Rainwater trickled vertically down the walls, murky with dust as it gurgled over the windowsill before dripping to the ground.
Transparent droplets kept splashing onto the inner ledge, soaking a wooden shelf holding books and potted plants.
A slender, pale hand reached out and closed the half-open window.
Mai glanced at the dark clouds outside. Rain poured from the eaves of rooftops, turning the streets muddy. As autumn deepened, such damp weather had become more frequent.
She gathered the drying laundry and hung it indoors, squeezing a few pieces… some were already dry.
"This is…" Mai pulled out a small twig tucked inside a black kimono. She remembered it, something her senior, Sakura, had given her during the memorial service.
It was one of the village's traditions, a token of mourning and self-blessing. Mai hadn't asked much about it. As a companion, she had simply followed along and accepted the gesture.
Smiling faintly, she folded the petite black kimono with white trim, a solemn, formal piece she rarely wore.
A few days ago, she had attended a large funeral. Another Ninja had died on a mission.
Normally, this wouldn't have concerned Mai. The Hase siblings were outsiders, unconnected to the intricate web of relationships in Konoha.
But through her ties with Sakura and Tsunade, Mai had been invited to pay her respects.
"Sakura-nee cried so hard…" She murmured.
The deceased must have been someone important, as the turnout was massive. Crowds clad in dark colors stood silently before the memorial stone, rain drizzling overhead as muffled sobs lingered in the air before fading away.
Standing among them, Mai had felt the weight of unspoken grief. Yet, she couldn't fully empathize with the loss of a stranger. Remembering Sakura's reddened eyes, she had simply patted her senior's back in comfort.
'She must have been reminded of something painful.'
That rainy funeral had left her numb, watching Ninja mourn their fallen comrades in the peaceful Konoha. Tsunade had said that this is the way of Ninja.
Afterward, Mai had wavered a little, then grown stronger. Thinking of what matters gives her strength.
Click.
The door was opened, and today, Kazuya was home earlier than usual.
Shaking out his umbrella, Kazuya stepped inside, still damp. Spotting Mai tidying the laundry, he asked. "Didn't you go to the Hospital today?"
"I went. Got off early."
"Oh. What do you want for dinner?" Kazuya set down two bags of groceries by the sink and rolled up his sleeves.
"I have plans tonight, so I won't be eating here."
Kazuya was stunned by his sister's answer, and his eyes sharpened, "Plans? With who?"
"With Haruno Sakura-senpai."
Kazuya sighed and put the ingredients in the fridge. Mai watched as his enthusiasm visibly deflated, and he rummaged for instant food instead. Suddenly, she grinned sweetly, "Nii-san, I'll bring you something tasty later!"
"Ah… okay." Caught off guard by her rare gentle tone, he blinked.
Mai looked at the clock and said, "Then I'm heading out!"
The girl grabbed an umbrella at the entrance.
"Be careful..."
A flurry of movement, the door slammed shut, and she was gone.
Kaede scratched his head, 'Something's off… Why'd she call me 'nii-san' so nicely? It had been ages since she'd done that. Is she going to ask me to buy something? He grimaced. Damn… must be expensive...'
…
Mai was lucky. By the time she left the apartment, the rain had lightened to a drizzle. By the time she reached the meeting spot, it had stopped entirely.
Folding her umbrella, she waited at a crossroads near the shopping district. Within minutes, Sakura emerged from the crowd, waving.
"Ugh, couldn't the rain have stopped sooner?" Sakura grumbled, shaking out her pink floral umbrella, "Now I'm stuck carrying this."
"If it rains again, you'll need it." Mai pointed out.
"Ah, this is so troublesome. If it rains again, I'll just sprint through it!" Sakura laughed, waving dismissively. After some small talk, the two headed toward a prearranged yakiniku restaurant.
Girls usually prefer more refined restaurants when dining out, but tonight's gathering included others, so they settled for this convenient and popular choice.
As they walked, the two girls formed a striking pair. Sakura stole a glance at Mai, carefully considering how to broach the subject.
Earlier in autumn, Mai had confided in her… after Sakura returned from the Tenchi Bridge mission. At the time, Sakura had been utterly surprised and at a loss. But after hearing Mai's explanation and childhood experiences, she realized her junior actually shared such a deep connection with Logan.
'The world really is small...' Sakura mused.
That heart-to-heart had deepened Sakura's understanding of this clever, kind-hearted girl. Though Mai's memories were hazy, she still clung to that bond, step by.
Who would've thought her assistant teacher had played a part in shaping the confident, cheerful girl before her.
'Even if Hattori-sensei himself might not have realized it...' Sakura clenched her fist slightly, 'Now that I know, I can't ignore Mai's feelings.'
Just as she steeled herself, Mai spoke first, "Sakura-nee... are you sure it's okay for me to meet your team like this..."
"Of course! If you're going to work with us, it's only natural to get to know each other."
"But..." Mai's expression dimmed, "Tsunade-sama didn't approve of me joining your missions."
Mai had mustered the courage to voice the feelings she'd kept buried for years. Once she started, she'd acted swiftly, pleading her case to Tsunade with heartfelt sincerity. Yet Tsunade's answer had been a firm refusal.
"Hey, it's fine. You're already here." Sakura paused, then smiled, squeezing Mai's shoulder, "I'll find another chance to talk to her. Don't lose hope."
"Mm. Thank you, Sakura-nee."
Hitting that wall of reality was disheartening, but deep down, they both understood that this outcome made sense.
A Ninja Village was a military institution with its own rules. It wasn't a place where personal wishes overrode all else. As the Godaime Hokage, Tsunade had weighed the pros and cons before making her decision.
"Let's not dwell on it. We're almost there." Sakura lightened the mood as they turned onto a damp cobblestone path, rows of shop lights brightening the evening.
The moment they stepped into the bustling yakiniku restaurant, the smoky aroma of grilled meat and lively chatter enveloped them. Sakura guided Mai through the crowd until they spotted Team 7's table.
"Sakura-chan! Over here!"
Naruto's loud voice was unmistakable. He stood up, waving energetically as if afraid they'd miss him.
"Haha, that's Uzumaki Naruto. You've met him before… total airhead." Sakura whispered to ease Mai's nerves, though her words weren't exactly kind.
Mai giggled and nodded, "Naruto-san looks... very energetic."
That was the politest descriptor she could muster.
Yakiniku tables typically seated four to six. Team 7 had snagged a prime spot by the window. On one side sat Naruto, Kakashi, and Sai, while Yamato occupied the opposite bench alone… the new Team 7 are all present.
"Sakura, and this lovely lady… good evening." Sai offered a stiff but well-intentioned smile as they took their seats.
"Sakura-nee..." Mai tugged Sakura's sleeve, looking at Sai's unsettling grin with unease.
Sakura explained: "Don't mind him. This is Sai. He used to work in... special department. Not great with people. Also, chronic resting blank face."
'So that's how it is.' Mai shot Sai a sympathetic look.
"I do not have a resting blank face." Sai smiled amiably.
Meanwhile, Kakashi was suffering. Wedged between Naruto and Sai, he braced his arms against the table, desperately defending his personal space against their squirming. He maintained a composed facade, exchanging a glance with Yamato across the table.
They'd already heard about Mai's request to join their missions, which is relayed by Sakura.
At first, they'd been startled. But learning about her past ties to Logan and her desire to reunite with him mirrored Team 7's own bond with him.
Her request was reasonable, even poignant. Kakashi and Yamato had reviewed Mai's records beforehand, She's exceptionally talented, solid combat skills, with sensory and healing abilities that would greatly benefit the team.
The students under their command were quite welcoming, feeling they shared the same purpose and sentiments. Kakashi and Yamato, however, remained neutral. In the end, Tsunade's rejection wasn't entirely unexpected.
After introductions were made, the fact that they all had Logan as a 'common adversary' naturally brought them closer. Add to that Mai and Sakura being fellow disciples under Tsunade, since Team 7 interacted with Tsunade on a near-daily basis, Mai might as well be considered one of their own.
Not to mention, Mai had a way with words, and was effortlessly charming.
"It's a pleasure to meet all of you."
No one noticed when the rain had started again, mist-like under the orange glow of streetlights, weaving a hazy veil over the window beside their table.
The conversation flowed easily. Beneath the surface, they all knew this was likely just a casual dinner, but they treated it as an opportunity to welcome a new friend.
With Naruto around, the atmosphere never dulled. Especially when he grumbled about 'that smug Hattori-sensei' or 'that bastard Sasuke', his bluntness turned what could have been a somber topic into something almost lighthearted.
Maybe the weight was something they imposed on themselves. Why dwell on it when they could just enjoy the grilled meat and laughter?
The rain paused briefly, droplets on the glass threatening to roll down at any moment. With a shared topic at hand, Mai listened as they recounted stories of how Logan had once led them as their teacher. Embarrassed, she even brought up the urban legend of the 'Aurora'.
Mai realized these people were good at heart, even Naruto, whom she hadn't particularly liked at first. She had seen him covering his face in grief during that solemn funeral, but now here he was, animatedly sharing stories about a side of Logan she'd never known.
Her keen sensory abilities vaguely picked up on something unique about this loudmouthed blond, an unyielding spirit that somehow inspired others.
"What, Naruto-san, you actually fed Hattori-nii?"
"Uh, well... it was necessary at the time! Even Sasuke did it."
Kakashi, slightly tipsy, reminisced about his days in the ANBU. While he's technically a junior to Logan in ANBU's seniority, he had never backed down from a challenge.
"Right, Yamato?"
"Hm? Oh... yeah, sure..."
The intermittent rain blurred the boundary between the city lights and the night sky. Streetlamps wrapped the drizzle in a soft glow, mirroring the smoky haze inside the restaurant as charcoal fumes curled upward into the exhaust hood.
Mai listened and watched.
Stories drifted toward her…
Would they one day drift away? She imagined countless scenes in her mind.