Mirai stopped overthinking and continued giving it his all.
The next morning, Naori woke from the pain of discomfort.
She opened her eyes and found herself still in Mirai's arms, covered by his coat, with that kimono, now wrinkled beyond recognition, laid beneath her.
Naori tried to move, and her brows immediately knit together as she sucked in a sharp breath.
"Don't move." Mirai's voice came from above her as his hand gently pressed on her shoulder. "You wore yourself out last night."
Naori said nothing. She only buried her face deeper into his chest.
Her face was burning, but her lips curved upward.
"I'll carry you back," Mirai said.
"No... I can walk on my own."
"Why don't you try taking two steps?"
Naori tried—"Hiss!"
The pain was a little unbearable.
Then she saw Mirai's half-smiling expression beside her and couldn't help punching him. "It's all your fault. Last night... you held me..."
Mirai chuckled, took out a fresh coat from a sealing scroll, wrapped her up in it, then bent down and lifted her into his arms.
Last night's clothes were already too dirty to wear.
Naori curled up in his embrace, her arms wrapped around his neck and her face buried in the hollow of his shoulder. She never lifted her head the entire way.
Only when they reached the entrance to the Uchiha Clan Grounds did Mirai set her down.
Naori stood there, bracing herself against the doorframe, then turned back to glance at him.
Her face was a little pale, but her eyes held a soft light.
"Mirai."
"Yeah?"
"Last night... I was very happy."
"Me too."
Naori nodded. The discomfort in her body eased considerably as she turned and tried to walk into the clan grounds.
After taking a few steps, she stopped