In the living room, the two met each other's eyes.
Isaribi instantly froze upright, her face already flushed, the redness visibly deepening.
"Ao… Aoba!"
She couldn't stand up right now.
Aoba hadn't expected Isaribi to be in the living room; he thought she'd at least be in her bedroom.
"Ahem!", He cleared his throat, then said, "Anko-nee is a bit tired, she might take a while to wake up."
"That's fine, I'll take care of my sister," Isaribi kept her head bowed; Aoba couldn't read her expression.
"Mm, then I'll leave Anko-nee in your care. I'll head off now," After saying that, Aoba started to walk out.
Isaribi didn't say to stay for dinner or anything, nor did she get up to see him out.
Aoba understood. After all, there are times when one can't easily stand up.
Mutual understanding.
Right now Isaribi was surely at her most fragile.
After leaving Anko's house, Aoba realized it was almost dark outside.
Konoha Street bustled with people; the interplay of light and shadow slowly brightened with lamps.
He didn't go home immediately.
Aoba had originally thought a kimono was just an ordinary gift like other clothes, so he'd bought quite a few.
Besides Ino, Tenten and the others, he'd also bought some for Uchiha Mikoto, even for Kin and Yugito.
Taking advantage of the time, Uchiha Mikoto should be off work; he'd deliver it to her, leave after handing it over, and explain properly.
He walked through the Uchiha district like he'd done it a hundred times and arrived at Uchiha Mikoto's door.
Just as Aoba was about to knock, inside the house Uchiha Mikoto was in the kitchen preparing dinner, though she looked somewhat absent-minded.
Hearing the knock outside, Uchiha Mikoto snapped back to attention.
Although she wondered who would be visiting at this hour, she quickly responded, wiping her hands on her apron.
"Coming!"
She opened the door, and upon seeing the visitor's face, the polite smile on her lovely face instantly turned into a heartfelt one.
"Aoba!"
Aoba smiled in return, "Am I disturbing you, Aunt Mikoto?"
"No, no, come in."
Uchiha Mikoto warmly welcomed him.
But Aoba didn't go in; he shook his head and said, "No need, Aunt Mikoto. I actually came because I have something to give you."
He proceeded to hand over the gift in his hand.
"Aunt Mikoto, this is for you."
"What is this?"
Uchiha Mikoto took the ornately decorated gift box, puzzled.
"A kimono."
Aoba got straight to the point.
At that moment, he clearly felt Uchiha Mikoto in front of him stiffen slightly.
Then he saw the head of the Uchiha clan, who could maintain composure no matter the pressure, instinctively raise a hand to cover her mouth and nose.
Her slightly trembling eyes betrayed her shock.
"A kimono…"
Uchiha Mikoto tried hard to control her emotions and swallowed.
"Aoba, this… I can't accept this gift!"
She reflexively wanted to push the box away.
If she accepted Aoba's feelings, what would people in the village think of Aoba?
After all, she already had children, and her child was friends with him, it would surely affect Aoba's reputation.
"Aunt Mikoto, you've misunderstood."
Aoba saw that Uchiha Mikoto must have misunderstood and hurriedly explained.
"Huh?"
Uchiha Mikoto was stunned.
Aoba awkwardly scratched his head and explained plainly, "When I bought it I didn't know there was a special meaning when a boy gives a girl a kimono. I'd already bought them though, and it'd be awkward not to give them out."
"…"
Uchiha Mikoto's hand, which had been pushing the box away, silently withdrew. Looking at the gift in her hands, her emotions were complicated.
"How did you come to know then?"
"Ino told me…", Aoba answered honestly.
"I-I see…"
For some reason, after hearing his explanation and realizing it was a misunderstanding, Uchiha Mikoto didn't feel much relief.
'It turns out I have been making a big deal out of nothing…'
Uchiha Mikoto felt something lodged in her chest, making her feel a bit gloomy.
She didn't understand why she felt that way.
'Am I angry?'
'I am, after all, a mother of two…'
'This is ridiculous.'
"Aunt Mikoto?"
The boy's puzzled voice rang in her ear, and she felt as if a hand gently shook her. She immediately collected herself and restrained her emotions.
"What's the matter, Aoba?"
"Nothing, I just saw you zoning out. If you have concerns, I can switch to another gift. I also bought some food back."
It had actually been Anko who bought it. On the way back Anko had picked up a lot of local specialties.
If he gave some of those to Uchiha Mikoto, Anko wouldn't mind.
"What did you say?"
Uchiha Mikoto suddenly widened her eyes and clenched the gift box tightly.
That made Aoba, who had meant to take the box back, freeze with his hand in midair.
"This…"
Uchiha Mikoto glared at him, clearly angry, "Gifts that have been given, you can't just take them back!"
Aoba didn't dare argue; she rarely got angry with him, and now even her Sharingan seemed to be flashing.
"I only worried you might not like it, Aunt Mikoto."
"How could that be? Anything Aoba gives, I like."
The Sharingan faded, and Uchiha Mikoto's face regained the usual gentle smile, as if the earlier anger had never existed.
She took the boy's hand and said softly, "I will accept this gift."
"…Okay."
Aoba still felt a bit puzzled inside.
"Aoba, since you're here, why not stay and have dinner with us?"
Uchiha Mikoto held onto his hand, not letting go.
Aoba felt that if he even nodded a little, she might drag him in for sure.
"No, I still have things to do at home."
"Could it be that you're going to give kimonos to other girls?"
Aoba felt the grip on his hand tighten a few degrees. He didn't answer that question and instead proposed another time.
"Aunt Mikoto, how about I come again tomorrow? That way it won't be so rushed and I can help with preparations."
Uchiha Mikoto realized she hadn't expected him to visit and hadn't prepared much to serve. She nodded and released his hand.
But before Aoba could say any farewell, Uchiha Mikoto suddenly leaned in.
She lightly kissed the side of his lips.
"?"
Feeling Uchiha Mikoto's soft lips, Aoba was full of question marks, 'What does that mean?'
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