Blood Red Pepper's Study Abroad Diary

Outside the cake shop,

Uchiha Gin, whose dead fish eyes now had two dark circles beneath them, held a roll of wide yellow tape as he absentmindedly patched the spiderweb-like cracks in the floor-to-ceiling window. His face, swollen like a pig's head, was full of helplessness and regret.

"Sigh..."

He had been careless. He had grown too comfortable in the village and had even forgotten to activate his Super Perception. Otherwise, he would not have failed to notice Mito's arrival.

"Customer! Please be more careful, or someone could get hurt if the glass breaks."

The girl shop assistant supervising him looked annoyed, her bright almond eyes wide as she glared at him. She looked like she wanted nothing more than to tear apart the bastard who had damaged her shop.

"Got it, got it~"

Since the glass had indeed broken because of him, Uchiha Gin nodded guiltily while speeding up his work. Dense strips of yellow tape quickly covered the entire floor-to-ceiling window.

Inside the shop, sunlight filtered through the gaps in the tape, casting mottled reflections. Three figures of different ages sat around a table.

"Phew~ Konoha's pastries really do taste better."

After thoroughly dealing with Uchiha Gin, Uzumaki Mito refreshed herself with afternoon tea. Nonō, seated across from her, sat somewhat stiffly upright, her large eyes beneath the shadow of her glasses curiously studying the imposing mature woman before her.

"Little one, you've been staring at me for so long. Is there something you want to ask?"

Sensing Nonō's gaze, Uzumaki Mito rested her cheek on one hand and tilted her head. Her smooth red hair draped beside her face, while her deep eyes brimmed with amusement.

"May I ask who you are?"

"Oh? A Gin never told you who I am?"

Uzumaki Mito's scrutinizing gaze was calm,