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In the evening, a dark blue haired girl was restocking her shop when she was interrupted by a cheerful voice.
“Satsuki-dono! I came to assist you, de gozaru!”
Voice which was answered with a terrifyingly kind smile.
“Adel, what did I tell you? ♪”
Feeling a warning from her ninja sixth sense, Adelheid quickly corrected herself.
“Mari-dono! I’ve come to assist.”
It had become a routine for them since that mission in the abandoned research facility. Every evening, Adel would barge in and help. At first, Mari needed to tell her where each and every item had to go, but now, the German girl had learned it all and their cooperation was seamless.
Once they were done, as Adel was leaving, Mari asked.
“During the battle, last time, you said you could use a cloning technique, can you show it to me?”
“Ja! Here, Way of the Ninja - Shadow Clone Jutsu!”
Two copies of the blonde girl appeared.
“““So, how is it?”””
“Loud. But impressive, how did you make it?”
“““I wanted to stand out even more so I copied it from ancient scriptures!”””
“Be stealthy, dammit. ♪
And when you say scriptures, which manga are you talking about?”
“““Naruto! It holds plenty of great ninja arts to learn from, de gozaru!”””
“Stop talking all at once. But Naruto you said? Then are they physical?”
Mari approached two of the girl and played with their cheek, confirming that the clones had, indeed a physical form and weren’t just illusions or after images.
““Sats-... Mari-dono, stop, it tickles!””
She didn’t stop, in fact, she intensified her moves. She wasn’t merely playing with the identical girls cheeks, she was pinching, stretching and, all in all, fully enjoying herself.
“How many can you make in total?”
The only one who could still speak clearly answered.
“At the time, I could only make two. But worry not, I can now make an entire five clones!”
“Can they use Jutsu independently or are they limited to copying your actions? What if they used an Equipment Swap Jutsu?”
“They can, why?”
Mari absentmindedly licked her lips.
“No reason.”
At that time, Adel dropped her Jutsu, leaving only the original her, cheek still in Mari’s hand.
“Well then, good day Mari-dono.”
“Tell me, what do you think of romance?”
Adelheid, who was leaving, stopped on her tracks. There was a beat before she answered with forced enthusiasm.
“Romance is a Ninja’s enemy, it muddles the mind and create distractions!”
But Mari wouldn’t take such a wishy-washy answer.
“Adel. ♪”
“What is it?”
“Answer my question.”
“Ja? I just did, de gozaru.”
Still pretending? Mari increased the pressure.
“Answer the question. ♪”
For once, coercion didn’t seem to work.
“Mari-dono, are you alright? You are acting strangely.”
In that case, she could only speak her feelings honestly. She gathered her courage, clenching her fists tightly.
“Please Adel, your answer matters a lot to me.”
The blonde girl turned her back to the shopkeeper, looking towards the setting Sun. Coming to a decision, she took a deep breath.
“Romance is something I cannot allow myself to pursue. My path as a Ninja prevents me from it.”
Mari’s nails dug into her palms. She had prepared herself, but even then, she felt as if a knife was stabbed into her heart. Without thinking, she asked.
“Why?”
“On that day, when I was a small girl, I was saved by that ninja. I will do anything to repay this debt of gratitude. I once was close to giving up, maybe she had already died, I thought. But the recent events proved to me that it wasn’t the case, she’s still here, somewhere. So I have to find her…
I fear romance would only lead me to accept defeat, to forgive myself for giving up. And I cannot accept that! I was inspired by her and, in turn inspired a future ninja. I cannot betray this little girl’s expectation, I cannot betray my Way of the Ninja.”
Understanding dawned upon Mari. But if she wanted things to go the way she wished, she’d have to make a choice. A choice that had seemed so impossibly difficult before but was now so simple.
“Adel, that ninja you speak of, she has to be someone close to you, otherwise she wouldn’t have been able to save you during that mission, right?”
“Yes… What of it?”
“Do you know anyone who was a ninja at the time you were saved and who wished to be acknowledge by her clan?”
The blonde answered quickly, her voice showing an unusual flatness.
“Mari-dono, where are you going with that?”
“A ninja who would now risk her life for you? Who took back the name of ninja she had once thrown away if it meant saving you?”
Adel’s voice trembled.
“D- Don’t do that Mari-dono. Don’t give me hope.”
“Adelheid Kanzaki. Mari of the Satsuki Clan is now here to claim the reward for saving your life twice.
I ask of you, will you accept my love?”
“Mari-dono…” She turned back towards her saviour, tear streaking her face. “Am I really allowed?”
Adel had fantasised many times about her meeting with the ninja who saved her, but when faced with the real event, not a single word she had imagined would come out, all she could do was take a few unsteady step, reaching for her.
This embrace felt both nostalgic, yet novel. It carried a warmth she had never dared to hope receive.
The debt was repaid.