Encountering Chaton

Marine Headquarters living area, Walking side by side with Gion down the street, Senga looked around his surroundings with some curiosity.

Both sides of the street were lined with various shops, most selling daily necessities—similar to a commercial street on Blue Star, but with a bit more modern flair than Konoha. Since this was a Marine base, the signs and displays were mostly blue and white.

"When you have time, you can come browse on your own, buy some fruit or something to treat yourself, so you can grow even taller," Gion said casually beside him.

Senga was a bit speechless. At sixteen, he was already nearly 1.9 meters tall, yet in her eyes, that still wasn't enough?

But seeing that Gion herself looked to be over two meters, he let it go. Local trait, apparently.

Noticing Senga's lack of reaction, Gion thought he might have taken her comment about height to heart, so she quickly amended, "Actually, you don't need to grow much taller. Your height is fine as is—you're only sixteen, after all."

"Yeah, I wasn't bothered by it. Sister Gion, there's an uncle over there who's been staring at you."

Senga noticed a seedy-looking man in a brown casual outfit standing at the entrance of a bar, who had been glancing in their direction for a while. He pointed it out to Gion.

"Huh?" Gion turned to look, and immediately spotted the man Senga meant.

There was no missing him—not because he was handsome like Senga, but because he was ugly enough to stand out from a mile away.

The man had his hands in his pockets, a cigarette dangling from his crooked mouth, and his small eyes squinted on his broad face—though even if he opened them wide, they probably wouldn't get much bigger. He looked like... a Blue Star version of Zhu Bajie!

"Oh, I know him. His name is Tokikake. Pretty annoying. You should keep your distance from him in the future."

Tokikake? That must be Chaton, the one who'd later become a candidate for Admiral alongside Gion. Senga rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

Just then, Tokikake spotted Gion glancing his way and immediately shuffled over with his sleazy gait.

"Miss Gion! It's been a whole month since I last saw you. You're as beautiful as ever. Please accept my 88th confession of love!" Tokikake stopped in front of Gion and Senga, producing a bouquet of flowers from somewhere, and launched into a "passionate" confession.

But Gion didn't even look at him. She simply grabbed Senga's hand and started to walk away.

"Hey, hey, Miss Gion, don't go! You haven't rejected me this time yet!" Tokikake hurried after them, desperate to receive his 88th rejection.

"I'm tired of saying no. Just give it up already!" Gion said with a look of disgust.

"Why? Am I not handsome enough? Not good enough?" Tokikake asked, voicing the doubt buried deep in his heart.

Senga watched silently from the side, wondering where the guy got the confidence to ask that question with his looks and behavior.

Seeing that Gion couldn't be bothered to reply, Tokikake drooped his head in disappointment. Then, he finally noticed Senga, who had been quietly spectating.

"Oh? And who's this young man?"

Realizing Tokikake had finally acknowledged him, Senga stopped playing the bystander and stepped forward to introduce himself.

"Hello, I'm a new recruit who just joined the Marines. My name is Uchiha Senga."

"Oh, hello. I'm Tokikake." After a brief introduction, Tokikake wondered who this newcomer was, to have Gion personally escort him—and why was he so handsome? Suddenly, a bolt of lightning struck his mind.

Could it be... Gion had taken a liking to him?!

Remembering how the two had been walking shoulder to shoulder down the street, Tokikake shuddered and froze in place. When Senga saw him acting like he'd been struck by lightning and moved to check on him, Tokikake suddenly jerked his head up, startling Senga.

He stared intensely at Senga's face for a long moment—long enough that Senga thought the guy was about to challenge him to a duel over his failed confession.

Then, Tokikake glanced back and forth between Gion and Senga, took a deep breath, and said in a tone that sounded like he'd figured everything out, "Alright, I understand! I wish you happiness, Gion!"

With that, he turned and walked away without looking back, carrying a hint of resignation.

"Where'd that water come from? Is it raining?" Senga asked, puzzled, as he noticed a wet patch on the ground where Tokikake had been standing.

"Don't mind him. He thinks he understands again." Gion was completely unfazed by Tokikake's antics.

"Oh." Senga shrugged and followed Gion as she left.

They arrived at a residential area, and Gion pointed to a small building.

"That's your temporary lodging for the next few days. Once you graduate, you'll be assigned a proper residence."

Then she pointed to a villa with a garden next door.

"That's where Sister Tsuru and I live. Come find me if you need anything. I'll be at Headquarters for the next few days."

Senga nodded to show he understood.

Seeing that Senga had no complaints about his lodging, Gion gave a few final instructions and left.

Senga walked into his small building to rest up and wait for news from the Training Camp.