Meet my husband

Chapter 5

Rin slowly opened her eyes to cold, dim ceiling. she rubbed her eyes, trying to adjust to the empty room. The room was quiet, and for a moment, it felt like the world outside was holding its breath.

She rolled over in bed, the soft mattress creaking beneath her as she moved. Her head hung slightly over the edge of the bed, and saw Obito, still peacefully sleeping on the floor.

Her gaze lingered on him, her eyes tracing the lines of his form, studying him from top to bottom. Everything about him was different, but somehow still familiar. His face, though older, held the same softness she remembered, the same warmth. But there were subtle changes—the way his body had filled out, his more defined features. He wasn't the same boy she had once known, instead a mature man.

She found herself studying him so intently that it almost felt wrong, like she was staring at a living sculpture. The way his chest rose and fell with each breath, the quiet rhythm of his slumber... It made something inside her stir.

Her cheeks flushed, and she felt the tight knot of unease twist in her stomach. Why do I feel like this? she thought, her heart racing for reasons she couldn't understand. She quickly looked away, pulling herself back from the line of thought she was heading down.

In a snap decision, she slapped her own cheek, the sting of the action snapping her out of her thoughts. No. He's just a friend. Just because he looks different doesn't mean I do. The thought settled in her mind, firm and unyielding, as she took deep breaths, trying to center herself.

Get it together, Rin, she thought, shaking her head. He's your best friend, and that's all. Nothing more. But she couldn't help but be excited as these new emotions rushed through her body, almost warm and tingly.

But no matter what she tried to do, she couldn't quite suppress the feeling that lingered just beneath the surface, no matter how hard she tried.

Rin's mind raced as she tried to push down the feelings stirring inside her. He's probably moved on by now, she thought, he probably has other crushes... The thought stung a little, but she quickly shut it down. I can't let him know that I feel like this... It would just make everything complicated.

Her stomach growled loudly, a sudden reminder of how long it had been since she last ate. She frowned, clutching her stomach as the discomfort made itself known. I should eat, she decided, pushing her emotions to the side for the moment. Maybe food will distract me.

With a sigh, she stood up from the bed, determined to head to the kitchen. Why not? she reasoned, What harm could it do?

Just as she was about to take a step toward the door, a gust of wind rushed past her, so quick that it made her stumble. She gasped, her body jerking backward in surprise. Before she could fully process what happened, a pair of strong arms caught her, pulling her back into balance.

She froze, heart pounding, as she looked up to a very groggy, Obito standing there, his eyes half-lidded with sleep.

"I'm sorry if I scared you," he said, his voice still thick with sleep. His hands gently helped steady her, making sure she wasn't going to fall again. "But this place is dangerous. I don't want you going out alone."

Rin blinked, her heart still racing, not from the shock of the wind, but from the unexpected way he had caught her. The sensation of his hands on her shoulders lingered for a moment, and it took her a few seconds to catch her breath.

"Thanks..." she muttered, her voice small as her gaze dropped to the floor, trying to avoid his eyes. Why did he have to catch me like that?

Obito let go of her once he was certain she was stable. "I'll be right here with you," he added softly, his tone shifting into something more protective. "You don't need to go off on your own, especially not when you're still recovering."