-She's so... small...
That was all Choji had managed to say, since the moment Kurenai had let him hold her baby girl in his arms.
Choji did not even expect to get such a beautiful honor. He had passed by Kurenai's house just for a brief greeting, that's all, but the woman who was supposed to become Asuma's wife had insisted so much, that he eventually stopped at least for a glass of water.
Choji didn't even want to get such a beautiful honor.
-Master Asuma had never been able to cuddle her, it's not fair that I can...- he had begun to say.
But when Kurenai reassured him and brought him little Mirai, everything had changed.
The various worries, the sorrow for Asuma, the anxiety for the imminent fourth world war...
But also the lunch he just consumed that afternoon, the new bag of chips well hidden in his pocket, the appointment he would have had a few hours from there with the rest of his team...
All things, bad and good, had disappeared from Choji's mind.
In those few minutes, he only had eyes and thoughts for that splendid little creature, big just as half the size of the mighty forearm on which she had fallen asleep.
-Is this the first time you have to deal with a baby, Choji?- Kurenai asked, reluctantly breaking that soft silence.
-Yup. This has never happened to me before.
-Not even in your clan?
Choji shook his head.
-I'm the youngest of the Akimichis, nobody was born after me. I don't have siblings, and my many cousins are all older than me. She, on the other hand...
Very softly, Choji moved his free hand to caress Mirai, but in fear of hurting her, he decided against it.
-She's so small... So tiny... I can't even touch her without covering her all with my hand...
-Do you want me to take her back in my arms?- Kurenai asked.
But Choji didn't hear her.
The short talk about being an only child had just made him see Mirai under a different light.
That little creature curled up on his forearm was the daughter of Asuma, who had been a second father to him as well as his teacher.
As a result, that little creature curled up on his forearm had just become his honorable little sister.
-Sister...- Choji murmured, without realizing it.
Just as he didn't realize he had the biggest smile he had ever smiled on his face.
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I wrote in Italian this tiny little one shot four years ago, reflecting the moment when I first had the chance to hold my (then) two weeks old niece.
For no reason other than remembering and sharing the moment, I decided to translate it in english.
Bye :)