A Sparring Match at Her Doorstep

A little over a year ago, when he first repeated a year, he had subtly expressed his interest in her. When she didn't respond, he'd taken the hint and left.

Because he'd gotten a new girlfriend.

Back then, she'd had a terrible impression of him.

He was frivolous and unfaithful.

He was good-looking, but she'd never like someone with such poor character.

His actions over the following period only confirmed her opinion.

He changed girlfriends one after another.

They'd gone from upperclassmen to girls in his year, from underclassmen to girls in his year, and from underclassmen to upperclassmen... She couldn't count how many girls at the Ninja Academy had been rumored to be involved with him. No, they were more like headlines.

Because most of those rumors were true.

Her opinion of him had finally settled: an unfaithful womanizer and hopeless dead-last whom she absolutely had to avoid.

His impressive performance with the Mystical Palm Technique had somewhat softened his reputation as a dead-last, but his womanizer reputation still shone brightly.

When she'd first learned that she and he would be in the same class, she'd reacted just like Asuma Sarutobi: confused and deeply resistant.

Knowing she couldn't refuse the school's arrangements, she'd maintained only a superficial politeness.

But after spending a few days together, she'd realized he didn't seem quite like the person she'd imagined.

Perhaps he really was a womanizer. But he had his good points, too.

He was quiet and composed, and didn't get angry or throw tantrums at the slightest thing like Asuma Sarutobi.

What's more, he hadn't made a single inappropriate move toward her these past few days. He'd barely even paid her any extra attention, leaving all her worries unfounded.

Now, Teacher Mikoto was inexplicably in a bad mood, and he'd stepped up without a word, taking the full force of her powerful onslaught all by himself.

He seems like a pretty reliable teammate, she thought.

Feeling that she'd recovered a good deal of her strength, she pushed herself to her feet. Watching Uchiha Mikoto attack without slowing down and Nebula Kotetsu sweat profusely, she said,

"Teacher Mikoto, let me take over!"

Thud! Her long leg snapped straight, and she kicked Nebula Kotetsu in the chest, sending him flying. Uchiha Mikoto stopped and looked at Kurenai Yuhi, who had volunteered to take his place.

A moment later, she lost interest and lowered her hands.

"Never mind."

"That's enough practice for today. You're dismissed."

Nebula Kotetsu, who had just gotten up off the ground: ...

You said we'd take turns, one at a time, Teacher Mikoto! You're breaking your word!

After getting home, he did the laundry and took a shower.

Once he'd changed into fresh clothes, Nebula Kotetsu went out to get something to eat.

Kotetsu Hagane wasn't coming home for lunch, and Nebula couldn't be bothered to cook, so he decided to eat out.

Konoha's shopping district.

Nebula Kotetsu strolled around, but sushi and sashimi really weren't for him. In the end, he went to Ichiraku Ramen.

Teuchi looked a little younger than Nebula remembered, but his eyes were still just as small. When he smiled and greeted customers, they practically disappeared.

Ayame was still a little girl, running around the kitchen. After Teuchi scolded her a couple of times, she obediently sat in a chair and watched him cook.

Her big eyes darted this way and that, until she spotted Nebula Kotetsu eating noodles. Then the little girl fixed her gaze on him and didn't move.

"Big brother~"

Her clear voice made Nebula look up. The moment his face came into full view, her eyes grew even brighter.

"Could you ask Dad to let me stop sitting here?"

"I want to go play~"

Nebula Kotetsu finished his noodles and wiped his mouth. "Why do you want to go play? Isn't sitting here nice?"

Ayame said in her little-girl voice, "Sitting is no good. It's uncomfortable."

"Playing outside is more comfortable."

"If you're uncomfortable," Nebula Kotetsu kindly suggested, "drink more hot water."

As he spoke, he put the money on the table, pushed aside the curtain, and walked out of the ramen shop.

Ayame: "...? "

That afternoon.

Nebula Kotetsu sat in a rocking chair in the courtyard, basking in the sun.

With a creak, the door opened, and a bright-eyed girl with purple hair poked her head in without a hint of hesitation.

"Don't you knock before coming in?" Nebula Kotetsu said helplessly.

Uzuki Yugao smiled softly. "Why be so polite at a senior's house?"

As she spoke, she casually sat down in the chair beside him.

"Senpai, didn't you just become a Genin?"

"You don't have to train or go on missions, so you can just sit at home and sunbathe? Must be nice."

"You don't understand," Nebula Kotetsu said. "This is training."

"But you shouldn't be out of the Ninja Academy yet, should you?"

"I got permission to leave," Uzuki Yugao said. "I told my teacher a relative had come to visit, then I left."

"Senpai, should we lie down for a while or get started now?"

Nebula Kotetsu: "Either is fine."

Uzuki Yugao: "Then let's lie down for a while first."

So the two of them stretched out in their chairs, enjoying the afternoon sun and the gentle breeze.

Before long, Uzuki Yugao turned her head slightly and silently studied Nebula Kotetsu's profile. The longer she looked, the wider her smile grew.

Her gaze was so direct that Nebula Kotetsu started to feel uncomfortable. He simply got up, went inside, and came back with two bamboo swords.

"Alright, let's get started."

Uzuki Yugao pursed her lips, but still reached out to take one.

"Senpai, are you any good with a sword?"

"Don't let me knock you flat."

"Your junior may be gentle, but I won't hold back when we spar."

Nebula Kotetsu tightened his grip on the bamboo sword. "I'll do my best to last a little longer."

Uzuki Yugao smiled meaningfully. "Senpai, here I come~"

Whoosh!

Clack, clack, clack!!!

The bamboo swords clashed repeatedly in midair, producing dull thuds.

Though Uzuki Yugao had been all talk, she actually held back. She seemed afraid she might accidentally bruise her senpai's pride.

After all, she knew she was here to flirt with a handsome guy, not to have a real sparring match.

So she held back, using only seven-tenths of her strength. As she swung her sword, she moved with effortless grace.

Nebula Kotetsu didn't say anything boastful like, "Bring it on."

It was his first time facing someone skilled with a sword. Getting used to it would help him, too.

Seeing how seriously he was taking the fight, Uzuki Yugao was a little surprised.

She'd expected Nebula Kotetsu to struggle. Though she was younger than him, she'd trained with a sword since she was little and was quite skilled. As for Nebula Kotetsu, just a few days ago he'd been the Academy's universally acknowledged pretty-boy dead-last. Even if he'd beaten Mizuki, he'd done it with his fists and feet. She hadn't believed he could hold his own with a sword.

But once they started fighting, she realized the rumors were wrong.

Nebula Kotetsu was pretty strong!

She could tell from the way he swung his bamboo sword that he wasn't used to this style of combat. But in both strength and speed, he was every bit her equal.

Relying on nothing more than his basic strength and speed, he was able to spar with her while she used only half her strength and still not fall behind. He shouldn't have been a dead-last with skills like that.

"Not bad, senpai."

"You're a lot stronger than I expected."

"I'm going to get serious now~"