Inside the courtyard
Drake stood beneath a tree with Uzuki Yūgao.
Neither of them spoke.
The atmosphere was quiet—almost too quiet.
In the end, Drake broke the silence.
"Yūgao… did you need something from me?" he asked calmly.
"Well… I bought a new outfit," she said softly, head lowered.
"I wanted you to help me check it tonight."
An outfit?
Drake's eyes immediately lit up.
"What kind of outfit?" he asked at once.
"Something for summer…"
Her voice grew even smaller.
"Summer clothes come in many varieties," Drake said solemnly.
"The back has very little fabric," Yūgao murmured, lowering her head even more.
"I wanted you to see if it fits properly."
"Then it's settled!" Drake said decisively.
"Tonight, I'll carefully check it for you."
As he spoke, he took her hand.
"As Team Nine's captain, if you ever need to try on clothes in the future,"
"just come to me."
"Then… it's a promise."
Yūgao turned and ran off.
Drake stared at her retreating figure—then froze.
"…How did I agree again?"
He rubbed his temples in regret.
Sure enough, his willpower still wasn't strong enough.
"My Spirit stat is already over ten thousand," he muttered,
"so why do I still have zero resistance to this kind of thing?"
Collapsing into a wooden chair, Drake sighed.
Three appointments in one night.
He'd have to plan his time very carefully.
Evening
Kushina Uzumaki barged straight into the courtyard.
"Drake! Time to come freeload a meal!" she shouted, then left immediately.
Drake stared wide-eyed from his chair.
…She even came to his house to urge him now?
"Everyone's acting weird today," he muttered.
First, three girls invited him one after another.
Now Kushina was personally calling him to dinner.
It felt like, in just one day, every woman around him had changed.
Happy Hot Springs
Upon entering, Drake instinctively scanned the room.
Kushina.
Mainese.
Hyūga Suzune.
And Lady Uchiha Mikoto.
"Don't just stand there—sit down," Kushina waved him over.
Dinner was lavish.
Drake had just picked up his bowl when Mainese began giving him subtle signals.
He nodded slightly and picked up his chopsticks.
At that moment, Mikoto spoke.
"Drake, Fugaku said he'd like to invite you for drinks tonight."
"…Huh?"
Drake looked at her, surprised.
"Are you busy?" Mikoto asked gently.
"Honestly… I might be," Drake answered truthfully.
"That's fine. Even if it's late," Mikoto smiled.
"Alright. Just don't blame me if I'm late."
"How could I?"
After Mikoto finished, Drake finally let out a long breath.
"One night, five stops," he calculated inwardly.
"The frequency isn't too bad."
Then—
"Um… Drake," Suzune suddenly spoke up.
"Yes?"
"Our clan leader would like to invite you to visit the Hyūga clan."
CLANG!
SMACK!
Drake's chair toppled over, and his bowl smashed onto the floor.
"Come, Suzune. I need to talk to you."
He grabbed her hand and pulled her into a room.
The moment the door closed, Drake turned around and reached straight into her chest.
"W-What are you doing?!" Suzune cried out in shock.
"I'm checking whether your invitation is sincere," Drake replied calmly.
Suzune froze.
She was afraid—
afraid he wouldn't go if she resisted.
After all, this was the clan head's instruction.
"…Seems genuine."
Drake withdrew his hand.
"So… did you accept the invitation?" Suzune asked timidly.
"Not tonight. Tomorrow," Drake replied.
"…Okay."
After dinner, Drake hurried off.
He already had his order planned.
First stop—Uzuki Yūgao.
After all, her outfit might not fit properly.
That required professional guidance.
Nightfall
Yūgao's home
Drake arrived as promised.
Inside, Yūgao was wearing a pink camisole, her face flushed.
"Well?" she asked softly.
"From the front, it looks fine," Drake commented seriously.
"But turn around. Let me see the back."
"Okay."
She turned.
At that instant, Drake's eyes lit up.
The back… was completely bare.
Drake stepped forward, pulled her into his arms.
"Yūgao," he whispered,
"do you need a well dug?"
Digging a Well
Digging wells was hard work.
But as a professional well-digger, Drake feared no hardship.
He lifted the cover and began his work.
The well was damp, already showing signs of seepage.
But that wasn't enough.
With a single strike of the shovel, the walls trembled—
more water seeped out.
"This is an easy well," Drake said confidently.
He dug and dug.
The walls shook harder.
Water surged again and again.
Drake was overjoyed.
This well was almost open.
He dug.
And dug.
Suddenly—
The walls shook violently.
Drake leapt back to the edge.
Splash—!!
The well broke through.
Mission complete.
After helping Yūgao "open" the well, Drake refused her thanks and rushed off.
After all—
There were still many wells left tonight.
Anko's Place
Drake stepped into the courtyard.
"Drake!" Anko Mitarashi sat atop the roof, beaming.
Step.
He jumped up and pulled her into his arms.
"You're… so domineering," Anko whispered.
"Am I?" Drake grinned.
"There's more."
"Huh?"
In her startled cry, Drake once again became a professional well-digger.
"Didn't we say we'd watch the moon?" Anko's face burned red.
"Do those conflict?" Drake asked with a wicked smile.
Under the moonlight—
He lifted the cover and jumped straight in.
Dig.
Dig.
Dig.
The walls trembled—
the breakthrough was near.
Half an hour later—
WHOOSH—!!
The well burst forth like a broken dam.
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