Originally, he had only come to find Kurenai… to calm himself a little.
But the moment he arrived, he saw her talking to that guy—the one who already irritated him just by standing there.
And worse…
She even invited him into her home.
…Damn it.
A shadow quietly took root in the young Sarutobi Asuma's heart.
Something unpleasant. Something he couldn't quite name.
But it was there.
And it wasn't going away.
Before long, Namikaze Kirito followed Kurenai Yūhi back to her home.
Standing in front of the familiar gate, Kirito paused slightly.
A faint sigh escaped his lips.
"…I've been here so many times…"
But that was in the other world.
Now, standing here again in this parallel reality… it felt strangely distant, yet familiar at the same time.
Before he could think any further, Kurenai had already stepped inside.
Noticing he hadn't followed, she turned back and looked at him.
"…Are you coming in or not?"
Her voice was soft, but there was a hint of hesitation beneath it.
"My father's away on a mission," she added after a brief pause. "He won't be back for a few days."
Kirito blinked.
Then he chuckled lightly.
"…You really don't think before you say things, do you?"
"Huh?" Kurenai frowned slightly, not understanding.
Kirito shook his head.
Yeah… this is definitely not the same Kurenai yet.
In the other world, she was composed, mature…
But here, she was still just a young kunoichi.
Shaking off the unnecessary thoughts, he stepped inside.
Kurenai led him to the living room.
"Sit. I'll prepare something."
She paused, glancing at him briefly.
"…You eat a lot, right?"
Kirito smirked slightly. "You could say that."
"…Got it."
Without saying anything more, she turned and headed into the kitchen.
The sound of movement soon followed.
Kirito sat quietly, his gaze drifting across the room.
Everything here…
Had been preserved exactly the same.
He knew why.
After Yūhi Shinku passed away, Kurenai had never changed anything.
To others, she was the calm and reliable Konoha jōnin.
But here…
This place was the only thing she had left of her father.
"…You still haven't moved on, huh…"
Kirito muttered softly.
He had once asked her if she wanted Shinku to be brought back.
With the power of the Rinnegan, it wasn't difficult.
But she refused.
Because to her…
Disturbing the dead wasn't something she could accept.
Kirito respected that.
But…
"If you ever change your mind…"
His gaze softened slightly.
"…I'll still be here."
Not long after, Kurenai returned with the food.
"…It's not much."
The table was filled more than she admitted.
Kirito raised an eyebrow.
"…You call this 'not much'?"
"You said you eat a lot."
"…Fair enough."
The two sat across from each other.
Kirito ate without holding back, while Kurenai kept her posture straight, eating quietly.
From time to time, her gaze would flicker toward him—
Only to quickly look away again.
Something about him…
Felt strangely familiar.
And yet, she couldn't explain why.
After the meal, Kirito leaned back slightly, holding a cup of tea.
Kurenai finished cleaning up before sitting down across from him.
There was a brief silence.
Then—
"…Now tell me."
Her voice was firm, but her fingers were lightly gripping her sleeve.
"Who are you?"
"…And why do I feel like I already know you?"
Kirito looked at her.
Then, without hesitation—
"…Because you do."
Kurenai froze.
"…What?"
Kirito leaned forward slightly, his tone calm.
"I'm not from this time."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"…You're joking."
"Do I look like I am?"
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then—
"…You're from the future?"
"…Yeah."
Kurenai lowered her gaze.
Her heartbeat had started to speed up for some reason she couldn't explain.
"…That's why…"
"…I feel like I've seen you before…"
Kirito smiled faintly.
"…Seems like you're sharper than I thought."
"…I'm serious," she muttered, slightly annoyed.
Kirito didn't reply immediately.
Instead, he reached out—
And gently rested his hand on her head.
Kurenai stiffened.
"…W-What are you doing?"
"Relax."
His voice was softer now.
"…I'm not going to do anything."
She hesitated.
But strangely enough…
She didn't pull away.
Kirito's gaze softened as he looked at her.
"…In my time…"
"…you're important to me."
Kurenai's face flushed slightly.
"…You say things like that so easily…"
Kirito let out a quiet laugh.
"…Maybe."
For a moment, the atmosphere grew quiet again.
But this time—It wasn't awkward.
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