In the barbecue restaurant, slices of marinated beef sizzled over glowing red charcoal, glistening with oil and filling the air with an irresistible aroma that teased the taste buds.
Tsunade was devouring the food with gusto while Kamizuki Hikari glanced at the growing stack of empty plates beside her. Calculating the cost in his head, he shed bitter tears.
This was money he had earned word by word!
This heartless woman—treating him like this.
Thinking of his once-substantial savings, now about to lose another day's worth of interest, Hikari felt a sharp pain in his heart.
[Guess I'll have to take up Kakashi's suggestion and release a new book soon to ease my financial crisis.]
[Izumo's getting married, and I can't be too stingy with the gift. Just thinking about money leaving my hands... my heart feels so cold.]
"Stop whining!"
Tsunade, slightly drunk, couldn't tell whether Hikari had spoken aloud or if his thoughts had echoed in her mind.
"I wasn't whining!" Hikari muttered, shooting an annoyed glance at Tsunade, who was happily eating and drinking without a care. This woman... unbelievable.
"If I say you were whining, then you were whining, got it?!" Tsunade declared imperiously, then shoved her plate forward. "Grill me some more meat!"
"Who do you think I am, your servant?!" Hikari scowled, dropping the tongs and crossing his arms. "If you want to eat, make it yourself! You're spending my money, and now you want me to grill for you too? Who do you think you are?!"
"I'm the adorable, beautiful, and generous Tsunade-sama!" Tsunade clasped her hands beneath her chin and batted her eyelashes in an exaggerated display of cuteness.
Ugh...
Kamizuki Hikari shuddered. If a young girl had acted like this, it might have been charming. But coming from a mature woman like Tsunade, it was downright criminal.
"Cut it out. Izumo and Mikan are still here. Don't drink too much—you'll embarrass yourself later." Hikari warned in a low voice.
"Embarrass myself? If you're talking about these two, then just watch!"
Tsunade pounded her chest dramatically, causing a seismic bounce that nearly short-circuited Hikari's brain.
So big...
So majestic...
Wonder how they'd feel to the touch...
Tsunade scooted back, leaning against the wooden partition wall, and rapped on it.
"Izumo, Mikan can't drink too much. Take her home, got it?"
Just as Hikari thought she was talking nonsense, Izumo's voice came from the other side.
"Understood, Tsunade-sama! I'll make sure Mikan gets home safely!"
"Good. Leave early. Hikari's covering the bill today!"
"Thank you, Tsunade-sama!"
With his sharp hearing, Hikari caught the hushed murmurs from the other room. He didn't listen too closely, though—it was still his brother, and if he overheard something private, it'd just be awkward.
Tap... tap... tap...
The sound of receding footsteps, along with the fading chakra signatures, made Hikari's eyes widen in realization.
[You traitor, Izumo! You always looked so upright, and now you're ditching your little brother the moment a woman's involved? No loyalty at all!]
"See? With me around, your brother and Mikan are a perfect match!" Tsunade slid back to her seat, propping her chin on her hands as she grinned at Hikari.
"You're single too, aren't you? How about I set you up with Shizune?"
"We've been over this. Drop it." Hikari rolled his eyes. Shizune was nice, but he had no interest in flat-chested women.
Wait... wasn't there someone who did have that preference?
Thinking of Kakashi, Hikari smiled warmly.
As an author, looking after the romantic prospects of his fans was practically a sacred duty.
Kakashi, your lifelong problem will be solved today. Don't be too moved.
"Actually, Kakashi would be a better fit. Shizune is your closest companion, right? Don't you want her to find someone dependable? A guy like Kakashi—Konoha's golden bachelor and the dream guy of half the women in the village. Why let outsiders take him when you can secure him for Shizune now?"
"Hmm..." Tsunade scratched her cheek cutely. "That does sound like a good idea. Shizune's been by my side for years. Finding her a good man... that'd be a way of looking out for her."
"Exactly. Want me to give Kakashi a heads-up so he doesn't refuse later?"
"He dares refuse?! I'll kill him!" Tsunade downed another cup of sake, then thrust the empty cup toward Hikari for a refill. "I'm the Hokage! Unless he becomes Hokage himself, he has no right to defy me!"
Hikari poured her another drink, inwardly noting that Tsunade was definitely wasted.
She'd never say something this domineering sober.
As he mused, Tsunade set her cup down and cautiously checked their surroundings, ensuring no one was eavesdropping. Then, in a hushed tone, she said, "Tell Kakashi to prepare the dowry soon. I want Shizune married off quickly."
Hikari: ???
So you just want to sell Shizune to a rich guy?!
He rolled his eyes, feeling a pang of sympathy for Shizune.
To be stuck with someone as unscrupulous as Tsunade... half her life was already doomed.
[Don't worry, Shizune. As your friend, I'll convince Kakashi. If he refuses, I'll find someone else for you!]
Having made this silent vow, Hikari glanced toward the hallway.
"Tsunade-sama, so this is where you've been! I wondered why you hadn't returned home." Shizune approached, her eyes narrowing at Tsunade's dazed expression. After a quick inspection of her attire, she sighed in relief.
Thank goodness Tsunade-sama didn't do anything too outrageous. Even if she's interested in Kamizuki Hikari, a barbecue restaurant isn't the place for that. There are plenty of rooms in the Senju compound—one per day, and they'd still have rooms left after half a year!
Smiling apologetically at Hikari, Shizune crouched beside Tsunade. "Tsunade-sama, it's time to go home."
"Home? Why? Let's keep drinking!" Tsunade raised her cup and took another swig.
Shizune leaned in and whispered into her ear, "Tsunade-sama, we really should leave. The creditors are outside with the IOUs—"
"Let's go. Now!" Tsunade shot to her feet, nearly knocking Shizune over. "Hikari, I'm heading out. Don't bother seeing me off!"
With that, she grabbed Shizune's hand and bolted out the door, leaving Kamizuki Hikari with a deeply perplexed expression.
[Just how much debt does Tsunade have?! Even after becoming the Fifth Hokage, she still runs at the mere mention of creditors. She's dragging the entire village's reputation through the mud!]
-----
Read 40+ advanced chapters on my P@treon.
p@treon.com/KakuzuTL