Yūgao wished that she could spend more time with Hayate. She did not know when exactly the transition had occurred but for Yūgao it no longer sufficed to merely train with him. She found Hayate creeping into her mind all the time, and she yearned for his company: This was quite the predicament as Yūgao's desires were unbefitting of a student but she couldn't stop herself. Yūgao had even gone so far as to purpose that they train later so that there was a chance that their training would lead into the night and maybe he would decide to moon watch with her again. However, this was not to be, for Hayate was busy, and so their training sessions were always in the early hours of the morning. It seemed that her luck was a one time thing.

Today the session was drawing to a close, and so desperate was Yūgao that she took a step forward then.

"Would you, " Yūgao began; however, her courage quickly failed her.

Hayate merely smiled. "Would I what?"

"Em," Yūgao struggled as she felt herself shaking inside. "Would you like to go eat?"

Hayate's relaxed features twitched slightly then.

"I just want to thank you for all the time that you have taken, to teach me," Yūgao added hastily in response.

"It was an order," Hayate stated merely, and Yūgao recoiled at his response.

However what she did not know was that Hayate weighed up both the pros and cons of her proposition. Yūgao's offer was harmless enough as it did not involve them being alone together while watching the moon. Eating together would constitute being in public; therefore, this would ensure propriety. And so it was that Hayate agreed.

In time Hayate found himself sitting cross-legged opposite Yūgao with a bowl of steaming udon noodles. There was a buzz about the air as the restaurant heaved with patrons and yet the pair remained surprisingly quiet.

Yūgao took to stuffing her mouth with Onigiri as she seemed to be unable to make conversation. She had reasoned that it was the presence of the great number of people in the room. Yūgao subconsciously believed that she could not be her true self for some one would discover her true feelings. It was a mute point though when suddenly Hayate activated his transparency Jutsu: This startled Yūgao but she managed chocked down the Onigiri.

"Is there a problem?" she asked while quickly scanning her surroundings. The empty seat in front of Yūgao left her feeling surprisingly embarrassed. She did not want people thinking she ate alone.

"Sorry," Hayate said then, "I've seen a fellow Jōnin I know."

Instantly Yūgao insides crumbled. Was he ashamed to be seen with her? Yūgao wanted the ground to swallow her up then. Why did she suggest this? What a stupid idea!

"Yūgao," a loud voice called over the hum of conversation.

Yūgao turned abruptly. She found herself staring in bewilderment at a shinobi with shoulder-length hair who had arrived at her table. He was dressed in Jōnin garb and had his hands were casually stuffed into his pockets.

"Shiranui Genma," he introduced.

Yūgao started. "Do we know each other?"

Genma continued to chew on the end of a senbon as he shook his head. "No. But there are not many women in Konoha with purple hair."

Yūgao could not formulate a response. This encounter was all-consuming, and because of Hayate's lack of physical presence, Yūgao forgot that he was there.

A knowing smile spread across Genma's face then. "So you are the one who has been taking so much of Hayate's time," he announced.

A red blush burned Yūgao's cheeks, and she swallowed back the sudden dryness in her throat. "W-with training yes."

"Of course," Genma clarified in a matter of fact way. However, there was a hint of amusement in his voice, "What else could I have implied?"

Despite Genma's friendly nature, Yūgao could not calm her heart for his probing gaze was on her. There was an underlying current of suspicion that ran through Yūgao as she suspected that he was secretly teasing her.

Yūgao forced herself to laugh. "Nothing," she stated as smoothly as possible.

Genman nodded in agreement although his knowing smile remained and without another word he left just as spontaneously as he had arrived. Thoroughly ruffled now Yūgao found that she no longer felt hungry.

Not only was Hayate not wanting to be seen with her but Genma was making fun of her.

Yūgao felt utterly miserable. What a failed proposition.