As the evening breeze blew, a sweet, refreshing fragrance drifted in, and the corridor was illuminated by a warm, yellow glow.
A wave of warmth spread through Tenten's heart.
So this was the secure feeling of being cherished by someone.
After washing up, the fragrant steam of roses and lavender wafted up, passing over the tip of her nose.
Tenten shed her outer clothes and gently immersed herself in the warm tub, her fingers lightly stirring the rose petals floating on the water's surface. She raised her hand and scooped up a handful of warm water. The droplets slipped through her fingers, creating tiny ripples.
Her thoughts spread out like ripples. She was just an ordinary ninja, with no prominent family background or astonishing talent, yet she had earned Shun's affection.
After bathing, Tenten changed into a set of pink pajamas, the neckline embroidered with delicate white plum patterns, making her skin appear even more lustrous and bright.
Her short hair still carried the moisture of water vapor, and she was enveloped in the faint scent of flowers.
She walked barefoot on the slightly cool wooden floor, her toes slightly curled, heading to the window and resting her hands lightly on the wooden window frame.
The evening breeze, carrying the coolness of the night, blew toward her, lifting the stray hairs on her forehead and brushing against her cheek.
A few chirps of insects sounded from afar, crisp and pleasant, adding a touch of vitality to the quiet night.
Looking up, the night sky was as clear as if it had been washed clean, without a wisp of cloud. Stars were densely scattered across it, like a handful of crushed diamonds, dazzlingly bright.
Suddenly, a meteor flashed by, trailing a brilliant silver-blue streak. Its light vanished in an instant, too fast to catch.
"A meteor... make a wish..."
Tenten subconsciously clasped her hands together and silently made a wish, afraid of missing this fleeting moment of beauty.
Just as she silently prayed for this happiness to last longer, the meteor vanished into the horizon, quickly merging into the profound darkness of the night.
A hint of disappointment flashed in her eyes, and she spoke with a touch of self-mockery, "I really am too greedy."
—
At this moment, Shun was lazily reclining in a rocking chair, his dark robes gently swaying in the evening breeze.
Using his dojutsu, Divine Eye, he could see Tenten's every movement clearly.
The pure anticipation she held while making her sincere wish resembled a child who had received candy but feared it would be snatched away—it was innocent and beautiful.
Shun was accustomed to sycophantic flattery and had seen countless false attempts at pleasing him. Tenten's unadulterated purity made her relatively interesting to him.
His Chakra stirred slightly, and his figure instantly vanished from the spot.
The next second, he appeared steadily and soundlessly in Tenten's bedroom.
While Tenten was still regretting her incomplete wish, she felt a pair of strong arms tightly wrapping around her waist from behind, a warm chest pressed against her back.
Shun's palm exerted slight pressure, pulling her closer into his embrace. Their bodies instantly fit together seamlessly, allowing them to clearly sense each other's heartbeats.
Tenten froze in shock, her muscles instantly tensing, and she instinctively prepared to raise her hand to counterattack.
But just then, the voice that brought her immense peace sounded in her ear.
"Tenten, don't be afraid, it's me."
Hearing Shun's voice, Tenten's tense body immediately relaxed. She leaned back gently, fully nestling into his arms, her earlobes burning hot.
She lifted her hand and gently placed it over his hand wrapped around her waist. She whispered shyly, "Shun-sama, why did you come? You didn't tell me beforehand, you startled me."
Leaning close to the person she loved made her heartbeat quicken slightly.
Shun lowered his head slightly and kissed the top of her head, inhaling the water vapor and faint floral scent from her hair. The fresh, pleasant aroma warmed his heart.
His lips moved close to her cheek, and his warm breath brushed her earlobe. "Tenten, I missed you, so I came to see you."
His palm gently rubbed the fabric of her sleepwear near her waist, the material felt soft and smooth.
"I saw you making a wish on the meteor outside just now. What did you wish for? Can you tell me? Were you secretly thinking of me?"
Tenten's cheeks grew even redder from his question. Her eyes darted away, afraid to look into his eyes, and her long eyelashes fluttered.
She whispered softly, "Um... I didn't finish making it. The meteor disappeared, so the wish was only half-made."
By the end, her voice was full of regret, yet her eyes held a hint of sweetness.
She certainly wouldn't tell him that she was just about to wish for them to be together forever when the meteor vanished. Such a direct desire was too embarrassing for her to utter.
"If you want to see meteors, it's actually quite simple."
Shun chuckled lightly, displaying the unique confidence and composure of a powerful individual.
He lightly kissed her ear, then her cheek. Then he gently lifted her chin with his hand, directing her eyes toward the night sky outside the window.
"Tenten, I'm giving you a gift. Look at the sky ahead."
After speaking, his fingers flicked lightly, producing a crisp snap.
Tenten followed his gaze toward the window, and the next second, she gasped. Her eyes widened, and she subconsciously covered her mouth with both hands.
The night sky, which had only scattered stars moments before, was now streaked by countless meteors, one after another, trailing long, brilliant wakes—some silver-white, some pale pink, and some light blue.
It was like a magnificent meteor shower banquet, adorning the entire night sky with dazzling splendor.
She had lived this long but had never witnessed such a spectacular and romantic scene.
"Tenten, hurry and make a wish. This meteor shower is falling just for you." Shun's gentle voice sounded in her ear.
The arm wrapped around her waist tightened, as if he meant to hold her securely in his embrace, making her belong entirely to him.
He could clearly feel the slight trembling of the person in his arms, a sign of excitement and joy.
Tenten lifted her head from his embrace and clasped her hands tightly together. She closed her eyes, lowered her head slightly, and began making her wish with extreme devotion.
Her brows furrowed slightly, and a happy curve graced her lips as she silently recited her most sincere wishes.
'I hope Shun-sama truly loves me, and I hope I can stay by his side forever.'
She didn't dare ask for too much, even just quietly accompanying him was enough.
Shun watched the devout expression of the person in his arms, his eyes filled with an undeniable tenderness.
He gently wiped away the tears on Tenten's cheek, pulled her back into his embrace, lifted her chin, and pressed down a dominant kiss.
"Tenten, I love you."
These words were spoken without the slightest hesitation or his usual carefree demeanor.
Tenten froze motionless on the spot, her ears filled only with her own pounding heartbeat and his phrase, "I love you," echoing repeatedly in her mind.
She threw herself into Shun's arms. "Shun-sama, I love you too. I am willing to give up everything for you."
After speaking, she tightly wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face in his chest.
Shun gently hooked Tenten's chin, gazed deeply into her eyes, then slowly bent down and kissed her lips.
His fingers began to move restlessly, expertly tracing over button after button, as if opening the world's most precious treasure chest.
Tenten trembled slightly, initially showing the shy awkwardness of a young girl, subconsciously gripping the hem of his clothes.
Their kissing continued.
Tenten cast all her nervousness and apprehension aside, responding to his tenderness awkwardly but with immense sincerity.
Suddenly, a gust of night wind quietly blew into the room, causing a corner of the curtain to sway gently, and it happened to brush against the edge of a bookshelf.
Bang.
A manga book with a pink cover slipped from the second shelf of the bookshelf and fell onto the wooden floor.
Shun paused slightly, turned his head toward the sound, and his gaze landed on the open manga book.
The cover was printed with the title in gold foil: Sweet Times with Shun-sama.
When Tenten saw the manga, her cheeks instantly flushed crimson, and her earlobes burned, as if her most secret thoughts had been exposed on the spot.
It was a manga she had secretly hidden. She hadn't expected Shun to discover it this way.
She hurriedly pulled slightly away from Shun's embrace, swiftly rushed over, and pressed down tightly on the manga with both hands, her fingertips trembling slightly from nervousness. She wished she could find a hole to crawl into.
She frantically hid the manga behind her back, her head bowed low. "Shun-sama... it's not what you think."
Watching her embarrassed yet adorable appearance, Shun let out a low laugh.
"I noticed just now that the panda-patterned pants worn by the heroine on the cover were quite cute. Tenten, it looks like you have the same style in your closet. Could you put them on for me?"
Hearing this, Tenten felt her cheeks burning hot, and even her breathing became slightly erratic.
She secretly glanced up at Shun, saw his expectant expression, and hesitated for a moment.
Ultimately, she couldn't resist his gentle gaze. Her face flushed crimson, and she nodded. "Since you like them... I'll put them on for you."
Tenten bit her lower lip and hugged the manga. She turned, and quickly hid in the changing room.
As she closed the door, she secretly peeked at Shun, and seeing him smiling as he watched her, she felt even more shy, gently closing the door.
A moment later, the door slowly opened, and Tenten walked out wearing a pair of white panda pants.
The pandas on the pants were round and charmingly naive, giving her an overall cute, girlish aura.
Shun looked at Tenten, and the adoration in his eyes nearly spilled over. He quickly stepped forward and scooped her up into a bridal carry without a word.
Tenten cried out in surprise, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her cheek against his chest.
"Tenten, I want to feed the panda 'bamboo'."