Dumped, Kanako's Comfort

Nebula Kotetsu had initially approached her with the mindset of taking a shot in the dark, just to see what might happen.

To his surprise, while she appeared cold and aloof on the surface, she was actually quite bold; her only quirk was a somewhat limited range of facial expressions.

He offered a brief explanation: "I was just sparring with someone."

"Sparring?" Honjo Aya let out a cold snort. "Was it another girl's boyfriend cornering you again?"

Without waiting for Nebula Kotetsu to explain, she continued, "I told you long ago to just dump those messy girls, but you never listen."

Nebula Kotetsu gave a wry smile. "Didn't we agree not to bring that up anymore?"

"Besides, they aren't 'messy' girls; they are all my beloved girlfriends."

"I don't want to hear any of that." Honjo Aya walked up to Nebula Kotetsu. Standing half a head taller than him, she looked down slightly.

"I am asking you one last time today."

"Be mine."

"Do you agree or not?"

Nebula Kotetsu was stunned.

Looking at the slightly oppressive aura radiating from Honjo Aya, he finally realized that she hadn't come here today just for a simple date.

Realizing she was serious, he replied earnestly, "I do not."

"No matter how many times you ask, the answer will be the same."

"Hmph." Honjo Aya let out a soft hum.

This time, Nebula Kotetsu caught the note of disdain in her voice.

Honjo Aya: "You have no real skill, yet you use your face to flirt with everyone. Nebula Kotetsu, you will regret this sooner or later."

"Since you don't agree, then forget it."

"Forget it?" Nebula Kotetsu was taken aback, then clarified, "Do you mean we're breaking up?"

"Breaking up? Don't make me laugh." Honjo Aya sneered. "I'm dumping you."

"A boy who can't even manage to graduate—do you really think you're qualified to talk about breaking up with me?"

She looked at Nebula Kotetsu, whose face was bruised and whose appearance was disheveled, and shook her head inwardly.

Too weak.

A man like this could never be her boyfriend.

She held herself in high regard; being "together" with him before had merely been a way to pass the time when she was bored. After all, a boy handsome enough to look unreal, combined with those magical hands of his, had been somewhat interesting.

But in the end, he was just too weak.

She had originally come today intending to "force" him to end his relationships with others and become her exclusive possession. However, seeing his pathetic state, her interest had waned significantly.

Forget it.

A vase that was only pretty on the outside didn't seem that fun anymore.

"My squad is being deployed to the front lines."

"There are many excellent ninjas there, including many famous experts. Once there, I will become a Chunin as quickly as possible and continue to advance."

"I don't have time to waste on you."

"So, Nebula Kotetsu, since you've rejected me, go back to playing your little love games with your group of girlfriends. One day, you'll realize you made the wrong decision."

"Heh." Under Honjo Aya's surprised gaze, Nebula Kotetsu suddenly let out a bitter laugh.

She frowned. "What are you laughing at?"

Nebula Kotetsu: "I'm laughing at myself. It turns out I was just relying on my face to date, and I really have no true ability."

"I didn't even see the heart of the person beside me."

He had originally thought she was only cold on the outside and actually had a fiery heart.

After all, the passionate days they once shared still echoed in his ears.

But he hadn't expected that she had never looked up to him, and that all those sweet words from the past had been a facade. What was this?

A scumbag meeting a toxic woman?

Honjo Aya wore a look of contempt. "And what if you did see it?"

"Even if a weakling can see through a person's heart, they remain a weakling."

With that, Honjo Aya turned and strode away with her long legs.

"Think carefully about your future path. If we ever meet again and I see you serving customers at an izakaya, Nebula Kotetsu, I will kill you."

Nebula Kotetsu watched Honjo Aya's figure grow smaller in the distance until she disappeared, and he muttered to himself.

"Next time we meet."

"Who knows what that will look like..."

Although he had one less girlfriend, which aligned with his expectations, he found that he didn't feel happy at all.

Once again, he realized that in the ninja world, strength was the only thing that mattered. Without strength, a woman who was screaming for you the second before might just kick you to the curb the next.

Without strength, survival and dignity were nothing more than extravagant hopes.

Burying his desperate desire to become stronger deep within his heart, Nebula Kotetsu told himself over and over: although she looked down on him, he had once humbled himself and played the sycophant, so it wasn't a loss—not a loss at all. Let them break up.

She would continue on her path to strength, and he would continue his pursuit of romance; everything would be settled in the future.

Carrying his dejected mood, he hurried toward the location of his next date.

Because the first date had ended so abruptly, he arrived much earlier than the appointed time, yet to his surprise, the other party was already waiting there.

By the river, inside a bamboo house open on all four sides, a young girl sat on a stool, her hands propping up her chin as she squeezed her features together, staring at the water in boredom.

Kanako.

To avoid startling her, Nebula Kotetsu made his footsteps audible. When he was no more than ten meters away, Kanako turned her head.

Upon seeing Nebula Kotetsu's somewhat disheveled appearance, a look of surprise immediately appeared on the girl's face, followed quickly by deep concern.

"Kotetsu!!"

"What happened! What went wrong!!?"

As she spoke, the girl quickly rose from the bamboo stool and ran over with a rhythmic thud, thud, thud.

Nebula Kotetsu felt a warmth bloom in his heart.

Honjo Aya's attitude had left him feeling very low, and before coming here, he had wondered if Kanako would also be disgusted by his disheveled state.

He had come over just as he was.

And Kanako's attitude toward him remained just as it had always been.

"Kotetsu, don't scare me! How are you? Do we need to go to the Konoha Hospital?" Kanako hurried over, and upon seeing the bruises on Nebula Kotetsu's body, she looked as if she were about to cry.

Nebula Kotetsu hurriedly said, "Don't worry."

"Kanako, this is just from sparring with a friend. Don't worry, it just looks messy, but it'll be fine in a little while."

Kanako didn't believe him. She stomped her foot with a thud and chided, "Oh, Kotetsu! You don't need to lie to me."

"It's just that you got beaten up by some boys, it's fine, it's fine."

"I'm taking you to the hospital right now."

"Which girl's boyfriend was it this time? One or several? Those boys are the worst; they're ugly, smelly, and rude, and they're just jealous of you."

"Kotetsu, once I get stronger, I'll deal with them one by one."

Nebula Kotetsu could only offer a bitter smile.

This was everyone's stereotype of him.

It seemed everyone assumed that the reason he, a dead-last, was in such a sorry state was because he had been chased and beaten by the boyfriends or suitors of various girls.

They never considered any other possibility.

"Alright, Kanako."

"I'm really fine."

"There's no need to go to the hospital; let's just continue our date."

Kanako thought for a moment and asked, "Really?"

"Kotetsu, are you sure your body is okay?"

Nebula Kotetsu: "Of course. I know my own body best; it's just a few contusions, they'll heal with a little rest."

Seeing that his expression didn't seem fake, Kanako agreed, albeit still half-doubting.

"Alright then."

"Kotetsu, since you're hurt today, leave the date to me."

"I'll make sure to comfort you properly."