Kurenai sat by the window of her apartment, a cup of tea steaming softly beside her as warm sunlight filtered through the curtains. On her lap rested a fresh copy of Rain Between Us—the manga she had picked up earlier that day from The Hidden Ink.
She read the title of the chapter - Shelter in the Storm and flipped through the first few pages, pausing briefly at the instruction panel that explained how to read the manga right to left. It made her smile—something about Koichi-kun preparing even small details like this.
The story wasn't flashy. No battles. No shouting. Just a boy sketching sandals in a quiet pavilion during a rainstorm, and a woman who said nothing but seemed to carry the weight of the world in her silence.
"So this is what he's been drawing all this time..."
The rain in the panels wasn't just background—it added to the stillness, the unspoken understanding between two strangers.
She turned another page. The artwork was careful and calm. The woman reminded her of seasoned shinobi—those who'd lived through too much to waste words.
Then came the haiku.
"My feet forgot spring..."
Kurenai paused, her eyes lingering. "That's something only someone who's walked too far would write."
There was a softness in the way Koichi handled silence. A weight that didn't crush but rested gently between the characters.
And when the woman quietly poured a second cup of tea without a word, Kurenai let out a soft breath.
"That one gesture... that's everything."
She rested the book on her lap, thumb between the pages. "Koichi-kun really sees things most people overlook."
Her thoughts wandered to the young man behind the counter—modest, observant, always polite. There was a depth to him, a maturity that didn't show off but showed through.
As she finished the chapter, Kurenai held the book a little longer.
"Only one chapter... but it already says so much. I want to know more."
She placed it gently on the table, the sunlight warming her shoulders.
"If he keeps telling stories like this... people will remember his name.""
…
At the Ninja Academy, Iruka had just slammed the classroom door behind him, sighing loudly in frustration. "Sexy Jutsu? Again? That idiot…" he muttered under his breath as he marched down the hallway.
Back inside the classroom, a few students were still chatting, including Ino and Sakura, who had taken over the corner bench by the window.
"Did you see Naruto's face when Iruka-sensei lost it?" Sakura said, half laughing.
Ino rolled her eyes. "Ugh, he's so hopeless sometimes."
As her gaze drifted lazily across the room, her eyes landed on something sitting on Iruka's desk—a book with a striking, rain-soaked cover.
"Wait... what's that?" she asked, already walking toward it.
Sakura followed. "You mean that book with the pretty cover?"
Ino picked it up carefully. "It's... gorgeous. Look at the colors. It feels kind of calm and soft."
She flipped open the front page and blinked. "Manga? What's this?"
Sakura peered over her shoulder. "Must be one of those storybooks Koichi-kun made. My mom mentioned a new store opening near the market."
Ino turned a few pages and was instantly hooked. "The art's really clean... and this scene—it's raining and they're just sitting quietly. This feels different. Not the usual ninja stuff." She paused, eyes lighting up. "Wait, this is by Koichi-kun! He opened his manga store just yesterday, didn't he?"
Her cheeks warmed a little. Koichi-kun... she'd always had a soft spot for him. One memory stuck in her mind like a pressed flower. She had once tried to give Sasuke a flower, but he brushed past her like she wasn't even there. Koichi-kun had seen it happen, and without saying much, picked up the flower she dropped, smiled at her, and told her she looked cute.
That small moment still felt kind of dreamy to her. It made her heart flutter even now. Since then, Koichi-kun wasn't just the quiet, kind boy anymore. He was the one who noticed her, even when her heart had been brushed aside. After that, she honestly thought Koichi-kun looked way more handsome than Sasuke.
Ino didn't even mind that Koichi-kun had quit the Academy. She knew deep down he was more talented—and probably stronger—than anyone in their class, even Sasuke. His calm, creative side just made him stand out even more in her eyes.
"Let's just read a bit before Iruka-sensei comes back," Sakura suggested with a smirk, already knowing Ino's little crush on Koichi-kun. She personally didn't get it—her eyes were still on Sasuke—but she didn't mind seeing her friend excited.
The two girls sat on the floor near the desk, flipping pages slowly. Ino's eyes scanned each panel carefully, her lips parted slightly in awe. Sakura leaned in closer, watching the scenes unfold with genuine curiosity. Neither of them said much—they were pulled into the story, the silence between the characters, the quiet rain, the feeling of something deeper just under the surface.
Iruka stepped back into the classroom a few minutes later and blinked when he saw the girls huddled by his desk. "You two okay?"
Sakura perked up. "Iruka-sensei! Is this manga drawn by Koichi-kun?"
He nodded, walking over. "Yeah, I bought it this morning from his store. You like it?"
"It's really pretty," Ino said, gently closing the book. "We only read the first chapter, but it already feels... special."
"Where's his store again?" Sakura asked.
Iruka smiled. "Down the street from the dango place. Just opened—called The Hidden Ink."
Ino stood, clutching the book like a treasure. "I'm going to tell everyone about this after class. Koichi-kun deserves the attention. Right, Sakura?"
Sakura nodded. "Let's stop by his store after school. I wanna buy a copy too."
As they gently closed the book and placed it back on Iruka's desk, still thinking about what they'd just read, the classroom bell rang in the distance. Ino glanced toward Shikamaru and Choji and raised her voice just enough to get their attention.
"Shikamaru! Choji! You two are coming with me to Koichi-kun's store after class. Got it?"
Choji blinked, mouth half-full. "Huh? Is it about that book you were reading?"
Shikamaru sighed. "Troublesome..."
"Exactly," Ino said, hands on her hips. "You'll love it, trust me. And besides, you need some culture."
The boys exchanged glances, but neither said no. Ino grinned to herself, already planning the visit in her head—and maybe even getting a chance to invite Koichi-kun on a proper date. Just the thought made her heart flutter a little.