Chapter 31 Shopping
She must be really angry and embarrassed, right?
"Um, well... how should I put it? It's filled with coincidences and accidents. Since giving a kimono has such a special intention, then..."
A momentary illusion—the killing intent around Rui seemed to intensify.
Although she had now shifted her gaze away from Shiroshi, standing calmly as if nothing happened, looking elsewhere, Shiroshi knew this was far from an illusion.
Now, it wasn't a question of salvaging the situation. The real concern was whether he could smoothly leave this clothing store.
Shiroshi turned his gaze towards his teacher Fujimura, seeking help.
Fujimura spoke in a stern tone, "Shiroshi classmate, when faced with difficulties, don't always think about seeking help from adults. You are now a qualified ninja. You need to find ways to fend for yourself."
Of course, this wasn't because he was scared, preventing him from extending a helping hand.
After all, he was an outstanding ninja, selected multiple times as an elite instructor in the ninja school. How could he, so outstanding, let his students down?
This was entirely because he wanted to exercise his students' ability to rescue themselves.
Yes, it was an exercise.
"I really like the colors of this clothing, and the size is suitable too. What do you think?"
Just then, Rui suddenly spoke these words. Her expression had completely returned to normal, her gaze still fixed on the clothing, as if it were just a routine consultation.
"Yes, yes... I feel the same way. It suits you, Rui."
"..."
"..."
... Huh? What's this silence about? It's like an important hidden clue in a game's plot.
If you don't trigger it, the plot won't progress smoothly.
Therefore, trying to deceive one's way out of it was impossible.
But is this really alright?
Not knowing how to explain the strange feeling that had arisen within at this moment.
Marriage proposal and such?
No, that's not right. I didn't even know about the implications of the clothing. So, I just need to keep a calm mind.
It's merely a witness of friendship between friends.
But still, there's a sense of sacrilege or guilt.
I should have known better than to blurt that out.
Making myself unable to face it, it's all my fault.
Shiroshi cleared his throat and pointed at the kimono, saying, "Fujimura-sensei, could you hand over that kimono? I'd like to buy it."
Fujimura smiled and followed Shiroshi's instructions, taking the kimono Rui had chosen and packaging it neatly.
"Shiroshi classmate, for a guy to personally hand over this type of clothing to a girl, it becomes quite significant."
Annoying, I didn't ask for your input! Shiroshi retorted inwardly, displeased.
Rui's gaze towards Fujimura eased a bit, tinted with satisfaction.
Finally, they bid farewell to the clothing store, Shiroshi and Rui, with the kimono in hand.
"Young people nowadays are truly impressive. But if they were to marry, is Shiroshi planning to marry into the Uchiha clan?" Fujimura sighed, remarking that Rui wasn't just a genius from the Uchiha clan but also rumored to be incredibly wealthy. In case of marriage, the possibility of the man marrying into the bride's family was higher.
But it's too early for that, isn't it? Marriage and such.
...
The time came to the next day.
Shiroshi woke up from a dazed state.
Due to yesterday's events, he had tossed and turned all night under the covers, making it quite uncomfortable.
Just thinking about yesterday, how he had handed the meaning-laden kimono to Rui, left him feeling full of guilt.
Though he kept reassuring himself that it wasn't imbued with any special meaning, that it was purely a gesture of friendship.
But, could it really be like that?
Because after placing the item in Rui's hands, he hadn't even looked at her expression, remembering only his hasty retreat to the laboratory. It had been quite an embarrassed state.
Even the experiments from last night had been distracted and filled with errors.
This strange mix of emotions was truly complex and hard to describe.
Shaking off the jumbled thoughts, now the most important thing was work, not getting caught up in irrelevant matters.
However, the more he tried to focus on work, the more he couldn't help but think about yesterday.
What would Rui think?
Would she assume it was a proposal?
It's weird, isn't it? They're both only twelve in terms of biological age...
Would she think he's being frivolous?
Would she be annoyed or pleased? Or perhaps, she feels nothing at all?
"Ah..."
One thought after another flooded his mind, making his head feel like it was about to explode.
Shiroshi sighed deeply, trying to calm himself down.
And so, the morning passed in this hazy manner.
It's truly frustrating.
Just as Shiroshi was struggling—
Outside, in the courtyard.
A maid approached Rui, who was leisurely feeding the fish by the pond, and whispered a few words in her ear.
After hearing what the maid said, Rui nodded in response.
The maid left, and not long after, she returned with a girl dressed in white.
This girl had pure white irises, and she looked around the exceptionally grand mansion with curiosity. It was Ayane.
"Go ahead."
Rui glanced at the maid.
"Yes."
The maid slightly bowed and left, leaving Rui and Ayane alone here.
"So, this is your home, Rui? Though I heard about it from Shiroshi-kun, seeing it in person is more impressive than I imagined."
Ayane approached with a smile.
"It's nothing special, just a normal size. I don't think it would be that surprising to you."
Rui continued to sprinkle some fish food, feeding the fish in the pond. She watched as they swiftly swam to grab the food, creating ripples in the water.
"By the way, drop that fake smile and don't pretend in front of me. You should know, I'm not falling for your act."
Afterward, Rui didn't hold back and added another sentence, her sharp gaze fixed on Ayane.
"What are you talking about, Rui? I'm not quite understanding..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Rui disappeared from her sight, and her words abruptly stopped.
Rui stood in a stance as if she had a grip on Ayane's throat, but she couldn't continue the next action.
Ayane's middle and index fingers of her right hand lightly touched Rui's heart.
"So, this is the capital you rely on? The gentle fist formed through cooperation with natural energy?"
Rui asked Ayane with a curious expression.
During this month in Konoha, Ayane had also grown.
Although she couldn't precisely observe the extent to which the power of the gentle fist was enhanced by merging with natural energy, the previous Ayane, even if she activated the Byakugan, wouldn't have been able to respond this quickly.
"Indeed, you're the type I least want to deal with. Not just in terms of strength, but also personality, we simply don't get along."
The smile on Ayane's face completely vanished, and she sighed with a somewhat helpless tone.
"Likewise."
Rui took her hand off Ayane's throat.
Ayane also withdrew her two fingers.
It seemed like a balanced battle, yet Ayane remained cautious; after all, Rui was a person whose growth rate surpassed her own.
If she became complacent due to these achievements, she would eventually be the one who suffered.
"Speaking of which..."
Seeing that Rui didn't have the intention to attack, Ayane felt relieved and then looked at Rui with a strange expression.
"What's wrong? Is there something off about me?"
"No, I was wondering, is today a special day for your Uchiha clan?"
As one of Konoha's two prominent clans possessing a kekkei genkai, Ayane didn't claim to know everything about the Uchiha clan, but she should have some knowledge about special occasions.
However, she didn't remember today being a significant day for the Uchiha clan.
"Why do you ask?"
Upon hearing Rui's counterquestion, Ayane gestured to Rui's properly fitting light blue kimono and her serious demeanor.
"Your attire..."
"This? What does it matter?"
"Generally, aren't these clothes worn during important ceremonies or festivals?"
Ayane expressed her confusion.
No matter how you looked at it, wearing a kimono suddenly on a day like this felt oddly out of place.
"It's none of your concern; don't meddle in my affairs. Besides, why would I explain myself to you?"
Seated by the pond, Rui furrowed her brows, ceasing her fish-feeding actions.
"Indeed, we're just not compatible."
Ayane wasn't at all surprised by Rui's cold response; in fact, it was within her expectations, believing that this was the true nature of Rui.
Their harmonious interactions during missions were only because they adhered to their responsibilities as a team.
However, during this vacation period, their conflicts surfaced.
"Why did you come here?"
Rui inquired about Ayane's purpose for being there.
In reality, there was no need to ponder; it was absolutely impossible for Ayane to come seeking her out.
Well, the purpose is self-evident.
"I just came to check on a classmate and, you know, maintain connections."
"Boring. He's in the lab; go find him yourself."
"Can I use the Byakugan?"
Ayane asked with a smile.
"You can give it a shot."
Seeing Rui's cautious expression, Ayane felt somewhat vexed.
However, Rui quite enjoyed Ayane's helpless demeanor, feeling a sense of satisfaction.
"Alright, if there's nothing else, you can leave. My family is running low on food recently, so I'm sorry, but I can't offer you lunch."
Rui began ushering Ayane out, her tone far from polite.
"..."
Ayane scratched her head and gave a wry smile.
"Aren't you leaving? As I said, there won't be lunch for you."
"It's not that. Because earlier, Shiroshi-kun gave me an important observation task. I've arranged to meet him at our usual spot at 2 PM this afternoon to hand over the crucial data."
"You can give it to me, and I'll pass it on to him. No need to meet outside."
"I've placed the data somewhere else, and I haven't brought it with me. Plus, I need to give it to Shiroshi-kun personally to feel secure."
Ayane spoke in an unhurried manner.
Rui frowned, dissatisfied.
"You should understand how vital my observations about Shiroshi-kun are. So, please convey this message to him. I'm relying on you, Rui."
Ayane smiled faintly, then turned and left without any hesitation.
Watching Ayane's departure, Rui didn't take her eyes off until Ayane's figure vanished completely from view. She then turned her gaze back, sighed calmly, and exhaled.
There's no need to get angry over such a trivial matter.
Yes, it's insignificant, not worth fretting over...
But what's with this sudden surge of annoyance?
No matter how you looked at it, it was that guy's fault.
— Noon.
When Rui and Shiroshi had lunch together, Rui shared that Ayane had come earlier, saying she had important observation data to deliver to him.
"Oh, I see. I did ask her to handle that earlier. Didn't expect results to come in so fast. The power of the Byakugan truly is impressive; it's been a big help."
Shiroshi sighed.
However, noticing Rui's increasingly unsettling and terrifying expression, her face seemed to darken completely. Shiroshi immediately changed his tone:
"Um, actually, that's not the main point. The most crucial thing, Rui, is the research funding or materials you provide me. That's what really matters. The role of the Byakugan isn't as significant as you might imagine."
After hearing Shiroshi's somewhat hurried explanation, Rui's expression finally softened a bit.
Subsequently, Shiroshi also noticed the light blue kimono Rui was wearing, which happened to be the one he bought for her yesterday.
As a result, Shiroshi's expression became somewhat nuanced.
During their meal, he intentionally or unintentionally avoided looking at her, pretending as if nothing was amiss.
"I didn't wear this because of you."
Seeing Shiroshi notice the kimono she was wearing, Rui explained, fearing he might misunderstand.
"Huh?"
Pausing his eating, Shiroshi looked over with surprise.
"Don't jump to conclusions. It's just a coincidence that I happen to like the style and colors of this outfit."
"..."
"Also, I'm only wearing it now; I won't wear it during the New Year. Sorry for shattering your expectations."
"..."
I didn't say anything.
But upon hearing that she wouldn't wear the kimono during New Year, there was indeed a sense of emptiness in his heart.
Observing Rui slightly turning her head at this moment, not meeting his gaze directly, was she feeling... embarrassed?
He had thought he was the one who felt embarrassed when he handed her the kimono yesterday, but maybe Rui felt the same way?
With this realization, much of the agitation from last night and this morning subsided.
"Yeah, yeah, I understand."
"Good to know. I'm full."
Under Shiroshi's peculiar gaze, Rui placed down her chopsticks, took steady and graceful steps, and left the room.
After closing the door behind her, she leaned against it, lowered her head, her hair only partially covering her facial expressions, unable to conceal them completely.
Her ears had turned red.
...
At two o'clock in the afternoon,
As per their arrangement, Shiroshi went to meet with Ayane.
And the so-called "old place" referred to Shiroshi's original home, the house that was cleaned only a few times a year.
"Very punctual, Shiroshi-kun."
At the entrance of the apartment building, Ayane smiled as she saw Shiroshi arriving on time.
"Didn't you say we'd meet at two o'clock?"
"That's right."
"So, what do you want from me? I don't recall giving you any significant observation tasks recently. So, did something happen that made you deceive Rui and have me come out?"
Ayane might be able to deceive Rui with the excuse of an observation task, but she couldn't fool Shiroshi.
Because whether or not she had given Ayane any important observation tasks, Shiroshi himself knew very well.
Although he had assigned Ayane many observation tasks before, that was during the initial stages of the experiments when many things indeed required the Byakugan's observation.
Now that the research had progressed, standard experiments didn't require the Byakugan, and in areas he didn't understand, he didn't know how to use the Byakugan for observation.
So he believed that Ayane had come to see him for something else, not a supposed observation task.
"Can't I call you out unless there's something specific?"
"It's not like that. It just feels odd all of a sudden."
"I happened to be free today, so I wanted to invite you to go shopping together."
"Are you two coordinating this?"
Shiroshi commented.
Yesterday afternoon he was out shopping with Rui, and today it seemed like it was Ayane's turn.
If they both needed to go shopping or something, they might as well do it together on another day to save time.
"What?"
Ayane looked at Shiroshi in confusion.
"No, never mind, I'm just grumbling."
"If I'm bothering you, Shiroshi-kun, you can leave me alone. After all, work is more important."
Ayane winked at Shiroshi, understanding and sympathetic.
"No need, things have been going well at work lately. Plus, I'm not so busy as to leave you alone. I'm fine on my end."
If he were to leave just because of work at this moment, it would truly hurt her feelings.
Besides, there were those temporary assistants in the laboratory, and as long as they strictly followed his experimental procedures, conducting the experiments step by step, there wouldn't be any major issues.
"Is that so? That's even better."
"But, do you need to buy something?"
"Yes, recently, for some reason, I've been feeling a tightness in my chest. It's like the clothes I'm wearing inside might suddenly burst."
Ayane tugged at her neckline, casually saying these things in front of Shiroshi.
"Don't suddenly say something like that in front of me. I might take it seriously."
Really, one after another, they just don't make things easy for him.
Shiroshi sighed in resignation.
"So, are you planning to thoroughly examine me inside and out now, Dr. Shiroshi?"
Ayane gently brushed her bangs aside, her smile innocent and charming.
As she spoke these words, she didn't seem to realize how explosive her words were for a guy.
To some extent, Shiroshi considered Ayane more dangerous than Rui.
Blame it on the fact that he had set a poor example for her when she was a child.
Now she had learned to be mischievous in a very skilled manner.
When Shiroshi first met Ayane, she was a simple-minded and genuinely adorable girl. But since that incident, although she still appeared innocent and harmless on the surface, her true nature... had already turned quite mischievous.
If he had known this, he should have educated her in a different way.
Regret came too late now.
"No."
Shiroshi felt his heart suddenly race beyond his control. He momentarily withdrew his gaze from Ayane and adjusted his breathing slightly.
If he believed her words meant that she was a frivolous and casual person, he would certainly be at a disadvantage.
After all, she was a woman who, like him, excelled at disguise and deception.
Completely different from the traditional Hyuga clan ninja personality.
Seeing Shiroshi's refusal, Ayane just smiled and didn't say anything.
Next, Shiroshi followed Ayane's footsteps and began wandering around Konoha.
For Shiroshi, this was equivalent to taking a leisurely walk outside. He didn't understand why women suddenly became enthusiastic about shopping for no reason...
However, men and women had significant differences in their physiology and psychology, so he supposed this was a meaningful activity from that perspective.
Late August weather was always stiflingly hot. Even though the hottest time of the day had passed, the afternoon sun remained quite glaring.
The Land of Fire had distinct seasons, and the same was true for Konoha, the village within it.
Due to the ongoing war, there were hardly any active shinobi seen on the streets of Konoha. Apart from shinobi like Shiroshi, who were temporarily staying in the village for special reasons, there were those who indeed needed to remain behind to protect the village's safety.
From Shiroshi's perspective, the prosperity of Konoha was actually quite low, but relative to the broader ninja world environment, internal peace was already fortunate.
Ayane didn't have much to buy, mostly some decorative items that Shiroshi wasn't particularly interested in.
Watching Ayane pick and choose at the shops, she still looked incredibly cute even from the side.
Her skin was as fair as snow, and her straight black hair draped over her back. Under the sunlight, it gleamed with a deep black luster.
Shiroshi looked around, and then he saw a gray and white cat lazily lying on the opposite wall. Its lazy posture made it seem like it had just awakened from a sweet dream, lifting one of its front paws to lick.
It looked perfectly normal.
Shiroshi scratched his head and was about to step over when he heard Ayane's voice from behind, "What's wrong?"
"Ah, I was looking at the cat."
Shiroshi turned his head and replied.
"Cat?"
Following Shiroshi's gaze, Ayane looked over, but there was nothing on the opposite wall, and no sign of a cat.
"It's gone now."
Now it was trouble.
"Really, what's so interesting about cats?"
Ayane's tone was slightly annoyed.
"Why, do you dislike cats?"
"I wouldn't say I dislike them, but I'm not fond of them either. If we're talking about pets, dogs are better."
Shiroshi nodded. Indeed, he liked dogs more in general.
The Inuzuka clan had a ninja dog shop in the village. Because ninja dogs were much more expensive than regular pet dogs and their food was extravagant, few shinobi went to buy and adopt them.
Maybe he could go take a look sometime.
Ninja dogs... it sounded cool.
More importantly, dogs had sensitive noses. When necessary, they could be quite effective.
"Because dog meat tastes great, but cat meat doesn't."
Ayane added, as if she had done extensive research on the matter.
Upon hearing this, Shiroshi immediately dismissed the idea of getting a ninja dog.
He felt like the day he bought one, it would end up in Ayane's stomach.
"What's the next place you want to go to?"
Shiroshi asked.
"I want to buy some new clothes. I feel like I really need new ones every month now; they're getting too tight. It happened during the last mission as well. I felt a tightness in my chest."
Ayane gave a wry smile and patted her chest, which was already showing promising development.
"..."
Shiroshi didn't know how to respond.
He could only comply with Ayane's intention and accompany her to buy new clothes.
As they walked, Shiroshi began to sense that something wasn't quite right. This path... seemed like the same route he and Rui took yesterday.
Sure enough, the clothing store they had visited with Rui yesterday was right in front of them.
However, this time it wasn't Teacher Fujimura receiving them in the clothing store; instead, it was a young woman Shiroshi didn't recognize.
She had a petite figure, shoulder-length brown hair, and both her body and face were attractive.
Shiroshi recalled that Fujimura had mentioned yesterday that this was the store belonging to his current girlfriend. Could this woman be Fujimura's girlfriend?
After giving her a brief glance, Shiroshi didn't pay her much attention.
"Welcome. Please take your time to look around," the female shopkeeper said with a friendly smile.
"Sure, thank you," Ayane nodded at the shopkeeper and started browsing through the clothes.
"Oh, by the way, Shiroshi-kun, what color of underwear do you think I should wear?"
"Why are you asking me about this? Just buy the color you like."
Shiroshi turned his head away.
"So, is white better or black?"
Ayane stopped and looked like she was seriously contemplating.
"I said, if you like a color, then buy it. There's no need to take my opinion into account."
"In other words, Shiroshi-kun prefers other colors? Like light pink? Or perhaps a vibrant purple?"
"Where did you get the idea that I'm expressing an opinion?"
Shiroshi looked at Ayane in disbelief.
Ayane then looked perplexed and said, "But, you see, when we girls choose clothes, it's not always just for ourselves."
She then smiled with a hint of mischief.
"Okay, then white it is."
Shiroshi straightforwardly offered his opinion.
"Got it. Well then, white it is."
Ayane asked the shopkeeper to take down the set of underwear she liked and skillfully packaged it in a delicate bag.
Meanwhile, Shiroshi continued to look outside, this time not seeing any cats.
Suddenly, he felt a tap on his shoulder, and it was Ayane.
"Shiroshi-kun, are you spacing out again?"
"I was looking at a cat."
"And what do you think of my suggestion just now?"
Ayane looked at him with clear eyes.
"Suggestion? What suggestion?"
Perhaps he had missed something due to focusing on the cat, Shiroshi looked puzzled.
"My clothes from last New Year's are a bit small now. I wanted you to help me pick a new style."
New Year's? Another kimono?
Shiroshi felt a headache coming on.
The Hyuga clan, like the Uchiha clan, placed great emphasis on tradition.
Every New Year's, the women would wear highly formal kimonos, symbolizing the transition from the old to the new and participating in the clan's annual ceremony.
"Just pick whatever you like."
"But it's an important annual ceremony. How can I just pick randomly? But I do have my eye on a particular one."
Looking in the direction indicated by Ayane, Shiroshi saw a white kimono with pink cherry blossom patterns. At first glance, he thought it would look great on Ayane.
"That's pretty good. Let's go with that one."
This time, he wouldn't dare suggest buying such clothes as a gift for a girl.
"Shiroshi-kun thinks it's nice too? Then let's go with this one."
Ayane was thrilled and wanted the shopkeeper to take down the kimono she had chosen. However, suddenly, she clutched her stomach, looking uncomfortable.
"What's wrong?"
"Ate too much for lunch, and my stomach is hurting now. Sorry, can you wait here for a bit, Shiroshi-kun? I'll be back soon."
Shiroshi nodded without thinking much.
However, after half an hour passed without Ayane's return, Shiroshi furrowed his brow in concern.
The female shopkeeper had already packaged the kimono Ayane had chosen and put it aside with the underwear, waiting for her to come back and pay.
But... why did the shopkeeper's expression become increasingly odd?
Did she think they wouldn't pay?
As Shiroshi wondered why Ayane hadn't returned yet, a passerby walked in from outside and handed him a note, saying, "A little girl asked me to give this to you earlier."
After saying that, the passerby left.
"..."
Shiroshi suddenly had a bad feeling.
Opening the note, he read a message:
"I'm sorry, Shiroshi-kun. Someone from the clan suddenly needs me, and I have to go back. Could you please advance the money for the clothes? I'll repay you later. If possible, it would be even better if you could personally give me the clothes during the New Year celebration. I'll let you see me wearing it then.
...I actually fell for a trick?
That was Shiroshi's initial thought.
When did Ayane's tricks become so hard to see through?
He shouldn't have used that kind of approach to educate her in the first place.
Now it seemed like there was a problem.
Under the impatient gaze of the female shopkeeper, Shiroshi reluctantly paid for both pieces of clothing.
This finally cleared the tension on the shopkeeper's face, and she said, "Welcome to come again. You can enjoy a 10% discount next time."
Carrying the bag with the clothes, Shiroshi felt it weigh heavily.
He wasn't oblivious to Ayane's or even Rui's feelings.
For girls of their age, in the midst of their first romantic stirrings, it was natural to be concerned about things that boys wouldn't notice.
Their emotions were also very pure and straightforward.
However, Shiroshi believed that matters of the heart couldn't be forced; they had to happen naturally. And they couldn't be taken lightly; they had to be approached with caution.
The fondness they had might not necessarily be love; it could be another form of emotion.
This line of thinking might sound a bit conceited, but that's how Shiroshi saw love.
Everyone thought their love was unique, but in reality, it was just the same old story playing out over and over again.
Feeling this way, Shiroshi considered himself quite ordinary.
He used to feel troubled by this kind of thing, but now he sighed in his heart.
He wasn't just a normal twelve-year-old kid.
He had a mature soul, his own plans, and a deep understanding of his own life.
And these values might not align with Rui's or Ayane's in the future.
Shiroshi didn't want to let down anyone who cared about him.
Most importantly, they were too young...
He couldn't make a move.
Forging copper would never make a country strong, it would only land you in jail.
That wicked value system deeply constrained him.
Adapting to local customs was only in regard to certain matters.
The emotions of someone cherished were the last thing to play around with or trample upon.
(Chapter End)