"Big sis, Aoba-nii already walked far away," Hanabi tugged at Hinata, who stood frozen in place with a crimson face.
Hinata suddenly snapped back to her senses, realizing Aoba and Temari's figures had already disappeared.
She could only hold Hanabi's hand and head home.
'All because of Aoba-kun, suddenly saying something so embarrassing,' She didn't even have time to use the excuse she had prepared to keep him a little longer.
"Big sis, what did Aoba-nii say to you just now?", Hanabi asked curiously.
Hearing that, Hinata's face couldn't help but flush red again, "He didn't say anything."
"Then why's your face so red?"
"You're too young, you wouldn't understand."
"Eh?"
———
"Temari, where do you want to eat at dinner?"
After leaving the Hyuga compound, Aoba suddenly asked.
"Hm?"
Temari, who had been quietly following beside him, froze for a moment, "Weren't we going home?"
"We can go back later. I promised to spend time out with you two, but I ended up only keeping Hanabi company," Aoba said apologetically.
Temari pressed her lips together, then showed a gentle smile, "It's fine. Actually, I was pretty happy too."
Hearing that, Aoba stopped walking, turned around, and looked at Temari with eyes full of meaning.
Temari also stopped instinctively. Meeting his gaze, she felt a strange nervousness.
Under the dim streetlamp, the soft glow traced out the girl's silhouette completely.
Her sandy-blond hair fell down both sides of her forehead, tied loosely in four small tails at the back.
She always liked wearing more form-fitting clothes, a habit she had from Sunagakure.
On her upper body she wore a tight red-and-black short-sleeved shirt, its fitted design making her chest look even fuller.
On her lower body she had a gray-black mesh knee-length skirt, and her smooth, well-shaped calves were wrapped in fishnet stockings, adding a peculiar charm to her figure.
And Aoba's eyes felt as if they could see straight into Temari's heart.
This young girl was carrying pressure that didn't belong to her.
Aoba suddenly thought of the original story's Temari. Gentle and considerate too, but with her own temper.
If something displeased her, she'd say it outright, maybe even explode with anger.
But the Temari before him was overly compliant. Perhaps because her situation was different now.
In the original, even if Sunagakure was weak, it still stood on equal footing with Konoha. But now, it was more like a vassal village.
Temari grew uncomfortable under Aoba's gaze.
"Aoba?"
Aoba came back to himself but once again sank into thought.
He didn't know how to comfort Temari, how to ease her burden.
He already knew words alone wouldn't help.
After thinking for a while, since Temari was being so obedient, Aoba suddenly came up with an idea.
"Temari, why don't you curse at me once?"
"Eh?", Temari's eyes widened. She hadn't expected him, after spacing out for so long, to suddenly say something like that.
She was caught completely off guard, not knowing how to respond.
"Th-this… isn't good…"
"Cursing at someone for no reason…"
Aoba hesitated for a moment, then openly revealed his so-called perverted hobby, "Actually, I really like being cursed at by pretty girls."
He felt like he was throwing caution to the wind, but this was also to help Temari open her heart a little.
He absolutely wasn't a pervert.
"...", Temari was dumbfounded, staring at Aoba as if something inside her had just cracked.
"So… could you satisfy this little hobby of mine?", Aoba gave her a suitably expectant look.
"..."
Temari really didn't know what to do, 'Should I actually curse at him?'
'Aoba is a really good person. Good to me, good to Gaara too…'
After hesitating for a long time, Temari forced an awkward smile, "Do I even count as a pretty girl?"
"Of course."
Aoba smiled, "If even you don't count as a pretty girl, then who would?"
"...", Temari's cheeks turned slightly red, her beauty enhanced under the streetlight.
But she was already cornered. Avoiding Aoba's gaze, she forced herself to squeeze out a few words.
"You… you pervert!"
"Could you add a disgusted expression too?"
"..."
Temari suddenly thought of Yugito. Every time Yugito lifted her skirt, she always wore a disgusted expression.
She had seen it countless times.
'No wonder…"
So Temari imitated her, lifting her own skirt, putting on a disgusted look, and said, "You pervert!"
But she forgot one important thing, her skirt wasn't long…
It exposed her panties.
Aoba quietly turned his gaze aside, "Temari, you actually don't need to lift your skirt."
Temari looked down and instantly realized the problem.
Her face flushed red, she pressed down her skirt hard, and glared at Aoba with a mix of shame and anger.
This time it was genuine emotion.
Seeing this, Aoba couldn't help but laugh, then asked, "As an apology, what do you want to eat tonight?"
Temari stared at him for a while before softly replying, "I like tofu…"
"Alright, I know a restaurant with excellent tofu dishes."
Saying that, Aoba led Temari toward the commercial street.
As they walked, Aoba suddenly said, "Temari, I've only told you this. Don't tell anyone else."
"?", Looking at the somewhat awkward smile on his face, Temari paused, then suddenly understood.
'This guy…'
Ever since she was little, she'd always acted as the big sister, working hard to maintain the relationship between her brother and father. This was the first time someone cared about what she thought.
Temari's lips curved up slightly. She stepped forward and, of her own accord, linked her arm with Aoba's.
"Aoba, you really are a good man."
Aoba: 'Why did I suddenly get hit with the good man card?'
———
Because they ate dinner outside, the two of them got back later than usual.
But Konan didn't say much about it.
———
[The Next Day, Afternoon]
After lunch, Aoba came to Anko's house.
Seeing the woman in front of him, wearing a red off-shoulder qipao paired with black shorts and pantyhose, his gaze grew strange.
"Anko-neesan, are you going out on a date with someone dressed like that?"
Anko rolled her eyes, "I bought this yesterday while shopping with Kurenai. Just trying it on."
"It really suits you."
Aoba praised her. It really did suit her.
He almost felt like saluting.
"Really?", Hearing his compliment, Anko smiled again, even spun around in front of him, and threw him a flirtatious wink, "Then, want to go out on a date with me?"
"Better not."
Aoba refused firmly.
Anko's smile froze, her eyes narrowing dangerously, "You looking down on me?"
"I came here for something serious."
"What serious thing?"
"To undo your curse mark."
[T/N: 🔥A new book is up— "Emiya in Honkai: Star Rail". I am releasing it from my second account(Ambitious_Guy) as I can't publish more books from this account(Max is 20). Make sure to check it out and support. Have a great read~🙇]
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