Rock Lee saw the smile in Kiyokawa Nako's eyes. As if he understood her, he roughly guessed what she was about to say next, and a complicated emotion suddenly surged within him.
"Rock Lee, haven't you always wanted to go to Snow? Once you've just finished a mission and don't have the time for any others, Mirai can accompany you there for fun."
The moment Kiyokawa Nako said this, Mirai immediately understood what she meant. Looking at Rock Lee and seeing his flushed face, he could not help but feel a headache coming on.
In reality, sixteen was probably older than a first-year student's age. He probably had not even fully matured yet.
But in the world of Hokage, sixteen already counted as mature. When it came to marriage, people would laugh at anyone over eighteen who was still unmarried.
As for powerful female ninjas like Tsunade, people did not see them that way. They were alone, without parents urging them on, and strong enough that no one dared gossip about them.
"I've been practicing ninjutsu lately. I'm afraid I don't have time to go somewhere as far away as Snow. I'm really sorry."
Mirai tactfully declined. Rock Lee had already reached marriageable age; dating at that age was practically rushing toward marriage. Although Mirai had a favorable impression of Rock Lee, he did not feel that way about him. Besides, Mirai had no intention of starting a family in the world of Hokage right now, nor did he want to hold him up.
Mirai did not want to discuss the matter any further. He changed the subject and said, "I held a concert yesterday. Did you see it on TV?"
Mirai's attempt to change the subject was a little too stiff, so both Kiyokawa Nako and Rock Lee gave