Chapter 15: If you really care.... you can see through masks...

Next day, Naruto went to school with a different attitude.
An unusual high temper with a goofy grin as if nothing had happened.
He was loud and was attracting everybody's attention towards himself.
Everybody found him annoying and that seemed to be his goal.

"Everybody ohayo-ttebayo!" Naruto shouted.

"Naruto! Quiet down would'ya?" asked Iruka sensei as he entered the class.

"Dattebayo, dattebayo. This class is too quiet and gloomy~," Naruto said, wavering his arms like a jellyfish and pulling a smug face.
This was when he first created his habit of saying 'dattebayo' and 'ttebayo' etc at the end of his sentences.
First it was weird, but soon as several days had passed, people got used to it and found themselves automatically saying 'shut up Naruto' every time he spoke aloud.
This was the only way Naruto could think of to keep himself busy from thinking about Sasuke, who he ignored at school.
Sasuke found Naruto weird all long and couldn't help feeling that something was wrong with Naruto.
He was beginning to sense that Naruto was breaking down inside.

Weeks passed and Sasuke realised that Naruto wasn't eating at lunch.
He got worried but all he could do was watch Naruto from a distance since Naruto always avoided talking to Sasuke and never met his gaze.
Iruka sensei seemed to notice the same thing about Naruto and asked, but Naruto just told Iruka sensei that he wasn't hungry at lunch and that he always ate at home after school.

"Daijyoubu dattebayo, Iruka sensei!" (I'm alright,Iruka sensei)
That was a lie of course.
The truth was that whenever he ate something, he'd throw it back up so he didn't bother eating anymore.
Naruto started to wear a black t-shirt -instead of his usual white- with an orange jacket over top, even on hot days and Sasuke figured that Naruto was hiding something.

After school, Sasuke followed Naruto secretly.
It seemed that Sasuke had picked the right day, for Naruto had tripped and landed on the hard ground.
Sasuke ran to Naruto when he didn't stand back up.
It was just like the first day they talked to each other.  

"Naruto!" said Sasuke and squatted down to try and pull him up.

"F*ck off..." Naruto said with his face in the shadows, "I don't need help,...especially from you"

"It's only start of spring and I'm not going to leave you out in the cold like this. You'll catch a cold," Sasuke replied hastily, pulling Naruto's arm up.

"...who...would care?" Naruto whispered.

"I would! You need help and you're not asking for it. Let me," said getting rather annoyed at Naruto's stubborness and tugged harder.

"No!" Naruto jerked away, then fell onto the harsh ground again.
But from there, Naruto didn't move the slightest.
When Sasuke tugged again, Naruto didn't respond to it and Sasuke realised Naruto had fallen unconsious.
This was bad.
Sasuke pulled Naruto up and set his hand on Naruto's forehead and found that it was burning.
He carried Naruto and ran all the way to his house.
It was way too easy for Sasuke since Naruto was so light.
Too light.

Naruto! You haven't been eating!