After finishing a pleasant lunch, Kushina washed the dishes while Kei sat by the dining table, resting his chin on his hand, watching her busy figure.
This scene wasn't exactly romantic. But after more than a decade, for the first time in this unfamiliar yet familiar world, he felt a sense of home.
"Nothing, I just wanted to call your name."
For an entire afternoon, Kushina didn't know how many times she laughed with her signature laughter. She had no idea why such a childish game could make her so happy.
But as long as she heard Kei call her name, she just felt so incredibly happy.
After putting the washed dishes away in the cupboard, she dried her hands and hung the apron on a hook by the kitchen wall.
When she turned around, he was no longer by the dining table.
Hearing sounds of rummaging from the study, she curiously walked to the doorway.
Inside the room, she saw opened drawers, bankbooks scattered to the side, secret technique scrolls casually thrown on the floor, and Kei still searching for something.
She asked in confusion, "Are you looking for something?"
"... Maybe, I'm looking for my heart?"
"Huh? Ew—corny pick-up line! But… I like it."
Kei put down the random things he had collected and laughed along with her. After their laughter subsided, he looked at the girl leaning against the doorframe. Dressed in simple home clothes, her beauty was still undeniable. In a soft voice, he spoke.
"I was originally looking for something worthy enough to match you, so I could confess and ask you to be my girlfriend."
Kushina froze for a second, realizing what was about to happen. Her heart pounded nervously, but she was also full of anticipation.
Even though just being with Kei made her feel incredibly happy, like every girl, she still hoped for a proper confession to confirm their relationship.
"But then I realized… nothing is worthy enough to match you. So instead… I entrust my happiness to you. Kushina, be my girlfriend."
Kushina nodded vigorously. She was beyond happy, yet tears still streamed down uncontrollably.
She remembered how Shikaku once told her that Kei cherishes every relationship deeply, whether it was family, friendship, or love.
Because of this, at first, he always seemed a little distant.
Maybe he feared lies.
Maybe he feared loss.
Maybe he feared betrayal.
So when you take the first step toward him, he might retreat. With the second step, he might hesitate. But when you take the third, fourth step… he will abandon all worries and run toward you.
Shikaku, I did it! Kei is running toward me…
Kei suddenly pulled Kushina into his arms, wrapping his arms around her slender waist and spinning her in circles.
"Woohoo~ Kushina, congratulations! You're officially taken!"
"Pfft—how can you joke at such a touching moment?"
"You look the most beautiful when you smile!"
"Hehe~ Then congratulations to you too, you're taken now."
"Hahaha~ Same to you, same to you~"
"If you keep laughing like that, our house is going to turn into a zoo."
"Hmph! I'm not a big goose!"
Kushina playfully punched Kei's chest, tears still glistening in her eyes, filled with satisfaction and happiness like never before. Standing on her tiptoes, she hooked her arms around Kei's neck.
How could Kei not know what this posture meant?
Without hesitation, he leaned in and kissed her. Kushina used to wonder why couples in movies could never seem to kiss enough.
Now, she finally understood.
Because this was the purest and most direct expression of love—far more meaningful than a million words saying, "I want to be with you forever."
"Twenty-one! Dealer wins! Dealer wins! Hahaha—hand over the money! If you won against me, spit it out! Hahahaha!"
Tsunade's excited, almost crazed voice echoed from outside the room.
Kushina, still lost in a daze, suddenly realized—two buttons of her collar were undone, and even her belt was half-loosened.
"T-Tsunade is still outside…"
"Then should we wait for her to leave before continuing?"
Kei teased, pulling the flustered Kushina, who was hurriedly fixing her clothes, back into his arms.
After she playfully punched him twice, he twirled a strand of her fragrant, silky hair between his fingers and asked a question he had long forgotten to ask.
"Kushina, back then, how did Shikaku and Inoichi convince you not to get mad after hearing all those rumors?"
"… Am I that short-tempered? Hmph~ Go ask Inoichi yourself. I'm not telling you."
Kushina pouted, recalling those past events, and buried her face in Kei's chest. Those rumors—she didn't need Shikaku to persuade her at all.
It was her who noticed Kei's changes, who could no longer hold back her feelings, yet feared the obstacles that might come their way. So she had gone to seek help from Inoichi.
And Inoichi? He had simply taken her straight to Shikaku.
That was how the storm of rumors had started—along with all the "evidence" that seemed to confirm them.
"You have the best temper, hahahaha…"
Kei didn't push the matter further. If Kushina didn't want to say it, he could always ask Inoichi later.
Kushina muttered under her breath and hugged her hard-won lover even tighter.
"Oh right, why is Tsunade at our place?"
"She came back to the village a few days ago and asked me for a loan again. Hehe~ So I used that phrase you taught me last time! Then she insisted on waiting for you, so we ended up here."
"Should I be thanking her for bringing you over? Oh, did you bring your clothes and daily necessities?"
"Then should I go back with you to pack?"
Kushina's face flushed red again. She was bold, sure, but she was still a girl. Now that they were taking this step, even she felt shy. Both of them were the type to act immediately once a decision was made.
After putting on their shoes, they stepped out of the room.
Seeing Tsunade's alternating expressions, sometimes twisted in frustration, sometimes flushed with excitement, Kushina couldn't help but ask worriedly,
"Is she going to be okay ?"
"She'll be fine. With her Yin Seal passively releasing chakra, she should've noticed and disrupted it ages ago."
"Huh? Then why is she still—"
"She probably realized forcefully breaking the genjutsu would cause mental strain. And later… she just didn't want to wake up. It's a casino, after all—for a gambling addict like her, this is pure heaven."
"It's a scene I created with genjutsu…" Kei briefly described the casino's appearance.
He had never been to the world's famous gambling cities in his past life, but he had seen movies and played plenty of games!
Inside his memory palace, he had jumbled together chaotic movie scenes with all sorts of gambling games—blackjack, baccarat, russian roulette, poker, mahjong, dominoes, dice games…
With such an overwhelming variety, it would be strange if Tsunade could resist. And in this genjutsu space, she wasn't affected by [Cursed Gambler].
She wouldn't only lose, nor would winning immediately trigger some disaster. For someone as legendarily unlucky as her, even winning a little was already paradise.
Hah—Even if it killed her, she'd want to finish enjoying it first!