I focused really hard on my cup, pretending the tea was super interesting. I didn't want anyone to notice how weird I was feeling. Like I had butterflies in my stomach—but also something that felt like fear.How could I like someone I barely knew?
Dad and Fugaku started talking. Their voices were lower now, like what they were saying wasn't meant for everyone.
"How is she?" Dad asked. His voice sounded dim, like something inside him hurt.
"She's doing well," Fugaku replied, with that same calm that never changed. "The Hokage is determined to protect her, despite the opposition."
Dad sighed. Short, but heavy.
"When will she be able to see Sumiko?"
"When it's safe for both of them."
They didn't say who "she" was, but I already had an idea.My mom.My chest tightened again, just like the night before.
The silence that followed made me want to cover my ears. It was the kind of silence that hurt. The kind you don't understand, but you know it means something bad.
Then Fugaku asked something else:
"How did Mebuki take the news?"
Dad ran a hand over his face, like trying to wipe away the tiredness with his fingers.
"She took it pretty badly."
A shiver crawled up my back. I knew Mebuki didn't really like me, but I didn't think it was that bad.It felt like something broke inside me, though I didn't know exactly what.I felt strange. Like I was something nobody wanted around, but couldn't get rid of either.
I leaned forward a little more, quietly, trying to hear better. Then...
"Are you spying?"
I turned around in a flash. It was Sasuke. He was standing there, arms crossed, frowning. He looked at me like he'd caught me stealing a secret I didn't deserve.
"You don't seem smart enough to understand what they're saying," he added, raising one eyebrow with that smug tone he couldn't hide, even when he wasn't trying.
I thought about lying, but it wouldn't help.What I really wanted was to know the truth. Even if I didn't understand all of it. Even if it scared me.
"A lot of strange things are happening lately…" I whispered. "I want to know more."
Sasuke stared at me silently, like he was trying to decide if I was worthy of sharing his curiosity. Then he looked away with a sigh.
"Itachi's acting weird too," he mumbled. "He does stuff and won't tell me anything."He crossed his arms again."Fine. You can spy. But not because I think you're special," he said, shrugging. "Only because I want to know what he's hiding too."
He didn't smile, but his tone was softer. Soft enough for me to breathe a little easier.
"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura yelled from the garden. "Come play!"
Sasuke turned immediately, and his face changed—softer, different from the one he showed me. Sakura had already grabbed his arm and he didn't pull away. He just glanced at her and nodded, like it was normal between them.
"Let's go," he said.
Sakura tugged his arm and then looked at me.
"Sumiko, come on! Let's go, all three of us!"
We walked together along a path of stones until we reached a corner of the garden. There was a small fountain and neatly planted flowers. Sakura grabbed my hand and pulled me a little away from Sasuke, like she wanted to share a secret just between us.
"Sumiko…" she said softly, looking down with red cheeks. "I like Sasuke-kun."
I stopped. I wasn't surprised. I just smiled.
"I figured."
Sakura looked at me with wide eyes, like she didn't expect me to say it so easily.
"And you…?" she began, her voice a little shaky. "Do you like him too?"
I blinked, confused. I didn't get it at first. But as soon as her question sank in, my face went hot. I opened my mouth, closed it, opened it again.
"WHAT?! No! No-no-no-no!" I shook my head hard, waving my hands and my whole body. "Not at all! Really, no!"
Sakura gave me a look like, yeah, sure. She pressed her lips together like holding back something.
"I'm a little sad… because I liked him first."
"But I swear, it's not like that…" I said quickly, and without thinking, I blurted it out—"Actually… I can't stop looking at his brother."
The silence got heavy. I covered my mouth too late, like I could shove the words back in.
"Itachi?" Sakura asked, eyes wide as plates.
I nodded. Tiny. Very tiny. I sort of shrank a little.
"I don't know why… but when he looks at me I turn red… and feel weird."
Sakura stared at me in silence for a few seconds. Then sighed.
"Well… he's not as handsome as Sasuke-kun, but I get it."
I didn't say anything. My cheeks were burning, my stomach felt weird, and there was a new feeling I didn't know how to name.I just knew something had changed. In me… and between us.
"Girls, come here. I made something to eat," Mikoto called from the door, smiling sweetly.
"Sweet tea!" Sakura shouted, excited. She grabbed my hand and started pulling me back.
But as we walked, I couldn't help turning my head. Right there—that place where my dad had entered with the serious-faced man. Voices still floated through the air. And without thinking, I stopped.
Sakura kept going. I crept back, quiet as a shadow, with the softest steps I knew how to take. I pressed myself against the wall, like I could blend into it.
"…the village leaders are watching us," said Fugaku's voice. "They've tied our hands and feet. I'd like to help more… but I fear the village won't accept Mushani or Sumiko. The fact that they were found by the police already complicates everything…"
My dad was going to say something… but I didn't get to hear it.
"Spying again?"
I let out a tiny shriek.
"Eeeek! I-wasn't-spying-I-wasn't-here-I-didn't-do-anything-I-was-with-the-tea!" I blurted it all out at once, like the words tripped over each other coming out.
I turned so fast I almost fell over.And there he was. Itachi. Smiling a little. Not mockingly… just like he found it amusing to see me like this.
"Didn't they tell you spying on adults is bad?" Itachi whispered, with that calm voice that sounded like wind in the trees. His smile was so small, barely curving his lips—but my soul dropped straight to the floor.
I turned so red I felt like I was going to explode. Like a frog. A nervous, clumsy, love-struck frog.I clenched my kimono so hard my fingers hurt.
"I-I wasn't spyyyying! I was… I was just… smelling the wall!" I squeaked, saying the dumbest thing possible while curling up like a noodle.
Itachi only raised an eyebrow, like it was the most entertaining thing he'd seen all day. His laugh was so soft, I thought I imagined it.
I couldn't take it anymore.
I ran!I ran like a giant frog was chasing me.
"AAAAAHHH!" I squealed, dashing down the hallway. I didn't look where I was going—I just wanted to hide inside a giant pillow and never come out.
And then…!
BAM!
I slammed straight into something (someone!) and hit the ground. I landed on a smaller body than Itachi's, but sturdier than a pillow. It was… Sasuke!
"AHHHHH!" we both screamed at the same time.
We rolled a bit, and when I stopped, I was basically on top of him. His face was red—boiled tomato red. His eyes were huge… and his mouth was full of rice.
"Mmmf!" he mumbled, with grains stuck to his cheeks and a strip of seaweed hanging from his tooth.
"KYAAAA!" I screamed, covering my eyes with both hands as I rolled off him.
Sasuke lay there like an upside-down turtle, arms stretched out, staring at the ceiling like: what just hit me and why was it human?
"Why did you crash into me, you lunatic?!" he yelled, spitting out a piece of carrot.
"It wasn't my fault! Blame your brother! He smiled at me!" I yelled back, still hiding my face and scrambling away like a crab.
"My what?!" Sasuke shouted, even redder than me.
And from the hallway, I heard a soft laugh. Very soft.
It was Itachi.