Comparison

System bound to Ino Yamanaka!

[Ding! Ino Yamanaka's affection +10!]

[Current affection: 60 (Admiration and curiosity)]

After his brief conversation with Ino, the system notification sounded.

This cheerful girl's affection rose quite readily. Clearly, the strength Genya had displayed and his approachable attitude were very much to her liking.

Genya turned his attention to Hinata as she stepped up, cheering her on earnestly and finally helping her muster some courage.

Her match was not as spectacular as Genya's, but she had a solid foundation in Hyuga-style Taijutsu and ultimately won without trouble.

Both Genya and Ino applauded her. When Hinata stepped down, her little face was flushed, partly with relief at finishing the assessment and partly with shyness at receiving their attention.

The day's assessments were over, officially bringing the semester to a close.

The dismissal bell rang.

Genya left the classroom with Hinata and Ino.

Nami was already waiting by the door. Seeing Genya emerge, she broke into a bright smile.

However...

When her gaze passed over Genya and landed on Ino Yamanaka, the girl with the blond ponytail who was smiling brightly and talking to him, her smile faltered. Then her eyes narrowed appraisingly.

"Genya-kun, Hinata, over here!"

Nami waved, her voice clear and bright.

But Genya keenly noticed the sharpness hidden beneath her gentle gaze, directed at the overly close distance between him and Ino.

"Nami!"

Ino greeted her enthusiastically. She knew this Uchiha prodigy, who was quite famous at school.

"Genya-kun, aren't you going to introduce us?"

Nami approached, politely looking Ino over before returning her gaze to Genya's face. Her lips curved into a smile, but her eyes plainly said:

Who. Is. She?

Genya felt an invisible pressure. He cleared his throat and introduced them with an unchanged expression.

"Nami, this is Ino Yamanaka, a classmate of mine. We met after the Taijutsu assessment just now. Ino, this is Uchiha Nami. She's two years ahead of me."

"I see. Hello, Ino."

Nami nodded to Ino with an impeccable smile and a friendly tone.

"Genya-kun often tells me about his classmates."

Her words were flawless, establishing her closeness to Genya without seeming too pointed.

"Hi, Nami! Genya's really amazing. He's the best in our class!"

Ino seemed oblivious to the subtle atmosphere and continued smiling with easygoing cheer.

"Yes, he's always worked very hard."

Nami answered with a smile, then turned naturally to Genya as though making a casual suggestion.

"Genya-kun, the semester's over. Do you have any plans for later? Shall we celebrate?"

Genya took the opening. His gaze swept over the three girls, each so different from the others, and he suggested:

"Right, the semester's over. Since we're all here, why don't we... go have a meal together?"

"I know a really good ramen shop called Ichiraku Ramen. It's affordable, and the food's great. What do you think?"

"Ramen? Sure! I haven't had Ichiraku Ramen in ages!"

Ino was the first to raise her hand in agreement. She had always taken a keen interest in good food.

"I-I'm fine with anything..."

Hinata quietly agreed. As long as she was with Genya-kun, she was happy to go anywhere.

Nami glanced at Genya. Seeing his clear, guileless eyes, she nodded and smiled.

"That sounds nice."

The four of them left school together and headed toward the Ichiraku Ramen Shop.

On the way, Nami moved to Genya's other side, sandwiching him between herself and Ino, while Hinata followed quietly a little behind.

Outwardly, Nami chatted with Ino about school and amusing incidents in the upper grades, occasionally exchanging a few words with Genya.

But Genya could feel her fingers occasionally tightening around his arm.

She was probably grumbling to herself.

Genya-kun attracts far too many girls... It's only been one semester. Besides Hinata, how has another girl appeared, this cheerful, lively young lady from the Yamanaka Clan?

And they already seem so close... Honestly, what am I going to do with him?

Meanwhile, Hinata watched Genya and Ino talking ahead of her.

Seeing Ino laugh so brightly and act without any reserve, then comparing that with how she herself always grew nervous and shy and could barely speak, she couldn't help feeling dejected and inferior.

Ino has such a lovely personality. She can make friends with anyone so quickly, and she's fun to talk to...

Genya-kun looks so happy talking to her.

Does Genya-kun... prefer lively, cheerful girls like Ino?

Genya took in the subtle atmosphere on both sides and felt helpless.

All he could do was try to balance the conversation so that no one felt left out.

Before long, the familiar fabric curtain came into view, with the words "Ichiraku Ramen" prominently displayed.

An enticing aroma drifted out of the little shop.

"Here we are!"

Genya stepped forward first and lifted the entrance curtain.

"Welcome!"

Teuchi's warm, booming voice greeted them.

Seating was limited, and the four of them filled the four remaining seats in a row.

Genya was about to invite everyone to order when his gaze swept across the shop and caught sight of someone in the seat at the far end.

A familiar, solitary blond figure sat with his back to them, noisily slurping from a large bowl of steaming ramen.

It was Naruto Uzumaki.

Sure enough, he was here.

Genya's gaze shifted slightly. It seemed tonight's end-of-semester meal might not be so peaceful after all.

His expression remained unchanged, but he was already considering how to handle the various situations that might arise.

Naruto Uzumaki sat in the innermost seat, eating a large bowl of steaming pork ramen.

Seemingly noticing the arrival of new customers, he instinctively looked up.

When he saw that it was Genya coming in, with three girls accompanying him...

And that two of them were Hinata and Ino, the famously pretty girls in his class, Naruto's hand visibly stiffened around his chopsticks.

A barely perceptible trace of awkwardness and... envy flashed through his eyes.

Genya nodded to him naturally, then looked toward the counter.

"Teuchi, four seats, please."

"Coming right up! Have a seat!"

Teuchi swiftly got them settled.

Of the four seats in a row, Genya naturally took the one nearest Naruto. Nami sat beside him, followed by Hinata, with Ino on the outermost seat.

"Naruto, having ramen? What a coincidence."

After sitting down, Genya greeted him casually.

"Ah... yeah! Genya, it's you guys!"

Naruto came back to his senses and forced his usual carefree grin, scratching his head. He deliberately raised his voice to hide that brief moment of awkwardness.

"Ichiraku Ramen's the best! Right?"

"Naruto-kun."

Hinata also greeted him quietly. Her eyes held none of the distance or disgust so common in others, just a simple greeting.

"Hey, Naruto! You're here too!"

Ino was even more direct, leaning over with a grin as she spoke.

"That's a huge bowl. You've got quite an appetite!"

Her manner was natural and casual. She didn't treat Naruto as some "outsider" who needed special treatment at all.

Only Nami was meeting Naruto for the first time. She studied the blond boy with the strange markings on his cheeks, who seemed rather boisterous.

Then she looked at how Genya, Hinata, and the others treated him, and simply smiled and nodded politely without asking any questions.