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[@Feijao][@Bluetommy]
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[b]"SHIROU!"[/b] the loud voice of one Hijikata Tsubaki rang through the house as she burst through the door into her sons room. [b]"Todays the day, get up and get ready so you don't leave your team wa-[/b] oh."

[color=D3E97D]"Morning."[/color]  Shirou said from his position on the bed, not taking his eyes away from the book sat on his lap. [color=D3E97D]"I'll be out in a second."[/color]

"Couldn't sleep huh? How long?"

[color=D3E97D]"Five hours, I think. I haven't really been paying attention to it."[/color]

His mother chuckled lightly, before pulling the book from his hands and lightly bopping him on the head with it.

"Then I'd say that's more than enough time to spend with your nose in a book. Come out and eat, so you can try to get at least [i]a little[/i] of your strength back."

After merely a second of hesitation, Shirou sighed and nodded, climbing off the bed to follow her into the kitchen.

[color=D3E97D]"Where's dad?"[/color]

"Probably in the forge already. We got an order in just recently which we're hoping to get done by the end of the exams."

[color=D3E97D]"Hmmm?"[/color] He hummed as he started eating. [color=D3E97D]"I'll have to say bye before I leave."[/color]

He looked up to his mother, the bags under his eyes even larger than usual as he tried and failed to hide the nervousness in his voice.

[color=D3E97D]"So... you did this too, right? How did you keep yourself calm?"[/color]

"By beating up a group of the other genin in the waiting area. Freaked out for a week before that though."

She narrowed her eyes, targeting Shirou with an icy stare.

"But don't [i]you[/i] go thinking it's a good idea. I could've screwed my chances right then and there, and I'd better not here that you [i]or[/i] any of your team decided to risk it yourselves!"

[color=D3E97D]"I won't! Y-you know I won't!"[/color]

[i]Makoto.[/i]

He paused as the name passed through his mind.

[color=D3E97D]"She probably won't either."[/color]

"Mhmm..." Tsubaki said, a skeptical expression on her face. The expression quickly disappeared however, replaced by a wide smile. "Well, you know what? I was thinking of doing this anyway, but why not make it an incentive? If you and those two manage to pass the exams, we'll make them something of their choice, free of charge."

Shirou nearly choked at his mothers words, looking up at her in a combination of shock and terror.

[color=D3E97D]"Mom, are you feeling alright?"[/color]

"Don't be silly, dearest son of mine. I'm never in anything less than [i]perfect[/i] condition, you know that."

[color=D3E97D]"Uh... right."[/color] Shirou said slowly. [color=D3E97D]"Well, I'd better get going or I'll be late. I'll see you soon!"[/color]

"Well, soonish... But I know you'll make it through in the end! Now go say bye to your father."

No sooner had she said the words that Shirou was already making his way to the forge.

[color=D3E97D]"Dad, mom's ok right?"[/color]

"Hey brat!" His father, Hijikata Shinzou, said with a tired looking grin. "She's pretty nervous about you and the exams, but other than that, she seemed pretty fine. Why, did something seem wrong?"

[color=D3E97D]"She said if we passed, she'd forge Yasu-san and Makoto-san a free weapon each."[/color]

His fathers eyes widened at Shirou's words.

"That [i]is[/i] kinda unnerving, isn't it?" He said. "Guess I'll hide all our sharp objects and try to make sure she gets some rest, see how she feels when she wakes up. Now get going, or you're gonna be late!"

"Right, I'll see you in a few days." Shirou said, sending his father a small wave before leaving. Thankfully, he'd already gathered anything he thought he might need the previous night, so all he had to do was get the pack from beside the door, give one final wave goodbye to his mother, and then head off to the meeting area.

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It wasn't until after the Hokage had finished her speech that he finally found Makoto and Yasu and made his way over to him. He had just made it into earshot when Yasu asked where he was.

[color=D3E97D]"I'm here, Yasu-san."[/color] He said, nodding to his teammate in greeting before turning to the other one. [color=D3E97D]"Makoto-san, you're m-making a scary face. Y-you're not planning to start a f-fight, are you?"[/color]

He tried not to let himself sound too nervous as he spoke. True, spending three years with Makoto and Yasu had done a great deal to make him less scared of them, but that didn't erase it completely. Well, actually, he was pretty decent with Yasu, but Makoto was still kind of... [i]'overwhelming'...[/i] However, he quickly remembered that he wouldn't have to resort to his pathetic negotiation skills to convince Makoto not to fight, because his mother had provided him with [i]bribery.[/i]

[color=D3E97D]"It would be a b-bad idea to fight anyone before the exams h-have even started, M-Makoto-san. My mom said that if we passed, she'd let you both request a w-weapon, and she'd make it and give it to you f-for free. But if we fight another t-team now, we could risk i-injuring ourselves and being disqualified before the exam even starts..."[/color]

While he might have started out strong, his nerves had him quieting down steadily throughout his explanation, until he was barely speaking loud enough to hear at the end.