Maki hadn't eaten before practice. She was too worried she might throw up during training.
When she got home, her mother, Yumi, wasn't there.
Since Maki had finished early today, she was home before Yumi would normally come back to cook.
Maki could cook—but Yumi didn't know that.
And even if she did, she'd just shrug it off with a, "It's Maki, of course she can," and not think much of it.
Naori, however, was clearly impressed.
She paced around Maki in the kitchen, wide-eyed with curiosity.
"Whoa, so cool!"
"What do you usually eat?" Maki asked casually, then pointed. "Grab that stool."
"Oh, okay!" Naori hurried to move the small bench and placed it behind Maki.
Standing on tiptoe on the stool, Maki began stir-frying vegetables.
And just like that, Naori understood why Maki didn't usually cook.
"Rice balls, meatballs, stewed pork, tempura, grilled fish…" Naori ticked off a list on her fingers, then shrugged. "Basically anything. I'll eat whatever."
Better than Naruto chugging spoiled milk, Maki thought.
"What don't you like?" she asked. "Can you handle spicy food?"
"As long as it's not too spicy," Naori said, looking slightly nervous.
"It's not spicy," Maki replied—while throwing in a generous handful of chili peppers.
The sharp sting of spice hit immediately.
Naori opened her mouth, hesitated, then decided not to comment.
Right after the chili, Maki casually tossed in a fat white blob of… something.
Naori's eyes twitched. She leaned forward, alarmed. "Wait—what did you just put in there?!"
"Hm?" Maki looked back, calm as ever. "Is there a problem?"
"A problem?! They were alive! Those were bugs!" Naori shrieked.
"We're out of food," Maki said bluntly. "So I'm using what's available. Don't worry—they're high-quality protein."
Yumi usually brought groceries home, and today, she hadn't yet.
"You can't just make up recipes on the spot!" Naori protested. "Isn't there anything normal in this house?! Something that actual humans eat!?"
"Then leave," Maki said flatly.
Naori clamped her mouth shut.
With an angry stomp, she stormed into the living room and flopped onto the couch.
I don't even have the guts to see what she's cooking now, she thought bitterly. Whatever. At least there's rice. I'll just have soy sauce rice.
Not long after, Maki came in carrying several dishes.
Naori sat stiffly upright, staring at the table in horrified silence.
"Eat," Maki said, removing her apron and taking a seat. She scooped two bowls of rice and reached up to tap the mask over her face.
With a soft mechanical click, the mask's mouthpiece opened, revealing Maki's small lips.
But Naori wasn't paying attention to that.
She was staring straight at the dishes, unmoving.
After several tries, she finally raised her chopsticks—only to pause halfway. Her hand hovered over one dish.
"What… is this?" she asked weakly.
"Garlic ant eggs," Maki answered, scooping up a full spoonful and dropping it into Naori's bowl.
These were no ordinary eggs—they were lab-raised, high-grade ant eggs. Clean, protein-rich, and shiny like tiny pearls.
Simple, but delicious when stir-fried with garlic, green onions, and chilies.
"…" Naori stared, wordless. "And this one…?"
"Spicy wine bugs," Maki replied. "They feed on tree sap—it's like drinking natural sports drinks. Super nutritious."
She munched on a mouthful of ant eggs.
"They've got a trace of alcohol in them too. Natural beer. Fat, healthy, no predators. Excellent feed for beetles. I usually mash them into pellets for storage."
She picked up a crispy red wine bug with her chopsticks and popped it into her mouth.
Naori gulped. Her stomach flipped.
"…And what about that one? It's still moving!"
"Ah. Chilled silkworm moths."
The plate of silkworm moths shuffled slightly, some still twitching as they tried to crawl out between the seasonings.
"They don't fly anymore, so it's fine. They're best raw—clean, soft, no bad smell or taste. I even seasoned them for you."
Naori went pale.
"What about this one?" Naori asked, pointing to the last item on the table.
It didn't look like a bug. In fact, it looked… normal.
Two small cups held piles of milky white, round particles—soft and glossy like pearls.
"Dessert yogurt jelly," Maki replied. "My usual snack. You've seen this kind before—the kind you eat in class."
"As expected of you," Naori said, smiling.
So casual. What would it be like if she wasn't being casual?
She thought about asking—but decided not to.
Watching Maki eat so calmly and confidently, Naori hesitated for a long moment before finally picking up her chopsticks.
She reached for the dish that seemed the least scary—the garlic ant eggs.
Carefully, she picked one up and placed it in her mouth.
Come on… just try it.
Her eyes widened.
It was delicious.
Naori started eating in earnest.
Maki didn't laugh at her or say anything smug. She just kept eating quietly.
That made Naori even more confident—and she dug in boldly, savoring every bite.
When the meal was over, Maki collected the dishes.
Naori flopped onto the tatami, patting her now full, round belly.
A summer breeze drifted through the house, soft wind chimes tinkling under the eaves.
The air was cool and comforting.
Outside, the cicadas sang in steady rhythm, the kind of lullaby only a summer night could bring.
Before she knew it, Naori had drifted off to sleep.
When Maki came out from the kitchen after washing up, she found Naori lying there with a peaceful smile on her face—dreaming sweetly.
Such a kid.
Maki pulled a thin blanket over her, then sat down under the eaves with a glass of juice in hand.
The night was still.
Summer is coming to an end, she thought, sipping gently.
The scene was quiet, soft, almost like a painting.
---
The next morning, the two of them went to school together.
It saved the usual detour Maki had to make.
When they arrived, their classmates looked stunned.
Everyone was already in their seats—but the atmosphere was heavy.
A quiet dread hung over the room.
Summer vacation was just around the corner.
And that meant one thing—exam results had to be taken home.
Even students whose families didn't care much about grades couldn't help feeling miserable.
Across the room, Maki spotted a slumped figure.
Jiraiya, she thought.
He'd completely fallen behind in the academic classes this semester.
Meanwhile, Tsunade looked like she couldn't wait.
Exams were never a problem for her. She was confident—maybe a bit too much.
Noticing Maki's glance, Tsunade met her eyes with a smirk.
It wasn't even subtle—just pure challenge.
Maki hadn't even meant to look. But Tsunade clearly took it as some kind of provocation.
That glare… she was definitely holding back a "final move" for this test.
What a little kid, Maki sighed inwardly.
"Do your best, Maki," Naori whispered from beside her. "Don't lose to Tsunade."
"Why don't you go challenge her, then?"
Naori shook her head. "Too much trouble. I'd rather not get on Tsunade's bad side. She is a princess, after all."
"Coward," Maki chuckled.
The two parted and went to their seats.
In the corner of the classroom, Hyuga Hitomi watched the three of them, her Byakugan active.
Who should I pick as my rival?
Any one of them would be a monster to go up against.
Win or lose, I need to show what I've learned.
She bit her lip, nerves bubbling up.
It was time to put her hard work to the test.
______________
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