At first, it seemed like just another ordinary day.
After finishing his usual work, Aoba got off half an hour early and took Otsutsuki Kaguya for a simple walk around Konoha.
They just strolled around and ate a few things.
After all, if Aoba didn't take her out, Otsutsuki Kaguya really had no desire to leave the house at all.
Even though she had been sealed away for such a long time, she had no longing for the outside world beyond eating and reading.
And both of those could be satisfied at home.
In that regard, she was somewhat different from Uchiha Hikari.
It might have something to do with how she lived before being sealed.
After all, before being sealed away, Otsutsuki Kaguya had basically already been a shut-in.
As for Uchiha Hikari, she had never truly had freedom of her own.
That was probably why she behaved differently after her seal was removed.
Of course, it could also be because Otsutsuki Kaguya still wasn't very familiar with Fu and the others.
Fu and Hikari still had to go to school. Maybe things would improve after they got to know each other better during vacation.
Up to that point, everything was still part of an ordinary day.
It wasn't until dinner that something unusual appeared.
"Kurenai, are you not feeling well today?"
Tsunade looked at Yuhi Kurenai with concern.
Usually, Kurenai would have a drink with her at dinner, but tonight she unexpectedly put her cup away.
It wasn't that Tsunade insisted on her drinking. It was just that when someone who always did something out of habit suddenly stopped, it naturally made people wonder if something was wrong physically or emotionally.
"I'm okay, I guess. I've been feeling a little off these past couple of days..."
Yuhi Kurenai seemed hesitant to continue.
The equally concerned Aoba suddenly remembered something.
"Come to think of it, these past few days should be around the time for Kurenai-nee's monthly cycle."
"..."
Yuhi Kurenai immediately shot him an annoyed look.
Having something like that said out loud was still embarrassing, but the actual situation was a little different.
At that moment, quite a few people looked at Aoba strangely.
"?"
Aoba blinked.
"What?"
"You sure keep track of those dates well, kid," Tsunade rolled her eyes at him.
"What's strange about that? I remember yours too, Sensei."
Aoba replied without the slightest modesty.
How could he not know?
He checked every night.
"..."
Tsunade and the others were speechless.
"You don't believe me?"
Aoba raised an eyebrow.
"I can list them one by one. Yugao-nee is later than Kurenai-nee by—Mmph!"
Before he could finish even the first sentence, someone stuffed a piece of meat into his mouth.
"Just eat," Uzuki Yugao said irritably.
"Mmph! Mmph!"
Aoba could only make muffled sounds.
Yuhi Kurenai and the others couldn't help laughing when they saw that.
"Still, Kurenai, you should let that brat examine you tonight."
After laughing, Tsunade reminded Yuhi Kurenai.
Even though that time of the month was a little special, it didn't really affect a ninja's body that much.
It certainly shouldn't make someone feel unwell.
She had still been drinking before without any problems.
There had to be another reason.
Tsunade could examine Yuhi Kurenai herself, but judging by Kurenai's attitude, it was better to leave it to that unreliable disciple.
"Mm."
Yuhi Kurenai nodded with a smile, looking perfectly normal.
However, after everyone finished talking about the topic, Otsutsuki Kaguya, who had been quietly listening, suddenly spoke with a puzzled expression.
"The thing you were talking about... what thing is that?"
She had listened with great interest to the conversations over the past few days, but today's topic suddenly left her confused.
"It's actually that thing..."
Fu quickly leaned over and whispered an explanation into her ear.
"Oh~"
Otsutsuki Kaguya showed a look of understanding, "You mean the uncomfortable days girls have every month in novels, right?"
"Mm-hmm!"
The example from novels was a little strange, but it was technically correct.
It wasn't surprising that Otsutsuki Kaguya used that comparison, because she apparently didn't experience such days herself.
That didn't mean she didn't know what to do, though.
Based on all the manga and novels she had read, the most common answer was...
She looked at Yuhi Kurenai and said seriously, "Drink more hot water!"
"..."
Yuhi Kurenai opened her mouth.
For a moment, everyone at the table almost lost it.
The main reason was that Otsutsuki Kaguya still had her usual cool expression when she said it.
The contrast was a little too much.
"Th... thank you."
In the end, Yuhi Kurenai still thanked her with pursed lips.
"Mm..."
Otsutsuki Kaguya tilted her head.
Even though she was being thanked, something felt a little strange.
It was the same in the manga. Although the method was supposedly correct, many people seemed to dislike it.
After thinking about it, she decided to ask Aoba later.
———
After a dinner filled with laughter, everyone returned to their own rooms.
Naturally, Aoba immediately went to find Yuhi Kurenai.
Her suddenly feeling unwell really was a little strange, so he came to check on her.
The moment he appeared, Yuhi Kurenai threw herself into his arms.
"Kurenai-nee?"
Holding her, Aoba became even more confused, "I wasn't telling the truth earlier. That... that thing didn't come. It might not come anymore..."
Yuhi Kurenai said somewhat shyly.
"Huh?"
"I mean, I might have one!"
"Wh... what?"
Aoba's mind froze for a moment. He thought he had heard wrong.
Yuhi Kurenai didn't look like she was joking.
"I might be pregnant!"
Seeing how completely lost he looked, Yuhi Kurenai's embarrassment instantly disappeared. She pinched his cheek with some annoyance.
"?"
Aoba was full of question marks. His mind went blank, and he blurted out unconsciously, "Re... really?"
"Whether it's real or not, can't you check for me?"
Yuhi Kurenai grabbed his hand irritably and placed it on her stomach. She wasn't skilled in medical ninjutsu, so she couldn't be sure herself.
"Oh, right."
Aoba quickly used chakra to examine her.
A moment later, he stood frozen in place.
'It seems...'
'It is real...'