The Season When All Things Awaken

In the days that followed, after Genma's injuries healed, a conspicuous mark began appearing on his face—dark circles.

Forcing himself to sit through the teacher's lessons, Genma would collapse onto his desk the moment the dismissal bell rang.

Every morning class went like this. He would nap at noon too, and only perk up in the afternoon.

Having witnessed these changes over the past few days, how could Kurenai not know that the man beside her was pushing himself harder and harder?

Though her heart ached for him, she was also incredibly proud. It made her resolve herself to become stronger too, strong enough to be worthy of this man.

Whenever Genma slept, Kurenai would train by herself.

However, while Genma and Kurenai, this couple, settled down a little, the others began to stir. Before long, the scent of romance gradually flooded the classroom.

One day at lunchtime, when there was relatively plenty of time, a purple-haired girl dressed exquisitely and fashionably somehow struck a deal with Asuma's deskmate. He gave up his seat, and she sat directly beside Asuma.

Asuma was extremely irritated by this, as though he had been betrayed.

Before he could erupt, the girl's gentle, pleasant voice sounded beside him. "Sorry, Asuma. I was the one who asked him to do that. I knew you might not like it. But I've been watching you for a long time, and I've liked you for a long time too, so that classmate was more than happy to help me."

Before Asuma could say anything, the girl tucked a carefully styled lock of hair behind her ear and revealed a sweet smile. "I was drawn to your easygoing nature from the very first day of school. But back then, I was like an ugly duckling that had just been born, so insecure that I didn't know what to do. So I started paying attention to you, started caring about every little thing related to you."

"You like wearing red T-shirts. You like sausages and cold yam noodles. You like military books like 'Warring States.'"

"To figure out what you disliked, I carefully watched you while you ate. It seemed that even the smell or sight of asparagus made you move away a little. I've tried very hard, but I still know so little."

Just as Asuma felt like he had been stalked for ages and his expression became complicated, the purple-haired girl's next words made his heart tremble.

"So I don't want to wait any longer. I want to truly get close to you, just once." The purple-haired girl looked at Asuma with determined eyes. With both hands, she solemnly took a box wrapped in blue-and-white cloth from the shoulder bag at her side. "This is a bento I spent three months trying to make. Inside are your favorite cold yam noodles and sausages. To keep the two foods from affecting each other and losing their flavor, I specially separated them."

As she spoke, she carefully opened the lunchbox. The crystal-clear cold noodles and fragrant sausages were placed on opposite sides, with a divider in the middle.

The purple-haired girl did not confess again. She simply pushed the box in front of Asuma.

Asuma hesitated, but his face still reddened helplessly. His nostrils flared slightly, and in the end, he picked up his chopsticks.

Just as Asuma sampled the bento the girl had painstakingly prepared, inside the Hokage Building, a red-faced, sharp-mouthed, monkey-cheeked man wiped a crystal ball filled with images of smooth, pale skin.

"After such a careful inspection, there shouldn't be any spies, right? Huh? There's actually a girl beside Asuma!!"

After observing for quite some time, the sharp-mouthed, monkey-cheeked Third Hokage's face flushed.

"Ho ho ho, I don't know what that girl said, but Asuma is just as popular as I was when I was young. That purple-haired girl is a child of the Mitarashi Clan, isn't she?"

The Third Hokage stroked his beard in great relief, looking thoughtful.

Meanwhile, in the classroom, after tasting his first bite of cold noodles, Asuma could no longer stop, as if he had been chewing some addictive gum. Only after eating every last bit did he finally let out a breath.

His originally cool expression seemed to soften somewhat. After all, he had tasted food that made even his tongue feel joyful.

"Um... the bento was delicious. Have you eaten yet?"

Though the purple-haired girl desperately wanted to say she had not, in order to keep Asuma firmly hooked, she could only nod shyly. "I was starving just now, so I ate earlier. Asuma... can you give me a chance to go out with you?"

Faced with that shy, pitiful gaze fixed on him, even normally aloof Asuma's expression warmed.

"This..." This was Asuma's first romance too. His tongue seemed tied, but not wanting to disappoint the girl, he nodded hard. "Okay!"

A soft, warm sensation suddenly brushed across his cheek. Accompanied by the girl's bell-like laughter, Asuma froze.

"My name is Mitarashi Shigure. I really, really like you. From now on, you're my man!"

The girl suddenly became open and cheerful. Asuma did not find it strange at all; instead, his heart thumped wildly and his head felt dizzy.

"Shi... Shisui, can we eat together from now on?"

Having often suffered through the sight of Kurenai and Genma feeding each other, Asuma looked at Shisui with a red face.

Shisui was no longer as cheerful as before. She became that shy girl again and nodded slightly. "Of course. I've dreamed of it."

Just as the two secretly glanced at each other, a loud shout rang through the entire classroom.

"Kakashi! I challenge you!"

"Who's that? Huh, isn't that the class dead last? He's awfully energetic right after eating!?"

"That green outfit is disgusting. Good thing he sits in the back."

"The dead last challenging genius Kakashi? I really don't know what he's thinking..."

"..."

Mockery continuously drifted into Might Guy's ears. Though his little face reddened slightly, compared to how he used to tremble all over whenever he did not dare display his ninjutsu in front of others, he was much calmer now.

Especially that determined gaze—it made Kakashi's skin crawl.

Kakashi stood up, shoved his hands into his pockets, and walked over to Might Guy's side with his head lowered.

"I refuse!"

"W-why?" Might Guy, who had been excitedly preparing to throw a punch, nearly fell over as though he had been struck heavily.

Kakashi held out a hand and raised one finger. "Because we just ate, so we can't exercise intensely. That's important."

"No. It's already been a long time since we ate. Exercise can help digest food too."

Before Kakashi could retort, Might Guy's fist suddenly shot out.

Though he had not expected Might Guy to attack him even now, Kakashi's sharp senses still allowed him to block the punch with one hand.

So heavy. My hand is even a little numb!

Kakashi's Dead Fish Eyes suddenly widened as he began taking the absurdly muscular boy before him seriously.

"Ah!! Konoha Whirlwind!!"

With a loud shout, Might Guy suddenly lowered himself and swept at Kakashi's legs.

Kakashi merely made a light leap to avoid it. However, Might Guy deliberately swung the sweep in a full circle, turning himself to face Kakashi directly before bracing his hands on the ground and launching himself upward.

Damn, it was a chained move. I underestimated him!

Kakashi's expression changed slightly in midair. He instantly curled his body up before suddenly stretching out, performing a second jump in the air and barely dodging it.

Compared to his initial Dead Fish Eyes, Kakashi's eyes now held a trace of seriousness.

Not daring to be careless and unwilling to drag things out any longer, he swept a roundhouse kick at Guy's face before he could regain his footing.

In his haste, Guy instinctively raised both hands to guard his face. But how could Kakashi's attack be so simple? He spun his body around, bringing down the kicking leg, while his other leg seemed to tear through the air as it struck toward Guy.

"Wah!!"

Guy was sent flying. Though he had gained the advantage at first, he still lost just as everyone expected.

"Heh, the dead last is still the dead last. He lost in two moves. Useless!"

"Ha, why don't you try it and see how many moves Kakashi needs to beat you?"

"Guy seems to have improved a lot. If I'd let my guard down, that Konoha Whirlwind really might have hit me."

Having witnessed the fight, Shiranui Genma said to Kurenai with clear admiration.

"Yeah. I never expected Guy, who only got in after the make-up exam, to improve so much." Having spent so much time with Genma, Kurenai had gradually grown used to his way of thinking.

When judging whether an opponent was strong or whether they could defeat her, she now compared their speed, strength, and reactions.

If she really fought Guy, the outcome would be hard to say.

This made even her, who trained diligently every day, feel pressured. Even the worst student in the class was improving so quickly, while her own progress seemed as slow as a snail crawling.

Noticing the disappointment in Kurenai's eyes, Genma took her hand and said gently, "Taijutsu isn't your specialty. Guy works hard every day focusing only on that one thing, so it's perfectly normal for him to surpass you."

"Actually, I've been thinking about your training too. Genjutsu can be considered your specialty, but it would be very dangerous if it's all you're good at. Learn swordsmanship from me from now on. At the very least, if someone gets close, you can cast Genjutsu without them noticing."

"You mean swordsmanship like Crescent Moon Dance?" Kurenai stared unblinkingly at Genma, her eyes filled with anticipation.

The first time she watched Genma train, it was his swordsmanship that drew her in.

If her father had not stopped her from practicing with a sword, she would have been carrying one around everywhere long ago.

Her father always believed that, as a girl, she should not fight and kill, much less wield blades and weapons. But the more he stopped her, the more she wanted it.

That was why she had initially been drawn to Genma's swordsmanship. Of course, later she found Genma very different, and talking with him was a lot of fun.

Now that Genma had brought up swordsmanship, she was a hundred times willing, but her father's stern face appeared in her mind again.

"But Dad won't let me learn it..."

"Uh, why is your dad so old-fashioned? If a child is interested in learning something, shouldn't he support it wholeheartedly?"

Genma had seen plenty of people like Kurenai's father in the past. Every time he heard of someone like that, he became angry from the bottom of his heart.

"Then learn secretly. I'm not asking you to become amazing at it. In any case, using a sword is more advantageous in battle than using a Kunai. If you learn it, I'll feel more at ease. Besides, I can't stand seeing you suffer."

Those words, I can't stand seeing you suffer, made Kurenai's eyes grow wet.

She truly had no choice but to listen to her parents, and no choice but to endure grievances. Yet lately, the one suffering was the smiling boy standing before her.

Are men really like this?

They acted as though nothing had happened when they themselves suffered, yet took every bad thing that happened to the person they loved incomparably seriously.

"Silly girl, you're my girlfriend now. If I can't make you happy, then how are we supposed to be together?"

Genma gently wiped away Kurenai's tears as he spoke.