Chasing After You || Itachi

Ch. 20 - Reals and Ideals

The room was silent, save for the continuing echo of the fireworks display outside. Tora wasn't as shocked as she thought she would be to say the least. She had felt herself becoming closer to Nigai and while she'd accepted it as an idealization, now that it was in fruition, she didn't really know what to do. Every time she parted her lips to speak, nothing would come out.

"Shit." Nigai stepped back from her and scratched the back of his head. Judging by the look of contemplation covering her face, he could only assume that he'd made a mistake. "I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable."

The female immediately shook her head. "No, it's not that."

"Then what is it?" He asked, not even giving the conversation time to stall. He didn't want to come off as selfish, but he thought he'd been reading all the signs right.

Tora looked away from him, her face heating up. She didn't want to seem like a child about it, but she was starting to feel uncharacteristically bashful. "I've never kissed anyone before."

"That's all?"

She quickly turned to him with an astonished look. "What do you mean by 'that's all'? A first kiss is a very special event in a young woman's life! It's comparable to getting married or... a jounin promotion!"

Nigai raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement at her outburst. "A jounin promotion?"

Rolling her eyes, Tora awkwardly turned back to the window to watch the finale of the fireworks showcase. "Work events may or may not bring me joy."

"You're a workaholic."

"I prefer the word ambitious."

He chuckled and placed his hands in his pockets. "Did our kiss bring you joy then?"

"Maybe. Maybe not."

"Are you pouting?" Nigai grabbed her hand and pulled her towards him so she'd look at him. Tora immediately hid her face and broke away from him, starting their game of chase. "Don't act coy with me!"

Although she laughed and playfully dodged him, Tora couldn't truly respond as her mind mulled over the previous question. Maybe there were some unresolved feelings? She did like it, but why did it make her feel guilty?

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"He went home and I went to bed. That's all that happened." Tora finished explaining her story.

"That was your first kiss? Didn't you go on a date with that one guy who worked in med supply?" Hana tilted her head in thought as she sat on Tora's bed. Seeing her friend's puzzled expression, she tapped her chin before letting out an apologetic laugh. "My bad... I think that was me."

It was the next morning and, contrary to what the Dakuo was thinking, she had slept peacefully through the night - a little too peacefully if she might add. As soon as she woke up, she wasted no time in pulling Hana out of her slumber to tell her everything. It was only because of the nature of the subject that the Inuzuka didn't mind the disturbance.

"Hana, you're not helping." Tora groaned as she continued to pace back and forth at the foot of the bed. "I seriously don't know what to do."

Hana frowned as she couldn't remember a time where she'd seen Tora so flustered before. She knew exactly what they were talking about and it wasn't Nigai. The fact that she was worrying so much about it was actually a good thing. "Have you ever thought that maybe your love for Itachi wouldn't be the end all be all?"

"What?"

"I mean, just think logically. No emotions, just facts." Hana explained. "To my knowledge, you've never cultivated your feelings towards Itachi beyond being a teen crush and they've always been one-sided. You've kept no one in mind but Itachi since the Academy. This would be the first time someone outside of your bubble has approached you with romantic intent."