Obito low-key flirts with her in this chapter because I think he's gonna start to really like like her soon and Ethelia low-key doesn't realize that's what it is so brace yourselves-

Ethelia's pov

"Come on, Ethelia! You can do it!" Obito cheered. I don't know if he's missing all the signs I've been throwing at him or what, but he won't leave me alone! Ever since I dragged him from the depths of his apartment a week ago, he's been glued to my side. Like he's imprinted on me or something weird like that. I don't like it. Nothing like this ever happened to me back when I went to regular school. I never thought anyone was the human equivalent to period cramps, I never encountered creepily optimistic men and I was never trailed by cheerful boys in goggles. And I never talked to other females either!

"Please leave." I sighed, speeding up slightly. The only reason I'm suffering is for the money, and so that I won't accidentally blow this whole village up. That would really suck, especially since I'd probably blow up with it. Well, the accidentally committing mass murder part of the whole thing would really suck too, I guess. People low-key suck though.

"I don't want to." Obito pouted slightly, speeding up too and matching my pace. The amount of stamina Obito has is... well, he's like a bottomless pit. He's not slow either, which means there no chance of me outrunning him. I'm not dumb enough to try either. It would just delay me further and force me to sit in one place listening to him jabber. At least this way I feel like I'm somewhat escaping him and his obnoxious nature.

"Did I ever mention caring about your opinion?" I scoffed, rolling my eyes. 

"Did I even mention caring about yours?" He countered. I pursed my lips. Okay, that was a pretty good comeback, I'll give him that. At least he's not a total asshole like Kakashi is, and he isn't a bitch like Rin's been lately. I swear to God she's been a small demon lately, and I don't know why. Hormones? 

"Please just run ahead. Rin and Kakashi passed us ages ago. They're probably waiting." I tried to trick him into leaving but I honestly don't see it working. He's shaking his head. Fuck. I need a plan B.

"I want to run next to you." Obito insisted in a way that made me cringe away. He's seriously acting like we're friends and it's seriously grossing me out. That, and it's creepy. He better not try to make physical contact with me. I swear to God, he will lose his hand if he tries. 

"You call this running?" We're barely jogging at this point. "Please go. I don't want to talk to you or look at your or smell you. Seriously, you're emitting an odor. You're too close. Get away." 

"So cruel." He sighed. Great. He's not taking it to heart. Just what I wanted. Things are going my way today. Joy. "Why don't you want to look at me? Aren't I cute?" He winked at me and laughed. He's never letting that shit go.

"Okay, you were wallowing in your apartment and I took it upon myself to come make sure you weren't about to off yourself, so you can shut that hole you call a mouth." I flipped him off. Seriously, he needs to back off. I want some alone time to brood over the fact that I'm being forced to do laps around this damn village, which really needs to be smaller.

"But you still said I was cute." Obito poked me. I sent him a glare. Okay yeah, he can say goodbye to that art. It's coming off the second he turns his back. "I think you're cute too!"

"Uh huh. I'm sure I'll be winning Miss Konoha this year. They'll crown me the prettiest, nicest girl and send me on my way, and my dozens of friends will throw a part for me to celebrate." The sarcasm pouring out of me no shit.

"No, really! I could look at your face all day! I swear!" Obito promised. Minato and Kakashi came into view. They'll surely save me by telling Obito to shut up and biting his head off in the most passive-aggressive manner possible! Well, Kakashi will. He lashes out at anything that moves.

"I could look at yours all day too." I said, and he lit up. "But I really don't want to." I finished. His face fell. Fucking loser.

"Whatever, I think you're cute." His cheeks puffed out and I had the sudden urge to kick him in the balls for being a weirdo. But I have virtually no muscle so he probably wouldn't even notice. It's fine. I can dream. It's these violent and beautiful fantasies that keep me going to be honest.

"Mhm. The cutest." I muttered as we approached.

"Obito! Ethelia! You made it!" Minato clapped his hands together.

"Unfortunately." I muttered. Obito snickered slightly. He thinks I'm joking, which is actually hilarious. I would laugh right now if I wasn't already so dead inside. Jesus Christ I need some help. Maybe being dead inside is a good thing in my case seeing as if I get too emotional, I'll kill literally everyone in this whole village. I'm like a balloon threatening to pop.

"Yeah! Ethelia did a great job." Obito gave a thumbs up, reminding me that I still needed to remove his arm from his body for daring to touch me. But that's so much work and going to court will not be fun. I'll probably have to get up early and if I end up in prison, I'll never get to sleep in again. I'm not sure I should risk it.

"I'm sure she did! What're we gonna do now, sensei?" Rin's cheerful today. Yesterday she was the human embodiment of a thundercloud. Which like, same, but I'm also depression in human form so there's a small difference. She's actually a nice, positive person deep down somewhere in there. I'm not. I'm like a rock with layers and layers of self hatred, anxiety and gloomy thoughts painted on. Oh, and sarcasm. 

"We're going to go on our first D-rank with Ethelia!" Minato announced with a grin. 

"Ew." My nose scrunched up, and Obito laughed, throwing an arm over my shoulder. Hah hah, okay, cool. He's fucking dead the second he lets his guard down who the fuck does he think he is I'm literally going to cut off his arms, his non-existent dick and his legs this bitch thinks he can touch me without my consent and get away with it-

I blinked back into reality when Obito removed his arm, grinning down at me. "Are you coming? They're going to leave without us." Obito urged. I looked up at him with a dark look.

"I wish they would. And I wish you would go with them." I began to trudge after them. Obito just laughed.

Asshole.