The next day.
When Kakashi woke up, Kurenai had long since left.
Sitting up and shaking his head, Kakashi saw the breakfast, still warm, placed on the coffee table in front of him.
Remember to eat on time, my Lord Hokage.
A sticky note was attached to the lunch box. Looking at the note, Kakashi smiled.
Kurenai, huh...
After finishing breakfast, Kakashi felt it was necessary to go back and report to Hikari.
After all, he hadn't been back for two days and three nights. According to his past habits, unless he was on a mission, Kakashi had never stayed away from home for so long.
Moreover, Hikari should also know about the events of the past two days.
It would save the Ancestor from worrying.
Thinking of this, Kakashi immediately stood up, walked out of the office, and headed downstairs.
However, as he passed through the administrative area of the Hokage Building, many staff members looked at Kakashi with meaningful gazes. Among them, quite a few female staff members were gnashing their teeth.
This puzzled Kakashi a bit.
Although he usually had many fangirls thanks to his appearance and the halo effect of being Hokage, he had never received such strange looks before.
But Kakashi didn't pay it much mind, assuming it was just the aftereffects of yesterday's events.
"Morning, everyone."
Greeting everyone out of habit, Kakashi left the Hokage Building directly.
However, not long after he left, the staff in the office area exploded into a frenzy.
"Look, look! What did I tell you!"
"That woman Kurenai Yuhi definitely bagged Lord Hokage!"
"Did you see the way she looked when she left earlier? She could barely stand steady. I'm afraid they battled all night!"
"Is it too late?" "Boo hoo hoo! My Lord Hokage! I'm going to divorce my husband right now to chase after Lord Hokage!"
"Are you planning to bring all seven of your sons with you?"
"Damn that Kurenai Yuhi, she actually defiled the pure Lord Hokage in my heart!"
Having left the Hokage Building, the corners of Kakashi's mouth twitched.
Sometimes, the heightened perception brought about by being too strong wasn't so easy to block out.
So, so that's what it was?
He had slept on Kurenai's lap all night, so Kurenai likely couldn't stand steady because her legs were numb. This led the gossiping employees, who sat in the office every day, to let their imaginations run wild...
Kakashi felt it was necessary to strengthen the work assignments for these hardworking and simple employees. Since they were working anyway, doing a bit more work would test the Will of Fire burning fiercely in their hearts.
Kakashi didn't think too much more about it and simply walked toward his home.
The events of the past two days were significant, but for the villagers, it was just material for idle chat; it didn't truly affect their daily lives.
So, even when they saw Kakashi, they greeted Lord Hokage warmly.
Kakashi responded to them one by one and returned to his home.
The matters of the last two days had been mostly handled. With Hiashi Hyūga and Shibi Aburame responsible for the remaining trivial matters, and Tenzo's Anbu in charge of the process, Kakashi was fairly relieved.
"I'm home."
At the entryway, Kakashi called out toward the interior as he took off his shoes.
"If you're back, you're back. Why are you shouting so loud!"
He didn't know if it was an illusion, but Kakashi felt like Hikari had eaten gunpowder today.
"Did something happen?"
Kakashi looked at the Uchiha ancestor who was eating breakfast alone.
Only...
Looking at the breakfast in front of Hikari.
Kakashi felt it looked somewhat familiar, seemingly identical to what he had eaten in the Hokage's office this morning.
Could it be...
An ominous premonition rose in Kakashi's heart.
Did Hikari deliver this morning's breakfast to him?
If Hikari had delivered it to him, then wouldn't that mean...
That must be it. He had slept on Kurenai's lap all night; Kurenai presumably couldn't stand steady, so she wouldn't have had time to bring him breakfast.
Hikari must have even run into Kurenai when she went to deliver the food.
This is really...
"Oh, did my Lord Hokage eat on time?"
Hearing Hikari's sarcastic tone, the guess in Kakashi's heart was confirmed.
"...Yes."
Kakashi sat helplessly across from Hikari, casually picking up a bun that Hikari had bitten in half and stuffing it into his mouth.
"You guy!"
Hikari bared her teeth as she looked at this shameless fellow in front of her. Not only did he stay out all night with another woman, but he also came back and self-righteously stole her food!
"Hmph, how was it?"
"Kurenai's knee pillow made you linger so much you forgot to return, didn't it?"
"I'm afraid you've already forgotten about me, this invisible little person, right?"
Hikari threw down the chopsticks in her hand and looked at Kakashi with her arms crossed over her chest.
"Do you want to hear the truth or a lie?"
Kakashi hesitated slightly, then looked seriously at the Uchiha ancestor before him.
"The truth, of course!"
Hikari was indignant.
When she went to deliver food last night and saw this guy's state, she had gone back holding in her anger.
Too angry to sleep all night, she then went to deliver breakfast to this lecherous dog, and now he actually wanted to deceive her with lies?!
"It was quite comfortable."
Kakashi honestly expressed his feelings about Kurenai's knee pillow.
"I'll bite you to death!"
As soon as these words came out, Hikari immediately lunged across the dining table toward Kakashi, gnashing her teeth.
"Don't, don't fuss, your food is going to spill!"
Kakashi subconsciously caught Hikari, who came pouncing over as if she wanted to bite him to death.
"Let it spill then, I'm going to bite you to death!"
Like an angry cat, Hikari took a bite right on Kakashi's forearm, leaving a clear tooth mark and causing Kakashi to suck in a breath of cold air in pain.
Outside the house, Pakkun sensed the commotion inside and couldn't help but yawn.
"Well, their relationship is really good."
But just as his voice fell, Hikari's irritable voice came from inside:
"Stinky dog! What did you say?!"
At the same time, a meat bun flew out of the house and smashed onto Pakkun's head.
Pakkun looked delighted and swallowed the meat bun in one bite.
"You can go hungry today!"
The joy on Pakkun's face didn't last three seconds before it revealed a look of distress.
I have to go mooch a meal off the Inuzuka family today...
I hope Hana doesn't chase me away.
After breakfast, Hikari finally calmed down, though she didn't give Kakashi a pleasant look.
"Sit there!"
Hikari pointed at the sofa.
"What for?"
Kakashi was a bit confused.
"That woman Kurenai let you use her as a pillow for a day. I want to pillow it back!"
Hikari didn't allow Kakashi to refuse. She pushed Kakashi onto the sofa, then lay her entire body on the sofa, squeezing her head directly into Kakashi's embrace.
Seeing Hikari throwing a small tantrum like this, Kakashi found it somewhat funny and could only helplessly agree.
"What are you laughing at?"
Hikari glared at Kakashi with some dissatisfaction.
"Nothing. Do you remember what I said before?"
Kakashi stroked Hikari's forehead and asked softly.
"Who knows what kind of nonsense you said?"
Hearing Kakashi's words, Hikari's eyes wandered in other directions, and her cheeks couldn't help but flush slightly red.
"Then, Hikari..."
"Will you marry me?"
————
Supporting me on Pa-treon to gain early access to advanced chapters and enjoy expedited updates. Your support is greatly appreciated.
pat-reon .c-om/Dragonhair
(Just remove the hyphen - and space, to access Pa-treon normally.)