Shikamaru asked Mitsuki to drop off some paperwork at Naruto's house since he left early to host dinner for Shinki. Mitsuki did not mind taking the paperwork since he could visit Boruto. On his way to Boruto's house, Mitsuki walked by a bakery. His ordinary walk turned into an eye-opener to his own heart. Inside the bakery, he saw the moment when Chocho fed Shinki a piece of cake and then saw them sharing a desert and enthusiastically chatting. He saw that both were happy, even Shinki, who never seemed to show his emotions.
The gloomy sensation came to his body again, combined with sadness and disappointment. Mitsuki could not deny what was happening to him anymore. 'I have feelings for Chocho. I am jealous. I want to be with her.' Suddenly, the conversation that he had with Chocho at the beach came to his mind.
Why can't you sleep? Is it because you want to confess your feelings to me? I suggest doing it sooner rather than later before someone else might beat you to it."
"Oh, Ms. Akimichi, your symptoms keep getting worse."
"Stop with that syndrome. It is a real question."
"I know you have many admirers, but I am unsure what it has to do with me."
"Would you feel fine if I dated someone?"
"I am still unsure of what it has to do with me if you dated someone. I don't believe that is my concern."
Finally, Mitsuki understood what Chocho's question meant. 'How could I have been so dumb? She thinks I don't care if she dates Shinki or anyone else, but I do.' He realized he needed to speak with Chocho as soon as possible before it was too late. He was going to drop the documents off and then go to Chocho's house. He didn't know that Chocho was also a guest at the Usumaki's dinner as well.
At Naruto's home, the Uzumaki were finishing the last details of dinner. Boruto invited Mitsuki to stay for dinner, but Mitsuki declined since he had planned to speak with Chocho. As Mitsuki was about to leave, he saw in the window that Chocho, Shinki, and Shikadai were the dinner guests. "Now that I think about it, dinner sounds lovely. Thank you for your invitation, Boruto. I will be happy to stay."
Hinata welcomed the young shinobi with open arms since she was very excited to have company. Shinki politely greeted the family and said, "Lord Hokage, Lady Hinata, thank you for having us. We are honored to be your guests."
With his goofy demeanor, Naruto responded, "We are happy to have you guys, but please don't be so formal. Tonight, it is a casual dinner with the Uzumaki."
The Sand shinobi noticed that Mitsuki was a guest too. They acknowledged each other with a particular look, and Mitsuki added a forced smile.
Shinki could not help to think that Mitsuki disliked when he was with Chocho. But that did no matter anymore since Shinki had decided that he wanted to pursue Chocho and had his father's blessing.
"We are finishing up some things in the kitchen. Just give us a couple of minutes and have a chat in the living room. Some appetizers are waiting for you." Naruto informed the young guests. "Boruto, stay with your friends while your mom and I finish with dinner."
Mitsuki tried to approach Chocho to greet her, but Shinki did not leave her side. Once in the living room, Mitsuki sat next to Chocho and said, "Good evening, Ms. Akimichi."
Quickly, Shinki took the other seat next to Chocho and asked her something work-related to keep her attention away from Mitsuki.
It did not take much time for all the young shinobi to notice that Shinki's attitude toward Chocho had changed. Shinki was paying more attention to Chocho and talked to her more. His usual expressionless face was softer when speaking to Chocho with little smiles here and there.
"So, how did you like working with your cousin and Chocho? They kept you so busy that we did not have the chance to hang," Boruto asked.
"We worked pretty efficiently. I hope we can have another combined mission in the future, preferably in the Sand Village. I know you, Shikadai, are very familiar with the village, but I would be happy to show you around, Chocho."
Chocho blushed a little after that indirect invitation. Of course, Mitsuki was not enjoying seeing Shinki putting the moves on Chocho but was unsure what to do.
"That sounds like a great idea, man. We can go as a group, Team 7 and Team 10, as we did at the beach," Boruto enthusiastically added. Mitsuki was grateful for Buruto inviting himself and his team to this trip.
"Umm, excuse me, Boruto. Shinki only mentioned Shikadai and me. It is impolite to invite yourself and worse, to invite two whole teams."
"Hahaha, I am sorry I am so rude. It just sounded like a lot of fun to go on another group trip like when we went to the beach."
"I apologize for not being specific. My invitation is to all of you. We don't have a beach, but we have an oasis that we are trying to promote as a tourist attraction."
"You see, Chocho. We are invited too!" Boruto said, putting his arm around Mitsuki as a celebration.
"We are so privileged the future Kaskage will be showing us around personally. I hope we don't interfere with his packed schedule," Mitsuki said and then looked with a flirty facial expression to Chocho, "It will be fun, just like the beach." In Mitsuki's head, every time the words Chocho and beach were in the same sentence, he remembered applying sunscreen to Chocho's back.
'Is he flirting with me, or is he making fun of me because he rejected me?' Chocho thought.
"I like the idea of the oasis. That means girls in bathing suits," Buruto added with a naughty face.
Chocho, with irritation, responded, "Eww, Boruto. No one wants to hear your pervy thoughts." She stood up and went to the bathroom.
While Chocho was in the bathroom, Boruto saw the opportunity for more of his pervy comments.
"You are a sneaky man. Casually inviting Chocho to an oasis so you can see her in a bikini. I don't blame you. Chocho wearing a bikini is quite a treat to the eyes. I have pictures."
"Boruto!" Shikadai and Mitsuki said at the same time in a disapproving tone.
"I have pictures of our beach day with ALL of us, and we just happened to be wearing bathing suits," Boruto said, trying to clean up his messy comment.
"That was not my intention behind my invitation. I have the utmost respect for Chocho," Shinki stated while looking at Mitsuki.
"I know, man. Of course, you are not that type of guy. I am just messing with you. Plus, your cousin and Inojin will not let you check her out. They get into overprotective brother mode," Boruto added, laughing.
"I am overprotective of you. If Chocho hears you saying that, she will destroy you without mercy." Shikadai said.
Looking at Mitsuki suspiciously, Boruto said, "And what's up with you? Are you in the overprotective brother wagon too? Why did you yell at me?"
"I am unquestionably not in the brother wagon," Mitsuki replied to Boruto and slightly glared at Shinki.
Chocho came back from the bathroom, and the boys stayed quiet. "Why did you suddenly stop talking? Were you talking about me?" Chocho asked.
Everyone lied and said, "NO!" But Mitsuki calmly said, "Yes."
"I knew it. What were you saying? Were you talking about how cute I looked at the beach?"
She was entirely right, but no one dared to reply but Mitsuki, "Oh Ms. Akimichi, I wonder if there is a cure for you?"
"Whatever," Chocho replied with indifference.
Mitsuki smiled and handed her a little plate with an appetizer that the Uzumaki left on the coffee table. That small interaction between them made Shinki more aware of the closeness between Chocho and Mitsuki. It was their body language and how they seemed to understand each other. Shinki had to interject somehow to regain Chocho's attention.
"I am very sorry, Chocho. We did not mean to be rude. Boruto was telling me about your holiday at the beach."
"Don't worry about it! I know these knuckleheads. I bet Boruto was making pervy comments. So typical. I know you are not like them."
Mitsuki did not like that Chocho sided with Shinki and that he was grouped with the pervs.
Chocho continued, "But the beach was so much fun! Next time you should come with us."
The young shinobi resumed their conversation that was suddenly interrupted by Hinata. "Dinner is ready. Please come to the table and sit wherever you like."