What I Saw

This was a public street. If she made a scene, wouldn't Tsunade be practically admitting it herself?

If her family found out and dragged her back, that would be a real disaster.

Hikaru watched Tsunade with a smile as he ate his grilled meat skewers, wearing an expression that clearly said, Go on, keep talking. It made Tsunade grit her teeth as she hurriedly picked up the money pouch.

Too many people knew her. If anyone saw that it was full of money, word would spread before long.

"What are you trying to do?!" Taking a deep breath, Tsunade suppressed the anger in her heart and asked in a low voice.

Hikaru continued eating his meat skewers. He pointed with the bamboo stick in the direction Tsunade had been heading and said with a grin, "That way leads to the Casino, Princess Tsunade. What exactly are you planning to do? Help clean the Casino? Or go catch—mmph!!"

"Shh!!!"

Tsunade panicked. She pressed herself against Hikaru and covered his mouth, refusing to let him continue. Her face had turned a little red from guilt. Being caught gambling was one thing, but if word got out that she had stolen money to gamble, her reputation would be ruined.

"Ptooey! Ptooey! Ptooey!!!"

With a loli in his arms, Hikaru felt no joy whatsoever. He hurriedly pulled away Tsunade's slightly grimy little hand and snapped, "What the hell? Why does it smell moldy? Didn't you wash your hands?!"

That was fatal to Hikaru, who had a mild obsession with cleanliness. He had no interest in eating his meat skewers anymore. Looking at Tsunade, who was playing dumb with her slightly dirty hands, his face immediately darkened.

This was bad. Seeing Hikaru's dark expression, Tsunade knew she was in serious trouble. This was the first time she had ever seen him look so grim. He was clearly angry, and angry because of her.

Hmph, it was all because those old geezers always liked hiding their money, forcing me to search everywhere. I didn't even have time to wash my hands!!! How awful.

"But..."

Watching Hikaru hold a meat skewer with a face full of dark lines, Tsunade felt things had gotten worse. He might report her. The money itself was a minor issue, but if the news reached the Academy, she would be too ashamed to show her face there.

"Huff~~~" Wiping his mouth hard, Hikaru looked at Tsunade helplessly. "My little princess, couldn't you at least wash your hands first? Can gambling really make someone lose themselves that completely?"

"And you stole that money, didn't you?!"

"How could that be!!!"

Tsunade's eyes widened. Completely unaware that she was still clinging to Hikaru, she immediately refuted him loudly. "Who do you think I, Tsunade, am? How could I possibly do something like that!!! Hmph!!!"

After saying that, she even let out a snort, as if that proved her words were credible.

"Oh, really?" The corner of Hikaru's mouth lifted. A mischievous smile flashed in Tsunade's eyes, making her heart leap into her throat. "Then..."

"Don't!!!"

A sense of unease rose within her. Tsunade hurriedly raised her hand to cover Hikaru's mouth, afraid that he would really start talking nonsense. Forget about later—he could not say anything now, either. Otherwise, if the people around them noticed, her family might come and drag her back.

That would be utterly humiliating.

"Ptooey! Ptooey! Ptooey!!!"

Hikaru's face, which had only just returned to normal, darkened again. This girl had put her hand over his mouth again. The moldy stench nearly made him spit out the meat skewer he had just eaten.

"Stop. Get away from me. Farther away."

Hikaru could not take it anymore. He hurriedly pushed Tsunade away and raised his hands in surrender. "I didn't see anything. Go on, do whatever you want. If you want to gamble, gamble. If you want to steal money, steal money. I'll pretend I never saw a thing."

With his mouth covered, it felt as though an unwashed, stinking sock had been hovering around his lips the whole time. Most people could not endure that. He had no idea what Tsunade had gone through to end up like this.

Looking more closely, Hikaru realized that her clothes were covered in dust. One look was enough to tell that she had just done something extraordinary.

Waving his hand, Hikaru tossed the meat skewers into a trash bin and headed home. As for whether Tsunade wanted to gamble or do anything else, it had nothing to do with him.

"Uh..." Hikaru did not explode. He merely shoved her away in disgust and left just like that, leaving Tsunade, who had expected him to lose his temper, stunned. Yet a voice kept echoing in her mind, making her increasingly uneasy.

This guy isn't going to report me, is he?

Was that why he had left like that?

I can't let him tell anyone!!! Tsunade suddenly panicked. How could she still think about having a satisfying round of gambling? She was terrified that Hikaru would spread the news that she had stolen money to gamble.

"Uchiha Hikaru, stop!!!"

In her panic, Tsunade grabbed the money pouch and ran after Hikaru.