The morning sunlight the next day seemed a little warmer than yesterday's.
At the entrance of the Yamanaka Flower Shop, Sai still sat in his usual spot, his drawing board propped up before him.
In front of him were no longer those flowers competing in beauty.
Ino Yamanaka stood with her hands on her hips, puffing out her cheeks as she tried her best to make the expression she believed best represented "happiness."
"How is it, painter? Did you capture it? The essence of happiness!"
Sai's brush hovered in midair. He frowned slightly and gently shook his head at Ino.
He still did not understand. He did not understand why girls could become happy for no reason at all.
"No, no. That looks too forced."
Ino deflated, then grabbed Sai by the wrist and pulled him toward the street.
"I've decided! Today's goal is to make you genuinely smile at least once!"
Sai's body stiffened for an instant at the sudden warmth of her touch, but he did not resist.
He classified his interactions with Ino as part of the mission.
Konoha's most popular dessert shop was always packed.
The air was thick with the cloyingly sweet aroma of red bean paste, glutinous rice, and syrup.
Ino squeezed her way to the counter like a regular, used the mission reward she had just received, and generously bought ten skewers of tri-colored dango along with two steaming cups of red bean soup.
Without giving him any chance to refuse, she stuffed one portion into Sai's hands.
"Here, eat! Sweet things make people feel better!"
Sai looked at the brightly colored glutinous rice balls in his hand, then at the thick red bean soup in the cup beside them.
As if carrying out a precise mission, he opened his mouth and bit