The night breeze whispered through the trees as I turned away from Monaka's house, the soft glow of moonlight guiding my steps back to the forest. When I reached my modest dwelling and rested my hand on the door, a faint, sweet scent tickled my nostrils, distinct from Monaka's gentle fragrance. My heightened senses, honed to a sharp 201 points, caught the anomaly immediately, like a bloodhound tracing a trail.
I pushed the door open, my eyes adjusting to the dim interior where a small figure sat shrouded in shadow, illuminated only by a sliver of moonlight. The hooded silhouette, unmistakably a female ninja, sat motionless, her presence as subtle as a whisper in the dark. "What do you want, Shinobuko?" I called, my voice steady despite the intrusion.
The darkness stirred, her voice low and sharp. "You bastard," she hissed, ignoring my question as she rose soundlessly, her small frame barely disturbing the air. "What are you? An unemployed dropout, yet I saw you catch Monaka-sama midair with the 'Izunaslow' technique—a skill I've trained my whole life to master and still haven't grasped."
I leaned against the doorframe, unfazed. "Peeping, were you? That's a bold move, sneaking into my house to accuse me." Shinobuko's eyes glinted beneath her hood, her tone unwavering. "Don't play dumb. How does a nobody like you wield such a technique? Explain yourself, degozaru."
"Just luck, I suppose," I said, keeping my tone light, but her patience snapped. With a dramatic flourish, she raised both hands in a battle pose, her short arms making her look like a feisty chick puffing up its feathers. I couldn't help but chuckle. "What's this? Practicing for the forest squirrel dance?"
"Nin! Mockery won't save you, degozaru!" Shinobuko lunged, her movements swift and precise, a testament to her lifelong ninja training. But with my agility at 201, she might as well have been moving in slow motion. I sidestepped effortlessly, her hands grasping at empty air as she stumbled with a surprised "oops."
"You're the first to dodge my 'Tomoe Nage' since the chieftain," she gasped, her small face trembling with shock. "No matter how many times you try, it's pointless," I said, dodging another flurry of attacks with ease, my endurance—also at 201—keeping my breath steady while she began to pant.
Shinobuko's frustration boiled over, her attacks growing frantic, each one a desperate leap like a flying squirrel diving for prey. "You're a monster, degozaru!" she cried, her voice cracking as she lunged again. I caught her just before she hit the floor, my arms wrapping around her petite frame as she let out a startled "Mug!" and buried her face in my chest.
Her hands clutched my shirt, her upturned eyes a mix of defiance and embarrassment. "I've caught you at last," she mumbled, misinterpreting my rescue as her own triumph. Then, her voice faltered, tinged with panic. "You're not planning to use… 'bochujutsu' on me, are you? Or on Monaka-sama?"
I blinked, confused. "Bochu-what?" Her face flushed as she struggled to pronounce the word, her tongue tripping over "bochujutsu" until it came out as a flustered "bochu-chu." Finally, she blurted, "You're kissing everyone—first Monaka-sama, now me!" I placed a hand on her head, trying to calm her. "You've got it all wrong. Monaka's a childhood friend. I'd never hurt her—or you."
Her wide eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, she froze. Then, with a sudden kaaaahhh!, her face turned crimson, and she yanked her hood over her eyes, wrenching herself from my grasp. "Nin nin nin! I'll let you off today, degozaru!" she squeaked, her voice a mix of embarrassment and bravado. "But next time, we settle this!" With that, she vaulted through the window and vanished into the night.
I watched her go, the forest swallowing her shadow as a faint shimmer of stardust enveloped me. Another level up? I hadn't done anything extraordinary—just made a few girls blush. Shaking my head, I stepped inside, the faint sweet scent of Shinobuko's presence lingering like a question unanswered in the moonlight.