He couldn't help but study Chiri more closely.
She was wearing an exquisitely tailored kimono, its gentle colors and flowing lines like a painting of springtime cherry blossoms brought to life—radiant and enchanting.
The sash around her waist was tightly tied, accentuating her slender figure and highlighting her graceful curves.
Her silhouette, faintly visible through the layers of fabric, exuded a reserved yet elegant beauty.
Her cheeks, flushed with shyness, added a layer of allure to her already striking appearance.
That delicate blush was like the morning glow brushing against the rising sun—soft and tender, stirring a sense of affection.
Her eyes were lowered, avoiding direct eye contact with Hikaru, yet every so often, she would sneak glances at him, her gaze full of both bashfulness and hope. It made his heart race.
Hikaru found himself entranced by the sight, watching her like a fool until Chiri's cheeks turned an even deeper crimson, drawing him back to his senses.
To break the awkward silence, he coughed lightly, trying to cover his momentary lapse.
"So... Chiri, was there something you needed?"
Chiri lifted her head, her eyes full of shy anticipation as they met his.
She didn't speak.
Instead, she gently closed the door behind her—and layered a sealing technique over it.
Hikaru raised an eyebrow at the action. Now he fully understood what she was thinking.
And yet, he still found it hard to believe. For Chiri to take the initiative like this—it was bold, to say the least.
By the time she finished, Chiri had already made her way to the edge of the hot spring.
She slipped off her kimono, revealing porcelain-white skin, and gracefully entered the water.
Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath, steadying her thoughts.
The two of them sat in the spring in silence, surrounded by a soft, comforting tranquility.
Time itself seemed to pause, broken only by the gentle ripples stirred by the breeze across the water's surface.
Eventually, Chiri gathered her courage and broke the silence.
Opening her eyes, she stared directly into Hikaru's, her voice trembling slightly.
"Hikaru-kun… Did you know? When I was little… I really hated you. Grandpa always talked about you in front of me. It felt like you were stealing all his affection."
She paused, organizing her swirling thoughts.
"But over the years… I started falling in love with you. I can't live without you now."
By the time she finished, her face was as red as a ripened apple, overcome with shyness.
Her gaze turned dreamy, carrying a mesmerizing charm that tugged at the heart.
Hikaru simply looked at her in silence.
His quietness made Chiri's heart sink. Her face paled, and her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.
Just when she thought he was going to reject her, his expression softened.
"Are you really not going to regret this? Giving yourself to me… like this?"
As soon as she heard that, Chiri lunged forward and embraced him tightly.
Then, in the warmth of the hot spring, the two began reciting verses together:
"I alone pity the lonely grass growing by the stream,
Above, orioles sing in the deep branches unseen.
The spring tide swells with rain, rushing in the dusk,
At the empty ferry, a boat lies adrift—no one aboard."
…
Meanwhile, Tsunade and the others were watching Chiri's shadow clone with puzzled expressions, a faint unease settling over them.
"You're not sneaking off, are you?" Tsunade asked suspiciously.
Chiri's clone immediately shook her head in denial, replying firmly,
"Of course not. Didn't we agree? The winner of this year's spar gets the right."
Despite the reassurance, Tsunade remained skeptical.
Lately, they had been debating who would claim Hikaru's first time, finally deciding that the winner of the year's spar would receive the right.
But Chiri's recent behavior had raised eyebrows.
She blushed for no reason, spaced out frequently—it was a stark contrast to her usual calm and collected demeanor.
Today, however, she was eerily composed. That alone made Tsunade even more suspicious.
Narrowing her eyes, Tsunade stared hard at Chiri's clone, trying to glean something from her expression.
"So? Are you really ready for it?" she prodded further.
Chiri's clone smiled softly and nodded.
"Of course. I'm fully prepared. I'll give it everything I've got this year."
"...Let's hope so."
Tsunade responded coolly, though a trace of doubt still lingered in her gaze.
From then on, Tsunade and the others kept a closer watch on Chiri's every move.
Though she acted normal on the surface, there was a subtle look in her eyes, like she was holding back a secret.
Nonō Yakushi's eyes suddenly lit up. Something clicked in her mind.
Without hesitation, she grabbed the kunai in her hand—and stabbed toward Chiri.
Chiri stared in shock as the shadow clone instantly dispersed into a wisp of smoke.
At the same moment, the real Chiri, immersed in her poetry session with Hikaru, faltered slightly—but quickly recovered, continuing her rhythm seamlessly.
Tsunade, Nonō, and Hinata stood silently, staring at where the clone had disappeared.
"That sneaky cat!" Tsunade was the first to speak, irritation in her voice.
"She broke the agreement and ran off on her own!"
Nonō, always the more composed one, adjusted her glasses and offered an analysis:
"It might already be too late. We need to consider our next move."
Suddenly, Hinata spoke, her cheeks flushed and her voice stammering:
"W-What if... we all go back... together? That way, it'll be the first time for all of us..."
Her words dropped like a bomb.
Tsunade and Nonō turned to her with wide, disbelieving eyes.
Hinata, under their sharp gazes, let out a soft squeak of embarrassment—shocked by her own boldness.
And yet, her unexpected suggestion made the other two pause and consider it seriously.
After a brief silence, Tsunade spoke first.
"Honestly, Hinata's got a point. Are we really going to just sit here and let that sneaky cat get her way?"
Nonō and Hinata both instinctively shook their heads. No—they couldn't accept that outcome.
And so, they made their decision.
Together, the three of them returned.
Tsunade snorted as she looked at the seal on the wooden door—but then her expression changed as faint noises reached her ears, bringing a flush to her cheeks.
Trembling slightly, she reached out and dispelled the seal.
Taking a deep breath, she slid the door open.
The noise startled Hikaru and Chiri mid-verse. They turned toward the source, confused.
Tsunade stared at the scene before her, her pupils dilating. But she quickly composed herself, pretending to be casual.
"Hmph! Can't let you sneak away like that now, can we?"
Behind her, Nonō and Hinata were equally stunned by what they saw.
At Tsunade's words, they unconsciously nodded in agreement.
And then—without hesitation—they joined in on the poetry session.