"What is there to worry about? What are you two talking about, Teacher? I don't understand." Morino Kei swallowed the rice ball in his hand and asked blankly.
"It's nothing. Just eat," Uchiha Kai replied softly, patting him on the shoulder.
"Oh—so mysterious." Morino Kei shrugged.
After another two or three minutes, Aburame Keiichi led them to a hot spring bathhouse and stopped outside.
"We're here. This is the place," Aburame Keiichi said, looking up to make sure.
"Yeah! Hot springs! Here I come!" Morino Kei shouted. His fiery, foolish manner drew the villagers' attention, and they couldn't help laughing.
"Ugh—I really don't want to admit I know this guy," Hyuga Rei sighed, patting her forehead.
"This is quite an experience. I've never tried soaking in a hot spring before," Uchiha Kai said with a sigh.
After all, neither now nor in his previous life had he been the sort of person who enjoyed himself—or even made a point of trying.
And bathing in the hot spring village renowned throughout the Shinobi World was certainly a novel experience.
They crossed the grand entrance, and the moment they stepped inside, they felt much more at ease. The distinctive incense and warm-colored decor created a comfortable atmosphere that put them at ease without them even realizing it.
"Welcome! How many of you are there?" a sweet female voice called from the front desk.
A pretty woman with a curvy, shapely figure came into view. Her voice was crisp and sweet, and she didn't look very old.
"Four! Oh?!" Morino Kei, who had been looking around the shop and making a fool of himself, suddenly widened his eyes. His gaze locked onto the woman, unable to move away.
"Good day, beautiful miss. There are four of us."
Morino Kei hurried forward, fixed his hair, and struck a pose.
"You're asking for it... You've embarrassed us enough already." Seeing Morino Kei utterly captivated by her looks, Hyuga Rei didn't hesitate to punch him, leaving him seeing stars.
"What was that for?! Stop hitting me on the head!" Morino Kei protested loudly.
"I was just saying hello to this pretty lady. Is that really worth such a big reaction?"
"You're practically drooling! Can you act like a normal person? You're embarrassing all of us..."
Hyuga Rei was completely at a loss in the face of Morino Kei's shameless retort.
"Hehe... It's all right. This young man's adorably lively."
The pretty woman at the front desk covered her mouth and giggled. Her sweet smile broke through Morino Kei's defenses, and he put on a lovestruck expression.
"Exactly! The young lady hasn't even said anything, so why are you always getting worked up?" Morino Kei pretended to pick his nose, his tone provocative.
"What did you say?!" Hyuga Rei's voice rose several notches, and she raised her fist to strike.
"Enough. Stop fooling around," Aburame Keiichi said, stepping in just in time to stop them.
The man looked at the woman at the front desk with a strange expression, as if she were both familiar and unfamiliar to him.
Sensing Aburame Keiichi's gaze, the woman turned to look at him. Her eyes trembled, and she hurriedly spoke.
"Are you Mr. Keiichi?"
Aburame Keiichi froze for a moment, then replied,
"You know me? But..." The man raised a hand, puzzled.
"Hello, Mr. Keiichi. I'm Chishima Tsurume." The woman smiled sweetly and answered softly.
"Chishima... Tsurume. Delia was your...?" Aburame Keiichi's voice trembled.
"Chishima Delia was my mother. I often heard her talk about you. She said you were a valued guest of our shop, and that whenever you came, no matter the circumstances, we should treat you to the highest standard."
Chishima Tsurume bowed and smiled. "I've seen your portrait at home."
"Why does the atmosphere feel so strange..." Uchiha Kai took two steps back to stand beside Hyuga Rei and spoke quietly.
Hyuga Rei's gaze shifted back and forth between Aburame Keiichi and Chishima Tsurume, a strange glint in her eyes.
"I smell something unusual too..." the girl said with a mischievous grin.
"Gossip in the air..." the two said in unison. Only Morino Kei, standing at the counter, was completely bewildered.
"B-but... didn't Delia have no children?" Aburame Keiichi clutched at his wide sleeve, his voice full of confusion.
At that, Chishima Tsurume brushed a strand of hair away from the corner of her eye and explained softly,
"Ah, Delia Mom adopted me... She used to visit us at the orphanage often. In the past few years, all the children who came in around the same time as me were adopted." The girl smiled.
"I was the only clumsy one who stayed until the end. Delia Mom was the only one willing to take me in..."
As she spoke, Chishima Tsurume seemed to remember something. She hurriedly rummaged through the back of the counter, found a letter, and handed it to Aburame Keiichi.
The envelope was crumpled, and its surface had yellowed. It had clearly been there for a long time.
"My mother once told me that if you came, Mr. Keiichi, I should give you this letter," Chishima Tsurume explained.
Aburame Keiichi took the letter and looked at the ink, long since dried, on the envelope.
"To my friend Aburame Keiichi, to be opened personally."
The writing on the yellowed paper was bold and forceful. Its writer clearly had excellent calligraphy.
It was her handwriting. Aburame Keiichi murmured to himself.
Then he froze, sensing something in Chishima Tsurume's words.
"Then Delia...?" The man's pupils trembled as he looked at the pretty girl before him. He hoped she would tell him, yet feared the answer wouldn't be what he wanted to hear.
"...My mother, my mother..." Chishima Tsurume's eyes darkened, her voice tinged with sadness.
"She passed away from illness three months ago."
The cold truth came from Chishima Tsurume's lips, striking Aburame Keiichi. The man staggered.
But Aburame Keiichi was a shinobi, after all. A shinobi capable of serving as an Anbu Squad Leader would not be so fragile.
"I see... I understand." Aburame Keiichi's face had remained calm from beginning to end, as though nothing could stir him.
"I understand how you feel, Mr. Keiichi. Mother said you were the most important friend in her life. If she were still here, she wouldn't want you to grieve for her," Chishima Tsurume said gently and sincerely.
"Now I've taken over my mother's responsibilities. I've taken charge of the bathhouse and her other businesses."
As she spoke, Chishima Tsurume looked toward Morino Kei. Her tone grew noticeably firmer on the word "businesses," and she discreetly formed a special hand sign.
"Everything is now under my control."
Aburame Keiichi paused, confirming that he hadn't mistaken what he'd seen.
"Can you really manage all this on your own at your age?" Aburame Keiichi asked gravely, hinting at something.
"Don't underestimate me, Mr. Keiichi. Before she passed away, my mother taught me everything she'd learned in her life. I'm her continuation. This bathhouse and her other businesses are her life's work."
The girl's gaze was resolute, without the slightest hesitation.
"Even if I have to fight until I'm battered and bleeding, I'll protect them..."
Before you continue