The lights flicked on.
The once-dark room instantly filled with brightness. Kurenai stood in the doorway, hesitating for a few seconds before finally stepping inside.
"Come in," she said softly.
Ren followed her in, casually closing the door behind him.
Kurenai didn't look back; instead, she took a deep breath, walked over to the liquor cabinet, and placed the bottles she had bought on the shelf. Her hand lingered on the glasses as she reached for them, hovering just above the cups.
What… would happen tonight?
"Would you like something to eat?" she asked, keeping her back to him.
"No need."
When she turned around, she saw Ren already seated by the window, calmly watching the scene outside. She gathered the liquor and glasses and made her way over, sitting across from him.
"How well do you handle alcohol?"
"Hmm?" Kurenai looked up, surprised.
"Well… I'm alright, I guess," she replied, uncertain.
"This bottle here—will it be enough to get you drunk?" he asked.
She felt her grip on the glass tighten.
Drunk… for what…?
"For me, probably," she answered quietly.
Ren nodded and took the bottle and a glass from her hands, pouring himself a full drink and downing it.
Kurenai watched him, glancing at her own glass before pouring and drinking a glass herself.
So it began. Somehow, it made sense; with his personality, she didn't expect idle chitchat or small talk.
She traced her finger along the rim of her glass, her thoughts racing. What would he do…?
Yet strangely, she didn't feel afraid. She couldn't pinpoint why.
Outside, the streets were bustling with lights and people, the evening just beginning. Ren's gaze remained fixed on the lively street outside, and Kurenai found herself quietly watching the profile of his face.
"You were promoted to jōnin, right? What's your current position?" she asked, trying to break the silence.
"An idle one."
"I see… That sounds good," she murmured, taking another sip.
"Did you hear Kakashi became a sensei?"
"I did."
"Knowing him, his students are probably in for a tough time," she joked, expecting him to agree.
"Kakashi's alright," Ren replied.
Kurenai blinked, caught off guard; she hadn't expected him to praise Kakashi.
"Besides, people do change," Ren continued. "They're changed by their experiences, by the people they meet."
"Who knows, Kakashi might grow to be quite approachable someday."
"You sound pretty invested in him," Kurenai teased. "You never talk like this about anyone."
"I just know him a bit better than most," he replied, glancing at her. "You'll hear more of it, eventually."
Eventually…
The meaning behind his words sparked something in her, making her blush as she looked away.
As Ren continued drinking, she poured herself another glass and finished it in one go.
Glass after glass, the two of them drank, the quiet cold brushing against their cheeks as time slipped by.
The coolness of the alcohol warmed her, spreading gradually through her body.
"I never imagined we'd end up drinking together like this," she said softly.
"Is that so," he replied.
She poured another drink, watching the liquid swirl in her glass, faint ripples swirling across the surface.
"You're… so distant," she whispered, almost to herself. "It makes people instinctively turn away from you. We were never meant to have any connection at all."
"Do you regret it?" he asked.
"Regret what happened that day, when you came upstairs?"
Kurenai fell silent, lowering her gaze.
"Before… I did regret it," she admitted. "If you hadn't come upstairs that day, I would have kept my distance, and I'd have warned Anko to stay away too."
Should I blame it on that day's wind, or the wine we drank…?
She hesitated before continuing. "But maybe you're not exactly as I thought. Maybe the rumors about you aren't all true. I'm learning more… getting to know you, bit by bit…"
"Are you confessing to me?" Ren asked.
She blushed furiously. "You idiot! Don't say things like that!"
"Even if that day hadn't happened, you couldn't have escaped," Ren murmured, looking at her steadily.
From the first moment he met her, when he saw her character data and its associated rewards, he had already made up his mind.
Kurenai paused, her face reddening further. She reached for the bottle, only to find it empty. She wasn't even sure how much they had drunk.
She got up to fetch more, but stopped when she saw Ren's expression, calm and unclouded.
If she drank any more, she might not be able to keep her composure…
Should she keep drinking?
"… It's empty," she said softly.
He watched her for a moment, then said, "If we keep drinking, you'll lose control."
"I'm alright."
"Let's stop here," Ren said firmly.
"…"
She felt only a little tipsy, still clear-headed enough. She couldn't tell about Ren.
Kurenai stopped moving, sitting back in her chair, quietly watching him.
The noises from outside had quieted. The clock on the wall showed it was just past nine.
Silence filled the room. Being with Ren was different from anyone else—he never used small talk to fill the silence and seemed completely immune to awkwardness.
Kurenai felt like she must have been under some spell. She'd had plenty of admirers before, many of them respectable, like Asuma, who was the son of the Hokage.
But this man's attitude toward her was so unlike anyone else's.
At first, she'd hated him, even felt angry; then, there was the fear and the helplessness. And then he saved her, bandaging her wounds…
Somewhere in her heart, she'd begun to feel a hint of gratitude toward him, twisted as that felt.
He'd stepped on her dignity, humiliated her more than once…
Her thoughts spiraled between fear and confusion. She knew she shouldn't feel this way but couldn't control it.
Perhaps she truly was under his spell.
She had no idea how much time had passed before she decided to say something to break the silence.
"It's late," Ren spoke, cutting through her thoughts.
"The drinks are done. I'll head out."
"Oh…" Kurenai mumbled, watching him, a pang of disappointment creeping in.
All the scenarios she'd imagined, all the possibilities, had come to nothing.
"Alright," she muttered, lowering her head.
Ren stood and headed to the door, and she followed him.
As he opened the door, she reached out and grabbed the hem of his shirt, almost without realizing it.
"What is it?" he asked, turning to look at her.
What is it?
Kurenai didn't know either; she'd acted on impulse.
Say something… Any reason would do…
But would it look pathetic?
Clutching his shirt like this… Was she reluctant to let him leave?
What would he think?
Her thoughts jumbled, her hand still holding his shirt, and she found herself rooted to the spot, unsure of what to say.
"Good… goodnight," she stammered.
Ren regarded her quietly. "Is that all?"
"…"
She hesitated, then lifted her right hand, pressing her two fingers against her own lips before gently placing them on his.
In an instant, he gripped her wrist, pulling her into his arms, her body pressed against his chest.
She felt his lips on hers, and this time she didn't resist, closing her eyes.
Let it happen…
It was better than being consumed by doubt and what-ifs.
Just as she was sinking into the moment, she suddenly felt him bite her lip hard.
The sharp taste of blood mingled with the alcohol on her tongue.
She gasped, wincing, pressing her lips together.
Ren released her and stepped back.
As she watched him leave, her heart felt oddly hollow.
So… what exactly are we to each other now?
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