After more than ten seconds, Mei Terumi finally wiped down the last corner of the sofa.

Just as she was about to straighten up and wipe the sweat from her brow, her gaze happened to meet Uchiha Hikaru's—he was standing at the doorway, clearly appreciating the view.

Subconsciously, she glanced down.

Beads of sweat trickled down her forehead, following the curve of her chest and sinking into the deep valleys beneath the mesh fabric.

Uchiha Hikaru couldn't help but silently give a thumbs-up in his mind.

Wonderful~ (￣▽￣)

Mei Terumi realized what had just happened almost immediately. A blush exploded across her face, traveling up her elegant neck and flooding her ears with color.

She yanked her shirt up, trying to hide herself.

"Cough, cough…"

Hikaru gave two polite coughs.

Then he stepped inside, casually closing the door behind him.

As luck would have it, Hoshigaki Kisame emerged from the kitchen just then, having finished cleaning.

He glanced at the two standing awkwardly in the living room, completely unaware of what had just happened.

Walking up to Hikaru, he reported matter-of-factly, "Lord Hikaru, the house has been cleaned. There's only one room left with the door locked—we didn't go in."

Hikaru waved it off.

"That's my room. I'll clean it myself later."

"Yes, understood," Kisame responded promptly.

Hikaru's gaze dropped to the pink apron Kisame was still wearing.

For a second, the visual impact nearly overwhelmed him.

That apron was originally meant for Tsunade. Unfortunately…

Tsunade never used it. Shizune had taken a blue one instead when they returned to the Senju compound. This pink one had somehow stayed behind.

Suppressing the urge to laugh, Hikaru set down the large bag of barbecue ingredients onto the table.

He pulled the grill Kisame had cleaned from the kitchen, along with a few pieces of charcoal, and placed them on the dining table.

With a simple Fire Style: Flame Spark Jutsu, he lit the coals beneath the grill.

"All right, take off your aprons, wash up, and get ready to eat."

"Also, when you get back to Kirigakure, don't go spreading nonsense."

"Don't make it sound like Konoha mistreats its prisoners and starves you to death."

Kisame immediately shook his head. "I wouldn't dare."

A question mark practically floated above Mei Terumi's head. ( ・・)?

She blurted out, "Back to Kirigakure?"

Hikaru, flipping meat on the grill with his chopsticks, glanced sideways at her dazed expression.

"What else?"

"You think you two are staying in Konoha, freeloading for life?"

"Keep dreaming~"

"Don't just stand there. Wash your hands and start grilling."

"You want to eat, grill it yourself. I'm not doing it for you."

Kisame, being smart, had already washed his hands and sat across from Hikaru.

He bowed slightly. "Thank you very much, Lord Hikaru."

Hikaru just nodded in acknowledgment.

Kisame took his seat and began grilling for himself, methodically and without complaint.

Only Mei Terumi, that dense beauty, was still standing there sulking.

This has to be a trick. He's trying to lure me in with kindness so I'll let my guard down, and then he'll…

He's after my bloodline… wants to breed Sharingan and Kekkei Genkai hybrids!

Dammit! I won't fall into your trap so easily!

Even if Hikaru ticked every one of her internal XP boxes, she was a kunoichi of the Hidden Mist! Not some love-struck fangirl!

Still… she hadn't had anything more than a ration pill a day for the past two days…

Just fill the belly first… then figure out how to escape… for the village… (╥﹏╥)

Finally, Mei Terumi took off the apron, washed her hands, and approached the table.

But then—she froze.

If I sit next to Kisame, it ruins his "plan." He might get angry. But if I sit next to Hikaru, I'll be right in his line of fire…

Caught in mental conflict, she began calculating battle strategies like a war council.

Uchiha Hikaru watched her stand there like a malfunctioning puppet and rubbed his temples.

What is going on inside this woman's head? Did hunger rot her brain? (⊙_☉)

With a sigh, he pulled out the chair to his left.

"What are you thinking about? The meat smells good, doesn't it?"

"Sit down and eat. Some of it's really good."

"You're a prisoner now. Don't act all noble."

"I'm not your butler, Lady Heiress of the Terumi clan."

Hikaru threw her an annoyed glance.

Mei Terumi realized she had irritated him and, thinking the safest place is the most dangerous one, sat in the seat on his left.

But once seated… she hesitated again.

Do I grill my own meat? Or should I grill some for him first to lower his guard? Is that what he wants?

Hikaru gave her another side glance.

This woman is too far gone. Her brain's starving. Can't be helped…

He reminded himself: They're prisoners. We must treat them well. Mei's signature is important for post-war reparations. For Konoha's sake… for the future…!

Everything is for justice!!

With that noble conviction, he grabbed a few perfectly grilled slices of meat and dropped them into Mei Terumi's bowl.

"Eat it already, dammit."

"Grandma."

"Why aren't you eating?!"

"Isn't Akimichi-style barbecue delicious?!"

Mei's train of thought derailed completely. She stared at the meat.

It smelled incredible… juices glistening on the crispy edges… her mouth began to water uncontrollably.

But…

Is this a trap? What if it's poisoned? Drugged?!

Eat it? Don't eat it?

She was still frozen in place.

Hikaru finally lost his patience.

He dropped his chopsticks, leaned in, and grabbed a few slices of meat from her bowl with his fingers.

With one hand, he pinched her chin and turned her face toward him.

Then—he shoved the barbecue directly toward her lips!

Mei Terumi tensed immediately.

Shit! He's lost patience! It's drugged for sure!

She clenched her lips and teeth tightly shut.

Hikaru frowned.

The hell? She's not eating it?

I grilled this myself!! (╬ ಠ益ಠ)

He ditched the chopsticks.

His right hand pried at her lips while his left held her jaw firm.

Damn! Still resisting?!

Then—he pinched her nose with his left hand.

After a few seconds, deprived of air, Mei Terumi finally had no choice but to part her lips.

Hikaru took the opportunity, stuffing the meat—and his fingers—into her mouth.

She froze.

The meat slid in.

His fingers brushed her lips.

Realization dawned.

It's over… I've been compromised…!

(〃ﾟ3ﾟ〃)

Meanwhile, Hikaru let out a long breath of relief.

Finally got it in…

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