"You… you… you bastard!"
Kurenai's face was bright red as she shouted.
"Sorry, you're just too beautiful. I couldn't resist."
Kitazawa licked the corner of his mouth, still feeling the warmth and softness from just a moment ago.
"…?"
Kurenai was so angry she was speechless, and she stomped on him.
"If you're not satisfied, you can stomp a few more times."
Kitazawa said seriously.
Kurenai was about to stomp a second time, but suddenly thought better of it and held back.
"What's the matter? Can't bear it?"
Kitazawa chuckled.
"I just don't want to satisfy your perverted demands."
Kurenai looked at him with disgust.
"I think you have a misunderstanding about my image."
Kitazawa twitched his lips and replied, "What normal person would ask for something like this?"
"So you're not normal."
Kurenai blushed as she remembered the kiss.
She hadn't expected Kitazawa to be so bold.
Though her personality was straightforward, this was her first experience with something like this.
"Does your logic even make sense?"
Kitazawa gave a wry smile. "Whatever you think goes—after all, the girlfriend is always right."
"I never said I wanted to be your girlfriend!"
Kurenai snorted.
"You kissed me first, shouldn't you take responsibility?"
Kitazawa made a mock expression: "So you're a flirt, huh?"
"That was your kiss!"
Kurenai snapped.
"Since you say that, I'll let you take the loss. You kiss me."
Kitazawa looked at her and said.
"…?"
Kurenai finally understood the meaning of the phrase: "Shameless is invincible."
She clenched her fist and punched him.
"Dream on!"
Kurenai turned and quickened her pace.
"Wait for me!"
Kitazawa caught up and grabbed her hand.
"Behave yourself!"
Kurenai glared but didn't pull away.
"It's rare that I took the day off today—where do you want to go?"
Kitazawa asked seriously, no longer joking around.
"I grew up in Konoha. I've been everywhere."
Kurenai looked around, then her eyes lit up. "How about we go see a movie?"
"A movie?"
Kitazawa was slightly surprised. "That's… a very old-fashioned term."
"It's normal if you don't know movies," Kurenai explained. "They've only become popular in the ninja world recently. You can think of it as a giant TV screen."
"Fine, let's go see a movie."
Kitazawa smiled, saying nothing more.
He had watched many movies in his previous life—but this was his first time seeing one in the ninja world.
Once inside the theater, Kitazawa looked at the posters on the wall.
Most were adventure-themed, with ninjas as the main characters.
"Has Yukie Fujikaze not acted yet?"
Kitazawa thought silently, not seeing the familiar name.
Yukie Fujikaze was the heroine of the Naruto movies, a famous film star in the ninja world.
She was the princess of the Land of Snow, rescued as a child by Kakashi, and became an actress in the Land of Fire.
Eventually, with Naruto's help, she returned to the Land of Snow and assumed a high-ranking position.
"I'll go get the drinks."
Kitazawa withdrew his gaze. "You buy the tickets."
He handed a stack of money to Kurenai.
"I have money," she said, returning it to him.
"Why split this?"
Kitazawa shook his head, refused the money, and went to buy two sodas. They had earned quite a bit recently creating new jutsu with Tsunade.
Kurenai smiled softly and bought two tickets for the next screening.
"Here."
Kitazawa handed her a soda. The two entered the theater.
"There aren't many people watching."
Kitazawa looked around—only six people were there.
"It's morning, most people are working."
Kurenai twisted the cap and took a sip of her soda.
"That makes sense."
Kitazawa sat beside her.
Since it was so empty, they easily found a great spot.
"What flavor is your soda?"
Kitazawa asked, looking at hers.
"Apple."
Kurenai tilted her head. "Why?"
"Mine's lemon."
Kitazawa swapped drinks with her. "You win—you get two flavors for the price of one."
"Childish."
Kurenai's eyes twitched.
She opened her soda, bringing it to her lips, then paused. Does this count as an indirect kiss?
She took a sip and glanced at Kitazawa. Was this intentional?
"Tastes good."
Kitazawa met her eyes. "Soft…"
"Do you want to die?"
Kurenai's cheeks flushed, both embarrassed and angry. At that moment, the movie started, drowning out her words.
"I meant the soda," Kitazawa whispered.
Kurenai felt a warm breath.
She panicked slightly, but tried to stay calm: "Watch the movie."
Kitazawa tilted his head and kissed her on the cheek, then stared at the screen, as if nothing had happened.
"…?"
Kurenai wanted to speak, but stopped herself.
She stared at the screen, feeling her mouth dry. The two sat quietly until the movie ended.
"This movie was mediocre," Kitazawa said disinterestedly. "Our Chunin fights are more exciting."
Movies in the ninja world had few effects, and even fights were nothing compared to rookie ninja scuffles. After all, ninjas weren't idle enough to make movies.
"You're a Special Jonin now," Kurenai corrected.
By the time the movie ended, it was 11 a.m. in June, the sunlight blazing.
Walking down the street, the hot wind stirred the fallen leaves.
"What do you want for lunch?"
Kitazawa held her hand.
"Grilled fish."
Kurenai thought for a moment. "Let's catch it ourselves."
"Where?"
Kitazawa raised an eyebrow.
In his previous life, he was an expert fisherman; now Kurenai's suggestion made his hands itch.
"There's a river in the Forest of Death."
Kurenai led him to buy fishing gear, then to the river.
"Watch my fishing skills."
Kitazawa confidently held his rod.
"I haven't really fished before," Kurenai said with a smile. "Don't lose to me."
"Don't worry."
Kitazawa cast his line.
After a moment, he realized the problem. Kurenai had already caught a fish, while he hadn't.
"How's it going?"
She looked at him smugly.
"I'm being honest—it's the beginner's protection period," Kitazawa said stubbornly.
"Really?"
Kurenai laughed. "Gotcha again!"
"…?"
Kitazawa sensed trouble.
Sure enough, an hour later, Kurenai had caught five fish, while he only had one. Kitazawa's face fell.
A fisherman's Waterloo!
"Don't be mad. Let's eat grilled fish."
Kurenai suddenly lifted her face, pressing her soft lips to his.
Kitazawa froze.
"I'll handle the fish."
Kurenai tucked her hair behind her ear and went to the river. A fisherman could catch anything—fish, and even love.
Kitazawa snapped out of it and joined her to help.