When men drink, it is the quantity that matters most; the proof is but a secondary concern. When one drinks with culture, however, it becomes a ritual where elegance is paramount: admiring the snow, the moon, the flowers, and savoring the moment in pleasant company. Here, the atmosphere is everything, and the sake itself is not nearly as important.
Thus, for boisterous gatherings, there is "Demon Slayer," and for refined affairs, there is "Moon Viewing." Of course, "Snow Viewing" is also quite fine, and "Flower Viewing" possesses its own unique charm. To sit beneath a blossoming sakura tree with a few close friends, sipping sake and admiring the flowers—this is what makes life worth living.
If he had the chance, Ryōto would have gladly pointed to the shelf and given his elder brother Hatake a thunderous surprise.
"I may be no match for you in a fight, but in this, brother, we shall duel to the death."
Strolling down the street, Ryōto made his way purposefully to the wine shop.
"Shopkeeper! 'Demon Slayer'!"
The shopkeeper eyed Ryōto with suspicion. Though children often bought liquor for their fathers, he had never seen this boy before, and his mother had not mentioned such an errand. "Under no circumstances can I sell alcohol to this child," he thought.
Despite his doubts, a professional smile blossomed on his face.
"How much will you be having?"
Ryōto glanced at the bottles lined up on the counter. "Demon Slayer" was cheap, thirteen percent alcohol—one could drink it like water, with a light flavor, almost like a child's lemonade. Of course, there were more premium varieties. For Ryōto, however, anything less than fifty-five percent didn't count as low-alcohol. But what he truly yearned to taste was the legendary sake from the world of dreams, a drink said to intoxicate even the most resilient demon—the true "Demon Slayer" sake of the Oni clan.
Counting out his money, Ryōto stood on his tiptoes, slapped it onto the counter, and declared, "I'll take it all! Deliver it to the Hatake residence!"
"Elder brother Hatake drills me every day; he works so hard. I must be considerate of him. One must know how to be grateful."
Hearing this, the shopkeeper's face lit up.
"Whose son is this, spending money so lavishly and with such flair?"
"Very well, young guest."
"Wait!" Ryōto said. "Give me two bottles to take with me."
With two bottles in hand, Ryōto stepped out onto the street. He hadn't had lunch yet, so he decided to grab a quick bite. Pushing aside the curtain, he entered the ramen shop. Rin, standing on the opposite side of the street, saw Ryōto disappear behind the ramen shop's curtain and shifted her weight from one foot to the other, hesitating.
"Come on, Rin, now's your chance!" Kurenai mentally cheered her on, hiding behind her backpack.
But there were too many people around, and Rin couldn't bring herself to approach, silently coaxing herself.
"You can do it, Rin! It's just a confession! It's nothing to be afraid of! No matter what his answer is, he has to know how I feel! Even if it started as a misunderstanding, I like this special Ryōto just the way he is…"
The curtain was pushed aside. Rin flinched and stepped back around the corner, peeking out to watch Ryōto as he emerged.
Kurenai stomped her foot in frustration. "Oh, come on, I'm going to lose my mind!"
With the two bottles in hand, Ryōto continued on his way and soon turned into a fishing tackle shop. His budget was nearly depleted, but he still had enough for a few things. Ryōto entered the deserted little shop, which looked as if it were on the verge of closing.
One rod stand, one tackle box, no need for a chair, one night lantern, one fish basket, and one landing net. Bait? Why would he need bait? He could make his own flies. He had plenty of materials at home—tomorrow morning at work, he would pluck some feathers from a Ninja hawk and fashion them into floats. He had assembled a basic beginner's kit for himself.
The shop didn't carry any high-end gear anyway. The river in Konoha was wide and deep, and the fish in it were fat and foolish. This would be more than enough. Only losers chase after fancy equipment.
Ryōto asked for everything to be delivered to the Hatake residence, but this gift was not for his elder brother. That man already owned more than one set; he was a true enthusiast. The first time Ryōto had seen him, he knew at once—this was an avid fisherman. Besides, if he remembered correctly, after his father's death, Kakashi had started fishing to feed himself after training.
In short, if you can't beat them, join them. Ryōto wanted to discuss the finer points of fishing with his brother, the White Fang. In any case, during his chakra nature transformation training, there was still time to watch for a bite. After lunch, during his break, he could invite his elder brother along and they could chat about this and that. And his crude jokes were rather amusing.
Leaving the shop, Ryōto beamed with joy and anticipation. He was going to show his elder brother Hatake what modern fishing, honed over generations, was all about! A single thought spun in his mind: "I have to make a grand impression."
His ears twitched, and Ryōto turned his head.
Beneath a street sign, with her back to it, Rin was crouched in a small ball, pressing a hand to her wildly pounding heart.
"This is so nerve-wracking; my heart is about to leap out of my chest. Did he notice me?"
"That's Rin's scent. She has a faint aroma of the sun, warm but not scorching. Ah, the scent of dead dust mites."
Ryōto glanced at the sign, stood for a moment, then turned and walked away. He stopped at a confectionery, and after a short while, emerged with a box of sweets and headed toward the center of the village.
Soon, the Hokage Rock came into view. Ryōto walked past it, ascended the stairs carved into the rock face, passed a grove of faded sakura trees, and emerged onto an open area at the summit. Standing above the heads of the past Hokage, he gazed down at the bustling yet peaceful life of the village below. When the flowers bloomed again, this place would remain just as beautiful. But people… those who had faded were gone forever. There would never be others like them.
He swung a leg over the railing, sat on it, opened a bottle of "Demon Slayer," and drained it in one go. There was a time when Ryōto disliked alcohol. When did he come to love it?
It no longer mattered. As one grows up, one might come to love it, or one might not. But one must not insult the pure and innocent feelings of a little girl. They must be treated with seriousness.
The summer breeze tousled his silver hair, whipping it into disarray. Rin watched the silhouette on the railing. Taking a deep breath, she slowly approached him, stepping out from the shadows of the trees. On her face was…
"Ryōto!"
Her voice was very loud, as if she had poured all her strength into it. Full of resolve. Her face was crimson, whether from embarrassment or something else, but Rin had always been so direct. If there was no one around to interfere, she would boldly speak her feelings. She bowed at a ninety-degree angle…
"Please go out with me!!!"
"How bold! You're amazing, Rin!"
Kurenai, covering her burning face, slowly crouched behind a tree.
A long silence followed. Rin didn't know what Ryōto was thinking, and her heart pounded with anxiety. She raised her head. And saw that Ryōto, bathed in the bright sunlight, had turned and was smiling at her.
"Why is he laughing? But… his smile is so beautiful…"
To be honest, Ryōto was a little frightened. He didn't understand what he had done to attract her to this extent. But…
Ryōto held up the bottle and said, "Care for a drink?"
"W-W-What!!!"
"Why?!?"
Rin's eyes widened in astonishment.
"Are you scared?"
"As if!"
Rin strode toward him decisively, her gaze stubborn and firm. Ryōto held out the bottle to her. Rin snatched it and began to drink it down in one go.
"Rin! You didn't come here to drink with him!"
Kurenai, her eyes wide, watched the scene unfold, screaming internally.
"Don't let him lead you by the nose!"
"Hahaha…" Ryōto clapped his hands. "Brave, very brave!"
She had drunk too quickly, and for the first time, so she choked and began to cough. The sake tasted bitter and harsh, not at all pleasant. Tears welled up in her eyes involuntarily. The alcohol rushed to her head. Wiping her mouth, she fixed her gaze on Ryōto and demanded:
"So, what's your answer?!"
"You can't even hold your liquor; you're still just a child," Ryōto said, turning back to face the village below.
"I'm not a child!" Rin stomped her foot, glaring at him angrily. "I'm serious!"
Ryōto offered her the sweets and said with a smile, "You haven't had lunch. Eat something, don't go hungry."
Rin took the sweets in a daze, opened the beautiful box, took out a pastry, and popped it into her mouth. Her cheeks, still pudgy with childhood, puffed out like a hamster's, and her eyes crinkled into a smile.
"Ryōto is so kind. No!"
Rin looked up and, gazing at Ryōto, asked:
"So, what's the answer?"