Hiroshi's Crush

While eating Onigiri at the stall, Kaiji spoke to Hiroshi. "By the way," he said casually, "I think you should start thinking about how to reduce this unnecessary fat on your body."

Hiroshi reacted quickly. "Stop making fun of me!" he protested. "I'm already in a good shape, okay?"

"I'm only saying this for your benefit," Kaiji replied. "After all, girls don't much like this body shape."

"Who says?" Hiroshi countered confidently. "They like it, okay?"

"And how are you confident that they do?!" Kaiji asked, raising an eyebrow.

Hiroshi replied with a slight blush on his face. "Kohaku-san," he mumbled, "told me that I am cute."

Kaiji stopped eating the Onigiri in his hand. He looked at Hiroshi doubtfully.

He quickly asked in one breath, "Who Kohaku? Are you talking about our Classmate Kohaku, Takeshi Sensei's Daughter Kohaku? When did she say something like that to you?!"

Hiroshi still had a light blush on his round cheeks. He nodded slowly.

"Just last month during our sparring session. I asked Kohaku what she thinks about me, and she chuckled and called me Cute." He said in low voice.

Kaiji first narrowed his eyes, not quite believing him. Then, he suddenly caught something in Hiroshi's sentence.

'He asked Kohaku what she thinks about him?' Kaiji thought, the implication hitting him. 'Did he...?'

Hiroshi also stared blankly. He realized what he had mistakenly revealed. He hadn't told this to Ren and Kaiji yet, fearing they might tease him to death.

Hiroshi quickly ate the Rice ball in his hand in one go. He paid for both his and Kaiji's food. He then started walking away fastly.

Kaiji, however, didn't let him get away like that. He quickly followed him.

He pressed, "So, Hiroshi, you have a crush on Kohaku, huh?" Kaiji continued, "And you haven't told me about it! Did Ren know, or you haven't even told him yet?"

Hiroshi didn't answer. He just kept walking forward quickly. But Kaiji covered the distance using Body Flicker Technique rapidly, coming up beside him.

He started pestering Hiroshi to tell him about his crush on Kohaku.

Hiroshi also started using Body Flicker Technique to run away from Kaiji. He absolutely did not want to be teased by Kaiji like that.

Kaiji had many times teased him about his slightly chubby build. He did not want Kaiji to start teasing him about his crush.

Kaiji remained persistent. He continuously followed him, asking him to tell him about how and when he got a crush on Kohaku, in full details, without missing anything.

They used Body Flicker Technique, running around the village for like two hours. They kept going until they were both a little exhausted from the chase.

Hiroshi finally relented. "Alright," he said, breathing heavily. "I will tell you, but don't tease me, okay?"

Kaiji nodded. He had a mischievous smile on his face.

Hiroshi then told him about his feelings. "I've had a crush on her for quite some time," he admitted.

"She is beautiful, kind, and even stronger than me. And also, she never makes fun of me about my physic whenever we interact..." He then narrowed his eyes playfully at Kaiji. "...like someone I know, who always tease me."

Kaiji coughed lightly and looked away upon hearing this pointed remark.

Then Hiroshi quickly finished telling his side of the crush story. "Well," he concluded, "I liked her for a long time, but my feelings for her grew over time."

However Kaiji neither teased nor made fun of him about it. He spoke with a warm smile. "Well, you should just ask her for date or something," he suggested. "What are you waiting for?"

"No, I... I can't muster up courage," Hiroshi confessed.

"Are you scared of rejection?" Kaiji asked, attempting to make him see reason. "If yes, then don't be." Kaiji pressed further.

"What's there to be scared about? Kids even age of 7 or 8 went to First and Second shinobi Wars, and you are scared of just a simple rejection?"

Hiroshi countered immediately. "When did I say I was scared of War?" he retorted. "Let the War happen, I'll happily participate in that rather than getting rejected by Kohaku!"

Kaiji stared at him, a mix of reactions on his face. He couldn't understand what to make of what Hiroshi had just said. Hiroshi had enough courage to face War but was terrified of asking Kohaku for a date.

Regarding the War, Kaiji thought inwardly with a smirk, 'Your wish for participating in War will fulfill soon, don't worry, Hiroshi.'

Kaiji then changed the subject. "Alright, whatever," he said. "We will meet in the evening then."

"Where are you going now?" Hiroshi asked.

"Nothing important," Kaiji replied. "You should go and have dreams about Kohaku."

"Hey!" Hiroshi protested. "You promised you wouldn't tease me!"

Kaiji didn't reply. He simply waved his hand while walking away towards the Ninja Library Archive of Sunagakure.

Kaiji knew he couldn't just learn Earth Nature Ninjutsu without having an affinity for it, which may or may not be the case.

He was going to the Ninja Library Archive to find a way to make himself familiar with an unfamiliar affinity, some kind of simple familiarization exercises for nature affinity.