"Just... a kiss," Aoki replied. His voice sounded soft, weak, like a breath trying to disappear into the sounds of the night.
Mei squinted. The light of the campfire illuminated Mei's face, which had completely changed—no longer shy or angry, but... disappointed. And that was far more painful.
"So that's how it is," Mei said quietly. "You were matched with me, a girl as beautiful and kind as I am... but you ended up... like this."
Aoki remained silent. With his head down, Aoki couldn't bear to look at Mei's face anymore. Guilt hung over Aoki's thoughts like a dark cloud. But Aoki did not regret being honest—he only regretted having to hurt Mei.
Mei sighed heavily and turned away. The night grew darker, and the wind began to blow colder. Dry leaves rustled on the ground, their sound like a faint whisper. Tetsu and Ajisai had long fallen asleep under the large tree, their breaths slow and steady. Mei decided to sleep as well, ignoring everything that had just happened.
But suddenly, Aoki grabbed Mei's wrist. The touch was not strong, but enough to stop Mei in her tracks.
"Mei..." Aoki whispered, his voice nearly drowned out by the sounds of the night.
Before Mei could respond or scold him, Aoki gently pulled her closer, and with a sudden yet soft movement, Aoki's lips touched Mei's.
Mei froze. Her eyes widened instantly, her body stiffened, and the world felt like it had stopped. There was no sound, no wind. Only the pounding of Mei's heart echoed loudly in her ears.
As Mei looked at Aoki, in the gaze of that young man, she saw sincerity—not certainty, not a declaration of absolute love, but an apology, hope, and honest doubt.
When Aoki pulled away, just a little, they continued to gaze at each other. Mei did not hit him, did not shout. She just stood there, silent, her face flushed, whether from emotion or something else, she couldn't tell.
And the night fell silent again. But between the two of them, something began to grow—slow, complicated, and fragile. But real.
...
...
...
Morning approached with a gentle breeze that pierced the skin. In the still slightly foggy forest, Tetsu stirred slowly and opened his eyes lazily. Tetsu's eyelids were still heavy, and his face showed the remnants of sleep that had not fully faded.
The remnants of last night's campfire had gone out. The last wisps of smoke had disappeared, leaving only cold embers and blackened charcoal. The cold morning wind slipped in, touching Tetsu's face, making him shiver slightly and finally prompting him to get up.
Across from Tetsu, Ajisai was already sitting cross-legged, her eyes fixed on a certain point in silence. Tetsu yawned widely while rubbing his eyes.
"Yawn... Ajisai, are you awake?" Tetsu mumbled, still lazy.
Ajisai did not answer. Her gaze was directed straight at one point, as if transfixed.
"Huh? What are you looking at?" Tetsu followed Ajisai's line of sight. As Tetsu's gaze traced the spot Ajisai was looking at, his eyes widened.
Aoki and Mei were asleep... in a position that was a bit too intimate. Their bodies were tightly embraced, their breaths calm, and both of their faces looked peaceful. Mei's hair partially brushed Aoki's face, and the man's arm was still wrapped around Mei's waist.
Tetsu froze. His mouth fell open slightly.
"Is that... Boss? With... Sister Mei?" Tetsu murmured quietly, almost in disbelief.
Instantly, Tetsu's face turned as red as if it had been boiled. He hurriedly turned away, then reflexively covered Ajisai's eyes with his hands.
"Don't look!" Tetsu whispered in a panic.
"Huh? Why?" Ajisai asked innocently, confused.
"Just don't! You're still a kid!" Tetsu nearly pleaded, still covering the little girl's eyes.
------------------------------
[Announcement: A New Novel Has Been Added!
The Puppet Maker in the World of Naruto
A man who is a scientist, researcher, and expert mechanic in robotics dies in a massive explosion that occurs in his laboratory while developing an advanced robot project. However, instead of experiencing death as he thought, the man awakens in another world—a strange place with vast stretches of desert.
There, the man is surrounded by people who can jump high, calling themselves ninjas. The confusion he initially felt grows as he realizes that this world is not unfamiliar to him. This is the world of Naruto! However, there is one thing that surprises him.
"Isn't this Sunagakure? Why am I not in Konoha? This poorest village... Oh my God, this is serious!"
Now, in the midst of a new life filled with danger and uncertainty, the scientist must find a way to survive in Sunagakure, a harsh place full of limitations. With his robotic knowledge, can the man change his fate in this ninja world, or will he fall along with the village?]
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