Kurenai peeked from behind her book, her eyes flickering cautiously toward the back corner of the classroom. There he was again—sitting near the window, calm and collected as always, quietly reading his book.
Shinji Hayashi.
Her secret crush.
Kurenai's heart gave a small flutter, and she quickly ducked her head lower, pretending to focus on the teacher's droning voice about chakra theory. "Physical energy… spiritual energy… yin and yang," the chunin was explaining, but his words barely reached her ears.
She breathed a quiet sigh of relief when she saw Shinji hadn't noticed her stealing glances. 'Good… he didn't see me. If he caught me staring again, I'd probably die from embarrassment.'
This wasn't the first time. In fact, for the past month—ever since that day, May 1st, Monday, at exactly 12:47—she had been watching him. Secretly. Silently. Every chance she got.
Her fingers twitched nervously as she pretended to turn the page of her book. In truth, she wasn't reading. Her attention drifted to the very last page, hidden carefully from anyone else's eyes. Scribbles filled it—hearts, names, and little fantasies she didn't dare voice aloud. Words like "Kurenai weds Shinji" and "Kurenai Hayashi."
Her cheeks flared crimson as she snapped the book shut slightly and stared blankly ahead at the teacher. 'Oh no… if anyone ever saw this… I'd never live it down. Especially if Shinji saw it!'
But despite her embarrassment, her mind betrayed her, wandering back into a vivid memory—back to the very first time she had truly interacted with Shinji.
---
Flashback — One month ago
Kurenai trudged down the street, her small fists clenched at her sides. Today was not a good day.
First, her father had lectured her relentlessly about her genjutsu practice. "Too much yin chakra," he had scolded. "You're pouring too much spiritual energy into it! You'll cause brain damage instead of casting illusions. That's not the way."
Kurenai had tried to argue. "But Father, isn't it good if it kills the enemy? Isn't that better than just distracting them?"
Her father's voice had been firm, sharp. "No. If you wish to walk my path, you'll need precision. You'll need control. A support shinobi doesn't simply destroy. We capture, we disable, we ensure missions succeed without needless death. Remember that, Kurenai."
She had bowed her head, but frustration gnawed at her. 'I know he's right… but I hate being scolded like that. Why can't he just acknowledge my effort for once?'
And to make things worse, he showed up again.
From the corner of her eye, she saw him grinning at her—the so-called "pig-faced boy," Sarutobi Asuma.
"Hey, Kurenai," Asuma drawled, puffing out his chest like he thought he was handsome. "How about you go on a date with me today? Come on, you'll regret saying no to me someday. I am the Hokage's son, after all."
Kurenai's jaw tightened, a vein pulsing in her forehead. 'Does he ever stop?!'
She gave him her best glare before turning on her heel and walking away briskly. 'Not today. Not ever. Leave me alone, pig.'
Her destination was clear—the academy library. Her safe haven.
But the sound of footsteps behind her made her twitch. She didn't even have to look to know who it was. 'He's following me again. Stupid pig!'
As she stepped into the quiet library, Kurenai felt her irritation ease slightly. The smell of books, the silence… it was calming. But something was different today.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Someone else was here. While that may not seem surprising, she knew for a fact that, in her age group, no one besides her ever came to the library at this hour.
Sitting at one of the tables was a boy around her age. He wasn't fooling around, he wasn't slacking off. No—he was reading.
And not just any book. Her eyes caught the title—Chakra Shape Manipulation. A final-year subject. Something most seven-year-olds wouldn't even bother with.
Kurenai blinked in surprise. 'No way… isn't that way too advanced?'
She studied his face carefully. Messy black hair, two bangs brushing his forehead, and those amber eyes that looked far too calm for a child. Recognition clicked.
'Shinji Hayashi… from my class.'
As if sensing her gaze, Shinji looked up. Their eyes met for just a second—his expression unreadable, flat, almost… cold. Then, without a word, his eyes flickered past her.
Straight to Asuma, who had followed her in like an annoying shadow.
Kurenai stiffened. 'Tch… he's came inside too. Just my luck.'
Asuma noticed Kurenai staring at Shinji. His face twisted, jealousy flashing across his features. With a puff of his chest, he strolled toward Shinji, clearly intent on mocking him, maybe even showing off to impress her.
But before Asuma could open his mouth, Shinji's voice cut through the silence, calm and sharp as a blade.
"Asuma Sarutobi. I've heard about you."
Asuma froze, blinking in surprise. "Huh? What do you mean?"
Shinji tilted his head slightly, as if recalling something. "If I remember correctly… you were punished by your Father, the Third Hokage himself, during the first week of class, weren't you? For acting like you owned the academy and disrespecting many teacher's."
Asuma's eyes went wide. "W-what—"
Shinji's eyes gleamed faintly with amusement. "Rumors said you cried the whole time, clutching your butt, after the Third Hokage hit you with a wooden ruler for an hour straight, until the ruler broke. There were also some rumours about you not being able to sit properly for a week? Oh, right… it said you had to sleep with your face down, butt up, in a hospital bed."
Kurenai clapped a hand over her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Shinji tapped his chin thoughtfully, as if recalling a detail. "I think it was.... Uchiha Obito, wasn't it? He said it at lunch one day, to impress Rin Nohara, about how knowledgeable he was regarding information gathering skills needed to be a ninja. Yes, that was it."
The silence that followed was deafening.
Asuma's face went from pale to red to purple in rapid succession. Shock. Horror. Shame. And finally… rage.
"OBITOOOOO!" he roared, his voice echoing through the library, as the librarian glared at Asuma but couldn't say anything to him due to him being the Hokage's son. "YOU FUCKING BASTARD! YOU SPREAD THOSE RUMORS JUST TO IMPRESS A GIRL?!"
Without another word, Asuma bolted out of the library, a dust cloud trailing behind him as his voice faded into the distance.
Kurenai stood frozen, her mouth hanging open slightly. 'He… he just…'
Shinji calmly closed his book, his expression never changing. He shifted his gaze back to her.
"I saw your bad mood through your eyes," he said simply. "And then I saw that guy following you. I pieced together that he was harassing you. Obito should keep him off your back for a while."
Before she could even respond, he rose from his seat, book in hand, and walked toward the exit.
Kurenai's lips parted. "T-thank you!" she blurted out.
He paused just briefly, glancing back at her. A faint smile tugged at his lips, barely there, but enough to make her heart skip a beat. The breeze from the open window ruffled his bangs, and then—he was gone.
All she could see was his back as he turned the corner and disappeared from her sight.
Kurenai's hands flew to her chest, clutching it tightly. Her face burned crimson. 'Why does my heart feel so warm? What… what is this feeling?'
---
Flashback ends
Ever since that day, Kurenai had searched through books, desperate to understand what was happening to her. And she found the answer.
Love.
She was in love.
And strangely enough, Asuma had indeed stopped bothering her after that incident. Instead, he had turned his attention to Rin Nohara, declaring himself Obito's rival in love. The two boys could often be seen glaring at each other, bickering endlessly.
Kurenai gave Rin a sympathetic glance across the classroom one day, watching as the poor girl massaged her temples in frustration while Obito and Asuma glared daggers at each other. Poor Rin… she didn't ask for this.
But Kurenai?
She couldn't help but smile faintly. Because her heart already belonged to someone else.