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Koi had never seen so many idiots in their life. The Uchiha clan was known for not always getting along or being organized, but family photo day was the worst. Every year was a new challenge, whether it was getting everyone organized into rows and keeping them still or people constantly messing up their delicate clothes. Koi picked at the embroidery on the crest sewn on their sleeve. A child cried. Parents yelled at their kids to keep themselves neat. It was all loud, all overwhelming.
“Everyone in your rows!” a clan elder shouted, getting everyone's attention. The scramble to get everyone in the picture began, with people pushing to get to their places and cursing as they got their hair snagged on something or tripped over their dramatic robes and uniforms.
Koi got to their place and stood as still as they could, crossing their fingers in hopes that nothing bad would come. Let it be over soon, they prayed to anyone who would listen, getting squished between an aunt and a cousin they knew almost nothing about. The photographer motioned for everyone to move closer together, and Koi held their breath as the entire family pushed towards each other.
“Smile!” Koi forced the corners of their lips up, knowing how horrible it probably looked. They’d never look at the picture again after a week, so why did it matter? No one really cared about the yearly Uchiha family photos, and anyone who did was out of their mind. It took far too long for the photographer to be done. Surely they had hundreds of pictures. One of them would have to be good, right? Koi’s awkward smile turned to a grimace when the photographer gave a thumbs up and everyone relaxed. The family moved out of their rows in no specific order, and people pushed others to get back out.
For a bunch of powerful shinobi, you’re all really damn messy, Koi thought with a frown as they got an elbow in the face from someone who most certainly knew exactly what they were doing. They slipped through the crowd, dodging more arms and holding their breath as a million perfumes and colognes bombarded their nose from every direction. The crowd of Uchihas was moving towards the door, some complaining about postponing missions for the picture and some seeming excited for who knows what crazy reason.
Koi had missed a mission for the picture. They had to miss their first ever B-rank mission, and their team had been nice enough to skip out on it as well, instead giving it to an older, more experienced team. His team hadn’t complained out loud, but Koi could see the disappointment on their faces. They had had their first B-rank opportunity and Koi’s family had squashed it. Koi pushed their way through the crowd to get outside and find somewhere quiet, keeping their head down the whole time. They were so focused on their footsteps that they didn’t even notice a soft breeze on their shoulder and even softer voice whisper on the wind behind them.
“Something on your mind?”
“Nothing, nothing,” they murmured, turning to look at their mother. Her wispy form trailed behind them, following Koi through the bodies of the other family members. “I’m fine.”
“You sure? Family gatherings always stressed you out when you were young.” A cool, soft hand brushed their hair out of their face.
“I’m fine, Mom. Just need to get outside.” Koi ignored the pounding in their ears as family members called out to each other and talked, a loud clan despite their reputation of deadly silence. “Outside, outside, outside…”
“Koi, stop mumbling to the air; no one can hear you.” Koi’s father patted them on the shoulder opposite to their mom’s hand.
“I’m not.”
“Then who have you been talking to?”
Koi stayed silent. Their dad sighed.
“Was it Mom?" Koi kept their mouth shut tight, bowing their head and attempting to side-step their dad in lieu of responding. It was the wrong move; their dad immediately knew the truth. “Koi, what did I tell you about talking to Mom?”
“She’s gone and I’m imagining it,” Koi grumbled, reciting the phrase that had been beaten into their head since they were young.
“Good.” Koi’s father ruffled their hair. “Now, go get some fresh air. I know you need it.”
All Koi could spit out in a sarcastic tone was a hard “thanks” before they pushed their way outside, biting the inside of their cheek to keep their face neutral. “Imagining it, my ass,” they grumbled as they walked, kicking at a small stone in their path. “Just ‘cause she wasn’t in the picture doesn’t mean she isn’t still here. She still loves us, right? Don’t you?”
The warm wind stirred around Koi, ruffling their hair and holding them in a tight embrace. “Right.”