After arranging matters related to the Five Kage Summit, seeing that Kurama Yakumo was sleeping soundly, Aoba simply busied himself with some other work for a while.
But when he came back from the Daimyo's residence, he found that she was still lying on the sofa asleep, which left him a bit helpless.
Aoba walked over to the sofa and watched Yakumo sleeping for a while.
He couldn't shake the feeling that if this kept up, the time would just be wasted.
He stood there and thought for a moment.
Then he turned around, went to his desk, opened the drawer, and took out a nail clipper.
A nail clipper could be considered a perfect tool for slacking off.
There had to be one in the desk.
"What are you planning to do?"
Shizune noticed what he was doing and couldn't help asking.
"Ahem! I think Yakumo's nails look a bit long. Just waiting around isn't really doing anything, so I'll help her trim them."
Aoba explained with a straight face.
"..."
Shizune was speechless, "Are those fingernails, or toenails?"
"Isn't it all the same?", Aoba asked in confusion.
"..."
Shizune didn't feel like saying anything to this guy anymore. She simply lowered her head and went back to work. Out of sight, out of mind.
Seeing that, Aoba naturally didn't say anything further. He moved a small stool over, sat down beside Kurama Yakumo, and then took one of her feet in his hand.
Looking at those pale, rounded toes, Aoba wasn't drawn in by the sight.
He just rested her foot on his leg, then gently held her big toe and began trimming her nails.
"Mmm~"
As he moved, Kurama Yakumo, who had been asleep, let out a soft murmur. It seemed the disturbance to her sleep made her frown slightly in dissatisfaction.
Then she scratched lightly at his palm.
"Don't move, it'll be done soon."
Aoba gently rubbed her and spoke softly.
And just like that, Kurama Yakumo really stopped moving, even relaxing cooperatively.
"..."
Aoba smiled, then lowered his head and continued focusing on what he was doing.
Yakumo's toenails were actually already trimmed quite neatly, giving off a simple, natural kind of beauty.
Just a little touch-up would be enough to finish quickly.
But Aoba was the kind of person who worked meticulously, especially on something this important. He wouldn't let even the slightest flaw slip by.
On top of that, he was worried he might accidentally hurt Yakumo. Even though it could be healed quickly, pain was still pain, so his movements were very slow.
As he trimmed them one by one, Yakumo, who had been lying on the sofa with a peaceful sleeping expression, at some point had begun biting her lip, as if she were enduring something.
"If you're awake, then stop pretending to sleep. Hurry up and go somewhere else. Don't stay here and disturb me while I'm working."
At this point, Shizune, who had been buried in her work, finally couldn't take it anymore and issued an order to leave.
Even if this was the Hokage's office, it was one thing for the Hokage not to be doing proper work here, but to disturb her, who actually was working, was another matter.
If you're going to trim nails, then just trim them properly. What's with all these strange sounds?
It was making her legs itch a little too.
"Ahem! Almost done."
Aoba coughed lightly, then sped up just a bit.
After finishing the last nail, Yakumo quickly pulled her foot back.
Then she put on the white socks placed nearby, and in no time, she was neatly dressed and standing in front of him.
"Seriously, Aoba, you came back and didn't wake me earlier?"
Kurama Yakumo glanced at the time and complained a little.
"Well, you were sleeping so soundly, so I let you sleep a bit longer."
As Aoba spoke, he glanced at Shizune's resentful expression, then took Yakumo's hand and said,
"Alright, since you're awake, let's head out."
"Mm."
"Then, Shizune-nee, we're heading out."
Before leaving, Aoba didn't forget to turn back and greet Shizune.
What he got in return was, naturally, a roll of her eyes.
———
"Seems a bit early for breakfast right now. Where do you want to go first?"
After walking out of the Hokage building, Aoba asked about Yakumo's next plan.
"Well…"
Kurama Yakumo pursed her lips, thought for a moment, then a smile curled at the corner of her mouth as she grabbed his hand and started walking.
"Just come with me."
"Alright."
Seeing that Yakumo already had a plan, Aoba simply followed her.
The two passed through the bustling commercial street and a residential area, and finally, under Aoba's increasingly puzzled gaze, arrived at a place he knew very well…
His own home.
"..."
Aoba looked at his front door and suddenly didn't know what to say.
"So, for the time ahead, Yakumo, you want to spend it at my place?"
"Hmm?"
Kurama Yakumo suddenly stepped in front of him, rose onto her toes, and wrapped her arms around his neck. Her face came very close, her bright eyes fixed tightly on him.
"Aoba, are you playing dumb?"
"Uh…"
Aoba swallowed, then understood.
"But it's still daytime, and… Yakumo, isn't there somewhere else you want to go?"
"We can take the wedding photos later, but there are some things I can't wait for. Do you know how hard it's been these past few days, watching Hinata, Sakura, and the others all taking leave one after another? Even during my daily judo training, I don't dare use force. I'm afraid I might accidentally break it."
Kurama Yakumo's voice carried a trace of grievance, but by the end, what she said took a sharp turn.
She simply gave a light jump, her long legs wrapping around his waist, her whole body hanging onto him like a koala.
"..."
At first, hearing Yakumo's words, Aoba felt a bit guilty seeing how troubled she was, but by the end… all he could say was, 'That's Yakumo for you.'
Like a soft-boiled egg.
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