Do I Still Have a Chance?

"What would you two like to buy?"

The young lady attendant stepped forward to welcome them warmly.

Tsunade sized Watanabe up for a moment, considering what style of clothing would suit him, and mused, "Buy a suit. One that looks steady and imposing."

Why are you looking at me? Am I buying clothes?

Watanabe wanted to speak but stopped himself. He didn't have much money to begin with and didn't want to waste it on clothes; his two old outfits at home were enough.

But Tsunade had already brought him into the store, and it was awkward to refuse now.

"Certainly, please follow me."

The attendant led them to the suit section. Row upon row of sharp, clean suits met his eyes. Watanabe was initially dazzled, but when he saw the price tags of several thousand or even ten thousand Ryo, his scalp went numb.

Are suits even meant for humans to wear?

Even his entire fortune wouldn't be enough to buy one.

He felt a vague sense of unease, but Tsunade was enthusiastically picking out suits, occasionally taking one down and holding it up against Watanabe to see how it looked.

"What do you think of this one?"

Watanabe glanced at the tag: thirteen thousand Ryo. Not bad, very stylish.

"It's alright, I guess. The color is a bit too bright."

He forced himself to stay calm, pretending he was Tsunade's best friend, just accompanying her shopping for fun.

After all, there was no way they'd buy such expensive clothes, and he couldn't afford to pay for them anyway.

"How about this one, then?" Tsunade continued her selection.

"The pattern is too busy," Watanabe commented with a practiced air.

"This one?"

"This one isn't bad."

"Good, you try this one on."

Watanabe: "..."

Huh?

He had to try it on?

Are you sure the owner won't beat him up for this?

Watanabe looked at the attendant, who had an indifferent expression.

"Mhm, mhm."

Watanabe nodded guiltily and picked up the suit, heading into the fitting room.

Trying it on doesn't cost money. Girls shopping are all like this; they want to try on things they find pretty.

However, Watanabe thought Tsunade should really change this habit.

Ignoring the five-figure price tag, Watanabe took off his old clothes, which Inuzuka Kiba had torn to shreds, and put on the brand-new suit before stepping out.

"You look very handsome!"

The attendant beside him immediately exclaimed.

Tsunade's eyes lit up. Indeed, wearing the suit made Watanabe's steady and sunny demeanor even more prominent. He looked incredibly handsome and dashing.

No matter how handsome I am, I still can't afford it...

Watanabe silently grumbled at the attendant, thinking that flattering a poor person like him was useless.

"Tsunade, how does it feel?"

Watanabe asked, actually hinting that Tsunade should leave to avoid further awkwardness.

"He does look quite handsome," Tsunade admitted with a smile, crossing her arms. It was as if she could see Watanabe as a Jonin a few years down the line.

"Miss, this suit really suits your boyfriend!" the attendant chimed in, playing wingman.

Tsunade's cheeks instantly turned crimson.

See, this is what happens when people in customer service speak without thinking; it gets awkward.

Watanabe felt speechless at the attendant's loose tongue.

He ignored Tsunade and headed back to the fitting room, intending to change and leave.

"Wait."

Tsunade called out to him and then brought over five more suits of different styles, thrusting them at Watanabe. "Try all of these on."

Watanabe's lips moved, and his gaze towards her was complex.

He really wanted to tell Tsunade that even though she was the First Hokage's granddaughter, messing around like this in a clothing store could genuinely get them beaten up by the owner.

There was no choice; he and Tsunade were in the same boat. He could only brace himself and continue trying on clothes.

After trying on so many, if they didn't buy the last one, as long as he and Tsunade didn't feel awkward, the attendant would be the one to feel awkward.

After Watanabe changed into each suit and went outside, he would always elicit gasps from the attendants and appreciative, satisfied glances from Tsunade. Even though he usually had a strong mental fortitude, he couldn't help but awkwardly clench his toes.

Soon, all five suits were tried on.

"Miss, your boyfriend is a natural clothes hanger. He looks handsome in anything," the attendant flattered him generously.

Didn't she realize she misspoke?

Watanabe couldn't help but worry about her career. What would happen if she lacked such discernment?

Tsunade nodded, not correcting the attendant. She regained her usual cool composure, her face unblushing, and said to Watanabe, "Let's go."

Finally, it's over.

Watanabe let out a long sigh and was about to head back to the fitting room to change out of the suit—

"No need to change again, just wear this one," Tsunade said.

Watanabe froze, not quite understanding her meaning.

"This lady has already paid for you," the attendant, seeing Watanabe's confusion, happily explained. "And the other few you tried on earlier are all packed up too!"

Watanabe: "??"

This statement truly stunned him, as if struck by lightning. He suspected Tsunade and the attendant were colluding to tease him.

He looked at Tsunade, but she was gazing absently at the several packaged bags beside them.

"Take the bags yourself."

With that, she turned and walked out.

Watanabe reacted quickly, grabbing the bags and following her.

"Thank you for visiting!"

The attendant cheerfully bid them farewell.

On the street, Watanabe walked alongside Tsunade, carrying the large bags. Neither of them spoke.

Watanabe's mind was a mix of emotions, and he was the first to break the silence, "Tsunade?"

"Go ahead."

"I don't have that much money," he sighed. "These clothes are too expensive."

Idiot.

Tsunade cursed him inwardly.

Can't he tell these clothes are a gift from me?

She had intended to say that Watanabe didn't need to pay, but then she reconsidered. Watanabe was proud at heart and might not be willing to accept her gift. He was likely playing dumb while knowing the truth, so she changed her words:

"Consider it a loan. You can pay me back when you have the money."

Watanabe: "..."

He felt utter despair.

That was over sixty thousand Ryo, and he currently had no source of income. When would he ever be able to pay it back?

"Then... should I write an IOU?" he asked.

Tsunade hesitated.

He really is proud, even thinking of an IOU.

"Yes, write one," Tsunade said.

Watanabe felt like crying. He felt so wronged, inexplicably burdened with a massive debt.

If he had that much money, he'd have to be out of his mind to spend it on clothes.

"Tsunade, Wat... Watanabe? Are you guys shopping?"

Just then, a gentle voice rang out.

The two looked in the direction of the sound and saw a blue-haired boy walking towards them, looking quite surprised.

The person was none other than their classmate, Dan Katō.

"Yes, I'm accompanying Watanabe shopping," Tsunade replied calmly.

Dan Katō looked incredulous. "You're accompanying Watanabe shopping?"

Tsunade frowned slightly. She disliked Dan Katō's surprised tone, as if she couldn't possibly be with Watanabe.

You're not mine, so why do you have so many opinions about me?

"We're going to eat next, so I won't talk to you anymore."

She walked away directly, and Watanabe waved goodbye to him as well.

Dan Katō stared blankly at their receding figures, his heart feeling empty and lost.

Watanabe is just a commoner orphan; he definitely can't afford the expensive suits he's wearing, so Tsunade must have bought them for him.

When did the two of them get so close?

Do I still have a chance?