"?"
Aoba's directness made Kurenai freeze for a moment.
So this guy really did notice she was pretending to be asleep that day.
'Damn it!'
She had planned to keep playing dumb forever, but she didn't expect him to bring it up at a time like this.
What exactly was he trying to do?
"You and Anko can do whatever you want, what does it have to do with me? Why would I be mad?"
Kurenai turned her face away. Even though her words were blunt and straightforward, her strangely quick breathing already showed that she was anything but calm.
"I see. But I actually hoped you'd be mad about it," Aoba sounded disappointed.
"What is that supposed to mean?", Kurenai didn't get it.
"Because when I heard Uncle Asuma confessed to you, I was actually pretty nervous."
"What?"
Kurenai's eyes went wide, then she quickly looked away in panic.
Seeing her cute reaction made Aoba smile before he asked curiously, "I heard Uncle Asuma has been chasing you for years. Why did you reject him?"
"What's there to ask. I don't like him, so of course I rejected him!", Kurenai answered awkwardly.
"Then who does Kurenai-nee like?", Aoba leaned in, pressing the question.
"I… who I like, what does it have to do with you?", Kurenai pushed him away and snapped.
But as soon as she said it, she regretted it, 'Was my tone too harsh?'
"…"
Sure enough, after she said that, Aoba went quiet.
He didn't say anything else, only letting out a sigh.
'Is this guy sad?'
Kurenai felt a little worried. She really wanted to know what kind of expression he was making.
Thinking that, she lifted her head slightly and looked with the corner of her eye, only to meet Aoba's sneaky grin.
The vein on her forehead throbbed.
"You really are getting more and more annoying!"
Kurenai reached out to grab his face, wanting to pull that smile right off him.
But he easily caught her wrist, not letting her move an inch.
"You… what are you trying to do?", Kurenai wanted to yank her hand back, but the serious look in Aoba's eyes made her freeze.
"Kurenai-nee, you should already know, right?", Aoba said seriously.
"K-know what?"
Kurenai couldn't help gulping. She felt whatever he was about to say definitely wouldn't be simple.
She suddenly wanted to run.
"It's… about how I like you!"
BOOM!
The moment Aoba said the words, Kurenai's mind exploded.
Her ruby-like eyes opened wide as she stared blankly at him, unable to speak.
Before, he only hinted vaguely at his feelings.
She could still play dumb or find excuses to dodge.
But saying it straight like this… he was forcing her to choose, wasn't he?
But…
'I am a pure-love believer!'
'I hate playboys the most!'
"Kurenai-nee, I like you. What's your answer?", Aoba looked straight into her eyes.
"I… I…" , Kurenai stammered for a long time but couldn't say anything.
She wasn't young anymore, but she couldn't be like Anko and just not care.
She wanted a love that belonged to her alone. Asuma truly liked only her, but she didn't like him.
And the person she liked was someone who had already been eaten by countless girls.
If she got together with him, calling herself a mistress would be flattering herself.
Counting Yakumo and those few little ones, she could probably rank well into the double digits.
Seeing her troubled look, Aoba let go of her wrist, "Was I too sudden?"
"Mm…", Kurenai lowered her head, "Can you let me think about it for a while?"
"It's fine. You can take as long as you want."
Aoba answered calmly, then shifted the topic, "Then I'll talk about the other serious matter."
"There… there's something else?"
Kurenai didn't want to keep talking. She just wanted to be alone and quiet right now.
Aoba nodded, "Next year, I'll be leaving your team."
"Leave? Why?", After freezing for a moment, Kurenai suddenly lifted her head, confused.
"Sensei told me that once the new year passes, he's going to pass the Hokage position to me. I should get the notification for the jonin meeting soon," Aoba explained helplessly.
"Hokage?"
Kurenai murmured, completely not expecting something like that, "Why so rushed…"
"No choice. I'm just too outstanding," Aoba joked lightly.
"But aren't you still a chunin?"
Kurenai spotted the flaw.
Aoba gave her a strange look, "Promoting someone to jonin is just one word from Sensei."
"Damn it, that's totally nepotism!"
Kurenai said, very unconvinced. She had no idea how long she worked before finally passing the special jonin exam and becoming a jonin.
"Then do you think my strength isn't enough to be a jonin? Or a Hokage?", Aoba looked amused.
Kurenai was speechless.
'True, this guy was stronger than me even back in the academy.'
"Alright, I've said everything I needed to say. I should head back."
Aoba stood up, "Kurenai-nee, next time we meet, don't think about running away the moment you see me."
He added that last line and prepared to leave.
Seeing this, Kurenai panicked and grabbed his wrist without thinking.
"Wait, don't… don't go yet."
"Mm? Something else?"
Aoba turned back, puzzled.
Kurenai bit her lip, her voice trembling, "You… you're about to leave. Can't you at least drink with me one last time?"
"Kurenai-nee, I'm just leaving your team, it's not like we'll never see each other again."
Aoba didn't know whether to laugh or cry. What "last drink", how unlucky that sounded, "If you want to drink with me, you can come find me anytime."
Kurenai pressed her lips together, still not letting go, "Then take it as a celebration for you!"
She knew this bastard. If she didn't go out of her way to see him, or bump into him by accident, the odds of him coming to find her were almost zero.
Just like today. If she hadn't run into him at the theater, he probably wouldn't have come at all.
'What a terrible playboy who toys with girls' feelings!'
Aoba hesitated, looked at the pot of liquor, then suddenly asked, "Kurenai-nee, how's your alcohol tolerance?"
"Huh?"
Aoba pointed at the liquor pot.
"Then… Kurenai-nee, if you finish this whole pot, will you get drunk?"
Kurenai: "?"
[🎉 Shoutout to Kaustup, Gonzalo, Tiago and Roger for joining patreon. Thank you very much.🤗]