Disclaimer: Once again. I don't own anything but Tomoko, her family, and Nagareboshi Cafe. Kei and her family belong to Lang Noi.

For themes, I will recommend Sayuri's Koukai no Uta from My Hero Academia, also known as The Song of Regrets when roughly translated. For a song without vocals? Ocean of Memories, composed by Fukasawa Hideyuki for Ufotable's Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works anime.

We're getting close to Kannabi, so serious songs are on. :p

Please enjoy!

Chapter 24: No Regrets

Nagareboshi Cafe was always a place to call home away from home. Since it was connected to my house, I could just go down the stairs, get to the staff kitchen, and whip something up whenever I wanted to.

Today was no different, even when everyone was getting close to the nice uneven age of thirteen.

"Nori, nori, where are you…?"

In the cabinet, oh sweet Juliet. My Nobody was grinning. Cat shaped again, Tomoko-chan? Hisako's voice echoed in a tittering laugh through my head as she watched my work through my eyes. You really have gotten a fondness for them, even when making onigiri.

Mugu. I held back a small noise while finally grabbing the packet off the nearest cupboard shelf. Thank goodness we had a lot of it. The scissors were easy to grab too. I can't help it and besides, Obi likes cats too. And they're easy to make.

I wasn't complaining, dear. Hisako was humming anyways, cheer in the notes. You'll just keep making Obito's day with these. All I ask is that you don't spoil him too much.

Hey. Who said these are just for Obi? I love him, sure, but it's not just for him.

Hahahaha, I know. Hisako's smile was just as contagious. Don't push yourself!

The reply, although dry, was one I meant entirely. After all, there was no killing a workaholic. No promises!

It was funny seeing my Nobody scowl for just a second once the rice started forming the famous cat ears in my hands. At least for a little bit.

Today was another Long Delivery Day.

The first sign of anything…well, out of the ordinary in the Long Delivery Day was the sound of faraway explosions in the training grounds. There were pretty loud already, but considering how the ground between the street and the grounds themselves were shaking…

"I'm glad you didn't come here alone and asked me to accompany you instead, Tomoko-chan," Kushina-nee mused, a hand absently landing on top of my head. "This needs a shinobi's touch to get through." She proceeded to huff a breath through her nose, sounding indignant. "To think Minato asked for a lunch delivery while doing another one of Jiraiya-sensei's horrible tests. I really don't know if those actually work."

"I don't mind?" I offered in the hopes of diffusing whatever bomb she was carrying, hugging my bento satchel tighter to my chest while glancing up to meet her gaze. "I like cooking and I make food for Kashi and Obi already, so it's no trouble?"

Kushina grumbled something under her breath. I couldn't make it out, but it sounded like, "Adorable girl," mixed with other things I didn't really understand, past memories included. "Anyways," she continued, unabated, "time to walk into the storm. I can at least feel that it's almost over."

Oookay, time to address the big elephant in the room now.

Uh, said Hisako all of a sudden. What does she mean by 'it'?

You took the words right out of my headspace. "You are referring to the explosions, Kushina-nee, right?"

Kushina glanced at me past her shoulder and her own bento bundle before grinning. "Yes," she said with a foxy twinkle in her eye, "and we can run in there in about…"

"About?"

There was one last BOOM in the distance, accompanied by… lightning? Still, I tried not to jump.

I freely admit. It did not stop the high-pitched "EEP!" from leaving my throat.

Kushina merely threw her head back with a laugh not unlike something I might have heard back in Vy's time from the Nine-Tails sitting in her stomach, but I held off from commenting. "Now!" Without warning, a hand was holding onto one of mine and it was pulling. When did we start running? "Let's go, Tomoko-chan!"

"A-Aye aye, ma'am!" I couldn't help but squeal. This wasn't quite on the scale of "Uzumaki-patented Tackle Hug" force, but it was close and once again, there was no resisting. All I could do was make sure the food wasn't dropped, but knowing me… "S-Slow down, Kushina-nee!"

It was a protest left in the wind, though. The woman known as Uzumaki Kushina had her nickname of "Red Hot Habanero" for a reason.

Once the thick forest had broken away into a clearing with a few cleverly placed rocks for seats, I could already make out an orange-blue accentuated collar in running distance.

There he is, Hisako said softly. Go get him, dear. He needs some more platonic love.

Kushina-nee had coincidentally let go of my hand in that moment to happily start talking with Minato-san, leaving me plenty of time to try to tiptoe over and not get Obito's attention. It was easier said than done, considering how we were in the middle of a freakin' forest and there were plenty of twigs to step on, sandals factored in. Along with Kei and Kakashi catching my eyes before I could even move, they just shared a glance before watching me in what seemed to be anticipation.

Pressure was there, but I could still walk forward and try.

I clamped down on my chakra, took as quiet of a breath as I could, and once Obito's back was in reaching distance, I held back the urge to hug him. After all, the gesture could be taken as a bad sneak attack and I did not want a kunai in my face. Instead, I slowly poked his shoulder three times, matching them up with each syllable of his name while keeping up a small smile. "O-bi-to~!"

I was not expecting him to jump up about half a meter in the air with a loud, "WHOA!", alerting every bird and shinobi in the area that he had just noticed me. Once he landed, he glanced around frantically before turning on the heel of his sandals to face me and I blinked. Was he blushing? "T-Tomo-chan?! When did you get there?!"

His ears are pink! Awwwww, Hisako said obnoxiously, hand covering her lips.

It took a moment for the scene in front of me to register in my head. Oh. He is blushing.

I tried to ignore Hisako's sudden comment in favor of smiling and offering the bento satchel still nestled against my chest. "I got here just now and I have yours and Kashi's lunches, Obi."

"…"

When Obito stared at said satchel for a second too long, I felt my hands sweat a bit. "I-I mean, if you're still willing to accept—"

"Th-there's no way I wouldn't!" he said hurriedly with a hand slicing through the tense air between us and, was it just me or did he get redder? A crooked smile accompanied the sudden flush on his face. "I love your cooking, Tomo-chan! J-Just don't sneak up on me like that!"

"O-Oh," I said dully, because there wasn't really a right way to answer that but with acceptance. And well, for an Uchiha like Obito to say "love" like that… "Th-Thank you. I'll keep that in mind for next time?"

Obito flushed a darker pink as he nodded in approval. "H-Hey, anyways, Tomo-chan, since you're here, let's have lunch together! Team Minato just finished our bell test." With a jerk of his head to the background, he added, "What do you think, Kei?"

"That sounds like a good idea," Kei cut in, letting me sigh in relief as the rest of the tension suddenly melted away from the air. The other ninja, Kakashi unintentionally excluded because of his mask, smiled back and my heart lightened a little. "I think we all need a break."

"This coming from the person who tried to blow Sensei up with explosive tags," Kakashi muttered suddenly. Before I could even swivel my head towards my reincarnation buddy in accusation, Kakashi raised his hands and loudly added, half-sarcastically, "It was a plan that could have worked against Sensei if he couldn't teleport." He paused, then turned to me with a smaller, "Thank you for bringing lunch again, Tomoko."

"Y-You're welcome?"

"Jackass," Kei sniped. "Nice to Tomo and no one else?"

"Dunce," Kakashi immediately threw back. "Don't think that's your business."

There was a mighty sigh. "This is just great. For once, they're the ones fighting and I'm on the sidelines," Obito snarked, hand on his hip and I found a shocked giggle leaving my lips instead. For some reason, even with the banter sounding hostile, the feelings it gave off were warm and familiar. Like they were already becoming a team. Then again, Kakashi wasn't actively targeting Obito and Kei could handle herself, so—

"What are you laughing about, Tomoko-chan?" went a foxy voice, arms suddenly wrapping around my neck from behind as red hair came into the corners of my vision. Aaaaah, sudden affection. "Is there something that amuses you?"

"N-No, not really." But it was Kushina-nee still giving me a confused look along with the up-to-now-silent Minato-san and the attentiful Obito, so all I could do was lean back into the hug and smile.

This was a moment that probably wouldn't come back again, so the least I could do was enjoy it as it lasted.

"I'm just happy to see everyone getting along!"

Kei met my eyes first before rolling her eyes with a fond snort. "We have a long way to go for that, Tomo."

"It's still progress!"

Hm.

Mm-muu?

Honey. I know you're enjoying the down-time like everyone else, but…

But what, Hisako?

Why are you making yourself into a pillow?

True, Obito making himself comfortable with his head on my lap was definitely not something I saw in my current schedule. Still, he seemed to be relaxing, so I reached over to gently pet his hair. Long Delivery Day could be handled later. Sweat soaking into my dress be damned, he was a friend, he fought hard from what I could see, and at least this was better than his running around and risking throwing up all the food Kushina-nee and I brought along.

"Spoil him anymore and I don't think he'll be a ninja after this, Tomoko," Kakashi snarked from a nearby rock. "He'll snore more than keep watch."

I didn't even have to tilt my head to see Obito's expression contort from sleepiness to plain irritation. "I won't!"

"You will."

"Won't!"

"Will."

"Won't!"

When can I step in to say something? I couldn't help but think.

Kei, having decided to sit near Kushina-nee, looked close to wrangling something foul with the scowl on her face. Then again, she looked just as tired as her teammates, in spite of the blueberry muffin in hand. The training must've been really bad today if her glaring was any indication. "Will you two just shut up?" she growled.

"Now now, everyone," Minato-san cut in patiently with two raised hands, "it's a break, so enjoy it. We'll be getting back to training later."

Kei closed her mouth with a sigh as Kakashi backed off.

"Awwww," Obito bemoaned and without hesitation, rolled over to further situate his head in my lap. "But this is comfortable." He paused, ears reddening a bit before he shifted again, meeting my gaze. "Y-You are okay with this, right, Tomo-chan?"

Question of the day, huh, dear?

Even with the sweat, a soft giggle left my lips as I nodded. "Why wouldn't I be? It's you, Obi." I petted his hair. "Stay as long as you like. All I ask is you don't cut off blood circulation."

"Thanks," Obito grinned, pointedly ignoring my ninja housemate giving him that same stare of disapproval. He proceeded to close his eyes just like before, exhaling softly. "But what are you doing with my hair, Tomo-chan?"

I pretended to think on it before resuming my petting. "Stroking it, brushing it, letting you relax. That kind of thing, Obi. You have nice hair."

And it's soft!

Aye. And it's soft.

"Hm," he mumbled, his ears still red for some reason. "Yours is prettier, Tomo-chan." He opened one eye to glance up at me and his smile proceeded to stretch his cheeks. "You're still wearing the ribbon I gave you."

I blinked before reaching up with one hand to grab the braid now hanging near my left cheek. The orange color, even if a bit faded from hand-washing accumulated dirt off over the past year, was still hard to miss. "It's a ribbon you gave me on my birthday, Obi. Of course I'd still wear it." I smiled down at him while replacing my hand to brush through his black spikes. "You lovable dork of a friend."

Obito, to my surprise, flushed a light pink and proceeded to wiggle again, turning over so he wasn't meeting my eyes. "I-I see. That's good! Yeah. Good."

Uh, said Hisako. What is this?

Um. Not sure. "Should I just keep doing this?" I kept my hands on his head, doing my best to avoid his headband and goggles. "Because if you don't want me to, Obi, I can stop."

"N-No!" There was a jerk of his head and I pulled my hands back once he was glowering up at me. "You're fine, Tomo-chan, so don't stop!" Once that was said and left hanging in the air, it took a moment for his face to color a light pink. He then swiveled back to face the opposing tree, still resting his ear against my thighs. "…You can pamper me when you want to. Every once in a while."

Awwww. He just wanted the attention. A soft smile tugged at my lips as I rested my fingers back in his hair, gently scratching his scalp. "Alright, alright, Obi. I love you too."

"Y-Yeah."

Even if he didn't respond with any more actual words, the content breath rustling my dress was good enough. With the wind from the clear skies and the warm sunlight, I could've believed it was just the two of us, enjoying a nice bonding moment. It probably would've been better if I had one of those soft and fluffy cotton ear picks, more so since my — no, Vy's two guys back in her days would have enjoyed those, but oh well.

Hopefully, Canon shit wouldn't reach this Obito. Hopefully.

It would have been nice to have this kind of moment last forever.

"Tomoko-chan, Tomoko-chan." A stage whisper was echoing into my left ear, past the wind. "Make sure to wake him up. Obito will have to train later."

"I know, Minato-san. Just let him have this a bit longer. I'll go home after this, so don't worry."

I wanted this moment to last more too. Maybe it was selfish, but it was just being human. The ninja world always wanted a soldier's humanity dead in the end, at least according to Kishimoto's old writing, so the least I could do was help everyone cherish the moments when they came.

"Strike one!"

"Hah!"

Miyako-bachan's drills were starting to seep into my muscles little by little. It hurt, but it was working.

"Strike two! Block! Hold your posture, Tomoko-chan!"

"Hah!" I did my best to hold back flem in my throat while slicing through the air with the shinai. It helped to superimpose an image of a Keyblade because then I wouldn't have to think about blood and all the other bad things. "A-Aye, Miyako-shishō!" I had to get better too. At least so that no one would worry about me. So that Team Minato wouldn't have to look after me.

So that—

"One more rep! Strike!"

"HAH!" I sliced with the shinai again.

"Again!"

"HAH!"

Miyako-bachan took a breath before walking over. "Rest your sword, Tomoko-chan."

I lowered my hands and found the wind forced out of my lungs. Or, it felt more like my lungs had no wind to begin with once my shinai was no longer raised to strike through the air. Did I use that much energy…?

A hand was gently smoothing back my hair and I jolted. Miyako-bachan was in front of me and her expression seemed thoughtful. Serene, almost, if not for that one bit of emotion swirling in her black eyes. If I didn't know any better, it felt like I was looking at Kei. "Tomoko-chan. You are stressed." She stated it more like a fact than a question. Of course. She was a sensor, just like her daughter. "Should we stop training for today?"

"N-No, Miyako-shishō, I-I can still…" my breath came out in a shuddering gasp as I tried to clamp down on my chakra. It was swirling, it was dark, it felt wrong with all the adrenaline for some reason. "I can still…"

Why can't I talk? Just say it. "I can do it." It's just four words, why—

…You know why, dear, Hisako said finally. You know why.

Miyako-bachan brushed some of my bangs away from my forehead, even when they were caked with sweat. Her gaze seemed sadder somehow. "Tomoko-chan, you are not a ninja. There is no need to push yourself so hard."

My fingers loosened around the handle of the shinai. "I-I know, Miyako-bachan. I know."

"You say that, yet it appears that you do not know unconsciously, Tomoko-chan," she said in that same gentle voice, reaching into a pocket of her training hakama to pull out a hair clip. "You are overworking yourself again." With one gentle brush of my hair, Miyako-bachan successfully pinned my bangs back while adjusting the rest of my hair, easing away any tangles. All I could do was stand there and look at her. "What happened?"

I dunno, Kannabi is coming soon, everyone is thirteen, things might go to shit if I don't support everyone enough, how could I—

Honey. Breathe.

It took Miyako-bachan's hand on my cheek for me to realize I was starting to tear up. So, I ducked my head, inhaled as much oxygen as I could, and admitted it. "I-I'm worried, Miyako-bachan. I'm worried again."

Miyako-bachan was silent for a moment, having left her other hand on my head after clipping my bangs back. Then, she murmured, "Is it Team Minato?"

I nodded, gripping the shinai tightly. There was no denying it. Long before the team had formed, long before the war had even started, each individual member had stolen my heart, and now the Third Shinobi World War was going on and there was a clear possibility I would lose them.

It was a given fact.

One day, someday, my friends would die.

It was possible it could be at Kannabi Bridge. Or October Tenth. Against the Akatsuki if Yahiko-san died.

They would end up dying against something one day.

It was a truth I had to accept, a reality I couldn't deny, but—

"Tomoko-chan." Miyako-bachan gently let go of my cheek with the call of my name. Then she was taking my sword hand into her now free one, squeezing my fingers. "They are shinobi. You can only do so much to support them before you collapse. And I do not want to see my niece collapse too."

What?

My heart could have stopped. I looked up at her and Miyako-bachan merely smiled, patting my head. "You are loved, Tomoko-chan. Just as much as Kei-chan, Hayate-chan, all your friends. You are loved." Miyako-bachan paused, tilting her head to look at me. "Do you at least remember that?"

I nodded again. "Aye. A-Aye…" The first tear was dripping down my cheek and she reached over with one of her gi sleeves, wiping it away. "I-I remember, Miyako-bachan, I remember…" A hiccup left my throat as the shinai slowly slipped away from my limp fingers and fell to the dojo floor with a clatter. "I-I didn't forget that…!"

Miyako-bachan beamed before pulling me into a hug by the hand on the back of my head. "Let it out now, Tomoko-chan. Before you lose yourself more. You are loved."

I hugged her back and did my best to muffle my sobs so that no one but Miyako-bachan could hear me.

The future was scary.

Kei glanced over the notes spread out over the table again. "KANNABI BRIDGE" was the biggest target on the list coming up, and once more, she felt the strong urge to throw hands with someone. The myriad of messy "oh no" emotions Tomoko was going through nearby did not help her mood lift.

"Either Obito makes it out or he doesn't." Kei said flatly.

"I-It's really knowing who's going to be there and what we might have to factor in considering how we're both here in the story, Kei," Tomoko murmured, her eyebrows furrowed anxiously. "Because the problem was how, in adrenaline-bursted energy, both Obi and Kashi didn't see the Iwa nin behind them be, um, not dead."

Kei heroically kept down the urge to slap a palm to her forehead. "And of course said Iwa nin come with invisibility."

"I-I mean," Tomoko fidgeted, wrangling her fingers before going to rub one end of her braid's hair ribbon. "At least in canon, Kashi and Obi successfully killed that one guy…?" She paused, putting a finger to her forehead. "Then again, this was after Obi unlocked his Sharingan and essentially saw through the Invisibility. And that involved Kashi losing his eye."

"Except back then, Sakumo-jichan was dead and not alive, Tomo," Kei cut in bluntly, pointing to the mentioned bullet point on the old timeline. "White Fang Suicide" had been circled in blue highlighter a few years back, but once Sakumo had taken residence at Nagareboshi Café, Tomoko had returned to the paper with a red marker, crossing it out. "So the team might not be as fractured."

"True," Tomoko said under her breath, but her gaze was still frantically darting between all the notes spread out on the table. "A lot has changed already, hopefully for the better." Her chakra did nothing to help Kei's mood considering it was currently a rat's nest of sharpened punji stakes about to pierce whatever hopeful little balloon she had for the future.

Desperate times called for desperate measures.

"Oi." Kei reached over to flick Tomoko's forehead, eliciting a noise between a yelp and a hiccup. "No negative self-talk."

"H-Hey, I-I thought I wasn't doing it!" Tomoko scooted back on her cushion, protectively covering her head with both of her hands. The anxiety stakes in her chakra were gone at least. "I-Is there anything else I missed?"

Kei held back the urge to sigh. "Nah," she decided, going back to the largest pile of notes and taking a sheet off the top. She scanned it for a moment. "I'm just going to have to worry about how to handle Iwa and the falling rocks."

"Oh." Then there was a pause. "Um, Kei?"

"What?"

Kei put her paper down to see Tomoko raise a hand in the air for permission. Tomoko fumbled once it registered she had Kei's attention, lowering her hand and going back to playing with one of her hair ribbons. "You may have to…uh, worry about Zetsu too?"

Kei narrowed her eyes. "Explain."

Tomoko flinched, scooting back a few more inches and Kei blinked. Fuck. The anxiety stakes were back. That was not the reaction she was intending. "Tomo, I'm not angry at you."

"Um," Tomoko still glanced away, her face reading guilt. "I-I get that, it's just a reflex to think so…" she exhaled shakily before reaching over and grabbing Blake the stuffed cat from the closet. Tomoko proceeded to hug the cat to her chest, resting her nose against the animal's black fur. From how tightly she was hugging the plush, Blake might as well have become a giant stress ball. "Ty…Ty kinda ingrained that in me."

Kei felt her stomach sink at the name. No matter how many years had passed, she already knew that Tomoko's former friend deserved to die a painful death. Still, protective rage was not good to show now, so she said, "The scumbag's not here, Tomo. You're doing fine."

Over Blake's furry ears, Tomoko raised her head and gave Kei a weak smile. "O-Okay," she said, but the lingering bit of doubt in her voice voiced everything else. A tiny giggle left her lips, clearly fake and tense. "Can I continue with the previous topic? Th-This is getting kinda awkward."

Kei gently gestured with the paper.

"Thankie, Kei." Tomoko let out a sigh of relief, hugging Blake. "A-Anyway, onto what I was saying. Madara's…Madara's going to be trying to sabotage us no matter what we do."

Kei felt a frown form on her face. "Because he wants Obito?"

"Because he wants Obito," Tomoko repeated, shaking her head. "And considering how all Zetsus are working with him to inadvertently revive Kaguya, you might have to expect some White Zetsus disguised as Iwa nin running after you. With, uh, super strength. Tsunade-level." Tomoko proceeded to raise Blake in front of her, gesturing with both purple-tipped paws as a power gauge of sorts. "Obito's too valuable with his upcoming Sharingan." Tomoko then frowned, lowering the plush to start fiddling with one of Blake's legs. "I have no clue how he knew the final form of Obito's Sharingan, but it's a problem."

"Do the Zetsu clones at least burn?" Kei deadpanned.

"If Obi used the Giant Fireball Jutsu, probably. They are made up of wood that came from the corpses of long gone people in the end." Tomoko paused, her cheeks then paling from hindsight. She quickly raised a hand again to add, "maybe if you used explosives too, it'd be less messy?" Her expression clearly read, "I have no idea of what I'm saying," but she still opened her mouth to continue. "The thing is, we either get Obito out of Kannabi or make sure he doesn't see anyone precious die when Isobu comes into the situation. I-I…"

Color slowly returned to Tomoko's cheeks as she trailed off, hesitant. Kei did not miss how there was a small additional flush of pink. She held back a sigh and waited. Personal issues could be handled later.

Tomoko rested her nose in Blake's fur, mumbling, "I think we'd both like the former to happen more than anything else."

"Yeah," Kei said finally, pinching the bridge of her nose and leaning back on her cushion in the hopes of warding off the incoming headache. "This sucks."

Tomoko's chakra wavered again. "I-I'm sorry."

Well, shit. "Tomo." Kei sat back up. "You shouldn't have to apologize for something that's not your fault. You didn't choose to be the ninja. I did."

"Th-That doesn't mean the job is any less hard…" Tomoko's grip on Blake loosened as she fumbled with her fingers. "A-And arguably, you would have it worse, so I…" Tomoko trailed off again, her chakra then buoyed by a sudden surge of hope. "Oh. Wait." Something was going on behind those blue eyes of hers.

Huh? said the Dreamer.

Kei blinked. "Tomo?"

Tomoko looked up at her from over Blake's head and beamed for the first time that day. "It's okay. Forget my little spiel just now — I think I have an idea. To help with the game plan for you at least."

Kei snorted. The look in Tomoko's eyes was almost devious. "Are you willing to spill it?"

The only response was a shy grin. "Nope!"

"Tomo."

"Call it my gift for later! It'll help with falling rocks!"

Kei finally let herself sigh. "Is there a chance I can tickle it out of you?"

"Don't you even dare."

Sakumo leaned back on his hand that was supporting him on the patio while sipping tea with his other hand. "…Kakashi is going to become Jounin soon."

Judai blinked, chocolate coronet halfway to his mouth before he put it down. "Isn't that going too fast? He's been Chūnin since he was six years old, so it's been only…" Judai blinked again before frowning, raising a hand to count off fingers. "Five, six…seven years?"

Sakumo sighed, putting his tea cup down too. "He's just turned thirteen. To lead a squad before he's even twenty…" He shook his head. "That is much younger than me. Sometimes I wonder if we're leaving a good example for them."

"Sakumo, I don't think it's good to dwell on those thoughts." Wataru rested a hand on his shoulder, pointedly ignoring the cookie crumbs hanging on his chin. "You did what you could."

"But was it enough?" Sakumo said quietly, shutting his eyes. "I inadvertently started a war—"

A hand suddenly came down on his head. "Hey," Hikari's voice echoed above all three men and Judai turned back with a grin. "No more negative talk, Sakumo."

"But, Hikari—"

"Nope!" The woman shook her head, rolling her eyes while getting to her knees to grab Sakumo's cheeks in her hands. "Nope, nope, nope! Sure, we don't know what the future holds. But we can still be together to support one another. Our kids need us, so we can't wallow forever." She grinned while leaning over and squishing Sakumo's cheeks, almost like a mother would do to her toddler. "So! Do you need tea or some magic to bring a smile back to your face?"

Sakumo blinked, jaw slack. "Uh," he said eloquently. "Magic? What magic?"

Judai snorted. "Hikari, I think you broke him."

"N-No, she didn't!" Sakumo could feel his cheeks start to burn from the embarrassing social situation and once Wataru threw his head back to laugh, he wanted to melt into the floor. "I'm not dead!"

"We're glad you're not, Sakumo!" Hikari said finally, and she laughed too. "You're stuck with us!"

That…actually sounded nice. Once Wataru popped up at his side again with that same grin, Sakumo felt himself smile back. "Alright, alright. I lose. Tea then, Hikari?"

"Sure!"

None of the adults were expecting the teenage girl to stop by with an entire tray of cookies and a question.

"Tomoko-chan?"

"Neh, Wataru-jichan, Sakumo-jichan, Papa? Could I get your help in something? I need some seals to be done…"

The last thing Kei expected when coming into Nagareboshi Café for the usual break was to see Tomoko with bandages. To be more specific, for her fingers to be bandaged, like she got hurt.

Thankfully, someone was already on the case.

"Tomo-chan, what have I told you?!" Rin was cleaning up whatever medical supplies were laid out on the stage in the centerfold of the business, her expression caught between friendly worry and a tired scowl. "Take care of yourself better! Why didn't you use the med kit I gave you for your birthday?!"

"Mm, I-I did, but uh… yeah. I got it, Ricchan," Tomoko said quickly, ducking her head as she raised her bandaged hands in the air in surrender. "I-I'll do better. Aye. Definitely." Kei didn't even have to read Tomoko's chakra to know she was terrified. Rin could be scary when angry and welp, this was no exception.

Rin sighed before reaching over to pat Tomoko's head. "I'm a little angry, but that's good to hear," she said flatly. "Please don't risk yourself again, alright?" Without warning, Rin threw her arms around Tomoko's neck, prompting a surprised squeak. "I care for you too, Tomo-chan. Just don't do this again. I don't like seeing you hurt."

Tomoko's chakra sparked like it had been slapped before softening back into an understanding river. The fear was all gone. "A-Aye, Ricchan," she said, quieter, before hugging back. "I'm sorry. Thankie for the reminder, though."

"Y-You better be sorry, you reckless pianist!" But Rin's chakra felt happier now as she pulled back, hug quota apparently satisfied. "You're important too, Tomo-chan, don't forget that!"

With one last huff, Rin got up from her chair to walk towards the door. She met Kei's gaze before shrugging. "You know what to do, Kei-senpai," she finished, and with that, Rin was gone and out on the street.

Tomoko noticed Kei almost immediately once Kei walked up to the stage and her expression turned hesitant. "Are you going to chew me out too?"

"No and yes," Kei said flatly, sitting down in Rin's old chair and reaching over to take Tomoko's hands for examination. The bandages at least were well done. "Rin already made her point. But seriously. What have you been doing?"

"Um… can't say."

Great. Kei sighed and directed her chakra to her hands to start the Diagnostic Jutsu. "Do your parents know about these burns?"

"Th-They do… I told them before I started working." Tomoko paused. "I'm…I'm not getting out of this talk, am I?"

"Good," Kei nodded to herself, switching to the Mystical Palm Jutsu just in case Rin missed any spots. Tomoko winced, but stayed still for Kei to do her work. "And no. No, you're not." Kei raised her head to stare for extra emphasis. "What happened?"

"Arts and crafts?" Tomoko slowly trailed off into silence, her expression turned sheepish enough to rival a kicked puppy. Kei kept up the stare enough to get her mouth moving again. "I-I am doing something, I just can't tell you yet, Kei-chan. It's kinda a secret. Or a surprise." Her voice tilted upwards into an embarrassed, high-pitched squeak. "Either or."

Kannabi! Her chakra screamed.

Kei took a moment to hold back the sudden urge to flick Tomoko's forehead, instead crossing her arms once the healing was done. "Is there a reason this secret isn't letting you wear gloves?"

Tomoko's jaw slackened as she attempted to come up with a response. "Um. Well. Gloves make it hard to write, so…" Realization sparked in Tomoko's eyes before she ducked her head. "I'm just making this worse for myself, huh?"

"You are," Kei said, quirking an eyebrow. "So, I don't care what you're doing. If you're getting burned, you shouldn't be handling it without gloves. Etching tools were invented for a reason, Tomo." Kid gloves had to be a thing with civvies, seriously.

Tomoko had previously fought the blush off, but now it was back along with a healthy dose of shame. She stared back at Kei for a single second before turning her head away and clenching her hands in her lap. "…I'm sorry," she said quietly. "I didn't mean to worry you."

Kei huffed through her nose. Here was that anxiety again. "I'll always worry, Tomo. That's what friends do." Once Tomoko was meeting her eyes again, she added, "Don't handle hot metal next time. Etching tools are your friends."

"A-Aye, ma'am…" Tomoko trailed off, averting her gaze. "I'll look for them next time."

"And tell whoever's helping you with hot metal to watch out," Kei paused, taking a breath as soon as Tomoko was staring at her in shock. "Look, Tomo, I know you're not doing this at the café." It was an obvious observation after so many years of friendship. Tomoko was too much of an open book, and bandaged fingers like hers did not come from mere cooking mishaps in the kitchen. For something like this to still happen, it naturally dampened Kei's mood. "Someone who works with metal ought to be teaching and supervising."

"H-He is, he is!" Tomoko fumbled with her fingers again, trying not to jostle her bandages but failing. The minute, "Ow," a few seconds later proved that, once again, Tomoko would be horrible as a ninja. "I just got too excited in my work, so…" her eyes widened in time with the color fading from her cheeks as the realization hit. "Wait." Tomoko's hands flew up to cover her mouth. "I wasn't supposed to say that."

Of course. "Anyone tell you you're not a good liar, Tomo?" Kei said dryly.

As expected, Tomoko scooted back a few inches on the piano bench, lowering her gaze to her lap. "Kakashi. Papa. And, um," she sighed. "Friends in the past."

The unsaid douchebag's name rang through the air in Kei's chakra sense and she sighed too. That asshole's shitty ghost was still here. "Well, I'm not a good liar either, Tomo. But you need to be a little more careful with yourself." Considering the shittiness of Madara and other Canon villains, this advice was long overdue. Even if being the big sister friend could be tiring, it was still Kei's job in the group. "I can't imagine how much it'd suck to not be able to play piano like you do now."

Tomoko shrunk into herself. "Aye."

Kei reached over and nudged Tomoko's right hand through the bandages, catching her attention. "Tomo, I won't stop you from doing what you want to. Especially for your friends." Because as clumsy as Tomoko was going about life, her heart was still big enough for the world. Way more than Kei's was, and it was honestly admirable. "I just want to see you be more careful about it. You can still do your best while being safe. Okay?"

Tomoko looked up at her, her blue eyes big and wide before she nodded. "Okay." A small, shy smile was on her face. "Got it."

"Good." Kei grinned back. "Now c'mon. If today's a wash for you with those hands, I have a better idea of where we can go."

Author's Notes: Thank Lang and Os for this. The chapter was gonna be longer until Lang got on my case to take care of myself and make a buffer for the sake of self-care. Now I'm gonna sleep.

Night, y'all.