Asuma watched Kurenai Yuhi's back as she walked into the office, his gaze lingering on her ample, shapely backside for several seconds. He couldn't help swallowing.
It really wasn't fair to say Asuma was too thirsty.
Kurenai Yuhi's figure was simply too enticing.
It was a different kind of allure from the deep cleavage Tsunade showed off—a beauty wrapped in a scarlet robe, hazy yet distinctly outlined.
There was another reason: he was often away on missions, so he and Kurenai rarely saw each other. They'd been together for months, and he still hadn't even held her hand.
Asuma wasn't in a hurry.
Kurenai's reserved nature actually put him at ease.
After all, he was Kurenai's boyfriend. If even he could barely touch her, other men would have an even harder time.
It was good that she was so reserved. It made him feel secure.
But Asuma didn't know that while he was putting out his cigarette and returning to the exam room to proctor alone, the Kurenai Yuhi he thought was so reserved had once again taken Takasaki's hand in her office. "Was this the technique you were talking about?"
Takasaki stood beside her desk, his palm resting in the hand of Kurenai Yuhi, who was leaning against her office chair. She casually wrote a few characters on his palm. Takasaki suddenly felt a warmth, as a stream of water formed from chakra spread over his palm like a thin film, then vanished in a flash.
The next second,
the writing on Takasaki's palm had been completely erased. "Teacher Kurenai, the cheat sheet on my hand during the exam really was erased by you."
After Kurenai Yuhi demonstrated it for him, Takasaki was genuinely impressed.
It was clearly Water Release, but he couldn't tell which specific Water Release technique it was.
Kurenai Yuhi was a jonin and knew many techniques. She was best at genjutsu, and knew a little about techniques involving other elements, though she wasn't proficient in them.
But none of that really mattered to Takasaki.
What he cared about most at that moment was when Kurenai Yuhi would start taking advantage of him.
It wasn't that Takasaki couldn't wait. The atmosphere was simply perfect.
A private office.
The door was shut.
The soundproofing was excellent.
There was a sturdy-looking chaise nearby. He was all set, ready to stand tall and thrust his spear straight in.
Kurenai Yuhi was in her twenties, a mature woman. She didn't need to be as shy as Hinata and Ino, so Takasaki simply asked the question he already knew the answer to. "Teacher Kurenai, why did you cover for me when I cheated?"
All Kurenai Yuhi had to do was say that she wanted to take advantage of him.
Or she didn't even need to say anything. A suggestive look or a beckoning finger would be enough. He'd understand.
Actually, even if Takasaki hadn't asked, Kurenai Yuhi had intended to tell him the reason.
Why had she covered for Takasaki?
Of course, it was because of the Diary.
By helping Takasaki, she hoped he would write her name in the Diary a few more times, earning her the rewards it offered.
Naturally, she couldn't tell him the real reason. The Diary had warned her that if she ever revealed its existence, she would die on the spot.
Kurenai Yuhi had no doubt about the Diary's power.
So, to keep Takasaki from suspecting her, she gave him the excuse she'd prepared in advance. "Because your parents once saved my life."
"My parents?"
Takasaki replied without thinking.
He was a little confused. Once he understood what she meant, he was even more taken aback.
He'd cheated in an exam proctored by Teacher Kurenai, and she'd covered for him again and again. It wasn't because he was handsome, or because she wanted to take advantage of him, but because of his parents?
I was already ready to take my pants off, and this was what she told me?
"Your parents saved my life on the battlefield. That was ten years ago, when you were still very young..."
Kurenai Yuhi had prepared thoroughly, even going so far as to make up an entirely plausible story. She went on and on.
For twenty minutes straight.
At first, Takasaki listened eagerly from beside the desk as Kurenai Yuhi told her story.
By the end, he'd given up and sat on the chaise nearby, letting out a long, disappointed sigh.
Honestly, the story Kurenai Yuhi told about her and his parents on the battlefield ten years ago was exciting.
They'd fought Kirigakure shinobi together for an entire day and night.
In the end, his parents and Kurenai Yuhi infiltrated the enemy's reinforcements. His parents died so they could get the intel back to Konoha, while Kurenai Yuhi made it back safely.
If she'd told that story at Konoha's opening ceremony, plenty of students would have been moved to tears and fired up with excitement.
The problem was, Takasaki hadn't come to Kurenai Yuhi's office to hear an inspiring story.
He'd come hoping she would take advantage of him.
In that moment, he realized that his hope of being taken advantage of by Teacher Kurenai was well and truly gone.
Oh well.
All in all, he hadn't come away empty-handed.
At least he'd passed the written portion of the Graduation Exam, and he'd learned a little about what his parents had done. That was a small win, not a loss.
"So, if anyone else had cheated, I would have followed the rules. But I couldn't do that to you. The punishment for cheating on the final exam is too severe. If I didn't help you, no one else would," Kurenai Yuhi concluded.
"Thank you so much, Teacher Kurenai. I'll remember what you've done for me, and I'll repay you someday," Takasaki said politely.
However,
Kurenai Yuhi didn't take his words to heart.
Repay her someday?
How?
Takasaki was the bottom-ranked student in his class. Without her help, he might not even have passed today's written exam.
Even if he had passed today, Kurenai Yuhi still didn't think he could pass the Three Body Technique test in ten days.
There was no point worrying about that now. For the time being, all she needed was for Takasaki to write about how she'd helped him cheat in his Diary.
As for the ninjutsu exam ten days from now, she'd do her best to say something nice about Takasaki to the proctor.
"Keep at it, Takasaki. I know your classmates all call you the dead last, but I don't think you're actually that bad. On the contrary, I think there's something special about you."
She'd said things like that to plenty of students who struggled with their studies, but she'd never said them to Takasaki.
The reason was simple.
She hadn't gotten the Diary before, and Takasaki's grades were so hopeless that she'd thought there was no point encouraging him.
Now things were different.
She needed an excuse to stay in touch with Takasaki, so she stood up and gently patted his shoulder. "Don't give up, Takasaki. I believe in you. From now on, I'll be your parents' eyes, and I'll watch you grow. If you ever need help, just tell me."
Takasaki kept his head down and listened in silence.
His body trembled slightly.
It wasn't that he was so moved he could barely hold back his tears. He was actually trying not to cry.
By the time Kurenai Yuhi finished speaking, Takasaki's eyes were already brimming with tears.
He looked up, and the moment he blinked, tears spilled from his eyes. Seeing how moved he was made Kurenai Yuhi feel a pang of sympathy.
"Teacher Kurenai, you've been so good to me. No one's ever encouraged me like this. Everyone in class calls me the dead last. They all look down on me. No one loves me." Takasaki's voice was choked with sobs.
Kurenai Yuhi felt even more sorry for him.
Students without parents were often bullied at the academy.
This poor child...
He must have suffered so much over the years.
Even without the Diary, she probably should have shown Takasaki more kindness. "I'll be there for you from now on."
With the mood set, Takasaki was ready to make a reasonable request.
He let out a long sigh, then continued in an even more tearful voice. "Teacher Kurenai, could you give me a loving hug?"
It really wasn't fair to say Takasaki was shameless. Teacher Kurenai's figure was simply too enticing. After all, who could resist the allure of an older woman?
Her eyes held secrets, and her delicate chin was slightly raised as she looked up at Takasaki. In the atmosphere created by the quiet, private office, he couldn't help wanting to take things further.
Since he hadn't managed to get her to take advantage of him, asking his teacher for a loving hug should be all right, shouldn't it?
Takasaki hadn't expected much. If Kurenai Yuhi refused, he'd politely chat with her for a bit while she sat in her office chair, then open the door and leave.
But to Takasaki's surprise, after hearing his request, Kurenai Yuhi hesitated for only a second before getting up from her chair.
Kurenai Yuhi drew the curtains shut, moved toward Takasaki of her own accord, and opened her arms to him.
"Takasaki, don't sigh. Sighing will make your good luck slip away."
"You're not alone in Konoha, and you're not unloved. At least, I'm willing to care for you."
"It's been a long time since you lost your parents. You must have gone through a lot, suffered plenty of scorn, and bottled up so many grievances."
In her daily life, Kurenai Yuhi was actually a very conservative person.
You could tell from the way she dressed. Despite having a figure like an enchantress, she was perfectly content to keep it wrapped in a long robe.
Even after dating Asuma for months, she wouldn't even let him touch her hand.
Conservative as she was,
she could still take the initiative in certain situations.
Like now.
If she spent more time with Takasaki and left a lasting impression on him, there was a chance he might write about her in the Diary, earning her rewards and making her stronger.
That temptation was hard to resist, even for someone as reserved as her.
So Takasaki was almost dazed as he listened to her finish speaking.
The reason he was dazed was that he truly hadn't expected Teacher Kurenai to hug him of her own accord.
The hand he'd rubbed against earlier in the exam room, feeling its softness against his palm, was now gently wrapped around his waist. As if comforting him, she patted his back again and again. "I hope my hug can help you feel that there's still love in Konoha."
Takasaki really did feel loved.
He didn't know what Teacher Kurenai was feeling at that moment, but he found the whole thing thrilling.
Every time Teacher Kurenai's palm gently patted his back, his heart seemed to beat a little faster.
It wasn't like the shy, ambiguous feeling he'd had around Hinata, or the fiery feeling Ino brought out in him. It was more like the affection of an older sister.
If Takasaki had been carrying any emotional wounds, that affection might really have healed them.
But Takasaki was in excellent mental health. He had no emotional wounds.
After all, he'd transmigrated here and gotten a system cheat.
And right now, not only did he feel wonderful inside, his body felt wonderful too.
What Takasaki didn't know was that as Kurenai Yuhi held him gently and comforted him, her own heart was beating faster and faster.
Her cheeks grew warmer by the second.
Women were emotional creatures. They didn't care about reason; they cared about how things felt.
This was Takasaki's first close embrace with a woman since he had transmigrated, but it was Kurenai Yuhi's first too.
"Thank you, Teacher Kurenai." A bold idea suddenly came to Takasaki.
Since this was a loving hug, then they were hugging each other.
If he reached out now, Teacher Kurenai would probably allow it, right?
But just as he cautiously raised his lowered hands and reached for Teacher Kurenai's waist, wrapped in her scarlet robe, the gentle pats of Kurenai Yuhi's hand against his back stopped.
Kurenai Yuhi let go of Takasaki. "You can go now. I have to grade the other classes' exams."
"Thank you, Teacher Kurenai." Takasaki sighed inwardly and gave her a polite little bow.
He turned, opened the door, and was about to leave when Kurenai Yuhi suddenly called after him. "Takasaki, wait a moment."
"What is it?"
"Just a reminder: as the bottom-ranked student in your class, passing today's written portion of the Graduation Exam will surprise a lot of people. So, plenty of people will be watching you during the ninjutsu test ten days from now. There's not much I can do to help with that, so I hope you'll work hard and pass."
"I will, Teacher Kurenai." Takasaki nodded gratefully to her before leaving.
After Takasaki left,
Kurenai Yuhi's private office fell quiet.
Kurenai Yuhi took a stack of exams that needed grading out of her drawer. She held a red pen, but had no intention of grading them.
Good thing I ended my hug with Takasaki in time. Otherwise, he might have seen me acting so embarrassingly.
Kurenai Yuhi looked at a small mirror standing on her desk.
In the mirror, her cheeks were tinged with a faint blush.
Even though she was ten years older than Takasaki, and had acted like a mature, understanding older sister in front of him, there was still a little girl living inside her.
She'd managed not to blush the first time she held a boy's hand, but the first time she hugged one, she couldn't quite hide her body's reaction.
She closed the office door and made sure the curtains were drawn before taking the Diary out of her mental space and flipping through it.
When she saw there was nothing new in the Diary, Kurenai Yuhi murmured, "When will Takasaki write his third diary entry?"
She sat back down in her office chair, crossed her legs, and swung one foot back and forth, anticipation rippling in her heart. "Takasaki's next diary entry should mention my name more than once, right?"
If her name was mentioned more than five times, she would get a reward.
If she was mentioned more than anyone else, she'd get an additional reward.
Hinata had gotten the additional reward for the previous diary entry. Of course Kurenai Yuhi was jealous.
As she graded the exams, Kurenai Yuhi muttered, "I hope the reward I get in the next diary entry is better than Hinata's."
She smiled, then suddenly remembered what it had felt like to hug Takasaki.
A faint blush rose to her cheeks again.
Before you continue