Escape from Konoha.

...Uh? What?

This silence, how should I put it, is like an important hidden hint in the game's plot.

If it's not triggered, the story cannot proceed smoothly to the next step.

Therefore, it is impossible to get away with it.

But is this really a good idea?

I don't know how to explain the wonderful feeling that has just arisen in my heart.

Proposing marriage or something?

No, I had no idea the clothes had such implications, so I just need to keep a calm mind.

This is just a testimonial between friends.

But there's still a sense of guilt about...blasphemy.

I shouldn't have said that one extra word.

The one who made himself lose face was himself.

Shiraishi cleared his throat and pointed to the kimono, saying, "Fujimura-sensei, bring that kimono over here. I want to buy it."

Fujimura smiled and, following Shiraishi's instructions, took down the kimono that Ruri had chosen and wrapped it up.

"Chiba-kun, this kind of clothing only becomes truly meaningful when a boy personally hands it to a girl."

"Ugh, stop being so nosy!" Shiraishi retorted, annoyed.

Ruri's gaze towards Chunin Fujimura-sensei softened, revealing a hint of satisfaction.

Finally, I watched as Shiraishi and Ruri, carrying the kimono, left the clothing store.

"Young people these days are really amazing. But if you're going to get married, Chiba-kun, are you planning to marry into the Uchiha clan?"

Fujimura remarked that Ruri was not only a genius of the Uchiha clan, but also said to be extremely wealthy. If they were to get married, the man would be more likely to marry into the family.

But it's still too early for that, like getting married.

◎

The next day arrived.

Shiraishi awoke from a dazed state.

Because of what happened yesterday, I tossed and turned in bed all night and couldn't sleep well. I felt extremely embarrassed.

Thinking about how I gave Ruri a kimono with special meaning after returning yesterday, I felt incredibly guilty.

Although I kept telling myself that it didn't have any special meaning, it was just pure friendship.

But is that really the case?

Because after I placed the item in Liuli's hands, I didn't even look at her expression. I only remember that I ran back to the laboratory in a very disheveled manner.

Even during last night's experiment, I became distracted and kept making mistakes.

This strange feeling is truly complex and hard to describe.

I've cleared my head of all those random thoughts. The most important thing now is work, not letting my mind wander to irrelevant things.

But the more this is the case, the more we care about what happened yesterday.

What will Liuli think?

Would she think it was a marriage proposal?

That's so strange, they're only twelve years old according to their biological age...

Will I be seen as frivolous?

Will I be disliked? Or liked? Or will I feel nothing at all?

"what……"

One idea after another flooded his mind, making his head feel like it was about to explode.

Shiraishi opened his mouth, took a heavy breath, and tried to calm himself down.

And just like that, the morning passed by in a blur.

This is so frustrating.

Just as Shiraishi was agonizing over this—

The courtyard outside.

A maid walked up to Liuli, who was leisurely feeding the fish by the pond, and whispered a few words in her ear.

After hearing this, Liuli nodded to the maid.

The maid left, and soon she returned with a girl dressed in white.

The girl, with pure white pupils, looked around the unusually large mansion with curiosity; it was Ayane.

"Go down."

Liuli glanced at the maid.

"Yes."

The maid bowed slightly and left, leaving Ruri and Ayane alone there.

"Is this your home, Ruri? I've heard Shiraishi-kun mention it before, but seeing it in person is even more breathtaking than I imagined."

Ayane walked over and said with a smile.

"It's nothing, just a normal size. I don't think it would surprise you."

Liuli continued to scatter some food to feed the fish in the pond, watching them swim quickly and splash water as they competed for the food.

"Also, put away that fake smile of yours, and stop putting on an act in front of me. You should know that I don't fall for that."

After that, Ruri said something bluntly, her sharp gaze fixed on Ayane.

"Liuli, what are you talking about? I don't quite understand..."

Liuli disappeared from her sight halfway through her sentence, and her words were cut off.

Ruri stood there with her arm around Ayane's throat, but she was unable to make any further moves.

Ayane gently placed the middle and index fingers of her right hand on Ruri's heart.

"Is this all you're relying on? A soft fist technique that combines natural energy?"

Ruri asked Ayane with great interest.

During her month in Konoha, Ayane has indeed grown in some way.

Although it is still impossible to observe exactly how much the power of Gentle Fist can be enhanced after merging with natural energy, even if Ayane had activated her Byakugan and could catch a glimpse of her, she wouldn't have been able to react so quickly in the past.

"As expected, you are the type of person I least want to deal with. Not only your abilities, but also your personality, you just don't get along with me."

Ayane's smile vanished completely, and she sighed in a helpless tone.

"each other."

Ruri removed her hand from Ayane's throat.

Ayane also withdrew her two fingers.

It appeared to be an evenly matched battle, but Ayane still dared not be careless, as this was someone whose growth rate surpassed her own.

If you become complacent because of this achievement, you will only end up suffering the consequences.

"Speaking of which..."

Seeing that Ruri no longer had the desire to fight, Ayane breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Ruri with a strange expression.

"What's wrong? Is there something wrong with me?"

"No, I wanted to ask if today is a special day for your Uchiha clan?"

As one of only two powerful ninja clans in Konoha with the ability of bloodline limits, Ayane wouldn't dare say she knows the Uchiha clan inside and out, but she should know a little about them if it's a special occasion.

But she didn't remember what special day it was for the Uchiha clan.

Why do you ask that?

When Ayane heard Ruri's question, she pointed to the light blue kimono that Ruri was wearing, which was the right size for her. Although her hair was down, she was already dressed very formally.

"Your clothes..."

"This? What does it have to do with anything?"

"Isn't this the kind of clothing you'd only wear for important festivals or holidays?"

Ayane voiced the question that had been bothering her.

No matter how you look at it, suddenly wearing a kimono on this day feels strangely out of place.

"This is none of your business, mind your own business. Besides, why should I explain it to you?"

Liuli sat by the pond, frowned, and stopped feeding the fish.

"I knew we wouldn't get along."

Ayane was not surprised at all by Ruri's extremely cold reaction; on the contrary, she found it reasonable and felt that this was the true nature of Ruri.

The fact that I remained calm and composed during the mission was simply because I was adhering to my responsibilities as a team player.

However, since it's currently vacation time, the conflict has surfaced.

What brings you here?

Ruri asked Ayane why she had come here.

It's obvious without even thinking that Ayane didn't come here to find him.

Therefore, the purpose is self-evident.

"I just came here to check on my classmates and catch up with them."

"Boring. He's in the lab, go find him yourself."

Can I roll my eyes?