When Kiyohara entered, he noticed that Rin had not realized he had arrived.
She sat with her head lowered, gently rubbing the rim of her teacup with her fingertips.
Two popsicles rested on the table.
She had just bought them from a small shop on the corner. They were the two-colored dango flavor, each wrapped in a thin layer of paper.
The edges had already begun to melt, and a pale pink droplet slowly slid down the wrapper before soaking into the tabletop.
Rin picked one up, peeled away the wrapper, and took a small bite.
The icy sweetness melted across her tongue. She lightly licked her lips before taking another bite.
She had applied lipstick before leaving home, a very faint shade of pink. Now most of it had transferred onto the popsicle, leaving behind a delicate lipstick mark.
"Rin."
Kiyohara greeted her.
She had arrived quite early today.
She was wearing a long dress that reached all the way to her ankles. Only when she moved could one vaguely glimpse the pair of slender calves wrapped in white stockings beneath the skirt.
Kiyohara glanced at them and found that the gentle curves of her legs were quite pleasing.
After thinking about it for a moment, he felt that this was perfectly normal.
Among female shinobi, there were very few with poor figures.
Someone like Anko was a special case.
After retiring from frontline missions and becoming an instructor at the Shinobi Academy, she no longer needed to maintain intense physical training. Combined with her love of sweets and other high-calorie foods, it was only natural that she had gained quite a bit of weight.
Still, Kiyohara believed that if Anko underwent six months of intensive training, she could easily slim down again.
The use of chakra was fundamentally the combination of spiritual energy and physical energy. The more chakra one refined, the greater the physical energy consumed, making it almost impossible for the body to store much fat.
Of course, there were exceptions.
The Akimichi Clan possessed a unique secret technique that allowed them to store massive amounts of fat and convert it directly into chakra, a secret art passed down from generation to generation through the vows symbolized by their earrings.
Hearing Kiyohara's voice, Rin looked up.
She still had the popsicle in her mouth.
"Kiyohara-kun..."
She called out vaguely before hurriedly pulling the popsicle from her lips.
The lipstick mark on it had become even larger. Pink syrup trickled down the wooden stick and dripped onto her fingers.
Kiyohara took the seat across from her.
"Have you been waiting long?"
"No, no."
Rin shook her head and raised the popsicle in her hand.
"I was just... eating this."
Kiyohara looked at the popsicle before noticing the tiny bit of pink syrup still lingering at the corner of her lips.
"Is it good?"
"It's alright... just a little too sweet..."
As she spoke, she unconsciously licked the corner of her mouth.
Her small tongue gently swept across her lips, removing the remaining syrup. Mixed with the moisture and the faint lipstick, her lips appeared glossy and soft.
Rosy pink.
Filled with the gentle softness unique to a young woman.
Kiyohara's gaze lingered on her lips for only a brief moment before shifting away.
Rin then picked up the other popsicle from the table.
"This one's for you, Kiyohara-kun."
She handed it to him.
This was the same time they used to come here together in the past, so Rin had carefully timed her purchase.
Fortunately, Kiyohara was as punctual as always. The popsicle had barely melted before he arrived.
"Give it to me."
Kiyohara reached out.
Blinking once, Rin placed it in his hand.
He accepted it and took a bite.
It really was rather sweet.
In fact, it was almost overwhelmingly sweet.
A few quick bites later, he had already finished it.
Looking at the popsicle that Rin still hadn't finished, he asked,
"Cold?"
Rin froze for a second before nodding.
"A little. My teeth feel kind of uncomfortable."
"In that case, give it to me."
Without waiting for her response, Kiyohara gently took the popsicle from her hand.
Before Rin had time to react, he leaned over and deliberately took another bite from the exact spot where her lipstick mark remained.
Rin's cheeks instantly turned red.
"Kiyohara-kun..."
"Hm?"
"You... you're kind of a pervert..."
she whispered softly.
She had just been eating that herself.
"Do I really seem like that kind of person?"
Kiyohara shook his head.
They had already kissed each other before.
How could sharing the same popsicle possibly count as being perverted?
"That... I'd already eaten it..."
Her fingers unconsciously curled together.
"I just didn't want to waste it. Or... do you dislike me?"
As he spoke, he took another bite.
Only the final piece of the popsicle remained now, with a faint trace of pink syrup still clinging to the wooden stick.
"No, no!"
Rin hurriedly waved both hands.
She had never disliked Kiyohara.
If anything, she had been worried that he might dislike her.
Yet as she watched him calmly finish almost the entire popsicle, she somehow felt that something about the situation was... strange.
"The meat's here."
Kiyohara's voice pulled her back to reality.
Startled from her thoughts, Rin looked up to see a waiter approaching with a tray carrying several plates of sliced beef, pork belly, and fresh vegetables.
"Hokage-sama, please enjoy your meal."
The waiter clearly recognized Kiyohara and served everything with obvious respect.
"Thank you."
Kiyohara nodded politely.
The charcoal beneath the grill had already burned bright red.
Every so often, tiny sparks leaped into the air before disappearing.
Kiyohara picked up a slice of pork belly and laid it across the grill.
The moment it touched the hot grate, a sharp sizzling sound filled the air.
White fat seeped from the meat, bubbling through the gaps in the grill.
He flipped it over with his tongs.
The edges gradually curled and turned a rich golden brown.
Perhaps because the staff had recognized Kiyohara long ago, today's meat was of exceptionally high quality.
Rin sat across from him, holding her teacup with both hands as she quietly watched him cook.
"Kiyohara-kun's grilling gets better every time."
"Your cooking is excellent too, Rin."
Kiyohara placed another slice of beef onto the grill.
The pork and beef sizzled together as their juices mixed with the sauce, releasing an aroma that instantly whetted the appetite.
The first slice of pork belly was done.
Using the tongs, Kiyohara placed it onto Rin's plate.
"Try it."
Rin lowered her eyes toward the meat.
Picking it up with her chopsticks, she took a bite.
The savory richness of the sauce blended perfectly with the natural sweetness of the pork.
Her eyes narrowed happily.
The corners of her lips rose without her even noticing.
"It's delicious!"
Seeing her expression, Kiyohara smiled as well.
"Then eat some more."
He immediately began grilling the next batch.
Rin quietly ate bite after bite.
Occasionally she would glance up at him before lowering her head again.
The charcoal crackled softly.
The fragrance of grilled meat drifted warmly between them.
Outside the window, darkness had completely fallen.
Streetlights illuminated one after another along the road.
Rin finally put down her chopsticks.
"Kiyohara-kun."
"Hm?"
"Thank you... for today."
Kiyohara looked at her.
"For what?"
"It's just..."
She lowered her head again, her fingers unconsciously intertwining.
"The vice director position..."
Kiyohara put down the tongs and looked directly at her.
The flickering firelight danced across her face, casting alternating light and shadow over her delicate features.
Her lips looked even redder after eating the barbecue.
"You don't have to thank me. I genuinely believe in your abilities. You're more than qualified for the position."
Kiyohara laughed softly.
With Rin's current talent, she was absolutely capable of serving in that role.
She had already surpassed the version of herself from the original story by a tremendous margin.
Although it looked like a promotion on the surface, in reality she was simply going to become even busier.
After all, Kiyohara intended to hand over a great deal of medical research to her.
Fortunately, Rin had never disappointed him.
Every task he entrusted to her had produced outstanding results.
"I'll have many more things to trouble you with in the future."
Kiyohara said.
"I don't mind."
Rin smiled gently.
"I'm not afraid of being busy."
The two continued eating.
When Kiyohara felt they had nearly finished, he asked,
"Full?"
"Mhm."
"Then let's go."
He stood up and placed a money pouch on the table.
Rin rose as well and followed behind him.
When they stepped out of Yakiniku Q, the night breeze happened to sweep past them, carrying with it the coolness unique to autumn.
Rin instinctively shrank her shoulders and folded her arms together.
Kiyohara removed his outer robe and draped it over her shoulders.
She froze.
"Kiyohara-kun..."
"It's cold at night."
He interrupted her gently.
Rin lowered her head and looked at the large white robe covering her.
It was so oversized that it wrapped around her entire body, the hem almost dragging across the ground.
She could smell the lingering scent on it.
It was Kiyohara's scent.
She buried her face in the collar and quietly took a deep breath.
Then she lifted her head and continued following behind him.
The two slowly walked down the street together.
From time to time, passing villagers recognized Kiyohara and stopped to greet him.
He acknowledged each of them with a polite nod.
"Kiyohara-kun."
"Hm?"
"My house... is at the next intersection."
Kiyohara stopped walking.
Rin stopped as well, standing in front of him.
She lowered her head, her fingers tightly gripping the edge of his robe until her knuckles turned slightly white.
"Um..."
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"There's... no one at home today..."
Kiyohara quietly looked at her.
The glow of the streetlamp shone from the side, illuminating half of her face.
A blush slowly spread across her cheeks.
Her eyelashes trembled ever so slightly.
Her rosy lips pressed together before relaxing again.
"Would you... like to come in for a while?"
Rin asked.
Kiyohara looked at her in surprise.
This saved Kiyohara the trouble of coming up with an excuse to go upstairs and spend some more time with her.
"Of course."
He agreed without hesitation.
He simply reached out and gently took Rin's hand.
Lowering her head, she gave a quiet hum of acknowledgment.
Before long, they arrived at her house. Only then did Kiyohara finally let go of her hand.
For some reason, Rin suddenly felt nervous.
She pulled a key from her sleeve, her fingers trembling ever so slightly. It took her two attempts before she managed to align it with the keyhole.
Click.
The door unlocked.
Rin stepped aside, still keeping her head lowered.
"Please, come in."
Kiyohara stepped into the entranceway.
He removed his shoes and neatly placed them beside the shoe cabinet.
Behind him, Rin crouched down, carefully straightened his shoes, then opened the cabinet and took out a pair of cotton slippers.
"Kiyohara-kun, wear these."
Kiyohara accepted the slippers, his fingers unintentionally brushing across the back of her hand.
Her hands were cool to the touch, yet her fingertips were strangely warm.
Rin stood up and hurried into the living room.
"I'll make some tea."
Her voice drifted out from inside.
After changing into the slippers, Kiyohara walked farther into the house.
The living room was not large, but it was kept exceptionally clean.
Several rows of medical books filled the bookshelf against the wall. Beside them sat a framed family photograph of Rin together with her parents.
There was also a smaller frame on the windowsill.
Walking over, Kiyohara took a closer look.
It was a photograph of himself and Rin taken at Training Ground Three.
In the picture, Rin was cheerfully flashing a peace sign while Kiyohara stood beside her.
A little farther away, he noticed another framed picture of Team Minato.
However, Rin had placed it in an inconspicuous corner, making it far less eye-catching than the other two photographs.
"Kiyohara-kun, the tea is ready."
Rin's voice came from behind him.
He turned around.
She was kneeling gracefully beside the low table, holding a teacup with both hands.
White steam drifted upward from the cup, partially obscuring her delicate features.
Kiyohara sat across from her.
Rin gently slid the teacup toward him, her fingers still resting along the rim.
As Kiyohara reached out to receive it, his fingertips brushed against hers.
Instead of immediately letting go, he gently wrapped his hand around hers.
Rin's fingers trembled.
The teacup wobbled slightly on the tabletop.
Ripples spread across the surface of the tea, reflecting the warm light hanging above them.
"Kiyohara-kun..."
She looked up at him, uncertainty still lingering within her warm brown eyes.
A man and a woman alone together in the same room.
What could happen next hardly needed to be explained.
Rin was no longer an innocent little girl who understood nothing.
Naturally, she knew what might follow.
Kiyohara did not release her hand.
Instead, he softly rubbed the back of it.
"Nervous?"
he asked.
Rin bit her lower lip before giving a tiny nod.
"A little."
Kiyohara covered her hand completely with his own.
"There's no need to be nervous."
As he spoke, he quietly channeled a stream of Yang Release chakra into her body, gently calming her mind.
Yang Release chakra was, in essence, an expression of vitality itself.
It could invigorate both body and spirit.
Just as expected, the fatigue that remained after their barbecue meal faded almost immediately.
"Kiyohara-kun's hands... are really warm."
she murmured.
"Your hands are warm too, Rin."
Kiyohara found her hands surprisingly small.
Soft.
Warm.
And carrying a faint, pleasant fragrance.
Exactly the kind of hands Obito had dreamed of holding.
A hopeless simp would always end up with nothing in the end.
Kiyohara quietly shook his head.
His gaze gradually shifted away from her hands and fell upon her legs.
She sat properly on the tatami with both knees together.
White stockings hugged her slender calves.
Perhaps because of the lighting, the fabric shimmered faintly with a silky pearlescent sheen.
The tops of the stockings pressed gently into the soft flesh above her knees, leaving behind delicate impressions.
"So you're wearing white today."
Kiyohara commented.
Following his gaze downward, Rin lowered her eyes.
Her cheeks flushed slightly.
It was as good as an admission.
"Mhm..."
"I remember you've worn black stockings before."
Kiyohara slowly withdrew his hand from hers and gently rested it atop the thin layer of fabric covering her thigh.
The instant his fingers touched her leg, Rin's body stiffened.
The stockings were remarkably smooth.
His fingers almost slipped across them.
Yet through that thin layer of fabric, he could still clearly feel the warmth and softness of the skin beneath.
"Kiyohara-kun..."
Rin found herself at a loss for words.
Her mind felt dizzy.
Kiyohara's hand slowly moved upward from just above her knee, quietly appreciating both the texture of the stockings and the supple firmness beneath them.
High quality.
That was his honest assessment.
Stockings like these were probably rather expensive.
Rin usually lived quite frugally.
Had she purchased them especially because she was meeting him today?
The thought crossed Kiyohara's mind.
Under his gentle touch, the tension that had been locked inside her thighs gradually melted away.
The white stockings contrasted beautifully against her fair skin.
She looked whiter than fresh snow.
"Why don't you wear the black ones anymore?"
Kiyohara asked curiously.
Rin lightly bit her lower lip and looked away.
"Because... I realized that whenever I wore white... Kiyohara-kun would look at me for much longer."
Kiyohara chuckled.
So that was the reason.
No wonder she had rarely worn black stockings lately.
"So you've been paying close attention?"
Rin's face immediately became even redder.
The blush spread from her cheeks all the way to the tips of her ears.
She lowered her gaze again, her eyelashes casting delicate shadows beneath the warm light.
"I... I just happened to notice..."
Kiyohara gently stroked her thigh once more, quietly enjoying the silky texture beneath his fingertips and the warmth hidden underneath.
"The white ones suit you very well."
he said.
"You could try other colors in the future too."
Rin slowly raised her head and looked into his eyes.
"What color does Kiyohara-kun like?"
"I like them all."
He paused briefly.
Children chose only one.
Adults, of course, wanted all of them.
"Rin, no matter what color you wear, you'll always look beautiful."
The moment she heard those words, Rin could feel her face growing hotter than ever.
"I... I'm going to take a bath."
She suddenly stood up.
The movement was too hurried.
Her knee bumped against the edge of the table.
The teacup shook.
Several drops of tea splashed onto the tablecloth, leaving dark stains.
"Be careful."
Kiyohara reminded her.
"Kiyohara-kun... just wait here for a little while."
She turned around and hurried toward the bathroom.
After taking only a few steps, she stopped and looked back.
"Um... there are drinks in the refrigerator. If you're thirsty, please help yourself."
Having said that, she practically fled from the living room, returning to her bedroom first to fetch a change of clothes.
A moment later, carrying her clothes in her arms, Rin entered the bathroom.
The door closed with a soft click.
Soon afterward came the sound of running water splashing against the tiled floor.
Kiyohara leaned back against the sofa, quietly listening to the flowing water.
He lifted his gaze and slowly surveyed the modest living room.
Even the wildflowers arranged inside the vase had been carefully trimmed to varying heights.
It was obvious she had put considerable thought into decorating the room.
On the highest shelf of the bookcase rested several notebooks filled with medical ninjutsu research, each carefully labeled along the spine.
Before long, the sound of running water came to a stop.
Kiyohara withdrew his gaze.
A short while later, the bathroom door opened.
Rin walked out wrapped in a light pink bathrobe.
Her long hair hung loosely over her shoulders, still damp from her bath.
Droplets of water trickled down from the ends of her hair, soaking the collar of her robe.
Her face had been flushed rosy by the hot water.
The blush on her cheeks disappeared beneath the robe's neckline.
"Kiyohara-kun..."
She stood at the entrance to the hallway, nervously gripping the sash around her waist.
Her knuckles had turned slightly pale from how tightly she held it.
"I'm finished."
Kiyohara stood up and walked toward her.
A faint, refreshing fragrance lingered around her freshly bathed body.
Tiny droplets still clung to her eyelashes, trembling gently every time she blinked.
"Then I'll take a shower too."
Kiyohara said.
As he spoke, he reached up and untied the sash of his Hokage robe.
The white robe slid from his shoulders, revealing the black chainmail armor beneath.
Rin's eyes widened.
"K... Kiyohara-kun?!"
She watched as Kiyohara casually placed the chainmail on a nearby rack before removing the tight black undershirt beneath it.
Perhaps because his recovery ability was so extraordinary, even the scars covering his body had gradually faded over time until they were almost completely invisible, as though they had never existed.
Rin immediately raised both hands to cover her eyes.
Yet the gaps between her fingers remained embarrassingly wide.
Through those openings, she saw that his physique was even more imposing than she had imagined.
Her face instantly became even hotter.
Smiling faintly, Kiyohara walked into the bathroom, and the door quietly closed behind him.
Rin remained rooted to the spot.
Her hands still covered her eyes, although her fingers had long since spread apart.
She stared fixedly at the tightly shut bathroom door.
Her heart pounded so violently that it felt as though it might leap straight out of her throat.
She took several deep breaths before finally managing to calm herself a little.
By the time Kiyohara finished his shower and walked back out, the living room was empty.
The teacups on the coffee table had already been cleared away.
Even the stained tablecloth had been replaced with a fresh one.
The refrigerator door was slightly ajar.
Inside were two cans of chilled drinks waiting in the cool air.
Kiyohara walked over, took one of the cans, finished it in a few gulps, and then headed straight toward the door of Rin's bedroom.
(End of Chapter)