Chapter 122: Asuma: The Advantage is Mine
"Akiyama Makoto! You should know about my relationship with Jōnin Yūhi."
Asuma, after gritting his teeth for a long time, finally managed to squeeze out a sentence that had zero killing power.
Makoto nodded. "I am aware. That's why, until you demanded I speak honestly, I had not expressed my feelings so directly."
"Then why are you still doing this? Don't you feel any shame?"
Makoto shrugged. "Lord Asuma, you're not acting as if Big Sister Kurenai is your property, are you? She's not even your girlfriend, and you're already trying to limit her freedom."
After a sigh, he continued, "I just like Big Sister Kurenai. I'm not stopping you from doing anything. In fact, she has already clearly reminded me that she will be keeping her distance from me. You didn't know that, did you?"
Asuma looked at Kurenai in shock. She was holding her own shoulder, her head turned to the side, not wanting him to see the desolate expression on her face.
"In reality, if you hadn't just insulted her in a fit of rage, this conflict probably wouldn't have even happened."
"I didn't insult her! I just—"
Asuma's words caught in his throat. Unfortunately, the current scene was beyond his ability to handle. Even as his face flushed red, he couldn't think of the right words.
"Enough. Let's just end this here."
Kurenai spoke again. "Jōnin Sarutobi Asuma, let's keep our distance for a while. It will be better for all of us."
"As for you... Makoto-kun. I will not accept your feelings. And our 'brother-sister' relationship... let's end that here as well."
Kurenai chose to spank them both, which made Asuma breathe a sigh of relief. He still had plenty of time to pursue her slowly. He would get another chance, just like he always had in the past by being persistent.
However, he had forgotten that Makoto had known her for less than two months. To trade his entire childhood's worth of effort for two months of Makoto's progress... he should have had nothing to be proud of.
And Makoto, especially, was not about to just let her walk away.
"I understand you're doing this so we won't fight again, Big Sister Kurenai. I promise, even if Lord Asuma tries to kill me, I won't fight back."
Asuma's eyes widened. "I would never do such a thing!"
As soon as he said it, he realized everyone was looking at him with distrust.
His old face reddened. "I—I definitely won't do that in the future!"
"In that case, is there any other reason for you to be here, Lord Asuma? Did you really want to rent a room? I can ask Moegi to get you a discount." Makoto smiled and pointed at her.
Moegi, who had been watching the show, immediately stiffened. "I—Our inn has no more long-term-stay rooms available."
Anyone could tell she was lying, but the way she was rubbing her shoulder, Asuma just didn't have the heart to call her out on it.
"Ah, is that so? What a pity," he said with a dry laugh, gave Kurenai one last deep look, and then left.
Makoto watched him go. He's really leaving just like that? If he left now, it meant he would never have another chance.
Seeing him go, Moegi and Anko both sighed in relief. They were genuinely worried Asuma would attack him. Asuma was a well-known powerhouse in the village and the Hokage's son. If Makoto fought him, how could he possibly win?
The atmosphere in the hallway fell silent. Kurenai slowly spoke, "I should be going home too."
"No, you can't go."
Makoto blocked her path, his tone firm.
"What, are you going to limit my freedom too?"
"As your family, I am ordering you to stay here, rest well, and only leave after you've recovered your spirits and eaten a full meal."
"I already told you, you and I have no relationship anymore. 'Brother and sister' was just a joke, all because of—"
Kurenai looked at Anko, but ultimately swallowed her emotions and didn't say the hurtful words.
Anko was giggling, but the disappointment in her eyes was growing deeper.
Makoto was not intimidated by her aura. He stepped closer to Kurenai, a gentle smile on his face. "Big Sister Kurenai, if 'family' is someone you can just send away with a word, how can you even call it family?"
"You can dislike me, you can chase me away, but I will only leave after I've made sure you are healthy and in a good mood. And then I'll come back to see you every few days."
"I will always be by your side. That is what family means."
Kurenai looked at him, moved, not expecting him to say such a thing. And she had to admit, she desperately needed someone to care for and protect her right now, but she couldn't find a single family member. As for this "little brother" of hers... even if he had improper thoughts about her, he was still her little brother, wasn't he?
In the instant she hesitated, he took her by the wrist and pulled her back into Anko's room. He then pushed her down onto the tatami mat, covered her with a blanket, and said, "Listen to me, Big Sister Kurenai. Today is the first day of the New Year. It's the perfect time to sleep in. Just sleep until noon."
"And then, you and Big Sister Anko go find a nice shop and have a big meal. After that, you can go home."
"You hate me, so I won't follow you. But don't neglect yourself just because of that."
He then looked at Anko. "Big Sister Anko, can you help me take care of her?"
"Ah, okay!" Anko scrambled to kneel beside Kurenai, even reaching out to touch her forehead.
This made Kurenai laugh. "Anko, I'm not sick."
"Then what should I do?" Anko still hadn't recovered from the earlier conflict.
"Just... talk to me for a while."
Anko nodded. Makoto then stood up and left the room.
Watching his retreating back, Kurenai wanted to say something, but in the end, she couldn't.
After his footsteps faded away, she finally spoke. "I'm sorry, Anko. I didn't mean to belittle you just now. It's just that all of this has made me so confused..."
"It's okay, Kurenai, I get it. To be honest, I'm really confused too. But I've been a lot better recently. Little brother... he's actually really easy to get along with. Even if you don't like him, you don't have to feel like you owe him anything."
Anko tried to console her, but Kurenai sat up. "What about you?"
"Me?" Anko scratched her hair and laughed foolishly. "Am I not already his 'Big Sister Anko'? That's great, isn't it? What other thoughts could I have?"
"Haha—" Anko's dry laugh died in her throat, because Kurenai's index finger was touching the moist corner of her eye.
The two women looked at each other, silent. They should have had so much to say to each other, but now they didn't know where to begin.
"Hush money."
In the hallway, Moegi pulled Makoto into a corner, her eyes gleaming.
"What hush money?" he asked, feigning ignorance.
"The hush money for not telling—" Moegi took a deep breath and began to list the names, "Sister Tenten, Sister Ino, Sister Sakura, Sister Hinata, and Hanabi, of course!"
"Big Brother Makoto, you don't want the whole village to know that you're chasing so many girls at the same time, do you?"
"Alright. How much?" He pretended to be cornered by her.
Moegi touched her nose, satisfied. "Ten thousand—no, five thousand Ryō!"
He pretended it pained him and pulled 5,000 Ryō from his wallet. This made her even happier. But seeing his dejected look, she also felt a little guilty. "Big Brother Makoto, although it's good to be so full of passion, if you like so many girls, aren't you afraid they'll beat you to death?"
"Besides, a man can only marry one wife, right?"
He shook his head. "Not necessarily. For example, the nobles in the capital can live happily with several wives."
"But that's the nobles in the capital! Are you a noble?"
"Not yet. But I will be. Do you believe me?"
Moegi really wanted to say no, but considering her impression of him, she finally nodded with difficulty. "You give me a feeling... even more amazing than the nobles in those TV dramas. You'll probably become a really great, powerful noble, right!"
"Then isn't it appropriate for me to marry a few wives?"
"But—will the big sisters be willing?"
"That's a question they'll have to answer themselves. Or rather, Moegi, when you grow up, would you like a big brother like me?"
Moegi looked disgusted. "No way!"
"If I like someone, it would be... like..." She tried to find an example in Konoha, but after thinking of Konohamaru, Udon, Naruto, Ebisu, Asuma, and the others, her gaze finally returned to him.
"A-Anyway, it definitely wouldn't be a two-timing playboy like you!"
Moegi made a face and ran off.
He just stretched. Successfully navigating a multi-person romantic battlefield. What a full morning.
But the morning wasn't over yet. In the simulation, he and Anko had achieved the great harmony. The timing was different now, but they could still do a little something, right?
He returned to Anko's room and knocked on the door.
"Big Sister Anko, come out for a second. I need to tell you something."
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