I Can't Let Anyone Down Either!

What... what should I do?

Feeling all those gazes converging on her, Yukina took a small step back. Her cheeks flushed even redder, and her hands, which had been cupped around her mouth like a trumpet, suddenly drew back and fell apart. Her pale eyes were filled with a young girl's shyness and embarrassment.

She had not been able to hold it in and had blurted it out.

What was she supposed to do now? Yukina's pale eyes trembled as she completely panicked.

She had been eating in her room when a chorus of cheers for Kakashi suddenly rang out. Because of Rin, she knew that Chiba and Kakashi were having a spar today. As the two strongest young ninja of their class, or nearly so, Yukina had wanted to see which of them was stronger. She had planned to watch right away, but Rin had insisted that she finish eating first.

After hearing the cheers, she hurriedly finished her meal, then carefully made her way up onto the roof along the wall. She had originally intended to quietly watch Chiba's performance, but to her surprise, the moment she arrived, there were only earthshaking cheers for Kakashi—not a single voice cheering Chiba on.

Unable to restrain herself in that moment, she had shouted those words.

But she had not expected things to turn out like this. The entire cabin had fallen silent, and everyone's eyes were on her.

Especially... especially Chiba's stunned... and seemingly somewhat burning gaze. It almost made it hard for her to breathe.

Ah... love!

Behind her, the female Anbu companion with her arms folded lightly pressed her hands to her mask, tilted her head slightly, and a thought filled with blossoming flowers rose in her heart.

Could it be... that rumor recently spreading through the Anbu