Early the next morning, the white table at the center of the courtyard was laden with an exquisite, luxurious breakfast.
Hanabi pinched a silver spoon in one hand, lifting a mouthful of porridge, yet her eyes kept sneaking glances at Shun.
Her fingers brushed the warm earrings on her earlobes—the pair Shun had given her last night.
Hinata sat beside Hanabi, gracefully picking up a shrimp dumpling with her silver chopsticks.
Watching her sister's eager, shy profile, a complicated emotion welled in her heart.
Last night's words still echoed in her ears—the "Goddess Project," concerning Hanabi's future, the hope that the two sisters would always stay together.
She had long since resolved to stop dwelling on past awkwardness and to grant her sister this rare opportunity and happy ending.
She lifted a silk handkerchief, dabbing the corners of her lips.
Having done so, she calmly looked at her sister. "Hanabi, there's something I want to tell you. I agree to marry Shun together with you."
Clatter!
The silver spoon suddenly dropped into the white porcelain bowl, splashing a few drops of porridge onto the brocade tablecloth.
Hanabi jerked her head up, eyes wide with shock. "Sister, are you serious?"
She could scarcely believe her ears. To stand beside Shun—holder of the Ninja World's highest power, a man of unmatched bearing and strength—was the dream of countless women.
She had thought Hinata would hesitate for ages, given the feelings between Hinata and Shun, yet she'd agreed so readily.
Joy crashed over her like a tide, leaving her breathless.
Hinata watched her sister's radiant face and parted her lips. "Hanabi, it's true."
A few simple words—yet they struck Hanabi's heart like a stone.
Her heart pounded as if trying to leap from her chest. Crimson flooded her cheeks even to the tips of her ears.
She glanced nervously at Shun, biting her lower lip. "Brother-in-law, then… I'm to be your consort too?"
Shun set down his teacup, amusement flickering in his eyes. "Yes, you are."
The instant she heard his confirmation, Hanabi could no longer contain her wild joy.
She sprang from her cushioned seat, rushed to his side, seized his arm, and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "Wonderful—my future husband."
The kiss was light yet burning, brimming with a maiden's pure passion, showing her delight without reserve.
From this day on, she could stay by the one she loved—no longer forced to steal furtive glances at his back.
Shun blinked in surprise, the soft warmth and sweet scent of the girl still lingering on his cheek. He gently patted her head, the gesture incredibly tender, his eyes full of fondness.
Watching her sister's unrestrained display, Hinata's cheeks flushed.
She coughed lightly. "Hanabi, eat properly. Such impropriety—what will people think?"
Hanabi stuck out her tongue, released Shun's sleeve, and obediently returned to her seat. Yet her gaze seemed glued to him and the smile at her lips refused to fade.
The costly, steaming delicacies on the table paled before him—none could compare to even a fraction of his worth in her eyes.
Her chopsticks hovered in mid-air, forgotten. Her mind repeated a single thought: I'm to be a consort too.
Hinata lifted her bowl. From the corner of her eye, she saw her sister's infatuated daze, and a familiar headache throbbed at her temples.
There was nothing to be done—her sister had always been bold and straightforward. When faced with the one she liked, she hid nothing, leaving Hinata both amused and exasperated.
Stifling her helplessness, Hinata finished the porridge in a few quick swallows and dabbed her mouth with a handkerchief.
Afraid her gaze might betray her feelings, she simply said, "I'm heading to the training ground," and left the lavish courtyard without a backward glance.
Once her figure vanished around the corner, Hanabi's energy flared. Her earlier pretense of eating demurely was thrown to the wind.
She bounced up, hurried to Shun's side, and boldly leaned close to his cheek.
Eyes sparkling with anticipation, cheeks rosy, she whispered shyly yet bluntly, "Brother-in-law, I'm your fiancée now. May I kiss you?"
Shun was amused by her bluntness. He gently pinched her flushed cheek, finding it soft and delicate. "You've just received permission and already grown this bold? Aren't you afraid your sister will walk in and scold you for being rude again?"
With that, he leaned in, closing the distance between them, the smile in his eyes making it clear he was allowing her request.
Hanabi's eyes blazed. Unable to contain the flutter in her heart, she tipped forward and placed a clumsy, joyful, utterly green kiss on his lips.
Feeling her awkward kiss, Shun slid an arm around her lower back and drew her gently in.
The next moment, he answered with his own practiced kiss, reclaiming her lips.
The touch of lip against lip turned Hanabi's cheeks scarlet at a speed visible to the naked eye. The flush spread to her earlobes and even tinged her neck a faint pink.
Her lashes quivered violently. The elation and daring she'd felt moments ago melted into shyness and sweetness, her breathing turning hurried and light.
Right then, it was as if all strength had been drained from her body. She went limp against Shun, instinctively clutching the front of his robe, clearly hearing his thudding heartbeat echoing beside her ear, mingling with her own frantic pulse until she couldn't tell them apart.
Meanwhile, in the estate's private training ground, Hinata had barely steadied herself before she couldn't help activating her Byakugan.
Pale blue irises emerged, veins faintly bulging. Her vision pierced the courtyard wall at once, bringing the intimate scene into perfect clarity.
Watching Shun lower his head to kiss Hanabi, watching her little sister lean trustingly in his arms, she felt an inexplicable tightness in her chest, as though something precious were being quietly taken from her, a faint sourness surfacing before she even realized it.
She frowned slightly, a trace of struggle flashing through her eyes. She wanted to look away, yet couldn't help staring as though under a spell.
In the courtyard, Hanabi seemed to gradually grow used to the kiss. She lifted her arms and timidly looped them around Shun's neck, her movements carrying a novice's stubbornness.
Shun chuckled softly, tightening the arm at her waist and drawing her even closer, letting her explore his lips to her heart's content.
His palm gently patted her back in a slow rhythm, soothing or perhaps encouraging—showing not the slightest impatience.
Hanabi came back to her senses, the warmth of his lips still lingering on hers.
She tilted her head back slightly. Her eyes brimmed with glistening moisture, her cheeks extremely red, yet she didn't retreat. Like a little warrior, she leaned forward again.
A soft, trembling voice slipped from her throat. "Brother-in-law… no, future husband… I want… want another kiss like just now."
After saying it, she was too shy to meet his gaze. Her lashes fluttered rapidly, but she still stubbornly lifted her chin, waiting for his response.
Shun took in her shy-yet-daring look, the corners of his lips curving in a faint, wicked smile.
He didn't satisfy her at once. Instead, he slowly leaned down.
Just as she thought a deep kiss was coming, he only pecked her soft lips, then drew back at once, his fingers pinching her reddened earlobe.
That fleeting touch left Hanabi stunned for an instant, then her cheeks burned even hotter. She shot him a coquettish, wronged glare. "You're so mean."
She grabbed his robe with a childishly stubborn strength. "I don't want that kind. I want the deep kiss that makes my heart race."
In the training ground, Hinata finally pulled her gaze away, closed her eyes, and drew a long breath, trying to calm the surging emotions inside her.
The morning breeze lifted her hair, carrying a hint of coolness, yet it couldn't blow away the turmoil in her heart.
She knew she ought to let go. Hanabi was her only sister, and Shun the man she loved. Seeing them happy should make her glad. But the faint sense of loss in her heart refused to fade, as though a small piece had been hollowed out.
The morning wind carried the sweet fragrance from the courtyard and the faint laughter, scattering some of her tangled thoughts along with it.
She slowly opened her eyes. The Byakugan receded, and her gaze returned to its usual calm.
So long as her sister was happy, so long as Shun treated them sincerely and spared them further grievances, that was enough.
She turned and walked to the center of the training ground, began her daily practice, and poured all her negative feelings into the strikes of her Gentle Fist.
***
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