Aoba sent Ino back to the Yamanaka Flower Shop.
Because he happened to want to buy a few flowers to take back.
Mainly to give to Yugao.
The two were now already in a relationship where they knew each other thoroughly, and he didn't have much else suitable to give her.
Flowers were still more appropriate.
However, since he bought them for Yugao, it wouldn't be quite right not to buy for Tsunade and the others as well.
So he bought a few more bouquets.
Of course, he also gave one to Ino.
Then, after Aoba left, Ino just kept staring blankly at the cosmos flowers in front of her.
This pink-bubble-emitting state made Yamanaka Rino unable to bear watching any longer.
"Ino, go help Mom water the flowers…"
"..."
"Ino!"
"Oh…"
After being called several times by Yamanaka Rino, Ino, who was staring blankly at the flowers, barely recovered some sanity, then she picked up the scissors on the table and walked toward the flowers in the shop.
"..."
"Ino! I told you to water the flowers! Not cut them!"
Seeing her daughter foolishly cut a bouquet of fresh flowers she had just arranged into bare stems, Yamanaka Rino was both angry and amused.
"Oh…", Putting down the scissors, Ino went back and picked up the hot water on the table.
"You girl, what kind of love potion were you fed out there today?", Yamanaka Rino quickly pressed down her daughter's hand.
"Ehehe~", Ino, upon hearing that, only let out a silly laugh.
'It's over! This daughter is completely dumb now, no good anymore!', Yamanaka Rino couldn't help but cover her face.
———
Aoba returned to the Senju ancestral home.
As always, he first went to Tsunade's house.
He had to inform Tsunade and Shizune.
"Teacher, Sister Shizune, I won't be eating here tonight, Sister Yugao made dinner at home," Aoba inserted the flowers into the vase placed at the entrance, then said to the two.
"We already know, Yugao came by earlier and told us," Shizune walked out from the kitchen, her face showing a puzzled expression as she responded.
"I originally wanted to invite Yugao to come eat with us, but she declined, that's really rare," She thought back again to when they were chatting just now, and the proud expressions Yugao occasionally showed her.
Even more puzzled.
"This…", Aoba scratched his head, "Maybe she didn't want to trouble you, Sister Shizune."
"Doesn't seem like that…", Shizune still frowned. She felt that something must have happened, and it had something to do with her.
She suddenly thought of another matter, "But Yugao has changed a lot, obviously only a few days of not seeing her, when I saw her today, her whole temperament had completely changed, her mental state also improved quite a bit."
"Maybe… maybe it's because she's been sleeping better lately, she slept until noon today," Aoba gave a still reasonable excuse.
"Eh? Is that so? Then should I also start sleeping more?", Shizune touched her own still smooth face, but compared to Yugao's, it seemed a bit rougher.
"Early to bed and early to rise is good for health… Teacher, did you run into another problem?", He noticed the always-silent Tsunade. From the moment he entered, she hadn't said a word.
Tsunade raised her eyes and glanced at him, pursing her lips, "Come here!"
The tone wasn't pleasant.
Shizune couldn't tell, but could he not?
Even though she hadn't experienced this kind of thing, as a medical ninja who's roamed the world for so many years, never eaten pork, but surely seen pigs run, right?
She just didn't know why, after discovering it, her mood had been gloomy all along.
Her chest felt like a stone was pressed against it.
A kind of indescribable discomfort.
As a disciple, such a big matter, and he didn't even say a word to her, his teacher.
No sense of respect for teachers at all.
And poor Shizune still didn't realize she was already on the verge of becoming a losing dog.
"Oh," Aoba was a little confused, but still walked over.
Standing in front of Tsunade, he looked confused.
"Teacher, is there—", Before he could finish asking, Tsunade pulled him over.
Aoba had no time to dodge and was already caught in a soft and warm embrace.
Then his waist was clamped between a pair of strong, fleshy, and powerful thighs.
He was instantly immobile.
A pair of wicked big hands ravaged the top of his head wildly, and his face bounced between two basketballs.
This was the facial cleanser he hadn't used in a long time.
Feeling Aoba's somewhat dishonest hands, and seeing his expression of utter despair, Tsunade finally released her devil's claws.
"Phew~ feeling much better," Her face returned to its usual smile.
"So I'm your punching bag?", Aoba was a bit speechless.
"Hmph! You little brat acting cute even after taking advantage."
Tsunade kicked Aoba, annoyed, "You can go now, but tomorrow… in the afternoon remember to come to the Hokage building, there's a mission for you."
"Oh," Aoba nodded and replied, then walked toward the outside, "Then Teacher, Sister Shizune, I'll be going now."
After Aoba left, Tsunade stretched and smoothed out her slightly wrinkled clothes.
Looking at Shizune who was still in a dazed state, "Shizune, you have to put in more effort."
"Ah?", Shizune didn't understand why.
———
Aoba returned home, the lights were already on.
He pushed the door and walked in.
"I'm back."
"Welcome home."
Aoba walked into the living room, just in time as Yugao in the kitchen preparing dinner turned her head.
"Aoba, sit for a bit first, dinner will be ready soon."
"Okay," Aoba originally already sat down on the sofa but walked into the kitchen again.
"No need to help today," Yugao noticed Aoba coming closer, and smiled.
Aoba took out a pink tulip and smiled as he said, "Sister Yugao, this is for you."
Yugao was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but gently scold, "Can't you give it later?"
She was currently cooking, hard to take it, also hard to hug him.
"But still, thank you, Aoba," As she said that, she stepped two steps closer and pecked Aoba on the corner of the mouth.
After doing so, she licked her lips, and her gaze changed slightly.
"Help me put it in a vase first."
"Okay," Aoba placed the tulip properly, then sat on the sofa watching Yugao cook.
Just like what Shizune said, her temperament had indeed changed greatly.
Her originally cool and aloof face had become gentler.
"Aoba, if you've got nothing to do, go take a shower first, and remember to rinse your mouth…"
"Huh? Why?", Aoba was confused.
"Because you smell strongly like Lady Tsunade, and your mouth still carries another girl's scent."
"Ino's, right?"
"?"
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