Ever since the idea came to him, Yuuga’s mind had been turning it over.
Now and then he darted his chopsticks through the three-way assault of Choji, Shikamaru and Ino to snatch a piece off the grill, crisp outside and tender inside, and console his taste buds.
Fresh slices kept turning into something heavenly, and only when there was no room left on the table for another tray did the four of them hold their stomachs and let out a satisfied breath.
Choji rubbed his round little hill of a belly with great flourish.
“Ah, I could do a few more plates.”
Yuuga’s wallet was flat already.
He hadn’t factored Choji in at all.
Was his combat power really this high from childhood?
Ino, the only girl and the observant one, jabbed Choji hard with her elbow.
“Hey, Choji, that’s enough.
It’s already generous of Yuuga to treat us to barbecue, and you’re asking for more?”
Choji looked at the furious Ino and laughed it off, then turned to Yuuga.
“Yuuga, thanks for the treat at Yakiniku Q.
Next time I’ll buy you chips as payback.”
Chips?
Choji’s favorite thing in the world.
“Sure.
Then Choji can give me the last chip in the bag.” Yuuga smiled slyly.
“Ah…” Choji’s chubby little face froze in torment.
Who could bear to hand over the last chip?
The sight of him set Yuuga, Ino and Shikamaru laughing until their sides hurt, while Choji, the butt of the joke, rubbed his neck with a blank look, apparently unable to work out what had happened.
After the laughter died down, Yuuga turned his head and caught the warm orange lamplight out on the street.
It was getting late.
He stood up.
“Wait here a second, I’ll go pay.”
The man at the register was a genial older fellow in a white apron.
He checked the bill, held up four fingers, and said, “Comes to 45,000 ryo.
Yuuga, just give me 40,000.”
Great.
This one meal at Yakiniku Q had eaten four fifths of his reward.
Yuuga took the 50,000 ryo the System had given him out of his little wallet and handed it over, wincing, but his mouth was sweet enough.
“Thanks.
We’ll be back for barbecue next time.”
“Yes, yes.” The owner took the money happily, put it in the till, drew out a 10,000 ryo note and handed it to Yuuga.
“Please come again.”
Behind an inconspicuous partition, a pair of blue eyes was fixed on Yuuga and the owner, and only when Yuuga put his wallet away did their owner turn and leave.
With the bill settled, Yuuga went back to the table for the other three and found all of them ready to go, waiting only for him to return.
He walked over.
“Come on, let’s see the lovely Miss Ino home first.”
Under the lights, plenty of men out looking for a good time were waving bottles around and bragging at the top of their lungs.
Stars were scattered across the deep blue curtain of the night sky, and the sight was beautiful.
Yuuga walked with his hands laced behind his head, chatting idly with Shikamaru, Ino and Choji, comfortable.
The Yamanaka clan was also on the east side of the village, so it was on the way, and after about half an hour of walking and talking they had Ino at her front door.
Ino Yamanaka took a big step forward, then turned around and stuck her tongue out at the three of them.
“This is far enough, I’m home.”
“Get some rest.” Yuuga lowered his hands and smiled at her.
“Yes.
Thank you for treating us today, Yuuga-kun.” Ino bowed to him, then straightened up, cheerful.
“Ah, right, thanks, Yuuga.” Choji slapped his forehead.
“Yuuga, thanks.” Shikamaru offered his thanks too.
Yuuga waved it off.
“Come on, we’re friends.
Why keep score over this?
All right, the three of us should head home too.
Bye, Ino.”
They said their goodbyes and turned to leave.
Watching them about to walk off into the dark, Ino remembered something and shouted, “Yuuga, hold on!”
The voice behind him had plenty of lung in it.
Yuuga stopped and looked back at Ino standing under the streetlight.
“What is it?”
“Come here, I have something to tell you.” Ino lifted her chin, ordering him.
Yuuga shrugged helplessly at Shikamaru and Choji, walked over to her, and couldn’t resist needling her.
“And what else does my lady require?”
“Hmph.” Ino, so addressed, raised her chin and blinked those blue eyes, then mentioned it as if in passing.
“There’s a school festival at the Academy tomorrow, and they’re still hiring staff today.
Yuuga, if you want to earn some extra money, you can go sign up at Iruka-sensei’s house.”
So she’d been worried about him being broke.
Yuuga was quietly pleased, and looking at Ino, rather charming just then, he thanked her with a bit of teasing in it.
“Thank you, kindhearted Miss Ino.
Let’s hope I find work tomorrow, otherwise I’ll just have to come mooch food and drink off your family.”
“What a smooth talker.
You’re broke, and I feel sorry for your stomach.
If you’ve got nothing lined up for your next meal, don’t eat instant noodles.
Mom likes you, so you can come to Yamanaka Flowers.
Mom makes delicious bento, and we can eat together after school.” Ino poked him hard in the shoulder with her index finger as she lectured him.
“I know, but I’m going to have a job.” Yuuga reached up and ruffled her hair hard, leaving her smooth blonde hair a mess, then turned and ran.
“That’s your punishment for calling me broke.”
“Ah, my hair!
Yuuga, you just wait!”
Ino’s shriek was still behind them, but Yuuga, Shikamaru and Choji fled fast in perfect unison, leaving her in her little purple dress raging at her own front door.
Yuuga’s mouth curved up, and his eyes softened in the dark.
Ino really was a kindhearted girl.
At the next intersection, with his “great enterprise” still on his mind, Yuuga stopped to say goodbye to Shikamaru and Choji.
After the two of them thanked him again, the three parted ways.
Walking alone down the busy commercial street, Yuuga went into a shop that looked right, planning to spend his remaining 10,000 ryo on some gifts to use for digging up information.
Know yourself and know your enemy and you’ll never lose.
Since he had decided to write novels, draw manga, make films and build games, the first thing to do was get a sense of the market, and then he could start preparing.
For now, though, manga, films and games were all too difficult, so Yuuga planned to start with writing novels.