Chapter 43: Sasuko Should Be Asleep by Now
Yu raised an eyebrow at Sasuko suddenly acting spoiled in front of him, unable to help asking: "Why do you want me to sleep with you again?"
Sasuko stubbornly tugged at his clothes, her small face tense: "I'm about to start school..." Her voice carried indescribable grievance, as if going to school was some life-and-death separation.
Seeing Yu remain silent, she immediately deployed her ultimate weapon: "Please~" Her soft loli voice drew out the word, her big eyes blinking repeatedly.
Yu rubbed his forehead helplessly: "Going to school doesn't mean you can't come home, and you'll still be home after school and on holidays, right?"
"Yu~" Sasuko persistently tugged and shook his sleeve, her small mouth pouting enough to hang a bottle from, "just tonight..."
Seeing Yu's continued hesitation, Sasuko's face immediately fell, her big eyes misting over: "Could it be... that Yu doesn't like me anymore?"
Her voice carried a subtle tremor, her eyes visibly reddening:
"You can't even agree to such a small request..."
Yu looked at Sasuko who was about to cry in front of him, his heart softening.
Sasuko had been particularly clingy since childhood, and the situation worsened after her parents left. It was fine now while she was young—cute and innocent in her ignorance—but when she grew older...
Thinking of this, he couldn't help feeling somewhat troubled.
But facing those eyes brimming with tears, all his lecturing words stuck in his throat.
"How could I not like you..." Yu sighed softly, crouching down to meet her eyes, his fingertip gently wiping away the teardrops at the corner of her eyes, "it's just that you needs to learn to be more independent."
But Sasuko took the opportunity to throw herself into his arms, her small face buried in his shoulder as she said muffledly: "I don't care... I just want you to stay with me..." Warm tears had already soaked his clothes.
Yu helplessly patted Sasuko's back, about to compromise: "Just tonig..."
Suddenly he had a flash of inspiration—since Sasuko was so afraid of being alone, why not have Naruko move in too?
The more Yu thought along these lines, the more feasible it seemed: Naruko was also living alone in an apartment. If she moved in, she could keep Sasuko company at night.
This way Sasuko could gradually learn independence without feeling lonely.
"Sasuko," Yu gently suggested, "what if we had Naruko move in with us too?" He carefully observed the reaction of the little girl in his arms. "That way you'd have company at night..."
Before he could finish, Sasuko suddenly raised her head. Her previously teary eyes were now wide with alarm: "No!" Her voice was so loud it startled Yu.
She gripped Yu's collar tightly, her small face flushing red: "I only want Yu! I don't want that little dummy!" She buried her face back in Yu's embrace.
Yu said in surprise: "Eh, isn't Naruko your friend?"
Sasuko buried her face even deeper, her muffled voice coming from within Yu's embrace: "That dummy isn't really..."
She certainly didn't have this kind of friend who was always thinking about "stealing her thunder"! Every time she saw Naruko smiling so brilliantly at Yu, Sasuko felt suffocated with frustration.
Yu looked at the stubborn little one in his arms and sighed helplessly yet indulgently: "Alright, alright, we won't invite her."
His slender fingers gently combed through Sasuko's soft hair: "But Sasuko must promise me to get along well with Naruko at school, okay?"
Sasuko pouted and reluctantly "hmph"ed, then looked up with her reddened face: "Then will you agree? Tonight..." Her pupils were full of Yu's reflection, carrying stubborn determination to not give up until she achieved her goal.
Looking at this persistent little appearance, Yu knew that if he didn't agree tonight, he'd probably be pestered by her until dawn.
"..."
"..."
After a long silence, Yu finally surrendered, gently pinching her small nose: "...just tonight."
Sasuko's eyes immediately lit up, her previously tear-stained face instantly blooming with a brilliant smile. The speed of her expression change made even Yu raise an eyebrow.
"Hehe, I knew Yu was the best~"
Yu helplessly pinched her tear-stained cheeks: "Go take a bath now, it's already very late."
"Oh oh, okay!" Sasuko immediately grabbed her little pajamas—pink ones with bear patterns. She ran toward the bathroom clutching her sleepwear, her slippers making "patter patter" sounds on the floor.
Yu rested his chin in his hand, watching that cheerful figure and couldn't help falling into thought:
Was he really spoiling Sasuko too much? But every time he faced those teary eyes, all his principles would unconsciously give way...
The sound of rushing water came from the bathroom, mixed with Sasuko's off-key humming.
Yu sat on the bed, shook his head, and slowly exhaled.
This time Sasuko bathed unusually quickly. Before long, she bounced out of the bathroom with her wet black hair. Water droplets from her hair tips fell onto her bear-patterned pajamas, spreading dark water stains.
"Sigh," Yu couldn't help rubbing his forehead upon seeing this, "why did you come out without drying your hair?" He turned to take a soft towel from the wardrobe and beckoned to Sasuko, "Come here."
Sasuko cheerfully bounced to sit on the bedside, her two pale little feet swinging in the air.
Yu's slender fingers moved through her wet hair with gentle movements.
The towel absorbed the moisture, and Sasuko comfortably narrowed her eyes, unconsciously humming an off-key tune.
"Happy?" Yu couldn't help pinching her rosy cheeks.
Sasuko just smiled without answering, the happiness on her small face impossible to hide.
After drying the moisture, Yu's palm glowed faintly with chakra, warm airflow flowing between his fingers.
He gently played with Sasuko's long hair, the strands floating in the warm breeze, carrying a faint soapy fragrance.
"Done." Yu withdrew his chakra and ruffled Sasuko's fluffy hair, "now you can sleep."
But Sasuko suddenly threw herself into his arms, nuzzling her small face against his chest: "Yu, I love you the most~"
Yu gently hugged her in his arms, then released her: "I still have some things to handle. You sleep first. I'll come over when I'm done."
Sasuko immediately nodded obediently, the small lamp casting a warm glow on her face: "Oh oh, then go ahead with your work. I'll wait for you~"
"Don't wait," Yu's expression turned stern as he flicked her forehead with his finger, "sleep when you're tired, understand?"
Sasuko covered her forehead, pouting as she nodded. Even after Yu's figure disappeared behind the door, her big eyes remained fixed on the doorway.
In the study, under the dim lamplight, Yu concentrated on reading jutsu scrolls.
Time quietly passed among the dense characters. When he closed the scroll, the moon outside had already climbed halfway up the sky.
"Yawn—" Yu stretched, his bones making soft cracking sounds, then looked up at the wall clock.
At this hour, Sasuko should already be asleep, right?
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