Chapter 37:
Sasuko lay stiffly on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Suddenly, she covered her eyes with her small hands in frustration.
"I'm such an idiot..."
Recalling her earlier embarrassing behavior, she wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
Just then, the door was gently pushed open. Yu entered carrying a cup of warm water.
He sat on the bedside, gently supporting Sasuko's back with one hand while bringing the cup to her lips.
"Here, drink some water."
Sasuko kept her head down, taking small sips of the warm water.
Through the glass, she could see Yu's focused gaze, making her heart race uncontrollably again.
Since she could remember, Yu had always been like this—considerate and meticulous, so gentle it made her heart feel hot.
Yu beside her keenly sensed Sasuko's temperature rising again.
He frowned slightly, immediately channeling his internal chakra. His fingertips glowed with blue light while releasing precise magnetic field perception, scanning Sasuko from head to toe once more.
"Strange..." Yu murmured to himself.
The examination results showed Sasuko was not only completely healthy, but her vital signs even exceeded normal standards.
He looked down at the person in his arms in confusion: "Sasuko, are you really not feeling unwell anywhere?"
Yu was completely baffled—what was wrong with her today?
Sasuko was taking small sips when she suddenly choked: "Cough cough... I told you it's because the blanket is too hot!" She widened her eyes and puffed up her cheeks, lightly punching Yu's chest.
"Are you an idiot?"
Though he didn't understand why Sasuko suddenly got so flustered, Yu still smiled and pinched her flushed little cheeks: "Alright, alright, I'm the idiot."
He placed the water cup on the nightstand, saying gently: "You should rest well today. Training is suspended for one day."
Sasuko nodded slightly, burying her face in the blanket: "Mm."
Yu looked at Sasuko thoughtfully.
Could it be...
For Sasuko, this blanket really was a bit thick?
He turned toward the wardrobe, searching for a thinner blanket.
Just as he was about to change the original blanket, Sasuko, who had been deeply inhaling the blanket's scent, panicked when she saw Yu about to change it. She immediately grabbed the blanket corner frantically: "No, no need to change! This blanket is just right for me!"
"Hmm?" Yu raised his eyebrows in confusion. "But didn't you just say..."
"I'm not hot anymore!" Sasuko hurriedly interrupted, snatching the new blanket and stuffing it messily beside the bed. "If I feel hot... I'll change it myself!"
???
Yu stood there stunned, completely puzzled.
He helplessly rubbed his temples and compromised: "Fine, but you must tell me if you feel uncomfortable."
"I'm going to buy lunch now. What would you like to eat?"
Sasuko poked half her head out from under the covers, blinking her big eyes: "Anything..." She paused, then added, "Just not ramen."
"Okay."
Yu formed a hand seal, and with a soft "poof," a shadow clone appeared in the room.
The original spoke to the clone: "Please go buy two portions of lunch, not ramen."
The shadow clone made an OK gesture, turned and leaped out the window.
Yu looked back at Sasuko still nestled in the blanket and couldn't help reminding her again: "I'll be in the study. Call me if you need anything."
.....
Yu's shadow clone leaped across rooftops.
Turning the street corner, a flash of gold entered his vision.
Golden twin tails bounced lively with each step, and on a porcelain doll-like delicate face, a pair of azure eyes sparkled.
Naruko in her little dress was pacing back and forth at the alley entrance, occasionally peeking around.
"Hey, Naruko." Yu gracefully landed behind her.
Naruko froze like someone hit pause, then spun around and burst into a brilliant smile.
"Yu-nii!"
"What are you doing here?" Yu smiled and ruffled her little head.
Naruko's fingers unconsciously twisted her dress hem, her toes drawing increasingly frantic circles on the ground: "I... I'm just playing around here..."
"All by yourself?"
"I... just got here!" Naruko blushed as she defended herself, not daring to admit she'd actually been wandering around here for most of the day.
She wanted to go to Yu-nii's house but didn't dare knock on the door. She'd been hesitating at this intersection for ages, even rehearsing her greeting lines dozens of times in her mind.
She quickly changed the subject: "So... where is Yu-nii going?"
"Sasuko is feeling a bit unwell today and is resting at home." Yu pointed toward the nearby food district. "I'm going out to buy her lunch."
The image of that black-haired girl immediately appeared in Naruko's mind.
No wonder she always seemed to cling to Yu-nii—it was because she had poor health... She immediately felt sympathetic.
"I see..." Naruko nodded, her azure eyes full of understanding.
Yu suddenly seemed to remember something and smiled with a suggestion: "By the way, didn't you say you wanted to visit my house? How about we go buy lunch together, then you can visit?"
Naruko was initially stunned, then her eyes lit up instantly: "Yes! I want to go!"
She jumped excitedly twice, then suddenly seemed to remember something and slowed her pace with a red face: "But... wouldn't that disturb Sasuko's rest..."
Yu smiled and ruffled Naruko's little head: "How could it be disturbing?"
He crouched down to meet Naruko's eyes: "Sasuko would definitely be thrilled to have a friend come play with her." He even deliberately lowered his voice: "Maybe once you arrive, her illness will get better right away~"
Naruko giggled at this, her cheeks blooming with a cute blush as she said quietly: "Really... really?"
"Of course!" Yu stood up and extended his hand toward her. "Come on, let's go pick out something delicious for Sasuko."
Naruko hesitated for a moment, then finally mustered the courage to place her small hand in Yu's palm, nodding with a red face: "Mm!"
Throughout the journey, that little mouth that usually chattered non-stop seemed under a silencing jutsu.
Though she had so much she wanted to say, whenever she met Yu-nii's gentle gaze, her head would go "buzz" and turn blank.
What's wrong with me?
...
Sasuko, lying on the bed, finally felt that inexplicable heat gradually subside. But whenever she caught Yu's lingering scent in the bedding, her heart would still ripple slightly.
Creak
The bedroom door was suddenly pushed open.
"Hi, Sasuko, guess who I brought?" Yu stood in the doorway with a brilliant smile on his face.
Sasuko's heart jumped, an ominous feeling arising.
She stared intently at the shadow behind Yu, her small face tense.
Seeing Sasuko's lack of response, Yu awkwardly cleared his throat but still tried to liven the atmosphere: "Ta-da!" Like performing magic, he pulled Naruko from behind him to the front. "Surprised?"
Sasuko's pupils contracted sharply as her body sat up abruptly, her voice rising an octave: "The blonde girl?! "
She had been so carefully on guard—how did this girl still manage to find her way to their home?
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