"Oh?"
Namikaze Kirito raised an eyebrow, his smile carrying a clear edge of mockery.
"As the son of the Third Hokage, you can come eat ramen whenever you want but as the son of the Fourth Hokage, I'm not allowed to?"
The words hit cleanly.
Sarutobi Asuma stiffened, embarrassment flashing across his face.
He had met Namikaze Kirito when they were children. Back then, for reasons he never quite understood, the three-year-old Kirito had never once given him a friendly look.
Now, after all these years, the very first exchange already put him on the spot.
Asuma was no longer the reckless youth he used to be but standing in front of Kirito, he still didn't know how to respond.
After a brief hesitation, he spoke anyway.
"…Kirito. You've been gone from the village for so many years. You never came back. I'm curious—what have you been doing all this time?"
"Busy eating, drinking, having fun," Kirito replied casually.
"Busy picking up girls—hah!"
Before he could finish, a sharp pain twisted at his waist.
Kirito sucked in a breath and immediately turned his head—only to see Kurenai's face flushed bright red.
Lowering his voice, he muttered,
"Are you trying to kill me? Why are you using so much force?"
"Serves you right for talking nonsense," Kurenai snapped quietly.
She didn't feel the slightest guilt. She didn't know why, but the moment she heard the words picking up girls, irritation bubbled up inside her.
And seeing that Kirito still hadn't noticed at all only made it worse.
She reached out again.
This time, though, she didn't get the chance.
A large, warm hand wrapped around hers instantly.
Kirito squeezed lightly—once, then again.
Kurenai's blush deepened all the way to her ears.
She struggled a few times, but when she couldn't pull free, she simply gave up and let him hold her hand.
Asuma didn't see what was happening under the table.
But he did see the way the two of them were looking at each other.
And that alone was enough.
Jealousy surged in his chest as he spoke up quickly.
"Kurenai… you seem very close to Kirito."
"Who's close with him…"
Kurenai tried to deny it.
But when she met Kirito's deep, unwavering gaze, her voice grew softer and softer—until it faded into nothing.
"…But looking at you two like this…"
Kirito's eyes drifted to the bouquet of flowers in Asuma's hand, then back to Kurenai. A hint of amusement crept into his tone.
"Ahem."
Asuma snapped back to his senses.
His face reddened slightly, but he clenched his jaw. If Kirito hadn't suddenly walked in earlier, Kurenai might already have accepted those flowers.
She had reached for them.
Remembering that, his resolve hardened.
Looking straight at Kirito, he said firmly,
"Kirito, since you're here and since we've known each other for so many years—I want you to be my witness."
Kurenai felt a sudden chill run down her spine.
Before she could react, Asuma stepped forward and raised the bouquet toward her once more.
"Kurenai. I'm not very good with words," he said earnestly.
"We've known each other since we were kids. I've liked you for many years. I've confessed more than once."
"I know you didn't accept me before. But I don't want to give up."
"Please… accept me."
"I just saw you reaching for the flowers earlier. Doesn't that mean—at least a little—that you care about me?"
"Asuma…"
Kurenai looked at him with complicated eyes.
She had rejected him so clearly before. How had things turned into this?
"I already told you," she said softly but firmly,
"Please stop bothering me. I really don't like you."
Kurenai had always been gentle. She hated hurting people.
But with Kirito standing beside her now, she didn't know why—she didn't want him to misunderstand.
"Kurenai… you—!"
Asuma stared at her in disbelief.
As the son of the Third Hokage, he had even taken on the role of guarding the daimyo just to escape living under his father's shadow.
He had worked so hard to prove himself.
And yet...
The woman he loved had never truly seen him.
"I'm sorry… Asuma."
Kurenai stood up abruptly.
Only then did she realize—too late—that her hand was still tightly held by Kirito's.
The entire ramen shop went silent for half a second—
Then exploded.
"Hey—look at that!"
"Kurenai Yuhi… holding hands with Namikaze Kirito?!"
"That's the Fourth Hokage's son!"
"What's going on?!"
"If it were me, I'd choose Kirito too—he's handsome and strong!"
Every pair of eyes locked onto them.
The one who took it the hardest was Asuma.
He had never imagined that the woman he loved… was already with someone else.
And that someone was Namikaze Kirito.
"Kurenai!" he shouted.
"He's ten years younger than you! What are you doing?!"
Kurenai froze.
She had wanted to explain. She had been flustered, embarrassed—
But those words erased her hesitation completely.
"That's right," she said calmly.
"I like Kirito. We're together."
"Now do you understand why I can't accept you?"
"Impossible!" Asuma roared.
"I don't believe it!"
They were childhood friends. They grew up together, took missions together, became chūnin together.
Where was Kirito back then?
Just a kid.
There was no way—no way he could accept this.
The most confused person of all, however, was Kirito himself.
He liked Kurenai. That was true.
But he never expected things to turn out like this.
Kurenai—who was always restrained and gentle—had drawn such a clear line in front of everyone.
It made him look… ridiculously good.
Unconsciously, he tightened his grip on her hand once more.
Kurenai felt it.
She turned her head and looked at him, her eyes soft and steady.
"In any case," she said quietly,
"that's how it is. If you don't have anything else to say, Asuma… please leave."
"My ramen's about to get soggy."
Kirito casually pointed behind Asuma.
The ramen shop owner had already been waiting for a while, bowls in hand, eyes shining with excitement as she watched the drama unfold.
Asuma staggered.
"How did this happen…?"
"This can't be real…"
Muttering to himself, he turned and stumbled out of the shop.
Kirito and Kurenai sat back down.
"How long are you planning on holding my hand?" Kurenai asked, her face still red.
Kirito smiled, clearly enjoying himself.
"All the time," he replied.
"But like this, I can't eat my noodles."
"So why don't you feed me?"
"You—! Don't even think about it!"
Kurenai yanked her hand free at once, ducked her head, and started eating furiously.
Her face was almost buried in the bowl.
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