A Tiny Smirk is Devastating

by LScore

[SasuSaku Modern AU, Fusion Fic with Love O2O] Second-year Computer Science student Sakura never thought her road to find true love IRL would begin with a divorce in-game. But the Way of the Ninja is long and winding - and the person who takes her hand to travel it together is the last person she was expecting. How does the server's number one know who she is?

13. Mentors and Mentees

[Whisper] SakuraBlossom: My roommates just started with Way
[Whisper] SakuraBlossom: I have to go, but they want to keep playing
[Whisper] SakuraBlossom: Can you and Wulf mentor them?
[Whisper to SakuraBlossom] OldRamenMan: Lemme ask Wulf
[Whisper] SakuraBlossom: Sure
[Whisper] SakuraBlossom: lmk soon cause I g2g
[Whisper to SakuraBlossom] OldRamenMan: He's got one question
[Whisper to SakuraBlossom] OldRamenMan: Are they cute girls?
[Whisper] SakuraBlossom: … Yes, yes they are
[Whisper] SakuraBlossom: If you scare them away from the game I will beat you until you lose five levels.
[Whisper to SakuraBlossom] OldRamenMan: So scary, 3SIL!
[Whisper] SakuraBlossom: I'm serious, Old Man
[Whisper to SakuraBlossom] OldRamenMan: dw dw
[Whisper to SakuraBlossom] OldRamenMan: I'll tell him that 3Bro will beat him up if he does anything funny
[Whisper to OldRamenMan] SakuraBlossom: Good
[Whisper to Beowulf69] OldRamenMan: They're guys playing as girls
[Whisper to Beowulf69] OldRamenMan: Sorry man
[Whisper] Beowulf69: Dam
[Whisper] Beowulf69: I dun wanna anymore
[Whisper to Beowulf69] OldRamenMan: C'mon
[Whisper to Beowulf69] OldRamenMan: It's not like we've got anything better to do
[Whisper to Beowulf69] OldRamenMan: Besides you can just pretend they're girls
[Whisper] Beowulf69: Fine
[Whisper] Beowulf69: But 3SIL owes me
[Party] System: SakuraBlossom has invited you to join her party. Type Y to accept her invite, N to reject
[Self] OldRamenMan: Y
[Party] System: OldRamenMan and Beowulf69 have joined the party.
[Party] SakuraBlossom: Tournesola, Pointy, these guys will take care of you and take you to your first mission.
[Party] SakuraBlossom: I g2g. Thanks guys!
[Party] OldRamenMan: Seeya 3SIL
[Party] Beowulf69: Bye 3SIL
[Party] System: SakuraBlossom has left the party!
[Party] OldRamenMan: /mentor
[Party] System: OldRamenMan has taken on a Mentor Role in the party.
[Party] System: Beowulf69 has taken on a Mentor Role in the party
[Party] Mentor OldRamenMan: So what did 3SIL show you guys?
[Party] SharpandPointy: Just the tutorial and a basic mission to show us our kekkai genkai
[Party] Mentor OldRamenMan: Which mission?
[Party] SharpandPointy: Umm
[Party] SharpandPointy: ****
[Party] SharpandPointy: I forget XP
[Party] Tournesola: It was the [Deliver Potions from the Hospitals to the Field Medic] D-Rank Mission.
[Party] Mentor Beowulf69: Nice basic shit with good rewards
[Party] Mentor OldRamenMan: Good start. What are your bloodline limits again?
[Party] Tournesola: I have the Byakugan
[Party] SharpandPointy: Forging aptitude
[Party] Mentor Beowulf69: Whoaaaaa what the ****!?
[Party] Mentor Beowulf69: Byakugan is pretty dope
[Party] Mentor Beowulf69: Hard to master though
[Party] Tournesola: I am doing my best, but it is a bit overwhelming.
[Party] Mentor OldRamenMan: Hey, if you have the Byakugan, we should do the Cat Mission
[Party] Mentor Beowulf69: Oo good call
[Party] Mentor Beowulf69: I think it's on the east board
[Party] Mentor Beowulf69: leggo!
[Party] Tournesola: Sure
[Party] Mentor OldRamenMan: You know how to activate your kekkai genkai, right?
[Party] Tournesola: I believe I do know
[Party] Mentor OldRamenMan: Turn it on as we walk
[Party] Mentor OldRamenMan: It's a bit overwhelming, but better to try now than get overwhelmed later.
[Party] Tournesola: This is very confusing
[Party] Mentor OldRamenMan: What do you see?
[Party] Tournesola: It seems as though there many layers of white lines everywhere, and bright floating points along your bodies
[Party] Mentor OldRamenMan: Just in front of you?
[Party] Tournesola: Yes. It looks a bit like a slice of the pie suddenly went dark.
[Party] Mentor OldRamenMan: K, you should stop now, you're depleting your chakra
[Party] Tournesola: I'm sorry
[Party] Mentor OldRamenMan: Don't apologize, you'll get better at this
[Party] Mentor Beowulf69: Hey, Sola, where'd your friend go?
[Party] Mentor OldRamenMan: We left her at the newbie area…
[Party] SharpandPointy: Sorry!
[Party] SharpandPointy: I'm actually going to drop and check out the forging stuff.
[Party] SharpandPointy: Sakura-chan gave me some stuff to start practicing with
[Party] Mentor OldRamenMan: OK no worries!
[Party] Mentor Beowulf69: Pce
[Party] SharpandPointy: Should I leave the party?
[Party] Mentor OldRamenMan: Probably
[Party] SharpandPointy: Er…
[Party] Mentor OldRamenMan: Right-click on one of our icons to bring up the menu
[Party] System: SharpandPointy has left the party
[Party] Mentor OldRamenMan: Right, okay
[Party] Mentor OldRamenMan: So basically, we just need to find the cat
[Party] Mentor OldRamenMan: He's hiding somewhere randomly in the city
[Party] Mentor OldRamenMan: And with your Byakugan, it should be a snap.
[Party] Mentor OldRamenMan: Wulf and I will back you up
[Party] Mentor OldRamenMan: But you should be able to find and chase him yourself
[Party] Mentor OldRamenMan: Ready to try?
[Party] Tournesola: Yes, I will try.
[Party] Mentor Beowulf69: Should be a piece of cake

(*￣▽￣)b (≧-≦) d(°∀°d)

There's something very meditative about this, Tenten had to admit to herself as she carefully learned the timing for forging a simple senbon. She was starting to really get the hang of the mechanics, understanding chakra and how to push out the correct amount through her - what did Sakura call them? Tekken? With her forging aptitude bloodline limit, the timing was more forgiving, and her luck was pretty good, which meant she had a full basic weapon set and only used two of the chakra replenishing potions Sakura had given them before she'd left.

She was just trying for an uncommon set of kunai, which had the narrowest and most precise timing of anything she'd attempted so far, when-

"Oh gosh darn it!"

"Fuck!" Startled, Tenten totally missed the timing on the kunai, just creating a pile of scrap metal. She wasn't so worried about her metal, though, but the source of the exclamation.

"S-Sorry, Tenten-chan," Hinata apologized, not taking her eyes off the screen.

She looked over at Hinata, who was actually scowling at her laptop. "What happened, Hinata-chan?"

"I still haven't caught this s-stupid cat!" Hinata nearly shouted the last two words.

I think this is the first time I've seen Hinata so pissed off. Amused, Tenten watched Hinata narrow her eyes and press some buttons, tensely waiting for something. However… after a couple of minutes, she winced and slumped back in her chair in defeat. Exasperated, Hinata massaged her temples.

"What happened, Hina-chan?" Tenten asked, feeling a bit bad for her.

"I-I ran out of chakra potions, and w-we still haven't found the cat!" Hinata complained.

"Oh no," Tenten sympathized.

"Th-this was supposed to be easy," Hinata muttered resentfully. She sighed and looked back down at her screen, "I-I was just getting the handle on my Byakugan, too. I'll have to quit, now, though."

"Hang on, I still have three of the five chakra potions Sakura-chan gave us. Take two," Tenten stopped her, opening up her friends menu to figure out how to send something to Hinata.

"A-Are you sure?" Hinata asked.

"Yeah, you're the one with the chakra intensive bloodline limit," Tenten waved her off, "I'm done forging anyways, so I should be fine with just one more potion. Though, if you guys are still doing that cat mission, I'm going to find something else."

"S-Sorry," Hinata apologized again.

"Don't worry about it! Just catch that cat," Tenten grinned.

Hinata smiled back, then focused on her screen with a determined look, "I-It's mine."

Amused, Tenten watched the normally elegant and ladylike Hinata hunker down at her computer like a proper geek to catch a digital feline. She went back to her own game, looking a bit regretfully at the failed kunai. That was the last of my metal, too. I guess I should try to find a mission… I wonder if a stranger will mentor me. Oh well, I might as well try.

She made her way back to the large board mission board and started browsing through the many, many, many missions until she felt entirely overwhelmed at all the possibilities. These weren't even all the missions in Way of the Ninja - she was just looking at the ones available to her as a low-level n00b.

Here goes nothing…

[Here] SharpandPointy: Hey, n00b looking for a mentor here. Anyone making groups?
[Here] YugePen1s: n00b
[Here] YugePen1s: **** no
[Here] YugePen1s: Who's got time to waste
[Here] SharpandPointy: Go away then
[Here] SharpandPointy: No need to be rude
[Here] YugePen1s: Hey *****
[Here] Chun_Lee: I'll mentor you!
[Here] YugePen1s: **** back to whatever n00b game you came from
[Here] Chun_Lee: We've got the same hairstyle, we can be bun-buddies! ^_^
[Whisper] Chun_Lee: Just ignore him, he's got… issues
[Here] SharpandPointy: I can tell he's got erectile dysfunction issues, from that username
[Whisper] Chun_Lee: …
[Whisper] Chun_Lee: wrong channel?
[Whisper to Chun_Lee] SharpandPointy: Nope
[Here] YugePen1s: WHO HAS ISSUES?!
[Here] YugePen1s: *****
[Here] YugePen1s: *****
[Here] YugePen1s: *****
[Here] YugePen1s: Sleep with one eye open, **** because Imma come for you
[Here] SharpandPointy: I'm so scared
[Here] SharpandPointy: of your tiny, limp knife
[Whisper] Chun_Lee: Maybe you should stop provoking him…
[Whisper to Chun_Lee] SharpandPointy: He's so much fun though
[Whisper] Chun_Lee: Yeah but he could follow us and grief us
[Here] Nuxalia: Yuge, why are you always such an embarrassment?
[Here] YugePen1s: They started it!
[Here] Nuxalia: Are you five?
[Here] Nuxalia: We've got a clan mission starting in two minutes, and you're sitting here bickering with a couple of n00bs?
[Here] YugePen1s: FINE
[Here] YugePen1s: *****
[Here] SpinFan96: Are you solely mentoring avatars with twin buns, or can I join you?
[Here] SharpandPointy: We don't discriminate!
[Here] SharpandPointy: Er, at least I think we don't.
[Here] SharpandPointy: Chun_Lee?
[Here] Chun_Lee: Welcome! Let me just invite you guys to a party and we can pick a mission and go.
[Party] System: Mentor Chun_Lee has invited you to join her party. Type Y to accept her invite, N to reject
[Party] Mentor Chun_Lee: You guys can just call me CL.
[Party] Mentor Chun_Lee: So what are your bloodline limits? Fighting styles?
[Party] SharpandPointy: Mine is a weapons forging aptitude, and uh, I guess weapons?
[Party] SharpandPointy: I don't know, I just started playing
[Party] Mentor Chun_Lee: Ooh if you have a weapons aptitude, I bet you can also make seals at a higher level.
[Party] Mentor Chun_Lee: That's super useful, I'm jealous
[Party] SharpandPointy: I have no idea
[Party] Mentor Chun_Lee: Means you can carry more weapons and program different sequences for battle.
[Party] Mentor Chun_Lee: There should be a tutorial when you hit forging Ascended weapons
[Party] Mentor Chun_Lee: What about you, Spin?
[Party] SpinFan96: I have the Byakugan, which makes me most suited to Taijutsu
[Party] SpinFan96: Please take care of me
[Party] Mentor Chun_Lee: Holy ****!
[Party] Mentor Chun_Lee: Byakugan?!
[Party] Mentor Chun_Lee: That's crazy!
[Party] Mentor Chun_Lee: I've never met someone with that bloodline limit
[Party] SharpandPointy: Huh, that's weird
[Party] SharpandPointy: My friend also has the Byakugan
[Party] Mentor Chun_Lee: ****nnnn
[Party] SharpandPointy: What's your bloodline limit and style, CL?
[Party] Mentor Chun_Lee: I'm a taijutsu main and my bloodline limit's called the drunken fist
[Party] Mentor Chun_Lee: Basically perfect immunity and perfect attack power while under the effects of drunkenness, but also doubles the damage drinking does
[Party] SharpandPointy: Woah, there are limits like that in the game?
[Party] SharpandPointy: That's so cool!
[Party] Mentor Chun_Lee: It's more a gimmick than anything
[Party] Mentor Chun_Lee: Since you're both potentially taijutsu mains, let's do something really foundational for taijutsu
[Party] Mentor Chun_Lee: Speedrunning mission!
[Party] Mentor Chun_Lee: [D-rank Mission: Transport the volatile mixture to the medical lab]
[Party] Mentor Chun_Lee: Basically to run this mission on time, you have speed up your running by pushing chakra out of your feet while keeping your character in motion.
[Party] Mentor Chun_Lee: But you can't fall or get attacked
[Party] Mentor Chun_Lee: Let's practice first
[Party] Mentor Chun_Lee: Ready?
[Party] SharpandPointy: Whoo-hoo!
[Party] Mentor Chun_Lee: Spin?
[Party] Spinfan96: Yes

─=≡Σ((( つ^_^)つ((( つ^_^)つ((( つ-_-)つ

Hinata took a deep breath as she made up her mind to try just one more time. It would have to be her last try - she was out of Chakra replenishing potions, and she only had enough Chakra to activate her Byakugan one last time. Filtering out all the distractions and ambient sounds around her, including Tenten muttering and swearing at her screen, her focus narrowed down to just the tiny slice of screen in front of her.

You can do it, Hinata. You almost had it last time. Trust your gut.

[Party] Mentor OldRamenMan: We're in place, Sola
[Party] Mentor OldRamenMan: Whenever you're ready!
[Party] Mentor Beowulf69: u can do iiiiiiiiit!

She navigated her character to the back of a small alley with stacks of wooden boxes and crates. Ignoring Old Man and Wulf standing on the roofs overhanging either side of the alley, she took a deep breath then activated her Byakugan.

The dark slice of her field of vision no longer discombobulated her as much as it had when she'd started playing a couple of hours ago. Instead, she focused on sorting through what the overlapping shadowy shapes indicated, because they looked like foggy transparencies overlapping each other in a confusing mess. She reigned in her field of vision when she realized she was looking through the wall, and didn't get excited when she saw a small heat signature running by, because she already knew it was a mouse or a small rodent. Heart pounding, she did her best to ignore the low chakra warning that had started popping until-

Found it! Just as she caught a glimpse, the world turned normal again. Hinata had glimpsed a medium-sized heat signature in a crate, two boxes deep and one down from the tallest box in the stack

[Party] Mentor OldRamenMan: Did you find it?
[Party] Tournesola: Yes
[Party] Tournesola: It's in the under the box under tallest crate
[Party] Mentor OldRamenMan: OK get ready Wulf
[Party] Mentor Beowulf69: It's just a mangy cat

Having done her part, Hinata relaxed as she watched one orange jumpsuited avatar move, light as air and not making a sound, to balance near the crate she'd pointed out. She wondered if she had her sound settings off since she didn't hear any ambient sound as Ramen Man's avatar gently, slowly lifted the two boxes. A loud yowl coming from her speakers the next second proved her wrong though - it was so discordant, it made both her and Tenten jump.

"Fuck fuck shit shit!" Tenten snarled.

"Sorry, Tenten-chan!" Hinata exclaimed, almost helpless with laughter at her reaction. She was laughing so hard she almost missed watching the cat leap right into Wulf's arms, but not before it got a good swipe across his face. Three red lines appeared on his avatar's face.

[Party] System: You have completed the [D-Ranked Mission: Capture that cat!]. The owners profoundly thank you for your assistance in returning their precious to them!
[Party] Mentor OldRamenMan: LOLOLOLOLOLOL
[Party] Tournesola: Are you okay?

She could tell by his health bar that he'd only taken a little damage, but those three lines didn't disappear. She started getting a bit concerned, though, when neither Wulf nor Ramen moved for a good couple of minutes

[Party] Tournesola: Guys?
[Party] Tournesola: Are you still there?
[Party] Mentor OldRamenMan: Sry, irl pvp

Hinata squinted her eyes at those nine letters. She supposed they must mean something somehow, but… Would I look stupid if I asked?

[Party] Tournesola: irl pvp?
[Party] Mentor OldRamenMan: don't worry about it
[Party] Mentor OldRamenMan: GJ!
[Party] Mentor OldRamenMan: Told you you'd find it eventually
[Party] Mentor Beowulf69: eventually
[Party] Mentor OldRamenMan: Hey, how long did it take you to find out Akamaru wasn't just a mascot?
[Party] Mentor Beowulf69: Shut up
[Party] Tournesola: Thank you both for all your help today
[Party] Tournesola: Could we maybe repeat this process in the future?
[Party] Tournesola: Only if it's not too much trouble
[Party] Mentor OldRamenMan: Like a static?
[Party] Mentor Beowulf69: I'm down
[Party] Mentor Beowulf69: I wanna see what you can do with your Byakugan
[Party] Mentor OldRamenMan: Sure
[Party] Mentor OldRamenMan: Same time next week?
[Party] Tournesola: Yes, that works for me
[Party] Mentor Beowulf69: Same
[Party] Mentor Beowulf69: Add me
[Party] Mentor Beowulf69: Sorry Sola-kun, I g2g
[Party] Mentor Beowulf69: Class.
[Party] Mentor Beowulf69: Nice 2 meecha tho
[Party] Mentor Beowulf69: Seeya soon!
[Party] Tournesola: Goodbye
[Party] System: Beowulf69 has left the party
[Party] Tournesola: It was a pleasure to meet you as well
[Party] Tournesola: Oh, I guess I was a bit late on that
[Party] Mentor OldRamenMan: Don't worry about him
[Party] Mentor OldRamenMan: Hey, you were using a bunch of chakra potions right?
[Party] Mentor OldRamenMan: You want me to show you how to improve your chakra capacity?
[Party] Tournesola: I would really appreciate that if it's not too much trouble
[Party] Mentor OldRamenMan: it's no trouble!
[Party] Mentor OldRamenMan: I have to improve my capacity too anyways
[Party] Tournesola: Sure
[Party] Mentor OldRamenMan: C'mon, I know a good spot to meditate.

( 〃▽〃)(^ ω ^ *)

[Party] System: You have completed the [D-rank Mission: Transport the volatile mixture to the medical lab]. Congratulations for making it all the way without sprouting another limb… this time.
[Party] SharpandPointy: FINALLY
[Party] Mentor Chun_Lee: Whaddya talking about?!
[Party] Mentor Chun_Lee: That's the fastest I've seen any sub-level 20 team finish that mission!
[Party] SharpandPointy: We can do better
[Party] Spinfan96: I concur
[Party] Mentor Chun_Lee: overachievers lol
[Party] Mentor Chun_Lee: pff well if you want to do better, you guys should do some meditation and increase your chakra reserves.
[Party] Mentor Chun_Lee: Look, go to the tearoom in the north of the city, then use the /meditate emote
[Party] Mentor Chun_Lee: then be patient and don't move
[Party] Mentor Chun_Lee: every couple of minutes or so, you should see a point of light appear in your body
[Party] Mentor Chun_Lee: Channel your chakra there
[Party] Spinfan96: I have seen a video on the forums about this mechanic
[Party] Spinfan96: I can figure it out
[Party] Mentor Chun_Lee: Oh good, because I have to go
[Party] Mentor Chun_Lee: This was fun, though!
[Party] SharpandPointy: Can we do this again?
[Party] SharpandPointy: Same time next week?
[Party] Mentor Chun_Lee: Set up a static?
[Party] Mentor Chun_Lee: I'm down!
[Party] SharpandPointy: Spin?
[Party] Spinfan96: It would be too inefficient to find another group. I agree.
[Party] SharpandPointy: It's settled then!
[Party] Mentor Chun_Lee: Let me add you guys as friends then
[Self] System: Chun_Lee has added you as a friend. Type Y to add her as well, type N to refuse
[Self] SharpandPointy: Y
[Self] System: You and Chun_Lee are now friends
[Self] System: Spinfan96 has added you as a friend. Type Y to add him as well, type N to refuse
[Self] SharpandPointy: Y
[Self] System: You and Spinfan96 are now friends
[Party] Mentor Chun_Lee: Bye guys!
[Self] SharpandPointy: Byeee
[Party] System: Chun_Lee has left the party
[Party] Spinfan96: Are you going to continue playing?
[Party] Spinfan96: I have to leave soon, but I can show you how to meditate now
[Party] SharpandPointy: Sure, if it's not too much trouble
[Party] Spinfan96: Not at all
[Party] Spinfan96: We should deepen our understanding of each other as new teammates
[Party] SharpandPointy: Okeydokey, lol

(─‿‿─)

[Party] Tournesola: I think I just succeeded!
[Party] OldRamenMan: Knew you could do it!
[Party] Tournesola: I only hope that the next time won't take an hour to get the knack for it
[Party] OldRamenMan: It's all good, I've enjoyed talking to you
[Party] Tournesola: I, too
[Party] Tournesola: Oh if it's not too much trouble
[Party] Tournesola: I meant to ask
[Party] OldRamenMan: Ask away
[Party] Tournesola: Why do you call Sakura-chan 3SIL?
[Party] OldRamenMan: Because she's married to our third brother
[Party] Tournesola: Married?!
[Party] OldRamenMan: In the game
[Party] OldRamenMan: it's a mechanic
[Party] OldRamenMan: You get bonuses fighting together and stuff
[Party] Tournesola: Oh I see
[Party] Tournesola: So you have two brothers?
[Party] OldRamenMan: Er
[Party] OldRamenMan: Long story
[Party] OldRamenMan: But I mean my roommates
[Party] OldRamenMan: we're close like brothers
[Party] Tournesola: This reminds me of classic Kung-fu movies
[Party] OldRamenMan: Exactly!
[Party] OldRamenMan: You watch Kung-fu movies?
[Party] Tournesola: I used to watch them secretly with my cousin when we were very young
[Party] Tournesola: Is Wulf also one of your brothers?
[Party] OldRamenMan: Yep!
[Party] Tournesola: which one is he?
[Party] OldRamenMan: He's second bro
[Party] OldRamenMan: But we don't call him that
[Party] OldRamenMan: Because it's also slang for….
[Party] OldRamenMan: a guys ****
[Party] Tournesola: Oh
[Party] Tournesola: What number are you?
[Party] OldRamenMan: I'm the fourth brother
[Party] OldRamenMan: But they don't call me that either
[Party] OldRamenMan: Because it also sounds like the dead brother
[Party] Tournesola: Oh
[Party] Tournesola: What about the oldest brother?
[Party] OldRamenMan: We don't call him that either
[Party] OldRamenMan: because he thinks we're calling him fat
[Party] Tournesola: Do you actually use the monikers?
[Party] OldRamenMan: Well, so third bro's really called the asshole
[Party] OldRamenMan: But we couldn't exactly call 3SIL Asshole SIL
[Party] OldRamenMan: It doesn't abbreviate nicely
[Party] Tournesola: Pfft
[Party] Tournesola: that's very funny

"Oi, Naruto, have you seen Sasuke?" Chouji demanded, coming into the room with his eyes glued to his phone.

"No, what's up?" Naruto glanced up from his screen, surprised.

"Are you playing? Is he online?" When Chouji looked up, he frowned at Naruto's screen, "What the heck are you doing meditating? With your bloodline limit, your reserves are maxed out."

"I'm just helping a friend out," Naruto said evasively, then dragged Chouji back to his original topic, "What's going on? Why are you looking for Sasuke?"

"He needs to see this. Look at this, on the Way of the Ninja forums. We gotta call him."

---

AN: Huehuehue I'm drawing some red threads together! Or some black threads? I don't know, we'll have to see, hehe.

More plot and side pairing development! Also, for those who might've been curious about the whole 3rd sister-in-law appellation, Naruto explains it a bit here. It's a respect thing - I feel like Chinese doesn't have as many honorifics when it comes to outsiders besides using their title (Doctor, Teacher, etcetc), and the whole senior/junior thing, but within families, it's super complicated and you have to take into account where in the birth order you fall, and whether your married in or you're born in, whether you share a last name, blahblah, to find the right word. It's a real pain, and it doesn't translate super well into English, but I just had to get Sakura being called Sister in Law in, because I think it's cute. Fun fact, Sasuke is actually the third oldest of the four living in the dorm according to canon birthdays, and they call Xiao Nai in the drama "Old Third" even though he's the youngest (I did a bit of a squee when I worked that one out in the planning stages). Anyways, side characters aside, our favourites are back next chapter... in person! I'm still rolling along quite nicely with ATSiD and the cast, but The Words I Want to Hear is slogging because of all the side characters I need to work with. So I'll be back again next week with ATSiD, but might still be a bit on TWIWTH. For anyone following along with drama (and HOLLA TO THE PERSON I INSPIRED TO WATCH ON YOUTUBE, MAD PROPS FOR DRAGGING IN YOUR SO, I'm legit so honoured), we're pretty well bridging the end of Episode 3 and into Episode 4. Thanks to Reglee for Betaing, and thank YOU for reading! I hope you enjoyed it, as always, comments, reviews, kudos, favourites, bookmarks, and smoke signals on deserted beaches always make my day. Stay safe and stay healthy, guys, and see you soon!