Haruna seemed to have mustered a lifetime of courage, quickly shoving a beautifully wrapped bouquet of flowers and a heart-shaped gift box into his arms.
"Please... please accept this!"
After saying that, she turned and ran away without looking back, her retreating figure looking very flustered.
"Eh! Hey..." Aokawa stood there, holding a bouquet of flowers and a chocolate gift box, looking completely bewildered.
He looked at the smiling gazes coming from around him, his mind failing to process the situation for a moment.
A moment later, he sighed and picked up the flowers to examine them; they were quite exquisitely wrapped.
The wrapping paper had the words "Yamanaka Flower Shop" written on it.
The Yamanaka Family's flower shop had even expanded its business to the Front Lines?
As expected of a Family that follows closely behind the Hokage; they really get the green light.
He shook his head, tossing aside the irrelevant thoughts in his mind.
Holding the items, he continued forward, intending to take them back to his Barracks first.
Along the way, he encountered more familiar faces.
These people had all been sent to the Front Lines because they had graduated.
When many young female Ninjas saw him, their eyes lit up in unison, and then they gathered together, whispering while stealing glances at him, their cheeks flushed.
He hadn't gone much further.
"Um... Aokawa-kun!"
Two more female Ninjas mustered their courage and blocked his path from both sides.
It was the same quick shoving of gifts, the same stuttering confessions, and the same rabbit-like flight.
Along the way, Aokawa received more and more things.
At first, he would try to call out to them, but later he simply walked on numbly.
His mind was filled with solutions for breaking the Caged Bird Seal and where to get Genjutsu materials.
By the time he headed back, his arms were full of things.
From chocolates and handmade cookies to various unknown small accessories.
Holding three bouquets of flowers and a mountain of gifts, he shuffled numbly toward his Barracks.
"Aokawa..." A clear female voice came from the Barracks entrance.
Aokawa turned numbly; it was Kurenai Yuhi, standing there prettily with one hand behind her back.
Today, she wasn't wearing the standard combat vest for Ninjas, but a sleeveless kimono paired with a shawl; it was clear she had dressed up specially.
The white kimono fit her perfectly, accentuating her figure and outlining very full curves, while the sleeveless design revealed her fair, tender arms.
A red shawl was draped casually over her arm, and a dark brown sash was tied around her waist.
Her beautiful, smooth black hair cascaded over her shoulders.
Those iconic red eyes were now like two of the clearest rubies, with a faint smile swirling within them.
Her face wasn't heavily made up, just a touch of light makeup, yet she was stunningly beautiful.
Seeing Aokawa turn his head, her expression softened even more, her smile widened, and her eyes curved into crescents.
The curve of her pale pink lips seemed to hold the warm light of a Konoha afternoon.
Aokawa's eyes suddenly lit up, and his numb gaze instantly regained its spirit.
His arms tightened slightly around the gifts, and the numbness from dealing with the enthusiasm instantly vanished.
"Kurenai, why are you here?" Aokawa turned around, a smile appearing on his face as well.
"I..." Kurenai Yuhi was about to speak when her gaze fell on Aokawa's arms.
Those three bright, differently wrapped bouquets of flowers.
And that mountain of various gift boxes that almost buried him.
The smile on her face froze instantly: "W-Why are there so many things?"
Then she immediately realized.
In her ruby-like eyes, the faint smile was like a candle flame blown by a cold wind, quickly dimming.
The small hand clutching a gift behind her back dropped limply.
A mist quickly gathered in her eyes.
She bit her lip hard, and her right hand, which was holding the gift, suddenly lifted, as if she wanted to smash it onto the ground.
The next moment, Aokawa's smiling voice came: "These are for you! Do you like them?"
-------------------------
If you enjoy this story, you can read 70+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
Webnovel will keep getting 1 new chapter every day but Patreon readers can stay far ahead.
Maybe it's not a big deal now… maybe it will be later.
[email protected]/Greyhounds
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"