"Big Forehead, why are you here?"
Ino glared at Sakura, her face full of displeasure.
This girl had been lurking for days, and the moment she showed up, she shamelessly clung to Mo Chen.
Ino had arrived a step later than her. When she came in, she saw Sakura peel an apple and feed it to Mo Chen herself.
"What's it to you? If you can come, why can't I?" Sakura shot back.
Ino sneered. "Some people said they were leaving the group before, but now they're crawling back as if nothing happened. I can't even imagine having skin that thick!"
"You..." Sakura flushed with embarrassment and anger, but had no way to argue back.
"Everyone... please don't fight!" Hinata weakly tried to intervene.
Tenten rolled her eyes. "If you want to fight, take it outside. Don't disturb Mo Chen's rest. The doctor said he needs to recuperate properly!"
At that, Ino and Sakura fell silent, but they glared at each other, sparks flying between them.
"Here, Mo Chen, let's keep eating the apple!" Sakura cooed, feeding Mo Chen another piece. She had never been this gentle before.
"Mo... Mo Chen-kun... d-do you... want a glass of water first?" Hinata's face turned red, and she stammered nervously.
After saying just that one sentence, she stood there in a daze, feeling lightheaded.
Even if Mo Chen really wanted water, she was in no state to look after him.
Tenten shoved Hinata aside, exasperated, then moved over to Mo Chen and massaged his shoulders and arms. She grinned. "Mo Chen, I learned massage techniques these past few days. They'll help you recover, so let me give you a massage."
"Mo Chen-kun, I brought lots of narcissus flowers. I'll put them in a vase for you!" Ino deliberately bumped Sakura aside after she finished feeding Mo Chen the apple, squeezed into her place, and arranged the flowers she'd brought in a vase on the bedside table.
Sakura hadn't been paying attention and got shoved aside. She gritted her teeth in anger, but couldn't make a scene here.
Anko had already slipped away as soon as the girls came in.
Though she'd been looking forward to a shura field, these girls had come because she'd leaked the news, so Anko felt a little guilty.
Besides, she'd just gained a 300% boost and was eager to find somewhere to test it out.
In her current state, she could easily pass the village's Jonin examination. She'd even be one of the strongest among the Jonin.
"Oh, right, Mo Chen! I've got two movie tickets. Let's go see a movie together tomorrow!" While Ino wasn't looking, Sakura gave her a taste of her own medicine and shoved her aside, nearly sending her sprawling.
"Mo Chen won't go to the movies with you!" Ino pushed Sakura aside and huffed, "They're just movie tickets. It's not like they're rare. And what's the point of squeezing into a theater with a bunch of people?"
"I'll just book out an entire theater tomorrow. Then it'll be just Mo Chen and me! We can watch whatever movie we want!"
"What do you mean? I was the one who suggested it first. Mo Chen should go with me!" Sakura confronted Ino, refusing to back down.
Ino sneered. "Why don't you go with your Sasuke-kun instead? Don't act as if you're so close to Mo Chen."
"If I'm not close to Mo Chen, are you?" Sakura retorted.
"At least I'm closer to him than you are!" Ino glared at her.
"I'm even closer to him than you are!" Sakura glared right back.
"You two are both hopeless!" Tenten squeezed between them in exasperation and pursed her lips. "Mo Chen, let's ignore them. I'll go with you instead. They're so annoying, aren't they?"
"I... I want to go too!" Hinata stood behind them, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz.
In the Chat Group, chatting online had gradually helped Hinata speak her mind. Once in a while, she could even flirt a little.
But in real life, she was still the same as ever.
And the moment she remembered they'd come here to win Mo Chen's favor, her whole face burned red.
It was already a struggle just to keep from fainting.
Unfortunately, her voice was so quiet that nobody noticed her.
Even Mo Chen's head was pounding because Sakura and the others were arguing so loudly.
"Everyone, shut up!!" Mo Chen snapped.
Couldn't they let him enjoy their tenderness a little longer?
So the saying that three women were as noisy as a flock of ducks really was true!
There was no way he could get the Chat Group's buff through a shura field like this.
Mo Chen flipped out of bed and jumped to his feet. He had to teach these girls what it really meant to fight for his favor!
"Mo Chen! Don't get too worked up!" Tenten jumped in fright.
Sakura and Ino instantly turned into timid quails, hunching their shoulders. "Sorry!"
"Mo... Mo Chen... you're not well yet. Hurry and lie back down!" Hinata was so worried that she spoke more smoothly than before.
But Mo Chen paid no attention to them. He just glared, then jumped off the bed.
"I'm going to the bathroom!"
The girls exchanged glances, their minds slow to catch up, but all of them felt at least a little embarrassed.
Ino's eyes lit up, though, and she hurried over. "You're still very weak. Let me support you!"
Mo Chen stumbled and nearly fell flat on his face.
That bold, huh?... Well, I guess I wouldn't mind!
But—however you put it—Ino only helped Mo Chen as far as the bathroom door. She didn't go in, leaving his eager hopes for nothing.
Sakura, meanwhile, was annoyed and shot Ino a fierce glare.
Damn it! She'd gotten there first!
Ino glanced at her smugly, then raised her chin and lowered her voice. "I don't know what you're up to now, but don't think I've forgotten what happened last time. You've been kicked out of our little group!"
"You..." Sakura lifted her chin, instinctively ready to argue.
But the next moment, she lowered her eyes and said meekly, "I-I'm sorry. I was wrong before. I've reflected on it, and I won't do it again."
Her sudden change of attitude left the other three dumbfounded.
In fact, Tenten and Hinata also felt Sakura had gone too far last time.
So they'd agreed to keep her at arm's length and not let her come back so easily.
But seeing her now, it seemed she really had turned over a new leaf?
Ino said irritably, "You're only saying that because you're jealous Anko-sis suddenly jumped up several levels, aren't you? Don't think one apology is enough to make us accept you again!"
This time, Sakura didn't argue. Instead, she replied sincerely, "I am a little jealous. If just being nice to Mo Chen can make someone several times stronger, I want that too!"
"But that's beside the point. I'm also sincerely apologizing to you. I don't expect you to forgive me right away. Just see how I act from now on!"
Ino pursed her lips. "If you're only treating Mo Chen like a tool to get stronger, I suggest you go home and forget about it! You'd just be wasting your time. Your Chat Group level is still zero. Doesn't that tell you anything?"
That was what she said, but Ino's attitude had already softened considerably.
Deep down, she had always thought of Sakura as a close friend.
The two of them had only ended up like this because of Sakura.
Before you continue