The Fourth Wall

Chapter 17: The Typhoon

The next morning, Boruto woke up to Himawari shaking his shoulder. "Onii-chan! Wake up! It's dinner time already!"

He rolled over and covered his head with his pillow. "I'm not hungry..."

"You're always hungry! Come on, get out of bed!"

"Dun wanna."

Himawari activated her Byakugan. "Onii-chan."

Boruto lazily rolled over and sat up. "Fine. I'm coming." He looked out the window. "Is it raining?"

"The weather said there was going to be a typhoon today. Mom was worried that you wouldn't be home before it started..."

Boruto combed his hands through his hair a few times and followed her little sister down the steps.

"So, how was camping with Mitsuki?"

"Ah... It was... fine."

Himawari turned around, her eyebrows furrowed into the grumpiest little sister pout he had seen in a while.

"...What?"

"Jeez... You come home and you don't even say you're back, and now you won't even talk to me." With a "humph," she turned around.

Boruto scratched the back of his head. "It's not like that, ya know. I... I just don't feel good."

"You're sick? What's wrong?"

"I'm not sick... I don't think... I just didn't sleep very well last night."

"Yeah, and you slept all day," she retorted, her arms folded.

He followed Himawari into the kitchen and sat down at his usual spot.

"Welcome back, Boruto."

Boruto's eyes widened. "Dad?"

"Yo."

He turned towards his mother for an explanation as to why his ever absent father was suddenly present for dinner.

"Your father decided to come home today since most of his schedule was canceled due to the storm."

"That, and you scolded him for eating nothing but ramen for three days in a row," remarked Himawari, taking her place at the table.

Boruto's somewhat brightened mood turned dim again. "Ah. Still the same stupid old geezer."

"Now now," said Naruto, putting up his hands, "Ramen is a very healthy meal! You get protein from the eggs, carbs from the noodles, and—"

Naruto immediately stopped talking and gulped when he noticed the glare of his wife.

"Heh, get him, mom," said Boruto, his appetite starting to come back.

"That being said, it's pretty rare for you to sleep in until the afternoon. Did something happen?" Hinata asked, setting dinner on the table and taking her seat.

"I got back a little late last night and couldn't really fall asleep..."

"Couldn't fall asleep?"

The remembrance of the memory reset threatened to take away his appetite again. "Kinda."

Himawari pouted.

Boruto stared at his dinner. He was going to forget. He was going to forget everything. Before anything had even started. He wanted to tease her more. He wanted to watch her eyes light up. He wanted to take her cold places and force her to take his jacket. He wanted to treat Mitsuki to a burger. He wanted to get Sasuke's approval for real. He wanted to see the shocked look on his dad's face when he realized he liked Sasuke's daughter. He wanted her to like him back.