Hyuga Mikoto

"Gen, why are you walking so fast? I can't keep up with you."

"Sorry, Natsu. I think I can smell the food at your house. My stomach's practically being teased out of hiding."

Hyuga Gen lied without batting an eye.

"Is that so? You just ate, Gen. How can you still be so hungry?"

Hyuga Natsu looked at Hyuga Gen skeptically.

"Uh, I really wasn't full earlier."

As it turned out, one lie only led to countless others. Hyuga Gen certainly wasn't going to tell her that he had ulterior motives.

"Though, I guess they're not really ulterior motives. I just like looking at pretty women."

Hyuga Gen searched for an excuse in his mind.

"Everyone loves beauty. That's right. That's all there is to it."

He'd sooner die than admit he was a total lech. Then again, he was still just a little kid.

Thinking that, Hyuga Gen unconsciously broke into a lecherous grin.

"Gen, your smile is so..." Hyuga Natsu couldn't think of the right word. She only knew that her big brother's grin looked very strange.

Mikoto, Hyuga Natsu's mother, had dazzled Hyuga Gen the first time he saw her at the hospital.

She was beautiful. Incredibly beautiful!

Her fair skin, bright eyes, and warm, welcoming presence outshone every celebrity and beauty he'd ever seen on television in his old world.

"Mother, Gen is here!"

Once they entered the courtyard, Hyuga Natsu called out toward the house.

When the door opened, Hyuga Mikoto was already waiting in the entryway. Hyuga Gen greeted her with a smile, then rushed over, wrapped his arms around her legs, and rubbed his little face against them.

"You little rascal..."

Faced with such an enthusiastic greeting, Hyuga Mikoto didn't know what to say.

Of course, she was happy. It was clear that Hyuga Gen genuinely liked her and wanted to be close to her. What ulterior motives could a child possibly have?

Meanwhile, Hyuga Natsu looked at Hyuga Gen with some disdain. It was as if she could see a pug wagging its tail at its owner.

"Alright, you two, go wash your hands, then come eat."

As she spoke, Hyuga Mikoto crouched down and tidied Hyuga Gen's hair and clothes.

Hyuga Gen was still too short to reach her knees. His head came up to her thigh, and his arms could only wrap around her knees.

As Hyuga Mikoto carefully fixed his appearance, he admired how beautiful she looked today. Her faint fragrance lingered around him. Looking at her lovely face, he wanted to kiss her.

"Thank you, Aunt Mikoto."

If he wanted to, he might as well do it. He was still little, so it wouldn't be a big deal. Hyuga Gen quickly kissed Hyuga Mikoto on the cheek, then ran off.

Hyuga Mikoto froze for a moment, caught off guard by the kiss.

"That child..."

She didn't know what to say, but she didn't think much of it. He was only five years old, after all.

Hyuga Mikoto was very fond of Hyuga Gen, too. He had protected Hyuga Natsu when she was in danger. Natsu had told her that if it weren't for him, her daughter might have been the one who got hurt.

That was why she'd invited Hyuga Gen over today: to thank him for saving her daughter and treat the little guy to some good food.

"Gen, I want a kiss too!"

Hyuga Natsu had seen it all. She wanted a kiss too.

"Looks like my daughter won't escape this boy's clutches," Hyuga Mikoto thought as she watched her daughter ask for a kiss.

"Maybe that wouldn't be so bad."

Hyuga Gen had risked his life to protect her daughter during the Nine-Tails Incident, despite being so young. Maybe it would be nice if her daughter ended up with him someday.

"Is my cooking not to your taste? Why do you keep staring at me?"

Hyuga Mikoto noticed Hyuga Gen gazing at her in a daze and couldn't help wondering why.

"No, it's just that you're so beautiful, Aunt Mikoto. I can't help wanting to look at you a little longer."

Hyuga Gen answered honestly. He meant every word.

"You little charmer. I'm old. You won't say that when you're grown up."

Hyuga Mikoto was pleased to be called beautiful by a child.

"No, Aunt Mikoto. You don't look old at all."

Hyuga Gen spoke honestly. She looked like an eighteen-year-old girl, and there was no hint that she'd ever had a child.

"Alright, hurry up and eat before the food gets cold."

Hyuga Mikoto urged him on, hoping to silence the little chatterbox.

Hyuga Gen said no more and quietly ate his meal. The food really was delicious. Even though he'd already been full, he ate two more bowls.

"Gen, what did you do so early this morning?"

Hyuga Natsu asked curiously.

"I got up early and went for a run. Natsu, do you want to come with me?"

Hyuga Gen's eyes lit up as he smiled. He hoped Hyuga Natsu would grow stronger, too.

"Running? Is it fun?" Hyuga Natsu seemed interested.

"It isn't fun, and it's really tiring. But if you stick with it, you can get stronger."

"Really? I can get stronger? Then take me with you starting tomorrow, Gen. I want to become strong. Next time, I'll be the one protecting you."

Hearing the earnest sincerity in Hyuga Natsu's words honestly moved Hyuga Gen.

"Alright, alright. I'll come get you tomorrow morning. Don't sleep in, okay?"

Running alone was pretty dull. It was much better to have someone with him. He'd already thought about asking Hyuga Natsu to join him, but hadn't wanted her to get too tired.

"Aunt Mikoto, is that okay with you?"

Hyuga Gen turned to Hyuga Mikoto to ask for her permission.

"That's fine, but be careful."

"Mm-hmm. I'll be careful. It should be fine—we'll run inside the compound and won't go outside."

Hyuga Mikoto nodded slowly. She didn't expect her daughter to become especially strong; she only hoped she'd grow up happy.

"Yay! Then you have to take me with you tomorrow, Gen. I want to get stronger!" Hyuga Natsu was clearly thrilled that her mother had agreed.

And so it was settled. What Hyuga Gen hadn't expected was that the running group would keep growing from its original two members until it started a running craze among the children of the Hyuga clan.

Hyuga Gen had also underestimated Hyuga Natsu's determination. Later, even after he stopped keeping up with his runs, Hyuga Natsu continued her morning jogs. But that's a story for another time.

"By the way, Gen, has your egg hatched into a chick yet?" Hyuga Natsu asked curiously.

"I've never seen such a pretty egg. If it doesn't hatch into a chick, let's eat it. A pretty egg like that must taste especially good."

Hyuga Natsu's eyes gleamed as she spoke.

So all that determination was just because she wanted to eat it? Hyuga Gen's eyes widened.