"Liking someone doesn't mean you have to confess."
Minato casually pulled out an inequality. "Don't worry, I won't make Mikoto-nee uncomfortable."
Mikoto's cheeks puffed slightly. "What do you mean 'won't make me uncomfortable'? How could I not be uncomfortable knowing this?"
Minato's tone was helpless. "But you've been asking me about this all along, haven't you?"
"So? If I hadn't asked, would you have kept it hidden forever?" Mikoto pressed, a hint of playful indignation in her voice.
This indignation wasn't about Minato's feelings for her, but because his concealment had made her feel like she'd almost missed out on a lottery jackpot.
"I probably would have—" Minato's voice trailed off, and he chuckled awkwardly. "It's just... kind of embarrassing to talk about. And since you're older than me, I always figured you wouldn't be interested in someone like me."
"How could you think that?" Mikoto's heart leaped at his words, and her tone softened considerably. "Even though you're younger, you're more mature than I am, you know more than I do, and you're stronger than I am. I'm not blind—how could I not see how outstanding you are?"
"So, Mikoto-nee, are you angry because I hid this from you?"
"Hmm—not entirely." Mikoto pouted. "It just feels unfair! Minato-kun is so doting towards Kushina, but he treats me like just a normal friend."
Minato couldn't help but chuckle. "But if I were to act like a playboy in normal circumstances, wouldn't you just end up disliking me? Wouldn't you find it annoying, Mikoto-nee?"
"It's not exactly annoying, but it just doesn't feel right—though I'm still happy, of course. After all, you're so outstanding, Minato-kun." Mikoto looked conflicted and a little disappointed. "And if you're hiding this, doesn't that mean you've already made your choice?"
Minato remained silent. You can't rush these things.
Seeing his silence, Mikoto grew anxious herself. "That's right, isn't it?"
"I don't know." Minato shook his head helplessly. "Maybe it's because my talent is too great? Everything always goes my way, which makes it hard for me to learn the meaning of letting go."
"You..." Mikoto's face flushed, and an undeniable flicker of hope rose in her heart. "Then what do you plan to do?"
"What can I do?"
Minato couldn't help but smile. "I don't even know how Mikoto-nee feels about me."
"Well—" Mikoto pursed her lips. "What if... I like you too?"
"Hmm..."
Minato feigned deep thought. "I've heard that noble daimyos often have more than one wife..."
"Ah~ I see. So, Minato, you want to become a noble?"
Mikoto's smile turned dangerous, and she dropped her polite address, her eyes twinkling as she watched him. She looked as if she might pull a cleaver or a saw from behind her back at any moment.
Unfazed, Minato smiled back. "It was just a hypothetical. Do you really like me, Mikoto-nee?"
"Wh— why wouldn't I?" Mikoto retorted. "Didn't I tell you? I've always seen how excellent you are, Minato-kun."
Minato was momentarily taken aback. Mikoto's frankness surprised him.
"That's why I say it's unfair. You and Kushina have been childhood sweethearts since you were kids. How could I possibly compete?"
Mikoto looked somewhat dejected. "I know you're doing the right thing, but I wish I could be the one you firmly choose. Yet that would be unfair to Kushina—and would any girl truly be willing to share the person she loves?"
"I certainly couldn't do it. Honestly—Minato-kun is such a greedy man—"
Mikoto lowered her head, her voice fading.
"I'm sorry—"
Minato gently reassured her, "But Mikoto-nee, I don't think you need to worry so much. The future is still long, and none of us know what it holds."
"Hmm—"
Mikoto acknowledged him, but her spirits remained somewhat low.
"How about I show you a magic trick?"
Minato crouched down, looking up at Mikoto. He held a chopstick, drawing her attention.
With a swift motion of his other hand across the chopstick, it suddenly transformed into a blooming red rose!
"Ta-da-da-da!"
Minato presented the rose to Mikoto. "What do you think? Pretty, isn't it?"
"This isn't magic! It's Ninjutsu!"
Mikoto chuckled, playfully feigning annoyance, but still accepted the rose.
As she inhaled the faint fragrance, Mikoto suddenly wondered, "When did you first start liking me, Minato-kun?"
"The moment I first saw you," Minato replied without hesitation. He was genuinely captivated by Mikoto, both her appearance and her personality—or, as he might put it, a combination of physical attraction and genuine affection.
The moment I first saw you...
Isn't that just saying I'm pretty? Mikoto thought, a mix of sweetness and dissatisfaction swirling within her. "So, it's all because of my looks?"
"There's a saying," Minato said frankly, "that you start with appearance and end with character."
"That's more like it," Mikoto replied.
Her lips curved upward involuntarily, her beautiful black eyes narrowing slightly, her eyes sparkling with unconcealed delight. It was clear that Minato's praise had pleased her greatly.
Start with appearance, end with character...
Mikoto whispered the words to herself, her lips curling into a smile. "Did you read that somewhere?"
"It's my own understanding," Minato said, avoiding mentioning any specific book to prevent her from asking for the title. "I just thought it suited you perfectly, Mikoto-nee."
Minato-kun always says things in a way that makes it impossible to stay mad at him.
Mikoto's cheeks flushed slightly as she placed the red rose on her lap. Gently cradling the teacup in her hands, she felt the warmth spread through her palms, and her turbulent emotions began to settle.
"Then this phrase is mine!"
She gazed at Minato with burning eyes. "Minato-kun, you can't say this phrase to anyone else!"
Minato paused slightly, then smiled gently. "Alright."
A radiant smile lit up Mikoto's face.
"Minato-kun—"
"Hmm?"
"Have you ever given flowers to anyone before?"
"No."
Hearing this, Mikoto's smile widened.
She suddenly felt invigorated. So, Kushina only has the advantage of being close to him?
After living together for so long, and still no progress? What a waste of resources!
Watching Minato's gentle smile, Mikoto suddenly laughed. "Are you really only eight years old, Minato-kun? You seem more mature than some adults."
"I'm just precocious, Mikoto-nee. Aren't you too? In some ways, you're more mature than Teacher Tsunade." Of course, Minato didn't reveal that he was a transmigrator.
"That's not true! You shouldn't call girls mature!"
Mikoto paused, then casually added, as if it were an afterthought, "Besides, you're already quite greedy. While I'm considering this, Minato-kun can't go flirting with any other girls!"
Minato: "???"
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