Once Nagato finished making the bed, their playful exchange finally came to an end.
"I'm all sweaty. I'm going to take a shower."
Naturally, making the bed was faster than cooking. By the time Nagato finished, Nonō was still busy in the kitchen.
Peeking through the kitchen doorway, he saw her stirring something in the pan.
"Go ahead, go ahead," Nonō replied absentmindedly, not even looking up.
Right now, nothing was more important than the dish in front of her.
"I'll be back after I shower and change. Looking forward to this feast of yours."
Nagato pulled back and headed into the bathroom, grabbing a fresh bathrobe on his way.
Once he washed away the sweat, he felt refreshed again, as if returning to his usual self.
By the time he emerged, the table was already set, and the rich aroma of food filled the air.
Taking a seat at the table, he watched as Nonō came out of the kitchen, carrying a bottle of sake and a pair of cups.
"There was some left over from cooking, so we might as well drink it."
She set the cups down and poured them both a drink before handing one to Nagato.
"Sounds good."
Nagato accepted the cup without hesitation.
He wasn't particularly fond of alcohol, but if it was with Nonō, he didn't mind having a little.
"Try the fish and tell me if it still tastes the same as before."
Nonō eagerly placed a generous piece of fish into Nagato's bowl, looking at him expectantly.
"You still remember?"
Nagato paused for a moment. The night before Nonō left Konoha, she had also made fish for him.
It had been their last dinner together, a memory deeply etched in his mind.
"Of course! If even you remember it, how could I possibly forget?"
Nonō tilted her head slightly and gave him a playful wink.
"It's good."
Nagato spoke before even swallowing.
"Hee hee~"
"If you like it, eat more."
Seeing him enjoy it, Nonō's excitement was obvious.
Within moments, Nagato's bowl was piled high with food.
"You should eat too," he said helplessly.
She hadn't changed at all—this was exactly how she used to be.
"Cheers!"
Nonō wasn't paying him any mind. She was simply happy.
Clink!
The sound of their cups meeting rang out, followed by an identical sharp inhale from both of them as the alcohol burned their throats.
"Hahaha!"
Seeing each other's slightly scrunched-up expressions, they both burst into laughter.
Back then, they had been too young to drink. That farewell dinner had been completely alcohol-free.
Now, as they finished their meal, the table was left in a state of complete disarray.
Nagato had to admit—Nonō's cooking hadn't deteriorated at all. It was just as good as he remembered.
"I'm so full!"
Nonō stretched lazily, not caring about appearances, revealing a glimpse of her smooth, slightly rounded belly.
The rosy flush on her face from the alcohol only made her look even more alluring.
"You should take a shower too."
"I'll clean up."
Nagato took the initiative to handle the dishes. After all, Nonō was just as sweaty as he had been.
"Alright."
"Then I'll leave it to my dear Nagato."
"Big sis is going for a bath."
She mischievously ruffled his red hair before grabbing a fresh bathrobe and heading to the bathroom.
...
"What's wrong with me?"
Once the bathroom door shut, Nagato touched his own face, feeling the heat radiating from it.
As Nonō's image flashed through his mind, his face grew even hotter.
"Focus. Dishes. Dishes."
Shaking his head, he pushed the thoughts aside and carried the dirty plates into the kitchen.
The sound of running water soon filled both the kitchen and the bathroom.
They both realized—the atmosphere tonight felt different.
Something about it was undeniably intimate.
As usual, Nagato finished his task first.
By the time Nonō emerged from the bathroom, he was reclining on the sofa, lost in thought.
Hearing the door open, he looked up.
Draped in a bathrobe, her long, damp, auburn hair clinging to her shoulders, Nonō was breathtaking.
"What are you staring at?"
"Never seen a beautiful woman before?"
She hid the hint of delight in her heart and casually plopped down beside him.
"I have," Nagato replied, his voice calm.
"But I've never seen one as beautiful as you."
It was the kind of thing he would never say in front of others—but when it was just the two of them, it came naturally.
"You flirt."
Nonō reached out and tapped his forehead, though the smile tugging at her lips was unmistakable.
"It's true."
Nagato gently wrapped an arm around her shoulders, the movement natural, unhurried.
Nonō let herself relax, leaning into him without hesitation.
"Do you remember what you told me here?"
Nonō twirled a strand of her hair around her finger, reminiscing about the moment she had parted ways with Nagato.
"Of course I do."
Nagato answered without hesitation.
Nonō lifted her gaze to meet his, their eyes locking.
"I'll be waiting for you."
How could Nagato ever forget those words? And in the end, his waiting had not been in vain.
The fact that they were together now was proof of that.
"Do you know how much that meant to me?"
"I remember thinking that even if I died out there, it would have been worth it."
"But then I realized… I couldn't die. Because you, you fool, would never be able to forget me."
"So I was extra careful on every mission, always making sure I survived."
"After all, what if you heard I was dead and decided to spend the rest of your life alone?"
"That kind of responsibility is way too heavy—I couldn't bear it."
Tears trickled down the corners of Nonō's eyes, but before long, she was laughing again.
"Narcissist."
"Did it ever cross your mind that I might have come looking for you?"
Nagato chuckled at her mix of laughter and tears, but his words were anything but playful.
Maybe their feelings hadn't been as deep back then, but if he were to lose Nonō now—he wouldn't be able to accept it.
"I told you not to look for me."
"Even if you had, I wouldn't have seen you."
Nonō understood exactly what Nagato meant. His words were touching, but they weren't the kind of answer she wanted.
If that day ever came, all she would wish for was for Nagato to live on.
...
A soft smooch.
"Don't say things like that again."
Nagato pressed a firm kiss against her lips, his warning unmistakable.
"And if I insist? What will you do then?"
Nonō blinked at him, pursing her lips slightly.
There was a mischievous glint in her eyes—provocative, expectant, daring him to act.
"You brought this on yourself."
Nagato's gaze darkened, and without hesitation, he captured her lips once more.
"Mmph—"
A muffled sound escaped from Nonō as her body gradually melted into his embrace.
Suddenly, she felt herself being lifted, then gently laid onto the bed.
But Nagato's kiss never stopped, leaving her breathless.
Large hands slipped beneath her bathrobe, pressing against her skin.
A jolt ran through her, her body instinctively tensing as warmth spread through her.
By the time their lips finally parted, her gaze had turned soft and hazy as she met Nagato's eyes.
This was the first time they had ever gone this far.
"Looks like little Nagato is really hungry," Nonō teased, her eyes flickering downward as she steadied herself.
"So, will big sis be feeding me?"
Nagato may have been new to this, but as a medical-nin, he knew more than most.
"I won't feed you… unless you agree."
Nonō curled her finger at him, completely shattering the last of his patience.
A quiet gasp escaped her lips before the room was filled with the sound of rhythmic movements.