Karin and Tenten quickly snatched up the spots on either side of Aoba, fussing over his condition.
But Sakura, a step behind, saw there was no place left for her. She bit her lip.
Then she shooed Isaribi off Aoba's lap and sat herself down.
"What!"
Karin's eyes almost popped out of her head. How did she not think of that?
Compared to Sakura, she suddenly felt like nothing more than a rookie soldier.
Tenten's little face tensed up, her bun bobbing as her small hands trembled with unease, proving just how unsettled she was inside.
Aoba could only smile helplessly. Glancing at Uzuki Yugao's still composed expression, he simply wrapped all three of them in his arms.
With his height now, the three girls, barely around one meter fifty, seemed like little birds nestled against him.
Even holding three at once didn't feel the least bit out of place.
All in all, that round of barbecue dragged on far too long, mainly because he hadn't been allowed a single bite of meat himself.
Luckily, neither Yakumo nor Anko, the bold veterans, were there at the table.
Otherwise, dinner would have lasted even longer.
At the doorstep, he kissed them each goodbye in turn.
———
By the time Aoba, Uzuki Yugao, and Karin headed home together, the house was bustling.
"Mm! Not enough sugar in this one."
"This one has too much flour."
"This one has too much milk."
"..."
"Mm, this one's fine, the proportions are just right. Just the taste is a little off."
"..."
Looking closer, they saw not only Konan, Yugito, and Kin, but also Tsunade, Shizune, and Uzumaki Kasui all gathered there.
"Teacher, what are you all doing?", Aoba asked curiously.
"Mm?", Tsunade had just stuffed a pastry into her mouth. She gave him only a brief glance.
"Your little maid, for some reason, baked a whole mountain of cakes. She couldn't finish them herself, so she invited us over to eat."
"Hm?"
Aoba raised a brow. He looked over the table piled high with desserts, then at the bashful Yugito standing nearby.
"I only told you to make a little. Why'd you make so much?"
Yugito's face reddened slightly. That afternoon, she had only meant to try a few batches following Aoba's advice.
But she kept going until evening, and by then there was far too much to eat.
Of course, there was no way she would admit that.
"Don't flatter yourself, I…I…"
"I was going to see Samui and the others tomorrow, so I wanted to bring them some cake."
"I-It's not like I made it for you."
She racked her brain for an excuse and finally pulled Samui's name out, but that last line sounded awfully suspicious.
"Is that so? Then I won't eat any. I just had dinner anyway."
Aoba said with a fake frown.
"You… I worked this hard on it, you're not allowed to refuse!"
Yugito bared her teeth at him.
The corner of Aoba's mouth curled up, "Then I suppose I'll force myself to try a little."
He picked up a piece and took a bite. Yugito, who had been baring her teeth just moments ago, couldn't help but show expectant eyes.
She herself didn't even realize it.
The other girls, however, looked on with odd expressions, gazing at Yugito with both surprise and pity.
This tsundere little cat had already been completely caught in Aoba's hands.
Tsunade found herself staring at him a bit longer, secretly sighing in her heart.
No wonder this brat dares let Yugito move about freely in Konoha—she's already been molded into his shape.
Yugao and the older sisters around wore looks of helpless resignation.
As for Kin, her eyes were full of conflict.
That Yugito… from the looks of it, she might also end up as one of their future mistresses.
But she used to clash with her all the time, would she get petty revenge later?
Karin, naturally, was filled with a sense of crisis.
This kind of mature big-sister type was nothing less than a lifelong enemy to a flat-chested little girl like her!
"The taste is much better than this afternoon's. You've improved a lot," Aoba praised sincerely.
"Hmph! It's just cake. For me, that's nothing."
Yugito crossed her arms, feigning indifference, but the smile tugging at her lips betrayed her mood.
After that, Aoba explained the reason for his change in appearance to Uzumaki Kasui and Kin.
Then he went and leaned into Kasui's soft embrace again.
In the end, only Karin's odd, jealous glare forced Kasui to let him go, saving Aoba from suffocating in that gentle haven.
The lively interlude came to an end.
Those who had to go home went home. Those who had to return to their rooms returned to their rooms.
———
"Aoba, have you contacted Mei Terumi lately?"
Yugao lay sprawled across his chest, lazily drawing circles with her finger.
Aoba shook his head, "Mei-nee hasn't reached out in a while either. She's probably busy with too many things over there."
"I'll check in on her later. Do you want to join me, Yugao-nee?"
Yugao shook her head without hesitation, "Go on your own. I'm tired."
She had only asked on a whim, as if something was missing.
"Alright then."
———
[Kirigakure, Inside the Mizukage's Office]
Even though it was already late at night, Mei Terumi still sat at her desk, sighing as she flipped through documents.
When her eyes grew tired, she leaned back in her chair and closed them.
She imagined someone standing behind her, massaging her shoulders.
But that boy who used to massage her was no longer by her side.
Since she became Mizukage, her work had never stopped.
First, cleaning up the aftermath of the Bloody Mist, patching up the mess left by that nearly-dead bastard Yagura. Then came the joint economic zone with Konoha.
She was like a spinning top, unable to rest for even a moment.
So much so that she didn't even dare reach out to him, afraid that if she fell into that gentle trap, she'd never get free again.
But even if she didn't contact him, that little bastard hadn't once come to see her.
He must have been sucked dry by Yugao, Konan, and the others!
"What's wrong? Why the long face?"
No
Just as she was silently grumbling, a familiar voice sounded in the room.
Mei's eyes shot open almost instinctively, her joy plain to see, "Aoba!"
Aoba walked up to her, casually ruffling her curly hair, "Mei-nee, I came to see you."
Mei's heart soared, though her expression showed doubt, "Aoba, how come you suddenly look older?"
Aoba pinched her smooth cheek with his fingers, explaining the reason.
Mei listened in silence. At last, she buried her face into his palm.
Then she stood up, pressed Aoba down into the Mizukage's seat, her slender fingers brushing down from his chest before resting lightly atop his head.
"There's no bed here… so this will have to do."
"Huh?"
Before Aoba could react, Mei had already drifted off to sleep.
"Really now… why do you smell so much like Yugao?"
"This…"
Aoba scratched his head awkwardly, not sure what to say.
He had washed quite thoroughly before leaving, honestly.
———
Meanwhile, outside Kirigakure—
A masked man silently appeared on the branch of a massive tree.
Staring down at the village, his single crimson eye glimmered with a dark, heavy light.
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