The Daimyo's residence was as quiet as ever that morning.
The steward hurried through the corridors, his steps faster than usual.
"Your Lordship, an urgent report from the border."
The Daimyo's gaze lingered on the message for several seconds before he closed it without expression.
"Strengthen security around the residence. Double the number of hidden guards."
"Yes, Your Lordship."
"And one more thing." The Daimyo picked up the folding fan on the desk. "Tell the kitchen to double the supply of sweets again."
The steward froze.
"Your Lordship, the current supply is already more than sufficient..."
"Then prepare even more." The Daimyo opened his folding fan. "Shin-chan isn't particularly interested in lavish meals, but he never refuses sweets, pudding, or chocolate sticks."
After receiving the order to double the supply of sweets, the entire kitchen became busier than ever.
They made so many sweets each day that even the cooks couldn't help wondering whether the Daimyo's residence was preparing to open a sweets shop.
When Shin-chan discovered the change during his routine patrol, he froze as though he had arrived in paradise.
"What happened?"
The steward's expression remained perfectly composed. "This is a reward for Lord Nohara's excellent security work."
"Has my security work really been excellent?"
"Extremely excellent." The steward did not even blink as he said it. "Since your arrival, not a single security incident has occurred within the Daimyo's residence."
Shin-chan thought about it and found the logic flawless.
"Then today, Ai and I will develop a new way to eat sweets."
"A new... way to eat sweets?" The steward had a bad feeling.
"Mm. I've been thinking about it for several days." Shin-chan gestured with both hands. "For example, soaking matcha dango in tonkotsu ramen broth."
The steward's expression changed.
"Lord Nohara, perhaps sweets are better eaten separately..."
"How will we know without trying?" Shin-chan picked up a large number of sweets. "Tell the kitchen to make one extra bowl when they cook ramen for lunch."
"..."
Watching Shin-chan's retreating back, the steward felt that he might need to submit a "Kitchen Emergency Response Plan" to the Daimyo.
At lunchtime, Ai stared at the two bowls of tonkotsu ramen and the matcha dango in front of her for a long time.
"Young Master Shin-chan, this combination..."
"I invented it." Shin-chan sat cross-legged across from her, wearing the proud expression of an inventor presenting a magnificent achievement. "It's called the 'Deluxe Matcha Dango Tonkotsu Ramen Set.'"
"A deluxe... set?"
"You soak the matcha dango in the ramen broth for three seconds, then eat it in one bite."
Shin-chan picked up a dango and dipped it into the steaming tonkotsu broth. "See? The dango absorbs the savoury flavour of the broth, but it still tastes like dango inside."
As a princess who had received a proper court education since childhood and had been taught not to make even the slightest sound while using chopsticks, Ai's mind briefly stopped functioning.
"Does it... really taste good?"
"Super delicious."
Shin-chan stuffed the soaked dango into his mouth.
Seeing the blissful expression on his face, as though he were about to melt, Ai hesitated before picking up a dango with her chopsticks.
She gently lowered it into the ramen broth, removed it after only one second, then closed her eyes and took a small bite.
The slight bitterness of the matcha and the salty richness of the tonkotsu broth launched a fierce battle inside her mouth. Both flavours seemed to realise they had entered the wrong battlefield, yet neither was willing to retreat first.
"They... don't seem to go together very well."
"Really?" Shin-chan leaned over and looked at the remaining half of the dango in her bowl. "Then give it to me."
Before Ai could respond, Shin-chan had already picked up her bowl. With one sweep of his chopsticks, the half-eaten dango landed in his own bowl.
"Young Master Shin-chan, I already bit that one..."
"It's fine. The dango won't mind."
A faint pink colour quietly spread across Ai's ears. She lowered her head and concentrated on eating her ramen.
Half an hour later.
"I can't move."
Shin-chan lay on the tatami, his round stomach stretching his clothes into a small mound.
Chashu walked in from the courtyard and curiously pressed a paw against his stomach. Then the cat flicked its tail in disgust and walked away.
"One bowl of ramen, eight dango, and five chocolate sticks." Ai sat beside him, counting everything he had eaten for lunch. "Young Master Shin-chan, you're going to damage your stomach."
"I won't. My stomach is ninja-grade and can expand and contract." Shin-chan let out a full burp. "But I am a little stuffed."
He tried to roll over, but gave up halfway.
Looking at him, Ai finally couldn't hold back and laughed.
She left the room and returned several minutes later carrying a steaming cup of tea.
"This is digestive tea. The kitchen prepared it. They said drinking a cup after overeating will make you feel better." She knelt beside Shin-chan. "Be careful. It's hot."
Shin-chan accepted the cup and took a sip.
The slightly bitter taste of medicinal herbs spread through his mouth, and the bloated feeling in his stomach did ease a little.
"So bitter."
"You have to drink it even if it's bitter."
"Fine, fine."
Shin-chan tilted his head back and drank the remaining tea in one gulp.
As Ai watched him, her heart suddenly relaxed.
The previous night, she had passed by her father's study and overheard fragments of conversation from inside.
"The border."
"Kumogakure."
"Sunagakure."
"A declaration of war..."
After returning to her room, she had tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
Her mind was filled with descriptions of war she had read in books as a child.
Burning villages, displaced civilians, and ninja who would never return home.
Young Master Shin-chan was also a ninja—and one of Konoha's finest young ninja.
If war truly broke out, he would certainly be summoned back.
She had lain there for a long time before quietly leaving her room and walking to Shin-chan's guest chamber.
Through the thin paper door, she heard him mumble indistinctly in his sleep.
"Chocolate sticks... one more..."
She remained standing there for a long time, until a maid came looking for her.
After returning to her room, she had someone bring her a sewing box and some pale-blue cloth.
The next morning, Shin-chan noticed the dark circles beneath Ai's eyes.
"Ai, did you not sleep well?"
"Mm. I had a nightmare."
"What kind of nightmare?"
"I don't remember." Ai smiled. "I just didn't sleep well."
Shin-chan pushed a pudding toward her. "Eating pudding will make you happy."
"Young Master Shin-chan, did you take this from the kitchen...?"
"It was legally requisitioned by the Deputy Minister of Security while carrying out official duties."
"Who is the Deputy Minister of Security?"
"Chashu."
Ai saw the anticipation written all over his face, practically shouting, Hurry and eat it! It's super delicious!
She wanted to tell him about the things she had overheard the previous night, about what was happening at the border, and about the fear in her heart.
But in the end, she only said, "Thank you, Young Master Shin-chan."
Ai scooped up a spoonful of pudding and placed it in her mouth. The sweetness of strawberries and the fragrance of cream melted across her tongue.
"Is it good?"
"It's delicious."
Sunlight streamed through the window into Ai's room, falling across the unfinished protective charm.
~~~
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