Rika walked over and saw the dazed Nagao Kanji. She couldn't help but chuckle and said, covering her mouth with her hands, "Hello, I'm Rika Akaname, a clerk at the Ninja Tool Shop. The boss sent me to pick you up."
"Hello, Miss Akaname!" Nagao Kanji came back to his senses and said with an embarrassed look, "I am Nagao Kanji from Anmaruko Village. I hope you'll guide me from now on!"
"Oh!... Maruko, from now on I'll call you Maruko-kun, okay?" Rika winked playfully.
"Ah~" Mitarashi Anko couldn't help but melt a little. The story was developing too fast — she was already calling him Maruko right after meeting him?
[Looking at Rika's face that suddenly came closer, Nagao Kanji nodded shyly, his expression simple yet endearing.
After completing the village registration, Akaname Rika and Nagao Kanji entered the village. It was just when the last rays of the setting sun disappeared over the horizon and the lights of Konoha began to glow.
Nagao Kanji, clutching his bag, followed Akana Rika closely, looking slightly nervous. Rika slowed down her pace and cheerfully explained the village's customs, culture, shops, and local delicacies to him.]
Mitarashi Anko twisted her neck, shifted her sitting posture, and continued reading.
She felt that every movement of the heroine made people feel warm and pleasant.
[The young man from the countryside, Nagao Kanji, was exactly a head taller than Rika. The two of them walking side by side seemed like a perfect match.
Kanji was unfamiliar with Konoha, and Rika's lively and cheerful personality eased his nervousness.
Day after day, as time passed, a tender feeling quietly sprouted in Akaname Rika's heart. In her daily work, she began to reveal her affection from time to time.
Although Kanji also had a good impression of Rika, he couldn't forget his former secret crush, Satomi.]
Mitarashi Anko reacted strongly when she read this. "What? Isn't Rika the heroine? Maruko actually likes someone else?"
Anko almost fell off the tree from shock. She steadied herself and continued reading.
[One autumn night, Nagao Kanji received an invitation from the Anmaruko Village Alumni Association and went to a local tavern.
After entering, the waiter led Kanji to a private room. He stepped inside and froze, shouting in disbelief, "Somi!"
"Kanji," Rimi smiled and teased, "What are you standing there for? Come in!"]
Seeing this, Mitarashi Anko snorted. "This Satomi must be one of those fake, sweet types! Maruko actually likes her? What kind of taste is that?"
[After greeting everyone in the room, Kanji was surprised to see Rika Akana there as well. "Rika, why are you here?"
Mikami Kenichi quickly answered, "Rika and Satomi are friends. They came together. Come on, have a drink!"
Kenji, Mikami Kenichi, and Sekiguchi Satomi had been close friends during their school days. Five years after graduation, their reunion was filled with excitement.
At the party, Rika Akaname soon noticed that Kanji liked Satomi.
That subtle gaze between them pricked her heart slightly.
Still, Rika comforted herself, thinking that Satomi seemed more interested in Mikami.]
As a woman, Satomi quickly sensed Rika's feelings. After thinking for a moment, she asked Kanji, "It's been five years since we last met. So, do you have someone you like?"
"Ah!" Kanji straightened up immediately, stammering, "Not yet… you…"
"Ah, what a coincidence!" Satomi laughed cheerfully, grabbing Rika's hand. "Rika is also single! Why don't you two—"
"No need!" Kanji blurted out, startling everyone. He lowered his head, muttering, "I can manage… on my own."
Rika froze on the spot.]
The story ended there, and Mitarashi Anko nearly went mad.
"What kind of ending is that?! Where's the rest of the story?!" Anko shouted, frustrated.
She sighed deeply. Although unwilling, she had to accept it.
Closing the notebook, Mitarashi Anko leapt down lightly from the treetop.
"This notebook must belong to those three girls…" she muttered, examining the cover.
At the campus festival, students were joyfully running their stalls.
Mitarashi Anko looked around and soon spotted familiar faces near Class A's stand.
Yumiko, Chiki, and Natsuko were sitting by their booth, introducing snacks to customers.
Mitarashi Anko strode over and greeted them with a grin, "Hello, three red-eyed rabbits!"
"Uh…"
The three nearly screamed when they saw her. Yumiko froze, trembling. "A-Anko-senpai… w-what do you want?"
Seeing their fear, Anko waved it off with a carefree smile. "Relax! I just came to ask — which of you dropped this notebook?"
She showed them the blue-covered notebook.
Yumiko quickly shook her head. "It's not mine."
Chiki and Natsuko also shook their heads.
Anko frowned in disappointment. If it wasn't theirs, how was she supposed to read the rest of the story?!
"Then do you at least know whose it is?" she asked hopefully.
All three shook their heads again.
In truth, they knew it belonged to Kirito, but they couldn't tell anyone about what had happened earlier.
With a sigh, Mitarashi Anko tucked the notebook away and walked off, clearly dissatisfied.
Meanwhile, Kirito pulled Ino and Sakura along until they finally stopped by the ninja tool storage room.
Kirito asked, "Are you two all right?"
Ino had been running in clogs the whole way. She crouched down, rubbing her scraped feet, and said with a frustrated pout, "Ugh, I dressed up so nicely today, what a waste. But still… thanks. If it weren't for you, I would've been in trouble."
Kirito said casually, "Just consider it thanks for the lunch box. Besides, it's my job anyway."
Sakura looked at Ino squatting on the floor, feeling oddly touched. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Ino-pig! Next time, stay out of trouble, okay? Don't meddle in other people's fights!"
Ino snorted but stayed silent.
Seeing the awkward air between them, Kirito didn't bother mediating. "All right, I've got to continue patrolling. You two should head back."
After giving his instructions, he turned to leave.
"Ah, Kirito-kun, wait!" Sakura called out and bowed slightly. "Thank you for today."
Kirito smiled faintly. "You should thank Ino." Then he waved and hurried off, not waiting for their reaction.
However, when Kirito found a quiet spot to rest and opened his schoolbag, he froze.
The bag was open. The notebook with his novel draft — gone!
"What the hell?! Where is it?" Kirito's face darkened, and he immediately sprinted back toward the spot where the fight had happened.
End of the chapter.