My stomach was uncomfortably stuffed.
That girl Hinata had insisted on watching me polish off that enormous three-tier lunchbox.
Every burp tasted of the cloying sweetness of thick omelet.
Rubbing my belly, I shuffled over in flip-flops to open the door.
The door had warped a little.
It let out a piercing scrape as I pulled it open.
The moment it opened.
A pungent smell of sea salt mixed with cheap perfume hit me in the face.
It irritated my nose so badly that I let out an enormous sneeze.
I rubbed my nose.
My gaze landed on a pair of blood-red lips.
Above them was Mei Terumi's heavily made-up face.
Foundation had settled into the fine lines at the corners of her eyes.
"Sen. Long time no see."
Her lips spread into a smile.
Her affectedly sweet voice gave me goosebumps.
She wore wine-red, pointed-toe heels.
The heels sank into the soft mud outside the door.
When she pulled them out, they brought up a clump of black mud.
My eye twitched.
"Didn't realize the Mizukage had so much free time."
"Come all the way to Konoha to inspect things on the ground?"
I reached back to shut the door.
A hand wearing a black mesh glove wedged itself firmly into the gap.
Even her nail polish had a chip in it.
"Oh, don't be so heartless."
"I brought official paperwork, you know."
She pushed the door open hard.
The mud on her soles landed directly on the cotton entryway mat I'd just washed.
It left a filthy black footprint.
My temples throbbed.
"I just scrubbed that mat this morning!"
Mei Terumi pretended not to hear.
She sashayed straight into the living room.
Chojuro followed behind her like a downtrodden servant.
Three large bags hung around his neck.
He