When Kiyohara came in, he noticed that Nohara Rin hadn't realized he had entered.
Her head was lowered, and her fingers were lightly tracing the rim of her teacup.
There were also two popsicles on the table.
Rin had just bought them from the little shop at the street corner. They were dango-flavored, wrapped in a thin layer of paper.
The edges had already started to melt. A pale pink droplet slid down the wrapper and soaked into the tabletop.
Rin picked one up, tore open the wrapper, and took a small bite.
The coldness melted across her tongue. She licked her lips, then took another bite.
She had put on lipstick before coming out—a very light shade of pink—and now it had left a faint lip mark on the popsicle.
"Rin."
Kiyohara greeted her.
She had come pretty early today.
She was wearing a small dress, the hem falling all the way to her ankles. Only when she moved could you faintly glimpse the calves beneath, wrapped in white stockings.
Kiyohara gave them a glance and found the curve of her calves pleasantly soft and shapely.
After thinking about it, he decided that was perfectly normal.
There were very few female ninja with poor figures.
Mitarashi Anko was a special case. She had retired from the front lines and moved into a support role.
As a Ninja Academy teacher, she no longer needed to maintain intensive physical training, and she also loved sweets and other high-calorie foods. That was why she had gained so much weight.
Still, Kiyohara figured that if Anko trained seriously for half a year, she could slim down again easily enough.
At its core, chakra use meant mixing spiritual energy with physical energy—stamina. The more chakra one refined, the more the body consumed, leaving almost no room to store excess fat.
Of course, nothing was absolute.
The Akimichi clan possessed the special ability—or rather, the secret technique—to store large amounts of fat and convert it into chakra, passing it down through generations as part of their clan tradition.
Hearing Kiyohara's voice, Rin looked up, still with the popsicle in her mouth.
"Kiyohara-kun…"
She called his name a little unclearly, then hurriedly pulled the popsicle out of her mouth.
The lip mark on it grew more obvious, and pink sugar syrup dripped down the wooden stick onto her fingers.
Kiyohara sat down across from her.
"Have you been waiting long?"
"No, no."
Rin shook her head and held up the popsicle in her hand.
"I was just… eating this."
Kiyohara looked at the popsicle in her hand, then at the faint bit of pink syrup still lingering at the corner of her mouth.
"Is it good?"
"It's okay. Just a little too sweet…"
As she spoke, she unconsciously licked the corner of her mouth.
Her small tongue lightly swept across her lips, taking away the syrup there. Between the sugar and the lipstick, her lips looked especially soft and glossy.
Pink and delicate, with that softness unique to a young woman.
Kiyohara's gaze lingered on her lips for a moment before moving away.
Then Rin picked up the other popsicle on the table.
"This one's for you, Kiyohara-kun."
She said it because this was the time they used to come here together fairly often.
So Rin had deliberately timed things and bought the popsicles early.
Fortunately, Kiyohara was punctual. The popsicles hadn't melted much before he arrived.
"Give it to me."
Kiyohara held out his hand.
Rin blinked, then passed him the popsicle she was holding.
Kiyohara took it and bit into it.
It really was a bit too sweet—sweet enough to feel cloying.
A few bites later, he had already finished it.
Looking at the popsicle Rin still hadn't finished, he asked:
"Is it cold?"
Rin froze for a second, then nodded.
"A little. It kind of makes my teeth hurt."
Seeing that, Kiyohara reached over and took the popsicle from her hand.
Then, before she could even react, he bit into the spot where her lipstick mark was.
Rin's face flushed faintly.
"Kiyohara-kun…"
"Hmm?"
"Are… are you kind of a pervert…"
Rin said in a small voice.
She had just been eating that herself.
"Do I look like that kind of person?"
Kiyohara shook his head.
They had already kissed before. Eating the same popsicle hardly counted as being weird.
"I mean… I already ate that…"
Her fingers unconsciously curled together.
"I just didn't want to waste it. Or are you saying you dislike me?"
Kiyohara said this, then took another bite.
There was only the last little piece left now, with a trace of pink syrup still clinging to the stick.
"No, no."
Rin hurriedly waved her hands.
It wasn't that she disliked Kiyohara. If anything, she was afraid Kiyohara might dislike her.
Still, as she watched him finish off the popsicle, she couldn't shake the feeling that something about this was a little strange.
"The meat's here."
Kiyohara's voice pulled her back to reality.
Rin, interrupted mid-thought, looked up and saw a server approaching with a tray. On it were several plates of sliced beef and pork belly, along with a plate of fresh vegetables.
"Hokage-sama, please enjoy."
The server had clearly seen Kiyohara before and served the dishes with obvious respect.
"Thanks."
Kiyohara nodded in acknowledgment.
The charcoal beneath the grill was already glowing red. Every so often, a spark would jump up and flash briefly in the air before going out.
Kiyohara picked up a slice of pork belly with his tongs and laid it on the grill.
The moment the meat touched the metal, it let out a sharp sizzle. White fat began to seep out, bubbling through the grill in tiny beads.
He turned it over with the tongs, and the edges soon began curling and turning golden brown.
Since the people in the restaurant had already recognized Kiyohara, the quality of the meat they served was especially good.
Rin sat across from him, holding her teacup in both hands as she watched him work.
"Kiyohara-kun, you've gotten even better at this."
"Your cooking's good too, Rin."
Kiyohara laid another slice of beef onto the grill.
The two kinds of meat sizzled side by side, their aroma mixing with the smell of oil and sauce until it made anyone nearby hungry.
The first slice of pork belly was done.
Kiyohara picked it up with the tongs and placed it on the small plate in front of Rin.
"Try it."
Rin lowered her eyes to the meat.
She picked it up and took a bite.
The savory richness of the sauce mixed with the natural sweetness of the meat. Her eyes narrowed happily, and the corners of her lips lifted without her noticing.
"It's so good!"
Seeing her like that, Kiyohara's lips curved slightly too.
"Then eat more."
He started grilling the second batch.
Rin sat across from him, eating in small bites, occasionally glancing up at him before lowering her head again.
The charcoal crackled softly, and the smell of grilled meat drifted between them.
Outside the window, it had already gone completely dark, and the streetlights were lighting up one by one.
Rin set down her chopsticks.
"Kiyohara-kun."
"Hmm?"
"Today… thank you."
Kiyohara looked at her.
"For what?"
"Well…"
She lowered her head again, her fingers curling together once more.
"It's about the deputy director position…"
Kiyohara set down the tongs and looked at her.
Firelight flickered across her face, lighting that delicate face in shifting light and shadow.
Her lips looked even rosier now from the barbecue.
"No need to thank me. I really do trust your ability. You're qualified for the position."
Kiyohara laughed softly.
With Rin's current talent, she was absolutely capable of holding that post.
She had already far surpassed where she stood in the original story.
And though it looked like a promotion, in truth it just meant even more work.
Because Kiyohara planned to hand a great deal of medical research over to her.
Still, Rin had never disappointed him. Everything she did turned out well.
"I'll be asking even more of you in the future."
Kiyohara said.
"I'm not afraid of trouble."
Rin smiled softly.
The two of them continued eating.
Once Kiyohara felt they were about done, he asked:
"Are you full?"
"Mm."
"Then let's go."
Kiyohara stood up and took out a money pouch from inside his clothes, placing it on the table.
Rin stood up as well and followed him out.
When the two of them stepped outside Yakiniku Q, a night breeze happened to blow past, carrying the distinct chill of autumn.
Rin shrank her shoulders a little and unconsciously folded her arms around herself.
Kiyohara took off his outer robe and draped it over her shoulders.
Rin froze for a moment.
"Kiyohara-kun…"
"It's cold at night."
Kiyohara cut her off.
Rin lowered her head and looked at the white robe resting on her shoulders.
It was so big that it wrapped around her whole body, the hem almost dragging on the ground. She could smell the lingering scent on it.
Kiyohara's scent.
She buried her face into the collar and took a deep breath.
Then she looked up and followed behind him.
The two of them walked slowly along the street.
Every so often, a passerby recognized Kiyohara and stopped to greet him. He returned each greeting with a nod.
"Kiyohara-kun."
"Hmm?"
"My house… is at the next corner."
Kiyohara stopped.
Rin stopped too and stood in front of him. Her head was lowered, and her fingers clutched the edge of the robe so tightly her knuckles turned pale.
"Um…"
Her voice was very soft.
"There's no one home today…"
Kiyohara looked at her.
The streetlight shone from the side, illuminating half her face.
A blush was spreading across her cheeks.
Her eyelashes trembled faintly, and she pressed her rosy lips together again and again.
"Would you like… to come in for a while?"
Rin asked.
Kiyohara looked at her in surprise.
That saved him the trouble of finding an excuse to drop by.
"Of course."
He answered directly.
Then he simply reached out and took her hand.
Rin lowered her head and gave a soft little "mm."
Before long, they arrived. Only then did Kiyohara let go of her hand.
Rin was inexplicably nervous. She pulled out her key from her sleeve, her fingers trembling slightly. It took her two tries before she managed to line it up with the lock.
Click.
The door opened.
Rin stepped aside and lowered her head.
"Please come in."
Kiyohara stepped into the entryway.
He took off his shoes and placed them beside the shoe cabinet.
Rin crouched behind him, straightened the shoes neatly, then took out a pair of cotton slippers from the cabinet.
"Kiyohara-kun, wear these."
Kiyohara accepted the slippers, his fingers brushing the back of her hand by accident.
Her fingers were cool, but her fingertips felt faintly warm.
Rin stood up and hurried into the living room.
"I'll make tea."
Her voice drifted out from inside.
Kiyohara changed into the slippers and walked in.
The living room wasn't large, but it was kept very tidy.
There were rows of medical books on the bookshelf against the wall, and beside them sat a framed photograph of Rin with her parents.
There was also a small frame on the windowsill. Kiyohara walked over and took a look. It was a photo of him and Rin at Training Ground Three.
In the picture, Rin was making a peace sign, while Kiyohara stood at her side.
After that, Kiyohara noticed another photo of Rin with Minato's team, but she had placed it somewhere inconspicuous. It stood out far less than the other two.
"Kiyohara-kun, the tea's ready."
Rin's voice came from behind him.
Kiyohara turned around.
She was kneeling beside the low table, holding the teacup in both hands.
White steam rose from the cup, blurring her features just a little.
Kiyohara sat down across from her.
Rin pushed the teacup toward him, her fingers holding the rim.
Kiyohara reached out to take it, but his fingertips touched hers, then gently closed around her hand instead.
Rin's hand trembled slightly.
The teacup wobbled faintly on the table, and the tea inside rippled, reflecting the light above.
"Kiyohara-kun…"
She lifted her head, and there was still a trace of confusion in those brown eyes.
A man and a woman alone in a room—what might happen was obvious enough.
Rin was no little girl who understood nothing. Naturally, she knew what could follow after this.
Kiyohara didn't let go of her hand. Instead, he rubbed the back of it with his thumb.
"Nervous?"
He asked.
Rin bit her lower lip and nodded lightly.
"A little."
Kiyohara's palm covered her hand completely, wrapping it inside his.
"There's no need to be."
Kiyohara shook his head, then sent a thread of Yang Release chakra into her to calm her mind.
That Yang Release chakra was, in essence, a manifestation of vitality. It could make a person feel more energized.
Sure enough, the tiredness Rin had still been carrying after the barbecue eased almost immediately.
"Kiyohara-kun's hands… are really warm."
She said quietly.
"Rin's hands are warm too."
Kiyohara thought her hand felt small, soft, and pleasantly fragrant.
Mm. Exactly the sort of thing Obito had once dreamed of.
A simp stays a simp—licking right to the end and getting nothing.
Kiyohara shook his head.
Then his gaze moved from Rin's hand and fell to her legs.
They were folded neatly beneath her as she knelt on the tatami, white stockings wrapping around her slim calves.
Maybe it was just the lighting, but under the lamp they seemed to carry a soft, pearly sheen.
The tops of the stockings pressed into the soft flesh above her knees, leaving faint marks.
"You wore white today."
Kiyohara said.
Rin followed his gaze downward, and her face reddened slightly. She more or less admitted it without speaking.
"Mm…"
"I remember you wore black stockings before too."
Kiyohara's hand left hers and came to rest on that thin layer of stocking instead.
The moment his fingers touched her thigh, Rin's body stiffened slightly.
The stocking was very smooth, almost too slippery to hold on to.
But through that thin fabric, he could still feel the warmth and softness of the skin beneath.
"Kiyohara-kun…"
Rin didn't know what to say. Her head felt a little light.
Kiyohara's hand slowly moved upward from above her knee, feeling the texture of the stocking and the firmness of her thigh.
Very good quality.
That was his honest judgment.
A pair of stockings like this had probably cost quite a bit.
Rin was usually very frugal.
Had she bought them specially because she was going to have dinner with him?
That thought crossed Kiyohara's mind.
Under his touch, Rin's thigh, which had started out tense, slowly began to relax.
The white stockings made her skin look even whiter than snow.
"Why don't you wear black anymore?"
Kiyohara asked curiously.
Rin bit her lower lip and looked away.
"Because… I realized that when I wear white, Kiyohara-kun looks at me longer."
Kiyohara laughed.
So that was the reason. No wonder she hadn't worn black much lately.
"So you were paying close attention?"
Rin's face flushed even deeper, all the way from her cheeks to her ears. She lowered her eyes, and her lashes cast a delicate shadow under the light.
"I… I just happened to notice…"
Kiyohara's fingers lightly stroked her thigh, feeling the surface of the stockings and the warmth beneath.
"The white looks very nice."
He said.
"You can try other colors in the future too."
Rin looked up and met his eyes.
"What color does Kiyohara-kun like?"
"All of them."
Kiyohara paused for a second.
Kids made choices. Adults wanted everything.
"Rin, because you'd look good in anything."
Hearing that, Rin could feel her whole face burning.
"I… I'm going to take a bath."
She suddenly stood up, moving too quickly, and her knee knocked into the edge of the table.
The teacup wobbled, and a few drops of tea splashed out onto the tablecloth.
"Be careful."
Kiyohara reminded her.
"Kiyohara-kun… just sit for a bit."
She turned and hurried toward the bathroom.
After a few steps, she stopped and looked back.
"Oh… there are drinks in the fridge. If you want one, just help yourself."
As soon as she said that, she practically fled the living room and went back to her bedroom to get some clothes.
Then Rin took those clothes and went into the bathroom.
Click—the door shut. Then came the sound of the faucet turning on, followed by the rush of water splashing onto the tiles.
Kiyohara leaned back on the sofa, listening to the water.
He lifted his head and looked around the small living room.
Even the wildflowers in the vase had been trimmed and arranged at different heights—clearly with care.
On the top shelf of the bookcase sat several notebooks on medical ninjutsu, each with neat labels on the spine.
Before long, the sound of the water stopped.
Kiyohara withdrew his gaze.
A little while later, the bathroom door opened.
Rin stepped out wearing a pale pink bathrobe. Her long hair was still damp and loose around her shoulders, droplets of water sliding down the tips and soaking the collar.
Her face was flushed from the hot water, and the redness along her cheeks disappeared beneath the neckline of the robe.
"Kiyohara-kun…"
She stood at the end of the hall, fingers gripping the sash of the bathrobe so tightly her knuckles turned pale.
"I'm done."
Kiyohara stood up and walked over to her.
Her body carried the clean, faint fragrance of someone freshly bathed.
Tiny droplets still clung to her eyelashes, trembling each time she blinked.
"Then I'll take a bath too."
Kiyohara said.
Then he raised a hand and untied the sash of his Hokage robe.
The white robe slid from his shoulders, revealing the black chainmail beneath.
Rin's eyes widened.
"K-Kiyohara-kun?!"
Kiyohara set the chainmail aside on a nearby stand and took off the black fitted shirt underneath.
Perhaps because his healing ability was so abnormal, even the scars across his body had faded so much that they were nearly invisible.
Rin immediately raised her hands to cover her eyes with her fingers, but the gaps between them were very wide.
Through those gaps, she saw that his build was even more impressive than she had imagined.
Her face burned even hotter.
Kiyohara smiled faintly, stepped into the bathroom, and closed the door behind him.
Rin stood there in place, still covering her eyes even though her fingers had long since spread apart.
She stared at the closed door, her heartbeat so fast it felt like it might leap out of her throat.
She took a deep breath before finally calming down a little.
By the time Kiyohara came out of the bath, the living room was empty.
The teacups had already been cleared away from the coffee table, and the tablecloth had been replaced with a fresh one.
The fridge door was cracked open slightly, with two chilled cans of drink inside.
Kiyohara took one of the drinks from the fridge and downed it, then went straight to the door of Rin's bedroom.