The living room was serene as Naruto and Sasuke assisted the girls with their studies. Nino was immersed in calculus, Ichika was lost in a manga, Yotsuba was focused on economics, Miku was busy with the periodic table, and Itsuki was tackling her Japanese assignments.
Naruto was lending a hand to Nino and Yotsuba, while Sasuke was supporting the other girls.
"That's right, Miku! Well done," Sasuke remarked, offering her a faint smile.
"Thank you..." Miku replied shyly.
Sasuke stood up and made his way to Itsuki, settling down beside her.
"I guess you're all set? Japanese is a piece of cake," he remarked, glancing her way.
Itsuki laughed softly at his words. "Yeah, I'm fine. But thanks for asking."
"Not a problem," Sasuke replied, rising to approach Ichika, who was by the window that lead out to the balcony.
As Ichika noticed Sasuke approaching, her cheeks flushed, and she quickly turned back to her book. However, the words on the page blurred as her mind fixated on the memory of Sasuke's face.
Sasuke settled beside her, and she fought the urge to glance over at him. Despite her best efforts, she couldn't resist. Ever since that incident, her perception of Sasuke had shifted dramatically. Teasing him no longer felt like just a game; something deeper was stirring within her. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but there was no denying it—she felt admiration. She admired his unwavering confidence, his calm demeanor, that charming smile, and even the playful side he occasionally revealed. It was clear to her now: she was developing a crush on him.
The soft glow of the evening sun filtered through the curtains, casting a warm light across Ichika's apartment. The living room was quiet, save for the low murmurs of her four sisters chatting and laughing in the other room. Sasuke sat at the small table near the window that led out to the balcony, the pages of Ichika's chosen manga spread out before him. Ichika leaned casually against the window frame, her arms crossed loosely as she glanced outside, the cool breeze from the open balcony door brushing against her skin.
She shifted her gaze back to Sasuke, who was immersed in the manga's storyline. There was something about the way his eyes moved over the pages—an intensity she rarely saw from him. For a moment, Ichika couldn't help but think that he looked different in the quiet of the apartment, more relaxed, but still carrying a certain coolness.
"What do you think?" she asked, her voice cutting through the silence. "Do you think the main character and the malediction will ever really be together?"
Sasuke looked up from the manga, meeting her gaze. The soft light highlighted the contours of his face, and Ichika suddenly found it hard to look away. His expression was unreadable, but there was something about the way his lips tightened ever so slightly, something that hinted at a deeper thought.
"Their love is complicated," he said, his voice steady but low. "It's like trying to bridge two worlds that don't belong together. They can't live in the same space, but their feelings are real." His tone held a kind of calm conviction, as though he could relate to the story more than he was willing to admit.
Ichika shifted slightly, leaning further against the window frame as the breeze fluttered the curtains, their soft fabric brushing against her skin. "But they still choose to be with each other, even knowing the risks," she said thoughtfully, her fingers tracing the edge of the window sill, almost absent-mindedly.
Sasuke's eyes flicked toward her, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment. "Sometimes, people don't choose who they fall for," he said softly. "It just happens."
Ichika's heart skipped a beat. There was something in the way he said it—something quiet, almost vulnerable. The kind of vulnerability he rarely showed. It made her wonder if he was talking about something beyond the manga, maybe something personal. She tried to brush the thought aside but found herself captivated by the subtle shift in his demeanor.
"I think they both know it's dangerous," Ichika said, her voice quiet now, as if the weight of the conversation had sunk in. "But... they choose each other anyway. Doesn't that make it worth it? Even if it's hard?"
Sasuke didn't respond right away. His eyes moved back to the manga, but Ichika could tell he was lost in thought. The silence between them stretched, but it wasn't uncomfortable—just heavy with unspoken words. He ran a hand through his hair, his fingers brushing against his temple in that familiar gesture of contemplation.
"Maybe," he said finally, his voice low. "But it's never easy. Sometimes... love isn't enough to make things work, no matter how badly you want it."
Ichika felt the weight of his words, and her chest tightened just a little. There was something so raw about his honesty, a side of Sasuke she rarely saw, and it left her speechless for a moment. Her thoughts briefly flashed to her own feelings—how she had started to see Sasuke in a new light, not just as the aloof, distant tutor, but as someone with his own complexities.
As the cool breeze flowed in from the balcony, Ichika couldn't help but glance over at the living room, where her sisters were laughing and chatting. The noise seemed so distant now, as though the only thing that mattered in the world was the space between her and Sasuke.
"I get it," she said finally, breaking the silence. "But... even when it's hard, I think they'd rather have those moments together, even if they can't last."
Sasuke looked at her then, his expression softening, and for a brief moment, Ichika saw something different in his eyes—something almost tender. He didn't say anything for a long time, but there was a shift in the air, something unspoken that passed between them.
"You're right," he said quietly, his gaze never leaving hers. "But sometimes... you have to learn when to let go. Even if it's hard."
Ichika felt a lump form in her throat, the words hitting her harder than she expected. She didn't know why, but hearing him say that, in the quiet of the apartment, so close to the window and the open balcony, made her heart race a little faster. It wasn't just the manga anymore. It felt like something more real, more personal—like Sasuke was opening up, even if just a little, and that made her heart ache in a way she wasn't prepared for.
"I think... maybe it's not about letting go," Ichika said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Maybe it's about holding on, even if it's hard."
Sasuke's gaze flickered, and for a moment, Ichika thought she saw a brief flash of something in his eyes—something unguarded, a glimpse of the real Sasuke she rarely saw. Then, just as quickly, the mask returned, and he nodded slowly.
"You might be right," he said, his voice softer now, almost like a confession. "But sometimes... it's better to just keep your distance."
Ichika didn't respond immediately. Instead, she looked out at the balcony, watching the light fade as the evening grew darker. She didn't know what was happening between them—didn't know if it was just the weight of the conversation or something more—but she couldn't shake the feeling that Sasuke was becoming more than just a tutor to her.
And in that moment, she realized that maybe, just maybe, the feelings she'd been pushing away for so long were starting to take root, whether she wanted them to or not.
"Maybe," Ichika whispered, almost to herself.
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A/N: I got stuck and didn't know how to continue. Ichika and Sasuke's conversation was meant to bring them together a bit. I was fooling around with an A.I. bot and it was a Jujutsu Kaisen one. It was some female Mahito one where you're a sorcerer and Mahito likes you. And that gave me an idea, I could use this. And so....the rest of this chapter was born. I hope you liked this. Uhh, I think you know where this is going. I need a better bad guy to introduce, so like....see ya. If you got ideas, please comment and tell me what their goals are and what kind of powers they should have.