"Hmph."
Nara Shikaku let out a quiet chuckle, the lazy sound almost identical to the one Shikamaru made whenever something amused him.
"If you have some free time, come visit us," he said with a faint smile. "Yoshino has been asking about you."
His calm gaze settled on me.
It was nothing more than a polite invitation, one of those social courtesies adults exchanged. Even I understood that much.
"Of course, Uncle Shikaku. I'll stop by whenever I have the chance."
I instinctively slipped into my usual "well-behaved junior" mode whenever I spoke to elders.
Perhaps my smile looked a little too practiced.
Or maybe it was because Shikaku was simply too perceptive.
Either way, the expression on his face clearly said...
I'll believe it when I see it.
He merely raised an eyebrow instead of exposing my obvious excuse. Turning to his son, he spoke calmly.
"Let's go, Shikamaru."
"...Yeah."
Shikamaru followed after his father without complaint.
After taking a few steps, however, he suddenly stopped.
He glanced back.
His eyes lingered on me for two brief seconds before shifting toward Naruto... and finally to the unbelievably hideous cloth sack of pig feed sitting between us.
The corners of his mouth twitched.
It looked as though he wanted to say something sarcastic—or maybe laugh outright.
In the end, he simply shoved both hands into his pockets, turned away, and continued walking after his father with that same lazy, unhurried pace that seemed to run in the Nara family.
Only after the two of them disappeared into the distance did Naruto tug gently on my sleeve.
"Big Sister..."
"Hm?"
"Do you know that uncle?"
I nodded.
"He was my father's friend."
"Oh..."
Naruto lowered his head for a second before quietly looking back up.
"Then... let's hurry home."
There was an almost imperceptible hint of anticipation in his voice.
I smiled.
"Alright."
Then I asked softly,
"Are you hungry?"
"Hehe... a little."
Looking down at him, I noticed that the quiet, lonely expression he had worn beside the sandbox earlier had completely disappeared.
It was as though he had carefully tucked that lonely version of himself into some hidden corner where nobody else could see it.
Only the cheerful Naruto remained.
"Let's go."
The evening breeze drifted through the streets, carrying the coolness unique to summer nights.
Somewhere nearby, a wind chime gently rang with the breeze.
Together, we carried the astonishingly ugly sack of pig feed home, walking beneath streets bathed in the warm orange glow of the setting sun.
After a while, Naruto looked up again.
"Big Sister?"
"Hm?"
"What flavor instant noodles are we eating tonight?"
"You can choose."
His blue eyes immediately lit up.
"Seafood flavor! And... can we have fried eggs again?"
After blurting it out, he quickly became nervous.
"...Is that okay?"
His cautious expression made my heart soften.
"Of course."
I smiled warmly.
"I'm really happy you like the fried eggs I make."
It was such an ordinary sentence.
Yet...
This was the first time anyone had ever sincerely praised something I had cooked.
Even if it was only a fried egg.
Naruto nodded vigorously.
"Because they're really delicious!"
His voice echoed loudly through the peaceful evening, bursting with his usual energy.
Unable to help myself, I clenched my free hand into a fist and grinned.
"Then it's decided!"
"We'll fry four eggs tonight."
"Two for you..."
"And two for me."
Naruto's laughter immediately filled the quiet street.
...
After dinner, Naruto insisted on helping me wash the dishes.
I didn't stop him.
Just like me, he would be living alone for a long time.
Learning basic household chores now would only help him later.
Once everything was cleaned up, I opened the refrigerator and took out the pudding I had bought earlier that day.
I placed it in front of him.
"This is your reward for being such a good boy."
"Waaah!"
His eyes sparkled.
"Thank you, Big Sister!"
Naruto happily peeled back the lid before scooping up a spoonful.
The blissful smile spreading across his face made it seem as though he were tasting the sweetest dessert in the entire world.
His short legs swung back and forth beneath the chair, unable to reach the floor.
Between mouthfuls, he enthusiastically told me about everything interesting that had happened recently.
Every little thing.
Every tiny adventure.
He talked without stopping.
And I simply listened.
Occasionally laughing.
Occasionally responding.
Watching those bright blue eyes sparkle with excitement...
They really were beautiful.
Then...
His voice gradually became quieter.
The spoon froze halfway to his mouth.
His gaze slowly drifted toward the incredibly ugly cloth sack resting on the table.
His swinging legs became completely still.
"...Big Sister."
His voice was much softer this time.
Almost timid.
"Hm?"
He stared into his pudding for several seconds before speaking.
"...Can I..."
"...come play here sometimes?"
The moment the words left his mouth, he immediately lowered his head.
His spoon absentmindedly poked little holes into the pudding.
The ears hidden beneath his blond hair had already turned bright red.
Trying to hide a smile, I deliberately remained silent.
Pretending to think.
Two seconds passed.
Naruto instantly panicked.
"I-I won't come very often!"
"Really!"
"Just once in a while!"
"Once a month... or even once every two months is fine!"
"I won't bother you while you're working!"
"I'll just sit quietly!"
"I promise I won't make any noise!"
Before he could continue rambling...
"Sure."
His mouth froze mid-sentence.
"...Eh?"
"I said..."
I rested my chin against one hand and smiled.
"Of course."
"You can come whenever you want."
"You don't have to ask for permission every time."
Naruto blinked several times.
It took him a moment to process what he had just heard.
"...Really?"
"Really."
His eyes gradually widened.
"Then..."
"Can I come again next week?"
"Of course."
"And the week after?"
"Sure."
"And after that too?"
"Anytime."
No matter how many times he asked...
My answer never changed.
He slowly put down his spoon before gripping both sides of his chair.
I expected him to leap into the air screaming with excitement.
Instead...
He lowered his head.
His shoulders trembled ever so slightly.
Then he sniffed once before silently scooping an enormous spoonful of pudding into his mouth.
His cheeks puffed out like a little squirrel storing food.
"...It's delicious."
His voice sounded muffled.
Yet somehow...