Time flew by as the second semester ended.
A one-month vacation began.
November had already slipped into winter.
Though no snow had fallen, the air carried a biting chill.
Extra layers were a must… It was vacation now, and Seiryū figured he should finally relax instead of pushing himself.
Mainly, the quilt was just too comfortable.
For once, Seiryū didn't leap out of bed at dawn to train.
He declared that the warm quilt was his home, that he was a homebody with no wish to become a wandering son.
He stayed cocooned until around nine o'clock.
Smack!
The bedroom door burst open and a lively voice rang out—Kurenai: "Why are you still lazing around?"
She wore a tiny apron, her silky hair tied in a ponytail. She looked adorable.
Seeing Seiryū still in bed, she urged, "Up you get. I've already made breakfast!"
After more practice, her cooking had "soared."
She no longer mistook sugar for salt.
She could actually become a proper wife one day!
Snuggled in the quilt, Seiryū didn't move. He tilted his head toward her and drawled, "The quilt's cozy…"
"Honestly!" Kurenai muttered, but her eyes slid sideways, clearly up to mischief.
"Heh heh, up you come!"
Strolling over to the bed, she giggled, grabbed a corner of the quilt and yanked—"Ah!! Y-you... you're not wearing anything!?"
A shriek followed. Kurenai's face turned crimson, practically steaming.
She flung the quilt back down, spun away, and her heart pounded—Seiryū was naked!?
Who sleeps without clothes!?
"…" Seiryū's face darkened. He quickly pulled the quilt back over himself.
Such a dog-blood drama had actually happened to him.
He'd been seen. He was no longer pure!
Seiryū said slowly, "So… you saw?"
Despite the winter chill, heat rose from Kurenai's head. Face scarlet, she stammered, "N-no! A-and why aren't you wearing anything!?"
Seiryū's mouth twitched. "Sleeping naked is comfy. And healthy!"
In winter, a warm quilt plus bare skin equals bliss.
Besides, he'd read it in an article that, sleeping nude was good for the body.
Blushing, Kurenai snapped, "Pervert! Big pervert!"
Seiryū shot back, "You're the pervert. You peeked!"
"No! I didn't!"
"You saw!"
"…" His words made her blush deepen. That fleeting glimpse—ugh, stupid brain, stop replaying it.
She hadn't seen anything!
"I… I'm ignoring you…"
With that, she scurried out, cheeks blazing.
"I'm a pure, untouched young man, and a young girl saw everything. My innocence, rest in peace… you died wronged…"
Seiryū muttered while dressing.
Soon, he was clothed and heading to the dining table.
---
"Mm…" At the sight of him, Kurenai's cheeks still glowed.
She avoided his gaze, battling the bacon and eggs on her plate.
Distracted, she failed twice to pick up a bite.
"Tsk…" Seiryū chuckled at her struggle.
He'd already brushed it off.
Innocent or not, his face was thick.
In his past life, he'd forgotten to clear his browser history—family or friends might have seen it. That was worse than a young girl seeing him naked, and he'd gotten over it.
He took a bite of bacon and egg glazed with hoisin and salad dressing. It looked like dark cuisine, but tasted shockingly good.
He nodded in praise. "Great bacon and eggs today. Your skills keep improving. Amazing!"
"…" Shinku, staring at the dark cuisine he had tasted once before, stayed silent.
Besides occasional goofiness and overreactions in danger...
He had now discovered another flaw in Seiryū.
His taste buds were abnormal!
He actually enjoyed bacon and eggs whose flavor he couldn't even describe. It made no sense!
Could brain issues affect taste?
Lady Tsunade really needed to return to the village so she could drag Seiryū in for a full check-up...
Kurenai stole a glance at him—stupid brain, stop replaying! She lowered her red face and mumbled, "Mm… yeah!" Ugh, stupid brain, shut up!!
Something felt off!
Shinku narrowed his eyes.
Why did his daughter look like that?
After Seiryū's praise, she should've been proudly urging him to eat more, not blushing like this.
Could she be sick?
As a good father, he grew concerned and asked, "Kurenai, what's wrong? Running a fever? Why are you so red?"
"Mm… d-do I?" Being called out only made Kurenai more flustered. She pressed her small hands to her cheeks.
They really were hot.
Even without a mirror, she knew her face must be bright red!
"M-maybe I really am sick..." Forcing the memories away, she mumbled, going along with her father.
Right. She was sick!
The blush was from illness!
Shinku believed her and grew even more worried. "I'll get you some medicine."
"N-no need!" She wolfed down her breakfast, cheeks puffed like a squirrel, mumbling, "I'll rest a bit and be fine!"
After declaring, "I'm done," she trotted off...
Shinku stared after her, then turned to Seiryū. "What's with Kurenai? She doesn't look sick…"
Seiryū shrugged. "Beats me. Maybe my praise embarrassed her?"
Shinku tugged the corner of his mouth. "You praise her dark cuisine all the time. She's never reacted like this."
Seiryū's eyes widened, full of disbelief. "Uncle Shinku, that addictive flavor and you call it dark cuisine? Are your taste buds broken?"
Shinku: "???"
He didn't dislike his daughter's cooking. It just didn't suit his palate.
It wouldn't suit ninety-nine percent of people.
That Seiryū could devour it so happily proved he was genuinely abnormal...
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)