❝ urusainodayo,❞

with his fingers, feeling the heat of this summer. He regretted not wearing his headband, thinking that he was not on a mission so he didn't wear it.

He looked around him. His pace was fast so that no girls would bother him anymore. After he returned to Konoha, for some reason, many girls surrounded him. Give him compliments, encouragement, and even gifts. It's not that he doesn't like it, it's just that he thinks it's too much.

Even his friends from the academy were like that, even though they used to look at him like a fool who asked for attention. Not the one who got the attention.

Naruto's steps stopped in front of the fence of Midorima abode. The house is on a cliff and close to the forest. And far from settlements. Like a secluded villa.

He opened the gate whispering 'pardon the intrusion' and he realized how quiet the house was. Does her family all work? Well, Naruto doesn't know. Shizuka never told them, and he never asked her.

Naruto entered the traditional style house and headed straight to Shizuka's room. And how does he know where her room is? The teen uses his sensors to find Shizuka's chakra. Easy peasy.

He walked deeper into the house like someone owns the house. Without any politeness or anything until he stood at the door of Shizuka's room. He grabbed the door and slid it open. "Shi-chan!"

Naruto blinked a few times to assure himself of the scene before him. The room was dark, the door near the balcony was not opened and the lights were not turned on. The furniture looks neat. But that wasn't what surprised Naruto. Because there, on her bed, Shizuka sat hugging her legs. She used the blanket to cover herself until only her face was visible.

Is she cold? But it's summer right now?

"Shi-chan?" call Naruto again to confirm if it is really Shizuka.

"Naruto?" Shizuka's voice was hoarse. The girl lifted her head towards Naruto and the man noticed her pale face and tired looking dead eyes. As if she has no enthusiasm for life.

"Hey, are you okay?" asked Naruto softly before turning on the light switch and taking a few steps to enter the room. "Are you sick? That's why you didn't come earlier?"

Shizuka didn't answer. And it made Naruto walk over to her, his brows furrowed in worry. He used the back of his hand to check the temperature of the girl's forehead. "You're not hot."

"I never said I was hot, nanodayo," she retorted.

"You didn't answer me when I asked," Naruto pointed out. "But seriously, are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Shizuka huffed as she straightened her body. "What are you doing here?"

Naruto leaned back, "I came here because you weren't there earlier, dattebayou," he explained. His hand reached into his pocket before pulling out a small lilac-colored matryoshka. "Here, there is a girl who gave me this, but I don't know what it is so I give this to you, okay?"

The blond was actually not sure if Shizuka wanted that thing. But it seemed like he was taken aback by the green haired girl again. Because right now, she was staring at the matryoshka very closely. Her face has returned to look more alive. To be more precise, she looked speechless, stunned.

"Wait, wait, don't tell me..." Naruto gasped, as a thought passed on his mind. "You, you...You didn't come earlier because of your oha asa, right?! This doll is your lucky item?!!"

The girl widened her eyes, looking away. Her hand pushes up her glasses while covering her blushing cheeks. "... I couldn't find the lilac-colored one," she mumbled.

"Pfftt—" and Naruto laughed out loud. God, this girl ... He couldn't understand how this girl could be so cute with her little obsession. He still remembered when Shizuka fainted because her lucky item broke. And now, it turned out that she was not sick, only depressed because she didn't get to find her lucky item. "So what if you don't bring your lucky item? You will get bad luck?"

"..."

Naruto laughed again.

"Urusainodayo!"

The teen wiped his tears, his body still shaking from the laughter. "Okay, okay, I'll give you this," Naruto then smiled slyly, sending a shiver through her back. "On condition that you come with me to the summer festival the day after tomorrow!"

"You're bribing me?" Shizuka stared at him with scrunched eyebrows.

"If you don't need this doll, you can refuse," Naruto shrugged. His sapphire blue eyes shining slyly.

The green haired girl was silent for a few moments. "Tch, I guess I'll be joining you," she mumbled. "But that's because I need that doll, okay! Don't think of anything else!"

"Tsunderima~"

○○○

Tonight is the night of the summer festival. And Shizuka, fulfilling her promise, was already in the festival with Naruto by her side. The two of them both wore a yukata: Shizuka was wearing a white yukata with a green belt, her hair was put in a bun elegantly with a few floral accessories on her head; while Naruto wore a full black yukata.

"The festival smells really good!!" Naruto exclaimed. His eyes were shining looking around as they walked inside.

Shizuka frowned. "You always come every year, why are you so excited?"

"Hey, hey, every year it feels different, dattebayou!" said Naruto, still smiling, ignoring the girl's comment. Instead, he grabbed her wrist. "Come on! Let's go explore!!"

Naruto pulls Shizuka along the festival. And she just realized, how this night felt more alive than the previous night. Stands line the streets, shows are shown amidst the crowd, the smell of delicious food in the air, and lights hanging to illuminate the street.

They also stopped at a game stand. The blond looked at her with hope. Like a child with his mother. "Let's play it, Shi-chan!"

Shizuka surveyed the crowded toy stand. Looks like it was a pitching stand to get the prize. Her eyes then fixed on the place of the gifts. Just dolls, not ramen coupons or something. So, why did Naruto want to go play it?

"No," said Shizuka who immediately got a shout of protest from Naruto, "actually it's a useless game. We live in a ninja world and live in a big country. As a ninja, we are trained to hit the mark accurately. That old man is a fool to open that stand. He will only lose and won't get profit, nanodayo."

Naruto complied and finally, they walked deeper. Buying some snacks —which of course aren't ramen or red beans (to avoid fighting)— and playing games that Shizuka thinks isn't that stupid.

"Hm~ Popsicles in summer are just right, dattebayou!" Naruto exclaimed as he happily sucking it.

"It sure is, nanodayo," Shizuka agreed.

"Naruto! Shizuka!" the duo turned around to the source of the shouting at the same time. A few meters from them, there was Sakura in her red yukata and Ino with her purple yukata waving as they jogged towards them.

"Ino! Sakura-chan!" Naruto exclaimed happily.

"Naruto, you're getting more handsome tonight," teased Ino. "Black really suits you."

"Really? Thanks," Naruto smiled bashfully. Stretching his cheek.

"You two together? Don't tell me..." Sakura blinked in confusion. She was sure Shizuka wouldn't be interested in joining this festival. Then she grinned. "Gosh Naruto, you're fast, huh? Already taking a move on Shizuka."

"Huh?" Naruto tilted his head.

"Don't misunderstand, nanodayo!" Shizuka interrupted as she crossed her arms. But Naruto's eyes focused on her red ears. "I'm not here because I wanted to!"

"Sure, sure."

"Attention everyone, fireworks will began in 5 minutes!"

"Fireworks! Come on, Ino!!" Sakura took Ino's hand and then the two of them were lost to the crowd.

The blond haired boy then turned to Shizuka, his face shining again. "C'mon Shi-chan! Fireworks!" he intertwined their hands and pulled the girl through the crowd until they were on the hill, sitting in the grass.

Boom! The sound of the explosion rang out and it was different from Deidara's explosion. Naruto smiled, then turned to his side. He froze for a few seconds, before his smile widened, more sincere, looking at Shizuka who seemed too busy staring at the fireworks.

He rests his cheek on his palm, his gaze was still fixed on the girl. Ignoring the fireworks that were coloring Konoha's sky.

After the fireworks display was over, Naruto escorted Shizuka home even though the girl refused at first. "Is this your first festival?"

"No," Shizuka replied honestly, but there are a slight hurt and sadness in her eyes. "The last time I went was when I was a kid. 5 years old maybe?"

"That's long," Naruto then turned to her with determination. "I promise I'll take you to the festival every year."

The green haired girl looked at Naruto in surprise before looking away. "I can go there myself, nanodayo!" and she went straight into her house, leaving Naruto alone.

The man turned his gaze to the moon. That time, when I held her tiny hand, seeing her expression ... I ... realized that Shizuka is a girl ...

And he quickly left with a blush adorning his cheeks.