These two little girls think they can play mind games with me? I just can't be bothered to stoop to their level. Besides, they won't get anything out of me without offering some benefits first. I had no intention of getting mixed up in the awkward friendship drama between two little girls.
Mizuki did not particularly care. He was only teaching one person anyway; with one more tagalong, he could just pretend she did not exist. Having a free pair of hands to work also saved him quite a bit of trouble. He had already accepted Sakura Haruno's payment. As for Ino Yamanaka, she could watch if she wanted—whether she could pick up anything useful depended on her own ability.
By now, the streets had grown fairly crowded, though there were clearly more and more unfamiliar faces. At this hour, most people were hurrying off to work. Couples strolling around first thing in the morning, like the pair ahead of Mizuki, were still rather rare.
"Hmm? Aren't those Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yuhi up ahead? Why are two jonin instructors showing off their affection instead of teaching genin?"
"You, the bearded guy smoking up ahead—yes, you. Stop looking around, I'm talking about you." Since he was bored anyway, Mizuki decided to tease the two of them. "Why are you so nervous? Did you do something shameful?"
"Of course not. We just happened to run into each other." Despite his rugged appearance, Asuma was surprisingly shy.
"I never said there was anything between you two. Why are you confessing without being accused?" Mizuki wore an expression that said he understood everything. "You just happened to meet, so you decided to have breakfast together?"
"Right, right!" they both rushed to say in unison.
"Asuma-sensei, Kurenai-sensei."
"Yes? What is it?"
"I just came