After Escaping from the Hospital

Ever since Miya had been hospitalized, Kurenai Yuhi and Rin Nohara had often brought him food from home.

After more than half a month of treatment, Miya's injuries had yet to heal completely, but they no longer hindered his movements. He no longer felt a tearing pain all over his body whenever he moved.

Rin Nohara and Kurenai Yuhi's food deserved some of the credit for Miya's speedy recovery.

"What?"

"You want to leave the hospital?"

In the hospital room, Miya's attending physician stared in disbelief at Miya, who had already changed out of his hospital gown. Miya had just told him he was leaving the hospital, and it had made him furious.

"No, I don't agree."

"Your injuries haven't healed yet. You can't leave the hospital."

As Miya's attending physician, how could Hiromura not know about his injuries? That was why he was doing everything he could to stop Miya from leaving.

During their time together, Miya had come to know that Hiromura was a kindhearted man.

But so what?

He couldn't even leave the hospital?

"Doctor Hiromura, I'm not asking for permission. I'm informing you."

"I'm leaving the hospital."

Miya gave Hiromura no consideration at all. He turned his little face away and spoke calmly.

Watching Miya move over to the window, Hiromura suddenly had a bad feeling and shouted at him:

"Don't even think about leaving! Without my approval, you're not going anywhere."

With that, Hiromura tried to pull Miya back.

Although Hiromura was already very fast for a medical-nin, Miya was faster still. Without giving him a chance to grab him, Miya leaped lightly, planted a foot on the windowsill, and jumped out.

"Hehe~~"

He looked back at Hiromura by the window, a mischievous smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Miya had escaped from the hospital.

"Come back here right now..."

As Hiromura's furious voice rang out behind him, Miya had already reached the gates of Konoha Hospital.

Konohagakure, Miya's home.

After leaving Konoha Hospital, Miya returned home and treated himself to a refreshing cold shower.

"That feels great."

Miya walked out of the bathroom, sighing as he dried his slightly damp hair.

He hadn't been able to take a proper bath during his stay at the hospital.

After changing into a fresh set of clothes, Miya was about to head out. His main reason for leaving Konoha Hospital wasn't to stay at home, but to hunt prey in the Forest of Death.

Click~clack~

As soon as Miya opened the door, he saw Rin Nohara and Kurenai Yuhi standing right outside, each carrying a food box.

"Miya."

At the sight of Miya's handsome little face, Rin Nohara and Kurenai Yuhi beamed and spoke in unison.

"We went to the hospital to see you, but Doctor Hiromura said you'd left."

"Are you all right now?"

Kurenai Yuhi fixed her crimson eyes on Miya and asked with great concern.

During Miya's stay in the hospital, he had also gotten the two girls to change how they addressed him, and the three of them had grown closer.

Miya smiled and said:

"I'm fine!"

Rin Nohara raised the food box in her hand and held it out to Miya, smiling sweetly as she spoke:

"You haven't had dinner yet, have you?"

"I made you dinner."

Not to be outdone, Kurenai Yuhi also raised the food box in her hand and said:

"Me too."

Seeing how cute the two girls looked, Miya reached out and gave each of them a head pat before saying:

"Thank you both."

"But I got out of the hospital today."

"I'll take you somewhere for something delicious."

Rin Nohara and Kurenai Yuhi both blushed, lowered their heads slightly, and answered softly:

"Okay."

After taking the food boxes from the two girls and putting them inside, Miya slung on his little backpack, shut the door, and grabbed Rin Nohara and Kurenai Yuhi by their little hands, pulling them along toward the Forest of Death.

"All right, let's go!"

In the setting sun, the shadows of a boy holding the hands of two girls stretched on and on.

It had been more than half a month since Miya had last come to hunt in the Forest of Death. Looking at the familiar entrance, he said to Rin Nohara and Kurenai Yuhi beside him:

"We're here. Let's go in. Hopefully we'll have a good haul today."

Rin Nohara and Kurenai Yuhi looked at each other. Miya had pulled them all the way to the entrance of the Forest of Death, and now they were both a little bewildered.

Weren't they going to eat something delicious?

Why had they come here?

Although Rin Nohara and Kurenai Yuhi had yet to graduate from the Ninja Academy, they weren't helpless little girls.

So they weren't afraid.

It was just, just...

Where was this?

"Miya, where are we?"

Rin Nohara tugged on Miya's hand and asked, a little puzzled.

"Oh! This place..."

"This is the Forest of Death. I used to hunt my prey in here."

Hearing Miya's explanation, the two girls nodded as realization dawned on them and answered:

"Oh!"

Rin Nohara and Kurenai Yuhi didn't yet know that the Forest of Death was like a back garden to Miya, but for the two of them...

It was still somewhat dangerous.

More than half an hour later, the last glow of dusk had all but faded, and night had spread over the entire world.

By a small river in the Forest of Death, two enormous wild boars, each estimated to weigh over five hundred jin, were laid over a large bonfire.

Sitting beside Miya, Rin Nohara and Kurenai Yuhi still looked slightly pale. The two huge boars had given them quite a fright.

Only then did they realize just how dangerous this forest was.

But when they looked at Miya beside them, they felt completely at ease. Miya gave them a strong sense of security.

"You were scared just now, weren't you?"

"Hehe..."

Miya tossed a large piece of firewood onto the bonfire and asked with a grin.

Seeing Miya's grinning face, Rin Nohara and Kurenai Yuhi both lowered their heads as if embarrassed.

They really had been frightened just now.

"Hahaha..."

The two girls' bashful expressions made Miya burst out laughing.

As Miya laughed, Rin Nohara and Kurenai Yuhi pouted and stole a glance at each other. Then each reached out a little hand and grabbed the soft flesh at his waist.

Miya's laughter immediately faltered.

Th-this...

Could this be the skill every girl learned without being taught?

As though he hadn't felt the two girls' threat, Miya regained his composure and gave each of them another head pat.

"As long as I'm by your side, you don't have to be afraid of anything."

Miya spoke so gently that Rin Nohara and Kurenai Yuhi felt a great sense of security.

"Mm!"

The reply, as faint as a mosquito's buzz, sounded beside his ears. When the little hands at his waist withdrew at the same time, Miya let out a long sigh of relief in his heart.

Good thing I was quick-witted enough. I almost got tortured.

My survival instinct was maxed out just then, wasn't it?!

In the glow of the fire, Rin Nohara and Kurenai Yuhi's faces were flushed red. It was hard to tell whether it was from the heat or embarrassment.

Thinking back on what they had just done, both girls had only one thing in mind.

This is so embarrassing...

It was also because of that little incident that the feelings between Miya, Rin Nohara, and Kurenai Yuhi quickly grew warmer by the river.