"Hanabi-chan, I'm moving up to another class. Were you crying?"
After school, Kiyotaki teased Hanabi.
Hanabi snorted. "I was happy! Now I'll be the boss of First Year Class 2 again!"
"Oh! Right, right!"
Kiyotaki didn't call the little girl out on her adorable pride.
"You're moving up to another class tomorrow, so I'll treat you to something tasty tonight. Think of it as... as a, um~"
Hanabi chewed on her little finger and thought for a moment.
"Your promotion party!"
"Sounds great! Thanks, Hanabi-chan!"
Kiyotaki had thought they'd just get some three-colored dango or something, but Hanabi took him to Akimichi's BBQ Restaurant.
When he saw the table piled high with food, Kiyotaki was stunned.
"Whoa, Hanabi-chan, you're a little rich girl!"
"There's something I'm not sure I should say."
Hanabi sat up straight, exuding the poise of a noble daughter from a distinguished clan. She spoke with perfect ladylike grace.
"Go ahead and say it, Kiyotaki-kun!"
Kiyotaki hesitated, then said, "The doctor said my stomach's not in good shape, so I should only eat soft rice..."
Hanabi raised her little hand and waved to the server.
"Excuse me, miss! Could you bring me a big serving of soft rice? My classmate loves it!"
Kiyotaki: !!!∑(?Д?ノ)ノ
Looking at the table covered in food, Hanabi realized she might have ordered too much. A little embarrassed, she glanced at the guard beside her.
There was nothing she could do—she was still little, and her guard managed her money.
The guard was speechless. What a waste; he'd have to hand over another huge sum to the Akimichi.
"Let's eat!"
The three clapped their hands together and started enjoying the food.
At first, the Hyuga guard had thought there was too much food and it would go to waste. Maybe they could return some of it and save a little money.
But when he looked up, Kiyotaki's chopsticks were flying. Even Hanabi had caught his enthusiasm. She was still eating elegantly, but she was putting one piece of barbecue after another into her mouth, gobbling it down!
The Hyuga guard suddenly had the feeling that if he ate any slower, the food would be gone before he got any.
In a whirlwind, they polished off everything on the table.
Only after eating the last piece of meat and lifting his cup for a satisfying sip of juice did Kiyotaki let out a contented sigh.
"Ah~"
Hanabi and her guard were already stunned. They'd never seen anyone eat so much!
"Ah~ haha."
Seeing the two of them staring blankly, Kiyotaki felt a little awkward. It wasn't that he couldn't have eaten less.
But there was nothing he could do—the meat was so delicious! He couldn't help himself. He just couldn't stop!
His body also needed plenty of energy.
That full, satisfied feeling was so comfortable~!
The awkward atmosphere grew stifling, and Kiyotaki couldn't help letting out a burp!
Somehow, that made things even more awkward!
Hanabi snapped out of her daze and gazed at Kiyotaki with admiration.
"Kiyotaki-kun, you're amazing! You can eat even more than my sister! You really eat a lot!"
Uh~,
Kiyotaki was speechless. She might as well not have praised him!
And what was that supposed to mean, "even more than your sister"?
"Hey, hey! It's no big deal, no big deal."
Kiyotaki waved it off bashfully.
"I'm still growing, after all. It's normal for boys to eat a lot while they're growing! Totally normal~"
Kiyotaki defended himself. Looking at the empty table, he couldn't help worrying whether Hanabi had enough allowance to pay the bill.
He really didn't want to eat and dash at his friend Choji's restaurant—especially not with the little princess of the Hyuga Clan along. That would be a huge mess!
Luckily, things didn't turn out the way he'd imagined.
Hanabi waved her little hand, and the Hyuga guard stood up and went to the counter to pay, tears in his eyes.
"Thanks for the treat, Hanabi-chan!"
The three walked out of Akimichi's BBQ Restaurant. Dusk was already settling in.
They walked back together along Konoha's quieting paths. The sound of children arguing and fighting drifted from somewhere in the distance.
"That's Naruto!"
"Naruto's fighting a group of kids!"
Kiyotaki furrowed his brow.
"It's the young lady!"
The Hyuga guard had sharp eyes, too. He immediately spotted Hinata Hyuga behind Naruto, whom he was protecting.
"Sis!"
Hanabi spotted her, too, and angrily rushed over.
Kiyotaki and the Hyuga guard hurried after her.
Naruto was already locked in a fierce fight with the children—or rather, he was being beaten up by the whole group.
But Naruto wasn't afraid in the slightest. Though covered in injuries, he refused to back down.
Behind Naruto, Hinata watched the boy who kept protecting her, her heart aching for him!
"Sis! Fight back!"
Hanabi charged forward angrily. One of the children saw her and shoved at her, but Hanabi dodged his hand. Using the fighting techniques she'd learned from Kiyotaki, she grabbed his arm and drove an elbow into his chest, then threw him over her shoulder!
"Ow!"
The little brat hit the ground, dazed, and cried out in pain.
Seeing this, the other children shouted,
"Another Byakugan freak! Get her, guys!"
"Byakugan freak! Byakugan freak!"
As the group of children moved to attack Hanabi, Hinata, who had been standing helplessly to one side, finally prepared to step in. She couldn't just watch her little sister get bullied.
"Byakugan!"
With a low cry, veins bulged around Hinata's eyes.
Then Hinata raised her hands and assumed the opening stance of the Gentle Fist.
"My lady!"
Hanabi's guard cried out in alarm and rushed forward to protect her.
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