Her skin was as pale as snow, covered by the straight black hair on her back. Under the sunlight, it shimmered with a jet-black gloss.
Hakushi looked around, spotting a gray-and-white cat lazily sprawled atop the opposite wall. It looked so relaxed, as if it had just woken from a sweet dream, raising a front paw to lick itself.
Nothing unusual at all.
Hakushi scratched his head, about to take a step forward, when Ayane's voice sounded from behind: "What's up?"
"Ah, I was just looking at a cat."
Hakushi turned his head and replied.
"Cat?"
Ayane followed Hakushi's gaze, but the wall across was already empty—she saw no cat at all.
"It's gone already."
This is bad.
"Honestly, what's so interesting about cats?"
Ayane sounded a little dissatisfied.
"What, you really don't like cats?"
"I wouldn't say I hate them, but I don't like them either. If I had to pick a pet, dogs would be better."
Hakushi nodded. Honestly, he agreed—he preferred dogs too, statistically speaking.
The Inuzuka Clan opened a Ninja Dog Shop in the village. The price is way higher than normal pet dogs, plus their food is ridiculously luxurious, so basically very few ninja actually buy and adopt them.
I should check it out someday.
Ninja dogs… They really do sound cool.
Most importantly, dogs have sensitive noses; in a pinch, they could be really useful.
"It's because dog meat tastes great, but cat meat is just awful."
Ayane added, as if she was an expert in the subject.
Hearing that, Hakushi immediately gave up the thought of raising a ninja dog.
Feels like the dog would end up in Ayane's stomach the day it arrived.
"So, anywhere else you want to go next?"
Hakushi asked.
"I want to buy a few new clothes. I really think I have to get new ones every month now—they're way too tight. Even during the last mission, my chest felt so stuffy."
Ayane let out a wry laugh and patted her chest, which was definitely promising in terms of development.
"..."
Hakushi had no idea how to respond.
He could only go along with Ayane's plan, tagging along to shop for new clothes with her.
As they walked, Hakushi noticed something was off—this street… He'd come here with Ruri yesterday.
Sure enough, the clothing shop he'd visited with Ruri yesterday was right there.
But instead of Teacher Fujimura, the store was staffed by a young woman he didn't know.
She had a petite build, brown shoulder-length hair, and both her figure and her face were really pretty.
Hakushi remembered Fujimura had mentioned yesterday that this was his girlfriend's shop, so this woman must be Fujimura's girlfriend?
Hakushi glanced at her, but didn't pay much attention.
"Welcome! Please take your time looking,"
The female shop owner smiled kindly.
"Okay, thank you."
Ayane nodded to the shop owner and started picking out clothes in the store.
"By the way, Hakushi, what color underwear do you think would look good on me?"
"Why ask me about this? Buy whichever color you like."
Hakushi turned his head away.
"So which is better, white or black?"
Ayane paused in place, looking genuinely thoughtful.
"I'm telling you, just buy whatever you like, don't worry about what I think."
"So, does that mean you prefer other colors? Pink and white? Or maybe something bolder like purple?"
"Where did you get the idea I was giving an opinion?"
Hakushi stared at Ayane speechlessly.
Ayane looked troubled and said, "But, when girls pick clothes, it's not always just for ourselves."
Her smile suddenly turned full of implication.
"Then go with white,"
Hakushi replied crisply.
"Alright, hm, then I'll take the white one."
Ayane had the shop owner take down the set she wanted and package it in an elegant bag.
Hakushi turned his attention back outside—no sign of any cats this time.
Soon, he felt someone tapping his shoulder beside him—it was Ayane.
"Hakushi, you spaced out again?"
"I'm looking at cats."
"So, what about my suggestion earlier?"
Ayane looked at him with a clear, straightforward gaze.
"Suggestion? What suggestion?"
He must've missed something while he was distracted by the cats—Hakushi looked puzzled.
"The clothes I wore at last New Year's are a bit small now. I was hoping you could help me look at some new styles."
New Year's? Another kimono?
Hakushi started to feel a headache coming.
The Hyuga Clan and Uchiha are both ninja clans that really value tradition.
Every New Year, the women wear formal kimonos as a gesture of bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new, and attend the clan's yearly festival.
"Just pick whatever you like."
"But it's an important annual festival—how can I just pick randomly? Still, I did spot one I'm interested in—it's that one."
Looking in the direction Ayane was pointing, Hakushi saw a kimono with a white base and pink cherry blossom designs. Just from a glance, Hakushi thought it would fit Ayane perfectly.
Hakushi nodded, "Looks nice. Let's go with that one."
This time, he absolutely wouldn't say anything about buying this kind of clothing as a gift for a girl.
"You think it looks nice too, Hakushi? Then I'll take it!"
Ayane happily asked the shop owner to take down the kimono, but suddenly clutched her stomach, looking uncomfortable.
"What's wrong?"
"I ate too much at lunch and now my stomach hurts. Sorry, Hakushi, can you wait for me here for a bit? I'll be back soon."
Hakushi nodded without thinking much.
But even after Ayane had been gone for half an hour, she still hadn't returned. Hakushi frowned.
The shop owner had already packaged up the kimono Ayane picked along with the underwear, just waiting for her to come back and pay.
But… why did the shop owner's face look increasingly weird?
Was she worried Ayane wouldn't pay?
While Hakushi was wondering why Ayane hadn't come back yet, a passerby walked in from the street and handed him a slip of paper, saying, "A little girl asked me to give this to you."
The passerby left after speaking.
"..."
Hakushi suddenly had a bad feeling in his gut.
He opened up the note and read the message—
Sorry, Hakushi, someone from the clan suddenly needed me. I have to go back now. Can you pay for the clothes first for me? I'll pay you back later. If you can, it would be even better if you hand them to me yourself at New Year's—that way, I can wear them for you then.
…I just got played, didn't I?
That was Hakushi's first thought.
When did Ayane's tricks get so hard to see through?
I shouldn't have taught her like that from the beginning.
And now, sure enough, there's a problem.
With the shop owner's impatient gaze on him, Hakushi braced himself and paid for both items.
Only then did the shop owner's cloudy face brighten and she said, "Come again! You can have a ten percent discount next time."
Hakushi carried the bag with the clothes inside, feeling like its weight was oddly heavy.
It's not like he didn't understand Ayane's—or Ruri's—feelings.
Girls this age are fresh into their first crush, so it's pretty normal for them to care about stuff boys wouldn't even notice.
Their feelings are always so pure and direct.
But Hakushi felt that when it comes to romance, things can't be forced—it should happen naturally. And you can't be careless, either; you have to take it seriously, from start to finish.
Right now, this fondness might not be love—it could be something else entirely.
Thinking that way might sound arrogant, but to Hakushi, that's how love is.
Everyone thinks their own love is unique, but really, it's just the same old story playing out again and again.
It's because of this, Hakushi felt like he'd always just been an ordinary guy.
I actually got all worked up over this stuff before—how embarrassing. Hakushi sighed inwardly.
No matter what, he wasn't a normal twelve-year-old kid.
He had a mature soul, his own plans, and a deep understanding of his own life.
And those values might not always mesh with Ruri or Ayane's in the future.
Hakushi really didn't want to let down anyone who was good to him.
Most importantly, he was just too young…
I couldn't make a move.
Messing around with minors won't make the country rich and strong—it'll land you in jail.
That damned sense of morality really shackled him.
The local culture only applies to certain things.
The feelings of people you cherish are the last thing you should ever toy with, or trample on.