Chapter 36: Sasuko, Do You Have a Fever?
Yu's gentle gaze left Sasuko momentarily speechless. She certainly knew Yu was thinking of her, but... she really didn't need any friends.
"Fine..." Sasuko reluctantly compromised, tugging Yu's clothes with her small hand. "Can Yu tell me who it is? A boy or girl?"
"Secret~" Yu pressed his index finger to his lips, blinking mysteriously. "Consider it a little surprise."
Sasuko pouted: "Okay then..."
But turning around, her eyes lit up as she immediately clung to him again, looking up expectantly: "Then about what we discussed earlier—can I sleep with you tonight?"
Yu affectionately tapped Sasuko's forehead, saying helplessly: "How old are you now..."
"I won't be able to sleep tonight~" Sasuko wrinkled her small nose, her eyes instantly misting over with a pitiful expression.
Yu couldn't resist that, his heart immediately softening: "Just for tonight."
"Mm!" Sasuko immediately let go, happily running to grab her little pillow before heading to Yu's room.
Yu shook his head helplessly and headed toward the bathroom. As water sounds began splashing, Sasuko was already rolling around excitedly in Yu's bedroom.
She hugged her fluffy pillow, tossing and turning on the bed.
When was the last time she slept with Yu? The memory was somewhat fuzzy—she only remembered that warm embrace being so comforting.
When Yu entered wearing pajamas, Sasuko's eyes immediately brightened.
"Yu! Over here, over here!" She knelt by the bedside, patting the mattress with her small hands, eyes sparkling. "You sleep on the outside, I want the inside!"
"Be good when sleeping, no kicking off covers." Yu instructed while lying down on the outer side.
"I know~ I'm the most well-behaved~" Sasuko promised earnestly, yet clung to him the moment he got under the covers.
Yu casually picked up a jutsu scroll from the nightstand, studying it carefully under the soft lamplight.
Sasuko curled up beside him, staring intently at his focused profile.
Gradually, her eyelids began to droop. Finally unable to resist sleepiness, her long lashes trembled a few times before peacefully closing.
Under the lamp's yellow glow, Yu noticed the little one beside him was sleeping soundly.
He carefully tucked Sasuko's covers before turning off the light and lying down.
But shortly after closing his eyes, a soft little hand "smacked" right onto his face.
Yu helplessly opened his eyes to see Sasuko sleeping spread-eagled, mumbling dream talk.
Just as he moved that troublesome little hand away, Sasuko rolled over again, hugging his arm like an octopus.
"Mm... blonde... you..." Sasuko murmured incoherently, her little feet kicking off most of the covers.
Yu sighed and covered her with the blanket again.
...
As it turned out, children also liked telling little fibs.
Throughout the entire night, he was like a dutiful night watchman—either covering Sasuko with blankets or moving her hands and feet off himself.
When dawn broke on the horizon, Sasuko finally settled down. She curled up like a satisfied little cat, her pink lips slightly parting with each breath, making even breathing sounds.
Even Yu, with his powerful mental strength, was exhausted from the ordeal.
"Finally can get some sleep..." Yu gazed at Sasuko's peaceful sleeping face, letting out a long breath before gently closing his somewhat tired eyes.
Two hours later, morning light filtered through the curtain gaps onto the bed.
Sasuko drowsily opened her eyes to find Yu sleeping quietly beside her.
His handsome profile looked especially attractive in the morning light, his long lashes casting faint shadows.
Sasuko unconsciously held her breath, moving closer as if bewitched.
Her heart was beating fast, her gaze locked onto those thin lips...
Sasuko leaned even closer. Getting nearer and nearer to those lips, close enough to feel Yu's warm breath...
At this critical moment, Yu suddenly rolled over!
"!"
Sasuko was startled, nearly bouncing off the bed.
She hurriedly shrank back to the inner side, her small face flushed red, her heart pounding as if it might burst from her chest.
Sasuko couldn't explain why she'd done that. Though she'd seen this face thousands of times, at that moment she seemed possessed, unable to control her desire to get closer, and closer... until Yu suddenly turned over, snapping her out of her trance in panic.
She held her breath, looking at Yu's sleeping back, her heartbeat still unsettled as the bedsheet rose and fell with her breathing.
Sasuko bit her lower lip and, like a thief, quietly extended her small hand along the bedding edge.
When her fingertips touched Yu's clothes hem, she immediately held her breath, the warmth transmitted through her fingertips making her cheeks burn.
This time, Sasuko made no more mischief, just quietly gripping Yu's clothes, listening to her own "thump thump thump" heartbeat, afraid of waking the sleeping Yu.
It wasn't until midday sun filtered through the curtains onto the bedsheet that Yu slowly opened his sleepy eyes.
"Mm..." He lazily stretched, only then noticing Sasuko beside him staring with round eyes. "Morning, Sasuko."
Sasuko hurriedly released the clothes hem she'd been holding, her face slightly red: "It's... it's already noon..."
"Oh... then good afternoon." Yu corrected, suddenly noticing Sasuko's flushed face and becoming more alert. "Sasuko, why is your face so red?"
Sasuko hastily covered her burning cheeks, her gaze wandering: "The... the blanket was too thick... I got hot!"
Yu puzzledly felt the blanket, then looked at the falling autumn leaves outside: "That shouldn't be right, it's already late autumn..." He reached toward Sasuko's forehead. "You're not running a fever, are you?"
"I am not!" Sasuko shrank back like a startled rabbit.
Yu found it amusing and couldn't help teasing her: "Yes, yes, this blanket is indeed 'too thick'~"
"Yu is so annoying!" Sasuko grabbed her pillow and threw it at his face. But having lain down too long, she lost her balance and tumbled right into Yu's arms, making even her ears turn red.
Yu suddenly felt the abnormal body temperature of the person in his arms, his heart tightening: "You really do have a fever?"
Without another word, his slender fingers glowed with blue light as he precisely touched Sasuko's smooth forehead.
Cool chakra flowed in like a stream. Sasuko felt that inexplicable heat within her body being gradually soothed away.
"Whew..." Seeing Sasuko's complexion gradually return to normal, Yu finally relaxed.
He gently ruffled Sasuko's soft hair, saying warmly: "Lie still, I'll get you some water."
With that, he got out of bed and headed toward the kitchen in his slippers.
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