Chapter 56: Let’s Be Together
Their eyes met, and their faces were so close they were almost touching.
A gentle breeze brushed past, causing the girl's hair to sweep across his face, her fragrance lightly tickling his senses.
Even the sound of her breathing was crystal clear to him.
Thump thump thump thump thump!
Obito's heart pounded wildly, like a car engine roaring at full throttle.
His face turned scarlet as he stammered,
"I-I think... maybe... I'm a little... jealous (softly)."
Rin chuckled knowingly, her laughter as bright as ever.
"Why's that? Don't tell me you think I like Kakashi?"
Obito didn't answer, but the "isn't that obvious?" look on his face spoke volumes.
Rin sighed softly, her laughter fading as she explained,
"Obito, you know, admiration and liking someone are two different things to me."
"I admire Kakashi. A lot of girls in class do—he's incredibly talented in so many ways."
"Maybe some girls like him because of that, but not me. I just want to become as capable as he is."
"...Besides, I already have someone I like."
Obito's head shot up.
It was as if his brain had short-circuited.
Rin... already had someone she liked?
And it wasn't Kakashi?!
Then who could it be?
...Could it be me?!
"Who... who is it?" he couldn't help but ask.
Rin smiled softly.
"The person I like... is a big dummy who always manages to make a fool of himself."
"Everyone calls him a loser, but when it really matters, he's the most reliable of all."
"He's late to everything, but whenever I'm upset, he's always the first to show up and cheer me up, no matter what it takes."
"And every holiday, he gives me gifts... weird ones, but still."
"But you know what? I just like that dummy. Do you get it now, dummy?"
Obito's eyes turned red, overwhelmed by emotion. Yet, he still couldn't quite believe what he was hearing.
A fool, always late... a big dummy.
...That has to be me, right?!
He was so tempted to slap himself, just to make sure he wasn't dreaming.
Nervously, he asked with a mix of hope and fear,
"Rin... are you talking about... me?"
Rin rolled her eyes at him.
"Dummy, after everything I just said, who else could it be?"
It... it's really me...
Obito's face flushed as his brain went blank.
Seeing him dazed, Rin bit her lip and asked,
"If you've liked me all this time, why haven't you said anything?"
Obito stammered,
"I-I thought..."
Tears glistened in Rin's eyes as she interrupted,
"You thought? You thought? Do you know how long I've been waiting for you?"
"In the end, I still had to be the one to say it first."
In a world where most people were married by fifteen or sixteen, being fourteen wasn't all that young anymore.
"Don't cry, Rin..."
Obito awkwardly wiped her tears away.
"I like you. Let's be together."
"Hmph, at least you're not completely hopeless!"
Rin smiled again, a smile as radiant as cherry blossoms in full bloom.
"Then... I'll say yes."
"Yes! O((>ω< ))o!"
Obito pulled Rin into a tight hug, holding her as if he never wanted to let go.
"Ah, young love is so sweet. When will it be my turn?"
"Ugh, even Obito has found someone, and here I am still single!"
"How troublesome... what's there to envy?"
A sudden interruption made Obito freeze.
He turned slowly, and there they were—his oh-so-familiar three teammates.
"Shikayu, Nagano, Ryoko?! When did you guys get here?!"
Rin quickly wriggled out of his embrace, her face as red as a tomato as she adjusted her clothes.
Shikayu rubbed his chin in thought.
"Hmm... probably around the part where Rin said she liked someone who's a big dummy."
Ryoko shook her head.
"No, it was a bit earlier than that."
Nagano, with his arm slung around Shikayu, added with a smirk,
"Yeah, somewhere around there. Anyway, we heard everything—what we were supposed to and what we weren't."
Shikayu nodded slightly.
"Yeah. But seeing how into each other you two were, we didn't want to interrupt. So we waited for the right moment to say hi."
Rin covered her face with her hands, feeling the heat radiating from her cheeks.
...Could this be any more embarrassing?!
Obito, on the other hand, wasn't too fazed.
He'd been through worse. After all, what's a little social death to someone like him?
He just sighed, realizing how absorbed he'd been earlier—so much so that he didn't even notice the eavesdroppers.
Waving dismissively, he said,
"Alright, you three lonely singles, get lost already. Don't ruin my moment with Rin!"
Nagano grinned slyly.
"Fine, fine, we'll leave you lovebirds alone. Have fun!"
Shikayu clicked his tongue.
"Forget about us, huh? Alright, we're off."
Ryoko giggled enviously.
"Obito, you better take good care of Rin, okay? Bye-bye!"
The three left, their faces full of knowing smiles.
Rin let out a soft "Oh no," burying her face in her hands.
"Why'd you have to say that just now? It's so embarrassing!"
Obito grabbed her hands, chuckling nervously.
"Eh, what's wrong with saying the truth?"
"Ugh, you're impossible!"
She lightly punched his chest, her face still burning.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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