They finished their lunch in a relaxed, cheerful atmosphere.
Kushina was washing the dishes while Kei Yamanaka sat by the dining table, resting his cheek in one hand as he watched her bustle about.
This kind of scene wasn't particularly romantic.
Yet, for the first time in over ten years, he felt a sense of home. It was strange—this feeling of belonging in a world that still felt unfamiliar, yet oddly familiar.
"Kushina?"
"Eh?"
"Nothing. I just wanted to call your name."
"Well then... Kei?"
"Kushina."
"Kei."
"Kushina."
"Kei, pfft—goo goo goo goo goo!"
Kushina had lost count of how many times she'd burst into that silly, goose-like laughter that afternoon—but here she was again, clutching her stomach with laughter.
She didn't even know why doing such childish things could make her laugh so happily.
But every time Kei called her name, her heart soared with delight.
After putting the washed bowls and chopsticks back in the cupboard,
Kushina dried her hands and hung the apron on a hook by the kitchen wall.
When she turned around, Kei was gone.
???
Hearing the sound of things being rummaged through in the study, Kushina curiously approached the door.
Looking inside, she saw open drawers, a bankbook tossed carelessly aside, secret technique scrolls scattered on the floor, and Kei still frantically searching through everything. She asked, puzzled.
"Did you lose something?"
"...Maybe it's my heart?"
"Huh? Cheesy love line! But it sounds sweet—I like hearing it."
"Hahaha—"
Putting down the various random items he had collected over the years, Kei couldn't help but laugh too.
Once they stopped laughing, he looked at Kushina, leaning slightly against the doorway wearing casual home clothes and exuding effortless grace. He spoke softly.
"At first, I wanted to find something worthy enough to offer you before confessing—something meaningful to ask you to be my girlfriend."
"And then...?"
Kushina gasped softly, suddenly realizing what was coming. Her heart raced with nervous anticipation.
Even though just being together with Kei already made her feel incredibly happy,
like any girl, she secretly hoped for a formal confession—one that would make their bond real and official.
"But I realized nothing could truly match you, so... I'm giving my happiness to you. Kushina, will you be my girlfriend?"
"Yes!"
Kushina nodded eagerly, clearly overwhelmed with joy, yet tears streamed down her cheeks, beyond her control.
Earlier, Nara Shikaku had told her that Kei held every emotion close to his heart, treating them all seriously and carefully.
It was exactly this seriousness and caution that initially made him seem emotionally distant when faced with family, friendship, or love.
Perhaps because he feared lies, perhaps fearing loss, or maybe afraid of betrayal.
With a guy like Kei, the first step might make him retreat, the second could confuse him.
But once you took the third or fourth steps forward, he would cast aside all hesitation and run straight to you.
Shikaku Big Bro, I did it! Kei-kun is running toward me...
Kei Yamanaka swept Kushina into his arms and spun her around, one hand wrapped firmly around her slim waist.
"Whoa~ Kushina, congrats on finally landing a boyfriend!"
"Pfft~ You always crack me up right when I'm trying to be serious."
"Nothing beats your smile!"
"Haha~ Same to you then—congrats on scoring yourself a girlfriend!"
"Hahaha~ Winner winner!"
"Honk honk honk honk honk~"
"Keep that up and we'll have a full-blown zoo in here."
"Hey! I'm not a goose!"
Kushina playfully punched Kei Yamanaka's chest. Behind the tears glistening in her eyes was an unfamiliar sense of deep satisfaction and happiness.
She rose onto her toes and looped her arms around Kei's neck.
Kei Yamanaka instantly knew what this posture meant.
Without hesitation, he bent down and kissed her deeply.
Before, Kushina never understood why couples in movies couldn't stop kissing when they were head over heels in love.
Now, she finally kind of got it.
This was the purest form of passionate love—it said "I want to stay with you forever" a million times over.
...
"Twenty-one! Winner winner! Hahaha! Pay up everyone who lost—time to cough up! Hahaha!"
Tsunade's excited voice came from outside the room.
Snapping back to reality, Kushina suddenly noticed two buttons on her collar had come undone, and even her belt had been half-unfastened.
"U-Ugh, Tsunade-nee's still right outside!"
"Guess we should wait till she leaves?"
Smiling, Kei Yamanaka pulled Kushina back into his embrace as she hurriedly fixed her clothes.
After taking a couple of playful punches to the chest, he started running his fingers through her silky hair, its soft scent filling the air between them, and asked the question he'd almost forgotten earlier.
"Kushina, how did Big Bro Shikaku and Big Bro Hayato manage to calm you down after those rumors spread?"
"...Do I really have that bad a temper? Hehe~ Ask Big Bro Hayato yourself. I won't tell you."
Pouting slightly, Kushina buried her face against Kei Yamanaka's chest as she recalled past events.
Actually, there hadn't been any need for Big Bro Shikaku to talk her down regarding those rumors.
It was her own realization of Kei's changes that made her unable to hold back anymore. Worried about the obstacles ahead, she took the initiative to seek help from Hayato, head of the Yamanaka Clan.
Then, Big Bro Hayato brought her straight to see Big Bro Shikaku.
Which kicked off all the rumors and a whole bunch of so-called 'proof' backing them up.
"Okay okay, you've got the best temper, hahaha..."
Kei Yamanaka didn't push further—he could just ask Hayato Yamanaka later if Kushina wasn't comfortable telling him.
"You annoyingly charming pain in the neck."
Muttering under her breath, Kushina hugged her hard-won lover even tighter.
"By the way, why is Tsunade at our place?"
"A few days ago, Tsunade-nee came back to the village and found me to borrow money again. Hehe~ So I gave her the exact same speech you taught me last time. Then she insisted on waiting here with me for you, so we came together."
"Should I actually thank her for dragging you here? By the way, have you packed your clothes and daily necessities already?"
"N-No."
"Do you want me to come back with you now and help you pack?"
"Okay."
Kushina's cheeks flushed again.
Though she was always bold, she was still a girl at heart. When things actually reached this point, she naturally felt shy.
Both were people who acted first and asked questions later.
They put on their shoes and walked out of the room.
Looking at Tsunade, whose face kept shifting between anger and flushed excitement, Kushina asked, slightly concerned.
"Kei, do you think Tsunade-oneesan will be alright like this?"
"She'll be fine. Though it's an A-ranked genjutsu, Tsunade quickly realized it was an illusion because of the chakra leakage from her Yin Seal."
"Eh? Then how did..."
"She probably noticed that forcefully breaking the genjutsu might shock her mind. Later on, she simply didn't want to wake up herself. Gambling City would be completely irresistible to a notorious gambler like her."
"You mean like Shortcake Street?"
"Similar concept. Actually, I created the setting myself using genjutsu..."
Kei Yamanaka gave a rough description of what the Gambling City looked like.
Although he hadn't visited any real world-famous gambling cities in his previous life, he had watched movies and played penguin games!
Within his Memory Palace, all kinds of movie scenes mixed with various gaming platforms.
blackjack, baccarat, Russian roulette, horse racing, golden flower poker, mahjong, upgrading, Chinese poker (Guandan), cow cow, fishing arcade games...
Faced with such dazzling variety, it would've been strange if Tsunade hadn't fallen for it.
Plus, within the genjutsu space, Tsunade wasn't bound by the [Reverse Gambling King] effect.
She wouldn't only lose without winning, nor would winning money cause accidents.
For someone as notoriously unlucky as her, even losing more often than winning felt like paradise.
Genjutsu?
Pfft.
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