"Hikari-sama, since you're Chōji's teacher, the clan head has instructed that all your meals here be 40% off!"
The owner of the barbecue restaurant quickly calculated the bill and handed the change to Kamizuki Hikari.
Aside from members of the Akimichi clan, even jōnin rarely frequented the barbecue restaurant. A customer like Hikari, who could drive significant business, was more than enough reason for the owner to greet him with a smile.
[Tsunade drinks way too much. That's another A-rank mission's reward gone!]
Complaining inwardly, Hikari thanked the owner. "Thanks, boss! I'll be sure to come here often!"
"Take care!"
Stepping out of the restaurant, Hikari glanced at the bill in his hand and sighed helplessly.
Now he finally understood the downside of being around Tsunade.
Eating and drinking like this every day—and at such high-end places—was something even his finances couldn't sustain indefinitely.
[I can't keep draining my funds like this. Next time Tsunade asks me to treat her, I'm sneaking away!]
Resolving himself, Kamizuki Hikari felt his back straighten.
---
"Izumo, Hikari should be back soon. Maybe I should go home..."
"Go home? This is your home now!"
"But we just got together. If your brother sees us, won't it be awkward?"
"Relax, that guy barely comes home once in ten days. Mikan, you're so beautiful..."
"Izumo..."
---
Standing outside his own house, Kamizuki Hikari was sorely tempted to barge in.
But considering the man inside was his older brother...
Sure, Izumo was close with Kotetsu, but Hikari didn't want his future sister-in-law to be a man.
Even though his brother was being utterly shameless, Hikari decided to forgive him.
Still, it was late now... Where could he crash for the night?
Go to Tsunade's place?
No, no. If something happened, he'd be tied down for good.
Maito Gai?
Also no. That guy would probably challenge him to a midnight competition, and Hikari just wanted to rest—no thanks.
Kotetsu?
He'd just refused Kotetsu's loan request back in the capital. Showing up now would be awkward.
Kurenai?
Hikari wouldn't mind, but would she be willing?
Thinking about it, he really was a failure at life.
Not only was he locked out of his own home by his brother, but he couldn't even think of a single place to stay.
But...
Something felt off—like he was forgetting someone.
Ah, right! Kakashi!
A lightbulb went off in Hikari's head as he remembered his loyal fan, his devoted reader—Konoha's First Technician, Hatake Kakashi.
This man owned an entire compound. Surely, he wouldn't mind hosting Hikari for one night.
---
Hatake Residence.
The large, well-lit house was calm.
Kakashi, lying in bed, was engrossed in a book.
At particularly thrilling moments, his free hand would occasionally slide under the covers.
*Knock! Knock!*
A sudden tapping on the window made Kakashi jump. He stuffed the book under the blanket and turned toward the window with alarm.
"Gai?" Seeing no one at the window, Kakashi frowned.
Was Gai spying on him again?
"You thought it was Gai, but it was me—Kamizuki Hikari!"
"You?! What are you doing here at this hour?" Kakashi's expression darkened.
Being caught in an embarrassing moment by Gai was one thing, but by Hikari? He felt one step closer to social death.
What a tragedy.
"Well, I suddenly found myself homeless. And since you're known for your generosity, Kakashi-senpai, I thought I'd drop by!" Hikari perched on the windowsill, sniffed the air subtly to confirm no strange odors lingered, then slipped inside.
Kakashi sighed and got out of bed.
He wanted to refuse, but now that Hikari was already inside, kicking him out would be too cruel.
"I'll take you to the guest room. But how did you end up homeless? Did you fight with Izumo?"
"Nah, why would we fight?"
"If you didn't fight, why would he kick you out?" Kakashi eyed Hikari suspiciously, sensing deception.
"He didn't kick me out. He's just... busy sparring with someone and doesn't have time for me." Hikari explained earnestly.
"Hold on!" Kakashi stopped in his tracks, staring gravely at Hikari. "Your brother's in a fight, and as his younger brother, you ran away? That goes against the shinobi way."
"Huh?"
"My brother's in there dueling a woman one-on-one. You really think I should go back and help?"
Kakashi: (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻
Of all the things he could've meant by "sparring"...
As a man, and one well-versed in certain literature, Kakashi instantly understood.
This was awkward.
He never expected Hikari's "sparring" to mean that kind of battle.
Too damn funny.
"Wait, your brother is single, right? How did he suddenly bring a woman home? Did he pick someone up from the red-light district and decide to skip the inn?" Kakashi sensed something amiss.
As fellow elite bachelors of Konoha, they all knew each other well.
And as the king of Konoha's single men, Kakashi felt it was his duty to purge such traitorous behavior.
Going to the red-light district was one thing, but bringing someone home? That was tarnishing the reputation of Konoha's single men!
"So you've been to those places too, Kakashi-senpai? Respect."
"Don't shift the focus! We're talking about your brother!" Kakashi's face twitched before he steered the conversation back.
"My brother didn't bring her from there. Today, Tsunade-sama set him up with Mikan, the head nurse at Konoha Hospital. The two of them hit it off and came back early. That's all."
Kakashi's hand paused as he opened the closet.
Kamizuki Izumo and Mikan...
They'd just met, and they were already like this?
Where's the justice?!
Where's the law?
"What your brother did is absolutely unacceptable. Next time I see him, I'll have a long talk with him!" Kakashi consoled Hikari while silently resolving to expel such a disgrace from the Konoha Bachelor Alliance.
What's so great about women?
A heart free of women makes the blade sharper.
Women were nothing but obstacles on a man's path to greatness. A true man needed no woman.
"The bedding's here. You can stay one night. Pack up and leave early tomorrow."
"Got it." Hikari nodded, moving to grab the futon.
"Kakashi-senpai, I've been thinking about writing my next book."
Kakashi froze mid-step.
Hikari continued, "Tsunade-sama wants to set you up with Shizune. What do you think?"
Kakashi backtracked, sitting cross-legged on a cushion.
"Hikari... I think we need to have a serious talk."
-----
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