Warm orange-yellow light shone down from the mood lighting on the ceiling, falling on a red-haired boy.
Gaara sat upright at the dining table, picked up his chopsticks, and began slowly savoring the remaining half of his Pacific saury and grilled meat.
The other half had been sent into Gaara's Sealing Space, where a tiny Shukaku lay happily in front of a plate, eating with delight.
"I'll take some food back later. Kankuro probably hasn't eaten yet."
Gaara gently chewed the sweet, fresh fish in his mouth and murmured softly to himself.
Suddenly, a voice that often appeared in Gaara's mind rang out beside his ear.
"Yo, Gaara."
Gaara turned toward the entrance of the barbecue restaurant. Looking past Yugao, who stood in front, he immediately spotted Naruto behind her, wearing a Santa hat.
The corners of his mouth lifted slightly. Gaara nodded at Naruto and also formed a hand out of flowing sand, gently pulling out four chairs.
"Are you here to eat too?"
Gaara also noticed Hinata following beside Naruto. He knew the two were a couple.
Naruto grinned and nodded.
"Thanks."
Without standing on ceremony, he sat right beside Gaara. Hinata sat beside Naruto, Fū beside Hinata, and Yugao beside Fū.
The five of them sat in a circle like that.
"Hmm, is there something you need?"
It wasn't that Gaara was socially anxious, but Naruto had brought three girls over to sit beside him, so he probably had something to tell him.
"Yeah, yeah, there really is something I need to tell you."
Naruto nodded and looked into Gaara's eyes.
"Go ahead."
Gaara nodded slightly, looking earnestly back into Naruto's azure eyes, paying no attention whatsoever to Shukaku, whose fur had bristled in fright inside his belly.
"Why is it this brat?! Gaara, leave! Hurry up