(っ－＿－)っAM N. NOT.
Tsunade, Nemuri, and Maki heard the condo doorbell.
"Seems like Shizune is here," Tsunade said.
Nemuri nodded. "Seems like it."
Maki didn't know who they were talking about, so he asked, "Are you going now, Tsuna?"
Tsunade looked at him. "Yes, I'll leave for now and settle some things."
"Then be careful, Tsuna," Maki said.
Nemuri let them talk and moved to the condo door. From the camera, she could see that it was indeed Shizune waiting. She opened the door.
"Oh, Shizune, you're already here. Come in! We're having a tea break—want to join and relax first?"
"Good afternoon, Nemuri-san. I'd like to join as well," Shizune replied.
Shizune stepped inside and removed her sandals. Nemuri gestured, "You can choose any slippers you want; they're all for guests."
Shizune nodded. "Thank you."
After putting on the slippers, Shizune followed Nemuri to the living room and then into the kitchen. What she saw made her freeze. Princess Tsunade wasn't sitting in a chair—she was straddling someone's lap. Wet, slick sounds echoed softly through the kitchen. Tsunade's hands cupped the person's cheeks, moving her head as if kissing passionately. Shizune's eyes widened; she couldn't believe that hot-tempered, formidable Tsunade was acting like this.
"Ahem," Nemuri loudly coughed. "You—bitch! I was just gone for a second, and you're attacking my baby," she said as she approached the pair locked in a heated kiss.
Shizune stood dumbfounded. Tsunade turned and saw her.
"Oh, Shizune, you're here. Why don't you rest first?" Tsunade said casually.
Shizune, curious, asked, "Princess Tsunade… what is happening here?" She had never seen Tsunade act like this and was both shocked and fascinated.
"Oh, Shizune, I forgot to introduce you. Danna, meet my Shizune," Tsunade said.
Maki's face was partly buried in Tsunade's massive chest. When he lifted his head, he saw a woman with short hair. "Alu… Maki-mik taasinnaavarma," he said, his voice deep.
Shizune didn't respond at first; she was mesmerized, her mind freezing at the sight. Nemuri and Tsunade smirked knowingly. Who wouldn't react that way? Maki, oblivious, just stared in mild confusion.
Shizune shook her head when their eyes met and finally said, "Well, nice to meet you. You can call me Shizune."
Maki looked at her, opened his mouth, and in his deep voice said, "Alu… Shizu," giving her a peace sign while snapping his fingers like scissors. Shizune blushed, caught off guard by his casual gesture and the alias he had already given her, but she quickly composed herself.
Nemuri teased, "Look at you, Shizune—already falling for my baby with just a glance."
Tsunade added, spicing it up, "Yeah, Shizune, look at your red face."
Shizune coughed lightly. "Who wouldn't?" she murmured, prompting Nemuri and Tsunade to chuckle. She didn't deny it, offering instead a quiet, reasonable explanation—her truth.
Maki observed quietly, feeling slightly left out. "Want some tea?" he asked.
"Oh, if you make it, I'd love to drink it again," Tsunade said, still sitting on his lap, her body pressed against him.
"Me too," Nemuri added as she settled back into her seat.
"Well, it would be bad if I declined the offer," Shizune said, taking the seat next to Nemuri.
"Look at you, acting tough," Nemuri teased.
"Okay," Maki said calmly.
Tsunade, still on his lap, kissed his forehead. Then she stood, smiling at him. As Maki rose, he towered over the three women, making them feel small. Shizune swallowed hard, her eyes fixed on him.
Nemuri whispered to Shizune, "It's also big," and Shizune blushed, her mind racing.
Tsunade moved to the other side of Nemuri and took her seat. "Shizune, you'll be destroyed if you ever put the thing inside," she teased, causing Shizune's face to flush deeper.
"How indecent to act like that," Shizune murmured, which made Nemuri and Tsunade laugh. "That's why you're single," they added teasingly.
Meanwhile, Maki was in the kitchen preparing tea using the Cook-Cook Devil Fruit, adding multiple flavors to craft a complex, layered taste.
After a while, the tea was ready. He poured it into cups for Nemuri, Tsunade, and Shizune, who watched his every move. He had also prepared another version—a classic lemongrass tea with fresh cow's milk, recreated exactly as he had tasted before.
He placed the cups before them and carefully poured the tea from the teapot. The refreshing aroma instantly put them at ease.
Maki murmured, "Nuannarilluarniarsiuk…"
They didn't understand, but his tone suggested they should taste the tea. They sipped simultaneously, discovering the layered flavors blended harmoniously.
Shizune was most surprised. She often served tea to Princess Tsunade and recognized that this blend wasn't something one could buy. The layers were complex; she could detect lemongrass as the primary ingredient but couldn't pinpoint the others.
Nemuri said, "What is this? It tastes good and relaxing…"
Tsunade added, "Yup, this one is good. Comfortable."
Shizune chimed in, "Can this be bought somewhere, no— did you make it from scratch?" she asked Maki, her curiosity piqued.
"You have a good tongue! Yup, I made it from scratch," Maki replied.
Tsunade and Nemuri exchanged glances and said in unison, "What, we do have a good tongue too," which, of course, carried its own playful, teasing implication.
AM N. NOT.(っ－＿－)っ