Young man, your fate is to become a sugar baby
Chapter 3: Honesty can hurt . . . mainly yourself
Akira pointedly ignored the murderous glare and the loud teeth gnashing coming from his right.
Although the girl's hostility was making him more than a little nervous and self-conscious, he tried hard to focus on anything else instead.
Such as cloud watching!
Always enjoyable when waiting for a nap to come or simply as a means to tune out a teacher's insipid droning — albeit that could still lead to a nap — cloud watching was one of his favorite pastimes.
Both in this life and in the last one . . . not.
He only took up the hobby in the last couple of years, as a means of relaxation . . . it would be a lie if he said this particular choice had been his first.
As an ordinary guy during his past life and pretty much a couch potato, he had of course enjoyed some normal pastimes, such as the generic novel reading and movie watching.
That's why in his current life, after a long and sometimes tedious day of training, he had naturally turned to them as an innocent recompense for having done his best.
. . . It wasn't meant to be, sadly.
Akira still remembered his very first shot at both activities. The anticipation, the excitement, and the . . . colossal disappointment five minutes in.
To say the least, the entertainment industry of this world was about as advanced as their staple transportation method — dependent on bovine and equine traction.
Well, that only stood true for himself — a guy hailing from the 21st century. Both his mother and his cousin still very much enjoyed the mediocre platitudes all those writers and directors endeavored in for the sake of their soapy creations. The two women attributed his outright dislike to him simply being an insensitive man, his age notwithstanding.
. . . How cruel of them.
As long as it was skillfully done, even he could enjoy a good romance once in a while. His mind and heart were both perfectly normal wired, thank you very much.
His second attempt at relieving boredom had more outdoorsy vibes to it — he had asked for a pet to play with. A dog, more exactly.
His mother's response was to give him a revolted glare and then summon her ninja cat. There was no such a thing as a dog person among Uchihas, and so the woman didn't allow him to be the pioneer of this — citing — 'sacrilegious path'.
. . . To say that the arrangement worked out well was about as big an overstatement as saying that the unborn Hinata could have her bellyful after just ten bowls of ramen.
Pfft.
Akira hadn't had anything against cats until that day. Although not to the same degree as his fondness for dogs, the love he felt for felines ran deep.
Yes . . .
Until that thrice accursed day.
Akira probably doesn't talk only for himself when he says that a man can only tolerate a cat talking him down for that long. Even more so when the damned creature couldn't turn into a beautiful cat-eared girl and was also a MALE!
Unfortunately for him and all those comrades around the world, his usually sweet and understanding mother didn't take his attempt to flambé that devil's spawn that well.
"—ey."
The matter ended with him getting a lifelong ban from signing a contract with any of the ninja cats belonging to their clan — along with his inability to purchase any of their merch without proxy — and a two-month-long punishment of having to survive on only fish and vegetables.
He hated fish!
As for the prohibition to sign contracts with them . . . hmph!
Good riddance!
"—Hey."
And that's how Akira took his first steps on the journey to learn sage arts — connecting with nature via cloud-watching — a bit earlier than he had planned.
Not only was it a relaxing pastime, but it could also help with his training! A great pastime!
. . . He hoped Jiraiya had started working already on his Icha-Icha series . . .
"Hey! Stop pretending to ignore me!"
". . ."
"Sigh . . ."
Akira let out a defeated groan. He had finally managed to take his mind off his newly acquired redheaded headache and now—
"What's the matter, Uzumaki-san?"
"Finally!" Kushina snarled, but the creases between her eyebrows softened a touch. "Why did you ignore my calls?"
"I didn't, though? I was merely lost in thought."
"Yeah, sure. As if I didn't notice you sneaking a peek at me from time to time."
". . ."
Now did he . . .? He had no such recollections.
"I've caught you twitch your head in my direction at least twice!"
Seeing his doubtful expression she was quick to explain.
". . ."
As expected of Uzumaki Kushina, the wife of the fourth Hokage! She was already well on her way to mastering the political skills the position required!
Such confidence! Such flair in turning the black into white! And also, the ability to exaggerate to the moon and back when convenient . . .!
'Tsk, tsk. I, Uchiha Akira, would like to call you the strongest! The strongest delusional idiot in the whole class!'
". . . I feel like you're thinking something rude."
"Just your imagination, Uzumaki-san."
Akira snapped out of his . . . reverie, and quickly answered, wiping a non-existent bead of sweat from his brow. The girl was quite sharp, he had to give it to her.
". . . I think you're lying." Kushina's eyes narrowed in suspicion and her nose scrunched up — she was trying to gouge just how much bullshit was being thrown her way. ". . . Whatever! I'll let that slide for now."
Akira was quick to respond, giving the redhead a slight deferring (mocking) bow with his head, "Thank you for your magnanimity."
"Hmph!" A slight smirk tugged at Kushina's lips, clearly happy with her victory. "As long as you understand."
". . . " Akira blinked once, wondering how come she managed to sniff the mental slight but failed to read the sarcasm in his words. ". . . So, what is it that you wanted from me?"
"Ah! Yes!" The redhead gasped and she started to fidget, her cheeks gaining a healthy dusting of crimson to them. And just like she accused him of doing not moments prior, she was also stealing glances at him, only to quickly avert her eyes the moment they caught his.
". . ."
Had he not rejected her already, he would have thought she was about to confess — her current restless behavior a textbook enactment of the cliche event. Akira had extensive experience in seeing girls act this way, yes. He could remember more than a dozen instances of this happening in anime.
. . . She would also probably smack him should he ask if she needed to visit the toilet.
". . . What is it?" Although a bit spooked by her otome-ish practices, the boy nonetheless found himself querying.
Kushina took a deep breath before gritting her teeth. She had to ask. "Why did you, you know, reject my c-confession?"
". . ."
'Why did I reject it?! How could I not reject it?! Girl, do you even know how close you were to giving me a heart attack?! I almost pissed my pants in fear when I heard you utter that nonsense!'
Although Akira wanted to shout out his indignation, sadly, he couldn't really do that.
How could he explain to her that he knew about her destiny?
That she was scheduled to become the next jinchūriki of the Kyūbi? That she was fated to marry that spikey blonde regarding them with sorrowful eyes?
'Also, even if I'd accepted your feelings, have you asked the big ones above if they agree?
'Let alone our forever misunderstood Danzo-sama, even everyone's beloved Hokage-sama would take you on his knees and then gently, in that grandfatherly voice of his, he would impart to you his one hundred and one items long list on just why letting a jinchūriki near an Uchiha was a big no-no.
'Do you want me to die that badly?!
'As a future jinchūriki, don't you know your each and every action is monitored by the big brothers in the Anbu? There's also that perverted old man and that enviab— . . . odious technique of his of spying through crystal balls!
'Do you want me to get under their surveillance?! Or even worse, to be conveniently made to disappear in order not to taint their precious weapon with the Uchiha's sacrilegious ideas?!
'I don't want to live this kind of life of being watched every day, fearful to take any action . . . more than I already do!
'Scratch that!
'I'm more than sure that bad old man is already reviewing my intelligence by now thanks to you!
'If you truly like me . . . keep at least five meters between us! And if your feelings don't change by then, ask me again when I'm strong enough to take care of me and my family!'
"Well? Why the silence? Answer me!"
". . ."
'Kushina-san, don't you see that the object of your affections is under mental turmoil . . .? Why won't you leave him alone?' Akira sighed, feeling the need to massage his aching temples. What was the best way to make her give up on her foolish ideals? "Uzumaki-sa—"
"Kushina."
"?"
"Call me Kushina. I'm tired of hearing everyone parrot Uzumaki this and Uzumaki that."
"Well, then. Kushina-sa—"
"Just Kushina. Drop the san. Why are you trying so hard to speak like those old fossils? It's annoying."
". . ."
Ignorant — or more probably unconcerned — by his righteous feelings of wanting to strangle her, the redhead returned a smug smile to the boy's pursed lips. The chances she knew exactly what she was doing to him were on a high-speed raise.
"Sigh . .. " Akira let out a mouthful of foul air and slumped his shoulders in defeat. He couldn't do anything to the little devil's spawn and get away scot-free. "Before I give you an answer, though, don't you think you have to make some things clear first?"
". . ."
Twitch.
For a kunoichi in training, she didn't seem that competent — her emotions were written all over her face. It was plain obvious from which parent the original Naruto inherited his personality.
". . . Like what?"
'Please don't give me that look, Kushina-san. It will only make you even more suspicious in my eyes.' Instead of retorting as he itched to, Akira pretended not to have noticed her lack of subtlety. Whether she liked it or not, he had to find out her reasons. "For starters, have we met before?"
Unlike so many protagonists out there who merely snatched a dying body and then settled in, he did not doubt the ownership of his flesh — it was his from the beginning. He had merely awakened the memories of his past life — the so-called delayed reincarnation. He was no dove occupying the magpie's nest.
Anyway, the meaning was — he had no lacunes in his memory. There had never been a meeting between them.
Kushina's answer only served to reinforce that conviction
". . . No."
"Then have you been watching me from afar or something? I didn't notice you."
"No. T-that's not it either."
Akira furrowed his brows. If they neither met nor had she been stalking him then . . . let alone developing feelings for him, how did she even know he existed . . .?
"Then, do we have some ancestors that hit it off really well, swearing a blood brotherhood between them and then . . . deciding that in order to become a re~al family, they had to draft a marriage contract involving their descendants but only in our generations it so happened that the kids were not of the same gender?"
". . ."
Kushina tilted her head cutely, hordes of question marks blooming above her. The look she was sending him was also one reserved only for those with less stellar brains. Just how was that dog shit drama born inside that pretty head of his. ". . . Akira-kun, has anyone ever told you that you are kind of weird . . ?"
"Almost every day of my life, yes. Well?"
"There's no way that's true," the redhead snorted, rolling her eyes.
". . . Then what is it, woman?! How crazy do you have to be in order to confess to someone you know practically nothing about! You're driving me nuts!"
". . ."
"Pft."
While all she wanted was to break into giggles at the boy's funny outburst, she barely restrained the urge. After all, she also was kind of in a pinch right now, no . . .? "Love at first sight?"
"Ha," Akira snorted, clearly not convinced. "You expect me to buy that when you don't?"
". . . Ahahaha."
Kushina averted her gaze and let out an awkward laugh. What else could she do . . .? At the end of the day, the boy's guess was spot on.
Akira nodded like he had expected her reaction, "See? Considering all that, do you even have to ask me why I turned you down? Your actions are more suspicious than those of that white-haired guy who likes to wander around the public bathhouses."
". . ."
The redhead couldn't say she hadn't expected such a rejoinder since from an objective point of view her confession truly had some dubious bits to it but . . . hadn't this guy heard about the saying 'Cuteness is justice'? If a cute girl asks you out, how can you reject her so readily?!
Also . . . had she just been compared to some random pervert?
After having been doused off by the boy's reasonable questioning, the flame inside her heart started to rekindle. She didn't like the passive situation she had fallen in, having to meekly accept his rebuffs.
So what if he had the moral high ground in this instance?! Since when has the great Kushina-sama cared about such trivial issues?!
'Yes! I'm not the one in the wrong! Akira is — for having cruelly rejected a pitiful maiden's heartfelt confession under the eyes of countless people!'
Doubs resolved and conviction reestablished, the redhead stopped covering and threw a fierce glare the boy's way, as if daring him to continue.
". . ."
". . . Ehem," Akira coughed awkwardly, wondering just what in the world had set the tiny she-devil off once again. He had witnessed her face go through a kaleidoscope of emotions, ultimately settling down with the defying look she was currently flaunting. "And that's why I can't accept your feelings. I hope you can understand—"
"— Am I not pretty enough?"
". . ."
The boy's lips twisted and he had to fight himself not to let a scowl show. Was this a characteristic all girls had in common? If things don't go their way, they start acting unreasonably and throw out trap questions.
"Why aren't you answering? Or what, do you also think I look like some tomato?"
". . ."
"Well, guess what! I also hate tomatoes! And this stupid hair also . . .!"
She whispered venomously and roughly pulled a generous lock of her scarlet tresses.
"Do you think I like it?! I hate it! I haven't had a problem before I came to this stupid village but ever since then, a day hasn't passed without someone mocking me thanks to it!"
Her eyes started to water and a faraway look ghosted past her eyes.
"If only— Mpf!"
Kushina's eyes widened owlishly — Akira had rudely plastered a hand over her mouth, stopping her self-deprecating momentum.
"Mpf—!"
"Be quiet for a moment."
The boy growled lowly and lightly slapped the hands threatening his away. A serious countenance took over his previous annoyed one.
What he was about to do was not his part to play, but he couldn't help himself. He hadn't expected her to go that way and for some reason he couldn't explain . . . it rubbed him the wrong way.
"First thing first," he started now that the girl somehow recovered from her shock. "I don't know what you were about to say, but it's probably something you'll come to regret later."
". . ."
"Don't do that. More so in a moment of anger. Trust me, you'll only hurt yourself and those who care about you. Understood?"
". . ."
"Understood?"
Kushina looked somewhat unsure but eventually nodded. The boy's hand was still clasped over her mouth.
"Good," Akira praised and gently patted her on the head with his free hand. . . .He didn't notice her stiffening at his tender ministrations. "Second. Why do you intend to put words in my mouth?"
"?"
"Have you heard me call you tomato? Have you caught me insulting your hair?"
The girl took a moment's time to consider his inquiry but came up short. At the very least, the boy was not included among the ones she had marked for disparaging her.
Thus, she shook her head in response.
"See?" Akira grinned widely, showing off his teeth — and the lack thereof, for some of them were still in process of changing to the more permanent sort. His had started later than normal. "And third. Are you stupid?"
"?"
"Why are you so quick to talk yourself down? You've said that back in Uzushio, where most people were redheads like you, no one spouted nonsense about it, right?"
Nod. Nod.
"Then, had there been kids who bullied those who were, let's say, black-haired? Like me?"
". . ."
There had been. Kushina remembered one instance when she had saved one unfortunate kid from a gang of her wayward clansmen children . . . only for him to give her whatever small change he had in his pockets, her notorious reputation betraying her.
. . . Nod.
"Had you joined them?"
Shake. Shake.
"Very good!" Akira praised again and the intensity of his patting intensified. He was glad the Kushina he knew of was the same as the one reddening before him. "I am truly pleased to hear you were not one to give in and follow the sheep mentality."
The girl only blushed hotter. It was always nice to hear some nice, honest compliments. Even more so in her not-so-rosy situation.
"Then why change that now?"
"?"
Kushina tilted her head. What did he mean . . .?
"Since in the past — back home — you were strong enough not to be affected by the sheep, why listen to them now?"
". . ."
Not the same.
It was not the same if she was the one subjected to their bullying.
"You're probably thinking that your situation is a bi~t different from that, right?"
"!"
For the umpteenth time now, the girl's eyes bulged out in shock. Was she that easy to read?
Akira only smiled, her ever-changing expressions becoming cuter and cuter in his eyes. He really wanted to take the little redhead home and pamper her like there was no tomorrow. He had always thirsted for a little sister.
"Kushina," clearing away the presumptuous thoughts galloping wildly inside his head, he continued, the girl's silent urging forcing him to. "Do you consider yourself a sheep or a wolf?"
". . . Hmph!"
She didn't know about wolves or anything but she was no sheep! Not now and not ever. The very existence that was Uzumaki Kushina didn't allow that.
Seeing the protest in the girl's eyes, Akira nodded understandingly. There was no mistaking her answer. "Then, do you know what true wolves do when encountering sheep?"
It was a no-brainer.
"Dei it!" Kushina mumbled confidently, her words distorted by the boy's palm but still more than intelligible. "Dei it!"
"Yes! And what does Kushina, who is a splendid wolf, do when the sheep try to climb over her head?"
This time, it took the redhead a few seconds of contemplation before she gave an answer.
". . . Shi its?"
". . ."
A drop of cold sweat trickled down Akira's temple as he regarded the girl with a strange look. He hoped she didn't mean it literally. "You don't have to go that far," he shook his head and prayed that the Third won't take this episode as his attempt to sink his evil fangs in the girl and corrupt her. "It's enough to beat them up."
That much shouldn't be a problem. After all, in the canon, Kushina did just that — solved her problems with her tiny fists.
Even with all the prejudice the old man had for his clan, there's no way he would blame him for her violent tendencies, right . . .?
". . ."
A wild gleam surfaced in the Kushina eyes — gleam that only increased as the gears inside her pretty head started turning, analyzing the ravenette's words.
She couldn't deny having flirted with the idea herself.
No.
Saying that she had only flirted with the idea didn't give her thoughts justice. The Kushina of today wasn't kind enough to settle for anything less than graciously giving a good beating to all those who had slighted her.
The only reason she hadn't started to was because of her circumstances. Being all by herself in a foreign village, surrounded by tons of malicious people . . . dampened her enthusiasm, making her a bit afraid of the repercussions that might come her way should she misbehave.
As witty as she was when she had to put out the fire burning up her ass, she had yet to realize she was under a goddess' protection — having Uzumaki Mito hold the sky for her was more than enough to spare her from any ill-willed ripples. Whilst in Konoha, of course.
Unfortunately for her and very luckily for her soon to be victi— . . . bullies, Kushina was not privy to the extent of her young-looking ancestor's reach. To her, she was but a kind maternal figure that could get kinda nagging at times, with all those silly attempts of hers to make her find a crush.
". . . Ku ku ku."
Behind the boy's hand, Kushina found herself chuckling malefically . . . by her standards. To the onlookers, she only appeared to grow more adorable with the way her eyes half closed slyly — the lack of a bushy, wiggling tail the sole flaw in her impersonation of a cute fox kit.
'. . . If even the locals say that it's okay . . . why should I restrain myself? Kuku. After all, I'm a woman with a System! The sky's the limit!'
Thus, the now unleashed Kushina, took her first step in her journey to stand true by her System's designation . . . by opening her mouth and taking a lick with her rosy tongue at the palm obstructing it.
She giggled when the boy jumped with a yelp, hurriedly wiping the glistering saliva off his trousers. This was the first time she had caught him reddening up and found it rather endearing.
Now that her eyes weren't clouded by the anger his rejection stirred, she had to commend the System for its choice of target. Appearance-wise.
Jet black locks waving down past his shoulders and the beautiful onyx-dyed big, watery eyes that had unknowingly captivated her earlier. She couldn't distinguish where the pupils ended and where the irises started.
Flawless pearly white skin that brought a touch of frailty to the boy's looks — enough to give rise to some maternal feelings of protection even in the heart of the tomboyish Kushina.
A tiny button nose and plump, rosy lips. Eyelashes that the redhead enviously noticed were longer than her own. Even his eyebrows were perfectly trimmed.
During her strolls to familiarize herself with the new site, Kushina had heard quite a few shallow older girls gossiping about which guy was hot and which one was hotter. Many of the contenders making up the list had been of Uchiha descent.
She had scoffed at that time, having seen one or two of them — there was nothing special about them.
Now, however, peeking at the still-flustered boy, she could reluctantly agree to their statement.
Akira was cute — very much like a little princess walking out of a painting. Her mind even went as far as to wonder what he would look like should he put on a flowery yukata.
"Hey, Akkun," Kushina whispered, unknowingly using the endearing term. A playful grin was still tugging at her lips.
". . . What?"
He didn't like that look. It reminded him too much of his cousin, whenever she was up to no good, usually involving him in ways he was afraid to even remember.
". . . About my hair . . . is it pretty?"
Akira blinked. That was it? He'd expected something nasty to befall him, not just some fishing for compliments.
"Well?" Kushina pressed on half shyly, half expectantly. "You've talked so much about it . . . that I've thought—"
"Do you even have to ask?" he rolled his eyes dismissively. "Of course it's pretty! It's glossy and it has a nice volume to it. You don't have any split ends and it's amazing just how silky it is! I can see you take good care of it."
Kushina blinked owlishly, her pretty face ruddy, "I-is that so?" She had expected a simple yes or no.
Akira gave her a confident nod before a conspiratorial smirk showed up on his face. He also started wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. "But most of all, do you know what I find most charming about it?"
". . ."
"W-what?"
The girl's stuttered response came a bit later, and even then, she almost blurted out something that would have had her desperately searching for a hole to crawl in.
Being subjected to an attack containing both overwhelming cuteness an~d childish mischievousness could do that to people. Even more so when the attacker wasn't even aware of the destructiveness of his actions.
. . . Her poor heart was threatening to burst out of her chest thanks to that dummy.
"Don't listen to those idiots," Akira said, snapping the girl out of her reverie . . . and also receiving quite a few pointed stares from those with guilty consciences. For a while now, he was talking aloud. The attention of the whole class was on their little confab. "Contrary to their slights, I think red suits you very well. It's the first time I've seen such beautiful, flaming locks," he delivered the praise with a sincere look on his face. "Hmph. Those morons will regret their foolishness sooner or later. Don't take their words to heart. I bet they won't recognize a pretty girl even if she literally fell from the skies in their arms."
". . ."
Kushina who was doing a brilliant impression of her hated moniker.
". . ."
The girls who were overlooking the sight with warm gazes and a touch of jealousy.
". . ."
The 'morons' and 'idiots' gnashing their teeth at Akira, swearing to have a nice, long talk with him during the break.
. . . At least those of them who weren't suffering from the splash damage they'd received from his move on Kushina and were currently in process of doubting their . . . orientation.
". . ."
Teacher Yamazaki who was proud of his student for taking care of the new kid's psychological needs but still preferred he would have done so during the break.
"That's why don't sweat it. Your hair is gorgeous," Akira retook his assault after a brief pause meant to let his words sink in. ". . . Although I won't deny its attractiveness would increase tenfold should it be longer."
". . ."
"Ah. That's my personal opinion, though, so who knows? It may be different for you and the others."
". . ."
The poor Kushina was left speechless and, to be honest, her brain felt a little mushy. Her eyes were probably not mistaken about the steam wafting from her face — the hand she placed on her cheek confirmed their hotness.
When was the last time she had been exposed to such a barrage of compliments from a boy . . .?
. . . Probably never.
Their society — modeled after the Japanese one — was not one where a person could be as open with their feelings as the boy proved to be.
And it was not strictly a ninja thing, with the standard don't let your opponents know what's truly on your mind because it could spell your death.
No. From the lowliest farmers who barely manage to get by to the high and mighty — read self-loving and fat — lords who rule over them all . . . not one of them had been educated to honestly speak their mind. Even in front of their loved ones.
It's even worse for women. Basically, their future is delineated from the moment they had the misfortune to be born as such: shut up, make food and be ready for another pregnancy. And do it with a smile if you don't want a beating.
Although this is the most extreme of the cases, it's not a minority either.
At least the kunoichi have it somewhat better. It's not without reason that most girls that chance to have even a meager amount of talent rush to become ninjas, despite the obvious dangers of the occupation.
. . . Anyway.
Kushina might not be the shiniest example of a Yamato Nadeshiko — her character just didn't see eye to eye with what that stereotype amounted to — and she nine times out of ten didn't give a ryo about the rules but . . . that didn't mean she was not aware.
Her hesitation to confess in a public setting was not just because of her shyness, no matter how preponderant the factor was.
". . . Thank you," she muttered, at last, her eyes failing to make contact with the boy's shining ones.
Akira waved a hand generously, "As I said, don't sweat it. The truth is the truth."
"But still—"
"Then, if you want to repay me, just promise not to go to the deep end over such a matter ever again. Your hair colour just doesn't allow that kind of wallowing."
"?" While Kushina waters weren't so deep as to understand the correlation in his words, she still nodded. That he didn't want her sulking, she could still get. "Alright. I promise."
There was also a matter she had to inquire about lest she forgot.
Thus, to make the mood playful and to hide her slight emotional disheveling that was still ailing her — mischievous smile, back.
"Did you say you like girls with long hair?"
Akira retorted at once
"Not like. Prefer."
"Okay. Okay," the redhead gave an eye roll. Was there even a difference? "Then, if a long-haired Kushina confessed to you today . . ." she gulped, a bit nervous, "w-would you have accepted her confession?"
"Ha? No way."
A dismissed hand wave and an instant denial was the response she got.
Kushina felt her smile stiffening in shock. After the praise she had been showered with . . . a rejection even more intense than the first one was a thing she didn't expect.
Indignation came after shock. "Why?" She asked with a slight gnashing. "Still because I'm 'suspicious'?"
"There's that as well," Akira nodded, blissfully unaware of the storm starting to rage behind the ugly smile regarding him. "But you're also not my type."
Twitch.
Twitch.
Twitch. Twitch. Twitch. Twitch. Twitch. Twitch. Twitch. Twitch.
Unbeknownst to the ravenette, one of Kushina's eyes was beating wildly. Veins were bulging out on her forehead too.
"Oh? How so?"
A sugary sweet voice came out of her mouth.
"Well, you know . . ."
Still not aware of the looming danger, Akira was pondering his ideal type. He extrapolated from there what the redhead was missing.
"For starters, you're too young."
And she was.
Despite what his outward appearance might have said, Akira was past college age on the inside. The girl had to pass at least ten more years before having a chance to enter his eyes.
"Also, I kind of like girls that are more, you know . . . like this."
Cue lewd attempt to draw a clepsydra in the air.
". . ."
"So I'm too young and too flat."
A dangerous vibe could be felt in the redhead's blank summary. Akira's not-so-great fans were watching on with glee, having smelled the turn of tides.
"In a nutshell," Akira just bobbed his head, her interpretation the same as his.
"Anything else?"
The mighty supervolcano known to future historians as the Red Hot Habanero was about to erupt, fact undiscovered by the responsible earthquake thanks to its deceptively small amount of visible precursory signs.
"Hmmm, no . . . I can't think of anything else at the moment."
"Really?"
"Really."
"Really, really?"
"Really, really."
". . ."
"That's it, you bastard!"
"!"
The volcano couldn't keep itself grounded anymore and it exploded with a vengeance — Kushina slapped the desk harshly and stood up, drawing a yelp of surprise from the soon-to-be corpse sitting by her side.
The next moment, her hands were safely fastened around Akira's neck, doing their best to deprive him of the sweet, live-bearing oxygen — she tackled him to the ground.
"In the end, you only care about looks, you perverted scoundrel!"
"!"
"Die!"
"!"
". . ."
It later took the combined efforts of teacher Yamazaki and a horde of giggling volunteers to peel off the royally pissed-off kitten from the almost senseless boy.
AN: Greetings!
I hope you've enjoyed the chapter!
There's not much progress in this one, mainly because I wanted to keep it relatively short so I could deliver it earlier. Just some 'bakappuru' back-and-forth.
I've been asked whether all the girls get their version of a System or it's just Kushina — my answer is that only Akira won't get the benefits.
. . . Relatively.
I truly appreciate you guys for taking the time to read my story.
Also, many many thanks to those who have encouraged me through either reviews or PMs! It means a lot.
Until next time, stay safe.
Bye.