Love is Cringe

Long shadows were created on the ground by the evening sun, its slanting rays giving the sky a reddish orange hue. I turned around after walking past the massive gates of Konoha, glancing at my village, my birthplace, and home... one final time.

I then prayed, bending down, bringing the palms of both my hands together in a lotus shape. Today is the first day of my journey to become stronger... to reach my grandfather... and to become the "God of Shinobi"... the title Kane-jichan held once... It all starts right now.

I continued walking a little further, and I was already in a thick forest area... when I found Ino leaning against a tree, a bagpack slung over her shoulder... I bit my lower lip... I knew why she was here... and I might have to do something I'm sure I'll end up regretting...

"Ino... why are you here...?" I asked even though I knew the answer. And by the look on her face... she knew I did. "You already know why... but let me tell you why... myself." She then started walking towards me, and I froze. Taking my hand in hers, she held it tight.

"Take me with you... we can both grow stronger... together. So, please... please take me with you... Miyuki." I couldn't come up with anything to say... I was at a loss. But I knew one thing: I couldn't drag her along; this was my road... and I couldn't bear the thought of putting Ino in danger... danger that I'd face walking down this road...

I slipped my hand away from hers reluctantly, and seeing her upset face... it pained me. I felt so angry with myself... and there was nothing I could do about it. "...Ino, I can't take you with me... I'm sorry... and I... I hope you understand." I turned around and started walking... leaving her alone.

...But then the next words she yelled made me quiver, my mouth gaping open, my eyes widening as I came to a complete stop. "I... I love you! I'm sure you already knew this... you jerk...! That should be enough, right?! Now take me with you... please!" ...Only a complete moron would miss your feelings for me.

"Answer me... shouldn't that be enough...?! Then let me be with you!" Ino hugged me as she whispered the final part. Yeah... this should be enough... but I'm sorry, Ino... for what I'm going to say... for what I'm about to do. I turned around and looked into her eyes. She misunderstood what I was doing...

And she closed her eyes... got on her toes to equal my height... moved her face closer to mine... and that's when I placed my hand over her mouth. She instantly opened her eyes and gave me a confused stare. "I'm... sorry." Her confused look quickly shifted into one of distress. She took a few steps back from me.

Her bangs had now obscured her face, and she turned around, ready to leave. I grabbed her hand and stopped her in her tracks... she didn't turn around to see me. It wasn't for her feelings that I said sorry. So at least I can return her feelings... feelings I was conscious of but never decided to act on... not just yet.

I have no idea how, when, or even where these feelings emerged... but I love her... I do. "Wait... don't go... even if I can't take you with me... let me just say this... I-I... I love you too, Ino." Having said that, my entire face is surely as red as tomatoes. I felt her quivering too... but why isn't she saying anything...?

I let go of her hand and grabbed the necklace around my neck. On my tenth birthday, Ino gifted me this beautiful silver necklace... and its been dangling around my neck ever since. I turned her around with my hand on her shoulder... she had her face down... but I swear I saw a tinge of red on it.

"...See this? You gave me this necklace for my birthday. It holds a very special place in my heart." I then sighed, frustrated that Ino was still quiet. "How about we give it a little more... meaning?" Ino then raised her eyes at me before quickly averting them. "I want you to take this necklace back..."

She then makes a sound... maybe puzzled... unhappy...? She misread me once more. "...What I actually meant to say was... how about we make this necklace a "necklace of promise"...? I'll be entrusting you with this necklace, and when I return, I'd like you to put this back on my neck... let me also make this vow..."

"I vow... I'll return in one piece. I'll be back soon... back to you. So... Ino, do you want to make this necklace a "necklace of promise," and wait for me...?" I said, grinning, as I offered her the silver necklace. I saw Ino lift her hand... I was glad. She placed her hand right above mine... and slapped the necklace off it.

W-What...? W-Why...? Why, Ino...? With the same questioning gaze in my eyes, I raised my eyes to her... only to find that she had been crying, with tears flowing down her cheeks. We continued to stare at each other... until she suddenly turned around, leaving me behind. I clutched my chest... my heart.

I desperately felt like crying, but tears refused to fall... damn it...! Why did you leave me without an answer... Ino...?! "Boo-hoo~!" This bastard... Sukuna. I moved my eyes to the side and noticed him hanging from a tree limb upside down. His smirking annoyed me... immensely.

"Woah, woah, woah...! If those looks could kill, I'd be dying a thousand times over! So scary, Miyuki-kun!" He snickers... this bastard. I give one final glance in Ino's direction before shaking my head and continuing on my own. Sukuna giggled as he swayed by my side, his hands relaxed behind his head.

"Well, I feel bad for you, kid... you got shot down and all." "...Pfft!" Yeah, I see you sobbing. I shot him a stern look. "No...! Its not me who's laughing...! That was my other persona, yes! You know... my other self." Then he began blabbing about how he met a fish and had lengthy discussions about why he should be entitled to bathe in women-only baths.

All I could think of was Ino, while Sukuna kept repeating how plenty more fish were there in the sea. Why...? Why did she turn me down...? I'm sure its me... I must have said something wrong, but it doesn't matter anymore. It doesn't matter as long as she loves me. I'll make things right with her... somehow.

"Aye, kid, do you even have any idea where we're heading..." I jerked my head to the right, giving Sukuna a shocked look. "What do you mean, you tatted moron?! I thought you were leading us!" I yelled. "You brat, what are you saying...? How can you be led by a fella who's literally behind you...? Oh, the generation of today...!" I... from behind me?!

"When did you get behind me?! You asshole!" "You motherfucker! How dare you curse in the presence of Ryomen Sukuna, the first and only "King of Curses"?!"

How... incredibly... literal.