Chapter 39 - Daichi Senpai
The next morning Tanya woke up a little later. The sun had already risen close to afternoon. She felt a little groggy and sore, but a little better than yesterday.
She breathed in deep air, still remembering yesterday's event. She already felt calm over it, and for her, it was already in the past.
Right, today's breakfast - or rather lunch now. Frankly, Tanya had never slept past morning, so Naruto had never needed to wake her up. If anything, occasionally it was her that had to wake Naruto up. Tanya had always had high expectations of Naruto, but each time he made mistakes more than once, Tanya lowered her standard for Naruto since he was just a child and only occasionally rambled about things for Naruto to listen - though half of them probably went in from the right ear and went out from the left.
Thankfully for Naruto, so far it was only the small little things like waking up late or having a messy room and not arranging his shoes at the rack. But yesterday was something that definitely pushed Tanya's biggest button.
Explosive Tag out of all things... Just what the hell went through his mind to do something so stupid? Not to mention, Naruto could have waited for her to teach him properly. And there were other logical reasons that shouldn't have made Naruto do such a thing. Sigh...
Tanya begrudgingly stepped out of her bed to wash her face. The soreness all over her body was ever present. Tanya went out of her bedroom and towards the living room. It was empty. Well, Naruto had class, after all.
She wondered how she would get food. She felt a little annoyed that Naruto didn't bother to at least get groceries or cook breakfast. But then again, Naruto never asked if she was fine to begin with. While she never said it, she supposed it was already obvious that she was not.
Somehow, a part of Tsuyu felt a little hint of sourness in her tongue. After all, for her, Naruto should have cared just as much as she cared for him. That was what a family unit was supposed to do and act like. But Naruto's indifference towards her condition was pushing another small button - that was personal even.
Unlike any other form of organisation, a family unit stands on the principle of caring and nurturing on a much personal level. Just as Tanya had put care for Naruto, she expected to receive the same from Naruto. But it was as if all of Tanya's effort was not appreciated at all for a second.
Tanya excused the bitter feeling in her chest as disappointment over Naruto's failure to do his job as her brother.
It was as if she had only been giving but never received. She always did her best. But this was how Naruto returned it...
It's akin to working your ass of for your company, you did your best, and you did deliver - but then on pay day your boss cut your salary because the company out of money and it had nothing to do with how well you served. She would feel frustrated and quit the company to find an employer who would give as much as she delivered.
But a family... it was not something you quit. She bit her lip for a second before shaking the thoughts away. He was just a child. It was fine, Tanya thought.
I expected too much from him...
Can she call the ANBU that had been watching her to buy groceries? Was that too unreasonable? Well, it's not like the ANBU had anything better to do than just watching anyway, and it would be boring as hell to watch her.
Tsuyu went to the cabinet to get some money. She went to the window of the apartment, looking around. Her eyes gazed at the spot on top of the roof of the building in front of her. She felt the presence there watching her.
Just then, a person appeared from the spot, seemingly out of thin air, but that was simply his camouflage technique.
Hm? Daichi?
She looked at the familiar build and mask pattern, the spiky hair and its brown colour. Daichi seemed to be aware that Tsuyu was indeed looking at him; though inappropriate technically, he still flickered into Tsuyu's living room.
'Is there something the matter?', Badger asked.
"Badger, you should know Captain Kaito exhausted me too much yesterday. I would like a favor from you. I cannot climb down stairs and back up to get grocery or food. Too exhausting".
'H-huh... you recognised me...'. Badger scratched his neck.
Tsuyu looked at him dead in the face as if it was that obvious. Well, since her team wouldn't do any work for the time she recovers, Daichi was free and assigned this boring task.
"I remember your build and mask pattern, and your hair and its colour. It wasn't that difficult, senpai". She said blandly.
'Hm~ Haha. I guess you are right. Well, sure, give me the list. I would get it quick'. Badger felt a little sheepish.
"Thank you senpai. I owe you on this one", Tanya said respectfully.
'Nah. Don't mention it. It was boring anyway. Seriously, why would I need to watch you out of all people? I am pretty sure you can handle yourself. Seems like pointless work to me'. Daichi complained while making a duck face behind his mask.
Tanya smiled slightly.
"You are still getting paid for it, aren't you? I would complain to Lord Third about this", Tsuyu joked.
'H-hey! Don't do that!'.
"Heh. Just joking, senpai".
'Sheesh. I doubt you would actually do that'. Daichi had experienced Tanya's ruthlessness after all, and he was skeptical that she would.
Tanya felt a little better talking to her coworker.
Soon enough, Daichi brought some groceries with him. Daichi somehow made himself at home due to his boredom, plopped onto the sofa, and took off his mask and flak jacket nonchalantly since it was stuffy wearing them all the time. One can even get acne because of the moisture trapped in them, ya know?
"Senpai, this is against protocol", Tanya said in a neutral tone. She didn't really care much, but she was just saying.
'Hehe. We are both ANBU members. It's fine it's fine!'. Daichi's bright emerald eyes and his sunny smile made her feel at ease.
"I would keep this to tell Lord Third", Tanya said with a slight smile.
'Huh?! Hey! Don't do this to your senior! I don't want to lose my job!', Daichi made a pleading face.
"You know I was just joking. Senpai, you really are energetic like Captain said. You are very expressive".
Tanya let out a light chuckle.
"You feel like my brother even...", the words escaped naturally since Daichi's look and energy matched that of Naruto's.
Daichi blushed slightly while scratching the back of his neck.
Daichi looked at Tsuyu in her pajamas. The once fierce Shinobi was just a cute 10-year-old girl at the moment. His memories returned to the distant past as his expression softened slightly, also filled with some hint of sadness...
'I had a little sister once...'. Daichi muttered softly. The atmosphere became solemn the instant he muttered the words filled with longing.
...
Tanya listened and could assume that person was no longer there.
Daichi didn't continue his words. It was clear there was a lot of pain behind them, even if Daichi had gotten over it at this point. Tanya did not force him to say it either just remained quiet.
After a few seconds, Daichi looked at Tsuyu with a softened gaze.
'Well... If you feel like I am like your brother... I guess... I don't mind if...'.
"?", Tanya looked at Daichi in confusion over his weird response.
'You can call me brother if you want. I mean, you are in my team, and I am your senpai so...'. Daichi rubbed the back of his neck, his words were so serious.
Seeing Tsuyu in just her pajamas, away from her Shinobi persona, and the sudden conversation made him feel vulnerable and emotional. And Tsuyu reminded him of the little sister he once had. Tanya's brain short-circuited, not understanding where this came from.
...
"What...?".
'What what...?'.
Seconds passed in silence as they had a stare contest.
Daichi's brain was slowly turning, and his face slowly turned redder and redder as the realisation dawned on him. Tsuyu's words were about his similarity to Naruto, not about how he seems like a brother figure to her.
How could he be so stupid!
'I... F-forget what I said...!' . Daichi closed his face in embarrassment. He couldn't believe he said such a thing to Tsuyu. It was so embarrassing for him. He felt like burying his body into the ground with Hiding Like A Mole jutsu...
Tanya instead let out a rare chuckle.
"Yeah, right. You really are similar to him senpai. I mean, Daichi onii-san ". Tanya made a joke at the end, finding it more than amusing.
'Hey what do you mean by that!', Daichi felt like Tsuyu was insinuating he had the same IQ level as a 10-year-old child.
The blush on his cheeks made him look more cute at the moment. But secretly, hearing Tsuyu called him 'onii-san' made his memories return to the sister he used to have. He felt a tinge of warmth in his chest, feeling a little closer to Tsuyu. In a way, he saw Tsuyu in a different light away from her ruthless shinobi persona. In her home, she was just like any other ordinary girl really.
"Don't mind it, senpai. You need lunch? I am cooking".
'Sure. I am quite hungry'. Daichi was still a little sheepish from the awkwardness from before but still looking forward to Tsuyu's cooking.
Tanya took out the vegetables and handed a huge radish to Daichi.
'...?'.
Tanya look at him, as if asking what, you want to sit your ass in my house and do nothing?
"Help prepare them. My body was still sore, senpai".
'Sheesh. Is this how you treat your senior?', despite the words uttered Daichi still helped Tanya.
Thud, thud, thud, thud. The sound of the knife slicing and dicing the various veggies made it clear that Daichi was at least able to handle the kitchen.
"You know, my brother was hopeless in the kitchen. You had a better point in that".
'Haha. Glad to know. I guess it was just habit...'.
...
'Must be nice, to cook for your brother. You are more like the sister'.
Tanya rolled her eyes.
"Please, he would rather have ramen all day".
'Hahaha... my late little sister used to want only fried sweet potatoes... but when I cook anything, she would always tell me I was the best...'.
Tanya's hand movement stopped for a while. Her memories recalled the times Naruto told her she was the best.
Her gaze softened slightly. There was a sense of reward in hearing those praises from Naruto; and although a family was complex and at times it felt like you were receiving less than you had given, at times, it was worth it.
"I get it. My brother said that too... his eyes kinda sparkles whenever I made omurice. At least he like that compared to ramen".
...
Daichi looked at Tsuyu with a hint of jealousy and even longing.
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'You know... you made me miss my little sister. Must be nice to have your brother around... my home felt empty now...'.
...
'Sorry. I guess I was a little off today. Hahaha...'.
...
"You can adopt my brother as your little bro. He do need company anyways and you two already can pass as siblings given how similar you both are honestly". Tanya jokingly said, trying to lighten the atmosphere.
'Hey don't equate me to that brat. I am more handsome and cooler. And I already know what a troublemaker your brother is. I, at least, never burnt my own house - that can never be me. Sounds like a hassle. Tch tch tch'. Daichi shook his head, joking back.
"Oh, really now, senpai. I will find out who your classmates from academy days are to see if you are a troublemaker or not".
'W-hey, that was too much! Privacy please! Okay, maybe, I was a little naughty back then, but not that much...'.
Tanya let out a light chuckle. She will investigate in her free time just to poke Daichi more. It was amusing to tease him.
Eventually, they had lunch together, casually chatting about things. Though Daichi made himself too comfortable afterwards and napped on the sofa like it was his house.
Aren't you supposed to watch over me? I will tell Lord Third later. Tanya joked to herself inwardly.
She sat on her study desk in her room, reading the scroll on Shadow Clone Jutsu and its forbidden variant Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu. Maybe tomorrow she can try the Shadow Clone Jutsu, her body should be able to handle a shadow clone at least by tomorrow. She had this thought of using the clones to 'print' more Explosive Tags and sell in bulk.
She started to have ideas on how to use Explosive Tags... combined with Shadow Clones, or Earth Clones... though it was like throwing money...
I should study Fuin Shiki a little more. I can try to ask Danzo-sama for more study material, or perhaps one of my seniors from the Sealing Squad can help with it.
***
In the early evening, Naruto returned home. He didn't have the mode to train, and he wanted to check up on his sister. He had always thought there was something off about Tsuyu yesterday... that maybe she was hurt. He felt guilty that he never asked.
'Tadaima'. Naruto muttered, almost akin to a whisper the words struggling to come out from his throat.
Naruto felt scared to face Tsuyu. The look from her eyes and her harsh words were still imprinted in his mind. His body felt a lot of pressure, feeling fear and anxiety at how Tsuyu might give him the same look again. If she would refuse to see or talk to him. If she was angry at him still...
Naruto comes in, but he was shocked seeing some random man sleeping like it was his own home on the sofa.
Did I enter the wrong house?
Naruto looked around, but he was certain it was his apartment. Naruto tip-toed around towards the unknown man, feeling wary of the intruder.
Naruto looked at his outfit; it was the same outfit Tsuyu wore to work. And the red tattoo, too. And the white mask. He assumed it was Tsuyu's ANBU friend.
Uwaa... so muscly... and handsome too... Naruto thought inwardly, seeing the biceps, pecs, and abs the man had from the tight-fitting black innerwear. The straight scar from his chin up to his right cheek made him look manly too... A part of Naruto admired and drink his figure. Naruto shook his thoughts away, hiding the faint blush on his cheeks (〃ー〃).
Huh? Suge!
Naruto's eyes were shining seeing the cool-looking mask on the table - presumably the stranger's. He saw Tsuyu's mask too and thought it was so cool to hide in the shadows, being this mysterious ninja in the dark.
Without any thought, he put the mask over his face. Naruto never thought about how unsanitary that was.
He was having fun on his own when he felt a movement from the man.
Oh crap!
Daichi, as a trained ninja woke up instantly, his eyes shot open and he was already in alert mode feeling someone was sneaking on him.
But seeing the creepy pale ghostly face right after he woke up when he was still half awake sent shock towards his heart towards the unknown causing him to let out a scream as if he was seeing a demon.
'W-WHAAA!'. Daichi backed away in fear, pressing against the sofa while taking out his kunai from his holster.
'AAA!!', Naruto had the same reaction as the man screaming at him suddenly and back away as well, holding up his fists to defend himself.
'W-Who... hey! You almost scared me to death!', Daichi was awakened fully from all the sh*t going on and realised it was not some demon or ghost - that was just his mask!
'You are the one who screamed at me-ttebayo!', Naruto threw a reply back, also feeling angry at the stranger who just screamed at him for no reason.
Tsuyu had just finished her shower, wondering what the hell those screams were.
Daichi huffed and snatched his mask away, looking at the boy who had blonde hair and blue eyes, with bright blue eyes much like Tsuyu. Damned brat.
'Brat! What did your sister say about respecting your senior! And that was my mask! You shouldn't touch others' stuff without permission!'.
'Ha? You are the one who left it there! And who are you-ttebayo! You sleep like it's your own house! Don't you have your own! Are you homeless?', Naruto replied sassily.
'This brat!', Daichi felt his forehead bulging (╬≖_≖).
'I am not a brat-ttebayo! And you don't act like an adult!'.
'What!? At least I don't burn my house down!', Daichi mocked sarcastically.
'Ha!? Y-You!'.
Tsuyu stood in front of her room, pinching her forehead. Great. It will be noisy now...
***
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