"Ttebane?"
Hearing this strange verbal tic, the students in the class chuckled.
"Look at her hair color. Unbelievable!"
"So red! How do you get hair that red?"
"Pretty weird..."
Hearing the whispers from below, Kushina's face turned slightly red, and she touched her hair unnaturally.
So annoying!
I didn't want to grow hair this red either.
But it grows on me, it's a part of me. What can I do?
The heart that had just relaxed was filled with nervousness again.
At this moment, Minato's voice rang in her ears: "I think it's very beautiful, just like fire, looking full of vitality."
His voice wasn't loud, but it seemed to contain a calm power, clearly reaching everyone's ears.
Hearing Minato's words, Kushina's mood suddenly calmed down, and she stared blankly at Minato.
This was the first time someone had praised her hair as beautiful.
"Yeah, I think it looks very nice too," Nonō chimed in gently upon hearing Minato's words.
Hearing their words, the class quieted down a bit, but Kota sneered and looked at Minato provocatively. "Looks like a tomato. Minato, you don't like her, do you?"
Eh?
Why is someone sending an assist?
Minato looked at Kota and smiled brightly. "Is there any reason I shouldn't? I like every optimistic, kind, and positive person. Similarly, I also hate every dark-minded, ill-intentioned piece of trash."
"Bastard! Who are you calling trash?!"
Hearing this, Kota was instantly enraged, slamming the table and standing up.
"Ara? I didn't say it was you. Why are you getting so excited?"
Minato tilted his head slightly, his smile as sunny as ever, but anyone could hear the teasing in his tone. The class erupted in laughter.
"Damn it, you guy—!"
Kota's face flushed red, and he clenched his fists tightly. He just wanted to punch that annoying smiling face right now.
"Alright, quiet down, everyone!"
Ikkaku Umino frowned and stopped Kota, then gently patted Kushina on the shoulder. "Kushina-san, tell us about your hobbies and dreams."
"I... I like eating ramen! My dream is to become the first female Hokage of this village!"
Becoming Hokage was the dream of most children in the Leaf Village.
Kushina wasn't obsessed with that position; she just felt that this way, she could integrate better into this village.
The air fell silent for a moment, but no more blind fools jumped out.
Minato clapped gently, then raised his hand. "Sensei, there's a seat here."
Ikkaku Umino nodded. "Okay, then Kushina will sit next to Minato. Everyone, get along well!"
Kushina nodded, walked quickly to the seat next to Minato, sat down, and let out a long breath.
"Being stared at by so many eyes makes you nervous, right?"
"Nervous to death!"
Kushina pouted. Suddenly relaxing made her unconsciously reveal a bit of her true nature. She gritted her teeth and whispered, "What's the name of that bastard who laughed at me just now?"
"His name is Kota."
Minato didn't hide it. Honestly, compared to the timid look she had when she first arrived yesterday, he preferred this real Kushina.
"Just because of a different hair color, he made fun of me. What a disgusting guy!"
Kushina huffed lightly. Noticing Minato's smiling gaze, she realized she had exposed her true nature.
"Wh... what are you laughing at?"
Kushina lowered her head in embarrassment, her small bun-like face turning slightly red, looking very cute.
Minato said gently, "Nothing. I just think this Kushina is more real."
Hearing this, Kushina subconsciously remembered him praising her hair just now, and her face turned even redder.
She raised her head timidly. "Do you really think... my hair is beautiful?"
"Mmh!"
Minato nodded heavily. "It suits you very well!"
"Is that so..."
Kushina felt her face was hot enough to fry an egg.
She didn't know what was wrong with her. She felt dizzy, her mind full of Minato's image.
His tranquility when cooking, his gentleness when speaking, his decisiveness when defending her.
In this instant, it was as if a seed had quietly sprouted in her heart.
Kushina didn't listen to a single word of this class. It wasn't until the bell rang that she woke up from her thoughts.
"I... I'm going to the restroom!"
Kushina stood up with her head down and walked quickly out of the classroom.
In the first row, Kota and the other two exchanged glances and followed silently.
Minato noticed their movements out of the corner of his eye. His expression became subtle, then returned to normal instantly as he walked out of the classroom unhurriedly.
In the restroom, Kushina supported herself on the sink with both hands, looking at her flushed face in the mirror, her eyes containing some unspeakable emotion.
Splash—
She turned on the faucet, wet her palms, and patted her face gently, trying to cool down her cheeks.
At this time, a blonde girl came to her side, turned on the faucet next to her, and washed her hands gently.
Kushina recognized her as the girl who had spoken up for her just now.
"Um... thank you for earlier."
Kushina thanked her politely. "My name is Kushina. May I know your name...?"
"Nonō Yakushi. Just call me Nonō."
Nonō smiled friendly. "No need to thank me. Minato said this morning that a friend would transfer to the class. Minato's friend is naturally my friend too."
Hearing this, Kushina was stunned, and an inexplicable emotion surged in her heart.
"Um, are you and Minato very close?"
"Should be pretty good, I guess?"
Nonō's eyes flickered slightly, pretending to ponder. "We were desk mates at the start of school, and occasionally sit together afterwards. But Minato is gentle to everyone, so I'm not sure what he thinks of me."
Gentle...
To everyone?
Nonō's words were like a bucket of cold water, instantly extinguishing the heat on Kushina's face.
So that's how it is...
The smile on Kushina's face became slightly stiff. "I... I see. No wonder he takes such good care of me, haha..."
No, being specially cared for by Minato...
You are the first one!
Nonō didn't say these words aloud. She just echoed gently, "Right? He really is a very gentle person."
Watching the light in Kushina's eyes dim, Nonō suddenly felt disgusted with herself.
"Let's go. Let's go back to the classroom together."
Pursng her lips, Nonō gently took Kushina's hand, and the two walked towards the classroom together.
Before they went far, three figures suddenly blocked their way.
Kota, Tetsuo, and Seio crossed their arms, standing side by side to block them.
"It's you..."
Kushina frowned.
"Wow! The tomato can actually talk~"
Seio shouted exaggeratedly, and Kota and Tetsuo laughed loudly.
"What's so funny?"
Looking at their numbers, Kushina silently pulled Nonō behind her.
Noticing Kushina's action, a trace of surprise flashed in Nonō's eyes, then her face darkened, lost in thought.
---