"Isaribi, your stamina really isn't enough."
Anko lay on her side, speaking teasingly.
"N-Nee-san, what are you saying? Don't just say things like that so casually!"
Even though she had just been studying with her, and under her guidance had learned quite a few new things,
Isaribi was still the same as always. If it wasn't during study time, she would get shy easily.
She could never be as… unrestrained as Anko, who dared to say anything without hesitation.
"Besides, I didn't lose to you just now."
But even though she was shy, there were still some things Isaribi refused to back down on when it came to Anko.
"Heh! That's only because Aoba saw you were running out of energy and took special care of you. That's the only reason you managed to keep up at the end. Anyway, your stamina is nowhere near mine!"
For example, right now, Anko could easily roll over and start another battle with Aoba on another "battlefield."
She only held back because she didn't want to scare Isaribi.
Meanwhile, Isaribi could only lie there limply.
"That's not true, it's just because your technique isn't good, so you missed your timing," Isaribi pouted.
Anko's endurance might be impressive, but she had all that talent and only knew how to waste it.
Unlike herself, she knew how to coordinate, how to make it easier and smoother.
"I, that was…", This time, Anko was the one flustered by Isaribi's words.
"Oh, I see, Isaribi. So all that shyness of yours is just an act, huh? Didn't expect you to have so many naughty thoughts hidden inside."
As expected of a secretly wild little sister.
"That's still better than you, just now you actually tried to…"
Isaribi's face turned bright red, Anko had actually tried to make her open up another "route."
That was way too much.
Thankfully Aoba had stopped her in time. Otherwise, who knew what would've happened to her.
"All right, all right."
Seeing that the two seemed about to start arguing for real, Aoba hurriedly stepped in to mediate.
After living together for a year, Isaribi's personality had become more and more open.
Still, Isaribi only argued back verbally. If they really got physical, Anko could suppress her with one hand.
"You two haven't had lunch yet, right? Hungry?"
"Hungry!"
Anko answered quickly.
There had been enough food earlier. If she'd eaten alone, she would've been full. But Isaribi just had to fight her for it, and in the end neither of them got to eat.
They had burned more energy than they had replaced.
Isaribi silently nodded too.
She was usually the one who cooked, but right now she really had no strength left.
"Then I'll make you something to eat."
Saying that, Aoba squeezed out from between them and started putting on his clothes.
"Mm."
Anko nodded, but then her expression suddenly brightened with realization, "Oh, right, you should check if Kurenai's still here."
"?"
Half-dressed, Aoba froze with a face full of question marks.
He instantly activated his sensory ninjutsu. And sure enough, there was a chakra presence in the next room.
He'd really let his guard down.
The corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily.
Because of Anko's habits, and because his relationship with Isaribi was already what it was, he hadn't bothered setting up a barrier inside the house this time, just a larger permanent one around the outside.
He never expected that besides the three of them, there would be a fourth person present.
Yuhi Kurenai had definitely heard everything.
Looked like from now on, he'd better start scanning with sensory ninjutsu every time he came home.
"Nee-san Anko… you didn't do that on purpose, did you?"
"Mhm."
Anko's face showed a smug expression, "That Kurenai called me a shameless homewrecker last night, so I just thought. Fine then, I'll do it openly, right in front of her."
"…", Aoba didn't even know what to say.
"Aoba, I'm doing this for you, you know."
Anko gave him a teasing look.
"Kurenai definitely has feelings for you. She just can't bring herself to make the first move. What she needs is a little push. Don't you think, after hearing all that noise and still not leaving the room, she's doing something in there?"
Before Aoba could answer, Isaribi, who was already embarrassed that someone had overheard everything, blushed even harder, burying her face completely under the blanket.
Anko mischievously yanked the blanket away, "Looks like our Isaribi's quite the experienced one, huh?"
"N-Nee-san!"
Unable to hide her embarrassment, Isaribi curled up on the bed.
Aoba honestly didn't know how to respond.
"I'll… go make lunch first."
He left the room after saying that.
Inside, Anko finally showed her true colors to Isaribi.
"Little Isaribi, you were awfully bold just now, weren't you?"
"N-Nee-san?"
Isaribi shrank back a little, looking up at Anko nervously. She didn't even have the strength to resist anymore.
"Kehehe! And now, there's no one to save you."
———
After leaving Anko's room, Aoba glanced toward the adjacent room where Yuhi Kurenai was.
From what he sensed earlier, she was lying on the bed… Various images flashed through his mind.
Curious, Aoba quietly pushed open the door to Kurenai's room.
He heard a faint rustling sound, but by the time he stepped inside, everything had gone silent again.
Kurenai was still lying under the covers, even her head buried.
Aoba could clearly smell the lingering scent of alcohol in the air, and faintly, a light, delicate fragrance.
He knew perfectly well what that scent was.
Softly, he stepped closer.
The calm rhythm of breathing under the blanket suddenly went erratic for a moment.
"Hiding your face like that, aren't you afraid you'll suffocate?"
Aoba murmured softly, then gently tugged the blanket down just a little, revealing Kurenai's face, flushed and almost too beautiful in its redness.
Her messy, softly curled hair only added a touch of fragile allure.
The only imperfection was that strong scent of alcohol.
Although her eyes were still closed, her breathing was completely uneven.
She really didn't want to face him.
Aoba wondered idly. If he did whatever he wanted right now, would she really just keep pretending to sleep?
Thinking that, he slowly reached out his hand toward her.
Kurenai's brows furrowed, but she didn't move.
However, all Aoba did was brush aside the strands of hair stuck to her cheek, then turned around and left the room.
Clearly, this wasn't the right moment.
"Phew!"
As soon as Aoba left, Kurenai instantly sat up, exhaling a deep breath.
She'd honestly thought that scoundrel of a student was about to have his way with her.
Who would've guessed he'd just fix her hair and walk off?
"Sigh~", Kurenai let out a long sigh, then lay back down again.
She wiped casually at the blanket, then rolled onto her side, staring blankly at the ceiling.
If Aoba had really tried to do something to her just now… what would she have done?
Keep pretending to sleep and let him do as he pleased?
Or wake up, put up a token resistance, and still let him do as he pleased afterward?
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