The alcohol burned against Anko's throat as she swallowed down another shot. That was good. The harshness of the stuff was good! It was- it was tough! Tough and cool! Like her!

Her companion watched with a slight bit of apprehension, as if unsure what to say or do.

Well. That made two of them.

Immediately after her encounter with Iruka, Anko found her old friend and dragged her out to a bar under the assurance that this was very important.

Kurenai just looked utterly lost.

If there was any lingering awkwardness about the dress shop encounter, it could be brushed aside for now. Kurenai was the one Anko always went to when she needed to straight up vent or needed advice about something, and, if anything, that night would just help Kurenai understand what exactly was wrong right now since she'd seen it firsthand.

"Anko..."

She didn't slow down, pouring another shot and downing it in a single gulp.

"Anko."

Another shot on the way, pouring down into her glass, and-

"Anko!"

"Eh...?"

She dazedly looked up from the glass, still pouring until it overflowed a bit and splashed onto her coat, startling her. Kurenai didn't look impressed, taking a deep, calming breath before speaking.

"Anko. Talk to me. What exactly is wrong?"

That...was a big question. What was wrong...? Anko didn't really know. There was something off about her, that's all she really knew for certain. Ever since the tea shop, she'd had an inkling on what it was, but it was never really feasible. Until...until Iruka called her...

*bap*

Anko's forehead smacked lightly against the table, and she groaned miserably.

She really hoped just having a drink with a friend would fix it, and she wouldn't have to explain it. But that was probably a dumb thought. And now that Kurenai was here, ready to be all listen-y and understanding like she was, Anko wouldn't be able to back out of it.

She might as well get right to the point then.

Anko slowly looked up to meet Kurenai's look, head raising from the table with a few tears starting to build in her eyes. Just as that night in in front of the dress shop, she could feel the warmth in her cheeks that signalled a small blush, and she trembled slightly as she forced the words out in a meek little voice.

"K-kurenai...am I cute...?"

Kurenai visibly flinched back, red spreading across her face as she was unable to answer.

Anko dropped her head back to the table with a loud thunk and began bawling.

"H-hey...Anko..."

How...? How did this happen...!? She'd always been the cool and frightening one. It's who she was. She wasn't...she wasn't this mewling little thing, all feminine and...and...And now she was crying!

Somehow, that only made the tears come faster and her cries louder as she squeezed her head with her arms.

"You know, Anko...There's nothing wrong with being cute...It could just be that you're a...um, a cute person!"

Anko's fists bashed against the table as her head lifted, crying out in a pleading aggravation.

"No, that's not it! Don't you get it!?"

Even now, she could feel the sparkle in her eyes, damp with tears, and she small little shakes she couldn't quite stop. Even bawling her eyes out and yelling in protest, something that should have been ugly and horrible...she could tell- she could just feel how even now, it was all just coming out adorable.

"I've never been cute!" Her voice sounded small, like it belonged to someone years younger and infinitely more childlike than her. It made her sick. "And now, everything I do just feels all...all mushy! There's something wrong with me...!"

Kurenai was trying to take a bit of control over the situation, placing a hand comfortingly on Anko's arm, trying to calm the torrent of emotions that was causing her lip to quiver as she cried. Anko couldn't even bring herself to meet Kurenai's eyes. The warm, comforting gesture, the way she was trying to understand her. It was like she was being mothered. Her gaze drifted back to the table in shame.

"Anko, there's nothing wrong with you. I'm sure this is just..." she trails off, rolling her free hand as if drawing out the word she was searching for. "A slump! You'll figure it out, and be back to your normal self in no time."

Anko thought about it, mildly agreeing as she rubbed at her eyes with a sleeve, attempting to control herself. She looked up at Kurenai apprehensively, trying to stop the tears in her eyes that were threatening to fall, sniffling once as she did so.

"...r-really?"

Kurenai's motherly expression turned to shock, and she flinched back, barely able to keep her hand still as she struggled to respond.

"SEE!? IT HAPPENED AGAIN...!" Anko squeaked, horrified.

It took Kurenai a good few moments to reign herself back in, but when she did it was strong, firm, and in control.

"Look, Anko. Drinking isn't going to help. Go home for now. Take the day off, relax on your own, and say you were sick tomorrow and couldn't go in for work. Just take a bit of time for yourself, and you'll be able to work it out."

Anko's eyes dropped as she struggled to stop herself from crying any further.

"O-okay...alright..."

Kurenai sighed, happy to have gotten some form of agreement from her.

"Again, I don't think this is as big as you're making it out to be. Get some rest, and if you need to talk again, I'm always available."

"Y-yeah...thanks..."

Kurenai smiled, and Anko wasn't quite sure what to feel. On one hand, Kurenai was right. Some proper rest would do her some good. Time to herself without worrying about anything. On the other, she couldn't escape the dawning horror of realization that she was completely capable of being...cute. And even then, there was no escaping the fact that everyone in that shop, as well as Ibiki, had seen that...that little episode.

For now though, this was good.

Kurenai ushered her out of the bar, insisting she'd walk her home. Anko was tempted to say no, being walked home was much too soft and weird considering the past day's events, but...well, it was nice, and she might as well give in for now. After all, with the day to herself, she'd be back to normal tomorrow.

She'd never make another face like that. She'd never cry again. She'd never go back to that tea shop, or anything similar.

No more cuteness.

None.

Never. Again.

AN: 😎✌️