In Naruto, I Have an Affair with Mikoto and Kushina

The candle flickered, casting a soft glow over Pakura's face. In the dim light, Souta could see the exhaustion in her expression, but also something else—hesitation, as if she was debating whether to speak her mind. He leaned back against the wall, watching her closely.

"You're not just here for one night, are you?" His voice was calm, but his gaze was sharp, reading her like an open book.

Pakura's fingers twitched, gripping the hem of her sleeve. "I…" She hesitated, shifting slightly under his gaze. The warmth creeping up her neck betrayed her. "I don't want to cause trouble for you."

Souta exhaled, picking up his cup of tea and taking a slow sip. "You keep saying that. Like you think I care about trouble."

Pakura lowered her gaze, her fingers tightening into small fists. "I just… I feel safe here," she admitted quietly. "With you."

Silence settled between them. Souta's expression remained unreadable, but he didn't look away. Pakura, on the other hand, fidgeted under his scrutiny, the heat in her face spreading. She had fought in wars, faced betrayal, survived against impossible odds—yet here she was, unable to meet the gaze of the man sitting across from her.

"You trust me that much?" he asked, tilting his head slightly.

Pakura swallowed, her lips parting slightly before she nodded. "…Yes."

A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. "That's rare."

Her blush deepened, and she turned away slightly, pretending to focus on the flickering candle. "Don't tease me."

"I'm not teasing." Souta set his cup down. "I'm just wondering… What is it you really want, Pakura?"

She inhaled shakily. "I…" Her fingers toyed with the fabric of her sleeve again. "I was thinking… if it's not too much trouble, maybe…" She paused, her heart pounding.

Souta remained silent, letting her struggle with the words. He could see it—how hard it was for her to ask for something for herself.

"…Maybe we could go somewhere else," she finally said, voice barely above a whisper. "Somewhere we won't have to hide. Somewhere scheduled. Where no one is hunting me."

Souta raised an eyebrow. "Scheduled?"

Pakura gave a small, embarrassed nod, still refusing to meet his eyes. "A place we plan for. Somewhere stable. I—I know I have no right to ask you to just pick up and leave, but… if you're comfortable with the idea, maybe…" She trailed off, her face burning.

Souta watched her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then he leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees. "You're asking me to run away with you."

Pakura flinched. "Not—Not like that."

His smirk deepened. "That's exactly what it sounds like."

She clenched her hands together, her breathing unsteady. "I just… I don't know how long I can keep running. I don't want to be alone anymore." Her voice dropped, softer now. "And I don't want to leave you behind either."

That admission was what finally made Souta's smirk fade. His eyes softened just a little, the teasing edge slipping away. "You really are something, Pakura."

She stiffened. "I-I'm sorry. I shouldn't have—"

"Relax." Souta leaned back again, stretching his legs out. "I didn't say no."

Pakura blinked, stunned. "…You didn't?"

He let out a low chuckle. "No."

She looked at him in disbelief, her mouth slightly open. Her fingers twitched again, gripping her sleeves like she didn't know what to do with herself. "Then… does that mean…?"

"It means I'll think about it." His gaze locked onto hers, his voice steady. "I don't mind having you around, but if we're going somewhere, it has to be on my terms. Understood?"

Pakura bit her lip, nodding quickly. "Y-Yes."

Souta smirked at her reaction. He had never seen her like this before—submissive, unsure, completely unguarded in front of him. The mighty Pakura, reduced to a blushing mess just by his words.

"You're really bad at hiding your emotions," he remarked, watching as she turned even redder.

She groaned, covering her face with both hands. "Stop looking at me like that."

"Like what?"

"Like you know everything."

"I do know everything," he teased.

Pakura groaned again, sinking further into the futon. "This is a mistake."

Souta chuckled, standing up and stretching. "Too late. You're already here."

Pakura peeked through her fingers, watching as he moved toward the window, peering outside as if lost in thought. Her heart was still racing, her mind spinning. She had expected rejection, or indifference at best. But now, there was a chance. A small, uncertain chance that he might actually stay with her.

"Souta…"

He glanced back at her, one eyebrow raised. "Hm?"

She hesitated for a second before shaking her head, the smallest smile tugging at her lips. "…Nothing."

For now, that was enough.

The next morning, Souta awoke to the soft sound of rustling fabric. He blinked, adjusting to the dim light filtering through the paper windows, and turned his head to see Pakura sitting beside the futon, quietly rewrapping the bandages on her arms. Her movements were slow, methodical, but there was a stiffness in her shoulders that told him she was still uneasy.

"You should rest more," he said, his voice still heavy with sleep.

Pakura flinched slightly at the sudden sound, but she didn't stop what she was doing. "I've rested enough," she replied, keeping her focus on the bandages. "I can't afford to be complacent."

Souta sat up, running a hand through his hair. "You don't have to keep running anymore," he reminded her. "At least for now, you're safe here."

She finally looked up, her eyes locking onto his. "You say that like you really believe it."

"I do."

Pakura let out a quiet breath, finishing the last wrap of her bandage before pulling her sleeve back down. "You're too calm about this. If word gets out that you're harboring a rogue kunoichi, you'll be dragged into something you never asked for."

Souta smirked slightly. "I'm already involved. What difference does it make?"

She frowned, as if weighing his words, then shook her head. "You really are reckless."

"And you're really stubborn."