"Hmph! Aoba-nii is underestimating me too much. Do you think I'd get angry over something like this?", Karin couldn't help but place her hands on her hips, showing a dissatisfied expression.
But before Aoba could say anything else, Karin had already wrapped her arms around his neck from behind.
She rubbed her smooth and tender cheek against the side of his face.
Her voice was soft and delicate, "Being able to meet Aoba-nii is the greatest gift of Karin's life."
"So, no need for any gifts. As long as Aoba-nii can always stay by Karin's side, that's enough."
"...", For the first time, Aoba felt his conscience being condemned.
———
[At Noon]
Aoba had prepared a special scroll for recording ninjutsu and was about to head out.
"Karin, it's time to go," Aoba stood at the door, urging the dawdling Karin.
"Wait a sec! Wait a sec! I'm not done dressing yet!", Karin bounced around the sofa and finally found her black thigh-high socks in a corner.
She immediately sat on the sofa and carefully rolled the black thigh-high socks into a bundle.
Placing them in front of her fair, smooth little feet, her delicate little toes slid into them first.
As her calf stretched forward, her hands holding the socks slowly pulled backward.
Then the black thigh-high socks began wrapping around her taut little feet.
Passing her slender ankles, straight calves, then over her knees, they reached her thighs.
Bit by bit, they covered the exposed snowy white skin.
Finally, with a "snap" sound, the socks slightly sank into her thighs.
After that, she raised her other leg and quickly put on the other black thigh-high sock.
After getting dressed, she walked up to Aoba, twirled around, and asked with a smile, "Aoba-nii, want to try how it feels?"
The fair area between the black thigh-high socks and the shorts looked even more enticing under the sunlight.
Aoba wordlessly pinched her thigh, "Time to go."
"Hehe!", Karin changed into her shoes and naturally clung to his arm.
When the two of them were heading out.
They happened to bump into Uzumaki Kasui, who was cleaning at the doorway.
Uzumaki Kasui froze on the spot, "Karin… why are you coming out of Aoba's house?"
"She came over to nap," Aoba explained.
"This… Karin's troubling you again," Uzumaki Kasui's tone carried a hint of apology.
"I'm not a bother at all. I'm very obedient," Karin muttered discontentedly.
Aoba also smiled and patted her head, "That's right, Karin is very obedient."
After a few more casual exchanges, Aoba and Karin left together.
———
By the time they arrived at the agreed meeting spot.
Tenten and Sakura were already waiting there.
"Karin, you… Aoba!"
"You're here!"
Tenten's complaint hadn't even finished before she became excited again.
"Mm! Long time no see, Tenten," Aoba pinched the bun on her head the moment he saw her.
"You jerk, why do you always pinch my hair when we meet!", Tenten glared at him with slight annoyance.
But the corners of her mouth couldn't help but rise.
"Haha," Aoba just chuckled. After all these years of pinching, he had already gotten used to it.
He then looked at Sakura.
"Sakura…"
"Aoba! Long time no see," Sakura was also very happy now.
"Sakura," Aoba was a bit surprised, "You changed your hairstyle?"
"Mm!", Sakura twirled around in front of Aoba, showing off her high ponytail and asked, "This hairstyle is more suitable for battle. How is it? Does it suit me?"
"Looks great," Aoba replied with a smile.
That one sentence was enough.
Sakura's smile became even brighter.
"So, what are your plans for this afternoon?", After the greetings, Aoba asked about their plans.
Tenten tapped her chin, "We're planning to go watch a movie. I heard there's a movie called Princess Gale that's really popular right now, so we wanted to go see it together."
"Princess Gale?", Aoba was a bit surprised, 'Isn't that the storyline right after the Chuunin Exams?'
He thought about it and found it reasonable. That part of the story was meant to be the first installment of that movie.
He remembered that it was a manager who had commissioned Konoha to protect Koyuki Kazahana.
"Mm… but maybe we can't go now," Sakura said on the side.
"Why?" Aoba didn't understand.
"Because this movie is super popular. It might be impossible to buy a fourth ticket now," Tenten explained.
"This… then it was bad timing for me to come."
Aoba glanced at Karin, who had an "It's not my fault" expression.
She didn't even tell him in advance.
"Hmph! As long as you know," Tenten folded her arms, "So this afternoon, you better compensate us properly."
"No problem, I'll do everything Tenten ojou-sama says!"
The four of them, who hadn't hung out in a while, played together in the shopping district all afternoon.
———
As night gradually fell.
Since the three girls hadn't planned to eat dinner outside at the start, they had to go home.
"Tenten, Sakura, wait a sec," Aoba stopped Sakura and Tenten.
""What is it?""
Tenten and Sakura tilted their heads in unison, looking at Aoba in confusion.
He took out two scrolls from his clothes, "These are gifts I'm giving to you."
"Gifts?"
Tenten and Sakura happily accepted the scrolls.
"There are some very suitable ninjutsu techniques for you inside. Let me explain a bit…", Aoba gave a simple explanation of the effects of the two jutsu.
After listening, both Tenten and Sakura's mouths were wide open.
"Aoba… such important ninjutsu, are you really giving them to us?", Sakura's expression was a bit hesitant. This gift was too precious.
Aoba patted her head, "Ninjutsu like this only has value when used in the hands of a ninja."
"And we're all one family, there's nothing to hesitate about. If you two get stronger, I'll feel more at ease when you go out on missions."
"One… one family?", When Sakura heard this, her head suddenly felt dizzy, and her face flushed red.
Tenten's cheeks were also bright red, "I… I got it."
Aoba told them how to unlock the sealing technique on the scrolls and gave them a few more reminders.
The two left with dizzy heads.
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