"Hm?"
Aoba was also stunned by Mabui's sudden action.
He clearly hadn't expected this shy little secretary to do something so bold.
"I-Is it not allowed? You were the one who told me to sit while reporting, Aoba-sama."
Mabui lowered her head. Beneath her hip-hugging skirt, her long legs wrapped in black stockings were pressed tightly together.
It was her first time sitting on a man's lap, so when she felt the solid warmth beneath her and behind her back, her body stiffened slightly. She looked extremely nervous.
But she still held on.
If Samui could sit here, why couldn't she?
Between the two of them, she had clearly been the one closer to Aoba before.
Whenever there was something to report, it had always been her who came. From time to time, he would even pat her head.
Yet in the end, Samui had been the first to.
"..."
Feeling the tension in the girl in his arms, Aoba pressed his lips together and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her in.
"Of course it's allowed."
"If Mabui wants to sit, you can sit anytime."
This little secretary, who dressed like a mature beauty and had a tanned, spicy look, yet somehow had a youthful face and a gentle, obedient personality, blushing at the slightest teasing, Aoba naturally didn't dislike her.
"Mm… then I'll go over Kumogakure's situation during this period."
Feeling his embrace and the hand resting on her waist, Mabui's cheeks burned hot. But years of secretarial work kept her rational as she began reporting the recent developments.
"..."
"Phew!"
After finishing everything, Mabui let out a long breath and slowly relaxed in Aoba's arms.
Although she had tried her best to stay calm, the warmth constantly coming from his body had already made her head feel a little dizzy.
"Finished reporting?"
Aoba leaned close to her ear and asked.
"Mmm…"
Feeling the warm breath brushing against her earlobe, Mabui completely softened.
She answered in a voice as soft as a mosquito.
She could feel something poking below.
She suddenly became nervous.
Tap! Tap!
At that moment, two clear sounds of high heels striking the floor echoed in the hallway outside the office.
"I-It's Samui... she's back!"
Mabui instantly snapped awake. Her previously limp body regained strength as she quickly stood up from Aoba's lap.
Then she hurriedly straightened her clothes.
"..."
Aoba hadn't expected Mabui to be this timid.
The office door opened just then, along with Samui's cool voice.
"Mabui… hm? Aoba-sama?"
"Samui, you came at just the right time. I've already reported the recent work to Aoba-sama. I have something to take care of, so I'll step out."
Mabui quickly fixed her clothes and spoke to Samui, who had just entered.
"Hm?"
Samui froze for a moment, but Mabui had already lowered her head and hurried past her.
She hadn't seen clearly, but Mabui's face had definitely been very red.
'Could it be… the two of them were doing something not very proper in the office, and I just interrupted them?'
"Ahem! Samui, you really came at just the right time."
Aoba spoke up, pulling her attention back.
"Just the right time?"
Samui looked confused.
'Didn't I interrupt their little secret? Shouldn't it be the wrong time?'
But when she lowered her gaze, she immediately understood what he meant.
Her expression turned speechless.
So that's what he meant by "right time."
She didn't say anything. After confirming the office door was closed, there was a brief rustling sound before she walked over and skillfully sat in the very spot Mabui had just vacated.
She could even still feel the warmth Mabui had left behind.
But compared to Mabui, who was still unaccustomed, Samui was clearly much more used to this.
After letting out a muffled sound, her body relaxed lazily.
"Just now… what were you and Mabui doing in the office?"
Even though she had a rough idea, she still wanted to know the details.
"Well…"
While scaling the second highest peak in the ninja world, Aoba explained, "Mabui suddenly sat on my lap to report work. She had just finished when she heard you coming and ran off."
"I-Is that so?"
Samui unconsciously arched slightly, gripping the armrests of the office chair, her earlier laziness replaced by something else.
"Mabui really is a coward."
Aoba watched her calm expression slowly turn flushed, then lightly tapped her cheek.
He quite liked this contrast of hers. Calm and intellectual in public, yet shy and blushing in his arms.
But when she called Mabui a coward, he still defended her a little.
"She may blush easily, but if she were really a coward, she wouldn't have done what she just did."
Samui turned and shot him a look.
"I told her months ago that you like the passive type. And she's only just now taking action. If that's not a coward, what is?"
"Uh…", Aoba's mouth twitched.
It wasn't like he liked being passive that much.
He had no idea who started that rumor.
"So you're planning to push your good sister into the abyss of this scumbag?"
"How should I put it…"
Samui rolled her eyes at him.
"Not exactly. Mabui liked you first. You've been stringing her along all this time. I couldn't stand it anymore."
"Huh?"
"Back in Kumogakure, we were surrounded by big, rough men with bad tempers. Then suddenly someone like you shows up, teasing her from time to time, occasionally giving her a gentle pat on the head… hm?"
"Did you already know she was easy to win over, so you kept her hanging on purpose?"
Samui narrowed her eyes, as if she had just discovered something important.
"Uh… how could that be."
Aoba truly hadn't known Mabui was this easy to win over.
"I just found her reactions interesting and liked teasing her."
"..."
For some reason, Samui suddenly felt like Mabui was a bit pitiful.
But as a good sister, she couldn't laugh at her. She had to help.
"Tonight… can you stay for dinner?"
"Hm? I can, but…"
Aoba paused.
"But what?"
Samui asked.
"As the Hokage's secretary, you dare question the Hokage. That deserves punishment."
Samui's expression changed slightly.
"Hm? Wait…"
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