SS6. First Date

Ino accepted to go out with me, she still had work to do in the flower shop, and I had training with Team three later that day, so we decided to move it until tomorrow, I needed to let Guy-Sensei know about my plans for tomorrow, which he surprisingly was encouraging, he kept mentioning YOUTH! During our conversation, he tried to advise me about dating, but he was single, and he tried to replace my fashion style with his, but I'm not ready for a second social suicide.

The hours passed, and the nerves only increased with each second, to distract my mind, I spent my time practicing my Chakra control, but I couldn't focus enough for it to work, the only thing I could think of was the ticking of the clock, eventually the time came, I left my home, and after fifteen minutes of walking I reached her home, I stood there for a few minutes, until she came out.

She looked stunning, wearing a purple sleeveless V-neck blouse, with a white skirt, she wore just a bit of make up, nothing exaggerated, just enough to accentuate her factions and her pale green eyes, it was mesmerizing, almost as mesmerizing as my Illusions.

"Hi, Kenji" she brought me back to earth, waving her palm in my face.

"Sorry, I lost myself, looking you" I said, wait that is weird "it's just that you look amazing" I tried to repair the damage.

"Thank you, you look good as well" She hid a blush behind her smile.

With our greetings exchange done, we walked towards a nice restaurant, it wasn't too fancy, but it wasn't cheap, we can say is a place that a Genin can afford without ending in bankruptcy, we ate, we laugh, we exchanged stories about our time in the Academy, she asked about my relationship with Naruto, and I told her about how we become friends, I asked about the flower shop, and spent the next forty-five minutes listening talk about the different meanings of the flowers, I asked for the check, and thanks to the Six Realms, mints are a thing in this world.

After the dinner, we walked under the night sky, to a park near her home, we sat in the swings, and kept talking about ourselves, about how the life in a Clan is different from a simple ninja household, we were opening to each other, but neither of us dared to make physical contact, it was still too early for that, just like a flower, we needed time and care to bloom into whatever we were meant to be.

The initial euphoria eventually died, we didn't have much to say and just stood there in silence, both of us stared at the sky that for our bad luck was cloudy, and we were unable to see the stars, Ino breath into her hands, and hug herself, she was getting cold, it was a fresh night, but she was sleeveless, so I offer her my jacket, which she gladly accepted, we moved from the swings to a more comfortable bench, and we sat near each other still afraid of the contact.

"It's a shame we can't see the stars" Ino said, pouting a little.

"You want to see the stars?" I gently asked her.

"That's a good line, is not enough to make me kiss you" she joked, "but it was a nice try" she chuckled.

"No, for real, do you want to see the stars?" I asked again, this time a bit more serious, she stared at me for a moment, and she just nodded in curiosity "look up then" I instructed her, creating the Illusion of a starry sky, it was a reproduction of my memories of how the sky looks, but I decided to make it more interesting, I added complexity with a star rain, in different colors, blue, purple and green, I rearranged the stars to draw flowers and animals, she had different reactions, she was amazed, by the light show, it was getting late, and the show had to end, so I slowly dissipated the Illusion, making it seem like the clouds engulfed the sky once again.

"That was something else, but I didn't notice when you put me in the Genjutsu" she said

"That's because I didn't use Genjutsu, I'm just that kind of amazing" I chuckled "It's getting late, and I should return you home" I said to her, she was reluctant for a moment, but finally stood up, I was about to do the same, when I noticed her offering her hand to help me stand, I gave her a smile, and took her hand, she pulled a bit, making it easier for me to stand, but she didn't let go of my hand, instead of that she intertwined her fingers with mine, I closed my hand around, enjoying the moment, making sure she knows I wouldn't let go, we walked back to her house.

"It was a nice evening, we should repeat it someday" Ino said blushing.

"I'm looking forward to it" I replied, she was about to give me back my jacket, "Keep it as a gift, it looks better in you" I chuckled a bit, seeing her face get even redder, she kissed my cheek, and made her way towards the door, I just stood there waiting for her to get in, and then she looked back before doing it.

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{Next day Ino POV}

I couldn't sleep at all last night, remembering the date with Kenji, and I can't stop smiling every time my thoughts drift to him, but enough of this, I need to get breakfast and change my clothes, or I'll be late to the Academy.

I put on my usual outfit, purple skirt and top, but before I leave, I remember Kenji's words, "it looks better in you" so I returned to my room, and grabbed the jacket he gave me as a present, is a nice complement, and this way the other girls will know that even if it is not official, he is my Kenji.