"This is so boring, Miyuki. I don't get the appeal of fishing."
"Yeah, same."
By the riverside, two girls sat together, their fishing rods stuck in the dirt, completely unattended.
"Where's Ino?"
"Ino?"
She was right beside them, head down and unmoving, not even glancing at her fishing rod.
"Nana, is she... asleep?" Miyuki whispered, eyeing the unmoving girl.
"Maybe," Nana replied, uncertain.
Just then, Ino stirred slightly, her eyes fluttering open a crack beneath her bangs. She cast them a sidelong glance, then lowered her head again, her face once more hidden in shadow.
Miyuki and Nana exchanged looks.
"This place is dull. Let's go play somewhere," Nana muttered with a sigh.
"But what about the fish? If we don't catch anything, what're we gonna eat for lunch?" Miyuki asked, clearly tempted but still hesitant.
Nana's eyes flicked around as she thought, then caught sight of the chubby boy crouching nearby, busy trying to set up a makeshift grill out of twigs. A smile crept across her face as she nudged Miyuki with a knowing look.
Miyuki got the message.
"Hey, Sunano Kanzaku," she whispered, careful not to wake Ino.
The chubby boy looked up at the sound of his name, catching Miyuki and Nana's eyes.
"Eh? Irie-san? Suiwa-san?"
Nana tiptoed over and squatted beside him. Miyuki followed closely behind.
"Hey, Kanzaku," Nana said sweetly. "Can we ask you for a favor?"
"Huh? What is it, Suiwa-san?" he asked, blinking in confusion.
"Would you mind watching our rods for a while?" she said with a bright smile.
"Me?" Kanzaku froze.
"I still need to finish building the grill... and what are you two going to do?"
"Oh, come on. That can wait," Nana waved it off. "We're heading into the forest to collect firewood."
"But... didn't Hoshikawa and the others already go?"
Kanzaku was still uncertain.
"Hey, Kanzaku, think it through," Miyuki chimed in, jerking her thumb toward Ino.
"Once we leave, it'll just be you and Ino out here."
"Wha- me and... Ino?"
Kanzaku's round face flushed bright red as if it might start steaming.
Miyuki and Nana traded glances, barely holding back their laughter.
"Great, you're on rod duty then. Thanks!" Miyuki said as she and Nana stood.
"Let's go!" Nana urged, grabbing her hand.
The two darted toward the forest, leaving Kanzaku behind still frozen, still red and Ino, who seemed to be sleeping soundly.
"Ino..."
After a moment of hesitation, Kanzaku made up his mind and carefully crept over to sit beside her rod, keeping a respectful distance. He peeked at her again and again, until he was sure she really was asleep. Then he grinned sheepishly, casting a dreamy gaze across the water.
Apparently, the sound of his chuckling grew loud enough to be noticed.
Under her bangs, Ino's eyes briefly opened once more. But she said nothing and closed them again.
"What an idiot. He seriously thinks he has a shot with Ino?" Miyuki sneered as the two girls moved deeper into the forest.
"As if she'd ever go for him," Nana agreed, eyes rolling.
"Honestly, every guy who came today seems to like her."
"Yeah, I swear half our class has a crush on her."
"Guess it pays to be cute," Miyuki sighed.
"But she's got a big head about it. Like no one's ever good enough," Nana said with a mocking smirk.
"I don't really care. As long as Shin doesn't like her, I'm fine," Miyuki shrugged, then smiled dreamily.
Nana eyed her sideways. She wanted to say, "If Shin doesn't like Ino, he definitely won't like you." But she kept it to herself. One word and they'd be in a catfight.
"Hey... are you really close with Shin?" Nana asked, interrupting Miyuki's fangirling.
"Of course," Miyuki answered proudly, lifting her chin. "He even came to my house once, thanks to my useless brother."
"You mean Irie Naoki?"
"Yep. Because my brother's good friends with Shin and Kiba Inuzuka."
Miyuki smiled like she'd just won the lottery.
"My mom even joked about marrying me off to Shin someday."
"Seriously?" Nana looked unconvinced.
"Well, Shin didn't say yes or anything."
Nana: "..." Of course he didn't.
"Hey, Miyuki," Nana finally said, cutting through her friend's daydream.
"Hm?"
"You're drooling."
"Ah! Oh!" She frantically wiped her mouth.
Nana sighed, her expression twitching.
Ino was jolted awake by the sound of arguing.
She blinked, her mind clear in an instant, and immediately heard Hoshikawa and Hachisuka bickering nearby.
Irritated, she grabbed her rod and yanked it sharply. A splash followed as a large fish almost the size of a human head, with a vivid purple fin flopped out of the water and into her trap.
"What's with the noise?"
She tossed the fish into the basket and turned to the boys.
"Ino, you're awake."
"It's Kanzaku's fault. We told him to set up the grill, but he fell asleep by the river instead," said Hoshikawa.
Ino glanced over and saw Hoshikawa and Hachisuka both pointing accusing fingers while Kanzaku stood there, head lowered, saying nothing.
"Suiwa and Irie asked me to watch their rods," Kanzaku mumbled, his voice small. "I just sat for too long and dozed off..."
"Liar! You were just being lazy," Hoshikawa shouted.
"I wasn't!" Kanzaku's cheeks turned crimson.
Ino's irritation deepened. She wasn't in the mood to deal with them.
"Where are the girls?" she asked, arms crossed, turning to Hachisuka.
"Huh?" He blinked.
"Miyuki and Nana."
"Oh. Kanzaku said they went to collect firewood in the forest."
"Right. You three finish the grill and keep an eye on the rods. I'll go find them."
She gave them a quick glance that silenced any objections.
"Got it!" Hachisuka said quickly, and the others nodded.
"I'll go with you!" Hoshikawa called after her.
No response.
Ino wasn't cranky from being woken up. She just wasn't in a good mood.
Why?
Even she didn't know for sure.
She could see right through the boys' little schemes and wanted nothing to do with any of it.
As for Miyuki and Nana...
"I don't care."
She muttered it under her breath as she stepped deeper into the woods.
After walking a while, the river and the clearing disappeared from view. The forest around her was thick, the towering trees blocking the sky above.
She eventually stopped, clearly fed up, then bent her knees and leapt lightly onto a branch overhead.
From up high, her field of vision widened. She moved swiftly now, her figure darting between treetops like a shadow in flight.
Sunlight filtered through the canopy above, dappled and golden. It flickered like starlight across the forest floor, radiant and mysterious in the hush of the woods.
Shin tilted his head up, watching the play of light with a faint smile. Then he looked back at the two girls standing in front of him.
"Mhm." He chuckled softly.
"Right? I knew you'd agree, Shin. I told you!" Miyuki lit up at the warmth in his expression, her words spilling out like a waterfall.
Her voice buzzed in his ears shrill and constant making the cicadas and birds sound almost melodious in comparison.
"Shin, when are you coming over again? I promise to take good care of you this time!"
He smiled politely. "Maybe when I get some free time."
"Eh? You're not just brushing me off, are you?" Miyuki pouted and clung to his arm.
"Of course not." He gently pulled his arm free, still smiling.
"I've just been really busy lately. There's training and all, so I haven't had much time."
Miyuki frowned, clearly disappointed. After a pause, she nodded.
"Well, I guess your stuff is more important."
"But if you do get a break, please come, okay? My mom would love to see you."
Her voice was tinged with hope as she looked up at him.
Shin gave a small nod, and she beamed.
"Shin..." Nana, who had been quiet all this time, suddenly spoke up with a smile. "We're fishing nearby. Do you want to-"
"Nana!" Miyuki cut her off loudly, startling her.
She turned and shot Nana a furious look, eyes wide, frantically shaking her head and blinking.
Nana blinked, confused, then finally caught on. She'd completely forgotten about the threat they'd left back by the river.
"Actually, we haven't caught much anyway, so it's probably not worth your time. Heh heh..."
"That's fine." Shin shook his head, unconcerned.
Nana suddenly found his smile blinding, like sunlight itself, and felt her heart skip a beat.
A tug on her sleeve brought her back. She turned and saw Miyuki glaring daggers at her.
"..."
Nana opened her mouth but didn't know what to say. She understood exactly why Miyuki was mad.
"Do you come here to train often?" Miyuki asked, ignoring her friend now.
"Not really," Shin replied after a pause. "Just happened to come today. I don't have a fixed spot."
"I see..." Miyuki looked a little let down.
"But you work so hard, no wonder you're top in shuriken throwing!"
"Uchiha Sasuke is just as good," Shin said modestly.
"You're being too humble." That came from Nana, making Miyuki glance at her with suspicion.
"You're the top student, and you've practiced way less than Sasuke."
Miyuki's smile stiffened and slowly fell.
"True," she said. Then added, with a cutting glance at Nana, "And Nana, here, is Sasuke's biggest fan."
"..."
"If she's praising you, Shin, then your skills must really be something."
"..." Nana bit her lip but said nothing.
Shin sighed inwardly. Kids and their petty games. He had no desire to be part of it, even if he was the cause.
"Hey! What are we chatting about over here? Sounds like a good time."
A new voice rang out, light and teasing, catching all three off guard.
"Was it a joke? I'd love to hear it too."
Not far away, a petite figure with golden hair stood smiling.
Miyuki and Nana both froze, their faces immediately darkening.
"Ino?!"