied awkwardly, "Well sure...I-I guess." 'This would be the second time I've EVER been to anyone's home...'