After Nagato finished making the bed, their playful banter finally ended.
"You're all sweaty. I'll go take a quick shower."
Making the bed was naturally faster than cooking, and by the time Nagato completed his task, Nonou was still busy in the kitchen.
He peeked into the kitchen doorway and saw Nonou flipping something around in the pan.
"Go ahead, go ahead."
Nonou replied without looking up. Right now, nothing was more important than the pot of food in front of her.
"I'll be right back after a quick shower and change—I can't wait to enjoy your meal."
Nagato pulled his head back and headed into the bathroom, carrying a fresh bathrobe.
After washing away the sweat, he was once again the fresh and clean-cut young man.
As he stepped out of the bathroom, the feast was already set on the dining table.
The fragrance filled the house, and it looked pretty appetizing too.
He went straight to the dining table and sat down. Nonou came out from the kitchen carrying wine and cups.
"There's some leftover sake from cooking—might as well finish it."
She lined up the cups neatly and poured them full before handing one to Nagato.
"Sure."
Nagato accepted the cup without hesitation. Though he wasn't much of a drinker, he was happy to join Nonou.
"Taste my fish and see if it's still the same flavor as back then."
Excitedly, Nonou scooped a generous chunk of fish into Nagato's bowl, watching him eagerly.
"You still remember that?"
Nagato hesitated slightly; on the night before Nonou left Konoha, she'd also cooked him a fish.
That dinner had been their farewell meal, forever etched in his memory.
"You're the one who ate it."
"How could I possibly forget?"
Nonou tilted her head slightly, playfully winking at Nagato, her charm radiating.
"It's delicious."
Nagato responded before even finishing the bite of fish.
"Heehee~"
"Eat more if you like it."
Receiving her beloved's approval, Nonou visibly showed her excitement.
With just a few swift moves of her chopsticks, Nagato's small bowl was overflowing with food.
"Eat some yourself too."
Nagato wore a look of helplessness—her gestures were exactly the same as back then.
"Cheers."
Nonou ignored what he said; she was happy anyway.
Clink! Ss-Haa!
After the sound of their glasses clinking together, both made exactly the same reaction noise.
"Hahaha~"
Looking at each other, both slightly furrowing their brows, they burst into laughter at the same time.
Back when they were younger, there hadn't been any alcohol during that dinner.
By the time they finished their feast, the dining table was already in disarray.
Nagato had to admit, Nonou's culinary skills hadn't declined at all—they were just as delicious as ever.
"So full!"
Nonou stretched lazily without a care for appearances, revealing her softly rounded stomach.
The rosy flush from the drink only enhanced her charm.
"You should go take a shower too."
"I'll clean up."
Taking the initiative, Nagato assumed the heavy responsibility of washing the dishes. Wasn't Nonou already drenched in sweat too?
"Okay then."
"Thank you for helping, my dear Nagato."
"Time for Sister to take a bath."
Nonou teasingly mussed up Nagato's red hair before turning and heading to the bathroom with an identical bathrobe in hand.
"What's wrong with me?"
Once the bathroom door closed, Nagato finally reached up and touched his burning cheeks.
Nonou's face surfaced in his mind, making his face burn even more.
"Wash the dishes. Just wash the dishes."
Shaking his head to chase away thoughts of Nonou, Nagato finally stood and carried the bowls into the kitchen.
The sound of running water echoed from both the kitchen and the bathroom, and both could feel that today's atmosphere felt unusually intimate.
As usual, Nagato finished first. When Nonou stepped out of the bathroom, he was half-lying on the couch.
The door opening caught Nagato's attention, prompting him to glance over.
Wrapped only in a bathrobe, with her damp light-brown hair cascading down her back, Nonou looked absolutely stunning.
"What are you staring at?"
"Never seen a beauty before?"
Trying to hide the flutter in her chest, Nonou squeezed herself onto the couch beside Nagato.
"I've seen pretty girls..."
"Just never one as beautiful as you."
It was something Nagato would only say when alone with her—never in public.
"Such a smooth talker."
Nonou gently tapped her fingertip against Nagato's forehead, unable to suppress the upward curve of her lips.
"It's true. You really are beautiful."
Nagato gently slid his arm around Nonou's shoulders—effortless, tender, natural.
Nonou immediately relaxed, leaning comfortably against his shoulder.
"Remember what you told me right here?"
Fidgeting with a strand of her hair, Nonou recalled the moment she had bid him farewell.
"Of course I do."
Nagato answered instantly, without hesitation.
Lifting her gaze slightly, Nonou met his eyes.
"I'll wait for you."
How could he ever forget those three words? Fortunately, his wait had paid off.
The fact that they were now together was proof enough.
"Do you know how moved I was back then?"
"I thought, even if I died out there, it would've been okay."
"But later, I realized—I couldn't die. You, silly dork, would never forget me."
"So I was always extra careful when I went on missions."
"What if you heard about my death and chose to live alone forever?"
"That's a burden I couldn't carry."
Tears slid from the corners of Nonou's eyes, but moments later, she was laughing again.
"Narcissist."
"Didn't you ever think that *I* might come looking for *you*?"
Oh...
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Nagato was amused by Nonou's tearful laughter, but her words didn't sound like a joke.
Perhaps back then, their bond hadn't been deep enough—but if he lost Nonou now, he wouldn't be able to accept it.
"You're not allowed to look for me."
"If you do come, I won't see you."
Of course, Nonou understood exactly what Nagato meant. It touched her deeply, but it wasn't the reaction she truly wanted.
If that day ever came, all she wished for was for Nagato to keep living happily.
Mwah~
"You're not allowed to talk like that again."
Nagato firmly kissed Nonou on the lips, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"What if I insist on being difficult? What are you going to do about it?"
Nonou was slightly taken aback, then pursed her lips.
Her eyes sparkled mischievously with a hint of anticipation. She was deliberately teasing Nagato.
"You brought this on yourself."
Nagato's gaze darkened with intent as he leaned in and kissed her decisively.
"Uhn~ uhn~"
Nonou could only let out muffled moans as her body grew weaker, sinking into Nagato's arms.
Suddenly, she felt herself lifted up and gently laid onto the bed.
Yet Nagato didn't stop kissing her, leaving her struggling for breath.
His large hands slipped beneath her bathrobe, pressing against her bare skin. A jolt of electricity shot through her, heating her body from within...
Instinctively, she pressed her thighs tightly together.
When their lips finally parted, she was already dazed with desire, meeting Nagato's gaze with nothing left hidden between them.
This was the first time they had ever gone this far.
"Seems like little Nagato was starving after all."
Nonou's eyes glanced downward. She adjusted her emotions, still playful enough for a joke.
"So will my big sister be feeding me then?"
As a medical ninja, although Nagato was inexperienced, he knew far more than the average person.
"I won't feed you unless *it* agrees first."
Nonou curled her finger slightly, completely shattering Nagato's restraint.
With a soft cry, the room filled with rhythmic sounds.
...
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