Anko Mitarashi stared at Kurenai Yuhi with a knowing, mischievous smirk.
Kurenai's face turned beet-red under the intense scrutiny. She lowered her head, stammering, "I'm not going anywhere! I'm just... trying these on to see how they look."
"Hehehe." Anko didn't buy it for a second. "Liar. Are you getting ready for a date with a certain someone?"
"You'd never dress this sexily on a normal day! It's definitely a date!" Anko teased, even reaching out to run a hand along Kurenai's black-stockinged leg.
"What are you doing, Bean?!" Kurenai cried, swatting away Anko's "salty pig hand."
"Nothing! Just checking if they're as silky as they look! Hehehe." Anko laughed, then suddenly turned serious. "I'll stop teasing. But listen, noon has already passed and a certain someone still hasn't shown up. I wonder if he's forgotten a certain little mother pig who's currently in heat?"
Kurenai immediately snapped back, "You're the one who's a little mother pig in heat!"
"If I were a mother pig in heat, I'd go seduce Uchiha Raizen right now and have some piglets with him," Anko joked, half-seriously.
"You wouldn't dare!" Kurenai glared at her. "Raizen-kun would never look at a 'Little Chest' like you!" She puffed out her own chest defiantly. "His heart belongs to my 'Great Peaks'!"
The two women were about to start their usual measurement competition when the doorbell rang throughout the courtyard.
The moment she heard it, Kurenai stopped arguing. She practically skipped toward the gate. It had to be her Raizen-kun!
La la la!
"Hmph! Shameless hussy, forgets her best friend the moment her lover arrives," Anko grumbled. She wasn't actually angry; it was just her way of talking. Her personality was too boisterous to care about such trivial things, and bickering with Kurenai was just fun.
Watching Kurenai's retreating back, Anko followed. Since the lover was here, she didn't want to hang around as a third wheel.
Kurenai hummed a little tune, full of high spirits as she reached the gate and swung it open.
"Hi, Kurenai!"
A bearded man greeted her with a smile. It wasn't Raizen; it was Asuma Sarutobi.
Asuma's eyes lit up the moment he saw Kurenai in those black stockings. His dream girl looked stunning today! Had she heard he was coming back and dressed up specifically for him? The thought brought a wide grin to his face.
The joy on Kurenai's face vanished instantly. She frowned, staring at him coolly. "Asuma? What are you doing here?"
Asuma, still smiling, said, "Kurenai, there's a new movie premiering today. I wanted to invite you to go see it with me."
"A movie?" Kurenai's frown deepened. "I'm busy today. I can't go."
Asuma blinked, caught off guard. This wasn't how the script in his head was supposed to go. "Kurenai, these tickets were really hard to get. It'd be a waste not to go. Come on, let's just check it out."
Kurenai shook her head. "Asuma, if you don't have anything else to say, please leave." She was effectively showing him the door.
"Kurenai, I—" Asuma started to protest, but a voice from inside interrupted him.
"Kurenai, why haven't you invited your little lover in yet? Why are you just standing at the gate?" Anko strolled out from the house.
"Little lover?" Asuma froze. According to Anko, Kurenai had a lover? It felt like a bolt from the blue. He stood there, paralyzed.
"Oh! It's not the little lover. It's just Asuma!" Anko laughed once she realized who it was. "Asuma, you're the same as always—looking like you've aged prematurely!"
It took a long time for Asuma to find his voice. "Anko... who were you talking about? Who is Kurenai's 'little lover'?"
"That would be me," a voice rang out from behind Asuma.
"Raizen-kun!" Kurenai's eyes sparkled with delight.
Asuma spun around. When he saw Raizen, he gasped in shock. "Uchiha Raizen!"
"Long time no see, Asuma," Raizen said, stepping up and looking at him with a faint, knowing smile. Years ago, back when Asuma was serving as one of the Twelve Guardian Shinobi in the capital, Raizen had crossed paths with him several times. "So you're back in the village too."
Seeing the vibrant red roses in Raizen's hands, Asuma found it hard to breathe. "You... you... when did you and Kurenai...?"
"Back in our school days."
Raizen gave Asuma a dismissive glance and walked straight past him to Kurenai. He pressed the roses into her hands and said tenderly, "Darling, I'm here. Did you miss me?"
Kurenai took the flowers bashfully, her voice soft and sweet. "I did."
"Hehehe. Darling, give your husband a kiss."
Right there, in front of Asuma's face, Raizen leaned in and kissed Kurenai deeply on the lips.
Asuma felt like he'd been struck by lightning again. His goddess... was being kissed by someone else. His heart was bleeding; he couldn't accept this reality.
"Mmm... stop it, Raizen-kun! We have guests!" Kurenai whispered after the kiss, her face flushed red as she lowered her head, unable to look at anyone.
"Darling, you taste so sweet. One more."
Raizen leaned in for a second kiss.
Asuma couldn't take it anymore. "I... I just remembered I have things to do. I'll be going now." He turned and walked away, looking utterly soul-crushed.
"What was Asuma doing here?" Raizen asked with a grin after finally letting go of Kurenai.
"What do you think? He was trying to seduce your Little Kurenai, of course!" Anko teased.
"Is that so?" Raizen looked at Kurenai.
Kurenai quickly explained, "He wanted to take me to a movie, but I refused! Raizen-kun, please don't misunderstand. I would never like someone like Asuma. You are the only one I love." She was terrified of him getting the wrong idea.
Raizen took her hand. "Mhm. I believe you, darling. Why would you like a scruffy, unkempt guy like him when you have me—handsome and rich? Do you want to see that movie? I'll take you."
Raizen's trust brought tears of joy to Kurenai's eyes. She looked at him, deeply moved. "Thank you for believing in me, Raizen-kun. As long as I'm with you, I'm happy doing anything. If you want to see the movie, then let's go."
"AAAAAGH!!! I can't take this anymore! You two are sickening!"
Anko, watching the display of public affection, felt her sanity slipping. As a single woman without a boyfriend, this was pure torture. She glared at Raizen, then turned toward her own house. At her door, she spun around and gave them a warning:
"When you guys play 'cards' tonight, keep it down! Don't you dare disturb my sleep!"